It’s time for the long awaited supernatural that is today’s topic…vampires!
Vampires are among the upper crust of supernatural society. Because of their immortality they have had plenty of time to amass land, wealth, and power. Matched with their superior senses–advanced hearing, sight, and smelling capabilities–and their supernatural speed, healing abilities, and increased strength, they are frighteningly lethal.
Vampires do, however, possess weaknesses as well. They are especially weak to magic–both wizard and fae magic–and although they can out-pace most shifters, werewolves and the like are physically stronger. Although sunlight will not kill them it does significantly weaken them and makes them easier to kill. Finally, besides their innate abilities–healing, speed, etc–they are incapable of sensing or using magic.
Vampires live in units called Families. The Family gets its name from the founding vampire–in example, the feared Drake Family of the Midwest region was founded by Killian Drake. The founding vampire–or if the founding vampire has died, the strongest vampire in the family–is called the Family Elder, and he/she rules the Family.
Each Family has at least two vampires who serve under the Elder, although the title of those vampires frequently changes depending on the country of origin of the Elder vampire. The Drake Family uses the term First Knight and Second Knight to denote the two next strongest vampires because Killian Drake was originally from Britain. Families with Slavic origins most frequently use the term “bogatyr” while Families with French origins call their top vampires “chevalier.”
The most powerful vampire in a Region is called the Eminence. The Eminence serves on the Regional Committee of Magic, and–to a certain extent–reports to the Ancient—the top vampire in the country.
A tiny minority of vampires don’t belong to a Family, they are called Unclaimed. Few Unclaimed are exiles, but the majority of them are vampires who find vampire society distasteful. Unclaimed who wish to survive long have to be crafty and powerful as they are otherwise easy prey for other supernaturals.
Vampires survive by drinking human blood. They are able to consume human food as well, but it lacks the necessary nutrients they need to survive, and too much of it can make a vampire ill, so it is not uncommon for vampires to partake in human food only once per week, or less.
Instead, vampires receive shipments of blood in prepacked, plastic packs they they can drink like a juice box. Entire companies are built around fulfilling this need–some recruit and pay humans for donating their blood, others specialize in packaging the blood, and every region has a local delivery company that delivers weekly shipments of blood packages to a Family’s house.
Some powerful Families keep individual Blood Donors on retainer. Blood Donors are humans who are paid by the vampires–and often given room and board–in exchange for letting vampires from the Family drink their blood. Vampires receive more nutrients from fresh blood, but given all the laws and requirements for keeping Blood Donors, they are considered a luxury.
While magic is considered the biggest threat to a vampire, in reality if a vampire manages to live through its first century, his/her nature has enough time to settle and they get a distinct increase of power and abilities that make it easier to survive. Unfortunately, once a vampire passes several centuries, their powerful abilities make it harder to survive.
Vampires used to be the biggest powers in the supernatural community, but as time has passed their powers have waned–not from a lack of respect or wealth, but by the choice of the Elder vampires. Weighted down by memories, general weariness of the world, and the sadness they’ve carried by living through centuries of watching their loved ones die again and again, the majority of old, powerful vampires slowly slump into apathy. They lose all interest in politics, sometimes they even lose interest in caring for their own Families. This has repercussions on their Families, who are forced to get by with poor leadership or–in extreme cases–pick a new leader if their Elder falls asleep and won’t wake up/becomes wholly unresponsive.
If the apathy of the Elders wasn’t enough, vampires have been facing a crisis of numbers as they’ve been unable to turn many vampires in the past 50 or so years. As a result, they are unable to replace their dwindling numbers.
Vampires are currently in a precarious position. They still have an abundance of power and wealth, but lack the numbers to use it. Additionally, as they are generally feared it makes other supernaturals less likely to align with him. All of this changes when the Eminence of the Midwest Region, Killian Drake, extends his Family’s protection to Adept Hazel Medeis of House Medeis…
I know this has absolutely nothing to do with Hall of Blood and Mercy, but it’s about The Snow Queen series. I recently read the Snow Queen books, and around the same time, I first heard a song. This song reminds me of Rakel sooooo much. If anyone has time, listen to this song: (You have to look it up)
Lily-Alan Walker
The chorus reminds me of the mirror, and the second verse reminds me of Rakel….If anyone is a fan of the Snow Queen, look up this song 🙂
While I was reading Magic Redeemed for the second time, I had a moment. What if the Paragon was searching for….. THE ELVES!! And what if Leila was an ELF!!!!!
So I think I know what Killian and Hazel’s love song is. “All of Me” by Lindsey Stirling and John Legend.
YES!!!
OMG yes!!!!
I think Kitty is staying silent about how to turn a vampire because it would give too much away in the plot for the last book. And I bet it is something of a surprise. Ooooooo, I’m looking forward to the last book on the 17th.
OMG RIGHT!
So am I!!! 🙂
Thank yo for makibg this happen Kitty! I was actually the one who asked what society’s or whatever would be mentioned next! I just changed my username. While im mad vampirs were last, im sill glad w got to learn more abou them!
Oof, my grammar.
😊😁
Thanks for the post kitty! I still want to know how vampires are turned and the other questions listed below.
Yes! I’m so curious what it means that many vampires have not been able to be successfully turned. What happens? Does the person being turned die in the process or after the transformation? Does nothing happen and they just stay human?
A very satisfying post. Thank you. Though it does raise many questions (many of which are detailed below) it also fills in some details we didn’t have before. I’m so looking forward to the 17th. Eleven days left to go, and counting. 😁
Wow! Wow! Just wow!! That sums up a LOT of questions while adding some. When the vamps turn unresponsive can they be revived? Also, how long can vampires go without drinking blood? Thank you Kitty!! This is fun we can see details that are not shown in the book! I can’t wait for the 17th!!
Thank you, Kitty. I have a few (ok, a lot) of questions.
How are vampires created/turned? Does a vampire drain all of the blood out of the person/potential new vampire?
What happens if the turning fails? Does the person die?
Does someone have to volunteer to be turned? Are there laws? Do a lot of people volunteer? Can wizards become vampires? Werewolves?
Do vampires stay the age at which they are turned? Or do they appear younger?
Thanks!
Thank you, Kitty! You’ve been too good to us today between your post and discord chats <3
And I don't think I'm too mad at you about the ending of Magic Redeemed anymore, something had to change for Hazel and Killian to form an actual, healthy relationship – so actually, thank you for that too… I think? LOL