Supernatural Imagery
The book is replete with supernatural imagery in the form of vampires, coyote, monsters and other beings about which people like Michael possess traditional interpretations . Vampires are demonstrated as falling in love with hunan beings and then destroying their lives. Falke gets a sight of his beloved in Melissa and tries to transform her into a creature like himself. Melissa's grandfather asks Coyote for help, who are animal like creatures. The coyote performs the function of a spiritual guide for humans but in the novel, the guidance leads Michael towards his death. The title of the novel is also based on a supernatural creature, which is known by the name of vampire in the modern world.Elizabeth and Hanna are also supernatural beings but their acts are paradoxical. Elizabeth helps Melissa but Hanna puts all her efforts in destroying her life and kills her grandfather.
Images of Struggle
The novel conveys the images of struggle and survival throughout the novel. All the characters seem to be fighting for their existence. Falke kidnaps Melissa just because he wants his eternal love in his hopeless life. Despite of having a wife and a mistress, he runs after getting Melissa and hurts her in his attempts of transforming her. Melissa came to her grandfather for her own survival owing to her mother's excessive drunkenness. Melissa's grandfather and her teacher are portrayed as striving for Melissa's life. They get indulge in a fight with supernatural creatures in order to save Melissa from their trap. Elizabeth assists Michael in retrieving Melissa from the cave for her own survival. She becomes tired of living for so many years so she plans to end her life. Falke's manipulative nature and her human side urge her to take her life.
Images of Death
Michael reminisces about his parents and his wife's death. There are recurring images of death in the novel. The vampires drink the blood of humans and attempts to kill them. The novel conveys the imagery of Melissa's near death experience and Michael's death. Michael was killed by Hanna while saving his granddaughter from Falke's trap. Elizabeth takes her own life because death symbolizes escape from her tormenting eternal life, which snatched her innocence and turned her into a blood thirsty creature.
