The Divergence

───

Lavinia's crimson eyes slowly opened.

Silence greeted her.

Not true silence.

The abandoned maintenance tunnel possessed its own quiet rhythm. The faint hum of electrical equipment somewhere beyond the concrete walls.

Water dripping steadily in the distance. The soft rustle of fabric as the others began waking one by one.

She stretched, arching her back before relaxing with a content sigh.

"...Morning."

"Evening."

Valerie answered immediately.

Lavinia smiled.

"Right."

One by one, everyone climbed to their feet.

Fine grey dust coated the concrete around where they'd slept. It clung lightly to their dresses and hair, though not nearly as stubbornly as it would have on human clothing.

Gwendolyn smiled as she stepped in front of Cordelia.

"Hold still."

Cordelia blinked.

"...Hm?"

"You've got dust everywhere."

With practiced hands, Gwendolyn brushed the dust from Cordelia's shoulders, sleeves and hair.

"There."

She smiled proudly.

"All clean."

Cordelia looked down at herself before laughing softly.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

Lavinia stood, dusting the back of her own dress before looking over.

Her smile faded ever so slightly.

"...Cordelia?"

Everyone else gradually noticed it too.

Nothing obvious.

Nothing alarming.

Cordelia was still beautiful.

Her pale blue hair still flowed elegantly down her back.

Her skin remained flawless.

Yet...

The effortless glow every vampire seemed to possess had dimmed ever so slightly.

Not enough for a human to notice.

Enough for another vampire to.

Cordelia tilted her head.

"What?"

"You..."

Lavinia frowned thoughtfully.

"You look a little different."

Cordelia blinked.

"...Different?"

Rosaline stepped closer.

Valerie looked her over.

Adelaide quietly studied her.

Even Celestine's attention settled on Cordelia.

The latter looked between all of them before giving an awkward smile.

"...I do?"

She brushed a hand through her hair.

"I hadn't noticed."

She paused.

"...Actually..."

A quiet groan escaped her.

"I'm thirsty."

Everyone immediately looked at her.

Cordelia laughed sheepishly.

"I mean..."

She rubbed the back of her neck.

"...really thirsty."

"How thirsty?"

Adelaide asked.

Cordelia thought about it.

"...Enough that it's distracting."

Another pause.

"My body feels..."

She searched for the right word.

"...heavier."

She flexed her fingers experimentally.

"And my thoughts..."

A faint smile.

"They're moving a little slower than usual."

The group exchanged glances.

Before Cordelia could stop them, everyone had naturally gathered around her.

Lavinia gently lifted one of Cordelia's long strands of hair.

Valerie leaned in from one side.

Rosaline examined her face.

Gwendolyn held one of Cordelia's hands.

Adelaide looked concerned.

Celestine remained quiet, simply observing.

Cordelia laughed.

"I'm alright."

Nobody looked convinced.

"I'm serious."

She smiled reassuringly.

"I don't feel sick."

"You don't look sick."

Lavinia replied.

"You just..."

She hesitated.

"...don't quite look like yourself."

Rosaline folded her arms.

"It's been a week."

Everyone looked toward her.

"A week since the Divergence."

Cordelia blinked.

"...Already?"

Rosaline nodded.

"You haven't actually eaten."

"I..."

Cordelia looked mildly embarrassed.

"I licked a little blood off my finger a few days ago."

Silence.

"It wasn't much."

She laughed awkwardly.

"I figured I'd probably find something to drink later."

She looked away.

"I just..."

Another embarrassed smile.

"...didn't expect I'd end up not drinking any over the following days."

Valerie sighed.

"You've officially become our medical mystery."

Cordelia scratched her cheek.

"I suppose I have."

Gwendolyn gently squeezed her hand.

"We'll get you blood tonight."

"We're not letting you go another day."

Cordelia smiled warmly.

"I know."

"Thank you."

Lavinia reached over, patting Cordelia's shoulder.

"We'll figure it out."

The reassurance seemed enough.

Together, the eight vampires began making their way back through the maintenance tunnel.

As they walked, an odd excitement naturally settled over all of them.

Night.

None of them needed to say it.

They could simply...

Feel it.

By the time they neared the subway tracks, everyone was smiling just a little more than they had been moments earlier.

The tunnel opened onto the familiar rails.

Valerie suddenly stopped.

Her ears twitched.

"...Train."

A distant rumble rolled through the tunnel.

Headlights appeared far away.

Without discussion, everyone hopped lightly onto the platform instead.

Seconds later the subway rushed past beneath them, wind whipping through their long hair and dresses before gradually fading again.

Several waiting passengers openly stared.

One young man quietly lowered his phone after apparently thinking better of recording them.

Nobody paid him much attention.

The eight vampires simply continued toward the station exit.

As they walked across the platform, Valerie naturally drifted behind Lavinia.

Without saying anything, she began brushing the fine dust from the back of Lavinia's dress.

A few gentle pats.

Then across her shoulders.

Finally through the ends of her long black hair.

Lavinia glanced over one shoulder.

"...Thanks."

Valerie smiled.

"You missed a few spots."

"I noticed."

Lavinia laughed quietly.

"I didn't realize how dusty this place was."

"It suits us."

"It does?"

"We leave cleaner than we arrive."

Lavinia chuckled.

"I suppose that's true."

She stopped walking for a moment.

"My turn."

Valerie turned around immediately.

Without hesitation.

Lavinia smiled before brushing the dust from Valerie's shoulders and back with the same gentle care.

"There."

Valerie looked down at herself.

"Perfect."

Despite spending the day inside the abandoned maintenance tunnel, only a few moments of brushing was enough to restore every black dress to its usual immaculate appearance.

The dust simply refused to linger.

Their skin proved much the same.

Leaving the station, Oakridge greeted them once more.

Evening wind rolled between the buildings.

Cars passed steadily along the streets.

Conversations drifted from nearby cafés.

A dog barked somewhere in the distance.

Far away...

A siren briefly sounded before fading again.

Life continued.

The group walked together along the sidewalk.

Adelaide broke the comfortable silence.

"What about trying a hospital?"

Everyone looked toward her.

"They'll have blood."

She glanced toward Cordelia.

"We only need one bag."

Celestine considered it before speaking.

"I'm not sure they'd give us one."

"Why not?"

"They might need every bag they have."

She looked ahead.

"Transfusions."

"Emergencies."

"They can't know when they'll need it."

Lavinia nodded thoughtfully.

"...Then maybe we trade."

The others looked toward her.

"I could donate one of my blood bags."

She shrugged.

"They give us one in return."

Rosaline immediately shook her head.

"Lavinia."

"What?"

"A bag of your blood..."

She laughed softly.

"...is worth far more."

Adelaide nodded.

"Human blood keeps us fed."

"Your blood..."

She smiled faintly.

"...could save dozens of people."

Lavinia blinked.

"...Right."

"I forgot."

Valerie folded her arms.

"A hospital probably doesn't know that."

Everyone looked at her.

"I haven't seen anything online saying vampire blood heals people."

"Neither have I."

Celestine agreed.

"The information doesn't seem to be public."

Before anyone could continue...

Two black SUVs quietly pulled alongside the curb.

The conversation stopped.

Every vampire instinctively became more alert.

The memory of the previous night's attack lingered.

Lavinia subtly stepped half a pace forward.

Then...

The rear passenger door opened.

A familiar sensation reached them before either woman did.

Black cherries.

Red wine.

Followed by...

Lilac.

Fresh rain.

Every vampire relaxed almost immediately.

"...Vampires."

Gwendolyn whispered.

A red-haired vampire practically bounded from the SUV.

She looked around once.

Twice.

Then spotted the group.

Her face lit up.

Behind her, another vampire stepped gracefully onto the pavement.

Dark skin.

Long lavender hair stirred gently by the evening breeze.

Composed.

Elegant.

The front doors opened.

Two soldiers climbed out before quietly taking positions beside their respective vehicles.

Rather than watching the vampires, they faced outward, casually observing passing pedestrians and traffic.

The lavender-haired vampire smiled politely.

"Good evening."

Her voice was calm.

"My name is Violetta."

She gestured toward the redhead.

"And this is Evangeline."

Before anyone could introduce themselves—

Evangeline hurried straight toward them.

"Oh!"

She wrapped Lavinia in a hug.

"There are so many of you!"

Before Lavinia could respond, Evangeline had already moved to Gwendolyn.

Another hug.

Then Valerie.

Rosaline.

Adelaide.

Celestine.

Evelyn.

Finally Cordelia.

She looked absolutely delighted.

"I've been so bored!"

She laughed.

"There were scientists."

"So many scientists."

"They kept asking me questions."

"They're all lovely but..."

She looked around the group with shining crimson eyes.

"...they weren't vampires."

Lavinia found herself smiling despite the whirlwind introduction.

"It's nice to meet you too."

"It really is!"

Evangeline replied immediately.

"I'm so happy!"

Behind her, Violetta watched the scene unfold with quiet amusement.

She waited until Evangeline had finally stepped back before speaking again.

"I apologize."

A small smile tugged at her lips.

"I expected that."

Evangeline looked entirely unapologetic.

Violetta gestured toward the waiting SUVs.

"If you wouldn't mind joining us."

She glanced toward the increasingly curious pedestrians.

"I'd rather not attract unnecessary attention."

The group exchanged brief looks before agreeing.

After a short discussion about seating, everyone climbed into the vehicles.

Evangeline happily joined the second SUV, immediately introducing herself to everyone inside.

Lavinia found herself sitting beside Violetta.

The convoy pulled smoothly back into traffic.

Lavinia looked out the tinted window.

"I think..."

She smiled.

"...this is the first vehicle I've been in since the Divergence."

Violetta laughed softly.

"Vampires aren't allergic to vehicles."

Valerie grinned from the seat behind them.

"No."

"They're just slower."

"And expensive."

"They are."

Violetta agreed.

"But they also make you significantly harder to identify."

She lightly rested a hand against the door.

"Most people don't know who's inside a passing vehicle."

Her crimson eyes met Lavinia's.

"They're slower."

"They're also much harder to ambush."

The group quietly considered that.

Adelaide spoke next.

"Why are soldiers driving you?"

Violetta answered as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

"I'm a Brigadier General."

Silence filled the SUV.

Lavinia blinked.

"...Seriously?"

Violetta smiled.

"Yes."

"I remained in my position."

She looked back out at the passing city.

"I came to Oakridge because it's currently the most volatile city in the country."

"I'd like to stabilize it."

Lavinia tilted her head.

"They still let vampires..."

She glanced toward the others.

"...and werewolves..."

"...stay in positions like that?"

Violetta nodded once.

"If every transformed officer, politician and public official had immediately been dismissed or stripped of their authority..."

She folded her hands neatly in her lap.

"...attempting integration would have become considerably more difficult."

Outside, Oakridge rolled past beneath the evening sky as the two SUVs carried ten vampires toward a destination only two of them knew existed prior.

...

The SUVs left the brighter streets of Oakridge behind and turned onto a quieter road lined with older commercial buildings.

Lavinia watched through the tinted window as restaurants and apartment towers gave way to warehouses, office blocks, and low concrete structures that looked like they had been built decades ago and never given much attention afterward.

Nothing about the area appeared abandoned.

It simply looked overlooked.

The convoy slowed before turning into a fenced parking lot.

At its center stood a broad, plain building of grey concrete and dark windows. There was no sign on the front.

No flag. No military emblem. Nothing that suggested anyone important had ever stepped inside.

Lavinia leaned closer to the glass.

"...That's it?"

Violetta followed her gaze.

"That is it."

"It looks like an accounting office."

"Good."

Violetta's smile was faint.

"Then it is doing its job."

The SUV came to a stop beneath an overhang near the entrance.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then Violetta rested one hand against the door.

"The military purchased this building several days ago."

She paused.

"More specifically, I arranged for it to be purchased."

Valerie raised an eyebrow.

"You bought a building?"

"I authorized the purchase of a building."

Violetta opened the door.

"There is a difference."

Lavinia shifted to follow her, then stopped.

"Why?"

Violetta looked back over one shoulder.

"In the hope that we can prevent further escalation between humans and vampires."

Lavinia considered that while stepping out onto the pavement.

The evening air was cool.

She glanced toward the second SUV as it pulled into place behind them.

"What about the wolves?"

Violetta closed the door.

"What about them?"

"Haven't they caused problems too?"

Lavinia gestured vaguely toward the city.

"Fights, attacks, people panicking because one of them turned into a wolf in public..."

She tilted her head.

"Are they not getting into conflicts?"

Violetta smiled.

"They are."

That answer came easily.

"Statistically, vampires have been involved in fewer reported violent incidents than werewolves."

Lavinia blinked.

"...Really?"

"Yes."

Violetta began walking toward the building.

"Werewolves are more prone to reacting openly when threatened, insulted, frightened, or cornered. They also retain more familiar human habits, including the unfortunate habit of escalating arguments after they should have ended."

Valerie laughed quietly.

Violetta continued.

"However, werewolves are easier for humans to relate to."

She glanced back at the group.

"They eat ordinary food. They remain warm. They can still walk in daylight. Many of them look almost completely human until one notices the ears, eyes, or tail."

Her gaze moved briefly across the vampires behind her.

"Vampires drink blood."

The simple statement settled over them.

"That distinction has attracted considerably more attention."

Lavinia placed one hand against her chest.

"Well."

She let out a relieved sigh.

"At least it isn't only us."

Valerie stared at her.

Lavinia smiled.

"I feel a little better knowing the werewolves are struggling too."

Her expression softened.

"Not because I want them to struggle."

"Of course not."

Valerie's voice was perfectly dry.

"I'm certain the wolves would deeply appreciate your 'concern'."

"They would understand what I mean."

"They absolutely would not."

Violetta opened the front door before Lavinia could defend herself.

A few soldiers were positioned around the building.

Far fewer than Lavinia had expected.

One stood near the entrance. Another watched the parking lot from beneath the overhang. Through the windows, she could see two more moving through the lobby.

Their uniforms were ordinary.

Their weapons remained secured.

Even so, several heartbeats quickened as the vampires approached.

The sound was immediate.

A sudden rise in tempo.

One soldier swallowed.

Another shifted his weight almost imperceptibly.

None of them stared.

Their eyes remained on the road, the doors, and the surrounding buildings.

Not on the ten vampires gathering outside.

The second SUV's doors opened.

Evangeline stepped out first, followed by Gwendolyn, Rosaline, Adelaide, Celestine, Evelyn, and Cordelia.

Evangeline hurried around the vehicle.

"Everyone's here!"

Violetta looked toward her.

"I noticed."

Evangeline smiled brightly.

Violetta stepped aside and held the door open.

"Inside."

They entered together.

The interior did not match the building's exterior at all.

Warm light filled a broad reception area with polished floors, dark wood paneling, and modern furniture arranged around low tables. The air smelled clean without carrying the harsh chemical scent of a hospital or military facility.

There were no propaganda posters.

No rows of metal chairs.

No exposed concrete.

It felt closer to an expensive hotel lobby than a temporary command post.

Lavinia slowed.

"...Oh."

Valerie looked around.

"This is much nicer than the outside."

"That was intentional."

Violetta led them farther in.

"The exterior discourages attention."

"And the interior?"

Gwendolyn asked.

Violetta glanced back.

"The interior discourages despair."

They passed through a secured door and into a long hallway.

Rooms opened on either side.

Some appeared to be offices.

Others contained communications equipment, storage cabinets, or medical supplies. Soldiers moved quietly through the building, though none lingered around the vampires.

Violetta continued toward a set of double doors at the far end.

Two soldiers followed at a respectful distance.

She opened the doors.

Beyond them was a spacious living area.

Several couches surrounded a wide table. A television had been mounted to one wall. Shelves held books, board games, and neatly stacked blankets. A kitchenette occupied the rear of the room, connected to a dining space large enough for all of them.

There were additional doors beyond that, likely leading to bedrooms and bathrooms.

Evangeline hurried inside.

"I told you it was nice."

"You've been here before?"

Lavinia asked.

"For ten minutes."

Evangeline dropped onto a couch.

"That was enough."

Violetta turned toward the soldiers.

"Thank you."

Both nodded.

"Ma'am."

They withdrew and closed the doors behind them.

The room became noticeably quieter.

Not silent.

The soldiers' footsteps remained audible through the corridor.

So did the movements of everyone else in the building.

But the distance helped.

Violetta crossed to the kitchenette and opened a compact refrigerator beneath the counter.

A soft rush of cold air escaped.

She reached inside and removed a dark red blood bag.

Cordelia's attention fixed on it immediately.

Her expression barely changed, but every vampire in the room noticed the way her posture tightened.

Violetta held the bag beneath a small warming unit built into the counter.

"You are Cordelia."

Cordelia blinked.

"Yes."

"I was told you haven't properly fed since the Divergence occured?"

A faint embarrassment crossed Cordelia's face.

"I had a little bit of blood."

"Not enough it seems."

Violetta waited for the warmer to chime.

She removed the bag, checked its temperature with her fingertips, then carried it over.

Cordelia accepted it carefully.

"Thank you."

"Drink."

Cordelia looked at the others.

Nobody objected.

Gwendolyn smiled encouragingly.

Cordelia brought the bag to her lips.

The first swallow made her eyes close.

Her shoulders relaxed.

She drank again, slower this time.

The subtle dullness in her pale blue hair did not vanish at once, but color began returning to her expression within moments.

Violetta watched with quiet interest.

"That aligns with the theories."

Cordelia lowered the bag.

"Theories?"

"We do not have confirmed data on vampire starvation."

Violetta leaned one hip against the table.

"No vampire has reached that point as they haven't existed for that long."

She nodded toward Cordelia.

"The earliest signs were expected to include reduced physical ease, dulled concentration, increasing thirst, and a slight loss of visual vibrancy."

Cordelia looked down at the blood bag and then speaks with a smile.

"So I am not dying?"

"No."

Violetta smiled.

"You were just thirsty."

Cordelia resumed drinking.

Adelaide settled onto one of the couches.

"What exactly are you trying to do here?"

The question drew everyone's attention back to Violetta.

She crossed her arms.

"My goal in Oakridge is to minimize the chance of a crisis."

"That's broad."

Valerie remarked.

"It needs to be."

Violetta looked around the room.

"The city has already experienced several attacks, public disturbances, armed confrontations, and organized attempts to provoke retaliation."

She paused.

"The government wants integration to succeed."

Rosaline tilted her head.

"Because it is the right thing to do?"

"Partly."

Violetta's answer was immediate.

"Also because vampire blood has extraordinary potency."

Nobody spoke.

Violetta continued plainly.

"It can accelerate healing, reverse injuries that would otherwise become permanent, reduce recovery times, and potentially transform medicine."

Her crimson eyes moved from one vampire to another.

"If properly studied and distributed, it could change the world."

Lavinia glanced toward Cordelia's blood bag.

"And that's why they want us integrated."

"It is one of the reasons."

Violetta unfolded her arms.

"There are practical concerns as well. Seventy thousand vampires cannot simply be hunted, imprisoned, or ignored. Nor can ninety thousand werewolves."

Her expression remained calm.

"Integration is less destructive than war."

Celestine sat beside Adelaide.

"But not everyone agrees."

"No."

Violetta's voice cooled slightly.

"There are officials, officers, civilians, and private organizations who oppose the idea."

She looked toward the nearest window.

"Some are afraid."

"Some are ambitious."

"Some believe disorder will give them influence."

Her gaze returned to the group.

"They have been working to create problems."

Evelyn frowned.

"Like the attack last night?"

"Possibly."

Violetta did not pretend certainty.

"We are still investigating."

She folded her arms again.

"Others have focused on me directly."

Lavinia leaned forward.

"What did they do?"

"They attempted to have me stripped of my command."

Evangeline sat up immediately.

"Apparently they said she wasn't trustworthy."

Violetta glanced toward her.

Evangeline bounded off the couch.

"If Violetta isn't trustworthy, then nobody is."

Violetta laughed lightly.

She tilted her head.

"...They were not entirely wrong."

Evangeline stopped.

Everyone looked at her.

Violetta's smile remained, though it became quieter.

"I do not want a war."

She looked at the vampires gathered before her.

"But if one began..."

Her eyes passed over Lavinia, Valerie, Cordelia, and the others.

"...I could only side with my kind."

The words settled into the room.

They did not shock anyone.

Lavinia knew the answer before Violetta gave it.

So did Valerie.

So did all of them.

It was not hatred.

It was not even a decision they had discussed.

The truth simply existed inside them.

Vampires first.

Violetta seemed to recognize their lack of surprise.

"It is the same globally."

She walked slowly around the table.

"Vampires and werewolves in positions of authority have tried to suppress that fact."

Adelaide's brow furrowed.

"You mean all of them feel this way?"

"To varying degrees."

Violetta nodded.

"Vampires prioritize vampires."

"Werewolves prioritize their packs and, more broadly, other werewolves."

She stopped near the center of the room.

"That knowledge would cause serious problems if publicly confirmed."

Rosaline leaned back.

"Because humans would never trust us."

"Correct."

Violetta's tone was matter-of-fact.

"A human government cannot comfortably allow someone to retain military command after learning that, in the event of a species conflict, that person would oppose humanity."

"Do they know?"

Celestine asked.

"I suspect some do."

Violetta exhaled softly.

"Perhaps many."

She glanced toward the closed doors.

"But everything is chaotic."

"Removing every vampire and werewolf from authority now would destabilize military commands, regional governments, law enforcement agencies, emergency services, and entire chains of logistics."

Her expression became more serious.

"They cannot act rashly."

"Not without risking the very conflict they are trying to prevent."

She paused.

"If they strip us of authority because they fear betrayal, they reinforce the belief that integration was never genuine."

"And if that happens..."

Gwendolyn murmured.

"They place everything on a path of no return."

Violetta nodded.

"Exactly."

Valerie had remained quiet through most of the explanation.

Now she rested her arms along the back of the couch.

"For humans, wouldn't removing nonhumans from leadership be the safest option?"

Violetta looked at her.

"Yes."

The answer came without hesitation.

Valerie raised an eyebrow.

Violetta continued.

"From a purely human strategic perspective, it would be the safest course."

She stepped closer.

"I retain classified access."

"I understand military planning."

"I command personnel."

"I can influence deployments, logistics, security policy, and crisis response."

Her voice stayed calm.

"If I were actively plotting against humanity, leaving me in command would be reckless."

"But you aren't."

Lavinia said.

"No."

Violetta looked toward her.

"I am not plotting against humanity."

"I do not want a war."

"I do not want cities burning, soldiers dying, or vampires being hunted through the streets."

Her gaze hardened only slightly.

"But if humans began that war..."

She let the silence finish the thought before continuing.

"I would stand against them."

"Until then, I will fulfill my role."

Violetta's expression softened again.

"I will protect civilians."

"I will stabilize Oakridge."

"I will stop humans from attacking vampires."

"And I will stop vampires from giving humans a reason to attack all of us."

Evangeline smiled proudly from beside the couch.

Violetta glanced toward her.

"You may sit down now."

Evangeline sat immediately.

Lavinia looked around the warm room, at the modern furniture, the soldiers beyond the walls, and Cordelia finishing the first proper blood she had consumed since the Divergence.

For the first time since they had awakened as vampires, someone had offered them something beyond survival.

Not certainty.

Not safety.

But a place within the world that came next.

Whether humans would truly allow them to keep it remained another question entirely.