The Divergence

Lavinia rested one hand lightly against the rooftop ledge and looked down.

Fourteen stories.

The alley below seemed comfortably distant, the dumpsters and parked cars appearing almost miniature from where she stood.

"...Hm."

She tilted her head thoughtfully.

"I'm actually not sure how we're supposed to get down."

Valerie glanced over.

"We could climb."

"I suppose."

Lavinia looked over the edge again.

"Although climbing down fourteen stories sounds a little—"

Before she could finish—

Valerie ran.

"...Valerie?"

Three quick steps.

Then she jumped.

She didn't hesitate.

She simply launched herself from the rooftop.

Lavinia's eyes widened.

Valerie turned effortlessly in midair until she was facing the rooftop again, vibrant orange hair and black dress billowing around her as she fell.

She laughed.

Not nervously.

Not desperately.

Genuinely.

The sound drifted upward on the wind.

Lavinia watched her for exactly one second.

"...Oh."

Then stepped off the edge herself.

The rooftop disappeared behind her.

The cool night air rushed upward, catching her dress with a sharp crack before it streamed behind her.

Golden hair lifted weightlessly around her face.

She wasn't screaming.

She wasn't panicking.

She simply...

Fell.

The buildings slid upward around her as the ground approached with astonishing speed.

Below, Valerie looked up at her.

She was smiling.

Completely unconcerned.

Lavinia couldn't really blame her.

She wasn't worried either.

Not because she was brave.

Not because she was reckless.

Because somewhere inside...

She simply knew.

The same way a human knew stepping off a curb wouldn't kill them...

She knew this wouldn't either.

The certainty was absolute.

Valerie adjusted her posture slightly.

Her legs shifted.

Her feet aligned beneath her.

Then—

She touched the ground.

No crater.

No dramatic impact.

She simply landed.

A heartbeat later—

Lavinia did the same.

Her boots met the pavement.

The impact barely traveled through her body.

It felt...

Like stepping down from a slightly taller stair.

She blinked.

"..."

Valerie blinked too.

Both of them slowly looked upward.

Fourteen stories.

Then back at each other.

Silence.

Then—

They burst into laughter.

Neither of them could stop.

Lavinia leaned against the nearby brick wall, laughing until tears almost formed in the corners of her eyes.

Valerie doubled over, one hand on her stomach.

"I..."

She tried to speak.

Another laugh interrupted her.

"I wasn't..."

More laughter.

"...Actually sure I'd land it."

Lavinia laughed harder.

"What?"

Valerie finally managed to catch her breath.

"It just..."

She wiped beneath one eye.

"...Felt like I wouldn't hurt myself."

"So..."

She shrugged.

"...I jumped."

Lavinia wrapped both arms around herself dramatically.

She twisted from side to side as though trying to inspect the damage.

"...I'm clearly following bad company."

Valerie hummed thoughtfully.

"...I'm not denying that."

Instead...

She pointed directly at Lavinia.

"If your friend jumped off a cliff..."

She grinned.

"...You'd definitely jump too."

Lavinia looked down at herself before smiling.

"...Apparently I'd survive."

"...Fair point."

Another chuckle escaped both of them.

To a human...

The fall would've been horrifying.

Probably fatal.

At the very least...

Life-changing.

To the two vampires...

It had felt...

Normal.

Even the impact itself had barely disturbed them.

There hadn't been a painful jolt.

No aching knees.

No rattled bones.

Their bodies had simply accepted the landing as naturally as taking another step.

Lavinia looked down.

"...Oh."

She frowned.

"My shoes."

She nudged a damp cardboard box lying nearby.

It slid aside with ease.

"...They're dirty now."

She sounded genuinely disappointed.

Valerie glanced around the alley.

"I picked this side on purpose."

Lavinia looked over.

"There wasn't anyone underneath us."

She gestured toward the surrounding walls.

"And it's enclosed."

"So if anyone heard us..."

She shrugged.

"They probably won't know what happened."

Lavinia nodded.

"...Good thinking."

The two of them wandered toward the mouth of the alley together.

The familiar sounds of Oakridge greeted them once again.

Conversations.

Footsteps.

Traffic.

Distant music.

Someone laughing across the street.

Everything arranged itself effortlessly inside Lavinia's mind.

They stepped back onto the main sidewalk.

Almost immediately...

People noticed.

A woman paused mid-conversation.

Someone pointed.

Another person quietly moved aside.

Lavinia sighed.

"...I'm still not used to that."

Valerie looked at her.

"...You're smiling."

Lavinia blinked.

"...Am I?"

"You are."

Lavinia laughed softly.

"...I think it'd be harder to find a moment when I'm not smiling."

Valerie tilted her head one way.

Then the other.

Thinking.

"...Actually..."

She nodded.

"...Yeah."

"Smiling comes easier for me too."

They continued walking.

A small restaurant caught Valerie's attention.

She slowed beside the front window.

Lavinia joined her.

A menu had been posted on the glass outside.

"Hm..."

Lavinia leaned forward slightly to read it.

"...That actually sounds—"

Inside...

Several customers noticed them.

One conversation stopped abruptly.

Another woman instinctively clutched her drink a little tighter.

Someone near the register froze halfway through ordering.

Lavinia's ears twitched.

Heartbeats.

One.

Two.

Five.

Seven.

They all accelerated almost together.

She could hear it clearly.

The nervous rhythm filled the restaurant.

Lavinia looked into the glass.

Their reflections looked back at her.

Golden and orange hair shimmering beneath the streetlights.

Long eyelashes.

Perfect skin.

Large crimson eyes with no pupils.

Pointed ears.

Elegant black dresses.

She quietly understood.

Just a little.

"...We do look..."

She searched for the word.

"...Eerie."

Valerie leaned closer to the window before immediately stepping back.

"...Maybe a little."

She gently tapped Lavinia's arm.

"Come on."

Lavinia looked over.

"We'll find somewhere else."

Valerie smiled sheepishly.

"I'm trying to spare the people inside from having heart attacks."

Lavinia chuckled.

"...That's probably considerate."

She gave the restaurant one last glance before turning away.

Together, the two vampires continued down the sidewalk, leaving the relieved diners behind as the sounds of the city gradually swallowed the moment.

Lavinia and Valerie wandered leisurely along the row of storefronts, occasionally slowing whenever a restaurant or café caught their attention.

Warm light spilled through large windows, carrying with it the aromas of fresh bread, grilled meat, coffee, and desserts.

Lavinia breathed in.

"...Humans make everything smell good."

Valerie laughed.

"They do."

They passed another restaurant.

Then another.

Valerie rested both hands behind her head.

"...I'm hungry."

Lavinia looked over.

"...Really?"

She absently patted her own stomach.

"I haven't felt hungry once since I transformed."

She frowned thoughtfully.

"Though..."

"I am a little thirsty."

Valerie's eyes brightened mischievously.

"Oh?"

Before Lavinia could react—

Valerie hopped onto her from the side, draping herself over Lavinia's shoulders.

"There it is!"

She pointed dramatically toward absolutely nowhere.

"Go!"

"Drink blood!"

Then, with complete theatrical commitment—

"Mwahahaha!"

Several pedestrians immediately looked over.

One teenager burst out laughing.

Someone else instinctively stepped away from the two vampires.

Another quietly lifted their phone.

"...They're recording us again."

Lavinia observed flatly.

"Mhm."

Valerie remained happily hanging from her shoulders.

"Should we care?"

"...Not particularly."

"I don't either."

Another phone appeared.

Someone whispered.

"...Did she just tell her to drink blood?"

"...I think so."

"...Are they serious?"

Lavinia sighed.

"...Unfortunately."

"She's always like this."

"I've known her..."

She looked thoughtfully at Valerie.

"...A few hours."

Valerie nodded proudly.

"And I've been an excellent influence."

Lavinia looked ahead.

"...Debatable."

Valerie laughed before finally hopping back onto the sidewalk.

The two resumed walking.

Only a few moments later...

Both of them slowed.

Their noses twitched almost simultaneously.

"..."

Lavinia tilted her head.

Valerie tilted hers too.

Though not quite as much.

"...You smell that?"

Valerie nodded.

"...Yeah."

"It smells like a wolf."

Lavinia looked around.

"You've smelled one before?"

"Mhm."

"I saw one earlier."

"I didn't talk to him."

She shrugged.

"But he smelled similar."

Valerie breathed in once more.

"...Not him though."

"Different wolf."

Lavinia hummed quietly.

"...Interesting."

The scent lingered only briefly before disappearing beneath the countless other smells drifting through Oakridge.

Neither of them chased it.

Instead...

Their attention settled on a small café tucked neatly between two larger buildings.

Warm yellow lights glowed behind its windows.

"...That looks cozy."

Valerie smiled.

"I've been here."

Lavinia blinked.

"...Already?"

"I mean before the Divergence."

She laughed.

"The pastries are really good."

"...Sold."

A small bell chimed as they stepped inside.

The café was comfortably quiet.

Only a handful of customers occupied scattered tables, speaking softly over cups of coffee.

Behind the counter stood a young man working the register.

Moving between tables was a waitress carrying a tray of drinks.

Valerie stepped confidently toward the counter.

"I know what I'm getting."

She immediately began studying the menu anyway.

"...Maybe."

Lavinia wasn't looking at the menu.

Instead...

She found herself watching the waitress.

The young woman was undeniably pretty.

Dark hair tied neatly behind her head.

Kind eyes.

Gentle smile.

The waitress looked over.

Immediately froze for half a second.

Then forced herself to continue walking.

Lavinia watched quietly.

The waitress's heartbeat quickened.

Not dramatically.

Just enough that Lavinia noticed.

The young woman carefully avoided looking directly at her again.

"..."

Valerie glanced sideways.

Then poked Lavinia gently in the ribs.

"You're scaring the waitress."

Lavinia blinked.

"...I am?"

"Mhm."

Lavinia looked away from the waitress, wearing a mildly confused expression.

"I wasn't trying to."

She thought for a moment.

Then...

Without warning...

She leaned toward Valerie.

Closer.

Closer.

Until only a few centimeters separated their faces.

Anyone watching would've thought they were about to kiss.

Neither vampire seemed particularly bothered.

Valerie simply looked back into Lavinia's crimson eyes.

"...Hi."

"Hello."

Neither moved away.

Neither blushed.

Neither seemed remotely embarrassed.

After another couple of seconds...

Lavinia leaned back again.

She rested one finger thoughtfully against her chin.

"...Different."

Valerie raised an eyebrow.

"Hm?"

"When I looked at the waitress..."

"It felt..."

Lavinia searched for the words.

"...Strange."

She looked back at Valerie.

"But this doesn't."

"We're practically nose to nose."

She shrugged.

"And I'm comfortable."

Valerie smirked.

"Oh?"

"Did you want a kiss?"

Lavinia blinked.

"...No."

Valerie grinned wider.

"...Are you going to marry me?"

Lavinia tilted her head.

"...It's not the same."

Valerie laughed softly.

"...I know."

She leaned one elbow against the counter.

"If I were still human..."

She looked thoughtfully at Lavinia.

"I probably would've pulled away."

"...Or at least been surprised."

She shrugged.

"But..."

"It's you."

She smiled.

"So..."

"It just feels natural."

"...I guess."

Lavinia quietly considered that.

She'd known Valerie...

Less than a day.

They'd spent only a handful of hours together.

She'd spent longer talking to some coworkers.

Longer chatting with people online.

Yet...

Somewhere inside...

She trusted Valerie.

Not because she'd earned it through years of friendship.

Not because she'd proven herself.

It simply...

Felt right.

Lavinia smiled faintly.

"...That's probably another vampire thing."

Before Valerie could answer, the cashier cleared his throat politely.

"...Um..."

Both vampires looked toward him at the same time.

He visibly stiffened.

"...Are... are you two ready to order?"

After only a brief moment of looking over the menu, Lavinia placed her order.

Valerie ordered as well, adding a pastry she'd apparently gotten nearly every time she'd visited before.

The cashier nodded quickly, accepted the payment, and hurried the order into the kitchen.

"...That wasn't too bad."

Lavinia glanced around the café.

"Not at all."

Valerie smiled.

"I think they were more nervous than anything."

The two vampires stepped away from the counter and found an empty table tucked beside one of the front windows.

Valerie slid into the seat first.

Rather than sitting across from Lavinia...

She sat directly beside her.

Lavinia didn't question it.

She simply sat down as well.

Resting one elbow on the table, she propped her chin against her hand, her crimson eyes becoming half-lidded as her thoughts quietly wandered.

Beside her, Valerie looked over curiously.

"...Thinking?"

"Mhm."

"What about?"

Lavinia didn't answer immediately.

Instead, Valerie shrugged, pulled out her phone, and began idly scrolling through whatever happened to appear on her screen.

The silence between them wasn't awkward.

It simply...

Existed.

Comfortably.

Lavinia found herself looking at Valerie out of the corner of her eye.

Why?

The question quietly surfaced again.

Why did she feel so comfortable around her?

Objectively...

They barely knew each other.

Less than a day.

A few hours.

That was all.

Valerie was fun.

Blunt.

A little impulsive.

She laughed easily.

Ran before explaining herself.

Jumped off fourteen-story buildings because she had a feeling she'd survive.

Lavinia smiled faintly to herself.

"...She's interesting."

Yet...

That wasn't really it.

The distance between them...

Was strangely small.

Not physically.

Though Valerie had chosen to sit beside her rather than across from her.

No...

It felt like something else.

Neither of them seemed to consciously close the distance.

It simply...

Never existed to begin with.

Being close to Valerie felt no different than standing beside herself.

The thought lingered for another few moments.

Then Lavinia quietly sighed.

"...Hm."

Before she could continue chasing the thought-

"Here you are."

The waitress carefully approached their table carrying a tray.

She placed the pastries down one by one with practiced movements.

"Enjoy your meal."

The words came out almost automatically.

The moment the plates touched the table...

She offered a polite smile.

Then briskly walked away.

Not quite running.

Definitely faster than she'd approached.

Valerie watched her go before chuckling softly.

"...Humans are going to feel that way."

Lavinia looked over.

"Hm?"

"We're basically the unknown."

Valerie picked up one of her pastries.

"They don't know what we are."

"What we can do."

"Whether we're dangerous."

She shrugged.

"I'd probably be nervous too."

"...Maybe."

Lavinia reached for her own pastry.

The flaky crust gave way with the first bite.

She paused.

"..."

"...This is really good."

Valerie grinned triumphantly.

"I told you."

Lavinia nodded while taking another bite.

"You did."

As she chewed thoughtfully...

Her attention drifted again.

Humans.

Valerie had said it so naturally.

Humans.

Not...

People.

Not...

Everyone else.

Humans.

Lavinia blinked.

"..."

When had she started thinking that way?

She lowered the pastry slightly.

The thought caught her completely by surprise.

She'd done it too.

Several times already.

Humans.

Vampires.

The words separated themselves naturally inside her mind.

She wasn't consciously doing it.

She couldn't remember deciding to.

Somehow...

Without noticing...

She had begun thinking of herself as a vampire first.

A human...

Second.

Or perhaps...

Not at all.

She frowned thoughtfully.

When had that happened?

This morning?

After meeting Valerie?

After stepping outside?

After hearing her own heartbeat...

...or rather, the lack of one?

She searched carefully through her memories.

Nothing.

There wasn't a single moment she could point to.

No decision.

No realization.

No line she'd crossed.

It had simply...

Become true.

Lavinia looked down at the pastry in her hands before smiling to herself.

"...Maybe..."

She took another small bite.

"...I always did."

The thought wasn't frightening.

Nor particularly comforting.

It simply...

Felt correct.

Beside her, Valerie continued scrolling through her phone, occasionally smiling at something on the screen, completely unaware of the quiet realization unfolding only inches away.

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