It was a little after four A.M. I had just finished labeling the night’s session tapes and placed them on Clarissa’s desk to transcribe. The sun would be up in two hours and it was time to call it a night. I put on my coat and tucked two daggers into my sleeves. The infestation of stupid zombies in the city made it dangerous to walk the streets at night, even for a vampire.

I was fumbling in my purse for keys to lock up when he burst into the office. He was very tall, very handsome… and very human.

Wild-eyed, he grabbed me by the shoulders. My first instinct was to put him through the wall. My second was to pull him in and rip out his jugular. He must have sensed this, because he immediately backed off.

“Dr. Bellini,â€? he said at last, “You’ve got to help me!â€?

“Help you?â€? I said, recovering from the initial shock. “I don’t even know you.â€?

“Yes, you do. I’m one of your patients.â€?

“You’re mistaken. I don’t treat humans.â€?

“Check your records,â€? he persisted. “My name is Liam O’Connor.â€?