"Nanos?" She relaxed, back on sure scientific footing again.
"Yes. And they combined it with some tricky bioengineering to create specialized nanos that act as a sort of benign parasite."
"Parasites?" Bastien definitely had her interest now, and Etienne felt his hopes rise that she would finally accept what was happening.
"Yes. They feed off the blood we produce."
"So it's a science experiment gone wacko," she clarified, relaxing a little when Bastien nodded. "But how did these nanos get into your people?"
"They were deliberately introduced," he admitted. "You see, they were engineered to reside in the bloodstream and to help repair damage done by injuries--rather like microscopic surgeons working from the inside, so to speak. But once these nanos were introduced to the bloodstream of our ancestors, it was found that not only did they repair tissue, they regenerated it as well, and fought illness."
"I see. So they repair and regenerate your body, in effect keeping you young and healthy, and in exchange then feed off blood?" she asked slowly.
"Exactly." Bastien smiled.
Rachel seemed to consider for a moment, then she commented, "I imagine it takes a good deal of blood to constantly repair and regenerate tissue."
"Yes," he admitted. "More than a normal human body can possibly produce."
"Hence the need for sucking neck," Rachel guessed.
Etienne cleared his throat, and everyone in the room gave a start.
"Well, don't look at me," he said irritably as they turned toward him. "That's not my phrase."
"We don't 'suck neck' anymore," Lissianna said soothingly. She moved to take up position on Rachel's other side. "It's true that in the past there was some necessity, and occasionally health issues or... er... phobias"--she glanced at Greg and the couple exchanged smiles--"have made one or two of our kind revert to the old ways. However, biting people has been frowned upon since the advent of blood banks."
"Blood banks." Rachel's eyes widened. "Jeez, they'd be like fast-food restaurants, a McDonald's for vampires."
"More like a deli than McDonald's. All cold cuts." Lissianna grimaced with distaste. She had been forced to "suck neck" up until recently due to a bad case of hemophobia. There was nothing more debilitating to a vampire than to be unfortunate enough to faint at the sight of blood--something Lissianna had suffered since childhood. She was cured now, but Etienne knew she was still trying to get used to cold bagged blood.
Rachel was silent, a look of distaste clear on her face. "And now I'm like you?"
Lissianna took her hand so that both she and Bastien held one. "Yes," she said solemnly. "Etienne turned you to save your life. You are now a vampire."
Rachel's shoulders slumped. "But I don't even like blood pudding or rare steak. If it's even the slightest bit pink, I gag. I'll never be able to--"
"That can all be worked around," Lissianna assured her. "If necessary, you can continue to take your blood intravenously as you have been."
Rachel didn't look much impressed. "My dentist is going to love this. The first time he does a set of X rays, he'll freak."
"That won't be a concern. You won't need to visit the dentist anymore," Bastien assured her.
"I won't?"
"No," Lissianna answered. "Or a doctor, either. You are now cavity-and illness-proof. The blood will see to that."
"No more flu shots or dentist drills?" Rachel asked.
Lissianna turned a triumphant smile on Etienne. "I knew you hadn't presented it properly. I bet you didn't tell her about the orgasms, either."
"I told her she'd live forever and never age. That should hold more sway than dentist or doctor visits," Etienne said irritably.
"Maybe to someone who's never had to suffer them," Rachel said distractedly. Then she asked, "Orgasms?"
"Well, that's my cue to leave." Greg picked up his glass and turned to the door. "When women start talking sex..."
Bastien patted Rachel's hand and stood as well. "Yes, this part is best left to the women, I should think."