▪︎ Chapter 133 ▪︎ “Are you two okay?”

Lavinia soared through the night sky, thousands of feet above the ground, with the enormous forests of the Diverged Lands stretching endlessly beneath her.

From this height, the landscape was almost impossibly beautiful.

Massive trees covered the land in every direction, their crowns forming an undulating sea of dark green. 

Occasionally, the forest gave way to broad plains, rolling hills, or rivers that glittered beneath the moonlight.

Some rivers were so wide that they resembled narrow lakes, while others wound between enormous cliffs and disappeared beneath the forest canopy.

It was picturesque.

Almost peaceful.

Lavinia smiled as she watched a particularly beautiful valley pass beneath her.

Of course, she knew better than to assume that appearances reflected reality.

For an ordinary human, being placed in the middle of that forest would probably be anything but pleasant.

The trees alone were enormous enough to make navigating difficult, and that wasn't even considering the creatures that inhabited the Diverged Lands.

Some were harmless.

Others could probably swallow a human whole.

Lavinia wondered how long an ordinary person would survive out here without equipment or assistance.

Probably not very long.

A delighted squeal interrupted her thoughts.

“Wheee!”

Gwendolyn suddenly tucked her wings against her back.

Her body dropped.

Lavinia watched as the white-haired vampire plummeted hundreds of feet, her long hair streaming behind her like a pale ribbon.

Then, just above the treetops, Gwendolyn spread her wings.

The sudden change in direction sent her soaring upward again.

“Flying is so much fun!”

Her laughter carried clearly through the night.

Lavinia giggled.

“She really likes it.”

Valerie glanced toward her.

“Don't you?”

“Of course I do!”

To demonstrate, Lavinia tucked one wing slightly inward.

Her body tilted, then rotated smoothly through the air.

For a moment, the world spun around her.

The forests passed above her head, the stars shifted beneath her feet, and the other vampires appeared at strange angles as she completed the rotation.

Lavinia spread her wings evenly again.

She smiled.

It was rather funny, really.

A group of beautiful vampires flying thousands of feet above an enormous forest, casually chatting as though they were taking an evening stroll.

If someone had told her this would become ordinary before the First Divergence, she would have thought they were ridiculous.

Then again, almost everything about her life had become ridiculous.

Violetta turned her head.

“We'll be arriving at the tower first.”

Lavinia looked toward her.

“How much farther?”

“Approximately ten minutes.”

Evangeline immediately accelerated.

“Finally!”

“Evangeline,” Violetta called.

“What?”

“Don't wander too far ahead.”

“I won't!”

Lavinia watched the red-haired vampire surge forward.

“She absolutely will.”

Rosaline laughed.

“Probably.”

Despite her enthusiasm, Evangeline remained within sight.

The next ten minutes passed pleasantly enough, with the vampires occasionally descending to inspect particularly interesting stretches of terrain before rising again.

Then Lavinia spotted something unusual on the horizon.

A narrow silhouette rose above the forest.

At first, it looked almost like an unusually straight tree.

But as they approached, its shape became unmistakable.

A tower.

A massive stone tower.

It stood well above the surrounding treeline, its smooth exterior catching the moonlight as though the entire structure had been carved from a single enormous piece of stone.

Lavinia tilted her head.

“Oh.”

The tower possessed none of the rough edges or visible imperfections she would have expected from an ordinary building.

There were no obvious seams between blocks.

No signs of mortar.

Even the decorative patterns running along its exterior seemed to flow naturally into the stone.

It was beautiful.

And rather strange.

The vampires gradually slowed as they approached.

Violetta descended toward the base, and the others followed.

All except Evangeline.

The red-haired vampire continued upward.

Lavinia watched her land on the tower's roof.

“Of course.”

Valerie giggled.

“She wants to see everything.”

Lavinia touched down on the ground outside the tower, folding her wings behind her.

The building was even more impressive from below.

She craned her neck, following its smooth walls upward until the top disappeared behind the angle of the structure.

“It's so smooth,” she remarked. “It's hard to believe it's real.”

Gwendolyn landed beside her.

“The manors and castles were beautiful too! And those looked unreal enough already.”

She tilted her head back.

“But this is even bigger.”

“It's certainly taller,” Cordelia agreed.

Rosaline approached the enormous entrance.

The door appeared to be made from the same pale stone as the surrounding walls, although its surface was decorated with intricate patterns that resembled interwoven branches and geometric symbols.

“Shall we?”

Lavinia turned toward her.

“Careful.”

Rosaline smiled.

“I'm only opening a door.”

She placed one hand against the stone.

Then pushed.

A faint sound passed through the air.

Rosaline's hand shuddered.

Her expression changed.

The pleasant scent of cocoa and cherries suddenly became more pronounced as dark red blood trickled down her fingers.

She withdrew her hand.

“Oh.”

Lavinia blinked.

“Rosaline?”

The red-haired vampire looked at her injured hand with mild surprise.

“Well, it seems we can't get inside.”

She raised her arm.

At first glance, her hand looked relatively intact.

There were no missing fingers or obvious wounds beyond the blood staining her skin.

Then Rosaline attempted to move it.

Her hand flopped unnaturally.

Lavinia stared.

“Goodness.”

Rosaline gave her wrist a small shake.

The hand moved like something made entirely of soft material, with no rigid structure remaining inside.

“I think it broke everything.”

Celestine approached.

“More witch magic?”

Lavinia considered that.

“I doubt any witches have gotten this far into the Diverged Lands.”

She looked toward the tower.

“Actually, I don't know if they've even started exploring out here. They only appeared recently.”

“Then what do you think it is?” Adelaide asked.

“Probably some sort of protective spell or ward built into the tower itself.”

Rosaline examined her hand again.

Already, the damaged bones were beginning to regenerate.

“Well, it's certainly effective.”

Valerie suddenly looked upward.

“Wait. Is Evangeline okay?”

Lavinia followed her gaze.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then a muffled curse echoed from above.

“WHAT THE—”

A slender figure appeared over the edge of the tower.

Evangeline.

She was falling.

Not flying.

Falling.

Her body tumbled through the air, arms and legs moving in directions that looked distinctly uncomfortable.

Adelaide blinked.

“Can she land on her own?”

“NO!”

Evangeline's voice carried clearly through the night.

“I CAN'T MOVE ANYTHING!”

Lavinia stared.

“What happened?”

“I WAS JUST STANDING THERE!”

Evangeline rotated helplessly.

“THEN I STARTED ROLLING!”

Lavinia sighed.

“Honestly.”

She vanished from where she stood.

A moment later, she reappeared beneath the falling vampire and caught her just before she struck the ground.

The impact barely shifted Lavinia's footing.

Evangeline, however, felt rather strange in her arms.

Lavinia blinked.

Then she carefully adjusted her grip.

“Oh.”

Evangeline glared at her.

“What?”

“Your bones.”

“What about them?”

Lavinia gently lifted one of Evangeline's arms.

It bent in a way an arm absolutely shouldn't.

“Goodness.”

Evangeline growled.

“Don't!”

Lavinia poked her shoulder.

The structure beneath the skin shifted unnaturally.

“Magic is scary.”

“LAVINIA!”

Lavinia giggled.

“Sorry!”

She poked her once more.

Evangeline hissed.

“STOP THAT!”

Cordelia approached, looking between Evangeline and the tower.

“If this is what happens when someone tries to enter without permission, I imagine an ordinary human would die almost immediately.”

She glanced toward Rosaline's recovering hand.

“Or perhaps anyone who isn't a witch.”

Violetta gently took Evangeline's hand.

She examined it for a moment before releasing her.

“Nearly every bone appears to have been shattered.”

Evangeline made an unhappy noise.

“Fortunately,” Violetta continued, “her regeneration is already repairing the damage.”

Lavinia nodded.

She could feel the difference.

Evangeline's body was becoming increasingly rigid again as her skeleton restored itself.

It was an extraordinarily strange sensation.

After another moment, Evangeline began squirming.

“Put me down.”

“Can you stand?”

“Yes!”

Lavinia lowered her carefully.

Evangeline's legs wobbled.

She glared at the tower.

“If I had my hammer, I'd tear this damned thing down myself!”

Rosaline laughed.

“I don't think it likes you.”

“I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER!”

Adelaide watched Evangeline take an unsteady step.

“I don't think a human could survive having nearly every bone shattered like that.”

She tilted her head.

“Actually, even maintaining your shape afterward is probably only possible because vampires are so much more durable.”

Evangeline took another step.

Then another.

Her movements gradually became smoother as the remaining damage healed.

Within moments, she was walking normally.

She folded her arms.

“Why do witches get protection on their towers?”

Lavinia looked toward her.

“What?”

“Our houses don't have anything like that!”

Ophelia raised an eyebrow.

“We could probably find a witch and ask her to put a spell on one.”

“That's not the point!”

Evangeline gestured angrily toward the tower.

“God is playing favorites!”

Lavinia rolled her eyes.

“Oh, please.”

“She is!”

“Evangeline, we're practically immortal.”

“So?”

“We're ridiculously strong, ridiculously fast, and can regenerate from almost anything.”

Lavinia spread her hands.

“Witches are physically much weaker than us, and they actually have to think about casting spells.”

Rosaline raised her recovering hand.

“Much weaker?”

Lavinia looked toward her.

Rosaline wiggled her fingers.

“Because I just tried opening a door, and every bone in my hand was destroyed.”

She smiled.

“I'm not entirely convinced they're weak.”

Lavinia exhaled.

“That's different.”

“How?”

“I don't think the magic protecting this tower belongs to an ordinary witch.”

She looked up at the enormous structure.

“It probably came directly from the Thing in the Darkness.”

The others grew slightly quieter.

Lavinia continued.

“If she created the tower and placed the protection herself, then of course it can hurt us.”

Valerie leaned toward her.

“You know, I still can't get over God being a cute girl.”

Lavinia giggled.

“Neither can I.”

“And she's apparently just watching everything because she's bored?”

“Something like that.”

Valerie shook her head.

“That's so strange.”

Gwendolyn immediately looked interested.

“I want to see God too!”

Diana, who had been listening quietly, tilted her head.

“Do you think we'll meet her?”

Lavinia considered the question.

Then she shrugged.

“I don't know.”

She looked toward the stars.

“She told me she doesn't like interfering.”

Valerie raised an eyebrow.

Lavinia smiled wryly.

“While causing Divergences, giving out wishes, and whisking me away to talk.”

Rosaline laughed.

“That does sound rather contradictory.”

“Exactly!”

Lavinia spread her hands.

“So I have absolutely no idea what she considers interference.”

Violetta looked toward the tower, then at the vampires gathered around its entrance.

“Well, we've confirmed that the structure is protected.”

She smiled.

“Shall we inspect the others?”

Evangeline glared at the tower one last time.

“Fine.”

She pointed at it.

“But I'm remembering this.”

Lavinia laughed.

“I'm sure it's terrified.”

Evangeline stuck out her tongue.

A moment later, the vampires spread their wings and launched themselves into the air.

The tower rapidly fell away beneath them.

Within seconds, it had become little more than a pale pillar rising above the dark forest.

Their next destination wasn't directly deeper into the Diverged Lands.

Instead, Violetta guided them across the enormous region, following a route that gradually curved away from the direction they'd taken from Oakridge.

The landscape changed beneath them.

The forest thinned.

Then a vast lake appeared.

Its surface was so clear that Lavinia could see pale shapes far beneath the water, even from their considerable altitude.

Gwendolyn looked down.

“Wow!”

The lake stretched for miles.

Nearly seven, according to Violetta.

Its shores curved gently between the surrounding forests, and the moonlight reflected across its surface in a broad silver path.

Gwendolyn tilted her head.

“Do you think people could drink that water without purifying it?”

Celestine glanced downward.

“Probably not a good idea.”

“But it looks so clean!”

“Looking clean doesn't mean it's safe.”

Gwendolyn pouted.

Lavinia giggled.

“Especially out here. Who knows what's living in it?”

Gwendolyn looked down again.

“Maybe something cute!”

“Or something enormous,” Valerie suggested.

“Or both,” Rosaline added.

Gwendolyn smiled.

“I'd still like to see.”

They continued onward.

Eventually, the lake disappeared behind them, and the forests grew dense once more.

Then Lavinia noticed something familiar.

“Oh!”

The trees ahead were different.

They rose even higher than the already enormous trees of the Diverged Lands, their pale bark reflecting the moonlight while their crowns spread outward in broad layers of soft green leaves.

Lavinia recognized them immediately.

“These are the ones from the pictures.”

Violetta nodded.

“We're approaching the elven structures.”

The vampires slowed.

As they descended, exquisite buildings began appearing among the branches.

Some were nestled against enormous trunks.

Others stretched between neighboring trees, connected by elegant bridges that seemed to have grown naturally from the wood itself.

Lavinia's eyes widened.

“Beautiful.”

She angled her wings and landed on a broad terrace.

The surface felt like polished wood beneath her feet, although there were no visible joints or seams.

She looked around.

The terrace appeared to be part of the tree.

Not attached to it.

Part of it.

The same was true of the surrounding houses.

Their walls curved naturally around the trunks, their roofs flowed into branches, and their windows were framed by delicate wooden patterns that looked almost like living vines.

Everything seemed harmonious.

As though the forest itself had decided to become a village.

Rosaline landed beside her.

“How likely do you think it is that these buildings have protection too?”

Evangeline immediately looked suspicious.

“Don't touch anything.”

Rosaline laughed.

“I wasn't planning to.”

Violetta descended onto the terrace.

“There's no need to test it.”

Lavinia turned toward her.

“We aren't going inside?”

“No. Our purpose is simply to confirm whether anything is living here.”

Cordelia landed nearby.

“Do you think something might appear?”

Violetta looked toward her.

“It's possible.”

Cordelia considered that.

“Like another supernatural species simply emerging from nowhere?”

She hummed softly.

“I suppose I can't really say that's impossible anymore.”

Lavinia smiled.

Neither could she.

After everything that had happened, the idea of an entirely new population appearing inside these structures didn't seem particularly unreasonable.

They already knew that God existed.

Or at least, that something possessing abilities so far beyond their understanding that calling her God seemed appropriate existed.

If she wanted to create a village full of elves, what could possibly stop her?

Valerie approached one of the windows.

She leaned closer, peering through the glass.

“Oh!”

Lavinia joined her.

“What?”

“Look inside.”

Beyond the window was a beautifully furnished room.

The furniture appeared to be carved from pale wood, with elegant curves and delicate patterns decorating the chairs, tables, and shelves.

A broad bed occupied one side of the room, its frame seamlessly integrated into the surrounding walls.

Even the decorations looked natural.

Valerie smiled.

“This is definitely for elves.”

Lavinia nodded.

“That's what I thought when I first saw the pictures.”

She glanced around.

“It's almost too perfect.”

The others spread out to inspect the surrounding terraces and buildings.

Lavinia remained near Valerie, occasionally looking through windows or examining the extraordinary craftsmanship.

After several minutes, the vampires returned.

Adelaide shook her head.

“Nothing unusual.”

Celestine nodded.

“No unfamiliar scents either.”

“Same here,” Ophelia remarked.

Violetta looked satisfied.

“Then that confirms what the reconnaissance suggested.”

Evangeline folded her arms.

“Is that all we're doing tonight?”

Lavinia looked toward her.

“What?”

“We flew all the way out here, looked at a tower we couldn't enter, and now we're looking at empty houses.”

She puffed out her cheeks.

“Going back already would be so boring!”

Violetta smiled fondly.

“We don't have to return immediately.”

Evangeline's ears perked up.

“Really?”

“There's no particular rush.”

Evangeline practically bounced across the terrace.

“Then where's my hammer?”

Violetta blinked.

A moment later, Evangeline threw herself at her.

Violetta caught her easily.

“Your hammer?”

“Yes!”

Violetta laughed softly.

“I had the weapons transported using a military vehicle after the Tide ended.”

Evangeline looked disappointed.

“Why?”

“Because even the lightest weighs more than a hundred pounds.”

She patted Evangeline's head.

“Carrying them around unnecessarily seemed rather impractical.”

Evangeline huffed.

Lavinia spread her wings.

“My greatsword is still the best.”

Valerie immediately turned toward her.

“Oh?”

Lavinia smiled smugly.

“Obviously.”

Valerie giggled.

“Then why were you looking so jealous of my bladed chain?”

Lavinia froze.

“I wasn't!”

“You were!”

“I was admiring it!”

“Jealously?”

“VALERIE!”

Valerie laughed and leaped from the terrace.

Lavinia followed immediately.

“Come back here!”

The two vampires soared away from the enormous trees, their wings carrying them rapidly above the forest canopy.

Behind them, the others laughed and launched themselves into the air.

For a while, the night was peaceful.

The vampires flew beneath the stars, occasionally circling one another.

Lavinia and Valerie remained near the front.

Valerie continued teasing her about the bladed chain, while Lavinia insisted that a greatsword was obviously superior.

Their argument had become increasingly ridiculous.

“You can't even swing a chain like a proper sword!” Lavinia declared.

Valerie grinned.

“That's because it's a chain!”

“Exactly!”

“That doesn't prove anything!”

“It proves everything!”

Valerie burst into laughter.

Lavinia opened her mouth to respond.

Then something moved above them.

Fast.

Two figures streaked downward.

Lavinia's ears twitched.

She barely had time to turn her head before something struck her.

Another impact hit Valerie almost simultaneously.

The world spun.

“Wha—!”

Four bodies tumbled through the air.

Wings tangled.

The forest rushed upward.

Then—

SPLASH!

Water exploded into the night as the four vampires crashed into a shallow river.

For a moment, everything was a confused mixture of splashing water, flailing limbs, and enormous black wings.

Lavinia struck the riverbed, sending a spray of stones and water outward.

She blinked.

Then sat up.

Water streamed from her golden hair.

Her wings spread awkwardly behind her, their membranes dripping as she looked around.

“What?”

Valerie surfaced nearby.

Her orange hair clung to her face.

She stared at Lavinia.

Lavinia stared back.

Then they both looked toward the other two figures.

Two vampires.

One possessed long black hair.

The other had beautiful pink hair.

Both were soaked.

Both were staring at them.

And neither looked particularly happy.

Lavinia slowly climbed to her feet.

Water poured from her dress before the fabric began restoring itself to its usual pristine appearance.

She looked between the unfamiliar vampires.

Their crimson eyes were unmistakable.

So were their pointed ears, beautiful faces, and the familiar sense of kinship Lavinia felt whenever she encountered another member of her species.

But something was wrong.

The black-haired vampire's shoulders were tense, her fingers curled tightly against her palms.

The pink-haired vampire looked little better.

Her expression shifted repeatedly, as though she were struggling to decide what to say.

Lavinia could hear the others approaching overhead.

She raised one hand slightly, signaling that everything was fine.

Then she returned her attention to the two strangers.

“Um.”

Neither answered.

Lavinia tilted her head.

“What's wrong?”

Her voice softened.

“I don't think we've met before.”

The black-haired vampire swallowed.

The pink-haired vampire glanced toward her companion.

Lavinia's smile faded slightly.

She didn't know them.

She didn't know where they'd come from, or why they'd apparently decided to tackle her and Valerie out of the sky.

But everything about them suggested they were barely holding themselves together.

And that worried her considerably more than the unexpected collision.

Lavinia took a small step forward.

“Are you two okay?”