It seems to me to be full time to examine my own nature. How can I hope to understand where I fall among the undead if I do not undertake this self-examination?
Mode of Transmission
~ Bite. This requires multiple bites until death. The alternative is an extensive ritual that leaves both the older and the new vampire drained for hours afterwards. Not that hours are a particularly long time when one is facing eternal life.
~ Heredity a possibility. Von Helson was capable of fathering children, and his children did share his undeath. Whether they did so naturally or were turned at some point in their youth is unclear. I am curious. Lysander thinks I should ask.
Bloodthirst
~ Human blood is preferable, although fortunately V Corp has developed artificial blood, which satisfies our needs. The process may involve animal blood – but that’s speculation on my part. In any case, I do hope that they never stop production. For obvious reasons…
~ Bloodthirst appears to grow more intense under conditions of stress or anger, or at the smell of blood. During the war, I found myself easily caught up in bloodlust. It is an unpleasant feeling, not being entirely yourself – and, like a bad hangover, most noticeable after the fact.
Sunlight
~ Uncomfortable, but not deadly. I have been able to walk in Towns during the daylit hours as I always have. I have not, however, ruled out the possibility that sunlight sensitivity may increase with age. Zhivago did not seem overly fond of the sun. But perhaps that was simply an expression of his vampiric pride.
Powers
~ Ability to move silently, to drain life, and to heal each other by sharing blood was observed during the war, by myself and by others. Our senses are also sharper, and we are as a rule tougher than mortals.
~ Increasingly strong when affected by bloodlust.
~ An affinity with bats, such as my dear Lysander.
In addition, undeath seems to affect our physical appearance. Various mortal eye colors all fade to grey upon attaining unlife, and Ian’s brief reversion to his vampire state seemed to trigger a reversion to his natural black hair.
Origin of the vampire race is uncertain. If I uncover anything, I will certainly record it here.
 Dulcia Dusken · Fri Jan 18, 2008 @ 12:42am · 0 Comments |
