Halloween Spotlight: Vampires
By Rick Pipito
Vampires are legendary. It’s that simple. There are tales throughout the ages of these creatures that have many different approaches to the lore. When I was halfway finished writing my zombie novel, I decided to slowly tie in the vampire aspect. I wanted something else to tackle. As I consulted Dan again with my ideas to expand the novels and a topic for our second comic book collaborative, I decided on a new approach.
Everything from vampire lore needed to exist in the same universe. Their weaknesses and strengths may not be universal among all blood suckers, but I didn’t want to discredit the varying kinds. And so, “Blood, The Second Helping” the novel was born, as well as its graphic spinoff “Legends of Vampire.” The characters involved in the first book needed to deal with something more dangerous than zombies this time, and vampires were the next logical choice. They are faster, smarter, and have abilities and influence throughout the ages, making them a powerful ally or lethal foe. Here’s a brief view of how it works in my created universe.
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1) Silver weakness – The reason for this vulnerability goes back to the dawn of man. When Cain, the first vampire, murdered his brother Abel, the rock that he used kill his kin contained high amounts of silver. Forever, Cain would be damned to walk with a blood thirst and weakened by the element he used for murder.
2) Sunlight weakness – Not all vampires are harmed by the sun’s rays. Upon being locked in a room void of any sunlight for thousands of years, and surviving on only insects and small rodents, a vampire will become harmed by the sun’s rays. The lack of nutrition and fresh blood causes their skin to develop a lupus like disease. Immediate exposure to sunlight will either severly burn their flesh or cause them to turn to ash.
3) Generational differences: Cain, being the first vampire, is immortal. Even being stabbed through the heart with silver will not keep him at bay forever. Even if his body were to be destroyed entirely, his soul would reside somewhere until it returns to life. The twelve that he turned into his first generation vampires can die much easier. They each have their own abilities based on their talents in life. With each generation down the line, vampires progressively get weaker as the cursed blood slowly phases out through genetics. It is when the sixth generation comes that these creatures no longer require blood. They have become mindless zombies at this point and need flesh to survive.
4) Crucifix deterrant: Do crucifixes actually harm a vampire? The answer is no. There are certain sects of vampires who may believe in darkness. The sight of a cross literally enrages or repulses them. This is not the case with all vampires though.
5) Memory: Vampires remember and gain knowledge of everyone they’ve ever consumed the blood of. One vampire in particular, Kristoff, has the ability to learn everything and recall that knowledge at will. His photographic mind is of genius level proportions, enabling him to go as far as researching an injectible cure for his bloodlust… a cure for the vampire curse.
6) Garlic weakness: Garlic is like any other food. Its powerful scent and taste does not actually repel a vampire. It does have an effect on one vampire however. Evelyn, is a wine connoseur. She has found that the effects of wine on the blood are beneficial to the amounts of times she needs to feed. Unfortunately for her, she had a severe allergy to garlic when she was once human. That allergy remains in her vampire years and will cause her airways to close or for her skin to break out in a rash if exposed to enough of it.
7) Mind Control: Two vampires have exhibited mental abilities beyond normal means. One of these vampires has the ability to control anyone’s mind, while the other can communicate with animals and insects. Either one of these abilities makes them a more deadly foe than the normal vampire.
8) Healing: Vampires heal at a much more rapid rate than usual. If they lose a limb it will grow back eventually, unless that limb was severed with something made of silver. Silver hinders their ability to heal wounds. Drinking fresh blood will cause them to heal even more rapidly. In the case of the vampire, Evelyn, she has an even greater gift of healing. She can cure the wounds and ailments of others by absorbing them into her by a mere touch. The downside is that for a time, these afflictions are fully experienced by her until her vampire DNA forces it out.
9) Disease: There are many blood diseases and ailments out there. If you think that these abnormalities don’t affect vampires, then you are wrong. The effects of drinking the blood of someone who may have H.I.V. for example, are just as deadly for a blood sucker as they are for a human.
10) Youth vampire: Although he is not a vampire like the others, one man is still considered as much. This man is not a descendant of Cain’s curse. Instead, he had an accident that causes him to age exponentially faster than normal humans. He’s got no enhanced abilities like vampires do, but he can make himself younger by absorbing the youth of others. For example: If he were to breathe in the essence of a 12 year old, that child would become as old as he was at that moment of absorbing, while he’d gain the difference in years back to his youth. Theoretically, he could live forever this way.
11) Wannabe: There are some goth teens that have the desire to be something more. Believing that they are either vampires or will become vampires through their actions, they go on a string of murders, consuming some of the blood of their victims, including family members and friends. These are in fact NOT true vampires.
12) Historical influence: The following events are just some of the events directly related to vampires or their influence throughout human history: Cain and Abel, The Fountain of Youth, Excalibur, King Arthur, The Great Sphinx, Vlad Tepes, Sampson and Delilah, Lilith, CIA controversies, Kennedy Assassination, Elizabeth Bathory, and much more.
13) Mirrors: Vampires DO in fact cast reflections in mirrors. One vampire was not happy with their appearance however and decided to smash any mirror they’d come into contact with.
14) Foresight: One vampire has the ability to foresee events to come. Of course these visions could always change depending on actions taken in the present, but this one has the sole ability to see the future through dreams/visions.
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Those are the vampires in our universe here. Notice there are no sparkles involved. Dan and I of course discussed the spinoff comic over another appropriate bottle of wine, pictured above. So what are our vampire influences? Below are just some of our favorites:
Rick’s favorite vampire Movie is Interview with The Vampire. His favorite Book on vampires is Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The Video Game series Legacy of Kain remains at the top of his list. Rick’s pick for vampire of the year is Selene from the Underworld series.
Dan’s favorite vampire Movie is 30 Days of Night. His favorite Book involving vampires is What if…Wolverine was Lord Of The Vampires. The Video Game series Castlevania remains at the top of his list. Dan’s pick for vampire of the year is the classic Nosferatu creature.
What are your favorites? Are you a vampire fan? Grab yourself a copy of “Blood, The Second Helping” the novel. It is available at www.lulu.com in softback book and on www.amazon.com for the Kindle. Also, the spinoff comic book “Blood The Second Helping: Legends of Vampire” is available for purchase at www.indyplanet.com. Help support our blood curling madness.
“Blood, The Second Helping” and its spinoff are (C) 2011 by Rick Pipito. Stay tuned for our werewolf spotlight…
Vampire Story Breakdown
Yesterday I released my zombie story breakdown, and today I will do the same for our vampires. When I got the idea to continue my first novel, but go in a different direction with creatures, I put zombies on the shelf and chose vampires. Like the former, vampires are described differently in lore. Some have different abilities, some are vulnerable to garlic and holy water, some can only be killed by a silver bullet. The list goes on and on. Here are the plots of the various short stories in my second novel, and sCrypt’s second spinoff comic book.
If any of them peak your interest, then check out where you can purchase my books and comic books at the side bar on the right. They are available in print and digital formats, and will definitely have you holding onto your seat, as the main plot continues from the first novel and continues to tie in these stories.
Here is our vampire story breakdown from “Blood, The Second Helping” the novel, and “BTSH: Legends of Vampire” graphic novel. All stories are (C) 2011 & 2012 by Rick Pipito. Make sure to stay tuned for our werewolf one as well. I will list where the story can be found,whether novel or comic:
BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING: (The Novel) Gordon Lightcap and his group of unique specialists race against time to stop the coming apocalypse. Cain, the world’s first vampire, and his House of Twelve, have waited an eternity to put this world changing plan into motion. At the center of these two sides is one woman with two identities. Her human persona of Moira Donatelli, has left clues to assist Gordon in his quest, while her vampire identity, Lilith the Deceiver, has helped Cain back to power. Both men must fight for their survival as well as the woman they love.
BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING: LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE: (comic book spinoff) You are alone with someone you just met. You hit it off and lean in to kiss that person, only to realize that their teeth are now two inch fangs. Your “friend” is a vampire thirsting for your blood.
A Hero King: A young man discovers that vampires have a weakness. This man grows up to be the legendary King Arthur. Armed with his sword, the Excalibur, he allies his army with that of the vampires in order to stop a common foe (6th generation vampires, aka zombies). Can he trust the vampire lord, Cain, or will he be forced to defend the humans from his forces as well? (Blood, The Second Helping)
Sands Of Mystery: Johnny Chong and Chastity Smith, both survivors of separate zombie incidents, travel to Egypt to find the legendary Excalibur sword. Once there, they discover that the Sphinx and vampires have something in common. Find out why sunlight can affect a vampire. (Blood, The Second Helping)
Amalgamated History: Alucard the Executioner feeds on the blood of those who are unworthy to join his cause. His opposition comes in the form of Vlad Tepes. Their stories go down in history to inspire Bram Stoker’s tale of Dracula. Find out how a crucifix became part of modern vampire tales. (Blood, The Second Helping)
Redemption For One: Kristoff is a vampire with the ability to retain any and all information he learns. For centuries he has sought a cure for his bloodlust, by experimenting on criminals and those he deems unworthy of life. As his search continues in the early 1900s, he targets the Chicago mob, who has nicknamed him the “Dark Cop.” (Blood, The Second Helping)
Time And A Bottle: This is the journal of Evelyn. She is a vampire with the ability to heal others, and has an affinity for the taste of wine. She progresses 
from being a wine taster to a maker throughout history. People come from all over to try her own brand of wine, but she can never let them know her secret ingredient. She is also the only vampire known to have an allergy to garlic. (Blood, The Second Helping)
Appetite Of Lust: Madam Delilah runs a prostitution ring, but when one of her favorite working girls is put in danger, Delilah lets her secret known. She is a vampire with a lust for more than just blood. If you ever wondered what would happen if a vampire contracted a deadly disease, then you don’t want to miss this. (Blood, The Second Helping)
Loose Ends: The Military Underground Tactical Specialists have tracked an escapee from the “Evolution and Extinction” incident to a place in Brazil. When they arrive at the mansion of a dead drug lord, the remnants of his zombi henchmen stand in their way. The mission takes the MUTS into the Amazon rainforest where they face off against a vampire who has the ability to control the creatures of his environment. (Blood, The Second Helping)
Shattered Beauty: Elizabeth Bathory may have made history, but her family knows her as Bella the tormentor. She takes the most beautiful of women, then bathes in and drinks their blood to keep her own youthful appearance. (Blood, The Second Helping)
Murray’s Massacre: A teenager gives in to his goth tendencies, as he believes he can become a vampire. This story reads like a real life newspaper article. Find out all about the horrific acts he commits just to call himself a “vampire.” (Blood, The Second Helping)
Confrontation: The vampire lord, Cain, has gathered his surviving generals and infiltrated a military base in Russia. As Gordon Lightcap and his team of survivors attempt to stop the vampires, they pray that one of the blood suckers will be their saving grace. (Blood, The Second Helping)
Shadow Stalker: Marcus is a vampire with a horribly scarred face and psyche. He stalks a castle in medieval times and toys with his prey before killing them. (BTSH: Legends Of Vampire)
A Monument To Serve: Find out the true story of the building of the Sphinx in Egypt. Will the slaves be able to rise up against their vampire masters? (BTSH: Legends Of Vampire)
The Question: Alucard the executioner has men and women brought before him to see if they are worthy of eternal life with him. If they answer to his disliking, they will be slain in the most painful of ways. (BTSH: Legends Of Vampire)
Seeking The Cure: Before tackling the Chicago mob, Kristoff infiltrates a Japanese lab in the height of the Russo-Japanese War. There he seeks to find the cure for his vampirism. (BTSH: Legends Of Vampire)
Wine And Dine: Evelyn has a special ingredient that makes her vineyard grow the most tasteful of grapes. People come from miles around to drink her wine, and she in turn drinks their blood. (BTSH: Legends Of Vampire)
Samson And Delilah: Delilah is discovered for what she truly is and is forced to take advantage of Samson. She however does not like to be blackmailed, and has a plan of her own. This is my take on the Biblical story. (BTSH: Legends Of Vampire)
Eternal Guardian: Guarding the Fountain of Youth in the heart of the Amazon is a vampire who communicates with the surrounding wildlife. When a group of archaeologists seek the fountain, they are in for quite the surprise. (BTSH: Legends Of Vampire)
The Lying Truth: Lilith is captured by the Central Intelligence Agency and recruited to become one of their top assassins. Changing her identity, she carries out various historical assassinations, but has ulterior motives as well. (BTSH: Legends Of Vampire)
Hunting The Hunter: Darius Moon frantically tries to escape an elite military unit. Through a forest they hunt him for the purpose of using his vampire DNA in their next experiment. (BTSH: Legends Of Vampire)
Mind Astray: Cain and Darius Moon now occupy the same body, but these once long time allies, must struggle through the mindscape so that only one of them becomes the true victor of their host. (BTSH: Legends Of Vampire)
Breath Of Life: A near death experience leaves a man with a unique affliction that causes him to age at an accelerated rate. The only way to retain his youth is by using his new ability to siphon it from others by merely inhaling their essence. (Flesh And Leftovers: Eden’s Order Trilogy)
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