This could explain the recent popularity of the vampire romance novels, and the new model of the vampires.
In the past, the most reliable way to longevity was calorie restriction, mostly practiced by hermits. This was the old model of the vampire: an old person, fragile to weather changes (holy water, even daylight), wise and evil, but nonetheless easily defeated by a determined human attack.
These days, I am not sure what exactly the longevity treatment is, but it seems to allow the person to remain young and attractive and strong and quick etc. Maybe not exactly as attractive and as strong as the Twilight novels describe, though; part of that impression is probably just a halo effect around a very-high-status person. Thus, the new kind of vampires. Ones who are obviously superior to average humans, and the only danger for them is their vampire competitors. Unless that is also a metaphor for the world oligarchy.
I get the impression that vampires = superheroes for adolescent girls.
I also find it interesting that from what I've heard (I haven't read the things), Bella Swan in the Twilight novels undergoes a kind of "reverse Arwen" transformation, shedding her humanity and mortality so that she can stay with her vampire husband forever.
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