"Doctor...  John!  Come here quick.  You've got to see this!"  Eliza stared at the screen, her heart pounding.  The program has been running an FTP scan and they had been accessing Eastern Europe computers.  "We got 93% hit on this document.  She opened another task and downloaded the document and opened it in JOE.  She shivered and felt an involuntary thrill as she felt him lean over her shoulder to read.  His hand on her shoulder felt deliciously warm and she briefly wished... "No!" she thought and focused on the screen.

"I'll be damned.  This could be evidence that the Olcott-Koski theory of DNA modification by viral activity is correct" he breathed.  She was reading along with him and most of what she was reading was making sense to her.  She'd been doing a lot of study lately so that she could understand and contribute more to the project and this was remarkable.  She tried to focus on the screen but his proximity and his heat were making concentration difficult.

"Come on, girl," she told herself.  "Act you age and do your job."  She scanned the screen.  Here was clear evidence that certain types of viral activity could produced genetic alterations in lower life forms.  Some of the changes produce viable life forms with clearly mutated capabilities.  Near the end of the article, there was a note, almost an afterthought, stating that none of the altered organisms had been able to reproduce.

They looked at each other wide-eyed.  "You know what this means," they asked in unison.  The stared at each other and both laughed.

"Ok, Eliza, I'm going to level with you.  We're working to close and you're seeing too much for me to try to hide anything from you.  Eliza felt butterflies in her stomach but she was very pleased.  She felt like a dream was coming true.  "I think all legends are based on actual events and portray limited understanding of very complex events and causes.  I've always had a fascination for tales of vampires and werewolves and I started reading about them before I was twelve," he continued, appearing not to notice the expression on her face.  "I'm a scientist and a child of my time so I know there aren't any supernatural beings but why are the legends so persistent in telling of such creatures?  I've asked myself this over and over and I finally decided figure it out.  I've degrees in mythology, psychology and genetics with some strength in chemistry and physics.  The more research I've done, the more I've become convinced that something is happening but I'm not sure what.  Common to all of the myths is the central concept that a normal human can be transformed by a bite or exchange of blood into a supernatural creature."

His eyes had a faraway look and it was clear that he wasn't just talking to Eliza but thinking out loud too.  "Olcott-Koski proposed the vampirism is transmitted by infected saliva from the vampire to the human.  If there are repeated exposures and the person is not killed, the transformation takes place.  What they did not offer was the mechanism of transformation.  I won't accept magic and mysticism but just because they did not have an explanation doesn't mean there isn't one. " He sighed and pointed to the screen.  "Could a virus that can modify the genetic makeup of a person be such an agent?"

Eliza took a deep breath.  "You mean you think there might really be such a thing?"

"I think there is something going on, yes.  I don't think they can turn into bats or fly or cannot be killed and I doubt that sunlight causes them to explode in a puff of smoke.  BUT!  I think there is an element of truth to the legends and I want to find out exactly what the truth is. " He focused a piercing gaze on her.  "Are you with me or do you want to call it quits?  I won't blame you if you do.  You'd not be the first, you know.  It took some fancy foot work to get this grant and the computer time and I'm having the time of my life.  Want to be part of it," he asked smiling.

She let out the breath she'd been holding.  "Oh, you bet I do!  I'm loving every minute of the work I'm doing and your theories makes sense.  I want to know, too!"

He'd grasped  her shoulder tightly and not said a word.  The remainder of the evening passed quietly, companionably and pleasantly.  Quitting time came all to soon, forcing Eliza to rush home, remembering she had a kitten to feed!  She had to smile at the enthusiasm with which she was met.  She had remembered to get some cat food on the way to work and she removed the can of tuna bits from her coat pocket and had to laugh at how excited her little guest was when the sound of the opening can could be heard.  "How does he know," she wondered.  "Eeeek!" she squeaked as her guest tried to climb her leg with needle sharp claws to get up on the counter with the food she was putting into a bowl.  "Careful, little guy," she said removing his needle like claws from her leg and putting the bowl of food on the floor with him.  She absently mindedly wiped the drops of blood from her leg and licked it from her finger.  "Wonder what I can find to eat.  I wouldn't mind an snack," she thought.  Looking in the refrigerator for something to eat, brought home the fact that she’d need to go shopping.  There was nothing of any value in there.

She thought she’d watch a little tv and then get some rest.  She’d go to the store before going to work and stock up the freezer.  “I can’t believe I let it go this long.”  “I can’t remember when I last cooked myself a meal”.  Shaking her head, she moved into the living room to watch t.v.  Settling down in her chair, flipping through the channels to find something interesting to watch, she slowly dozed off.  Smiling in her sleep, she dreamed a happy little dream.  Slowly the scene changed and the smile slid from her face.  If anyone were watching, they would wonder at the expressions dancing across her face.  The shadows darkened around her eyes, making them look hollow.  Her lips were drawn back slightly from her teeth giving them, especially the canines, an elongated look.

With a hiss and ears flattened to his little head, the kitten dove under the couch.  All you could see, were two blue, blue eyes peering out from under the furniture.  Shaking, he never took his eyes off her.  Still in the throes of the dream, she moved slightly and that strangeness left her face.  Slowly the kitten crept out and walked quietly over to the chair.  Carefully, he climbed the chair and stepped into her lap.  Walking in circles, he settled down and drifted into a cat nap.

Awakening slowly, the pain of stiff muscles making her move in her seat.  She became aware of the slight weight in her lap and the almost constant kneading of small needle-sharp claws in her leg.  Gently lifting him, she looks and smiles.  He is so fast asleep, the movement didn’t awaken him.

Looking at the clock, she realized that there were only 3 hours left before she had to go back to work.  “I can’t believe I slept all this time in the chair.”  Moving slowly, she went to her bedroom to change clothes.  Ready, she gave the kitten a little pat and left for the store.  Reaching the market, she realized that she needed mostly meats.
Looking in the cold cases, she chose all the red, bloody meats available, then headed for the checkout line.

Hi Eliza, the girl that was checking her out said.  They had known each other for as long as Eliza had been coming to this market.  “Wow, girl, what happened to you?  Thought you were almost vegetarian.”  Pat went on to say that she had never seen Eliza with so much red meat in her groceries before. “Changed your mind about meat, didn’t you Eliza,” she asked.

“Well I guess so, I seem to have a craving for it,” Eliza replied.  Noticing blood from the meat on her finger, she licked it off.  Smiling at Pat, she made her way out of the market and began the short trip home. The hunger pangs making her move quickly.  “I’ll just have enough time to make myself something to eat before work,” she thought.
Arriving home, she quickly put most of the packages of meat away, keeping one out to cook now.

Putting the frying pan on the stove to heat up, she quickly opened the wrapper and took out the bloody pieces of meat.  Laying them in the frying pan, she licked the blood off her fingers.  Suddenly that smell was back.  Oh, what was it.  Something dead.  Taking the meat off the stove, she began to eat it as it was.  There was just the faintest off taste to it.  Cramming the still almost raw pieces of meat into her mouth, she realized what she was doing.  The tears welled up in her eyes as she slowly wondered why she was doing this.  "What could possibly be wrong with me????"  The sudden pins and needles feeling in her leg brought her back to reality.  Plaintiff meowing, emphasized by a kitten dance delivered it's message to her.  She handed the kitten a piece of bloody meant.  She watched, amused, as the fierce little animal consumed the meat.  She grinned.  "You are a vicious little carnivore, aren't you," she asked, not realizing that she was unconsciously  chewing on the same thing.  She absently wiped the trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth and licked her finger clean.

The semi-seared meat was quite tasty with a heady aroma that eluded precise definition - not that she was working too hard on it.  She and the kitten enjoyed a feast together, carnivore to carnivore, a unique bond, that she was only dimly aware of, forming.  She glanced at the cooling pan and noticed the pool of almost raw blood and seared juices.  With a sheepish look, she scooped up the pan and put it gingerly to her lips, making sure it was not too hot, and noisily slurped the still warm liquid.  Placing the pan on the floor for the kitten, she realized the she'd dribbled juice on her blouse.  She had 15 minutes before she needed to leave, so stripping it off, she went into the bedroom and rummaged around for something nice to wear.  Now that she wasn't starving, she realized the she wanted to look good for John tonight.

She smiled to herself; she could feel that there was an attraction between them, and she was pleased that he seemed attracted to her.  She had always been shy and very much the retiring librarian type but John brought out a more daring Eliza; one who was expert at computer searches, like her meat "rare" and felt reasonably secure that she had a budding relationship.  She was wearing a black skirt and selected a charcoal blouse with white trim.  She held it up and looked in the mirror.  "Not bad.  Almost Victorian," she thought as she slid it on.  Buttoning the high neck, she looked in the mirror and was please with her reflection.

She blinked.  "What is wrong with this mirror?"  She rubbed with a tissue.  "Silly things seem to be all blurry.  I can hardly see myself."  She stepped back and looked again.  "That's better," she murmured.  Her features seemed blurred but her figure was good and she liked the effect.  She smoothed the front of the blouse, pulling it tight.  "Not bad," she thought.  "Not bad."

She put on her cape, hesitated, and then put on the hat.  This time the mirror showed a figure that was exciting and mysterious.  "Not bad.  Not bad at all," she thought, grinning.