This is great! Some of the dialogue really got to me- "It means she finds me most attractive"! Jonathon & the Captain's conversation was spot on- I was grinning throughout it! I had to look up ineluctable in the dictionary . . . (That quote shouldn't be at the end there, right?) Again, I admire your style- every word counts and it's very clear. And you've really caught the characters. "He can drink her blood . . . then smiled." LOL!