and he tucked me in with a kiss. “Sweet dreams.” He turned to leave. “I have telephone calls to make. I’ll be in directly. Sleep well, my love.”

I was exhausted but still uncertain and apprehensive. I tossed and turned, but sleep soon got the better of me.

All at once, the shutters blew open and I was surrounded by a swirling snowstorm, blinded, cold and naked. Where was Ethan? Snow was filling the room and the sun would get me! I called out for him but he didn’t answer. Then a tall figure with long, pale hair emerged from the snow, with arms extended, saying, “Who will go with him?” I cowered on the bed and screamed, as he reached out to take me by the throat.

“Mia, my darling? What’s wrong?”

My eyes opened on Ethan, lying nude next to me in the bed. It was just a dream.

“A nightmare— is it nighttime again already?”

“Come see the change!”

He took my hands and led me over to the tall cheval mirror.

My eyes were brighter, my hair more lustrous and my skin very pale, but otherwise, I looked much the same. “We cast a reflection?”

“You’re no ghoul. You are reborn! Everything lost in man’s ascent is restored, animal powers, coupled with heightened awareness and understanding. Your immune system is enhanced to the point where all diseases are rendered harmless. Your body is capable of healing serious wounds in a relatively short time. You are stronger, faster and have superior powers of hearing, scent and sight.”

“Like Superman?”

He was delighted. “You’ve read of Nietzsche’s Ubermensch?”

“No— the comic book hero— the one in the red cape?”

He frowned as he preened in the mirror. “I’m afraid I’m ignorant of this paragon.”

“Actually, you kinda look like him.”

Ethan placed my hands on the naked expanse of his chest, over his beating heart. The blood running through his body lulled me into a semi-hypnotic state as he spoke. “We’re flesh and blood, whatever the legends say, a highly specialized predatory animal, with an intellect and capacity to love and desire as a human being, but superior to them in every way. A Superman if you will.”

A chill ran through me. Images of torch light parades, swastikas and pathetic corpses stacked in pits of lime flashed through my brain. I was about to protest when horrible throbbing started in my head and my body was suddenly racked. Even the abortion hadn’t hurt this much.

I cried, clutching him. “Ethan! What’s the matter? What’s this pain?”

“Hunger,” he told me simply. “You must feed.”

That’s it! Joe thought. Pain drove her to appease this monster invading her body. It caused her intense physical distress, propelling her to take human life without a thought. “It’s an intense physical urge, painful? When does this usually start?”

“A week or so after I’ve completely fed, I feel a twinge.” Suddenly she took to her feet. “You really don’t give a shit about me, do you?”

Joe sat up and snapped his notebook shut. “What?”

Sparks ignited in her eyes. “Asking you a question, this is the time for questions?”

“I’m supposed to ask you questions.”

“Hardly seems fair.”

“Your question sounded a hell of a lot like an accusation.” He stood up, holding his hands out before her. “Without you Mia, there’s no project. You’re the key to the door to immortality.”

“The child I aborted was immortality.”

“That’s not what we’re here to discuss.”

Her voice hit a dangerously low note, “Get the fuck out.”

“No.” Joe stood his ground awaiting attack as sweat beaded alarmingly on his forehead. She crouched on the chair, a bobcat ready to pounce. Instinct told him to show no fear. It turned out to be the best course of action.

She suddenly shrugged, as if killing him wasn’t worth the trouble, and sank back down into the chair. “You’re just as much of a monster as I am. Just look around you— at the bestiality of the human race.”

“That’s what you see.”

“Until you convince me otherwise— get out— I’m sick of you poking around in my soul! Fucking men, always trying to penetrate me in one way or another… ”

“Then why are you here exactly, Mia?”

She threw her head back, laughing like Garbo. “I want to walk in the sun, and laugh as the old demons destruct all around me.”

“Don’t bullshit me.”

She merely shook her head. Disgusted, Joe packed up his bag to leave. She crossed the room to the desk, opening the drawer and took out an envelope, extending it imperiously toward him. Annoyed, Joe took it and left, making his way