The Divergence

───

The smell reached them long before the building came into view.

Smoke.

Burnt plastic.

Charred concrete.

And...

Blood.

Lavinia's nose twitched.

"...That's not right."

The others slowed as well.

Gwendolyn had suggested they stop by the Southern Oakridge Blood Clinic so Cordelia could finally feed after nearly a week without blood.

Instead...

Orange flames reflected against nearby buildings.

Several fire engines surrounded the clinic.

Firefighters sprayed continuous streams of water into the still-burning structure while smoke billowed into the night sky.

Police had established a perimeter.

The building itself was little more than a blackened shell.

Lavinia stared silently.

"...No..."

Cordelia rubbed her stomach absentmindedly.

"...It seems I won't be getting any blood tonight."

She sounded more resigned than disappointed.

The eight vampires approached one of the officers standing behind the police tape.

The officer turned.

The moment he realized eight vampires had quietly walked up beside him...

His eyes widened.

"Oh."

He visibly collected himself.

"...Can I help you?"

Lavinia gestured toward the ruined clinic.

"What happened?"

The officer glanced back at the building.

"Looks like a gas leak."

He spoke with practiced confidence.

"The explosion caused a fire."

"Our investigators are still working."

He smiled politely.

"Don't worry."

"Blood distribution will resume as soon as possible."

The vampires thanked him and walked away.

The moment they were out of earshot...

Valerie rolled her eyes so hard Lavinia thought they might actually fall out.

"...Gas leak."

She mimicked the officer's tone almost perfectly.

"What a coincidence."

She snorted.

"As if we haven't watched movies."

She folded her arms.

"I'd bet someone blew it up."

Nobody disagreed.

Not one of them.

Gwendolyn looked back at the burning building.

"...It's been six nights."

She turned toward Cordelia.

"You've almost gone an entire week without feeding."

Cordelia smiled reassuringly.

"I really am alright."

She patted her stomach lightly.

"I'm not particularly hungry."

Valerie looked unconvinced.

"...The problem is..."

She scratched her cheek.

"...We don't actually know how long vampires can go without blood."

Silence.

Cordelia sighed dramatically.

"...I really don't want to become the case study."

That earned a few quiet laughs.

Rosaline tapped thoughtfully against her chin.

"We'll figure something out."

Evelyn nodded.

"We have time."

Celestine smiled gently.

"We'll help."

Adelaide added,

"We're not exactly leaving you on your own."

The concern was genuine.

Cordelia looked at each of them in turn.

People she'd met only hours ago.

Yet every single one was already worrying about her.

Her smile softened.

"...Thank you."

Everyone looked over.

"I'm really..."

She paused.

"...Very happy I met all of you."

Lavinia immediately stepped over.

Flick.

Her finger lightly struck Cordelia's forehead.

Cordelia blinked.

"...Ow?"

Lavinia crossed her arms.

"Don't plant flags."

"...Flags?"

"The kind characters raise before something bad happens."

Cordelia stared.

Then realization slowly dawned.

"Oh."

Rosaline burst into laughter first.

Valerie followed immediately.

Even Evelyn covered her mouth, trying unsuccessfully to suppress a giggle.

Cordelia rubbed her forehead.

"I was only saying thank you."

"I know."

Lavinia nodded solemnly.

"But stories always punish people who say things like that."

Cordelia sighed dramatically.

"I'll choose my words more carefully."

Adelaide looked around casually.

"...We could always just grab the next human we see."

Everyone turned toward her.

"...And let Cordelia bite them."

Silence.

Then Adelaide laughed.

"I'm kidding."

Rosaline lightly shoved her shoulder.

"For a second..."

"I almost believed you."

Adelaide grinned.

"That's because I'm convincing."

Cordelia shook her head.

"I really am alright."

She smiled.

"We can leave it until tomorrow night."

The others exchanged glances.

Nobody liked the idea.

But...

She was the one who actually felt it.

Eventually...

They nodded.

"If you're sure."

"I am."

The mood gradually lightened again.

As they resumed walking...

Gwendolyn happily began recounting everything that had happened over the previous six nights.

"So first..."

"We met Lavinia!"

Lavinia laughed.

"You make it sound like I fell out of the sky."

"You kind of did."

"I absolutely did not."

"You basically did."

Rosaline nodded.

"You were very dramatic."

Lavinia looked offended.

"I was quietly existing."

Valerie snorted.

"You got bitten within an hour."

Cordelia giggled.

"So that's how you all met?"

"Pretty much."

Gwendolyn enthusiastically continued.

She described the blood clinic.

Their games.

Meeting Marcus.

The nightclub.

The reporter.

The silver bullets.

Every now and then...

Someone interrupted.

"No, that happened first."

"You forgot this part."

"You skipped the field."

"And don't forget Valerie wanted to punch the reporter."

"I still do."

Cordelia listened with obvious fascination.

Every story somehow became slightly more ridiculous than the last.

"...You've all been very busy."

Lavinia sighed.

"...It's only been six days."

"It feels like months."

The streets were noticeably quieter tonight.

Far fewer humans wandered around than before.

Many who did immediately crossed the street after spotting the group.

Others simply watched from a distance.

Werewolves, however...

Behaved differently.

Several packs moved through the city as casually as before.

A few glanced toward the vampires.

One young woman with brown wolf ears even smiled and waved.

Valerie automatically waved back.

The werewolf continued on her way.

Valerie stared after her.

Then looked toward the others.

"...I still don't like them."

That immediately drew snorts and giggles.

Rosaline smirked.

"You waved."

"It was polite."

"You smiled."

"I absolutely did not."

"You absolutely did."

Valerie huffed.

"I can dislike someone politely."

Lavinia laughed.

"I'll allow it."

Eventually Adelaide slowed.

She gestured grandly toward a subway entrance.

"...Ladies."

She spread both arms dramatically.

"Our accommodations."

The others looked at the entrance.

Then back at Adelaide.

A chorus of exaggerated boos immediately followed.

"What luxury."

"I'm overwhelmed."

"A five-star establishment."

"The finest underground living."

Adelaide bowed.

"I try."

They descended the stairs together.

The station remained open.

Several commuters waited quietly on the platforms.

The conversations throughout the station noticeably faltered the moment eight vampires entered.

One businessman looked up from his phone.

Saw them.

Immediately stood.

"...Next train."

A young couple quietly gathered their bags and headed back upstairs.

Within moments...

Several more people decided they suddenly had somewhere else to be.

Lavinia watched them go.

"...We're clearing the station."

Valerie shrugged.

"Saves us finding somewhere empty."

Without slowing...

The vampires reached the ticket barriers.

None of them carried transit cards.

Adelaide looked at them.

Then simply vaulted cleanly over the gate.

The others followed one after another.

Each jump graceful enough to make it look effortless.

One station employee opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Then quietly decided saying nothing was probably the better career choice.

The eight vampires continued deeper into the subway station.

Their footsteps echoed softly through the underground tunnels.

Behind them...

The remaining humans watched in uneasy silence.

None of the vampires seemed to notice.

Or perhaps...

They simply no longer cared.

The station platform was nearly deserted.

Only a handful of people remained waiting for the next train, and even they kept stealing uncertain glances toward the eight vampires.

Lavinia walked along the yellow safety line, peering down the tunnel.

"You know..."

She smiled.

"I think we could probably outrun the subway."

Valerie didn't even look up from her phone.

She rolled her eyes.

"Really?"

Lavinia nodded confidently.

"I'm serious."

Valerie finally looked at her.

"...Who was the one that got shot twice by ordinary humans tonight?"

Lavinia's eye twitched.

Before Valerie could react, Lavinia grabbed both of her shoulders.

"That's different!"

She shook Valerie dramatically.

"I couldn't see the weapon!"

"I'm fast!"

"I'm not dodging a bullet after it's already been fired!"

She narrowed her eyes.

"And you got hit too!"

Valerie shrugged without the slightest shame.

"I never said I was fast."

Lavinia stared.

"...You're impossible."

She gave Valerie a playful shove.

Valerie laughed as she stumbled a step before regaining her balance.

Cordelia watched the exchange quietly.

Her bright smile never seemed to fade for very long.

Every few moments her crimson eyes drifted across one of the vampires beside her, almost as if reassuring herself they were still there.

Gwendolyn slowly looked around the spotless subway platform.

The polished tiles.

The bright lights.

The clean benches.

Then...

She sighed dramatically.

"...Are we really sleeping here?"

She sounded utterly miserable.

Cordelia looked around as well.

Then smiled.

"Compared to burying myself underground..."

She clasped her hands together.

"...This is wonderful."

Gwendolyn immediately closed her mouth.

"...Right."

She decided not to complain anymore.

Rosaline burst into laughter.

She lightly nudged Cordelia.

"If nothing else..."

"You won't be sleeping in the dirt anymore."

She looked around at everyone.

"And honestly..."

"If we ever do..."

"We'll all be joining you."

She shrugged.

"We're all sort of homeless now."

Lavinia immediately protested from several feet away.

"I'm not homeless."

Everyone looked at her.

"I have an apartment."

"I just..."

She rubbed the back of her neck.

"...Don't want to stay somewhere people know during the day."

Rosaline nodded thoughtfully.

"So..."

She smiled.

"Homeless."

Lavinia groaned.

"That isn't the same thing."

"It feels the same."

"It absolutely does not."

Adelaide had wandered farther down the platform.

She stopped near a maintenance entrance before turning around.

Her light green hair swayed gently behind her.

"What about the service tunnels?"

She gestured toward the heavy metal door.

"We'll attract attention if we stay here."

Valerie nodded immediately.

"Probably better."

"People already keep staring."

One by one...

The vampires stepped down onto the tracks.

Then began walking through the tunnel.

Darkness swallowed them almost immediately.

For humans...

It would've been nearly impossible to see.

For vampires...

Nothing changed.

The tunnel remained perfectly visible.

Not because it became brighter...

But because darkness itself no longer obscured their vision.

There were no true shadows.

No hidden corners.

Only the quiet knowledge that they were walking somewhere without light.

Lavinia smiled slightly.

"...This is still weird."

Cordelia looked around curiously.

"I quite like it."

Celestine reached the service tunnel first.

She tested the handle once.

Locked.

Without hesitation...

She lightly struck the door with the side of her hand.

Clang.

The lock gave way immediately.

The heavy door swung inward with a metallic rattle.

"...Subtle."

Valerie commented.

Celestine blinked.

"It opened."

"It certainly did."

The stale air inside smelled old.

Concrete.

Dust.

Metal.

The sort of scent that accumulated in places people rarely entered.

The vampires filed inside together.

Lavinia walked beside Gwendolyn.

"...Can I ask something?"

Gwendolyn nodded.

"What?"

"...Why aren't we just staying at your house?"

She tilted her head.

"It's not like your mom kicked us out."

A heartbeat later...

Thump.

Gwendolyn's foot connected squarely with Lavinia's backside.

Lavinia stumbled forward.

"...Ow!"

She rubbed the offended area dramatically.

Gwendolyn folded her arms.

"I wanted to give Mom some space."

Lavinia nodded sheepishly.

"...I know."

Rosaline leaned toward Cordelia.

"I promise..."

She gestured toward the pair.

"...This isn't usually how we solve disagreements."

Cordelia laughed softly.

"I'm simply happy to be here."

She looked around the group.

"I would've spent tonight alone otherwise."

Lavinia glanced toward Gwendolyn before lowering her voice theatrically.

"...Cordelia's so wholesome."

She sighed.

"...Meanwhile someone beside me kicks me every chance she gets."

Gwendolyn pretended not to hear.

The corners of her mouth twitched upward anyway.

The narrow tunnel eventually opened into a wider maintenance area.

It wasn't large.

Perhaps several meters across.

Enough room for everyone to spread out comfortably.

Valerie looked around dramatically.

She spread both arms.

"...Welcome home."

She pointed toward the dusty concrete floor.

"The luxurious accommodations."

She gestured toward the bare walls.

"The beautiful interior decorating."

Then upward.

"And the magnificent ceiling."

Rosaline slowly turned in a circle.

"...Five stars."

"At least."

Adelaide leaned against the wall.

"A hotel would've been nicer."

She sighed.

"...If not for one problem."

Everyone understood immediately.

Hotels had windows.

Entrances.

Employees.

Humans.

During the day...

The vampires couldn't simply walk outside.

If someone discovered them.

If another attack happened.

If the building caught fire.

They'd be trapped until sunset.

None of them liked that risk.

Lavinia finally gave up standing.

She plopped backward onto the concrete.

A soft puff of dust rose around her.

She stared upward.

"...I knew becoming a vampire would be strange."

She sighed.

"...I just didn't expect to become a mole person."

Before she could sit up—

Valerie flopped directly onto her.

"Oof!"

Lavinia immediately squirmed.

"I know exactly why you did that!"

Valerie giggled.

"What?"

"You're protecting your dress!"

She wriggled comfortably against Lavinia.

"You're using me as a cushion!"

Valerie nodded proudly.

"I am."

Lavinia tried pushing her off.

Valerie simply shifted her weight.

"Nope."

"Get off."

"No."

"Lavi..."

"No."

The others laughed as Lavinia gave up.

Eventually everyone settled somewhere around the room.

Some leaned against walls.

Others sat cross-legged.

Evelyn quietly scrolled through her phone.

Celestine rested with her hands folded neatly in her lap.

Cordelia simply watched everyone with obvious contentment.

Rosaline absentmindedly twirled a curl of bright red hair around one finger.

"...We really should've punched that reporter."

Lavinia rolled her eyes.

"You're still thinking about him?"

Rosaline shrugged.

"He annoyed me."

Valerie didn't even look up from her screen.

"He would've deserved one punch."

Lavinia sighed dramatically.

"I refuse to encourage either of you."

She reached down.

Picked up a tiny pebble.

Then lightly tossed it.

It bounced harmlessly against Gwendolyn's shoulder.

Gwendolyn looked over.

"...Hm?"

Lavinia smiled softly.

"You okay?"

For a moment...

Gwendolyn simply looked at the floor.

"...Yeah."

She nodded once.

"I was sad."

She tucked a strand of white hair behind one ear.

"...It probably didn't help..."

She smiled faintly.

"...That I kept smiling while explaining everything to Mom."

Silence lingered briefly.

Then Valerie spoke.

"...Smiling's easy."

She shrugged.

"Easier than keeping a straight face."

She looked across the room.

"...Well..."

"Besides Celestine."

Everyone followed her gaze.

Celestine blinked.

"What?"

Valerie pointed.

"You somehow manage to look calm almost all the time."

Rosaline nodded.

"It's actually impressive."

Celestine looked genuinely puzzled.

"...Really?"

Lavinia smiled.

"I've seen you smile."

"It just takes effort."

Celestine thought for a moment before giving the smallest hint of one.

"...Maybe."

That tiny smile immediately caused several of the others to grin.

Even now...

Sleeping underground.

Unable to return home.

Their future uncertain.

The laughter still came easily.

Perhaps...

That was simply another part of being a vampire.