"But first, on earth as vampire sent,
Thy corse shall from its tomb be rent,
Then ghastly haunt thy native place,
And suck the blood of all thy race.

There from thy daughter, sister, wife,
At midnight drain the stream of life,
Yet loathe the banquet which perforce
Must feed thy livid living corse.

Thy victims ere they yet expire
Shall know the demon for their sire,
As cursing thee, thou cursing them,
Thy flowers are withered on the stem."
— Lord Byron

"I never knew what life was until it ran out in a red gush over my lips, my hands!"
— Anne Rice

"I am neither good, nor bad, neither angel nor devil, I am a man, I am a vampire."
— Michael Romkey