Date:         Tue, 14 Jun 1994 21:22:31 -0400
 
 
Hi.  I've been evesdroppping on this list for some time now and
finally decided to post something.  Here's my attempt at a story with the
put down the snake line.
 
 
 
                      _Scent_Of_Prey_
 
                       by Ivy Reisner
 
 
 
    "Look, put down the snake and we'll talk."  Natalie lay
her hand on Nick's shoulder.
        Nick pushed the tool deaper into the offending drain
and twisted harder.
        "I don't care about the stupid bathroom," Natalie
insisted.  "You come in here, fangs barred, literally, tell
me your here to fix the toilet, and now you won't even ttalk
to me."
        The snake finally caught and Nixk extracted a bowl
fresheder that must have fallen in.
        "Thank you," Natalie said, taking it from him.  "Now
will you talk to me?"
        Nick sat back on his haunches.  He still did not look
at her.  "Yes," he answered simply.
        Natalie blinked at him, taken a bit by surprize.
"Good," she said at list.  "I think the living room might be
a bit more comfortable."
        Nick washed his hands and followed Natalie to the
couch.
        "Okay, talk," Natalie said, seeing that Nick had no
intention of breaking the ensuing silence.
        "I don't know where to begin.  Two nights ago I was
getting ready to go on duty when I changed.  I don't know
wh; I can usually control it.  It passed in a few moments
but I gotta tell you, Nat, it had me shaken.  Janette's
never seen anything like it.  Then it happened again in the
elevator on my way up here."
        As he spoke the world hazed yellow and he felt his
fangs descending.
        "It's happening again," Natalie said, laying a hand on
his tense bicept.
        Like a wild thing he dove for her.  She squeeked in
terror.
        "Nichola!" called a voice from the window.
        Nick looked at Janette and hissed.
        Janette stepped through the open window.  "It's a good
thing I decided to keep an eye on you."  She drew an
atomizer from the pocket of her jet black jumpsuit and
sprayed Nick with it.  For a moment Natalie wondered what a
vampire needed with mace, the she smelled the cheap perfume.
Mace might have been more pleasant.
        Nicholas stepped back coughing.  He squeezed his eyes
shup and when he opened them they were normal again.
        "It's your perfume," Janette told Natalie.  "Tonight a
few of my customers were talking of it.  Some fool uncovered
an ancient formula for discovering vampires by forcing the
transformation and decided it would make a lovely ladies
fragrence.  They even use a "vampire" in the commercial."
The tossed her hair in annoyance.  "Hopefully its popularity
will die out soon.  Sever, influential "persons" are
concerned and I wouldn't doubt fiscal troubles ahead for one
cosmetic company."
        Natalie sat down, shaking slightly.
        Nick dared not go to her.
        "Be careful of it," Janette advised.  "It's called
_Hunt_Of_The_Night_.