A vampire professor's unresolved grief collides with a dangerous college affair and an emerging plan to destroy him.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Professor's Hidden Curse
Tom introduces Arthur Levine as a history professor who is secretly a vampire. The story then moves into Arthur's tragic history with Mary Lipinsky.
Key Events
Tom Introduces Arthur's Story — Tom Slansky introduces the story of Arthur Levine, a history professor with a secret. Characters: Tom Slansky, Arthur LevineLocation: Hawthorne College
The Secret Vampire Professor — Arthur Levine is revealed as a history professor who is secretly a vampire. Characters: Arthur LevineLocation: Hawthorne College
Arthur Falls for Mary — Centuries earlier, Arthur Levine falls in love with Mary Lipinsky, a human woman. Characters: Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: Historical setting
The Fatal Bite — During an intimate night, Arthur bites and kills Mary Lipinsky. Characters: Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: Mary's residence
Mary's Family Rejects Arthur — Mary's death causes her family to reject Arthur Levine. Characters: Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: Mary's family home
Grief Beneath the Fangs
Arthur kills Mary during an intimate encounter and is rejected by her family. His failed feeding and centuries of animal-blood survival establish his guilt and unusual condition.
Key Events
A Friar at the Funeral — Arthur disguises himself as a friar to attend Mary's funeral. Characters: Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: Funeral
Arthur Fights Gregor — Arthur fights Gregor and declares that he never meant to hurt Mary. Characters: Arthur Levine, GregorLocation: Funeral
The Fangs Stop Growing — After Mary's death, Arthur's vampire fangs stop growing. Characters: Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: Historical setting
Surviving on Animal Blood — Unable to feed normally, Arthur survives on animal blood. Characters: Arthur LevineLocation: Various locations
Three Centuries of Impotence — For roughly 300 years, Arthur struggles with what he calls vampire impotence. Characters: Arthur LevineLocation: Various locations
An Affair Reawakens Memory
Arthur becomes involved with Chris, whose presence evokes Mary's memory and deepens his grief. Chris confides in Fred, who advises her to end the affair.
Key Events
Arthur Meets Chris — Arthur becomes involved with Chris Keller, a nineteen-year-old student. Characters: Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: Hawthorne College
Mary Returns in Memory — Chris gives Arthur fleeting feelings that Mary is alive again, intensifying his guilt and grief. Characters: Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: Hawthorne College
Chris Confides in Fred — Chris tells Fred that college has not brought the ordinary experiences she expected. Characters: Chris Keller / Mary Lipinsky, Fred GreenLocation: Hawthorne College
Fred Advises Separation — Fred advises Chris to end her sexual relationship with Arthur. Characters: Chris Keller / Mary Lipinsky, Fred Green, Arthur LevineLocation: Hawthorne College
Evidence Against the Professor
Tom discovers a photograph that appears to prove Arthur is a vampire. Chris and others confront Arthur with reflected sunlight and a wooden stake, but the attack fails.
Key Events
The Impossible Photograph — Tom finds Chris beside Arthur's umbrella, but Arthur is missing from the photograph. Characters: Tom Slansky, Chris Keller / Mary Lipinsky, Arthur LevineLocation: Hawthorne College
Proof of Vampirism — The photograph provides apparent proof that Arthur is a vampire. Characters: Tom Slansky, Arthur LevineLocation: Hawthorne College
The First Vampire Attack — Chris and others confront Arthur, attempting to expose or kill him. Characters: Chris Keller / Mary Lipinsky, Arthur LevineLocation: Hawthorne College
Sunlight Fails — Reflected sunlight fails to kill Arthur, who easily overpowers the attackers. Characters: Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: Hawthorne College
Arthur Promises Restraint — Arthur promises he will not bite Chris because his personal problems prevent him from doing so. Characters: Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: Hawthorne College
The Party Stake Operation
The reported total of twenty-nine victims alarms those planning against Arthur. At a college party, they isolate Arthur and Chris for a direct staking attempt, but the excerpt ends before the result.
Key Events
Twenty-Nine Victims — Arthur's apparent violence against twenty-nine victims alarms those planning against him. Characters: Arthur Levine, Tom Slansky, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: Hawthorne College
The Party Trap — Tom and others arrange for Arthur and Chris to be isolated at a college party. Characters: Tom Slansky, Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: College party
Chris Remains Unaware — Arthur remains emotionally conflicted, while Chris does not know the full danger surrounding her. Characters: Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: College party
The Stake Operation Begins — The planned party attack begins, but the excerpt ends before its outcome is shown. Characters: Tom Slansky, Arthur Levine, Chris Keller / Mary LipinskyLocation: College party
Story Breakdown
Secret Professor — Arthur's hidden identity is introduced within the college setting.
Tom's Introduction — Tom Slansky presents the story of Arthur Levine.
Hidden Vampirism — Arthur is revealed as a history professor who is secretly a vampire.
Mary's Tragic Death — Arthur's ancient romance with Mary ends in a fatal vampire attack.
Human Romance — Arthur falls in love with Mary Lipinsky.
Fatal Intimacy — Arthur bites and kills Mary during an intimate night.
Funeral Confrontation — Arthur returns to Mary's funeral in disguise and faces Gregor.
Friar Disguise — Arthur disguises himself as a friar to attend the funeral.
Fight With Gregor — Arthur fights Gregor and insists he never meant to hurt Mary.
Centuries Of Guilt — Arthur's condition leaves him unable to feed normally and trapped in prolonged remorse.
Animal Blood — He survives for roughly 300 years on animal blood.
Chris Affair — Arthur's relationship with Chris revives memories of Mary and creates a serious boundary problem.
Professor Student — Chris becomes involved with her history professor.
Memory And Grief — Chris evokes Mary while intensifying Arthur's guilt and grief.
Exposure And Attack — Suspicion becomes organized resistance after evidence appears to confirm Arthur's vampirism.
Impossible Photograph — Tom discovers Chris beside Arthur's umbrella while Arthur is absent from the image.
Failed Sunlight Attack — Reflected sunlight and a wooden stake fail to defeat Arthur.
Party Ambush — A more direct attack is prepared at a college party, with the reported outcome left unresolved.
Isolation Plan — Arthur and Chris are arranged to be isolated from the party.
Stake Operation — Tom and others prepare to drive a stake through Arthur's chest.
Wayne Gretzky is a vampire who can't grow his teeth. His impotence began when he inadvertently killed Mary Lipinsky, the love of his life, 300 years ago. To take his mind off the pain, he teaches college history - who better? Attempting to regain his full power, he enlists help from his friend and colleague, Dr. Levine. Nothing works until a new semester brings freshman Chris Keller. She's a dead ringer for Mary and they have a lurid affair, while rumors fly around the campus. But it all sours when he turns Chris into a vampire and her newfound bloodlust spins out of control in a bloody rampage, making the rumors a little too real.
