The Divergence

───

The television camera faded in to reveal a familiar news desk.

Behind it sat a neatly dressed anchorwoman, who offered the camera a practiced smile.

"Good evening."

"I'm Natalie Carter."

She glanced briefly toward the camera beside her before smiling again.

"And before anyone asks..."

She raised both hands slightly.

"No."

"I haven't secretly become a vampire."

She leaned forward conspiratorially.

"I just forgot to sleep."

A few quiet chuckles sounded from somewhere off-camera.

Natalie laughed softly herself before composing her expression.

"...Now then."

Her smile became more professional.

"Since the Darkness... now referred to globally as the Divergence..."

Images of crowds, werewolves, and vampires appeared beside her.

"...Things once thought to belong exclusively to mythology and fantasy now live among us."

"Werewolves."

"Vampires."

She folded her hands together on the desk.

"Despite appearances, both groups are confirmed to have originally been human."

"The federal government has continued working alongside researchers, physicians and newly transformed volunteers throughout the day in an effort to better understand these changes."

"As more information becomes available, it will continue to be shared with the public."

The screen beside her shifted to a government seal.

"According to preliminary medical evaluations..."

"Werewolves and vampires possess notable biological differences."

"They should not be regarded as ordinary humans in every respect."

She smiled lightly.

"And, for your own safety..."

"It is probably best not to deliberately start fights with either group."

She paused just long enough for the joke to land.

"Our current estimates suggest that both werewolves and vampires are capable of lifting well over one thousand pounds."

"So..."

She shrugged.

"If nothing else..."

"Your own health is worth considering."

Another quiet laugh escaped her.

She continued before the mood could linger too long.

"The government has also announced that aggression directed toward transformed individuals will be treated under the law the same as aggression directed toward any other citizen."

"Werewolves and vampires remain protected members of society."

"Harassment, discrimination and violence against transformed individuals will not be tolerated."

The display beside her changed again.

This time showing a blood donation center.

"Moving on to healthcare."

"Blood donation clinics are expected to begin opening in cities and towns across the country within the coming week."

"These facilities will accept voluntary blood donations from members of the public."

"The donated blood will be supplied to vampires, who have now been medically confirmed to possess a biological need to consume human blood."

Natalie smiled reassuringly.

"For those considering donating..."

"Compensation will be similar to existing blood donation programs."

"And all blood types are currently accepted."

Another graphic appeared.

This time depicting groceries and food assistance.

"For werewolves..."

"The situation appears considerably simpler."

"Current findings indicate that transformed werewolves continue eating conventional food."

"They simply require significantly larger quantities than the average person."

"As a result..."

"The government has announced temporary financial assistance programs intended to offset increased food costs while longer-term policies are developed."

Natalie looked directly into the camera.

"We understand today has been confusing."

"For everyone."

"Many of you have family members..."

"Friends..."

"Coworkers..."

"Or neighbors who woke up different this morning."

She offered a warm smile.

"They are adapting to these changes just as the rest of us are."

"We ask everyone to welcome transformed individuals with the same respect and kindness you would extend to anyone else."

"Please avoid discrimination."

"Please avoid hostility."

"And please remember..."

"The overwhelming majority of transformed individuals are simply trying to understand what happened to them."

She glanced down briefly at her notes before looking back up.

"We'll continue bringing verified updates as additional information becomes available throughout the week."

"Until then..."

"I'm Natalie Carter."

"Thank you for joining us."

"Stay safe."

"And have a good evening."

───

The blue-haired vampire sat quietly upon the edge of a two-story building.

One leg swung idly over the side while the other remained tucked beneath the folds of her black dress.

Long pale blue hair drifted around her in the cool night breeze.

Below...

A crowd had gathered.

Some carried kitchen knives.

Others held lengths of rope.

Glass bottles littered the pavement where several had already been thrown toward the rooftop.

One shattered harmlessly against the brick wall beneath her.

She didn't move.

Her crimson eyes remained half-lidded as she listened to the shouting below.

"Monster!"

"Get out!"

"You don't belong here!"

She rested her cheek against one hand.

"...My..."

Her soft voice carried effortlessly across the street.

"...Are all of you quite certain you wish to continue jumping about in front of me?"

The shouting faltered.

Only briefly.

A broad-shouldered man forced his way to the front of the crowd.

His face burned with anger.

Or perhaps fear.

The distinction had become rather difficult to tell.

He pointed a hunting knife toward her.

"Monster!"

"If you don't leave..."

"We'll kill you!"

Silence settled over the street.

The blue-haired vampire looked at him for several moments.

Then smiled.

It was a beautiful smile.

Warm.

Gentle.

Almost affectionate.

"...Conversely..."

She rose gracefully to her feet.

One hand smoothed the front of her luxurious black dress.

"...I find myself becoming rather annoyed."

Her gaze swept lazily across the gathered humans.

"If all of you had simply returned home..."

She sighed.

"...Perhaps you might have continued living."

Before anyone could react...

She stepped from the rooftop.

Her dress fluttered softly around her as she fell.

Two stories vanished beneath her in moments.

Her boots touched the pavement.

Softly.

As though she had merely stepped down from a curb.

She neither stumbled nor bent her knees.

She slowly raised her head.

Looking at the crowd through thick blue eyelashes.

Her chin remained slightly lowered.

The empty red of her eyes settled upon them.

Someone shouted.

"Get her!"

The crowd surged forward.

Knives flashed beneath the streetlights.

The man carrying the rope rushed from one side while several others charged directly toward her.

The blue-haired vampire laughed.

Quietly.

"...How tragic."

The nearest man reached her first.

He never landed a blow.

Her hand moved almost lazily.

Long slender fingers wrapped around his throat.

His charge stopped instantly.

His feet lifted from the pavement.

His eyes widened.

"..."

A wet crack echoed through the street.

Her fingers crushed his neck with frightening ease.

The force partially tore through flesh beneath her grip.

Blood splashed across her pale hand.

She released him without another glance.

His body struck the pavement lifelessly.

A scream rang out.

Another man reached her.

She turned slightly.

One graceful kick landed squarely against his chest.

The impact sounded heavy.

Several ribs shattered instantly.

His body flew backward into the people behind him.

Blood burst from his mouth before he struck the ground.

The blue-haired vampire lowered her foot.

She examined the blood scattered across her fingers.

"...How unfortunate."

She looked toward those still standing.

"I truly wished only to live quietly."

Her smile softened.

"But if you insist upon attacking me..."

She tilted her head.

"...I suppose I must defend myself."

Someone rushed her blindside.

He never reached her.

One moment she stood several feet away.

The next...

She was directly before him.

His expression froze.

Confusion became terror.

Her hand drove effortlessly into his abdomen.

Warm blood spilled across her wrist.

She withdrew her arm.

Then casually flicked her hand sideways.

His body spun through the air before tumbling across the pavement.

No one else moved.

The humans stared.

The blue-haired vampire slowly turned toward the man who had first threatened her.

The apparent leader.

His knife trembled violently.

She smiled once again.

Beautiful.

Elegant.

Utterly disconcerting.

"...I merely wished to meet my fellow vampires."

She spoke almost conversationally.

"So I wandered outside."

Her head tilted ever so slightly.

"...Why..."

"...could none of you simply mind your own business?"

The man opened his mouth.

Nothing emerged.

She disappeared.

To the humans watching...

She simply ceased occupying the space she'd been standing in.

Then...

She stood directly before him.

One hand closed around his throat.

She lifted him effortlessly into the air.

He kicked helplessly.

His hands clawed at her wrist.

The difference in size made the scene feel impossible.

She barely reached five feet.

He stood well over six.

Yet she held him aloft with one arm as though he weighed nothing at all.

The knife slipped from numb fingers.

It clattered across the pavement.

The blue-haired vampire drew back her free hand.

"...Goodnight."

She punched him once.

A dull...

Heavy thud rolled across the silent street.

Cracking ribs echoed immediately afterward.

His chest visibly caved inward beneath the impact.

Blood poured from his mouth in a thick stream.

His eyes lost focus instantly.

The blow ruptured nearly every organ beneath the point of impact.

His heart.

His lungs.

Much of everything surrounding them.

He died before she released him.

His corpse struck the pavement with a heavy thump.

No one spoke.

No one breathed.

The blue-haired vampire looked down at the blood covering her fingers.

She slowly raised one hand.

Then delicately licked the blood away.

She hummed softly.

"...Sweet."

Looking back toward the remaining humans, she smiled warmly once more.

"...Would any of you care to return home now..."

Her eyes drifted briefly toward the corpse at her feet.

"...that your idiot has departed?"

Silence.

Then...

Someone turned.

Another dropped their knife.

Within moments...

The crowd broke entirely.

Weapons clattered forgotten onto the street.

People fled in every direction.

Some screamed.

Others simply ran without looking back.

Within less than a minute...

The street stood empty.

The blue-haired vampire sighed.

"...There now."

"Wasn't that much simpler?"

She wiped a small drop of blood from the sleeve of her dress before looking down the now-deserted road.

"...I truly did only wish to find the others."

With that, she began walking.

Her footsteps were soft against the pavement.

Behind her remained abandoned knives.

Broken bottles.

Dark pools of blood.

And a single corpse lying motionless beneath the glow of the streetlights.

The blue-haired vampire walked alone through the quiet streets.

Streetlights stretched into the distance, pools of pale light separated by patches of darkness.

Her boots clicked softly against the pavement.

The city had become strangely quiet.

Not empty.

She could still hear distant conversations.

Car engines.

Dogs barking somewhere several streets away.

Heartbeats.

Hundreds of them.

Yet the street she'd found herself upon belonged only to her.

She looked down at the blood still clinging to one hand.

"...What a waste."

Her voice carried softly into the night.

It wasn't the deaths she found wasteful.

Not particularly.

She barely knew those people.

They had intended to kill her.

No...

The waste lay elsewhere.

She sighed quietly.

"...Four fewer sources of blood."

Her crimson eyes lingered on the drying stains coating her fingertips.

She absentmindedly brought one finger to her lips.

Her tongue swept delicately across it.

The blood was already beginning to cool.

Even so...

It remained pleasantly sweet.

She smiled faintly.

"...I truly wished only to meet others like myself."

She continued strolling beneath the glow of the streetlights.

"And then..."

She let out another sigh.

"...A handful of fools appeared and practically insisted I kill them."

She tilted her head thoughtfully.

"...Could I have spared them?"

The question lingered only briefly.

She imagined lowering her hand.

Walking away.

Allowing them another chance.

Then imagined them following.

Throwing more bottles.

Charging again with knives.

Her lips curved upward.

A bright, delighted laugh escaped her.

It rang through the empty street like colliding wind chimes.

"...No."

"I rather doubt they would have accepted such kindness."

She folded both hands behind her back.

The smile remained on her face.

"...Cordelia."

She spoke the name aloud.

Her own name.

It felt perfectly natural.

Comfortable.

As though she had carried it all her life.

"Cordelia..."

She repeated it with quiet satisfaction.

"...Yes."

"That is my name."

She nodded once to herself before continuing.

"You were quite merciful, Cordelia."

She smiled wider.

"I only killed those who attacked me."

She counted softly on her fingers.

"The ones who fled..."

"I did not chase."

"I did not hunt."

"I simply allowed them to leave."

She seemed genuinely pleased by the conclusion.

"...I believe that makes me rather merciful."

Her smile became playfully smug.

"Unlike those humans..."

She clicked her tongue.

"They wished to kill me simply because I was no longer human."

She looked upward.

The stars had grown brighter.

"...How terribly rude."

The thought amused her more than angered her.

She continued walking at an unhurried pace.

Long pale blue hair drifted behind her with every step.

Eventually she reached an older part of the street.

Only one lamp remained lit.

Its tired bulb flickered intermittently, casting the road into alternating patches of light and shadow.

Cordelia stepped beneath it.

She paused.

The streetlight buzzed softly overhead.

Light.

Darkness.

Light again.

The bulb flickered.

For a brief instant...

The street stood empty.

When the light steadied once more...

Cordelia was gone.

Only the quiet street remained beneath the flickering lamp.

Cordelia,