The Divergence

───

Neither Lavinia nor Valerie finished their pastries.

Not because they disliked them.

Quite the opposite.

"They're really good."

Lavinia looked down at the half-finished pastry on her plate.

"They are."

Valerie nodded in agreement.

"I just..."

She poked hers lightly with a fork.

"...Don't actually need to eat anymore."

Lavinia smiled.

"I think we're just enjoying the taste."

"Mhm."

Valerie leaned back comfortably.

"It's kind of nice."

They lingered for another minute, occasionally taking another bite simply because they could.

Eventually...

The young cashier made his way over to their table.

Slowly.

Almost cautiously.

He looked like he wanted to say something.

Several times he opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

Lavinia and Valerie both looked up.

The poor man visibly steeled himself.

"...Um."

"Hi."

"Hello."

Valerie answered first with an easy smile.

The cashier swallowed.

"...Are..."

He hesitated.

"...Are you two..."

He awkwardly cleared his throat.

"...What everyone's been talking about online?"

Valerie blinked.

Then laughed softly.

"I'm pretty sure we are."

She rested her chin in one hand.

"You don't have to be so nervous."

"We don't bi-"

She stopped.

Thought for a second.

"...Actually."

"We do bite."

She smiled sheepishly.

"...Never mind."

The cashier's heartbeat noticeably sped up.

"..."

Lavinia slowly turned toward Valerie.

Then sighed.

With one foot beneath the table...

She nudged Valerie's ankle.

"...Behave."

Valerie giggled.

"I'm trying."

Lavinia looked back at the cashier.

"We should be vampires."

She smiled apologetically.

"But..."

She shrugged.

"We're still figuring out what that actually means."

The cashier visibly relaxed.

"...Can I ask something?"

"Sure."

"How does it feel?"

Lavinia thought about it.

"...Normal."

Valerie nodded.

"Surprisingly normal."

"We're stronger."

"Faster."

"We can hear and smell ridiculously well."

Lavinia smiled.

"And we smile more."

Valerie laughed.

"...That's true."

The cashier nodded slowly before asking another question.

"...Does sunlight actually hurt?"

Both vampires looked at one another.

"..."

"...Maybe."

Lavinia answered first.

"I haven't tested it."

Valerie shook her head.

"I haven't either."

"We've both kind of..."

She smiled awkwardly.

"...Avoided it."

Lavinia nodded.

"Neither of us really wanted to find out."

"So..."

She shrugged.

"Our best guess is..."

"It probably does."

The cashier thanked them quietly before excusing himself.

Instead of returning immediately to the register...

He hurried toward the waitress.

The two began whispering excitedly.

Valerie smiled.

"...He's definitely bragging."

"He absolutely is."

Lavinia laughed.

"'I talked to the vampires.'"

Valerie deepened her voice dramatically.

"'They only threatened to bite me once.'"

Both of them laughed.

A few minutes later they gathered their things, thanked the staff, and stepped back outside.

The cool night air greeted them immediately.

Lavinia breathed in deeply.

So many scents.

Rain.

Coffee.

Perfume.

Smoke.

Fresh bread.

Human scent.

Then...

Both vampires stopped.

Their noses twitched.

"..."

"...Do you smell that?"

Valerie asked quietly.

Lavinia had already turned.

"...Yeah."

It was...

Sweet.

Not overwhelmingly so.

Soft.

Warm.

Caramel.

And roses.

Neither of them had ever smelled anything like it before.

The only vampire scents they knew belonged to themselves.

Berries and pine.

Tangerines and citrus.

This...

Was different.

Their crimson eyes met.

The excitement was immediate.

Another vampire.

Without saying another word...

They ran.

Pedestrians barely had time to blink before the two vampires vanished into little more than fleeting blurs.

"...Did you see that?!"

"Weren't they just right there?!"

"They disappeared!"

The scent grew stronger with every passing second.

Caramel.

Roses.

Closer.

Closer.

Then...

They both stopped simultaneously at a quiet intersection.

Standing only a few yards away...

Was another vampire.

She couldn't have stood much taller than five feet.

Silky white hair tumbled in loose curls around her shoulders, glowing almost silver beneath the streetlights.

Pointed ears peeked through the radiant strands.

Her skin was as pale as fresh snow.

Her crimson eyes, just like theirs, held no pupils whatsoever.

An elegant black dress flowed gracefully around her, paired with knee-high black boots polished so perfectly they caught the light with every tiny movement.

The moment she saw them...

Her entire face lit up.

"...!"

She gasped.

Then squealed.

"There you are!"

Before either Lavinia or Valerie could react...

She practically skipped toward them.

Lavinia had exactly enough time to blink.

Then...

Whoomph.

Strong little arms wrapped tightly around her.

"Oh my goodness!"

The white-haired vampire hugged her enthusiastically.

"You're so cute!"

Lavinia made a small surprised sound as she was squeezed.

"...Hello?"

The newcomer barely seemed to hear her.

Instead...

Still hugging Lavinia...

She half dragged, half pulled her toward Valerie.

"And you too!"

Valerie laughed just before she was pulled into the embrace as well.

Now all three vampires stood wrapped together in an overly enthusiastic group hug.

"I spent all day trying to convince my mother I wasn't a monster!"

The white-haired vampire exclaimed.

"It took forever!"

She laughed brightly.

"But now..."

Her eyes sparkled.

"I found other vampires!"

"So soon!"

"I was so worried I'd be alone!"

People walking through the intersection had completely stopped.

Several phones appeared almost immediately.

The white-haired vampire didn't seem to notice.

Or care.

She beamed at both of them.

"Oh!"

"I forgot!"

She took half a step back.

Though only enough to keep one hand holding each of theirs.

"I'm Gwendolyn."

Her smile somehow became even brighter.

Valerie smiled.

"I'm Valerie."

Lavinia nodded.

"And I'm Lavinia."

"Gwendolyn..."

She clasped both hands together beneath her chin.

"...Those are such pretty names!"

Before either of them could respond—

She hugged them both again.

"Oh, you're both so cute!"

Valerie laughed helplessly.

"Lavinia..."

"Hm?"

"...I think we've been adopted."

Lavinia, currently trapped in yet another enthusiastic embrace, could only sigh with amused resignation.

"...I think you're right."

Gwendolyn finally released the two of them.

She immediately spun once on her heel, her black dress blooming outward around her before settling neatly again.

With both arms spread wide, she looked up toward the night sky.

"I'm so happy."

The words escaped her so naturally that neither Lavinia nor Valerie doubted them for a second.

Gwendolyn lowered her arms with a laugh.

"I spent almost the entire day trying to convince my mom I was still me."

She puffed out her cheeks dramatically.

"She was really freaking out."

"I mean..."

She gestured vaguely upward.

"Werewolves."

"Vampires."

"The whole world changing."

"I can't really blame her."

Valerie smiled gently.

"...Are you okay?"

Gwendolyn looked over.

Then laughed brightly.

"Mhm!"

"I'm fine."

She clasped her hands behind her back as they began walking together.

"I still live with my mom."

Valerie blinked.

"Oh?"

Gwendolyn nodded without the slightest embarrassment.

"I never wanted to move out."

"So..."

She smiled softly.

"I'm really happy she eventually believed me."

Lavinia glanced over curiously.

"...Can I ask how you convinced her?"

"If that's okay."

"Of course."

Gwendolyn answered immediately.

"I just started telling her things only I would know."

She shrugged.

"Little memories."

"Conversations."

"Things from when I was younger."

"Eventually..."

Her smile returned.

"She believed me."

Then she sighed dramatically.

"...Although..."

"My mom kept calling me by my old name."

She wrinkled her nose.

"It was weird."

Lavinia tilted her head.

"Weird?"

Gwendolyn nodded.

"Yeah."

"It used to be my name."

"But..."

She searched for the right words.

"It doesn't really register anymore."

"I hear it."

"I know she's talking to me."

"But..."

She lightly tapped her temple.

"I almost have to stop and think."

"Oh."

"She means me."

She smiled again.

"But when someone says 'Gwendolyn'..."

Her answer came instantly.

"I just know."

"It feels natural."

Lavinia quietly considered that.

"...Your mom wasn't sad?"

Gwendolyn blinked.

Lavinia smiled playfully.

"I mean..."

"Parents usually name their children."

"I imagine changing it overnight would be a little surprising."

Gwendolyn laughed.

"I don't know."

She shrugged cheerfully.

"I'm Gwendolyn."

The answer was so simple.

So immediate.

That Lavinia found herself thinking about it long after Gwendolyn had finished speaking.

Something...

Felt strange.

Not frightening.

Not unpleasant.

Just...

Slightly off.

She searched her own memories.

Since waking...

Had she once...

Even once...

Thought of herself by her old human name?

...

No.

Not once.

Even inside her own thoughts...

She had always been Lavinia.

There hadn't been a transition.

There hadn't been an adjustment.

She had simply...

Been Lavinia.

The realization lingered quietly in the back of her mind.

"..."

"Hm?"

Valerie looked over.

"Oh."

She pointed farther down the street.

"Let's go to the mall."

Lavinia followed her gaze.

A large indoor shopping mall stood only another block away, its illuminated entrances still welcoming the evening crowds.

"We don't really have anything else planned."

She looked toward Gwendolyn.

"You staying with us?"

Gwendolyn looked genuinely offended by the suggestion.

"Wouldn't leave."

She folded her arms.

"Even if I had something to do."

Then she immediately smiled again.

"I just met other vampires for the first time."

She clasped her hands together excitedly.

"I'm so happy."

Valerie sighed dramatically.

"...It's honestly hard to believe you're an adult."

Gwendolyn clicked her tongue.

"Oh, hush."

She rolled her eyes for exactly one second before smiling again.

"I wasn't even this bubbly before."

She pointed at herself.

"This is definitely a vampire thing."

Lavinia couldn't argue with that.

Neither could Valerie.

Lavinia herself had never been this confident.

Or this playful.

She'd smiled before.

Of course she had.

But not this easily.

Not this constantly.

Valerie had admitted something similar.

Even Gwendolyn described herself as quieter before the Divergence.

Yet...

None of them spoke as though someone had been replaced.

None of them mourned the people they'd been.

Because they still remembered those lives.

Still remembered their families.

Their jobs.

Their homes.

Their friends.

Everything remained.

Only...

Something had shifted.

Their emotions flowed differently.

Their expressions came more naturally.

Confidence surfaced more easily.

Laughter escaped without hesitation.

They hadn't become different people.

They had simply...

Become themselves in a different way.

Lavinia smiled quietly.

Somehow...

That distinction felt important.

Ahead of them, the brightly lit entrance to the mall came into view, and the three vampires naturally fell into step beside one another as they approached, drawing the occasional curious stare from the people passing by.

───

Ethan had worked security at the mall for almost four years.

In that time he'd dealt with shoplifters, arguments over parking spaces, teenagers trying to impress each other, and one man who insisted a mannequin had insulted him.

Compared to those...

Today had been strangely quiet.

Considering the world had changed that morning, quiet almost felt suspicious.

He rested against the information desk, watching people filter through the entrance.

Families.

Couples.

Teenagers.

People still looked distracted, most conversations revolving around the same topics.

"Werewolves..."

"Did you see the videos?"

"I heard they're incredibly strong."

Someone laughed nearby.

"If one showed up I'd fight it."

Ethan smiled to himself.

"...Sure you would."

Truthfully...

He'd joked with himself earlier that evening.

If a werewolf wandered into the mall...

Well...

He guessed he'd try.

From what he'd seen online, though...

Five ordinary people probably couldn't beat one.

He hoped he'd never have to test that theory.

Another family entered.

Then two students.

Then...

Three young women.

His attention settled on them almost immediately.

Not because they were loud.

Not because they were causing trouble.

Quite the opposite.

Each step...

Flowed.

He couldn't think of another word for it.

They weren't walking.

Not really.

Every movement transitioned effortlessly into the next, almost resembling a slow dance rather than an ordinary stroll.

Their dresses swayed in perfect rhythm.

Long hair bounced softly with each step.

Every so often...

One of their pointed ears twitched.

As though reacting to sounds he couldn't even hear.

Ethan found himself unconsciously taking a single step forward.

Then another.

The trio stopped.

Three pairs of crimson eyes turned toward him simultaneously.

No pupils.

Just...

Red.

His heart skipped.

Then immediately began pounding harder.

He froze.

The white-haired one looked openly delighted.

The orange-haired one wore a quietly confident smile.

The golden-haired one looked almost amused.

None of them frowned.

None of them bared their fangs.

None of them looked angry.

They simply...

Looked at him.

His throat suddenly felt dry.

Why?

They hadn't done anything.

Not one thing.

Yet his hands trembled almost imperceptibly.

His heartbeat seemed impossibly loud inside his own ears.

The white-haired vampire tilted her head.

"...Do you need something?"

Her voice was bright.

Friendly.

Almost cheerful.

Ethan opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

He swallowed.

Tried again.

Still nothing.

"..."

He took one ragged breath before rapidly shaking his head.

"N-No."

He backed away almost immediately.

"No."

"I'm..."

He couldn't even finish the sentence.

The three vampires exchanged slightly puzzled glances.

Then continued toward the entrance exactly as before.

Ethan remained where he was until they disappeared deeper into the mall.

Only then did he realize he'd been holding his breath.

"..."

He walked toward a nearby corner, resting one hand against the wall.

He inhaled deeply.

Then exhaled.

Again.

His heartbeat slowly settled.

"...Get it together."

He rubbed both hands over his face.

What had that been?

He hadn't intended to stop them.

Not really.

He hadn't even consciously decided to approach.

His body had simply...

Moved.

As though trying to understand what he'd been looking at.

He'd seen countless photographs online throughout the day.

Werewolves.

Vampires.

Arguments.

Videos.

Interviews.

He'd laughed at some of them.

Questioned others.

Reading about vampires...

Was nothing.

Standing in front of one...

No.

Three.

Was completely different.

Werewolves...

Oddly enough...

Didn't bother him as much.

They looked...

Alive.

Different.

But familiar.

Like people wearing traits borrowed from wolves.

The vampires...

He struggled to explain it, even to himself.

Objectively...

They weren't threatening.

They were tiny.

He outweighed every one of them.

If someone had asked him who'd win in a fistfight...

His rational mind almost wanted to say...

Me.

But...

That answer never settled.

Something deep inside him disagreed.

The memory of those crimson eyes lingered.

The absolute stillness beneath their smiles.

The impossible grace with which they moved.

Their flawless appearance.

Everything about them whispered the same quiet thought into the back of his mind.

Not human.

He exhaled slowly.

"...They're people."

He reminded himself.

"They woke up like that."

"They're people."

He repeated it again.

The words made perfect sense.

Logically.

Emotionally...

Something stubborn refused to listen.

Every instinct he'd felt while standing before them had urged exactly one thing.

Move.

Leave.

Run if necessary.

Not because they'd threatened him.

Not because they'd growled.

Not because they'd even looked unfriendly.

Simply...

Because they were vampires.

And somewhere, buried beneath reason, his mind insisted that standing too close to them was a very bad idea.

Gwendolyn,