April 11, 2007 (wired news) -- Auction hounds are snapping up "vampire killing kits" and "vampire hunting kits" manufactured by a nineteenth century quack named Ernst Blomberg. The kits, which have been found in Australia and sold by at least two auction houses (including Southebys, reportedly for $12,000), include silver bullets, a wooden stake, holy water, and other important vampire-destroying items.

The lunatic inside my soul reaches out and touching you gently brings forth the blood from your multiple wounds.
Like a cat licking cream off its paw, I taste you and you are ever so sweet.
Like sin melting on the tongue, and the smell of jasmine in the air to cover the scent of you.
That powerful aphrodisiac that leaves me weak and wet.
The kaleidoscope of images from one single dream one single touch.
And I can feel you under my claws and the pain is so exquisite, I want to bleed with you.

The vampire has held its place in superstition as long as any other creature. The vampire of today is, for the most part, quite different from the one of ancient times. In researching the vampire lore, I attempted to find out just how different they are. I wondered what people thought of them now compared to yesteryear.

A conversation with P.N. Elrod, author of the cult-smash series, The Vampire Files. Get the inside story behind her new novel, A Chill in the Blood.

In the village of Blow, there was once a Shepherd, who died for unknown reasons. Several days after his burial, he took to reappearing in his village and tormenting the people there. Anyone on whom he visited would die within eight days. His case would be unremarkable, but for what happened next.