The Divergence

Lavinia settled onto one of the sofas, smoothing her dress beneath her before looking around the brightly lit studio.

Compared to the rest of the building, the set felt surprisingly comfortable.

Rather than looking like a newsroom, it resembled a living room.

Soft lighting illuminated the stage without being harsh.

Two sofas faced one another with several chairs completing the arrangement.

A broad coffee table occupied the center, already decorated with flowers and neatly arranged cue cards.

It felt...

Warm.

Inviting.

Alice had apparently been telling the truth.

This really wasn’t meant to be an interrogation.

One by one, the others chose their own seats.

Rosaline immediately claimed the opposite sofa.

Valerie dropped onto the cushion beside Lavinia without hesitation.

Evangeline occupied the other end of the sofa.

Celestine sat quietly nearby.

Evelyn took one of the chairs.

Adelaide chose another.

Gwendolyn wandered for several seconds before sitting beside Evelyn.

Cordelia quietly selected the final chair.

She crossed one elegant leg over the other.

Her hands rested neatly atop her lap.

Her posture looked almost impossibly graceful.

Gwendolyn stared.

”...Cordelia.”

Cordelia looked over.

”Yes?”

”Were you an etiquette teacher?”

Cordelia blinked.

Then softly chuckled.

The motion caused a curtain of blue hair to slide partly across her face as she politely covered her smile with one hand.

”No.”

She shook her head lightly.

”I wasn’t particularly formal as a human.”

She paused.

”But now...”

Her eyes drifted downward.

”I simply...”

The sentence faded away unfinished.

Everyone understood anyway.

She simply felt comfortable sitting that way now.

Valerie leaned back dramatically.

”I really dodged a bullet.”

Lavinia glanced sideways.

”...How?”

”My only complaint.”

Valerie lifted a strand of bright orange hair.

”...is that my hair became orange.”

The room immediately answered her.

”It looks wonderful.”

Rosaline smiled.

”It suits you.”

Celestine nodded.

”I like it.”

”It fits.”

Evelyn agreed softly.

Even Adelaide added quietly,

”It looks natural.”

Valerie looked genuinely pleased.

”...Thank you.”

Beside her, Lavinia absently rolled a lock of golden hair between her fingers.

”...At least your eyelashes don’t look like strands of golden hair.”

Valerie looked closer.

”They almost sparkle.”

Lavinia sighed.

”...Exactly.”

Rosaline leaned forward with obvious curiosity.

”I wonder...”

She smiled mischievously.

”...how much someone would pay for Lavinia’s eyelashes.”

Lavinia immediately turned her head away.

She folded her arms.

Clearly deciding she had ascended above such conversations.

Rosaline laughed.

”Oh.”

”She’s offended.”

Gwendolyn giggled.

”No one could buy Lavi anyway.”

Lavinia remained facing the opposite direction.

”...Thank you.”

”I think.”

Adelaide gently curled one lock of green hair around her finger.

”We’re all...”

She searched briefly for the right words.

”...perfect in our own ways.”

She glanced down at the green strands.

”I never particularly liked green before.”

She smiled faintly.

”But...”

”I don’t mind it as my hair.”

”It grew on me.”

Evangeline proudly tossed her head.

Her bright red hair flowed dramatically behind her.

”My hair.”

She declared confidently.

”...is the color of the blood of my enemies.”

Silence.

Then...

Evelyn quietly looked toward her.

”...Everyone’s blood...”

She spoke so softly the words almost disappeared.

”...is red.”

Another silence.

Evangeline stared straight ahead.

She had very clearly heard Evelyn.

She also very clearly intended to pretend she hadn’t.

Lavinia couldn’t help laughing.

”I really should’ve known.”

Evangeline glanced over.

”Known what?”

”You had a chuunibyou streak.”

”I do not.”

”You wanted to find the dungeon.”

”That was completely reasonable.”

”And now you’re talking about enemies.”

”They exist.”

Lavinia nodded solemnly.

”They’re very unfortunate then.”

Evangeline folded both arms.

”I am not chuunibyou.”

She lifted her chin proudly.

”My behavior is intentional.”

She smiled with absolute confidence.

”Because I’m amazing.”

Valerie slowly raised one hand.

Everyone looked toward her.

She stared at her own palm.

”...Within my right hand...”

Her expression remained perfectly serious.

”...is sealed the ancient God of Death.”

A beat passed.

She narrowed her eyes.

”...The seal appears to be weakening.”

Silence.

Then—

Lavinia burst into laughter.

Rosaline bent forward laughing.

Even Adelaide covered her mouth.

Cordelia quietly chuckled.

Celestine smiled warmly.

Evelyn giggled into her hands.

Gwendolyn laughed loudest of all.

Even Evangeline couldn’t maintain her serious expression.

She pointed accusingly toward Valerie.

”You’re making fun of me!”

”I would never.”

Valerie answered with a perfectly straight face.

”My burden is simply... greater.”

That only made everyone laugh harder.

At that moment...

Alice returned.

She pushed a trolley piled high with snacks.

Cookies.

Potato chips.

Chocolate.

Crackers.

Fruit.

Several bottled drinks.

And enough small packaged treats to satisfy ten vampires who didn’t actually need any of them.

Valerie’s eyes immediately lit up.

”I’ll help.”

”So will I.”

Celestine stood as well.

Alice smiled gratefully.

”Thank you.”

The assistance...

Was perhaps less helpful than intended.

Valerie immediately began arranging snacks closer to her own seat.

Celestine quietly moved several of the nicer-looking biscuits toward herself.

Alice watched the subtle rearranging before smiling to herself.

”...I suppose everyone has priorities.”

Valerie nodded seriously.

”Correct.”

Several minutes later...

The table had somehow become suspiciously organized.

The best snacks rested within easy reach of Valerie and Celestine.

Lavinia noticed immediately.

”...Really?”

Valerie looked innocent.

”What?”

”You know exactly what.”

”I organized efficiently.”

”You hoarded efficiently.”

”That’s different.”

Violetta watched the exchange with amused eyes.

She smiled.

”Is anyone nervous?”

The room grew quieter.

Several thoughtful hums answered first.

”I’m...”

Evelyn hesitated.

”...not sure.”

Celestine nodded.

”I feel the same.”

Cordelia rested one elbow lightly on the armrest.

”I’ll probably know once we’re sitting in front of the cameras.”

Lavinia agreed.

”I honestly don’t know yet.”

She looked toward the empty audience seating.

”I’m not used to this much attention.”

Rosaline smiled brightly.

”I’m excited.”

”Of course you are.”

Lavinia muttered.

Rosaline grinned.

Alice folded both hands together.

”I really don’t think you need to worry.”

Everyone looked toward her.

”The questions aren’t particularly difficult.”

She smiled reassuringly.

”It’ll mostly be about daily life.”

”How things have changed.”

”What you’d like people to understand.”

Nothing confrontational.

Nothing designed to provoke.

As she looked around the group...

She couldn’t help smiling to herself.

She honestly wasn’t sure what she’d expected.

The internet.

The news.

Social media.

All of it painted vampires differently.

Dangerous.

Predatory.

Mysterious.

Yet...

Here they were.

Laughing.

Teasing one another.

Arguing about hair colors.

Discussing chips.

She’d expected considerably more darkness.

Far less...

Normality.

A crinkling wrapper interrupted her thoughts.

Lavinia had opened one of the cookie packets.

She took a bite.

Her eyes brightened slightly.

”...These are really good.”

Before she could take another—

Valerie leaned across.

Without asking...

She took a bite from the very same cookie Lavinia was holding.

Lavinia stared at the remaining half.

Then at Valerie.

”...Really?”

Valerie finished chewing.

”They’re good.”

”I know.”

”I was confirming.”

Lavinia sighed.

She planted one palm firmly against Valerie’s forehead.

Somewhat ineffectually, considering vampire strength.

”...Some things...”

She gently pushed Valerie back toward her own seat.

”...cannot be shared.”

Valerie obediently leaned away.

Then calmly smoothed the wrinkles from the front of her dress.

”I disagree.”

She nodded with complete conviction.

”Everything is shared.”

She pointed toward herself.

”What’s mine...”

Then toward Lavinia.

”...is yours.”

Finally back toward herself.

”And what’s yours...”

She smiled triumphantly.

”...is also mine.”

Lavinia looked at her for several seconds.

Then quietly asked,

”...Really?”

”Absolutely.”

Lavinia pointed toward the mountain of potato chips beside Valerie.

”Then share some.”

Valerie froze.

”...”

”...”

Slowly...

Very slowly...

She reached for one bag.

Her shoulders drooped.

Her face became one of theatrical heartbreak.

With trembling hands...

She extended the bag toward Lavinia.

”...My treasures...”

She whispered dramatically.

”...taken from me...”

Lavinia accepted the bag.

Looked at the label.

Then looked back at Valerie.

”...Salt and vinegar?”

Valerie blinked.

”...Yes?”

”I don’t like salt and vinegar.”

Valerie stared.

”...What’s wrong with salt and vinegar?”

Lavinia slowly lowered the unopened bag.

Then covered her face with both hands.

”...I don’t know anything.”

She sighed dramatically from behind her fingers.

”...Please leave me alone.”

Valerie looked genuinely bewildered.

”But they’re delicious.”

Rosaline leaned over to inspect the bag.

”I’ll take them if she won’t.”

Valerie immediately hugged the chips protectively against her chest again.

”...No.”

”These are mine.”

The wait proved shorter than expected.

A side door opened.

Two people stepped onto the stage together.

The man appeared to be in his early thirties, neatly dressed in a charcoal suit without a tie, his expression relaxed enough to immediately put people at ease.

Beside him walked a woman perhaps in her mid-twenties. Her navy blazer contrasted neatly with the white blouse beneath, and although she carried herself professionally, the curiosity in her eyes was impossible to miss.

Alice stood.

”There they are.”

She smiled toward the vampires.

”Everyone, these are tonight’s hosts.”

The pair approached.

The man offered an easy smile.

”Good evening.”

”I’m Daniel Harper.”

He gestured beside himself.

”And this is Miranda Ellis.”

Miranda smiled warmly.

”It’s wonderful to finally meet all of you.”

Violetta rose first.

”The pleasure is ours.”

She shook each of their hands in turn before the others offered polite greetings of their own.

Miranda looked across the assembled vampires.

She hesitated for a second before laughing softly.

”I have to admit...”

”I’ve seen the photographs.”

”And the videos.”

She shook her head slightly.

”But...”

”Seeing all of you in person feels completely different.”

Her gaze drifted around the room.

”You’re all incredibly beautiful.”

Several vampires smiled.

Evangeline puffed out her chest.

”You’re beautiful too.”

Miranda blinked.

Then laughed.

”Thank you.”

Daniel nodded in agreement.

”I’d have to agree.”

Miranda looked sideways at him.

”...With which part?”

”Both.”

He smiled.

”But...”

His attention shifted back toward the vampires.

”I think your eyes are especially fascinating.”

”They’re much cooler in person than they look on camera.”

Lavinia tilted her head curiously.

”...You’re not afraid of us?”

Daniel thought for a moment.

”Well...”

He rubbed his chin dramatically.

”If I saw someone running toward me with a knife...”

He paused.

”...and I also saw a vampire standing nearby...”

He shrugged.

”I’d probably feel safer around the vampire.”

The room fell quiet.

Then Lavinia giggled.

”...That’s actually a fair point.”

Daniel laughed.

”I’ve always figured the person actively chasing me with a knife is the more immediate concern.”

Rosaline nodded thoughtfully.

”...Reasonable.”

Daniel leaned comfortably against the nearby chair.

”Honestly...”

”I’ve liked vampires since long before the First Divergence.”

He smiled almost sheepishly.

”So...”

”Meeting actual vampires...”

He rubbed the back of his neck.

”...was something of a childhood wish.”

Rosaline rested her chin on one hand.

”Disappointed?”

Daniel looked surprised.

”Why would I be?”

”We aren’t really...”

Rosaline gestured toward the group.

”...traditional vampires.”

”We’re all short.”

”Very feminine.”

”Gothic.”

Daniel looked across the ten vampires again.

Then laughed.

”Beggars can’t be choosers.”

Everyone chuckled.

”I’m not disappointed.”

He smiled sincerely.

”I’m just happy vampires exist at all.”

Miranda sighed dramatically.

”Daniel is a complete vampire fanboy.”

Daniel shrugged unapologetically.

”They’re cool.”

Evangeline immediately nodded.

”We are.”

She smiled proudly.

”In fact...”

”We’re very cool.”

Daniel pointed toward her.

”See?”

”I’ve been validated.”

Miranda rolled her eyes.

”You found the one person guaranteed to agree with you.”

Daniel grinned.

”Speaking of fantasy creatures...”

He looked toward the vampires conspiratorially.

”Miranda always wanted a werewolf boyfriend.”

Miranda froze.

Daniel continued before she could interrupt.

”I blame all those domineering CEO romance novels.”

Miranda’s face immediately flushed bright red.

”...Daniel.”

He smiled innocently.

”Yes?”

Her hand shot forward.

Smack.

The impact echoed lightly through the studio.

Daniel winced dramatically, rubbing his shoulder.

”Ouch.”

”That actually hurt.”

Miranda folded both arms.

”You deserved it.”

”I probably did.”

She looked away with a huff.

The instant she wasn’t watching...

Daniel’s shoulders began shaking.

Silent laughter.

Lavinia noticed first.

Then Valerie.

Soon Rosaline quietly snorted.

Miranda slowly looked back.

”...You’re laughing.”

Daniel immediately straightened.

”I would never.”

”You absolutely are.”

”I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Miranda narrowed her eyes.

”I’ll remember this.”

”I’d expect nothing less from you.”

The vampires couldn’t help smiling.

Alice hid a quiet laugh behind her clipboard.

Miranda cleared her throat.

Returning to business almost immediately.

”There is one small update.”

Violetta looked toward her.

”The interview was originally planned as a recorded broadcast.”

Miranda nodded.

”Unfortunately...”

She glanced apologetically toward Daniel.

”...there was a last-minute scheduling change.”

Daniel finished the explanation.

”It’ll be live.”

For the briefest moment...

Violetta’s eyebrows drew together.

The expression disappeared almost immediately.

”I understand.”

She nodded calmly.

”We’ll adjust.”

Daniel smiled appreciatively.

”Thank you.”

”We really appreciate your flexibility.”

He looked around the stage.

”You’ll actually be the first vampires ever interviewed live.”

He laughed.

”I’ve accidentally stumbled into making history.”

Rosaline smiled.

”No pressure then.”

”Absolutely none.”

Daniel replied.

”Only several million potential viewers.”

Valerie reached toward the snack table.

A fresh bag of chips disappeared into her hands.

Daniel happened to glance over.

Then...

He frowned slightly.

”...Wait.”

He stood.

Everyone looked at him.

Without saying anything, he slowly walked around the sofas.

Past Rosaline.

Behind Cordelia.

Then around toward the opposite side.

He stopped.

”...I’m glad I noticed.”

Lavinia blinked.

”Noticed what?”

Daniel looked toward the lighting booth.

”Could we dim the stage lights just a little?”

Several technicians exchanged confused looks.

”...Sir?”

Daniel pointed toward the vampires.

”Their eyes.”

He looked back at the crew.

”The lights are reflecting strangely.”

Apparently worried everyone thought he was imagining things...

He removed his phone.

”Hold still.”

Click.

The photograph appeared almost instantly.

He walked back.

”Look.”

Several vampires leaned closer.

The image showed Gwendolyn.

Lavinia.

Valerie.

And Evangeline.

All four looked naturally toward the camera.

But...

Their crimson irises reflected the stage lighting.

Tiny points of light shimmered back toward the lens.

Like a cat photographed at night.

Not brightly.

Just enough to be unmistakable.

Alice blinked.

”...I didn’t even notice.”

Miranda looked genuinely fascinated.

”It looks beautiful.”

Daniel nodded.

”On television...”

He looked toward the lighting crew.

”...that reflection might distract people.”

”Let’s soften the lights a little.”

Several adjustments followed overhead.

The brightness decreased just enough to remove the effect.

Daniel nodded in satisfaction.

”Much better.”

Without hesitation...

He deleted the photograph.

”There.”

He slipped the phone back into his pocket.

”No reason to keep it.”

Lavinia smiled faintly.

”Thank you.”

”I figured asking first would’ve been more polite.”

Daniel admitted.

”But then nobody would’ve looked naturally surprised.”

”Fair enough.”

He returned to his chair.

Then reached toward the snack table.

He grabbed a small packet of crackers.

”...Mind if I steal one?”

Valerie looked at him seriously.

”...Only one?”

Daniel laughed.

”I’ll try.”

He opened the packet.

The quiet crunch echoed through the studio as everyone waited.

After swallowing...

He smiled toward the vampires.

”So.”

He rested comfortably in his chair.

”Now that everything’s almost ready...”

”Are any of you nervous?”

Adelaide answered first.

”...A little.”

Daniel nodded encouragingly.

”I told my younger brother I’d be on television.”

She smiled faintly.

”So...”

”I hope I don’t embarrass myself.”

Daniel immediately shook his head.

”Well.”

He smiled reassuringly.

”Then I suppose I don’t have much choice.”

Everyone looked at him.

”I’ll simply have to make sure I don’t mess this interview up.”

A small chuckle spread across the group.

Even Adelaide’s expression softened.

The atmosphere, already relaxed, grew a little lighter.