Mankind has a long fascination with vampires and vampire stories. Vampires have always been portrayed as outcasts, shunned by the world, residing in dark corners of eerie country houses. They are typically shown to be sleeping in coffins and living in large mansions filled with cobwebs and bats.

While I did not find Bram Stoker's Dracula remarkable, I was drawn in by Edward and Bella's love story in the Twilight series. So captivated was I that I finished all the books of the series-Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn in one week. When I reached the end of the series, I felt immense grief and a sense of loss.

I was gripped by the "good vampire" who has the potential of killing humans but has overcome his desire, and thus becomes the protector of humanity. As he falls in love with Bella, who is an ordinary girl like most of us, he struggles with the dark vampiric tendencies inside him and the goodness of love outside. Unlike other vampire stories, where the female object is often depicted in a robotic manner, unconsciously being drawn towards that which takes away her life force, here the author highlights the power of true love and how it can create warmth and life in a heartless being. Although it has the power of destruction, Edward and Bella's love is nourishing.

In my opinion, the popularity of Twilight represents a shift in our consciousness. If we, the youth, can move from a place of darkness to light, controlling the inherent destructive forces, then perhaps we can find the good vampire within. Instead of sucking the creative life energy from each other and the environment, we can become protectors of good and transform humanity.