***
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
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