Vampire

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Vampires are monsters in legends and stories. The first vampire legends were told in Eastern Europe, but much of how modern people see vampires was created by Bram Stoker in the famous novel, Dracula. Few people believe that vampires are real, but they are still very popular in movies, television, and books.

Vampires were once people but have a supernatural curse. Vampires must drink human blood to survive. They do this by biting people on the neck with their two long fangs. People who are killed by having all of their blood drank by vampires also become vampires. In many stories, vampires can change into other animals, usually bats, though also wolves or rats.

Vampires can only be killed in certain ways. They must avoid direct sunlight or they burst into flames, and so they usually will sleep during the day and hunt people at night. Otherwise, Vampires can only be killed by a wooden stake stabbed through their heart, or by having their heads cut off. There is no other way to harm them, and as long as vampires avoid these things and continue to drink blood, they will live forever. Garlic, crosses and holy water can also keep vampires away though these things will not kill them.

[edit] Vampires in fiction

Dracula is the most famous vampire in fiction, and several movies have been made about him. There is also a popular series of books by Anne Rice about vampires. The television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer featured a young girl who fought vampires, but also befriended good ones.