AtoZ Day 10: J is for Junkie, Jaud, John Carpenter's Vampires

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Junkie

The average vampire requires something to survive, blood, life essence, human flesh. It's like eating food to a normal human, however, sometimes stories have the vampire being more like a junkie. Usually the blood drinking vampire is used for this kind of story.

They can either survive on normal fare and drink blood because it gets them high or they do need blood, but they take far more of it than necessary because they are addicted. I think this is a fascinating way to look at it. Some people are addicted to food, so it is perfectly reasonable to think some vampire would be addicted to their food source.

Forever Knight had an interesting take in that it was the blood that kept Nick from returning to being human and he was addicted to the effect.

Do you know of any vampire tales, books, movies that use the junkie vampire as a corner stone? Do you enjoy the premise?

Creature Feature:

Jaud

I only found one full reference for this one, but is was so poignant I had to use it. Zeluna.net says this vampire appears in the form of a child and it comes from the soul of a baby who died before they were born.

Wikipedia compares it to a Drekavac which is a vampire created from the soul of a child who died unbaptised.

Movie Recommendation:

Title: John Carpenter's Vampures
Rating: 18
Summary: Jack Crow is a vampire hunter and he obeys the rules. When his whole team is slaughtered he is out for revenge and he is given the task of retrieving an ancient cross. If the vampires find it first they can use it to complete a ritual to allow them to walk in the sun. It is a race to prevent the undead becoming unstoppable.
Why you should watch this: The vampires are nasty, the vampire hunters are ruthless and it's fast paced and action packed from beginning to end. This is no teen vampire movie, this earns it's rating and it brilliant while doing so.

Unfortunate 

(#10 in The Diverse Life of Ianthe Jawara, Vampire)

by Natasha Duncan-Drake

The first thing Ianthe had to do was make sure Lilith was familiar with the household, so she walked around the side of the house to the back door. It was just easier and she knew she wouldn't bump into Alex that way. She wanted the puppy to learn those she liked first before any tension between her and her maker came to light.

She stilled as Lilith let out a little growl, well little for a hellhound, it would have made a normal dog proud.

"Mistress," said a voice from the shadows and a man stepped out of them, "mistress, please help me."

She knew what he was as soon as she saw him. Thin, haggard and old way beyond the years his clothes suggested; he was a vampire junkie.

"How?" she asked.

"Blood."

"Wait here," she replied, sidestepping him and heading quickly for the backdoor.

"Please, Mistress," the man begged.

She slipped inside quickly using enchantments rather than her key and only stopped when she was safely behind a locked door. The man had been no real danger, but a confrontation could have been bloody.

"Madam," Philips said, appearing as ever; the man was definitely psychic.

"There is an Unfortunate in the garden," she said, "please see to him."

Philips nodded.

Unfortunates was the name vampires gave to those who had drunk vampire blood and become addicted to it. If the vampire did not feed before the blood was given the human gained a few advantages like rejuvenation and slightly increased strength for a time without turning. The problem was if used too much vampire blood became a need, not a high, just like any drug. Effects lasted for shorter and shorter periods and took a huge toll, eventually resulting in the mess of human being that Ianthe had just met.

There was no cure for the poor man in the garden. One day he would take blood and he would die. Until then his life was a never ending search for his fix.

One thing she and Alex did agree on was that there should be mercy for the mistakes of vampires. Only the truly careless would allow their charges to end up in such a state. Alex viewed most humans as cattle, but those he took into his confidence were well looked after.

They kept a few vials of vampire blood in the pantry for any Unfortunates who came asking and any who asked for death would get it. It was the only kindness they could offer.

"Come on, Lilith," she said, "I am sure there is some steak in the fridge."

Philips would help the man as much as was possible and that was all there was to it.

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A few of us discovered that we all had supernatural themes for the AtoZ so we got together and did a mini list. If you also have a supernatural theme (ghosts, monsters, witches, spells etc), please feel free to add yourself to the list.

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