▪︎ Chapter 125 ▪︎ “I WAS RIGHT ABOUT ELVES!”

Lavinia looked at the Witches across from her and found herself wondering, once again, whether the reason humans were sometimes put off by vampires had less to do with their fangs than their eyes.

It was difficult to judge from the inside.

Another vampire's eyes didn't bother her at all. 

Empty red from edge to edge, without pupils or irises, had become so familiar that Lavinia barely registered it anymore. 

Valerie's eyes were simply Valerie's eyes. Gwendolyn's were Gwendolyn's. 

There was nothing eerie about them unless Lavinia deliberately stopped and remembered that human eyes weren't supposed to look anything like that.

Witches, however...

Mirabelle was saying something to Tanselle while Annelotte listened, and Lavinia's attention drifted between those perfectly black eyes.

Something about them was odd.

Not frightening.

Lavinia would vehemently deny being afraid of a Witch who had existed for perhaps half an hour, particularly when said Witch was physically weaker than she was by a frankly hilarious margin.

Still.

Black eyes were weird.

Perhaps humans looked at vampires and thought exactly the same thing.

“Anyway!” Merrit said suddenly, clapping her hands together. “I should probably get home before my parents literally kill me.”

Mirabelle looked at her. “You're a Witch now.”

“My mother will adapt.”

Tanselle snickered.

“And my sister,” Merrit continued, pointing vaguely down the street. “She's probably already losing her mind because I haven't answered anything for...” She pulled out her phone, looked at the screen, and winced. “Oh. Yeah. I'm dead.”

“Again,” Mirabelle said.

“Shut up.”

Merrit waved enthusiastically at the vampires as she started backing away. “It was nice meeting you! Sorry we magically shoved you!”

“That was her!” Annelotte called after her.

“Collective responsibility!”

“There is no collective responsibility!”

Merrit laughed, turned around, and hurried away.

The other three Witches weren't far behind. There were families to find, people to reassure, and, judging by the increasingly distracted expressions all three wore whenever the subject of magic came up, an enormous number of things they desperately wanted to try.

Lavinia watched them go.

Violetta exhaled beside her. “I need to speak with some people.”

“About?” Valerie asked.

“Everything.”

Her wings emerged from her back in a smooth unfurling of purple-black membrane. 

Violetta crouched slightly, then launched upward hard enough to stir hair and skirts below her. Within seconds she was already climbing above the buildings.

“I'll help,” Celestine announced.

“So will I,” Evelyn said.

Cordelia spread her wings. “Likewise.”

Ophelia glanced at Diana, then caught the Thrall around the waist without asking.

Diana sighed. “You could warn me.”

“You knew what I was doing.”

“I did.”

“Then I didn't need to warn you.”

Ophelia opened her wings and jumped.

Diana's arms immediately wrapped around her.

Celestine, Evelyn and Cordelia followed, rapidly disappearing after Violetta.

Lavinia watched them go with narrowed eyes.

“Help,” she repeated.

Adelaide laughed softly. “You don't sound convinced.”

“I know them.”

A warm body leaned into Lavinia's side.

Rosaline's cocoa-and-cherry scent reached her a moment before the vampire bent down. 

Her lips brushed close enough to Lavinia's pointed ear that the faint movement tickled it, making the sensitive tip twitch involuntarily.

“Do you think Diana and Ophelia make a cute couple?” Rosaline whispered.

Lavinia snorted and pressed one finger against Rosaline's forehead.

Rosaline allowed herself to be pushed backward, smiling shamelessly.

“They do,” Gwendolyn said. “They get along really well. I don't see why they shouldn't be.”

Adelaide looked at her. “We all get along really well.”

Gwendolyn paused.

“That is different.”

“How?”

Gwendolyn opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

Valerie saved her. “I think there's a difference between liking another vampire and being intimate with one, and doing the same thing with something else.”

Rosaline's eyebrows rose. “That sounds rather messed up when you say it like that.”

“It does.”

“But...” Rosaline tilted her head, red hair sliding over one shoulder. “When I actually try to figure out what part is wrong, nothing particularly stands out.”

Lavinia understood that feeling far too well.

Affection between vampires came so naturally that questioning it sometimes felt stranger than simply accepting it. 

Valerie could cling to her, Gwendolyn could climb into her lap, Rosaline could whisper against her ear, and none of it triggered the same internal barriers that Lavinia vaguely remembered possessing as a human.

Before she could decide whether that deserved further examination, laughter rang out nearby.

It was beautiful.

Not merely pleasant. The sound possessed a light, almost crystalline quality, as though tiny bells had collided somewhere inside it without becoming literal chimes.

Lavinia turned.

Two people emerged around the corner.

Her attention settled first on the woman.

There was absolutely no ambiguity there.

She was tall, as Lavinia was quickly beginning to suspect Elves generally were, with pale skin, enormous green eyes and long pointed ears extending dramatically through curtains of golden-blonde hair. 

Her hair fell well past her waist in soft waves. She wore a fitted black dress that emphasized a decidedly soft, full figure.

Lavinia stared for perhaps half a second.

Then she heard Gwendolyn inhale.

The person beside the woman was—

Lavinia tilted her head.

Male?

Probably.

He was similarly tall and slender, with long blonde hair framing an almost unfairly pretty face. 

His green eyes matched the woman's, as did his long pointed ears, though his build was noticeably different: leaner, narrower, flatter through the chest, with subtle definition beneath the oversized cream sweater he wore with dark jeans.

He was beautiful.

Very beautiful.

Lavinia tilted her head the other way.

The two continued approaching as though a collection of vampires standing on the sidewalk was merely the latest interesting thing to happen tonight.

The female Elf glanced sideways at her companion. “Apparently becoming an Elf increased your courage too.”

His ear twitched.

Then his mouth curved upward.

“I'd feel offended if you weren't walking toward the vampires right beside me.”

“I'm following you.”

“You were half a step ahead of me.”

“I slowed down.”

“You sped up when you saw them.”

“Prove it.”

“I have eyes.”

“So do I. Mine say you're lying.”

“That isn't how eyes work.”

“They're Elf eyes. You don't know.”

He laughed again, that same delightful bell-like quality carrying through the night.

His voice answered Lavinia's question.

Male.

Definitely male once she actually listened, and noticeably deeper than his companion's voice, but not deep in the way Lavinia would have expected from a human man. 

It was light, smooth and almost delicate, carrying the same peculiar beauty as the female Elf's. 

Had Lavinia heard only a few words without paying attention, she wasn't entirely certain she'd have placed it correctly.

The woman snorted and crossed her arms beneath her chest.

The movement pushed her already ample breasts upward.

Gwendolyn squealed.

“I WAS RIGHT ABOUT ELVES!”

Every head turned toward her.

Again.

Gwendolyn pointed at the female Elf as though presenting evidence before a court. “See?!”

The Elf looked down at herself.

Then at Gwendolyn.

Her lips slowly curved into a grin.

Her brother—or Lavinia assumed brother, given the resemblance—covered his mouth.

“Don't encourage her,” Adelaide muttered.

The two Elves stopped a few feet away.

The male stepped forward first. “I'm Saelorian. Sael is fine.”

The female Elf opened her mouth.

Saelorian's green eyes flicked toward her.

“And this is Aeloriane, my little sister.”

Aeloriane's mouth remained open.

Saelorian grinned.

Aeloriane punched him in the arm.

He rocked slightly from the hit and immediately began cackling.

“You ass!”

“You've been annoying me for half an hour!” Saelorian said. “If I didn't steal your chance to shine, I'd be a fool.”

“I can introduce myself!”

“You were taking too long.”

“I hadn't even started!”

“Exactly.”

Aeloriane hit him again.

Lavinia laughed.

Apparently becoming a different species hadn't done much to sibling relationships.

Introductions went around quickly after that. Lavinia gave her own name, followed by Valerie, Gwendolyn, Adelaide, Rosaline and Evangeline. 

Saelorian and Aeloriane listened attentively, their ears occasionally twitching toward whichever vampire was speaking.

Lavinia inhaled subtly.

Flowers.

Leaves.

Wood.

The scent was immediately distinct from humans, Witches, werewolves and vampires. 

Both Elves shared it closely enough that Lavinia could already tell it was a species scent rather than something particularly individual.

Aeloriane leaned strongly toward flowers, fresh and pleasant, with greenery and wood beneath it.

Saelorian smelled more strongly of wood, then leaves, with flowers lingering more faintly underneath.

Interesting.

Lavinia's attention returned to Saelorian.

She studied him.

Not because she was suddenly questioning her preferences. Ever since she'd become a vampire, there hadn't been any confusion.

Saelorian simply didn't fit neatly into either category at first glance.

His eyes narrowed.

Then widened.

“Oh, no.”

Lavinia blinked.

Saelorian raised both hands. “I'm a guy.”

Lavinia's mouth twitched.

“I am,” he insisted. “I know that look. I've gotten that look several times already.”

Lavinia giggled. “It was a coincidence. I was also a guy.”

Saelorian froze.

Aeloriane looked at Lavinia.

Then at her brother.

Then back to Lavinia.

“Before the First Divergence,” Lavinia added.

“Oh.”

Aeloriane's expression transformed.

“No, no, that's different.”

Saelorian slowly turned toward her.

Aeloriane was already laughing.

“All vampires are women. Sael is just the prime definition of a femboy.”

Saelorian stared at his sister.

She took one cautious step backward.

His hand shot out.

Aeloriane shrieked as Saelorian caught her around the waist and effortlessly hoisted her over his shoulder.

“PUT ME DOWN!”

“No.”

“SAEL!”

He started spinning.

Aeloriane's blonde hair flew outward in a huge golden arc as Saelorian rotated faster and faster, laughing while she pounded uselessly against his back.

“You're messing up my hair!”

“You called me a femboy!”

“YOU ARE ONE!”

“Wrong answer!”

Lavinia covered her mouth.

Gwendolyn had doubled over.

Valerie leaned against Lavinia, shaking with laughter.

Saelorian finally stopped and set Aeloriane back on her feet.

Her shoes touched the pavement.

She didn't stumble.

Not even slightly.

Her green eyes blinked several times while her head slowly rocked from side to side.

“You made me dizzy,” she complained.

Saelorian grinned. “Good.”

“I hate you.”

“Love you too.”

Aeloriane shoved him.

Saelorian barely moved.

He looked back toward Lavinia. “Anyway, I wasn't expecting this. We were just out together when the Third Divergence happened. Then...” He gestured at himself. “Elf.”

“And Elf,” Aeloriane added, gesturing at herself.

Valerie laughed. “That's basically how it happened for us too. Except for the being outside part.”

Saelorian reached over and ruffled Aeloriane's hair.

She immediately slapped his hand away.

“Stop!”

“You said I messed it up anyway.”

“That doesn't mean make it worse!”

Aeloriane smoothed her hair with both hands before looking toward the vampires. “Do you want to get something to eat?”

Gwendolyn immediately perked up.

“Yes!”

She almost bounced in place.

Aeloriane laughed.

“So that's settled.”

They picked a restaurant in a nearby high-rise, one of the places that had managed to remain open despite the Tide, ceremony and Third Divergence collectively turning the day into something no sane business owner could have planned for.

As they walked, Saelorian glanced between the vampires.

“Do I need to do some kind of verification now?”

Rosaline looked at him. “For being an Elf?”

“Yeah. Government registry, medical exam, paperwork, blood test, sacrifice my firstborn to the Department of Motor Vehicles—whatever we're doing.”

“Probably not,” Rosaline said. “A few vampires have simply shown up around us since the First Divergence. Nobody dragged them away.”

Aeloriane visibly relaxed. “Thank God. I don't want to sit in a DMV.”

Saelorian looked offended. “You say that like I wouldn't be sitting there with you.”

“You'd abandon me.”

“I drove you to renew your license!”

“You complained the entire time.”

“I was there for three hours!”

“So was I!”

“You were the reason we were there!”

“That doesn't make the chairs more comfortable!”

Lavinia smiled.

“They're funny,” she murmured.

Both sets of long pointed ears twitched.

Saelorian looked over his shoulder immediately. “I apologize for my sister's poor behavior.”

Aeloriane scoffed. “What exactly about my brother is amusing?”

Lavinia blinked.

Valerie nudged her. “Good hearing.”

“Oh.” Lavinia laughed. “I forgot.”

She had automatically lowered her voice as though speaking around humans.

Saelorian waved it away. “I'm still getting used to it too. I keep hearing conversations I don't mean to hear.”

“And he complains about chewing,” Aeloriane said.

“You chew like a horse.”

“I do not!”

“You did before becoming an Elf. Now I can hear it better.”

“Maybe your hearing is the problem.”

Saelorian looked at Lavinia. “See what I deal with?”

“Victim complex,” Aeloriane muttered.

His ear twitched toward her.

“I heard that.”

“I know.”

Saelorian sighed dramatically. “The eyesight is crazy too. I can see way farther than I could before, and darkness isn't nearly as dark.”

Aeloriane flexed her fingers experimentally. “We're stronger too. Not vampire strong, obviously.”

“Obviously,” Evangeline said with a pleased smile.

Aeloriane rolled her eyes. “I don't think we're supposed to compete with you physically anyway. Spirit Magic feels more important.”

Gwendolyn's expression changed instantly.

“You get magic too?!”

“Yes?”

“Oh, come on!” Gwendolyn threw her hands up. “Witches get magic. Elves get magic. What do vampires get?”

Adelaide laughed softly. “Wings? Immortality? Regeneration? Super strength? Did you also forget werewolves exist? They don't have magic either.”

“They turn into giant wolves.”

“You have wings.”

“That's not the point.”

“It appears to be exactly the point.”

Saelorian chuckled. “Spirit Magic is basically elemental magic from games, from what I can tell. Water, earth, wind, that kind of thing.”

He flicked his hand.

A soft breeze curled through the hallway just as they reached the restaurant doors, lifting strands of blonde, orange, green and white hair before fading away.

Gwendolyn stared at him.

“See? Cool things.”

They entered the restaurant.

The high-rise view immediately stole Lavinia's attention.

Oakridge stretched below them in thousands of points of artificial light, streets glowing between darkened buildings and patches where power had temporarily failed. 

Farther away, the darkness of the Diverged Lands began, swallowing the city lights at an abrupt boundary. From this height, the contrast was beautiful.

Aeloriane stepped beside the window.

“Watch.”

She raised one finger.

A bead of water appeared above its tip.

It grew until it was roughly marble-sized, then began circling her finger in a tiny orbit.

Aeloriane grinned.

“I can shoot bullets.”

Saelorian's expression became delighted.

“Oh my God. My sister is a genius.”

Aeloriane glanced at him suspiciously.

“You're just like a Water-type Pokémon.”

Her ear twitched.

The water fell straight to the floor.

“Sael.”

He started laughing before she even moved.

Aeloriane rushed him with both hands raised.

Saelorian caught her wrists.

“You absolute—”

“Water Gun!”

“I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!”

“Use Hydro Pump!”

“LET GO!”

The vampires abandoned them to their struggle and approached a large table.

Lavinia sat beside Valerie, while Gwendolyn claimed the chair across from them. Adelaide, Rosaline and Evangeline settled around the remaining seats.

A waiter approached with an armful of menus.

“Good evening.”

“Good evening,” Lavinia replied.

Menus were distributed.

Rosaline opened hers, looked down the list, and then casually asked, “Did anyone bring their card?”

Silence.

Lavinia looked at Valerie.

Valerie looked at Gwendolyn.

Gwendolyn looked at Adelaide.

Adelaide looked at Evangeline.

Evangeline slowly looked at Rosaline.

Rosaline smiled.

Lavinia patted the sides of her dress as though a credit card might spontaneously materialize somewhere within it.

Nothing.

“Oh.”

The first half of their night had involved battling the Tide.

Naturally, when Lavinia had prepared to fight thousands upon thousands of Diverged animals, she'd neglected to consider whether she might want to buy dinner afterward.

“We have no money,” Gwendolyn whispered.

“We have money,” Adelaide corrected.

“We have no money here.”

“Which is functionally the same problem.”

Behind them, Aeloriane attempted to smack Saelorian again.

He dodged.

“I'll pay,” Saelorian said. “I'm not exactly short on money.”

Aeloriane immediately pointed at him. “Don't let him fool you.”

Saelorian's smile vanished.

“He's a miser.”

“I am not.”

“He's trying to impress people.”

Saelorian turned toward her.

Aeloriane grinned.

He caught both her arms.

“Who is a miser?”

“You.”

Saelorian began rocking her from side to side.

“And who's trying to look cool?”

“You!”

“Aeloriane.”

“Saelorian.”

He rocked her harder.

Her long hair swayed from side to side while she laughed and attempted to wrench her arms free.

“You count every dollar!”

“That's called budgeting!”

“You complained about a four-dollar coffee!”

“It was bad coffee!”

“You drank all of it!”

“I paid four dollars for it!”

Aeloriane burst out laughing.

Lavinia rested her chin against one hand and watched them.

She hadn't known either of them before tonight. She had no idea what Saelorian and Aeloriane had looked like as humans, what names they'd once used, how many years they'd spent growing up together, or how many thousands of arguments had preceded this one.

But becoming Elves clearly hadn't erased any of it.

Saelorian finally released his sister.

Aeloriane immediately reached up and messed up his hair.

His green eyes widened in betrayal.

She darted around the table before he could grab her again, laughing brightly as Saelorian lunged after her.

Lavinia smiled.

They were kind of wholesome.

Even if they apparently couldn't go five minutes without annoying each other.

Saelorian 

Aeloriane