Clearly you must know that vampires are my favorite fictional creature. For many reasons, not the least of which is romance writers have romanticized blood-sucking killers into sexy, hot heros. You can’t beat that. But I think the added allure is the constant possibility that the hero might accidentally kill the heroine. He’s just always on the edge, struggling with the idea of biting her and possibly succumbing to his most basic need of drinking her dry.
Writing and reading about vampires always includes that fear-factor. This scene might be the one that pushes him over the edge. He might just snap. And if he does, will our heroine be able to defend herself? Will she be able to ward off his superhuman strength and appetite for her blood? We just don’t know.
Of course, the most wonderful vampire characters are the ones who battle with their own existences, fighting against their own natures, desperately wanting to be human (again). The tortured souls.
That’s assuming you believe vampires have souls. In my book, Perpetual Light vampires not only have souls, but they require rescuing so that they can be redeemed.
Vittorio is my ideal hero- strong, passionate, driven and tortured. The poor guy has blamed himself for some four hundred years for causing his wife to never find eternal peace. He believes himself to be the cause of Lucia’s divine mission to save him. As he understands it, Lucia swore to free his soul from an eternal purgatory as a vampire and because of this she has not been granted salvation. Since learning of her reincarnation some three hundred years ago he’s spent every moment searching for her, knowing that the only way for her to rest will be to allow her to kill him.
He’s one hell of a guy. Willing to hand himself over to be killed just to allow his love to be saved.
When Vittorio and Lucia are united, it’s not quite so easy, not that killing one’s husband (assuming it’s a good marriage) is easy. Lucia can’t remember mistakes she made in past lives, nor does she want to kill anyone, least of all the man she’s loved since the 1600s.
And worse yet, it was not Vittorio’s fault for Lucia’s reincarnations. Quite the contrary. She had the power to free his soul during their first lifetime together. Instead, she chose to condemn him to an eternity of penance and misery. She chose to make him suffer. She chose to control his fate.
And all because she loved him.
Can Vittorio forgive Lucia and can both their souls be saved?
Who are your favorite vampires? Let’s hear which heros, heroines, or villains you love.
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I find it highly entertaining how many of these blog hop posts start with something along the lines of ‘Clearly you must know that vampires are my favorite fictional creature’
I know mine does too.
I’m fond of tortured souls as well, but I do like the sexy, no regrets bad guy as well. Deacon Frost from Blade comes to mind and David from the Lost Boys or Jean-Claude from Anita Blake.
How funny that we’re all thinking along the same lines! Those are three great choices Tasha. Jean-claude is one of my favorites, too. Enjoy the hop. Jordan
Vampires are not my favorite – zombies are – but I love monsters, and therefore, I love vampires!! Anything that is lucky enough to be immortal usually works for me. Great post, Jordan. (Don’t enter me in the contest, since I’m hosting this blog hop. Leave my space for others!)
Hi Jolie. Thanks for hosting the hop. Such a great idea. It’s fascinating to me that zombies are making into romance because I still think of them as decomposing bodies. I haven’t gotten to the point of being able to imagine them in any state of romantic, but then vampires hadn’t been romantic until Bela Lugosi so everything has its chance to change.
Sounds like an awesome read! I like the Underworld series.
Good luck with your book, sounds intriguing!
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
Hi Yolanda. Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too. Thanks for coming by. I love the Underworld series also. I like the vampire/werewolf combo. I’m a big fan of having the 2 together in stories.
I like Lucian from Sean Michael’s LOVE IS BLINDNESS, and Sebastian from Astrid Cooper’s Monsters, InK series (though I’m not usually a vampire person).
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Hi Trix. Thanks for hopping by. It’s great to hear that even though Vamps aren’t your thing you still have a short list of favorites.