Vampire Taxonomy Read Online Free Page B

superhero?
    So could a common vampire walking the streets today take to the skies like a devil bird? Probably not, unless you’re dealing with an ancient evil, or a creature that can transform into an animal.
Vampire GPS
    One useful talent possessed by vampires is their internal GPS.
    Vampires rarely get lost or need directions. Their life on the road comes naturally, as their minds are programmed to be aware of their whereabouts even in their sleep. This makes long traveling days in a car with blacked-out windows much easier. Who needs rearview mirrors when you can sense the environment all around you?
    Vamps employ this ability through their lackeys and those they’ve bitten. When a vampire bites into a human, he has made a connection, and can therefore keep tabs (rather creepily) on his surroundings as well as his lunch (these human servants are often referred to as familiars ).
    This internal GPS is also a fantastic security alarm. It’s a rare and almost impossible feat to sneak up on a vampire. Vamps have usually made a few enemies in the course of their undead existence, whether they’ve made mistakes and lashed out in anger or hunger, or they’ve decided to crusade against their own kind as the Tragic Hero. Either way, keeping a safe perimeter is always important, and vampires’ heightened senses and internal awareness keep them continually informed of their surroundings. 15

WEAKNESSES
Sunlight
    Even though we’ve all seen and heard about the vampires who walk in the day, generally speaking, most vampires experience a strong immunological resistance to sunlight. Most vamps begin to crackle, pop, and simmer under UV rays, and if overexposed they can literally burst into a mess. Disregarding liberally applied suntan lotion, spells, and the off chance that they’ve stumbled upon an ancient protective ring, 16 almost all vampires are subject to discomfort at the least and immolation at the worst when in range of the sun. 17
    THE SPARKLE FACTOR
    As of late, there has been great debate surrounding the sunlight factor and its effect on the epidermis of a vampire; yes, we’re speaking of the “real vampires don’t sparkle” controversy surrounding the Twilight vamps.
    So, do some vampires sparkle in the sun? Because most pop culture myths have some basis in historical fact, it’s a possibility. But in the end it’s difficult to say. There are no ancient myths of glittering vampires, although we do know that some species of vamps can freely stroll about in the daytime. The stance on sparkle is going to have to remain in the air until more than one pop culture outlet can agree that vampires have mutated, evolved, or always retained the glimmering ability.
Stakes
    The seemingly most reliable way to end a vampire pest problem is a stake, or “Mr. Pointy” as it’s so lovingly called in the Buffy series. A sharp wooden stake to the heart means immediate death for just about all vampires, minus a few Big Bads who may need a little nudging from other vampire-be-gone tricks. Also, as some vampires react poorly to silver, a silver stake can be twice as deadly in some cases.
Religious Paraphernalia
    Crosses, holy water, priests, and blessings—back in the days of old, this was all a human needed to keep a nosferatu at bay. Take note: Those days are gone.
    When religion was the government and vice versa, it was easy to peddle religious signs as believable weapons against evil. Why wouldn’t people look for defense from something they find solace in?
    However, in most cases today, vampires have seemingly begun to build up an immunity to such religious symbols. More and more we’re seeing new crops of vampires who aren’t stopped in their tracks at the sight of the cross; instead, they’re only made uncomfortable or irritated. The well-placed cross here and there has still managed to burn a few vampire hands, but it’s not going to shield you from a supernatural right hook. That being said, ancient undiluted evil