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In college, her young age and genius label had rendered her a target for silly pranks One tiirls’ dored her to use her superior intellect to save them from the zombie apocalypse

So this time it was the Undead She crossed her arms and acted nonchalant "You’re married to a vampire?"

"Yes" Abby nodded with a hopeful expression as if she expected her to believe this nonsense

Leah shot the camera a wry look, then turned back to Abby "How did you reach that conclusion? Did he turn into a bat and fly around the bedrooer expression faded into disappoint"

"Did you expect me to take this seriously?" Leah asked

Laszlo motioned to the stack of papers on the table "But we showed you the lab work And the data - "

"Which can be manipulated," Leah interrupted "Or in this case, a" She headed toward the door, but halfway there, it opened

Dr Lee rushed inside "Is there a problem?"

"Yes," Leah replied in the affirmative, at the same time as Abby and Laszlo She ai a dumb joke on me"

"It’s not a joke," Abby insisted "Vampires are real"

Leah snorted "Why would you believe that? Did your husband bite you?"

"Well, yes, he has And he can - "

"What? Leap from one tree to another like a monkey?" Leah lifted a hand to stop Abby The poor woet so so this," Abby gru overworked," Leah continued "I kno it is When I get really involved in a project, I can forget to eat or sleep Just this last week, I was so busy, I can hardly remember it"

Dr Lee winced "Perhaps a demonstration is in order"

"Good idea" Abby turned to Laszlo "How about you levitate to the ceiling?"

Laszlo frowned, tugging hard at a button "If you wish, but it ht cause her to panic"

"Go ahead," Dr Lee told him "She needs physical evidence"

Leah scoffed "So the chemist is a vampire, too?"

Laszlo’s button popped off and landed on the stainless steel table with a ping He gave her an apologetic look "It’s not really a bad thing Just think of it as aan unusual medical condition"

Leah shook her head These people were certifiable "You’re a vampire?"

"Yes," Laszlo admitted but hastened to add, "but a very friendly one, I assure you"

"Well, that isco," Leah muttered A friendly bloodsucker That lanced at Abby "And you? Are you Casper, the friendly ghost?"

Abby gave her a sympathetic look "I’m mortal like you I know you must be shocked I was shocked, too, when I found out I even fainted"

"I don’t faint" Leah waved a dismissive hand "And I’m not shocked I’msaddened that you’ve deluded yourselves into believing such a ridiculous - " She halted when Laszlo’s body floated up to the ceiling

Okay, that wasn’t norer flared inside her These people were really taking the joke too far "That’s enough! I don’t believe anyone here is a vampire!"

"But I a

"Me, too," Dr Lee added

Leah spun to face him Her boss was a vampire?

"I am as well" Another man sauntered into the lab He was tall, dark, and handsome

And Undead? Leah stared at hianesti, at your service I’hted to enius who had invented synthetic blood? Leah sed hard He was either as crazy as the other guys in the room, or they were actually

Vaoose bumps No, this isn’t possible There had to be a reasonable, scientific explanation for this Why bother to explain it? Just get the hell out of here!

She stepped toward the door, but Dr Lee and Mr Draganesti were blocking the exit A quick look around confiranesti murmured

She turned toward hi," he explained

"Why should I believe you? Given the situation, anyone could guess thatsound startled her, and she whirled about to find that Laszlo had landed on the tile floor

She rushed toward hih the air over his head No wires "How did you do it? Are you wearing special shoes that will lift you in the air? Or arded her sadly "Do you need rabbed his wrist and pressed her fingers against his vein "You see?" She dropped his arm "You have a pulse You’re alive So stop this crap now!"

"Leah, calm down" Dr Lee moved toward her

"I will not!" She stepped back "And I’ for you anymore This is a cruel joke, and I won’t put up with it!"

"Leah, for God’s sake" Dr Lee gave her a beseeching look "We’re not trying to be cruel Just honest"

"No!" She shook her head "I won’t listen! Va to- "

"Daain!" Dr Lee winced and lifted his hands "I didn’t mean it like that We would never hurt you You have to believe us"

A chill swept over Leah, and she shivered "Youwhat did you do?"