"Correct. What some might call my soul was preserved inside my animated corpse, and it is now fed exclusively by blood. Some feel this condition to be a curse." He did, once, too. "Others learn to appreciate the opportunity it provides."
When asked about heirs and that process, Erik see-saws his hand noncommittally. "Vampires can name an heir even if they did not sire it, but that is rarer. I will try to explain this simply. When a vampire turns another it is called siring. And that newly turned vampire becomes his responsibility for a set amount of time. The Sire must mentor his Childe in how to be a vampire. Must teach them our rules and customs. It is very much like being a parent. This is why choosing to turn someone must not be done lightly. For as long as they are under your tutelage, you become responsible for their actions.
"But, there comes a time when that vampire no longer needs a mentor. They may then go out into the world and find someplace for themself. They could join their sire's clan or another. They will always be obligated to heed their sire's call to come if they are needed, but that is saved for rare emergencies. They are otherwise free to do what they wish with themselves.
"As for me, personally? I have named my right hand, and the only vampire I have ever personally sired, Josiah, as my heir. He is the one I trust most. I have no desire to sire any other vampires for myself. Josiah was a unique case. I chose, instead, to adopt other orphaned vampires abandoned by their true sires. I brought them up as my own and that was quite good enough for me."
no subject
When asked about heirs and that process, Erik see-saws his hand noncommittally. "Vampires can name an heir even if they did not sire it, but that is rarer. I will try to explain this simply. When a vampire turns another it is called siring. And that newly turned vampire becomes his responsibility for a set amount of time. The Sire must mentor his Childe in how to be a vampire. Must teach them our rules and customs. It is very much like being a parent. This is why choosing to turn someone must not be done lightly. For as long as they are under your tutelage, you become responsible for their actions.
"But, there comes a time when that vampire no longer needs a mentor. They may then go out into the world and find someplace for themself. They could join their sire's clan or another. They will always be obligated to heed their sire's call to come if they are needed, but that is saved for rare emergencies. They are otherwise free to do what they wish with themselves.
"As for me, personally? I have named my right hand, and the only vampire I have ever personally sired, Josiah, as my heir. He is the one I trust most. I have no desire to sire any other vampires for myself. Josiah was a unique case. I chose, instead, to adopt other orphaned vampires abandoned by their true sires. I brought them up as my own and that was quite good enough for me."