Possession

Although the vampires in this work are harmless shadows of Anne Rice's creations, Herter ( Obsession ) spots the quirky potential of a contemporary vampire tale and serves it up with a flourish. Playwright David de Morrissey remains devoted to his mortal love Veronica Ames, though he is determined to stay away from her while she decides whether or not to become immortal like him. He is occupied with putting the final touches on a musical, a vampire Scarlet Pimpernel. At a fund-raising auction David meets Alexandra Peters, an attractive and talented violinist and violin maker. Though Alexandra claims she just wants a friendly affair, an emotional storm begins to brew inside her: she just might be the champion bloodsucker in this relationship, figuratively speaking. Then there's Darienne Victoire, David's friend and occasional lover for four centuries. Normally an independent woman who matches her coffin to the decor and climbs walls with glee (handy for unannounced visits), she find her attention riveted on Matthew McDowall, the star of David's play, who firmly resists her advances. (Feb.)