Blue Bloods

"Where once they were angels, they were now vampyres. Angels of fire and death. Soulless creatures bereft of light and love, with the immortal blue blood running in their veins."

—Keys to the Repository

The Blue Bloods are an ancient race of immortals who live in secret among humans. They are commonly referred to as vampires-Vampyres, though this is an oversimplified term. In reality, the Blue Bloods are fallen angels of Heaven, banished to Earth following Lucifer's rebellion and destined to live mortal lives for centuries in a cycle of reincarnation. They are beings of light, memory, and enormous strength, distinguished by their sangre azul—blue blood that courses through their veins and contains the memories of every life they have ever lived.

History

Fall From Paradise

The Blue Bloods were originally angels who sided with Lucifer in his war against Paradise. As punishment, they were cast down from their homeland to Earth, where they transformed into beings that could live off of human blood. The Archangel Gabrielle loved them too greatly for them to suffer, so she descended from Paradise to continue living as one of them. Her twin, the Archangel Michael, also loved her too much for her to be alone. Not wanting to be separated forever, he fell with her. This earned them both the title of the Uncorrupted, as well as some special abilities (such as Gabrielle's ability to bear new souls like Azazel and Schuyler, not just the reincarnated). They eventually came up with the Code of the Vampyres that all Blue Bloods follow to the present day.

Establishing Great Civilizations

The Blue Bloods were not just observers of human history; they were its builders. As immortal vampires descended from the Fallen Angels expelled from Heaven, the Blue Bloods set out to influence and direct the evolution of human civilization as a means of redemption. Gabrielle believed that one they could arise from their punishment and be granted access to paradise once more. Each vampire, or soul, reincarnated over the years, providing knowledge, leadership, and divine inspiration to the human race. These souls formed great households and dominating systems, laying the groundwork for early civilizations. Blue Bloods established themselves as monarchs, queens, philosophers, and priests over Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. Their mission was twofold: to elevate humanity and atone for their own fall. Their power, derived from the glom and transmitted by blood, enabled them to serve as both defenders and rulers. While many succeeded in cultivating excellence, others strayed, seeking power and control, laying the groundwork for internal discord.

The Roman Empire, and Lucifer's Imprisonment

The rise of the Roman Empire represented an important turning point in the Blue Bloods' long story. During this time, the vast schism among the Fallen became irreparable. The Silver Bloods, commanded by Lucifer Morningstar, sought domination rather than atonement, feeding on their blue blood and consuming souls to grow stronger. The Blue Bloods were shocked by this corruption and declared war on the Silver Bloods. The battle of Rome, fought under the veil of human history, resulted in a costly victory. Lucifer was eventually apprehended and imprisoned beneath the ground thanks to Gabrielle (The Uncorrupted) and Michael (The Pure). His captivity was sealed with ancient magic and bound by the Gates of Hell, guarded by a line of Gatekeepers sworn to keep the mortal world safe from his return. Although the evil was only restrained, not destroyed.

Partition of Covens

Following Lucifer's defeat and the collapse of the original coven, the remaining Blue Bloods met in secret to establish a new social and political order. They recognized that concentrating power made them vulnerable, so the vampires split into separate Houses and regional Covens scattered over the world. Each coven developed its own customs and hierarchy, but all adhered to the Code of the Vampires, a sacrosanct set of regulations created to prevent another civil war. The Conclave, a ruling body comprised of the eldest and most powerful vampires, was established to maintain coven unity and order.

The New York Coven rose to prominence, lead by Gabrielle and Michael respectively. Other covens arose across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The Venators, an elite group of vampire investigators and enforcers, were formed to defend the Code and hunt out any threats to their society, particularly rogue Silver Bloods who had survived the Fall.

The Final War

Despite generations of caution, the Silver Bloods were never completely exterminated. In secret, they bred, planned, and waited. Their reappearance was gradual and insidious, with secret killings, betrayal within the coven, and lost memories. By the twenty-first century, they had infiltrated even the highest ranks of vampire society. The Final War began when Lucifer's captivity weakened and his adherents attempted his resurrection. Schuyler Van Alen, Gabrielle's daughter, rose to prominence during the conflict, with Jack Force, Mimi Force, Kingsley Martin, and Bliss Llewellyn. Old loyalties were fractured; relationships were torn and recreated. The Gates of Hell were attacked, and several Gatekeepers were killed. This all led to one final battle to stop a stop to Lucifer and his army.

The fight eventually culminated in a battle over the Gate of Promise, where Schuyler fulfilled the Van Alen legacy by becoming its guardian. Lucifer was destroyed once more, but this time through decision, sacrifice, and love, rather than power. After the defeat of Lucifer, the gates of paradise opened once more. With Schuyler leading the way to ascension.

After

The Blue Bloods after a millennium, were finally free and were permitted back into paradise. Many blue bloods chose to go back to their original home of paradise. Although some blue bloods decided to stay on earth, becoming accustomed to human life. All this left the covens in chaos, with many of the most powerful blue bloods gone. There was no one to lead this new generation of blue bloods. This permitted Oliver Hazard-Perry to be given the gift of immortality. He tasked himself to rebuild the fallen covens, and reestablish the power and stronghold covens once had.

Physiology and abilities

It never mattered what she ate -- she could live on chocolate cakes and French fries and she never seemed to gain an ounce. She'd been that way since she was a kid. Oliver always used to marvel at her capacity. "You should be as big as a house," he liked to say.

— Blue Bloods and weight management.

Although they resemble ordinary, but beautiful, humans, the Blue Bloods, are fallen angels and supernatural. They possess a wide variety of supernatural abilities. Unlike human blood, which sometimes appears blue in the body but is actually red, the blood of the Blue Bloods is always blue. Their blood is also alive; as in they hold the memories of their previous lives. During the Sunset Years, the blood will slowly start to show them visions of said past lives so that the Blue Blood can shed their mortal skin for a vampire one. In addition to it being blue when removed from their bodies, it also completely evaporates as a way to prevent humans from tracking their DNA and discovering their secret. It is implied that their blood contains their spirit, as it contains their memories, knowledge, and is the only thing left after dying.

Blue Bloods possess supernatural abilities:

Enhanced physical abilities

• Celerity, or Velox - Vampyres are gifted with a high velocity, being able to go from a place to another located miles away in a few minutes, or to read a book in a few seconds, and that without being noticed by the human eye or be able to be photographed.

• Healing factor - they have a fast healing. This has it's limitations, when a blue blood has not had human blood in a long time, their healing factor deceases. They are also immune to most diseases.
• Enhanced strength - Vampyres are able to lift objects that are a lot heavier than they themselves are.
• Heightened senses - Sight, smell, hearing, and touch are all enhanced beyond human capability. They can track people by scent, hear conversations through walls, and see in total darkness. They can also see fellow blue bloods in the dark as well.
• Metabolism - they eliminate food and alcohol much faster than a human body could.
  • Immunity to Toxins and Alcohol - They are able to filter alcohol out of their bodies much faster than a human, preventing a drunken state.
  • Obesity resistance - They are very good at eliminating excess food from their bodies, even pre-Sunset Years. It is unknown whether they could become obese due to disorders.

Mental abilities

• Glamour - Many vampires have the ability to disguise their appearance to make themselves look younger.
• Telepathy - Can speak mind-to-mind with other vampires or manipulate thoughts of weaker minds.
• Memory Projection and preservation - Vampires have a photographic memory, this is a main trait of theirs since they can recall old lives and memories. This can help a vampire quickly study or learn new information. They can also project their memories onto someone else, this was seen with Jack projecting an old memory of Gabrielle into Schuyler's head, thinking this was a memory they shared together.
• Mind control - Strong blue bloods can compel humans and even weaker vampires to act any way the blue blood wants.

• Shapeshifting, or Mutatio - Some blue bloods are capable of shapeshifting into different animals or something different elements such as fog. Some blue bloods can also master this talent and take the form of another person.
• The Glom - The glom is a astral place where vampires can meet, travel, fight, and send messages through. They can use the glom to access old memories or conduct magical rituals.

Weaknesses

• Full consumption: If they are drained of all blood by another vampire, they will be permanently deceased. Their spirit will reside in the Silver Blood who consumed them.
• Death by Burning: By burning a Blue Blood's blood in heavenly fire, it is permanently destroyed, killing them.

Enmortals

Some vampyres don't go through Expression, Expulsion, and Evolution. Instead, they live indefinitely until finished, but can't reincarnate. They aren't Expelled after a century. Enmortals require special permission from the Conclave.

Non-Enmortals

Most Vampyres choose to Express, usually with each Expression lasting for about a century. Then, they are Expelled, so only a single drop remains of their blood. As their blood is living, it is implanted into a Vampyre after a period--called Evolution--and the reincarnated vampyre loses their past cycle memory, resembling a Red Blood, for the first fifteen years of their Expression. During the Sunset Years (years 15-21), their body switches to needing blood and coming into their full power.

Dimidium Cognatus (half-human, half-vampire)

Schuyler Van Alen is the only one of her kind. She is referred to as a "half-blood" a person born with blue and red blood. Her mother, Allegra is a blue blood while her father, Stephen is a red blood. Half-blood's are a naturally born being, they have no past lives. While blue bloods are not known to naturally reproduce as a punishment. This does not affect Allegra, who is Gabrielle, the Uncorrupted. Since she chose to come down and become a blue blood, the punishments given to blue bloods do not include her. She is capable of reproducing and creating new life. During the sunset years, where vampires are going their transformation and gaining control their memories and powers. Schuyler found it difficult to tap into her powers, she sometimes has heights where she can powers not many her age are capable of doing. While other's she can not perform a simple glom out of tiredness and often faint's. It is explained this is do to her mixed heritage. Her red blood cells are fighting against her blue cells. Making her transformation very unstable. It is unclear if half-bloods are also capable of creating new life, and if their able to store their blood for another cycle.

Cycle of immortality

In the Blue Bloods universe, vampires are not undead entities risen from the dead, but rather immortal spirits—fallen angels—who reincarnate into human form via the Cycle of Immortality, a tightly regulated and magical procedure. This tri-phase cycle allows the Blue Bloods to maintain their celestial essence while remaining within the earthbound realm.

This sacred process is divided into three stages:

Expression: The Awakening of the Spirit

The Expression represents the start of a vampire's existence in the human world. The Conclave selects and prepares a Blue Blood spirit for implantation into a human embryo, which is then overseen by the House of Records. The child is born and grows up to appear normal—attending school, developing relationships, and living in the human realm—but is constantly kept under the Coven's watchful eye. The vampire spirit remains latent until the host reaches puberty, which normally occurs around the age of fifteen. At this point, the spirit starts to "express" itself. The host suffers physical and metaphysical alterations, including the appearance of sangre azul (blue blood) on the arms and the resurfacing of memories from previous incarnations.

Expression isn't always smooth. The process is intense and can be unstable, particularly in mixed-bloods or young vampires who have not prepared for the awakening. Wardens, Mentors, and Conduits—humans charged with protecting and managing the vampire's development—must guide new vampires.

Expulsion: Death of the Shell

Expulsion is the second step, in which the vampire's mortal body dies, or the vampire's mission in this cycle is "finished". Unlike humans, Blue Bloods experience death as a transition rather than an end. The bodily form, known as the shell, is simply a vessel for the immortal spirit. Following death, the vampire's essence exits the shell and enters a state of preservation via a carefully managed magical procedure. Some vampires choose to become enmortal, where the physical shell never dies. This can only be granted by the Conclave under specific circumstances. The Conclave can also extend the life of the blue blood and their physical shell for the cycle. As seen with Cordelia Van Alen, who was allowed extended time with her physical shell to prepare her to foster the souls of Gabrielle and Michael.

Before dying, a portion of the vampire's blood is collected and placed in the Repository of History, where the Blue Blood's memories and spirit are encoded. These blood repositories function as both archives and resurrection instruments, assuring that the soul can one day reincarnate in a new cycle. It is vital that this stage takes place under monitoring. If a Blue Blood dies without proper ceremonies, or is consumed by a Silver Blood, their essence may be lost for good.

Evolution: Reincarnation and Return

The final stage, Evolution, involves the Blue Blood's rebirth into a new body. When the time comes—often decades or centuries later—the vampire is resurrected by transferring their preserved blood to a fresh human embryo. The child is born new, carrying the entire genealogy of their celestial essence. When the vampire expresses oneself in the new life, they regains access to their past-life memories, talents, and abilities. This makes older Blue Bloods extremely smart and powerful, as they have accumulated knowledge and experience over millennia.

Reincarnation is not arbitrary. The House of Records closely monitors each spirit's cycle, determining when and where the soul will return. Some Blue Bloods are Enmortals, such as Lawrence Van Alen (Metraton), who survive beyond the normal cycle, never dying unless destroyed by severe force.

Lifestyle

Relationships towards other species

Humans - Blue Bloods maintain a complex, asymmetrical, and ethically regulated relationships with humans, As fallen angels cursed to survive on human blood, Blue Bloods depend on humans for sustenance, companionship, and connection to the mortal world. However, strict laws in The Code of the Vampires, govern all interactions between the two species in order to prevent abuse, exposure, and moral corruption. Although there are laws to protect humans, they are still subject to serve emotional consequences. Blue Bloods that drink from humans are immediately linked through the scared kiss. This process links Blue Bloods and humans forever, making them human familiars. Humans are romantically and mentally linked to the vampire that bite them. This can leave long-term psychological damage for the human. Blue Bloods are expected to keep their human familiars for long periods of time and act on the romantic side of their relationship to lessen the mental toll.

Wolves - Wolves occupy a unique position in the Blue Blood universe. Wolves were made in Hell by Lucifer, tamed and controlled by collars right from birth. Lucifer used them in the Great War of Rome. Their alliance was short lived as the wolves quickly fought along the Blue Bloods and helped defeat Lucifer. After the war, the Conclave decided wolves were to dangerous to be on Earth, since their presence risked exposing the supernatural world. They were deemed Hell's problem and were put back in Hell when the gates closed. This created a big stain in the two species relationship. Wolves were subject to Lucifers cruelty and were forced to help him plan his next great attack on the Blue Bloods. This went on for 100s of years. Their relationship was finally fixed when Bliss Llewellyn went to Hell and freed the wolves for their aid in the battle against Lucifer once more. The two species relationships was at peace. Multiple wolves joined the Venators team after the war and continue to fight along the Blue Bloods.

List of known Vampires

Archangels

• Michael, Pure of Heart, the Valiant, Prince of the Angels, Supreme Commander of the Lord's Armies, Archangel of the Light. Known as Charles Force in the current cycle, and Uncorrupted.
• Gabrielle, the Uncorrupted, the Virtuous, the Messenger, Archangel of the Light. Known as Allegra Van Alen in the current cycle, and Uncorrupted.
• Raphael of the Muses - known as Mahrus Abdelmassih

Former Archangel(s)

• Lucifer, the Morningstar, Lightbringer, Prince of Heaven, Prince of Darkness, Archangel of the Dawn

Angels

• Abbadon, Angel of Destruction, Twin Angel of the Apocalypse, the Unlikely, Destroyer of Worlds - known as Jack Force
• Azrael, Angel of Death, Twin Angel of the Apocalypse - known as Mimi Force
• Metraton, Heavenly Scribe - known as Lawrence Van Alen (enmortal)
• Seraphiel, Angel of Song - Cordelia Van Alen
• Xathaneal, the Hidden One - known as Dylan Ward
• Azazel, the Darkling, Lupus Theliel, Angel of Love, Wolfsbane - known as Bliss Llewellyn (born from Gabrielle and Lucifer after their descent)
• Araquiel, Angel of Vengeance, the Angel with Two Faces - known as Kingsley Martin (enmortal)
• Pistis Sophia, Elder of Elders, the Watcher - known as Jordan Llewellyn/Jane Murray (has perfect memory, no Sunset Years, can transfer host bodies without Evolution rest state)
• Kuan Yin, Angel of Mercy - known as Deming Chen
• Xi Wangmu, Angel of Immortality - known as Dehua Chen
• Rujiel and Ruhuel, the Angels of the West Wind - known as the Sam and Ted Lennox
• Sandalphon, the Angel of Silence - known as Trinity Force
• Schuyler Van Alen, Dimidium Cognatus, Half Blood
• Halcyon, Guardian of the Gate of Promise - known as Catherine of Siena
• Octilla, Guardian of the Gate of Sorrow
• Onbasius, Guardian of the Gate of Justice

Others

• Victoria Taylor
• Piper Crandall
• Augusta "Aggie" Carondolet
• Cushing Carondolet
• Sloane Carondolet
• Cicely Applegate
• Bryce Cutting
• James "Jamie" Kip
• Lucy Forbes
• Willow Frost
• Natalie Getty
• Lissy Harris
• Susan "Soos" Kemble
• Francis "Froggie" Kernochan
• Rufus King
• Bozeman "Booze" Langdon
• Blair McMillan
• Bennet Robinson
• Katie Sheridan
• Grayson St. James
• Carter Tuckerman
• Stella Van Rensslaer
• Charlie Bank
• Honor Leslie
• Wesley McCall
• Landon Schlessinger
• Eliza Dupont
• Priscilla Dupont
• Yana Riberio
• Margaret St. James
• Toby Abeville
• Daisy Van Horn
• Dashiell Van Horn
• Summer Amory
• Don Alfonso "Alfie" Almeida (corrupted)
• Doña Beatrice Almeida (corrupted)
• Muriel "Muffie" Astor Carter
• Sheldon Carter
• Josiah Rockefeller Archibald
• Ambrose Barlow
• Margery Barlow
• Don Alejandro Castañeda
• Danielle Russell
• Seymour Corrigan
• Henri of Orleans
• Jonas Jones
• Minerva Morgan
• Dorothea Rockefeller
• Esme Schlumberger
• Brooks Stewart
• Abe Tompkins
• Alice Whitney

Dictionary of Terms

• Abomination: Silver Bloods are called Abominations because they are vampires who have sucked the blood of their own kind and consumed their spirit. They carry the tortured souls of their victims in one body.
• Absed Abysso: “Go back to Hell.” A command to a banish a Silver Blood back to its rightful home.
• Adventurers Club: An elite Blue Blood organization founded in the early eighteenth century as a meeting place for like-minded globe-trotters eager to document and share their research and theories on natural and geographic phenomenon, located across from the Knickerbocker Club and Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue
• Advoco Adiuvo: An invocation that Schuyler uses, per Cordelia’s instructions, so Lawrence will recognize her in Venice
• Alienari: A common trick of the Silver Bloods, used to disguise themselves as someone else
• Altithronus: Audio recordings kept in the Repository of History
• Animadverto: The vampire ability of “intelligent sight,” or an immense and perfect photographic memory so powerful a vampire has the ability to read and remember entire libraries
• Aperio Oris: An incantation demanding that one reveal oneself
• Argento Croatus: Silver Blood
• Bal des Vampires: A party and congress held every other year by the European Coven. It was to be the party to end all parties at the Hôtel Lambert before it was given over to its new owners. The celebration was infiltrated by Silver Bloods hunting for Schuyler.
• Bivio: A crossroads; a primal source of strength and power
• Black Fire: The only thing that can destroy the sangre azul and kill an immortal vampire
• Black Spells: Spells pertaining to the Dark Matter
• Blade of Justice: Michael’s sword, one of only two archangels’ swords in the world, the other being Gabrielle’s. Only an archangel’s sword can kill another archangel.
• Blood Bond: The holy matrimony and immortal bond between two vampires whose souls were twinned in Heaven. Occasionally vampire twins are born as siblings in the human world. Bondmates are obligated to renew their vows in every cycle with a ceremony, usually in their twenty-first year, when they have come into their memories and powers and can recognize their spouse in his or her new physical shell. All it takes is for the couple to exchange the vow “I give myself to you” to become irrevocably one for that cycle. Only one couple in Blue Blood history has broken this bond—when Gabrielle forsook Michael for her human familiar. After the bond, the vampires are stronger, but if the bond is broken, the betrayed vampire may bring the other to a blood trial, to face a sentence of death.
• Blood-lock: The most powerful security system in the Blue Blood arsenal; it only opens for the blood of an angel
• Blood Manifest (Transformation): The process in which a vampire’s blue blood cells, their vampire DNA, starts to take over, typically around age fifteen. The fangs grow in, the body switches from needing nourishment from food to needing nourishment from human blood, memories of previous cycles start to come back, and specific powers begin to manifest. The process can make the young vampire weak, and may include memory shock, dizziness, and sickness.
• Blood Marks: The blue marks that appear on the arms of young vampires during their Transformation. They look like a sapphire light shining through the skin. The marks are a map of the vampire’s personal histories—the sangre azul asserting itself.
• Blood Trial: The process in which the most serious offenses against the Code of the Vampires are resolved. It requires the blood and memories of the accused to be consumed in order to tell true memory from false. The trial can only be performed by Gabrielle, as one of the highest-ranking Venators. Schuyler inherited her mother’s gift. The Blood Trial involves a great risk of temptation for the one who performs it. If the accused is found guilty, the offender’s blood will be burned in complete destruction.
• Blue Bloods: Vampires: fallen angels doomed to live their eternal lives on Earth. They have superhuman speed, hyperintelligence, a photographic memory, and heightened senses. They live by the Code of the Vampires, which is a pledge to bring peace and beauty to the world. They do not abuse their human familiars or feed on their own kind.
• Book of Laws: The Blue Blood record of all investigations, judgments, and punishments
• Breath of God: The ability of any Blue Blood to bring light to the tunnels of Lutetia with a wave of the hand above a torch
• Burning: The burning the blood of a vampire, thus destroying the immortal blood and all its memories
• The Call: The hypnotizing seduction a vampire can use to call a human to him or her for the Caerimonia Osculor
• Caerimonia Osculor (the Sacred Kiss): The regulated ritual of feeding on a human familiar’s blood. There are stringent rules, as no human is ever to be abused or fully drained. The Code of the Vampires forbids performing the kiss on another vampire. The Sacred Kiss marks a human as the vampire’s own—they will always be bonded.
• Candidus Suffragium (the White Vote): A vote for the leadership of the Coven; it must be unanimous. The White Vote should only be called if a Conclave member feels that the Regis is not leading the Coven properly. It has been called in America only three times: in Plymouth, after Roanoke, when John Carver attempted to unseat Myles Standish; in New York, after the Silver Blood was called to the Repository, and Lawrence van Alen replaced Charles Force; and by Forsyth Llewellyn, after Paris, where Mimi Force prevented a unanimous vote.
• The Code of the Vampires (the Code, or the Blue Blood Code): A stringent rule of ethics, not unlike the Ten Commandments. The Blue Bloods hope the Code will help bring about their eventual return to Paradise. It states that humans are not to be dominated or toyed with, but to be respected, so that the Blue Bloods will bring light and harmony and peace to this world.
• Compulsion: A seed of an idea that can be placed by a vampire using the glom
• The Conclave of Elders (the Conclave): The Coven’s highest leadership. The Conclave makes decisions for the future of the race.
• Conduit: A Blue Blood’s human assistant and caretaker who helps him (or her) navigate the human world and keep the Blue Blood existence a secret. A position of exalted servitude, many Conduit families serve their Blue Blood families for hundreds of years as doctors, lawyers, accountants, financiers, and even best friends. Every member of a vampire family is assigned a Conduit at birth, but many have let go of their Conduits in recent years. If a vampire expires, a Conduit is given two choices: work in the Repository, or have his or her memory erased.
• The Conspiracy: A subset of the Committee, dedicated to keeping the existence of the Blue Bloods a secret from the Red Bloods by spreading false information and legends. Many of the myths are rooted in truth.
• Consummo Alienari: The little known fifth factor of the glom. It allows complete control over another’s mind, subsuming the other’s will. For Red Bloods it means instant death; for vampires irrevocable paralysis.
• Contineo: A spell that holds a ward in place
• Corruption: The process by which a Blue Blood becomes a Silver Blood. By marking a Blue Blood vampire with the Sacred Kiss, the Silver Blood poisons the sangre azul, turning the Blue Blood into a monster like itself. It is not an immediate transformation however, and the poisoning is dependent on the amount of blood drawn from the victim. The process can be reversed, or stopped with adequate intervention. The Corruption is complete once the infected Blue Blood takes a fellow Blue Blood vampire to Full Consumption, taking another immortal spirit into its own consciousness.
• Coven: A group of vampires living in an area and registered with the Blue Blood community (ex: the New York Coven, the European Coven)
• Croatan: An ancient name for the Silver Bloods, meaning “Abomination”
• Cycle of Expression: What vampires call the length of their lifetimes. After approximately one hundred years, the physical shell expires, leaving only a single drop of blue blood, which will be implanted in a vampire woman when it is time to call up the spirit for another cycle. Between cycles the vampire rests, evolving, until his or her next Expression. The closely monitored cycles are key to the Blue Bloods’ continued invisibility to the world.
• Dimidium Cognatus: A being who is half human, half vampire. Unlike the other Blue Bloods, this is a new spirit without a past. The only example in current history is Schuyler Van Alen.
• Dissipation: Another term for Full Consumption
• Dormi: A spell to put someone instantly to sleep
• Elder: The title of Elder is given to a Blue Blood who has served the Committee well for many cycles. This title is usually given upon the one hundredth Cycle of Expression.
• Emeritus Member: A Conclave member who has retired. Many were called back to duty after the Rio massacre.
• Enmortal: Vampires who choose not to rest and keep the same physical shell over many centuries. They are exempt from the reincarnation cycles; they also do not require the proximity of other vampires in order to live. Some Elders are Enmortals, but it requires a special dispensation from the Conclave.
• Eversor Lumen (Light-Destroyer): Azrael’s sword, which she receives at every bonding to Abbadon. To be used only in direst need, to be kept hidden from foes, and to strike to kill.
• Eversor Orbis (World-Breaker): Abbadon’s sword, received at every bonding to Azrael. To be used only in direst need, to be kept hidden from foes, and to strike to kill. Unlike the archangels’ swords, which are a bright white flame, this sword is dark gray and edged with silver, with terrifying black marks. It looks more like a primitive ax than a sword.
• Evolution: The passive resting stage of the vampire’s life, while the spirit awaits its next incarnation. The foremost mission of the vampire race is to evolve to a point where God can forgive them and welcome them back into Heaven.
• Expulsion: What the vampires call their experience of “death.” The expulsion of the spirit from the physical world.
• Facio Valiturus Fortis: A blessing meaning, “Be strong and brave”
• The Four Hundred: According to the Code of the Vampires, only four hundred vampires from each coven are allowed to express at one time. There was some confusion in Blue Bloods: Repository Records #101, which incorrectly stated that there are only Four Hundred vampires in the world. This is wrong and a clerical mistake on the part of overworked Repository scribes.
• Four Hundred Ball: Known as the Patrician Ball in the nineteenth century: the vampire-only, multimillion-dollar party of the year. A tradition that reaches back centuries, where new Committee members are presented to Blue Blood society. An event that celebrates status, beauty, power, money, and blood—Blue Blood.
• Frango: A counterspell that breaks a ward on a place
• Full Consumption: When a human or vampire is drained of all of his or her blood through the Sacred Kiss. To do this to a human is the biggest taboo of the Code of the Vampires; to do it to another vampire is Abomination.
• The Gates of Hell: The seven gates forged by the Blue Blood Order of the Seven to secure the Paths of the Dead. They are meant to keep Lucifer and the Silver Blood demons imprisoned in the underworld. Their physical manifestation in the glom appears to be twelve feet wide and forged into the crust of the earth, but the true barrier is the spirit and protection of Michael.
• The Glom: The vampires use the word “glom” to describe two things: a direct line of consciousness that can be used for vampires to commune with one another, or to control the minds of other humans or vampires. It also describes the twilight netherworld that vampires can access—an alternative plane in the universe. There are five factors to the glom: 1) Telepathy, the ability to read minds, 2) Suggestion, the ability to plant a seed of an idea in another mind (it must be done subtly, so the other believes it’s his or her own), 3) Compulsion, the ability to issue a direct order to another’s mind, 4) Suppression, the ability to overcome the will of another, and 5) Consummo Alienari, the little-known fifth factor, allows complete control over another’s mind, but is highly dangerous.
• Hibernation: A prolonged sleep that vampires enter at the end of a cycle, when they are weary of immortality
• Human Familiar: These are the “lovers, friends, and vessels” on whom vampires feed and rely. According to the Code of the Vampires, familiars are never to be abused, and under no circumstances fully drained; they are to be treated with affection and care for the service they provide, as once taken as a familiar, the human will always feel a special bond with the vampire.
• Illuminata: The vampire gift of glowing in the dark, which makes them recognizable to one another
• Incantation Demonata: The spell to call a Silver Blood Infractio: “A breaking.” Lawrence uses it to describe what he fears has happened in Corcovado.
• Inquisitor: The official prosecutor in a Committee investigation
• Intersection: A part of the glom where Silver Bloods can enter but never leave. A limbo between worlds, hidden in the tunnels of Lutetia.
• Lucifer’s Bane (a.k.a. the Rose of Lucifer): A giant emerald necklace that Forsyth Llewellyn gave to Bliss. It is supposedly made of a stone that fell from Lucifer’s crown when he fell from Heaven. Also known as the Holy Grail, Bliss wore it continually until the day of Mimi’s bonding ceremony to Jack, when she ripped it off, rejecting any more association with her father.
• Lutetia: The ancient Gallic city under what is present-day Paris, it was built by Blue Blood Romans as a massive underground network of tunnels. It is also the location of one of the seven Paths of the Dead and a Gate of Hell. The tunnels are like a maze, enchanted against the animadverto, where a vampire could be lost forever. The center is under the Eiffel Tower, where all tunnels eventually lead. There are seven corridors radiating from the center, representing the seven ruling houses of the Blue Bloods. When Gemellus moved the Gate of Time, he left an intersection there
• Mark of Lucifer: A five-pointed star on the neck of a vampire who has been Corrupted by a Silver Blood. It looks like a burn or a cattle brand.
• Mark of the Archangel: A mark on the wrist of the Uncorrupted archangels, in the shape of a sword piercing clouds, identifying the archangels as children of the Light. It cannot be duplicated or falsified.
• Materia Acerbus (Dark Matter): That from which the Silver Bloods come. The opposite of the White. Also the name of a book of black spells in the Repository.
• Modo Caecus: A blinding spell that makes humans forget what they’ve seen
• Mutatio: The vampire ability to change into the elements of fire, water, or air, including smoke and fog
• Mutatus: The shape a vampire shifts into
• Obsido: An obstruction brought about as a ward
• Occludo: Closing your mind to external influence in order to resist the glom
• The Order of the Seven: The seven guardians of the Gates of Hell, chosen during the Crisis in Rome and composed of the seven original ruling Blue Blood families. The gatekeepers scattered far and wide and are now unknown to one another and the Conclave leadership for their own protection.
• Palaver: A conversation between those of different status: angel vs. demon. Bliss demands a palaver of the demon in her dreams.
• Passive State: The resting state vampires enter between cycles. Also called Evolution.
• Paths of the Dead: The only remaining passageways between Earth and the underworld, they are now secured by the Gates of Hell, forged by the Blue Bloods at Michael’s command after the battle in Rome. In the glom they look like paths of molten lava, hissing with steam.