***

Bathepresent

"Reya,you''''''''reoutinthewindagaindressedlikethat.Ifyoucatchacold,Idon''''''''thavetimetotakeyoutothehospital."

Adeep,metallicvoice,roughenedbyyearsbutsoftehaffe,driftedupfromthecourtyardbelow.

Reyaleanedoverthewrought-ironbalyrailingandpeereddown.

TherestoodLu,hiswhiteathletiktopgingtohissweat-slickedskin,thefabricsheerwhereitg,outliningthehardridgesofhischestandshoulders.

Evenatforty,themanwasstilcatch,thoughnooneseemediedincatghim.

Reya''''''''slipscurvedintoadimpledsmileasshewaved."Go,Dad."

Lu''''''''sthinlipsquirkedupwardashetookinthesightofher—longhairtossinglikeseaweedinthewind,makingherlooklikeasirenpoisedonhercliff,luringsailorstotheirdoom.Hecouldalmostheartheuhlysong.

"Gobasideadressed.We''''''''rehavingbreakfasttogethertoday."

"Okay,Dad!"Shebouncedawayfromthebalyrail,vanishingintotheroomwithlight,eagersteps.

Lately,Luhadbeenedbyanothermajorcase,leavingnotimefordaysoff.Mostms,Reyafriedherowneggs,thoughtheyurquiteright—neverasgoldenandcrispattheedgesasLu''''''''s,htheyolkperfectlyroundlikeafullmoon.Heneverhadtimetoteachher,andshenevermaomastertheheat.

Evenmonstersaren''''''''tbornknowihing.

Likehumans,theyneededuidethem.

Before,Reyahadsurvivedoninstinct.Afterward,shelearolivebyhumahelittletrickssheknew,shediscoveredonherown,practigi.

ShelovedthosesupernaturalshowsonTV.Theoneswheremonstersspatsilktocotheirvictimsormovedobjectswithaflickoftheirfingers.Shetriedtoimitatethemathome.

Shenevermanagedsilk-spittingthoughshecouldspitsalivaimpressivelyfar,aelekinesishadlimits.Shecouldonlymovethingsthatheldnaturalenergy,likethetimeshemadeacrystalspleoffitsbluedispystandinashopwindow.Butacheapgssvase?Shecouldn''''''''tevewobble.

Atfirst,shethoughtshewasjustahumanwithpeculiarabilities.

Thencameherfirstperiod.

Thatwaswhensherealized—shewasn''''''''thuman.

Thediscoverywasthrilling,thoughtheprocesswasfarfrompleasant.

Theifouryearsago,whenshewaseen,hadtaughtherthatwell.

Shewasnotjustanymonster.Shewasasuccubus.

***

Fo