Anatomy of a Vampire

The Anatomy of a Vampire
It's said a vampire is a creature born of two hearts. It's also said they are creatures of heartache and are born when one of those hearts dies. Perhaps this is why to become a vampire one must carry the pain of loss with them, the loss of a child, a twin, a lover so dear to them that the thought of living without them is too much to bear.
There are two ways to become a vampire. The first is to die of heartbreak on the night of a new moon. This can happen in childbirth or after the death or betrayal of true love. It is exceedingly rare.
The other way to become a vampire is to be turned. While the process itself is relatively easy, attempting to turn a vampire is a risky endeavor. To be turned, a victim must be fed upon until their heart stops at which point they must be fed the blood of their sire. However, they must also carry a broken heart, for that is the heart that will sustain them in their immortality. It is also the heart that will demand fresh blood.
Vampires are creatures of hunger and only blood will sustain them. Without fresh blood they will grow into gaunt and ravenous monsters, but with a steady supply, they remain young and beautiful for eternity.
Vampires may survive on the blood of animals but require much more and generally find it unpleasant to drink. Vampires that feed on animal blood for too long become bloated things with blackened veins and almost as maddened as gaunt and starving kin.
Blood that is fresh and warm is the most desired, especially direct from the vein, though the vampire of Cedar Grove have learned to collect blood from their farmers and bottle it where it can be kept in their cellars for the cycle of a moon (i.e. 27 days), though unlike fine wine, it does not grow better with age. Most of the farmers who donate blood choose this method, though those who give it directly find the experience pleasurable, even addictive.¹
Vampires are said to either be mesmerizing or terrifying, though this may be as much a matter of personality as supernatural power. That said, most do seem to have undo influence over the predatory beasts of the air and land like cats, wolves, snakes, and owls. Conversely, they tend to strike fear into domesticated animals like horses, dogs, cattle, and sheep, as well as prey animals like rabbits and deer.
They have pale skin, even when fully fed, and are creatures of darkness, sleep through midday, and must cling to the shadows should they rise before sunset or linger up past dawn. Sunlight will burn their skin with prolonged exposure leading to them bursting into flame.
Their flesh burns at the touch of silver or holy water or fire but they have tremendous healing powers and can survive almost any wound short of decapitation or the piecing of their broken heart. They recoil from the presence of holy objects in the possession of people with faith, cannot walk upon consecrated ground, and must be invited in before crossing the threshold of a home that isn't their own.²
Next Article: History of the Cedar Grove Vampires

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<sub>1. Not all tithes are paid in blood. The rare farmer will tithe a child or other family member, sending them to be a servant within the palace. Occasionally they will pay in crops or coin though most prefer blood. It's up to the tenant whether they wish to pay three times or one, with three times being drawn by servants at the castle or once by one or more pairs of fangs.
2. This only applies to the homes in Bonnie Ben and the Palisades. All of the homes in Haverstraw are technically theirs and can be entered at will.</sub>