here seemed a strange stillness over everything. But as I listened, I heard as if from down below in the valley the howling of many wolves. The Count's eyes gleamed, and he said. "Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!" --- Bram Stoker
o truer words were spoken that "Children of the Night". For vampires can shape shift into wolves or bats and be one with the night. Immortal, with the strength of twenty men, casting no shadows, nor appearing in mirrors, and the ability of turning victims into vampires themselves are powerful weapons in a vampire. You would think the world would be infested with them. But they are limited too. They may not enter a household unless invited, so be careful who you open your door to. And sleep, a vampire must sleep on the soil of his native land throughout the daytime hours. A weakness that is usually overcome by the hypnotic power over the mortal humans that do a vampires bidding.
he vampire is mostly fixated in your mind by Count Dracula, in a novel written in 1897 by Bram Stoker, but based on a real person, Vlad the Impaler. But legends of vampires have existed for hundreds of years in many cultures. And much has been written about other vampires. A very good novel about a vampire is "The Keep" by F. Paul Wilson. Very gothic in approach, and seriously how could you not love a vampire novel that has a vampire that kills Nazis? This vampire, Radu Molasar was a boyar, feudal lord, of Wallachia and loyal to Vlad Tepes (the Impaler).
nly pinpoint glints of light off the surfaces of Molasar's eyes remained. The rest of him had been swallowed up. Suddenly, a hand jabbed out of the blackness, pointing a finger at Cuza. "I will watch you, Crippled One. And if I see you are to be trusted, I will speak with you another time. But if you betray our people, I shall end your days." --- F. Paul Wilson
ut who does the vampire answer to? It is a quiet unspoken question in most records of vampires. Is the vampire evil unto itself or evil for something more? Maybe a question just asked and perhaps answered in Stephen King's "'Salem's Lot".
n Harmony Hill Cemetery a dark figure stood meditatively inside the gate, waiting for the turn of time. When he spoke, the voice was soft and cultured. "O my father, favor me now. Lord of Flies, favor me now. Now I bring you spoiled meat and reeking flesh. I have made sacrifice for your favor. With my left hand I bring it. Make a sign for me on this ground, consecrated in your name. I wait for a sign to begin your work." --- Stephen King
