From: alberich@iglou.com (Mark Kinney)

DHAMPIR

Chapter One
The Letter

Dearest son,

Now that you are of age, you can finally know what you are and why I was 
forced to leave you so long ago. I write this hoping that I will return, and 
yet I know I won't, and thus hope that your uncle will take care of you, and 
that he has been able to deal with the feelings I know will have been 
racking your soul.

I met your father nearly twenty years ago at an arts festival. I was young 
and impressionable, and his very presence just seemed to reach out and 
grab me. We stayed up until almost dawn discussing our interests in what 
we had seen, and although he was in a rush to leave, we did exchange 
phone numbers and I was able to get back together with him. After I had 
been seeing him for several months, I realized I was with child -- you, my
 son. It was when I went to tell him that I found out his secret.

I hesitate to tell you this, for I fear you will not believe me, but not only is 
it true, it is imperative that you know. I walked in on him and 
another...victim, I suppose is the proper word. He looked up at me, the 
blood still on his chin.

I couldn't think. I just ran. He came after me, and I was only able to get 
away thanks to a policeman who happened by then. He had to deal with the 
cop, and that gave me time, for otherwise he would surely have run me 
down, and who knows what would have happened after that.

Your uncle, my brother Algernon, was the only one who believed my story. 
He has always dabbled in such things, and helped me to learn what I know 
about all this through some contacts in what he simply called "The Order", 
and now I pass it on to you.

You are a dhampir; the offspring of a mortal woman and a vampire father. 
Most of the Order's research claimed that vampires cannot procreate 
biologically, but enchantments do exist, whether spells or potions of some 
sort, that allow the vampire to temporarily become human. It is rare, but 
occasionally a child can result from a rendezvous during that time. Nature, 
however, does not ignore the fact that he is still a vampire.

As such, you are able to use their abilities; Algernon says your father was 
probably of a group of vampires known as the Toreador, and typical of 
their abilities is quick movement, enhanced senses, and unnatural charisma 
such as what attracted me to him. Also, if I have not finished the job, you 
will know your father instinctively if you meet him, as you will know other 
of the undead if you develop that ability.

All of this is not without a price. These abilities are mostly powered by the 
blood consumed by the vampire, and it is also so with the dhampir. There 
are some documented cases where the dhampir was able to use sheer force 
of will to activate the abilities, but they are rare.  I hope that you have not 
tasted anothers blood; you should have no reason to, but Algernon has 
showed me that coincidence is nothing to be taken lightly.  If so, you will 
develop a hunger for blood, becoming more like your father in that regard.

You will also notice the dreams you are beginning to have, featuring 
probably a thin, red-haired man. This man is your father, and not only will 
your dreams bring you closer to him, you will find yourself drawn to find 
him. The Order doesn't know why, but apparently it is nature's way of 
revenge against the dead's rape of the living: in every case on record, the 
dhampir have risen up to destroy their fathers.

That is why I have left: to spare you that torment, for I am going to try to 
destroy him myself. If I live and have destroyed him, there will be no need 
for this letter; if you read it, you know that I have failed, and may be in 
great danger yourself. If you do go on a hunt of your own, listen to what 
Algernon tells you; apparently there are those that will help you, but your 
nature may make you a target yourself. Also, keep in mind that where one 
vampire is found, you can usually count on there being more.

Farewell, and always remember I loved you.

Eliza Donnely