Breathless by Scott Prussing

Claudia appeared, their loving faces in total contrast to the previous images of violence. Next came Bella and Edward, locked together in a passionate embrace. “And yes, we have sex, too.” The face of a woman Leesa didn’t recognize replaced Bella and Edward, her expression one of utter rapture as a vampire bit her pale throat. Her image was followed by a picture of the three nearly naked Brides of Dracula hovering in diaphanous gowns above a sleeping Keanu Reeves.
    “We have heroes”—Louis, then Edward appeared again, in different shots than before—“and even lovely heroines.” Several pictures of Kate Beckinsale as the beautiful Selene from the Underworld movies filled the screen, followed by the sexy red-haired image of the video game character Rayne.
    Finally, the screen went blank and the lights brightened. Professor Clerval moved back behind his lectern. “Dozens of books and movies, a couple of television series, even video games,” he said. “So many choices. Something for everyone. Far too many choices, I fear. With every author and director taking the parts they like, dropping what they don’t, and adding what they need, how are we to know what is true?” He leaned forward, his hands gripping the sides of the lectern. “Do vampires burst into flames when touched by daylight, or do they merely glitter under the sun? Do they sleep in coffins, or in beds like you and me? Do they fear crosses, cringe at garlic, and burn at the touch of holy water? Do we slay them with a wooden stake, by beheading, or by burning?”
    A low murmur of quick, whispered conversations rumbled through the room.
    “You sound like you believe vampires actually exist,” a guy in the second row said skeptically.
    Professor Clerval smiled. “I would never say that,” he said, his tone implying he would like to do just that. “The administration would have me out of here so fast my head would spin. Only the exploding popularity of vampires in the last couple of years has convinced them to let me offer a class in vampire science—and you should have seen what I had to go through to get that name accepted. Before this class, only the vampire lit course was offered.”
    He walked to the edge of the stage. When he continued, his voice was lower, conspiratorial. “Just for the sake of this class, let’s assume vampires really do exist.” He winked. “It will make things so much more fun, don’t you think?”
    Leesa was enthralled. The professor made her feel that maybe vampires were real. And she could tell she wasn’t the only one in the class to feel that way. She remembered a few times when her mom had been so convincing Leesa almost believed her story. She wanted to ask Professor Clerval about one-fanged vampires, but she was nowhere near ready for that yet.
    “Dr. Clerval,” a male voice called out, “I have a question.”
    Leesa was surprised to see the questioner was the red-haired geek from orientation. She hadn’t expected to find him in a class like this, but wasn’t surprised he had planted himself in the front row, near the teacher. She bet he sat in the front of all his classes. And he was either wearing the same outfit as at orientation, or all his clothes looked alike. Probably both, she thought, grinning.
    “Certainly, young man,” the professor replied. “Your name, and then your question.”
    Leesa admired the kid’s guts. She could never in a million years see herself asking a question in a group this big. She was too afraid she’d sound stupid or something, but she guessed the guy was some kind of brainiac and harbored no such fears. Class would be his element, like Cali at a party. Leesa wondered what her own element was.
    “My name is Stanley,” he said, with no hint of anxiety in his voice. “Let’s assume vampires are real, like you said. They’re supposed to be immortal, right?”
    “Yes,” Professor Clerval replied. “All accounts seem to agree on that. Stoker used the term