"Come sit I'm sure your curious as to what vamphyres are"
she waves her hand and motions to a comfortable looking chair sitting by a fireplace.
"I shall do my best to tell you what I can, something's I know not, and others I am unable to tell you. I'm sure you understand".
she sighs and moves to a more comfortable position in her chair.

"I'm sure that you have heard the myths such as the sun kills and garlic allergies. I know not about the sun, though I tend to prefer to awake after the sun sets. I have heard of others that are but weakened by the suns powerful rays. I've never been out in it , at least not since I was embraced. I decided not to tempt the fates on something that I know not whether it is true or false."

"Now garlic on the other hand "she grins suddenly " I happen to know that is false. I have nothing against garlic though I do know where the myth came from. Its from a combination of the most predominate plague times and other times of sickness. A lot of the vamphyre "myth" is tied up with the plague. It is said that people not only ate garlic but the wore it about there necks to protect themselves from the curse that was said to visit the evil. Yet those that survived where those that had money and could escape the city not the evil ones."

"They used garlic because 'tis a natural antibiotic and they believed that it would ward off the plague and other forms of sickness. Vamphyres where supossed to have been part of it all. They were said to have fed on the sick and dying and the people believed it. Vamphyres were reported to be all over the place in those times. Because of the disease so many people were buried alive or at least thought to be dead when they were not. So when they moved or something else that showed life they were believed to be undead."

"Another reason why garlic is thought to be repugnant to vamphyres is that in ancient Transylvania when a person was suspected to have been bitten by a vamphyre their hearts were cut out, their heads were chopped off and garlic was shoved in their mouth. Sounds rather gruesome does it not? But because of the antibiotic properties of garlic they believed that it would prevent the poor victims from becoming undead. You can not blame them though from doing whatever they could to protect themselves. In those times one of the greatest fears were of vamps. To them we were evil creatures that stalked them in the night. They were terrorized. People would claim to be witch hunters ( a.k.a. vamphyre slayers) and would take enormous sums of money to find and kill those charged with being vamps. As with the witch trials in Salem most that were said to be vamphyres were not."

"Recent books such as the "Vampire Chronicles" by Anne Rice have brought back the whole fascination yet this time we are not viewed so much as soulless evil creatures but as romantic dangerous figures. So many things contradict themselves though. No one truly knows what to believe. Are vamphyres evil? Or are they just misunderstood? I am not evil yet I know many that are. We are like mortals some are good some...are not so good."
she smiles faintly and glances out a nearby window
"Such speculation. Things like the masquerade or living the vamphyre life style. Two separate things so different yet so alike. With both you have rules to follow. You have humans pretending to be vamphyres or on occasion you have vamps pretending to be human pretending to be vamps. 'Tis an excellent cover is it not. No one would truly believe that you are what you say you are. You also have people with a disease that tends to mimic vampirism. They have an allergy to the sun and advanced hemophilia that forces them to have frequent blood transfusions. You have psychic vamps that by some are thought to be the only true vamps. Unlike normal vamps they take your psychic energy instead of your blood. Yet in their own way they are just as dangerous. To have someone around you that constantly saps your strength. That would be true horror. You would get sick more often, you would always be tired and you wouldn't be able to think straight. Hmm, sounds like lack of blood, such as when you are taken for a vamp to feed off you over prolonged periods of time."

"The fascination that seems to thrive in the world today can be dangerous. So many mortals that actually believe they are vamp or that will do anything to become what we are. They maim and kill for their own sick purposes and again incite fear. Yet this time the fear is not of real vamps only those that pretend. Most cannot understand why a mortal would wish to be immortal. For some they lost all feelings they live in eternal numbness and shall for all eternity. Others view the hunger for mortal blood as a curse. To them we are the damned. Imagine living forever. It might sound like fun. But think of it this way. You will watch all of your friends or companions that are mortal die. If you have an eternity to live then after awhile you will become bored. Nothing new to do. If you live for such a long period of time pretty soon you'll do all that you can. You will hunger for companionship of those not immortal yet you will spurn it because you won't be able to handle watching another friend die. I am content with what I am. Unlike some I haven't lost my soul and my feelings. I still feel and for that reason I choose to live in semi seclusion. I have friends both mortal and not. I choose not to hunt and kill. Yet I do still feed off mortals. Yet I also feed off lesser animals. And neither are truly hurt. They may feel weak for awhile but..."she shrugs " they will be fine and they remember nothing."

"Taking away the memory is one of the most used vamp traits. Mind control. Mortals should watch out especially if they wish to be vamp. They may be embraced but because they are so much weaker then their sires they may be taken as thralls. To have their very will taken from them" she shakes her head and sighs... "I could never stand that."

"So many "myths" that float around. Such as our powers. Again as with humans they differ. As do the "myths"(or lore).According to some books and movies we have magnified strength. Yet some say that is but a myth that has been blown out of proportion over the years. I know not about the others but I am far stronger then I was as a mortal. I can also move with what is thought of as unnatural speed. Though I am able to shape-shift and other like things I can..." she smiles a tad bit wickedly and goes on."read your mind. Ah now don't look frightened. I never look unless I absolutely must or I am invited. Anyway what goes on in most mortals minds is not something I care to know.

"I'm sure there are many things that I'm forgetting and if you visit again I shall remember to tell you them. You may continue to wander about my realm and discover new things...she smiles brightly and stands.."If you look about this room you may find tomes of written lore. I am unable to remember where I put them but I'm sure you'll find them. They shall define terms and tell you things that I have not" she fades into the shadows and disappears from the room leaving you to discover what you wish to know.