The Cold Ones
The popular Twilight series is based on the legend of the Cold Ones. Commonly referred to as vampires, the Cold Ones, are mythological creatures that have existed, and been historically noted, throughout history in all parts of the world.
Cold Ones are Nomads
Because they are nomads, it is rare for the Cold Ones to travel in covens larger than two: a male and female pair. This is because the more members that exists in a coven, the more human blood there must be available to feed them. Since these creatures seek to exist undetected among humans, the less people they need to kill the better.
Physical Description: Cold Ones
The Cold Ones
Physically, the Cold Ones have extremely pale, rock hard skin that glitters in the sunlight. They are ice cold to the touch, and the color of their eyes reflects their diet. Red eyes indicate a diet of human blood, amber indicates animal blood, and black eyes indicate extreme thirst. They have lightening fast reflexes, run at incredible speeds, possess unfathomable strength, and are immortal. Some Cold Ones also possess other “gifts” such as the ability to see the future or read people’s minds.
“Cold Ones” and Diet
While their natural diet consists of human blood, a few of the Cold Ones have turned towards a more peaceful way of life and are “vegetarian,” meaning they drink only animal blood. While this diet is not fully satisfying, it allows them to live among humans without killing. Although there are occasional accidents, this way of life has proven successful. These “vegetarians” are also able to exist in larger covens for two main reasons. First of all, because they do not have to kill humans, there is a smaller chance they will be detected. Secondly, by drinking animal blood in favor of human blood, these Cold Ones are better suited to develop bonds of love and family because their focus does not have to be on survival.
Volturi the Italian Coven
The Cold Ones are governed by an Italian coven called the Volturi that contains some of the oldest vampires in existence. The three males, Aro, Caius, and Marcus, as well as their wives, comprise the main family. The Volturi family is protected by a guard of which the precise number is not known. The Volturi are responsible for governing all of the Cold Ones and enforcing their one main law: keep their existence a secret. The Volturi also enforce other restrictions such as the prohibition on creating immortal children.
The Werewolf – Friend or Foe?
Because of their extreme predatory capabilities, the Cold Ones have only one natural enemy: the werewolf. Here, the term werewolf is used to denote a person that can change his or her physical form into that of a wolf. There are two kinds of these creatures: the true werewolf and the wolves presented in the Twilight series. A true werewolf is created by suffering a bite from another existing werewolf. This is much the same way that one becomes a vampire. These beings cannot transform into a wolf of their own free will and, instead, are entirely at the mercy of the lunar phases.
While the wolves presented in the Twilight series are able to destroy the Cold Ones, they are not their true enemy. Instead, they possess a genetic mutation that allows them to transform into a wolf. The correct names for these beings are shape shifters. Because they are not actual werewolves, the shape shifters are able to overcome their natural animosity towards the Cold Ones and form treaties with them as well as fight together if the need arises.