¡¶ÑýÑÕ»óÖÚ£¨ÐüÒÉ£¬Ææ»Ã£¬18R£©¡· Prologue-Tisdamazymoo. Itwasacloudlessnight. Thefullmoonhunginthesky,yetnotasiarwasvisible.Thedarknesswasabsolute,pure.Yetthemoonitselfwasdim,shroudedinahazyhalo,asifveiledingauze. Threadsofmoonlight,fineanduntouchable,slippedthroughthehalf-opengsswindowandthelooselydrawnfloralcurtains,spillingintothequietbedroom. Atfirst,thelighthadsettledonthecream-coloreddesk,castingafainttriangurglow.Butnow,thatglowseemedalive,twisting,slidingoffthedesk,creepingacrossthehardwoodfllidihew,andfinallyclimbingontothewhitefour-posterbedwithitspartedcurtains.Thereitpausedbesideaslender,palehaingatopthesheet. Reyasummonedwhatstrengthshehadleft,pushingherselfuprightagainsttheheadboard.Shecouldfeelhervitalenergysurginguntrolblytowardherabdomen.Asshemoved,thesheetslipped,revealingherbare,gauntshoulders.Herskihanthemoonlightitself,fwless,smoothaspor,almostglowingfaintlyinthedark. Thistime,itwasingfaster.Stronger. Sheslowlyraisedherarm,themovementsosluggishitwasbarelyperceptible.Itwasn''''''''tthatshedidn''''''''twanttomovefaster.Herbodysimplydidn''''''''thaveenoughenergylefttotroleventhiswispofhazymoonlight. Damnit.Ofallnights,whymusttheskyfuntalunarhalotonight? Drawingasharpbreath,shesuddenlyliftedherhand,pressedhermoonlight-entangledfioherforehead.Instantly,asmallpurplishbirthmark-likespotbetweenherbrowsfshedcrimsonlight. Shestruggledtutetheenergyflow,fherselftosteadyherbreath.Themoonlightrosefromherforeheadlikeaglowingstrandofgossamer,suspehestiflingairofthebedroom.Oetheredtoherbrow,theotherstretgtowardthegapiains. IfLuweretoseethis... No.Notimetoworryaboutthat. Theweightinherlowerabdomengrewheavier,bulgingfaintlybehesheet. Almostthere.Almost. Reyacouldn''''''''tsitupproperly.Shebentherlegs,half-reingagainsttheheadboard,herfeetphemattress,herhandsgrippingthecarvedbedframe.Sweatbeadedonherforehead,heramethysthairgingtohercheeks,makingherdelicatefaceappearghostlypale. Afaintmoanbrokeinthedarkness.Soft,asifsqueezedoutfromthecrathewoodenfloorboardsbehebed.Ifoenedclosely,itwasalmostindistinct,yetitcarriedanagresonance,asifdredgedfromthedepthsofhersoul. Tick. Thepinkarmclothenightstandclickedasthehourhandpassedone.Reyaexhaledinrelief.Themoonlighttetheredtoherforeheadsuddenlysnappedfree,recoilinglikeabrokenrubberband,instantlyretreatingbacktothecream-coloreddesk.Besideit,ablue-coveredtextbook''''''''spagesflutteredfaintly,asifbrushedbyaphantombreeze,beforesettlingbatostillness. TheonlysouintheroomwasReya''''''''sraggedbreathing.Everythingwasnain.Asifnothinghadhappened. Halfanhourter,shesatupagain,wipingthesweatfromherbrowwiththebackofherhand.Shesweptherlong,violethairoveroneshoulderandcarefullyliftedthesheet.Behyaclusterofgrape-sizedvioletorbs. Fromthenightstand,sheretrievedaslender-neckedgssbottle,pullingoutthewoodenstopper.Withherslenderfingers,shepinchedeachorbonebyone. Pop.Pop.Pop. Thecolorlessliquidinsideseepedout,collegile.Thepurplehusksshriveled.Withalightrubbetweenherfiheycrumbledintodust. Shetedthem.Forty-eight. Stilloneshort.Whichmeantshehadehispainfornothing. Sheshookthebottlegently.Theliquidinsidewasslightlythickerthanwater,gingtothegsswalls. Carefully,shestoredthebottleaway.Itwasn''''''''tenoughtofreeLufromhisstateasalivingdead,butatleastitwouldlethimholdonalittlelonger,justenoughtoseemnormal. Reyayonherside,gazingatthephotoonthenightstand:alittlegirlinaprincessdress,smililybesideatall,handsomemaninapoliiform. Fourteenyears.Shehadgrownupdaybyday,whilehehadaged. Shehadthoughttheywouldhavemany,manymoreyearstogether.Butayearago,anactatacrimesehadnearlytakenhimfromher. Luckily,I''''''''mademoness.Isaveyou. Forayearshehadgtothatbelief. Justalittlelonger. Damnthatmanwhoforcedmetodrinkstnight. Anddamnthishazymoon. TeBeautySlayer-1 Themsunhadjustpeekedoverthehorizonwheirredawake.Risingearlywasahabitingrainedinhersincechildhood.Oneshecouldn''''''''tshake,evenafterfourteenyearslivingamonghumans. AsMoxihadooldher,somethichedintoherverygenes.Ungeable. Whatwasthatwain? Ah,right.Instinct. Reya''''''''searliestmemaditch. Backthen,shedidn''''''''tevenhaveaname.ReyawaswhatLutergaveher. Whenhereyesfirstopeheworldwasablur.Herfrailbodywascoatedinawarm,stickyfluidthatgunfortablytoherskin.Thesurroundingswerequiet,serehswayingshadowsoftrees.Notfaraale,human-shapedsilhouetteymotionlessinthegrass. Astrangebird''''''''scrysuddenlypiercedtheair,andherfragilelittlebodytrembled.Drivenbyinstinct,shecrawledtowardthatsilhouette. Thefewstepstookay.Twigsandgravelscrapedherdelicateskin,leavingtrailsofclearfluidbehind. Atst,shecurledupbesidethefemalecorpseahenightthere. Thatwomanhadbeenher"mother".OrsoReyahadalwaysbelieved.Likeeverynewborureinthisworld,thefirstimageimprinteduponherbecameindelible. ItwasthesamewithLu.Hehadbeeher"father". Herslenderlegsslippedfrombehesheets,barefeetsinkingintotheplushrug.Shecastagncebackatthepristiebedding,asifstnight''''''''sstrugglehadneverhappened. Afteraquickshower,shewipedthesteamfromthemirrorandstudiedthereflestaringbackather:alithefigurewithskinpaleandsmoothaspor,curvesdelicateyetirresistiblysensual. Reyahadneverbeeoexpihingsthathappeoher.Inallheryears,shehaderedanotherbeinglikeherself.Eveerm¡ªdemon,demoness¡ªwassomethingshehadpickedupfrombooksandmovies. Sheknewshewasn''''''''tlikeirls. Shemustbealittlemonster. Thatwastheonlyexpnation. Shedriedherhair,slippedintoarobe,andsteppedontothebalytogreettherisingsun.Aftersuexhaustingnight,shecravedthewarmth,odrinkineverydropofwarmthshecould. Stretgherarmsbehindher,shetiltedherfacetothesky,eyesclosed,surrenderingtothegentlekissofsunlightandmbreeze. Sof. Theoldapartmentstoodonastreethecityter,hemmedinbyotherbuildingsjustaswearyandwaitingfordemolition.Theirjagged,soot-stainedrooftopsofthesecrumblingstructureshuogetherinthecrampedskyline,dwarfedbythesapphire-blueskyscrapersglitteringiaheirgssmonolithsglitteringlikegemstones. TheapartmentitselfwaslikearottingbamboosliptossedamongapileofDVDs.Outofpce,fragile,quietlywhisperingitsownhistory. Andreally,whocaredabouthistoryanymore? Thosewhocouldaffordabetterlifehadlongsincemovedawaywiththeirfamilies.Mostunitsinthisbuildingwerehollowshellsnow,inhabitedonlybystraycats,dogs,ortheoccasionalchildbraveenoughtosneakin.Homelessdrifterssometimessquattedfhtortwo,buthemstayed. OnlyLu,thehomicidecaptain,remained. Hehadnomoney,nofamily.Sowhatdiditmatterwherehelived?Thisoldapartmeohimbyhisparents,wasstillstanding.Aslongasthepowerstayedon,theroofdidn''''''''tleak,andnoonecametoevicthim,hewouldstayhere.Maybeuntilthedayhedied. Itwasn''''''''tthatLuhadhoughtaboutsettlingdown.Itwasthatnowomaninherrightmindwouldwanthim. Moxioftenteasedhim:"Ifyou''''''''dbeensmart,youshould''''''''vegorafficorpatrol.Anythingbuthomicide." Sure,younggirlswouldgushoverhim,callinghim"BrotherLu"withthatmixofaweandgirlishfantasy.Butthatwasallitwas¡ªfantasy.Noonewasfoolishenoughtothemselvestoamanlikehim.Womeoosmartforthatnow. Whenhewasyounger,Luhadhalf-heartedlytrieddating. Weird,hethought.Evensecurityguardsflirtingwithnannieshadbetterluckthanhim. Hefoughtcrime,upheldjustice,hadadetfadrightastheycame.Sowhycouldn''''''''thendagirlfriend?Atleastifhediedinthelineofduty,theywouldburyhimiyrs''''''''cemetery.Thegoverwouldcutaheftycheck¡ªforthefamilyhedidn''''''''thave. Eventually,hegotusedtoit. Noattatsmeanthewasalwaysfree.Noparents,ives,nopressuretocarryonthefamilyline.hometoworryabout,sohecouldthrowhimselfintoeverycasewithouthesitation. Luhadclimbedtheranksquicklyinhisearlyyears,butaftermakingcaptain,hiscareerftlined.Everyoneknewwhy:noes,nobag.Thiswasasfarashewouldevergo. Beingahomicidedetectivewasdangerous,exhaustingwork.Butsomeoodoit.Hisoldcolleagueshadwives,kids,reasonstostayalive.Luonlyhadthecase. Heoftengrumbledthathewasborntosuffer.Yetnomatterhowmuchhepined,hewasalwaysthefirsttein. Apartfromtheendlesssuspedcorpses,theonlythingtyinghimdownwasthestralegirthome. Reya¡ªhisoruesurprise. *** FourteenYearsAgo LufirstmetReyawhileiigatingaserialmurdercaseoskirtsofthecity. Backthen,hewasjustarookiecop,freshoutoftheacademy,burstingwithnaiveidealism,er,alwaysthefirsttovolunteerfrisliesttasks. Thevictimale,nakedwomanwithaslender,elegantfigure.Heralmond-shapedeyeswerewideopen,staringbnklyatthesky. Notornclothing.Nosighiswasn''''''''ttheprimarycrimese. Lu''''''''sfirstthoughtuponseeingher? Ifshewerealive,I''''''''daskherout. Fivearookie''''''''sinappropriatethought,butshehadbeeiful. Sunlightstreamedthroughthedenseopy,dapplingherskinwithshiftingpatternsoflight.Thestillnessofthecorpse,thevitalityofthesurroundingforest,theterrorfrozenonherface,thewarmthofthebreeze¡ªitwasatradi. Yethauntinglypoetic. Theairsmelledfaintlyoflustah. Shewastheforty-ninthvictim. Overtenyears,forty-ninewomenhadbeendumpedinthisravine.Allraped.Allkilled.Allfoundaftersexuactivity,somemultipletimes.Yetnosemen,nobodilyfluids,racesoflubrit. Theer''''''''sverdict? Deathbyextremesexualeuphoriatriggeringfatalventricurarrhythmia. Insimplerterms,theyhaddiedatthepeakasm. Normally,onlythosewithweakstitutions,likeheartdisease,genitalvascurdefects,oraneurysmswoulddiethisway.Butthesewomenhadbeehy.Nohistoryofexcess.Noalcohsintheirsystems.Nosignsofrestraint.Nosuffocation. Whatkindofkillercoulddriveawomansofariasythatshecrossedthethresholdofdeathitself? Thethoughtleftashadowintheheartsofeverymaleiigatoronthecase. Thevictimsspannedage,background,evendifferentcities.Theirdeathsspannedadecade.Buttheysharedorait: Theywereallstunninglybeautiful,withfwlesspaleskin,foundnaked,withoutasinglevisiblewound. Themediadubbedthekiller: TheBeautySyer. TeBeautySlayer-2 Luhadcursedthe"BeautySyer"tenthousandtimesover.Societywasalreadyshortonresources,andthislunatichadgoneandwipedoutsomeofitsbrightest,mostbeautifulyoungwomen.Topstudents,goodfamilies,fwlessfaces¡ªgone.Ifevehemhadbeenspared,Luwould''''''''vetakenherhomeaedherlikeagoddess. Ifheevergothishandsonthatbastard,hewouldn''''''''tshowmercy.Hell,ifhehadthece,hewouldpullthetriggerontheexeself. Butafterthat,the"BeautySyer"vanished. Luandhisteamtriedeverything,evenbaitinghimwiththeirmoststrikingfemaleofficers,butthekillerneverresurfaced.Thevictims''''''''families,friends,andcolleagues,hemknewwhothegirls''''''''stpanionshadbeen.Theyhadsimplylefthomeforschoolorworkandurned. Thecasewentcold.Tenyearsofdustgatheredoverthoseforty-ninenames. Atleastnomoreyoungwomehatmonster''''''''shands.Still,whilethekillerhadstoppedstealingsociety''''''''sbest,Luhadn''''''''tfoundawomanworthsettlingdownwithhimself. Theonlythingthe"BeautySyer"hadeverlefthimwasReya. *** Thatday,Luhadbeeothecrimese. Therewasn''''''''tmuchlefttoiigate.Theseniordetectiveshadalreadydoheirwork.Thebodyjusthadn''''''''tbee,supposedlysohecould"gainexperience,""applyhisknowledge"and"tributetothecase." Thetruthwaslessgmorous:theerwasstutraffic,sotheylefthimtheretobabysitthecorpse. Thegroundwasamess,trampledwithfootprintsfromgawkingvilgers.EvenSherloeswould''''''''vebeenuselesshere. Peoplelovedaspectacle.Deaththrilledthem.Theywhisperedinhushedtones,feigneddisgust,pretendedfear¡ªthenraospreadwild,exaggeratedstories. Lucrouched,siftingthroughdampleaves,whenashadowfelcrosshim.Hefigureditwasoheoldercops,anotherrookiehazingritual,thesametiredprankspasseddownthroughgeions. Hepretetonotice,thensuddenlywhippedaroundwithaloudshout. Noseniordetectivejumped. Buthedid. Alittlegirl,maybeten,stoodthere.Skinny,tangledbckhair,naked,herskinstreakedwithdirtanddriedblood.Shelookedlesslikeachildthansomeferalthingdraggedoutofanightmare. Herwideeyesstaredathim,eerilyclearyetcarryingastrange,ulingaura,likeawitch''''''''scrystalballglowingwithghostlylight. Thatwasthemomenthissurprisearrived. *** ThegirlwastemporarilypLu''''''''shomeasafosterchild.HenamedherReya. Luwasn''''''''tgoodwithhewordhadslippedoutbecausethevictimatthecrimesehadbeencalledReya. Aftersolong,hecouldnolongerrecallthatwoman''''''''sfullitdidn''''''''tmatter¡ªnowhehadhisownReya. Shewasn''''''''tasstrikingasthedeadReyahadbeen,butatleastshetrailedhimaroundlikealoyallittleshadow,neverleavinghisside. Officially,Ludidn''''''''tmeettherequirementstofosteranorphan.Butthegirlrefusedtoletgoofhim¡ªevenwhendoctorsexaminedher,orwhenpolienbathedandgedher,shegstubbornlytohisclothes. Sinosuitablefamilycouldbefhtaway,andtheiigationintomissingchildrenrecordswasstillongoing,leavihLuseemedthemostpracticalchoice.Ifherrealparentseversurfaced,shewouldbeeasiertorecim. SoLuandhischildhoodfriendMoxi¡ªwhowerealwaysmorelikeswornsiblingsthanlovers¡ªpletedthefosterpaperworkasacohabitingcouple.Justlikethat,thetwoofthembecameReya''''''''stemporaryfosterparents.Yetthisso-called"temporary"stretchederthananyoneexpected. Luwasabachelor,cluelessaboutraisingachild.Moxibeganvisitingstantly,whichsparkedgossipatfirst.Butafteryearspassedwithnohintofromahenosyneighborslosti. Herfamilyhadbeenthrilledinthebeginning,imaginingtheirdaughterwouldfinallysettledownwithanoldfriend''''''''sson.Butfatewasn''''''''tontheirside.Afterafewfailedattempts,theygaveup. Reya,atfirst,wasahandful. Traumatizedbywhatevershehadehewoods,shehadlosthervoidckedevebasiclifeskills¡ªnotevenonparwithathree-year-old.Moxienrolledherinaspecialeducatiram,butwithiheteacherssentherback. "Yourkidisperfeormal.Stopwastingourtime." ItwasinthatsingleweekthatLuoticedhissedsurprise. Thesy,dark-skinnedgirlhadgrownfairer,putonsomeweight.Herfeaturesremainedpin,butwhenshesmiled,herdimplesturadorable. AdorableinawaythateerilyresembledthechildhoodphotoofthatotherReya¡ªthevictim¡ªhehadrievingmother''''''''shome. Moxiadoredthegirl,spoilihgifts.Later,afteraluckystreakiockmarket,shethrewLuoutofthemasterbedroomandredecorateditintoafairytalesanctuary¡ªhardwoodfloors,plushrugs,aprincessbed.Adreamfitforachildwhohadneverhadone. Luxurynurturesbeauty.UnderMoxi''''''''scarefulhand,Reyablossomedintoagraceful,delicateyoungwoman. Whenevershevisited,Moxiwouldughandsay,"LookhowourReyatur!Andwhosedoingwasthat?Mine!" Lualwaysrolledhiseyes.Asifhehadn''''''''ttributedatall. Butthetruthwas,withhisworkasahomicidecaptain,hecouldn''''''''ttributemucheveried.Hewasoftencalledawayinthedeadofnight,disappearingfordays,onlytostumblehome¡ªexhausted,sweaty,sometimesevenstaihblood¡ªbeforecolpsingintobed. Morethanonce,MoxisuggestedReyaelivewithherpermaly. Lualwaysrefused. "Ruiningmylifeisenough.I''''''''malreadyalostcause.Don''''''''tletherruinyourstoo." Moxiknewwhathemeaillhopedshe''''''''dfimaledown,havealifeuntouchedbytheshadowsthatswallowedhisown. Butshewasn''''''''tbuiltfornormalcy. herofthemwas. Victimso.1&am;2:TeSilverRigadteCoolEarrig-1 *** 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¡ªlonghairtossinglikeseaweedinthewind,makingherlooklikeasirenpoisedonhercliff,luringsailorstotheirdoom.Hecouldalmostheartheuhlysong. "Gobasideadressed.We''''''''rehavingbreakfasttogethertoday." "Okay,Dad!"Shebouncedawayfromthebalyrail,vanishingintotheroomwithlight,eagersteps. Lately,Luhadbeenedbyanothermajorcase,leavingnotimefordaysoff.Mostms,Reyafriedherowneggs,thoughtheyurquiteright¡ªneverasgoldenandcrispattheedgesasLu''''''''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¡ªshewasn''''''''thuman. Thediscoverywasthrilling,thoughtheprocesswasfarfrompleasant. Theifouryearsago,whenshewaseen,hadtaughtherthatwell. Shewasnotjustanymonster.Shewasasuccubus. *** Fouryearsago LuandMoxihadbeensofocusedonprovidingforReya''''''''smaterialhattheyhadfottentowarnheraboutthedangersoftheworld. Asahomicidecaptain,Luhadgiventlesssafetylectures,yetitneveroccurredtohimtogiveooReya. Shewasjusttoowell-behaved.Unshakableinthefaceoftrouble,alwaysfindingherownsolutions.Itmadehimpt. Sowhewomenpulledoverandcalledouttoher,askingfordires,Reyafeltnoarm. Theywerehandsome,dressedinexpehes,polishedinmannersandfriendlysmiles.Booksalwayssaidvilinswereugly,whileprinceswerevishandcharming. Shedidn''''''''tknowthatsometimes,uglinessfesteredinside¡ªandthatitcouldhidebehiifulmask. Themanwhoyankedherintothecarhadartist''''''''shands.Slenderfingersadorhastrangesilverring.Theycmpedaroundherdelicatewrists,dragginghereffortlesslyintothebackseatbeforeshecouldevenscream. "Whatareyoudoing?"sheasked. Thesilverringgleamedasthemansmirked. "Takingyousomewherefun." Themaninthedriver''''''''sseatstartedthedorderedSilverRing,"Don''''''''tlethertalk.Blindfoldher." Hedidn''''''''tturnaround,butReyacaughtaglimpseofhisstrikingbckeyesintherearviewmirror.Shifty,restless.Asmallhodangledfromoneear,givinghimacool,celebrity-likeaura. ThoseeleganthandstiedahandkerchiefoverReya''''''''seyes,thenstuffedaballgagintohermouth,segittightlyatthebackofherhead.Herlipswereforcedwideopen,leavingonlymuffledwhimpers.Herarmswereyankedbehindherbadbound,pressedunfortablyagainsttheseat. Blindfolded,Reyaspeirerideligthegag,itspstickytastestrangeandfn.Bythetimehertonumb,thecarfinallystopped. Shedidn''''''''tknowwhatawaitedher,butshewasn''''''''tafraid. Reyacouldn''''''''tdie.Atleast,notfromphysicalharher,thiswasjustahrillingadventure. Someoedherinabridalcarry.ShewonderedifitwasSilverRingorCo. Adoorcreakedopen.Thepersoncarryiurnedafewersbeforetossioasoft,bouncybed. "Littlegirl,we''''''''rehome,"Co''''''''svoicechimed. Reyamentallyscoffed.Thebedsheetsfeltwrong.Theairsmelledwrong. Herwristswerefreed,andtheblindfoldremoved,butthegagstayed. Blinking,shetookinthemessybedroom:clothesstrewnacrossthefloor,tippedliquorbottlesoable,thickcurtainsblogthewindow. SilverRingloungedonaredlip-shapedsofa,fiddlingwithasmalldigitalcamera.Cocrouchedbythebed,armsbraeithersides,staringather. SilverRingloweredthecamera,"Bro...shelooksunderage." apped,"Doesn''''''''tmatter.heothers''''''''parentsdaredreportus.Theycareabouttheirdaughters''''''''reputations.Eveniftheydid,theoldmanwouldha.Whatareyouscaredof?" ReyawatchedSilverRingraisethecamera,lenspoiher.Shetuggedatthegagandwhimpered. "Takeitout.Thesoundproofinghereisperfeoonewillhearherscream,"Cosaid. SilverRiated,thenlooseheknot. "Howoldareyou,littlegirl?"Co''''''''stonedrippedwithsicklysweetness. Reyastretchedhertongue,slurring,"eeeen." "Areyoulyingtous?"SilverRingaskedskeptically. Reyamethisgazewithoutfling."Ineverlie." Coflickedopenaswitchbde,pressingitnearReya''''''''sface."Beagoodgirl,andbigbrotherswilltreatyouwell.Ifyoumisbehave..."Hestabbedthekoatatteredteddybear."...you''''''''llenduplikethis.Uand?" Thebearwasalreadyriddledwithholes.Reyadidn''''''''twantthoseinherbody.Shewouldn''''''''tdie,butshe''''''''dfeelthepain,aedpain. Shenodded. Copattedherhead,smiling."Goodgirl." He''''''''sprettierwhenhesmiles,Reyathought. "What''''''''syourname?" "ReyaLu." "Prettyname,"hemused. "Thankyou."shewhispered.Dadhadtaughtheralwaystobepolite. Thetwomenexgedamusedgnces. "Lookslikewepickedupsomeohafewscrewsloose."SilverRingcooed. Reyadidn''''''''tgetit.Shewasn''''''''tarobot.Therewerenoscrewsinherbody. "Doyouknhtyouhere?"Coasked. Reyashookherhead. "We''''''''regoingtopyafungame.You''''''''llfeelsogood...sohappy." "Willyoufeelgoodandhappytoo?" Copaused,thenchuckled."Yes,ifyoubehave...Now,takeoffyourclothes." SilverRingstood,cameraangleddownatReyalikesheeunderobservation.Theredreclightblieadilyintheer. "Why?"Reyatiltedherhead,hereyessharpandunafraid. "Becausethat''''''''stherule."Co''''''''sgazeflickedtotheteddybear,stabbedandriddledwithholes."Begood.Uand?"