***

    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