The vampire is a mysterious, and oftentimes lonely, figure in literature. From the bloody confines of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, to the dark, elegant world of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’s Den of Shadows series, the vampire has captivated artists for centuries. Strangely enough, in modern times, the vampire has taken on a more lighthearted role; anti-heroes, brooding love interests, perhaps even an innocent bystander. More often than not, these vampires have lost their feral touch, their charismatic aura, and even their deadly fangs, dare I say it.

But despite that, there’s something about the vampire that we are addicted to, something that makes us drown in the darkness of our own words. What is it about the vampire that draws us like moths to a flame? Why are we so captivated by this creature, despite knowing what our friends and family think of it? 

Blood For as long as I can remember, whenever I thought of vampires, the first thing I thought of was drinking blood. While this might seem a bit grotesque to other people, it’s fascinating nonetheless. However unfortunate it is, we do associate blood with life. If we lose too much of it, we will die, simple as that. In fact, the use of blood has been underscored in many occult practices in culture, such as animal sacrifices and deals with the devil. So the consumption of such a vital liquid, with those piercing eyes and demonic eyes, is a little more than disturbing. 

Demons Because of their revulsion for crosses and other religious items, the vampire has long since been compared to other demons, such as Lilith. From crosses to holy water to prayers, the vampire seems to truly be in a “living hell.” It’s because of that curse that they cannot form relationships with other human beings wholly since, back then, religion encompassed a large amount of people’s daily lives. They hunger for this companionship, and will go to great lengths to try to secure it, no matter who they have to trample upon. Are they trying to regain their humanity? Are they searching for other beings to drag to hell? Who knows.

Morality Though of course, this also leads to the versatility of the vampire’s character. They were once humans after all. To warn others of their fate is the only kindness they can bestow upon their prey. Whatever conscience is left is up to the writer to determine. Are they frozen in time, having no way of understanding the thoughts around others? Are they decaying physically and psychologically, degrading to the point where they can’t even recognize their former loved ones? Only time will tell. 

Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive. Many writers have their own interpretations of such a fearsome creature. There are differing attitudes towards vampires, both real and imagined. However, there’s no doubt that more fearsome vampires existed, back when good and evil were still solidly defined. 

Which brings me to this. Just think about it; Edward Cullen has no chance against Dracula, the original vampire himself. Because while Edward still has a somewhat shallow resemblance of his human morals, Dracula has none, and won’t hesitate flooding Forks in a sea of blood. Thus, Dracula wins. Hands down.