ened.

Reyahadneverbeeoexpihingsthathappeoher.Inallheryears,shehaderedanotherbeinglikeherself.Eveerm—demon,demoness—wassomethingshehadpickedupfrombooksandmovies.

Stretgherarmsbehindher,shetiltedherfacetothesky,eyesclosed,surrenderingtothegentlekissofsunlightandmbreeze.

Afteraquickshower,shewipedthesteamfromthemirrorandstudiedthereflestaringbackather:alithefigurewithskinpaleandsmoothaspor,curvesdelicateyetirresistiblysensual.

Theoldapartmentstoodonastreethecityter,hemmedinbyotherbuildingsjustaswearyandwaitingfordemolition.Theirjagged,soot-stainedrooftopsofthesecrumblingstructureshuogetherinthecrampedskyline,dwarfedbythesapphire-blueskyscrapersglitteringiaheirgssmonolithsglitteringlikegemstones.

Shemustbealittlemonster.

Andreally,whocaredabouthistoryanymore?

Shedriedherhair,slippedintoarobe,andsteppedontothebalytogreettherisingsun.Aftersuexhaustingnight,shecravedthewarmth,odrinkineverydropofwarmthshecould.

Sof.

Thatwastheonlyexpnation.

Sheknewshewasn''''''''tlikeirls.

TheapartmentitselfwaslikearottingbamboosliptossedamongapileofDVDs.Outofpce,fragile,quietlywhisperingitsownhistory.

Thosewhocouldaffordabetterlifehadlongsincemovedaw