A Few Key Sunnydale Alum

"Now, there's a lot we don't know," Emma continues. "We don't know where these abilities come from -- it doesn't seem to be genetic; sisters and mothers of zhirelin are almost always perfectly normal themselves. We don't know why the abilities only show up in women. We don't know why some zhirelin manifest at puberty and some not for years after. We don't have any explanation for the connection between zhirelin and vampires; you've got about the same level of physical strength, and you can usually sense each other in some way, but if that means anything, we have no idea what. There's been all kinds of superstitions about you over the centuries, but most of them don't hold water."

Another pause, and she adds more soberly: "Speaking of superstitions."