The Divergence

Evangeline and Valerie were the first through the entrance of the clothing store, although Evangeline stopped only a few steps inside while Valerie continued farther before spinning around to inspect everything at once.

The store wasn't particularly luxurious or expensive. 

Nothing about it suggested the sort of place Evangeline might have frequented with all the money she'd apparently possessed as a human, but the clothes were well made, the selection was broad, and there were enough styles scattered throughout the displays that Lavinia immediately understood why they'd chosen it.

Not that she intended to participate willingly.

Lavinia slowed near the entrance and glanced toward the mannequins before letting her gaze wander across the people inside. 

Some customers had started openly staring the moment eight vampires walked through the doors, while others caught themselves doing so and hurriedly looked away, only to sneak another glance a few seconds later.

Nobody left.

That alone made Lavinia smile faintly.

The first time she and Valerie had come to the mall, there had been a constant uncertainty surrounding them. 

People hadn't necessarily fled screaming, but the tension had been impossible to miss. 

Now there were still nervous heartbeats scattered throughout the store and enough fear in the air for Lavinia's senses to pick it apart, but curiosity had become far more prominent.

Valerie almost skipped away between the racks, her long orange hair bouncing behind her while a mischievous smirk made her intentions obvious.

Lavinia watched her disappear. "I don't like that expression."

Evangeline's empty red eyes rolled around as she took in the clothes surrounding them. 

Her gaze eventually landed on Lavinia, and an excited hum escaped her before she abruptly turned and hurried toward another section.

"I don't like that expression either," Lavinia muttered.

Rosaline came to a stop beside her and nudged Lavinia with her elbow. "I'm excited."

"Why?" Lavinia glanced suspiciously at her.

"I'm going to see you in normal clothes." Rosaline grinned.

"My dress is normal." Lavinia looked down at herself and gestured toward the familiar black gothic dress. "I wear it every day. That makes it extremely normal."

"You know what I mean." Rosaline shrugged before letting her gaze move over Lavinia's dress. "I like our dresses. They're beautiful, but they're incredibly modest."

Lavinia raised an eyebrow. "Are they?"

"They are!" Rosaline gestured toward herself for emphasis. 

"There's a little bit of bust visible depending on the dress, but that's practically it. Arms covered, legs covered, everything covered. As someone who grew up with modern clothing, our dresses are ridiculously conservative."

Lavinia stared at her for a moment before rolling her empty red eyes. "You just want to see more of us."

Rosaline's grin immediately brightened. "Exactly!"

"At least you're honest."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Rosaline laughed. "We're all beautiful. I want to see what everyone looks like in different clothes."

Lavinia opened her mouth to respond when a flash of orange approached from between the aisles.

Valerie almost ran back to them, her thick orange eyelashes framing excited red eyes while she held two pieces of clothing against her chest.

"Lavinia!" Valerie stopped directly in front of her and thrust the clothes forward. "Try these."

Lavinia looked down.

A simple white T-shirt.

Black shorts.

Then she looked back at Valerie.

Valerie practically vibrated with excitement.

"Really?" Lavinia asked.

"Yes."

"You're this excited about a shirt and shorts?"

"Yes." Valerie pushed them closer. "Go."

Lavinia glanced at Rosaline.

Rosaline nodded eagerly.

Lavinia looked past them and found Evangeline watching from farther away. 

Adelaide had stopped browsing as well, while Cordelia and Evelyn were pretending rather poorly not to be interested.

Even Celestine had turned toward her.

Lavinia sighed deeply and took the clothes from Valerie's hands. "Fine."

Valerie beamed.

"But if I look ridiculous, I'm blaming you." Lavinia turned toward the changing rooms.

"You won't!"

Lavinia ignored the stares following her, both vampire and human, and stepped into one of the changing rooms before pulling the curtain closed.

For the first time since entering, she had a moment to herself.

Lavinia exhaled and looked at her reflection.

Golden hair cascaded around her shoulders and down her back, contrasting against dark skin and the black fabric of her dress. 

Her empty red eyes stared back at her from beneath golden lashes, while her pointed ears extended through her hair.

She still occasionally thought about how strange this should have felt.

It simply didn't.

Lavinia hadn't experienced any persistent sense of wrongness wearing a dress after becoming a vampire, despite having been a man before the First Divergence. 

There hadn't been some awkward period where she had needed to convince herself this was her body or that these were her clothes.

Vampires were vampires.

Everything about being one felt natural because it was natural to her now.

Lavinia reached toward her neck and unclasped the upper portion of her outfit. 

Once loosened, the dress slipped downward, pooling around her feet in a mass of black fabric.

She stepped free and glanced at herself again before snorting softly at an entirely different thought.

"Panties, but no bra."

Apparently whatever force had decided what a newly transformed vampire required had drawn the line there.

Lavinia looked down at herself.

It wasn't as though she particularly needed one. 

She wasn't exceptionally large, and even if there were some strain or discomfort from going without support, vampire regeneration would probably make the entire concern meaningless anyway.

"Whatever."

She picked up the white T-shirt and pulled it over her head.

The difference was immediate.

Not visually.

The smell.

Lavinia caught the hem of the shirt and sniffed lightly before wrinkling her nose. It didn't smell bad. 

If anything, it barely smelled of anything beyond fabric, the store, and traces of the humans who had handled it.

But it didn't smell like her.

Her normal dress had been worn constantly since she'd become a vampire. 

It carried berries and pine so thoroughly that Lavinia barely consciously noticed anymore.

This shirt felt almost blank.

"That's weird."

She worked the black shorts up her legs and over her hips before smoothing the shirt down. After adjusting everything, Lavinia looked at herself in the mirror.

She turned sideways.

Then the other way.

Lavinia placed one hand on her hip and tilted her head.

She tried another pose.

Then another.

After several seconds, she reached a conclusion.

"My dress looks better."

Still, she had agreed to show them.

Her boots absolutely did not match the outfit, so Lavinia left them behind and pulled the curtain open in nothing but her socks.

The reaction was immediate.

More than eight pairs of empty red eyes settled on her.

Lavinia stopped.

She slowly looked around.

Apparently, some vampires who had been browsing elsewhere had returned specifically to witness this.

Humans were staring too.

Lavinia's lips curved upward.

If everyone wanted to stare, she might as well give them something to stare at.

She planted both hands on her hips and shifted her weight onto one leg. "Well? Is this what you wanted to see me in?"

Valerie nodded so enthusiastically that her orange hair bounced around her shoulders. "You're perfect!"

Before Lavinia could answer, Valerie crossed the distance and wrapped both arms around her, squeezing fiercely.

"You're so cute!" Valerie pressed herself against Lavinia happily.

Lavinia staggered half a step before catching herself. "It's a shirt and shorts."

"And you're cute in them."

"I was cute before."

"You admit it!"

Lavinia's expression immediately flattened. "That's what you focused on?"

Rosaline gave an appreciative whistle from nearby.

Lavinia turned her head and gave her a disdainful stare.

Rosaline only laughed. "Don't look at me like that. I told you I wanted to see."

"You're shameless."

"Very."

Evelyn had wandered closer as well, and her blonde hair shifted as she looked Lavinia over. "I think it looks really nice."

Lavinia's expression softened slightly. "Thank you."

"You're really pretty." Evelyn hesitated before adding more quietly, "You were already really pretty, though."

Lavinia blinked once before smiling. "You're pretty too, Evelyn."

Evelyn immediately looked away.

Around them, the attention had only increased.

Maybe it was because almost every photograph and video of vampires circulating online showed them in their gothic dresses. 

The public had gotten used to pointed ears, red eyes, and elaborate black clothing appearing together.

Now one of those vampires was standing in an ordinary white T-shirt and black shorts.

Men stared.

Women stared.

One employee had stopped folding a shirt several seconds ago and apparently forgotten what she'd been doing.

Lavinia pretended not to notice.

Evangeline stepped forward and inspected her from several angles before nodding approvingly. "Valerie has good taste."

"Thank you." Valerie puffed out her chest.

"Don't encourage her." Lavinia tried to step away.

Evangeline immediately pressed another bundle of clothing against Lavinia's chest.

Lavinia looked down.

Then up.

"No."

"Yes." Evangeline pushed her toward the changing room.

"I just changed!"

"And now you're changing again."

"Evangeline."

"Go!"

Lavinia found herself shoved back through the curtain with the new outfit in her arms.

"Why did I agree to come here?" Lavinia complained as she pulled the curtain shut.

"Because you love us!" Rosaline called from outside.

"I tolerate you!"

Rosaline's laughter answered her.

Lavinia pulled the T-shirt over her head and tossed it onto the small bench.

Standing partially undressed in front of the mirror should perhaps have felt strange or embarrassing. Instead, Lavinia found herself staring curiously at her own reflection again.

Her gaze drifted over her stomach.

There wasn't any visible definition.

No pronounced muscle.

Nothing about Lavinia's body suggested the sheer amount of physical strength contained within it.

A human could spend decades training, build as much muscle as their body allowed, reach the absolute peak of human physical ability, and Lavinia would still overpower them without much effort.

She flexed one arm.

Almost nothing changed.

Lavinia snorted. "Intimidating."

She pulled the white sweater on and adjusted it around herself before working out of the black shorts.

The second outfit took slightly longer.

Once she'd pulled the lower garment into place, Lavinia turned toward the mirror.

She stared.

Her empty red eyes slowly narrowed.

"Oh, they did this on purpose."

The white sweater was comfortable enough, but the rest of the outfit left considerably more of her legs visible than her usual dress ever did.

Apparently Rosaline wasn't the only vampire who had decided their normal clothing was too conservative.

Lavinia turned sideways and examined herself again.

Then she looked toward the curtain.

She could already hear Valerie whispering excitedly outside.

Lavinia rolled her eyes.

Fine.

If they wanted a show, she'd give them one.

She opened the curtain and stepped out.

Conversation nearby noticeably faltered.

Lavinia felt eyes settle on her from seemingly every direction.

Some human.

Far too many vampire.

She slowly turned her head toward the others.

Eight sets of empty red eyes were fixed on her.

Lavinia glanced downward and then back up.

Her lips curved.

An idea occurred to her.

She placed one hand against her cheek, leaned forward slightly, and deliberately softened her expression.

When Lavinia spoke, her usual clear, bell-like voice dropped into a low, husky tone.

"Were all of you really so frustrated that you dragged me here just to vent your pent-up desires?"

Silence.

Lavinia's amusement lasted approximately two seconds.

Eight sets of red irises visibly shifted.

Several throats moved.

Every single vampire staring at her swallowed.

Lavinia straightened immediately. "I was joking."

Nobody answered right away.

Lavinia's eyes widened slightly. "I said I was joking."

Valerie slowly ran her tongue across her lips, leaving behind a thin sheen of saliva. "I thought blood was the only thing that could make my mouth water."

Lavinia stared at her.

Valerie smiled.

"I found a second thing."

Lavinia snorted and folded her arms. "You're ridiculous."

Evangeline bounded forward before Lavinia could retreat and wrapped both arms around her waist. "My vision has been achieved!"

"Your vision?"

"Yes!" Evangeline squeezed her. "This is exactly what I wanted."

Rosaline circled slightly to one side, openly examining Lavinia. "You should stay like this."

"I'm changing back."

"No."

"You're not in charge of me."

"I can dream."

Cordelia tilted her head one way and then the other, her long blue hair sliding across her shoulders while she studied Lavinia with far less shamelessness than Rosaline. "I think Lavinia is beautiful no matter what she wears."

Lavinia smiled. "See? Cordelia knows how to compliment someone normally."

"I can compliment you normally," Valerie protested.

"You said I made your mouth water."

"That's a compliment."

"Not a normal one!"

While Lavinia was distracted, Evelyn approached.

Lavinia noticed her only when Evelyn slipped her arms around her waist and pressed close, burying her face against Lavinia's chest.

Lavinia looked down.

Blonde hair filled most of her view.

"Evelyn?"

Evelyn said nothing, simply nuzzling closer.

Lavinia blinked before placing a hand lightly on the back of her head. "I barely have anything there. What exactly are you trying to nuzzle?"

Evelyn froze.

Valerie immediately smirked. "It's not that your bust is pitiful."

Lavinia slowly looked toward her.

Valerie gestured toward Lavinia's normal dress. "Your dress just hides it really well."

"My bust is not pitiful."

"That's what I said."

"You implied it!"

"I specifically said it wasn't."

Lavinia narrowed her eyes. "Your tone implied it."

Valerie fluttered her orange eyelashes. "Maybe you're insecure."

"I'm going to throw you through a wall."

"See? Insecure."

Lavinia made a quiet growling sound.

Evelyn's shoulders shook against her as she tried not to laugh.

"You too?" Lavinia looked down accusingly.

"I'm sorry." Evelyn's voice came muffled against her. "It was funny."

"Everyone has betrayed me."

Adelaide laughed from nearby. "I didn't say anything."

"Yet."

Adelaide raised both hands. "Then I'll remain innocent."

Rosaline stepped closer and rested one hand on Adelaide's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll corrupt you."

"Please don't."

The humans around them continued staring.

Lavinia could hear whispers from several directions, although most were quiet enough that the speakers clearly didn't realize vampire hearing made the attempt nearly pointless.

"That's really her."

"I've never seen one dressed like that."

"Are all of them that short?"

"Don't stare."

"You're staring too."

Lavinia's pointed ear twitched.

She could smell embarrassment, curiosity, nervousness, and something warmer from more than one direction. 

Heartbeats quickened whenever one of the vampires happened to look toward a particular observer.

Strangely, Lavinia didn't mind.

A few days ago, attention like this might have made her uncomfortable. Now the staring felt almost mundane.

More importantly, she had realized something.

Lavinia looked around at her companions.

Valerie still looked unbearably pleased with herself.

Rosaline had been enjoying this far too much from the beginning.

Evangeline was practically glowing with satisfaction.

Even Evelyn had participated by using Lavinia as a pillow.

No.

Absolutely not.

Lavinia gently took Evelyn by the shoulders and eased her back.

Evelyn looked up curiously. "What is it?"

Lavinia smiled.

Something about that smile immediately made Valerie suspicious.

"Lavinia?" Valerie took half a step backward.

Lavinia placed both hands on her hips and slowly looked across the vampires surrounding her. "I've made a decision."

Rosaline's red eyes brightened. "You're keeping the outfit?"

"No."

Rosaline wilted.

"I'm buying it, though." Lavinia glanced down at herself. She couldn't deny that she liked it, even if she preferred her dress. "But that's not my decision."

Evangeline tilted her head. "Then what is?"

Lavinia's smile widened.

"You all had your fun picking clothes for me."

Valerie's eyes narrowed.

"So now," Lavinia continued sweetly, "I get to pick an outfit for every single one of you."

Silence settled over the group.

Evelyn glanced down at herself.

Adelaide looked toward the nearest rack.

Cordelia smiled faintly.

Rosaline seemed delighted rather than concerned.

Evangeline's expression suggested she considered this an escalation rather than retaliation.

Valerie took another step backward.

Lavinia pointed directly at her. "Especially you."

"Why especially me?" Valerie asked.

"You started this."

"I gave you a T-shirt!"

"And shorts."

"Very tasteful shorts."

"You then stood there staring at me!"

"So did everyone else!"

"That doesn't save you."

Valerie began edging toward the nearest aisle.

Lavinia's red eyes followed her.

"Don't run."

"I'm not running."

"You look like you're about to."

"I'm browsing."

"Valerie."

Valerie smiled nervously.

Lavinia took one step toward her.

Valerie vanished between the clothing racks in an orange blur.

"Get back here!" Lavinia shot after her.

Rosaline burst into laughter while Evangeline immediately gave chase, apparently deciding that helping Lavinia hunt Valerie was more entertaining than protecting herself from whatever Lavinia eventually chose for her.

Several humans startled at the sudden movement before realizing the vampires were merely playing.

Lavinia stopped herself from moving at full speed and instead hurried around the rack after Valerie, golden hair streaming behind her.

She was still in her socks.

She was wearing an outfit she never would have chosen herself.

Half the store was staring at her.

And somewhere between the racks, Valerie was laughing hard enough that Lavinia could locate her by sound alone.

Lavinia smiled despite herself.

Fine.

Maybe shopping wasn't completely terrible.

But she was still getting revenge.

T-Shirt and Shorts

Sweater and Skirt

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