The Vampire Diaires ~Teasers~ Season 2

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Now, I am SO ready for December 2nd's new episode!!! I've decided to include some quotes from the show's producers and even some tasty tidbits from some of the actors on the show...

Julie Plec recently revealed a tidbit about Caroline and Tyler “"They’re gonna go through hell and back with each other." Sounds to me like the road for Caroline and Tyler is going to be a bit bumpy, but I think these two will come out just fine since they're both really strong characters.

Candace Accola commented on where Caroline and Tyler stand: “I think it's a beautiful parallel for both of these characters that are kind of embarking on this new part of their lives in such an extreme supernatural way.” I think this will cement the bond already forming between the two characters, although I'm really curious as to where Matt will end up in this triangle.

Of course, we’re going to have a mid-season cliff hanger… Producer Julie Plec says that “the cliffhanger will center around Tyler's transformation, and he won’t be the only werewolf in Mystic Falls by the time we get into the New Year.” I think the addition of a new werewolf, specifically a female werewolf, will stir things up with Damon. At least that what some of the preview photos revealed...

Plec also reveals that the role of Michaela McManus, who comes on board December 9, will portray Jules, a friend of Mason's from Florida. It seems that Jules will "cause all kinds of trouble."

Hope this has gotten you all vamped up for the December 2nd show of TVD.

The Vampire Diaries ~ Season 2 Recap ~ Episode 1-5

So I was hard core disappointed when I flipped on my DVR to watch The Vampire Diaries, only to find it wasn’t a new episode! I'm sure most of you guys are having Stefan or Damon (in my case) withdrawal by now. So I’ll get over my disappointment by recapping what has happened so far episode by episode—

***Be warned there are spoilers for the entire season up till now***

The return—



This season picked up right where season one left off, Elena arrived home to discover that Uncle John had been stabbed and Jeremy had ingested vampire blood and tried to kill himself. Sheriff Forbes along with Matt and Tyler waits to hear if Caroline will survive the car accident. Damon, Bonnie, and Elena agree that Caroline needs some of Damon's blood in her system to make sure she pulls through. Damon (obviously) is the first to realize that Katherine has returned and is now impersonating Elena around Mystic Falls. At the Lockwoods’ house, Bonnie has a run in with Katherine and Katherine slams Bonnie against wall. Stefan interrupts them and he and Damon try to find out what Katherine wants. Tyler’s uncle Mason arrives in town for his brother’s funeral. Katherine tells Damon that she never loved him and that it was always Stefan that she loved. Damon is extremely upset and goes to see Elena. Elena not knowing that Katherine had told Damon that she didn’t love him and never loved him, she tells him almost the same thing and Damon ends up snapping Jeremy’s neck when he walks into the room. Thankfully, Jeremy survives because he is wearing John's ring which protects him from death from supernatural forces. Katherine later goes to the hospital to see Caroline, who mistakes her for Elena. Katherine asks Caroline to give the Salvatore brothers a message, before grabbing a pillow and smothering her with it. Before Caroline dies, Katherine delivers her message - "Game on."

Bad Moon Rising—



Elena, Damon, and Alaric take a road trip to Duke University to search through Isobel's old office looking for information on Katherine and the Lockwood family secret. They meet Isobel's research assistant, Vanessa, who helps them locate information on werewolves and their relationship to vampires. Stefan stayed behind in Mystic Falls to help Caroline adjust to life as a vampire, which includes teaching her how to control herself and hunt animals. Stefan also convinces Bonnie to make her a daylight ring. Mason's plan to restrain himself during the full moon hits a snag, leading him to roam free as a werewolf. Caroline cannot control herself while making out with Matt, and ends up feeding on him. She compels him to forget about it. Mason comes into contact with both Stefan and Caroline. Tyler saves them by shouting at the werewolf, causing it to take off through the woods. He later finds Mason in the woods, naked and covered in dirt, and says “It was you.” Mason nods. Caroline causes Matt to break up with her to keep him safe from herself. Damon gives Elena Katherine's real name (Katerina Petrova) to aid in her research, but Elena still refuses to forgive him for everything he's done. Alaric reaffirms his romantic interest in Jenna. Caroline awakens to find Katherine in her bedroom who says “We’re going to have so much fun.”

Memory Lane—



Katherine delivers an ultimatum and tells Stefan that she will kill everyone in Elena's life unless they get back together, but Stefan still refuses. Katherine then tells him she will “snap Elena’s neck.” Stefan attacks her, which causes her to break free from the chains he has been using to hold her. But Katherine tells Stefan that she has been drinking a bit of vervain for the last 145 years and has developed an immunity to it. She stabs Stefan in the leg and then hears Elena upstairs. Elena had left Caroline who was attempting to break Stefan and Elena up. Elena and Katherine meet and Katherine says that Elena was asking the wrong questions. Meanwhile, Damon is out making trouble with Tyler's uncle Mason. As she watches the full moon rise, Katherine remembers what happened back in 1864, after Stefan and Damon had been both shot in an attempt to save her. She goes to Stefan and kisses him, and later says that she'll be back for him, and that she loves him. Stefan and Elena set up a plot to pretend that they are no longer dating so that Katherine won't hurt anybody. They "break up" within earshot of Caroline and Damon.

Kill or be Killed—



Elena and Stefan continue their fighting in public at the Mystic Falls picnic. Mason Lockwood tells Sheriff Liz that Stefan and Damon are vampires and that he can prove it. He proves it by spiking Damon's cup of lemonade with vervain, causing him to choke after taking a sip. Stefan and Damon are set up and shot by Liz and her fellow officers. Meanwhile, Caroline takes to higher ground to listen and fill Elena in. They have a short run-in with Mason, during which Caroline fights him off. They get to Stefan and Damon just before Liz kills them. Caroline's identity as a vampire is exposed and Liz rejects Caroline as her daughter. Stefan and Elena get into an argument about him drinking human blood, and Damon tells Elena that she knows that Stefan needs to. Elena lets Stefan drink her blood for strength. Caroline confesses to Elena that Katherine threatened to kill Matt if Caroline didn't spy on Elena and Stefan for her. Elena let’s Caroline know that she knew what Caroline was up to. During all this Tyler almost kills a girl by accidentally pushing her down the stairs and realizes that he almost wanted the girl to die. After this he gives up the moonstone to Mason. At the end of the episode, it is revealed that Mason is working for Katherine (who wants the moonstone) and a flashback shows that Katherine orchestrated Mason accidently killing his friend and triggering his curse. Then the scene fades out with Katherine and Mason making out.


Hopefully this has caught you up to date on the episodes that have aired already...

Tell me what's your favorite (or most interesting) episode and why? Also give me an idea of what you think is going to happen in Mystic Falls......?

Guest post and giveaway: Chloe Neill

*A big Thanks to Chloe Neill for making Bite Club part of the blog tour for Twice Bitten! I am so thrilled to have her as a guest and as you know, I absolutely cannot wait for Twice Bitten to hit store shelves. As an added bonus, Chloe has generously offered a signed book and some swag to one lucky commenter (I am so jealous...kidding...well sort of)! The contest details will be at the end of this post. Without further ado...Chloe Neill!


The (Chicagoland) Vampire Mythology

Hi, everyone! I thought I'd spend a little time today reviewing the vampire mythology checklist in the context of the Chicagoland Vampires series (with some comparisons to other paranormal series).

Generally, I tried to stick to the basic biological constraints of vampirism with some tweaking here and there for the modern setting.

Soul or No Soul?

In the Chicagoland Vampires world, vampirism is a communicable genetic mutation. (I know, I know. Willing suspension of disbelief.) :) As Ethan essentially tells Merit in SOME GIRLS BITE, she never died, and her heart never stopped beating. Thus, vampirism has no effect on one's soul, nor are vampires "undead," previously-dead, once-dead, etc.

Thus, when vampires sleep (which they do during the day), they are actually asleep. They are not temporarily dead or unconscious. They can force themselves to stay awake, but this is generally difficult to do--the equivalent of a human trying to stay awake after 2 or 3 sleepless days. There are also no coffins in my world. (Cadogan House has a luxe bed for its Master, and dorm-style beds for the Novitiates).

Blood-drinking?

The Chicagoland vampires must drink blood from humans and other vampires. Blood is, as Mallory points out, "another vitamin." Vampires can (and must) also eat normal food, and do get hungry. Merit has strong smoked-meat cravings, although that may just be Merit. :)

Sunlight?

No sparkles here. ;) The Chicagoland Vampires sleep during the daytime, and have a severe allergy to sunlight. Vampire skin in sunlight would begin to blister after only a couple of seconds, and a vampire would be reduced to ashes quite quickly.

Immortality and Healing?

The CV vampires are immortal; they will not die of old age, and they appear to be the age at which they are turned. They heal quickly.


Stakes, etc.

An aspen stake through the heart will kill a CV vampire. As in the traditional myth, CV vampires can also be killed by other methods including sunlight and removing the head (usually in conjunction with other dismemberment that renders the body unable to heal). Thus, a few slashes with a katana won't kill a vampire; it takes substantially more damage.

Mirrors, Crosses and Garlic?

These three items are not part of the CV mythos. Garlic and crosses are ineffective (as it's a genetic mutation, not a demonic possession), and vampires are visible in mirrors. (The latter is true because I wanted Merit to be able to see herself post-transformation.)


Powers?

The CV vampires are generally stronger than average humans, can jump higher, and have increased stamina. They may be particularly fast ("vampire quickspeed") and, to varying degrees, can glamour humans into following their commands. Masters can telepathically communicate with their Novitiates, and some vampires have psychic or empathic abilities. Also, vampires' eyes silver when they are aroused (emotionally or physically) or hungry.

Thanks for reading today! I hope this look at the CV myth has been informative!


Contest details:

*Contest is open to US and Canada

*Must leave a comment that explains what part of vampire mythology you find the most interesting. Eternal life and a front row seat as history unfolds? Superspeed to ease your escape from sticky situations? Drinking oodles of blood from unsuspecting strangers? Just let me know and you'll be entered to win!

*Contest is open until July 8th and I will announce the winner the following day

*please leave an email address unless one is included in your profile