Welcome to my series of posts aimed at avid fans of Blackthorn who want a little extra insight. This one is NOT for the squeamish! You have been warned!

FANGS AND FEEDING – Part 2

Blackthorn vampires do not bite to kill – they bite to feed. I’ll keep emphasizing that this is what they claim. They don’t need to kill because they don’t need copious amounts of blood at any one time. Small and regular doses are sufficient. In fact, Blackthorn vampires are at just as much risk during the feeding process as their human ‘feeder’ if they can’t control themselves properly.

How much is enough? 

A human can loose up to 15% of their total blood volume and still recover fairly quickly with little side effects. For example, up to 13% (about a pint) is the amount most people would give during a regular blood donation. This takes about 10-15 mins and, as long as the donor maintains a stable blood pressure (a steady taking of blood and being horizontal helps), there is no change in vital signs, nor is fluid resuscitation necessary. The donor may get a little light-headed but as long as they rest for a short while, they can continue with their daily activity soon after. As a rule, Blackthorn vampires follow the same principles – not just in terms of the volume they consume, but also the rate, force and position of the feed.

How much is too much?           

• Lose between 15-30% and the person will develop some elevation in heart rate and their blood pressure will start to drop. Their skin will begin to look pale and extremities will be cool to the touch. They might start to hyperventilate. Blood transfusion is still not typically needed though.
• Lose 30-40% of circulating blood volume and the person’s blood pressure will drop, their heart rate will increase, they’ll turn pale and will start to go into shock. A transfusion will be necessary.
• Lose more than 40% and it is life threatening. Vital organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys are already failing. At this point, 50% of humans would die within 15 minutes.

Why they stop

Consuming dying blood makes Blackthorn vampires extremely ill. Those who have read the opening chapters of Blood Roses will already know about this. And if they don’t pull back before 40% consumption, they may as well kill their victim regardless because, even if their feeder does survive, the damage will be extensive. Feed any further, and it’s not just the victim who potentially dies. Over-feeding is a serious, prosecutable offence in Blackthorn.

It’s all about self-control

Subsequently, Blackthorn vampires learn how to control themselves quickly. The proficient ones, in particular, are very attuned into their feeder. They tend to feed slowly to maintain a steady blood pressure, will often have their feeders lying down and can also anaesthetise before feeding to reduce the shock of the pain. As well as knowing how much to take, they monitor constantly – seeking indicators such as level of consciousness, physical activity and the temperature of the body to know when they’re going too far.

Oh, but if you’re fed on by a master vampire like Kane, you’ve got all that energy drain to take into account too! He has to be a very proficient feeder indeed.

Keeping romance alive

I don’t want to lose sight of what Blackthorn is about though. It is a work of romantic fiction, not horror and certainly isn’t a post out of a medical journal. The feed is more about the intimacy of the act, as Kane tells Caitlin. It is a sensuous exchange of trust, conviction or sometimes power.

Reality bites

But this is dark paranormal romance. And it is Blackthorn. I’ve painted an image of controlled vampires who know how to behave. However, there are those who overstep the line without compassion for their ‘victim’. They can also be cruel – biting hard, feeding too fast or dropping the feeder’s body temperature to make the blood extraction a more painful experience. Don’t let me paint my vampires as civilised – they have every potential not to be. Which leads us nicely on to the next post…

Next week, as the posts start to draw to a close, I’ll share the regulations that the Global Council put in place, giving you more insight into the locale where Blackthorn is situated.

Disclaimer… In this day and age, I guess I have to put this: I am in no way a medical expert. All figures are approximate and individual cases vary. Although the information is based on medical fact, I have shared this in relation to a creative work of fantasy fiction. No blood loss can be deemed ‘safe’ and I do not advocate any practices involving blood loss or blood sharing. So, please don’t sue me and take my house because I like writing here and will miss the squirrels. Oh, and my husband will be very cross with me. :-0