3.15.23

When you say the word vampires, what's the first thing that comes of mind?

Dark, scary, blood-sucking monsters, and etc. 

I can't lie but there are deadly vampires that are still set in those ways (I suggest if you ever come across one, run because you life depends on it). 

Fortunately, I can tell you that my family and I don't fit in that little square. While in many vampire romance movies, it's not true that we can be constantly sustained from animal blood. Vampires are, in their inherent nature, made to suck blood. It's crude but true and we can't really "control" this. 

We live off blood donors and plasma packs. If I had to eat human food, it would taste disgusting to me and would not curb my hunger. 

 Vampires have many stereotypes and myths that surround our existence. Humans simply cannot stop creating little fantasies with vampires. Honestly, most of the concepts are pure bullshit. I've compiled a series of them, pure humor. 

1. Vampires die in the light. 

No, we do not die in the light. Do I have to repeat myself? We are made to be creatures of the night, we do tend to thrive in the dark but we definitely do not wither in the sun. To be frank, we are not morning people.

2. Vampires have superpowers.

We are not in Twilight. The more powerful we are, the likeliness of receiving a power is. We were not created to have powers and most of us don't. 

However when vampires achieve a rank like: Duke, Knight, Lord, Prince, or King, they endure a transformation. This transformation entitles for them to ingest a potion, which was blessed by a powerful alchemist centuries ago, that enchants the recipient with special powers according to their skillset. 

For example, dearest father is the King and the potion gave him: persuasion, manipulation (he controls metals), necromancy (summoning of the dead), shadow traveling, and invisibility. 

I was given charisma, shadow traveling, manipulation over darkness, and summoning of the dead. The number of powers you receive is dependent on your rank. 

When we receive our powers, they are severely undeveloped. It takes time and patience to cultivate them to their highest potential. We often use our powers in protecting our land but also to fight each other. 

Why are we fighting each other?

It's how we determine rankings. The more people you beat, the more you could beat a rank. If you beat any of the ranks, you are to get a rank.

3. Vampires turn into bats.

No, we don't. It's likely to be a power that someone could receive but not something that is built into our bodies. I prefer to travel in the shadows. 

4. Vampires have red eyes.

We do not have red irises, rather we have a array of typical colors for irises. Personally, I have dark brown eyes that turn black, depending on the lighting.  It serves me well in intimidation when battling other vampires. 

5. Vampires are all over a millennia years old.

It is common to see young vampires. We can turn humans by a bite in the neck,  we secrete a special venom from our fangs that comes from a unique gland in our body called mutatio, which is Latin for change. Contrary to popular ideation, we do not forcibly turn humans. 

These days there are special documents to fill out in order to be eligible to turn, the number one aspect being total consent. If a vampire is to disregard any of these steps, they will be subjected to jail time enforced by my father. 

I am 92 years, though I appear to be around 17 years. My father is true to the myth as he is over 100 centuries. 

6. Garlic, crosses, and holy water are deadly to vampires.

No. Just no.

7.  Vampires live in dingy, creepy, abandoned haunted houses.

We are actually quite civilized. Some of us live in vampire-rich cities that are under Vampire Domain including me. Some coexist with humans. It is true that we can commune and see spirits but they do not always live with us. 

8. Vampires do not procreate. 

Vampires can and often do ummm.... procreate. My mother was a vampire with the rank of Lady and my father was also obviously a vampire and they had Bianca and I. My father and Hazel's mother were also both vampires and had my half-sister, Hazel. 

Yes, I'll leave it at that. Don't think more of it. 

9. Vampires live forever.

We do not. We are susceptible to death and if have received a large amount of incurable damage (like a poison), can die. Our immune system is heighted though making us less prone to catching disease and illness.

My mother had been crushed in rubble and died in an earthquake. Bianca died in a brave fight. 

10. Vampires can't see themselves in the mirror. 

We can and I could tell how I look like. 

I have pale skin caused by constantly staying up in my apartment. Dark eye bags weigh down my dull eyes and I have a few old acne scars. My black hair hangs over my face, and can be used to hide my eyes. 

Hazel is entirely the opposite of me. 

She inherited her dark skin and corkscrew curls from her mother. Dark brown hair with gold tints that light up in the sun that she often wears wild and untamed. She was beautiful as vampires are. 

Vampires always had a otherworldly aspect of beauty to them, making us seem unapproachable and cold. Humans are drawn to us and naturally ask us out. 

I have never said yes to anyone. But then again most of those fawning humans were girls. 

Sometimes I like imagining in my head a scenario where I just deadpan I'm extremely gay. 

Though that situation was still highly fanciful as I was still deep in the closet, too afraid to go out. 

Vampires do have soulmates. Their true partner. Their other half. A symbol appears on your shoulder when you're younger, this symbols represents your soulmate in their entirety. 

On my shoulder, I have a bright yellow sun tattooed and I often wonder how my soulmate would be like. Would he have a sunny disposition? Would he hate my gloominess? Would he reject me?

Throughout the course of my life, I've looked high and low for him but to no avail. 

What if he would never come to me?

11. Vampires only like themselves.

No, we coexist peacefully with all other species. But what are all the species?

Angels:  Their domain is primarily in the sky though some do come down from time to time. Angels have a human appearance with the exception of their brilliantly white wings. Some have an ability to control air and lightning. Zeus (who is technically my uncle but we ignore that) and Hera are the rulers of the angels and often acts as a dictator for all species though we often tell him, there is no such role. Zeus sired two children, notoriously known that it was not with Hera, Jason and Thalia. 

Merfolk:  They live in the oceans and often seen being sirens, attracting people to the sea. They have a appearance of a human on the top and a fish-like tail on the bottom, they have a ability to manipulate water. Poseidon (also my uncle but we also ignore that) is the king of merfolk. He has two sons, Percy Jackson and Tyson. 

Vampires:  That's us. We have a humanoid look but can be discerned with our fangs, strength, and speed. We're primarily on Earth though some us do go underground. Hades, my father, is King of vampires. He has Hazel and I. 

Goblins:  They live amongst humans, are known as shift creatures who mostly steal from humans. They have pointed ears, sharp teeth, green skin, light feet, and a knack to pickpocket. Hermes rules over them and has many children like Cecil Markowitz, Connor and Travis Stoll. 

Fae:  They live in enchanted gardens, they have brightly colored hair, an ability to persuade people to do their bidding, and butterfly-like wings. Aphrodite is their queen and her children are Piper Mclean, Lacy, Mitchell, and Valentina.

Humans:  They live on Earth and have four appendages, are varying in shape and color, and have the superiority complex to believe no other species exist. They make fantastic wine though. They are ruled by Dionysus who is psycho himself and he has one son, Pollux. 

Elves:  They live in their own cities on Earth. They have pointed ears, an affinity to the Earth, light skinned, and can be self-absorbed at times. Demeter is their queen and she  has Miranda Gardiner, Steve, and Meg as her children. 

Werewolves:  They also live in their own designated areas but do live with humans. They have pointed ears, an affinity to violence, destruction, and chaos, they can shift into a wolf and always seem to be picking a fight. Ares is their general and he has Frank (who Hazel has taken a liking too), Sherman, Clarissa, and Ellis. 

Dwarfs:  They live underground and can be often seen at forges. They are master craftsmen, tanned, can use the element fire, and have pointed ears. Hephaestus is their king and his children are Leo, Nyssa, Shane, Christopher, and Harley.  

Witches and Warlocks:  They live in their own cities and with humans. They can be seen using magic constantly, manipulating the light around them, and sometimes suspiciously glowing. Apollo is the head and has Will, Austin, and Kayla. Hecate is his co-ruler and has Lou Ellen. Hades holds a special grudge for them. 

Sphinxes:   They live in archives and thrive off knowledge. You can see them with red wings, bird-like features, insane smarts, and mostly buried in a book. Athena is their queen and she has Annabeth and Malcolm. 

Hunters:  They are a nomad group, any species can become part of the Hunters. They are all maiden girls, Bianca was a Hunter. They are seen with a bow and arrow, searching for monsters that threaten our society. Artemis leads them and has no children. 

We convene at Manhattan in the Empire State Building's 100th floor yearly which is where I met Will Solace, where my life changed.