The Divergence

───

Gwendolyn pushed the bedroom door open slowly.

Her mother sat on the edge of the bed.

Eleanor's shoulders were hunched, and one hand rested loosely in her lap while the other lay near her phone.

The screen had gone dark, but Gwendolyn could still smell the faint scent where it had rested against her mother's palm.

Her mother's eyes were red.

Not from anger.

From crying.

Gwendolyn stopped in the doorway.

For the first time since climbing the stairs, she didn't know what to say.

The smile she'd put on downstairs remained in place, but maintaining it suddenly felt difficult.

"...Mom?"

Eleanor didn't look up.

Gwendolyn closed the door behind herself and crossed the room with light, nearly silent steps.

She sat beside her mother.

The mattress barely shifted beneath her weight.

"Mom..."

Her voice came out softer this time.

Eleanor finally raised her head.

Her eyes moved over Gwendolyn's face.

Silver-white hair.

Pointed ears.

Empty red eyes.

Thick white eyelashes.

The same black dress she'd worn since the Divergence.

Gwendolyn's smile tightened.

"You saw it."

Eleanor looked toward the phone.

That was enough of an answer.

Gwendolyn folded her hands neatly in her lap.

For several seconds, she simply listened.

Her mother's heartbeat was too fast.

It had been fast before Gwendolyn entered, but now it raced harder, each beat striking with a force that made something inside Gwendolyn ache.

She could hear fear.

Not abstract concern.

Not shock over the news.

Fear.

Fear of her.

Gwendolyn lowered her eyes.

"We did kill people."

The words felt blunt.

She didn't know how else to say them.

"I can't tell you we didn't."

Eleanor remained silent.

"But they attacked us first."

Gwendolyn looked up again.

"They drove to the blood clinic with guns."

"They shot through the windows."

"They killed the security guard before we even got outside."

Her fingers curled slightly against the fabric of her dress.

"They shot the receptionist too."

"She would've died."

Gwendolyn's voice became firmer.

"If Evelyn hadn't given her blood..."

"She would've died too."

Eleanor swallowed.

Gwendolyn heard it clearly.

She leaned a little closer.

"The news is making it sound like we went there to kill people."

"We didn't."

"We went there to get blood."

"That's all."

She hesitated.

Then continued.

"They attacked us because we were vampires."

"We defended ourselves."

Her mother looked at her then.

Really looked.

Gwendolyn felt a small flicker of hope.

"Vampires can be dangerous."

She nodded.

"I know that."

"But humans can be dangerous too."

"Those people proved it."

"They killed someone who hadn't done anything."

"They nearly killed another person."

"We stopped them."

Eleanor's heartbeat didn't slow.

If anything, it grew worse.

Gwendolyn's smile faded at the edges.

"...Mom?"

Eleanor's gaze shifted away.

Gwendolyn stared at her profile.

The pain that struck through her was sudden and sharp.

It wasn't physical.

She understood physical pain now.

Scratches.

Broken bones.

Blows hard enough to send her through the air.

This felt worse.

"Why are you afraid of me?"

Her voice trembled.

The question escaped before she could stop it.

Eleanor's eyes closed briefly.

Gwendolyn waited.

Her mother took a slow breath.

Then another.

When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet.

"Because..."

She looked back at Gwendolyn.

"During that entire explanation..."

Gwendolyn held still.

"...You didn't stop smiling once."

Silence filled the room.

Gwendolyn's lips twitched.

Her smile wavered.

Then returned.

Not because she found anything funny.

Not because she enjoyed what happened.

It simply remained easier than letting her face fall apart.

"I..."

She raised one hand.

Then lowered it again.

"I don't want you to be afraid of me."

Her breathing quickened despite not needing the air.

She reached toward Eleanor.

"Mom, I only defended myself."

Eleanor looked at the extended hand.

Gwendolyn's fingers trembled slightly.

"I didn't go there wanting to hurt anyone."

"I just wanted us to be happy."

"All of us."

She tried to laugh softly, but the sound came out thin.

"Those idiots could've put you in danger too."

"If they got away with it..."

"They might've attacked other vampires."

"Other clinics."

"Anyone helping us."

Her hand remained between them.

"They could've come here."

Eleanor's eyes moved back to Gwendolyn's face.

Gwendolyn leaned closer.

"I couldn't let that happen."

"I won't let anyone hurt you."

Eleanor took another breath.

Then asked quietly,

"If you could go back..."

Gwendolyn blinked.

Her mother continued.

"If you knew exactly how it would end..."

"Would you still kill them?"

Gwendolyn didn't understand the question.

Not truly.

She searched her mother's expression, trying to find what answer Eleanor wanted.

But there was only one honest answer.

Gwendolyn nodded.

"Yes."

Confusion entered her voice.

"They were idiots."

"They attacked us."

"And leaving them alive could've hurt you later."

Eleanor's expression changed.

Something in it closed.

Gwendolyn felt the shift immediately.

Her mother's heartbeat remained fast.

Too fast.

Eleanor looked directly into Gwendolyn's empty crimson eyes.

"Do all of you feel that way?"

Gwendolyn glanced toward the floor.

She thought of Lavinia.

Valerie.

Adelaide.

Rosaline.

Celestine.

Evelyn.

She thought about the clinic.

About the way none of them had hesitated once the shooting started.

About how even Evelyn, the quietest among them, had fought.

Gwendolyn looked back up.

"I think so."

She reached for her mother's hand.

Eleanor stiffened when Gwendolyn caught it.

Gwendolyn gently brought the hand to her cheek.

The warmth against her cold skin felt familiar.

Comforting.

Eleanor almost jerked back at the temperature difference.

Gwendolyn held on.

Not tightly.

Just enough that her mother couldn't retreat immediately.

"Look at me."

Eleanor did.

Gwendolyn pressed her cheek more firmly into her palm.

"I would never hurt you."

Her voice steadied.

"Never."

"Not because you're human."

"Because you're my mom."

She swallowed.

"None of my friends downstairs would hurt you either."

"Lavinia carried the receptionist out of danger."

"Evelyn saved her."

"Adelaide worries about her little brother every day."

"Celestine apologizes when she hurts us during games even though we heal."

"Valerie acts silly, but she notices when we're upset."

"Rosaline too."

Gwendolyn's eyes glistened, though no tears fell yet.

"They aren't monsters."

"I'm not a monster."

Her mother's hand remained against her cheek.

"Why are you so upset?"

Gwendolyn asked.

"I didn't know those people."

"They attacked us first."

"They killed someone."

"Why does it matter more that they died than that we survived?"

Eleanor's lips parted.

No answer came.

Her hand slowly pulled away.

This time, Gwendolyn let it go.

The loss of warmth felt immediate.

Eleanor looked down.

"...Gwendolyn."

"Yes?"

"I need you to leave."

The words were soft.

They still struck harder than any punch.

Gwendolyn stared at her.

For a moment, her face went completely blank.

Then the smile returned.

It fit badly now.

Too smooth.

Too empty.

Like a mask placed over something cracking beneath it.

She stood.

Her hands moved automatically over the front of her dress, smoothing fabric that wasn't wrinkled.

"...Okay."

Eleanor didn't look up.

Gwendolyn lingered beside the bed.

"I hope you feel a little better soon."

Her voice remained gentle.

"I really do."

Then she turned toward the door.

Each step felt strangely heavy.

The hallway outside was dim.

Gwendolyn closed the bedroom door softly behind herself.

She stood there for several seconds without moving.

Why?

She didn't understand.

Her mother knew her.

Eleanor had accepted her.

She had laughed with them.

Fed them breakfast even though they didn't need it.

Allowed seven vampires to occupy her house.

Why would she suddenly be afraid?

Gwendolyn hadn't hurt her.

She would never hurt her.

Even imagining it felt painful.

Wrong.

Impossible.

Her mother wasn't someone she could classify as a threat.

She was her mother.

The person who raised her.

The person whose loneliness had kept Gwendolyn from moving away even when she became an adult.

The person she loved.

Gwendolyn began descending the stairs.

Her mind raced faster than her body.

Those people at the clinic had gone there intending to kill.

They had delivered themselves into danger.

She hadn't hunted them.

She hadn't gone outside hoping to find someone to hurt.

They had fired first.

They had killed first.

So why did Eleanor look at her as though Gwendolyn had walked into the clinic and slaughtered innocent strangers?

Why did her heartbeat race when Gwendolyn touched her?

Why did her hand try to pull away?

Gwendolyn reached the bottom of the stairs.

Her fingers tightened around the banister.

For once, she didn't want to smile.

But she did anyway.

The expression felt hollow.

She opened the living room door.

Lavinia was already there.

One moment she stood near the couch.

The next, she crossed the room in a blur and wrapped both arms around Gwendolyn.

The sudden embrace nearly pushed Gwendolyn backward.

She caught herself automatically.

Lavinia held her tightly.

No questions.

No hesitation.

The scent of berries and pine surrounded her.

The others moved closer at once.

Valerie reached them next, placing one hand against Gwendolyn's back.

Rosaline pressed in from the side.

Adelaide gently took one of Gwendolyn's hands.

Celestine and Evelyn stood close enough that their scents joined the others, lavender and chai mixing with vanilla and chocolate.

"Give her time," Lavinia whispered.

Gwendolyn's arms slowly rose.

She hugged Lavinia back.

"She'll understand," Valerie said.

"She knows you," Rosaline added.

"She won't stay afraid forever."

Adelaide squeezed Gwendolyn's hand.

"Don't be sad."

Gwendolyn closed her eyes.

She was sad.

Deeply.

Painfully.

She didn't understand why.

Those people were strangers.

Dangerous strangers.

Her mother was acting as though their lives should've mattered more to Gwendolyn than her own friends.

More than Eleanor's safety.

Why?

Why didn't she trust her?

Why had fear entered her eyes?

Why had her heartbeat raced?

Gwendolyn pressed her face against Lavinia's shoulder.

Lavinia half guided, half pulled her toward the couch.

They sat together.

Gwendolyn leaned against her immediately.

Lavinia wrapped one arm around her shoulders.

The others remained nearby.

No one returned to their phones.

No one turned the television volume back up.

Their faces had fallen.

Even Valerie's usual smile was gone.

Rosaline sat on the floor near Gwendolyn's knees.

Adelaide remained beside the coffee table.

Celestine and Evelyn stayed close.

Their sadness made Gwendolyn's own heartache worse.

And somehow better.

She wasn't alone.

None of them would look at her with fear.

None of them would ask whether she'd make the same choice again as though there were only one acceptable answer.

Gwendolyn stared at her own hands.

"...I don't understand."

Her voice cracked.

Lavinia held her tighter.

"You don't have to right now."

Gwendolyn nodded faintly.

She still smiled.

But now tears finally gathered beneath her white eyelashes, slipping down her flawless cheeks while the other vampires remained gathered around her in quiet, shared sorrow.

───

Nobody spoke for several long moments.

The only sounds in the living room were the muted television and Gwendolyn's quiet breathing.

Lavinia simply sat beside her.

One arm remained around Gwendolyn's shoulders while the other gently brushed away the tears rolling down her cheeks.

She wasn't particularly good at comforting people.

She never had been.

Growing up, she'd never been especially close to her own family. They weren't estranged... just distant. Holidays were holidays, birthdays were birthdays, and everyone eventually returned to their own lives.

She couldn't honestly tell Gwendolyn she understood.

She didn't.

Not really.

So she remained quiet.

Sometimes...

Being there was enough.

The others hadn't moved far either.

Rosaline sat on the floor with her legs crossed.

Valerie leaned against the opposite couch.

Adelaide rested her chin on the coffee table.

Celestine and Evelyn remained standing nearby.

None of them had left.

None of them wanted to.

They had all heard everything upstairs.

Every word.

Every heartbeat.

Every silence.

None of them believed Gwendolyn had done anything wrong.

They had been attacked.

The security guard had been murdered.

The receptionist had nearly died.

They had defended themselves.

Then they had ensured those responsible wouldn't create more victims later.

Simple.

Perhaps not pleasant.

But simple.

Lavinia certainly didn't regret what happened.

Not because she enjoyed killing.

She didn't.

But because leaving people willing to murder strangers simply didn't seem like kindness to her.

She gently wiped another tear from Gwendolyn's cheek.

"...You're crying a lot."

Gwendolyn sniffled.

"...I know."

Then...

Without warning...

She buried her face against Lavinia's shoulder.

Lavinia immediately felt dampness soaking into the fabric of her dress.

She looked down.

"...Hey."

No response.

"...Hey."

Another sniffle.

"...You're getting tears all over my dress."

Gwendolyn remained exactly where she was.

"It's expensive."

Still nothing.

"I've only had it a week."

A tiny sound escaped Gwendolyn.

Not quite a laugh.

Not quite another sob.

Somewhere between.

Lavinia continued dramatically.

"I don't think vampire dresses are designed for emotional damage."

That finally did it.

A quiet giggle escaped Gwendolyn.

She pulled back just enough to wipe at her eyes.

"...Sorry."

Lavinia looked at the damp patch on her shoulder.

She sighed theatrically.

"...I'll forgive you."

"Really?"

"...This once."

Another small laugh escaped Gwendolyn.

The room relaxed just a little.

Valerie smiled faintly.

"So dramatic."

"I've suffered greatly."

"You've survived."

"Barely."

Rosaline nodded solemnly.

"We should hold a memorial service for the shoulder."

Lavinia pointed immediately.

"Exactly."

Gwendolyn laughed again.

The sound remained shaky.

But it was genuine.

After another quiet moment, she looked down at her hands.

"...Do you think..."

Her voice became almost inaudible.

"...Mom hates me?"

Six heads turned toward her immediately.

"No."

Valerie answered first.

Rosaline shook her head.

"Definitely not."

Adelaide spoke next.

"She's just..."

She searched for the words.

"...Trying to accept everything."

Celestine nodded slowly.

"She learned all of this very suddenly."

Evelyn quietly added,

"...Give her time."

"She'll understand."

One after another, they reassured her.

Nobody hesitated.

Nobody even considered agreeing with the question.

Eleanor didn't hate Gwendolyn.

None of them believed that.

Lavinia looked at Gwendolyn's hopeful expression.

Then quietly lowered her eyes.

She hoped they were right.

She truly did.

But...

She couldn't honestly know.

Humans and vampires thought differently.

She'd only been a vampire for days, yet already there were things she simply couldn't see the way she once had.

The clinic.

The attackers.

Jumping from rooftops.

Breaking bones while playing.

Even smiling.

A vampire smiled because smiling felt natural.

Not because something amused them.

Not because they enjoyed violence.

It simply...

Was.

Eleanor hadn't seen that distinction.

She had only seen her daughter calmly smiling while describing killing people.

From a human perspective...

Lavinia could almost understand why that would be frightening.

Almost.

She sighed quietly.

"...I hope she comes around."

Everyone looked toward her.

"I like your mom."

She smiled gently at Gwendolyn.

"And I like you."

She shrugged.

"So obviously..."

"I want you two to get along."

Gwendolyn's eyes became damp again.

Lavinia immediately pointed a warning finger.

"No."

"...Hm?"

"No more tears."

"My dress's emotional resilience has limits."

That earned another soft laugh from everyone.

Even Celestine smiled.

Rosaline reached over and lightly poked the damp spot on Lavinia's shoulder.

"...Looks ruined."

"It absolutely isn't."

"I think it is."

"It repairs itself."

Rosaline looked disappointed.

"...There goes my joke."

The gentle teasing gradually pulled the tension from the room.

Not completely.

The sadness remained.

So did the uncertainty.

But it no longer felt overwhelming.

Gwendolyn leaned against Lavinia once more.

This time she was careful to avoid the already damp shoulder.

"...Thank you."

Lavinia smiled.

"For what?"

"For staying."

Lavinia looked around the room.

Valerie.

Rosaline.

Adelaide.

Celestine.

Evelyn.

Not one of them had left Gwendolyn alone.

She gently rested her head against Gwendolyn's.

"...You wouldn't have been alone anyway."

The others nodded in quiet agreement.

Whatever happened upstairs...

Whatever Eleanor ultimately decided...

Whatever the world thought after the news spread...

There was one thing none of them questioned.

The seven vampires had found one another.

And until the day came that someone managed to convince them otherwise...

None of them intended to let another face sorrow alone.