A bright gleam of light
off the white fangs -
the vampire glides across the movie screen.
Dressed in fine black, contrasting the pale skin
elegant and graceful,
his coat flapping freely in the on-screen wind,
slowly approaching his paralyzed victim.
We shudder in unison;
frightened, delighted and mesmerized.
The dark game continues,
the victim opposing the vampire,
and we watch,
almost afraid to take a breath.
The vampire's cold hard stare
speaks to the victim.
Don't move.
The victim obeys.
Stripped of choice;
he stands like a stone statue
freed from conscious thought of the living.
The vampire's stare making all the decisions,
like a chess player,
slowly chasing the endgame
moving his piece around the board.
Checkmate.
He leans forward,
cold fangs
touch bare
paling skin, and he bites deeply,
drawing in the victim's blood;
a red river, feeding his immortal life.
The audience draws a breath.
Lawrence R. Daffner 2/94