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 is . . . comforting," Leah muttered. A friendly bloodsucker. That made as much sense as a friendly serial killer. She glanced 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'm . . . saddened 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 normal. It had to be wires. A spark of anger 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 am." Laszlo winced as his head bumped into the ceiling.
"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 him. "Who are you?"
He bowed his head. "Roman Draganesti, at your service. I'm delighted to meet you, Dr. Chin."
This was the scientific genius who had invented synthetic blood? Leah swallowed hard. He was either as crazy as the other guys in the room, or they were actually . . .
Vampires.
Her skin chilled with instant goose 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 confirmed it was the only way out.
"Her heart is racing," Mr. Draganesti murmured.
She turned toward him, her eyes narrowed.
"Superior hearing," he explained.
"Why should I believe you? Given the situation, anyone could guess that my heart rate would be elevated." A thudding sound startled her, and she whirled about to find that Laszlo had landed on the tile floor.
She rushed toward him, and standing on her tiptoes, she swept her hand through 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 maybe it's magnets?"
"It's levitation." Laszlo regarded her sadly. "Do you need me to do it again?"
"No." She grabbed 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'm not working 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! Vampires aren't real. You're lying to me! You're lying - "
"Dammit, don't make me erase your memory again!" 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. "You . . . what did you do?"
Dr. Lee dragged a hand through his short gray hair. "This is so damned frustrating. I tried to tell you the truth a few days ago, but you didn't take it well."