“You’re killing me.” She paused and stared into his eyes for a moment. “I won’t tell a soul.”

Eric nodded and walked back to the computer terminal. He sat down and slid out the chair next to his for Tanner. When she sat he turned to look at her. Tanner could see real excitement in his eyes. She was eager to hear what he had to say.

“We may have a vaccine that defeats vampirism,” he said.

Tanner narrowed her eyes. “Come again?”

“You heard me,” he replied.

“Vaccine. Wait…you can give someone a shot and they won’t turn into a vampire?” she asked.

“Not even if they wanted to.”

Tanner’s mind was racing. “Will it work on someone who’s already been bitten?”

Eric shook his head slightly. “They would have to be injected right away. I can’t answer that for sure. The important thing is that if we inoculate everyone there won’t be any new vampires. We can focus all of our efforts on getting rid of the vampires that already exist.”

Tanner raised her hands. “Come on Eric. How does this stuff work?

“Vampires carry a virus in their bodily fluids. It is strongest in their blood, but it’s also in saliva, semen and vaginal fluid. If a human is infected and does not die right away, the virus mutates the tissue and organs. When enough of the mutation occurs death gives rise to a new vampire.”

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