Strength of a Vampire

The vampire Rix still searches for a safe place.

"Strength of a Vampire" picks up where "Being a Vampire" left off, with Rix once again in search of housing. His desperation for a safe haven leads him to a chaotic house filled with other vampires. Though Rix has always preferred independence, he forms unexpected bonds with the young vampires who share the house, each with their own struggles and stories. Among them, he finds a semblance of family.

Rix learns to respect the house leader, Bryer, who manages the unruly group with a firm but fair hand. Her leadership is tested as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, making it increasingly difficult for the vampires to find sustenance and heightening tensions within the house.

As the summer of 2020 erupts into bedlam with nightly protests, the chaos offers an unexpected benefit for Rix-a perpetually full belly. Amid the crowds and the teargas, the protests become both a feeding ground and a backdrop for introspection. Rix begins to see the parallels between the human struggle for justice and his own quest for survival.

In the midst of this upheaval, Rix encounters a surprising ally-Maggie, the nurse from whom he rented a room until he confessed to being a vampire. Having had time to reconsider her stance, Maggie decides to reconcile with Rix. Their reunion rekindles the flicker of romance from book one, blossoming into a deeper connection, although Rix remains conflicted about the complexities of a vampire/human relationship.

Just as things seem to be stabilizing, tragedy strikes. In the aftermath, Rix is forced to make a heartbreaking decision about how to protect Maggie from the chaos.

"Strength of a Vampire" is a tale of resilience, unexpected friendships, and the search for belonging in a world turned upside down. It explores themes of independence, leadership, and the power of unity in the face of adversity. For Rix, the path to finding his place in this new reality is fraught with challenges, but it is also filled with the potential for growth and redemption.

Genres: slice of life / dark literary / new weird.