The vampire is a familiar figure in literature and folklore. In recent years the creature has grown exponentially in popularity due to books and movies which have popularized it in modern culture. However the nature of these creatures has always been double sided. While they are heroes, they are always dark heroes, creatures of the night, forced to survive for an eternity by living off of the killing of others.

It is this aspect of living death that makes the vampire so fascinating. It is an immortal being; it can survive for centuries, even eons. However in order to do that it must kill. And it can’t just kill anything; it has to kill creatures that are of the species that it was formerly a member of.

In some modern tales, this aspect has been toned down by giving vampires the ability to survive by eating wild animals. However the conflict is maintained by making the life of humans much more desirable to these beings. In this way you can maintain the dynamic tension that is their existence.

In general, vampires are gifted with preternatural powers. These can come in a wide array of forms, although they usually include super strength, the ability to perceive things more clearly, and often some sort of psychic power. Other abilities include the power to change shape, command those with weak wills, or project various missiles from their body.

To balance these powers, most vampires also have a variety of weaknesses. This can include exposure to the sun, or UV rays, a stake through the heart, various herbal concoctions, usually garlic based, fire, religious symbols, and decapitation.

It is this balance that makes the vampire such an intriguing literary being. It can be played both light and dark, powerful and weak, good and evil, and still maintain the integrity of the tale.