That's the basic concept; if you want or need a little more detail, it lies below.

 My own brand of fanfiction shamelessly uses and abuses these ideas. I don't use LJ Smith's characters, because I get a guilt complex if I do. All the characters you will read are mine. I do use her clan names / surnames. The world of Ryars Valley is also mine, loosely based on the village and town in which I live. I must point out that while our quota of inbreeding is high, our quota of maniacs is low.

 I write thoroughly tongue-in-cheek. Please don't ever think I would call my child Cougar, I would ever date an assassin, or that I would even consider kissing someone with blood on their mouth unless it was their dying wish and their name was Nelson. I will however confess to hurling the odd kitchen implement and owning the rickety Fiat that Blue Malefici drives.

A few of the concepts I've used, adapted and messed up:

  The soulmate principle: Two people connected, bound to each other forever, soul to soul, in a way that even death couldn't break. Two souls that were destined for each other.

Soulmates come from the ancient Greeks, but are found under different names in other cultures. It's the idea that once, man and woman were one entity, until the gods split them. In the Night World books, it's a spiritual experience, with a connection that effectively launches you into the other person's mind and soul. You feel what they feel, you know what they know, and you fit together in some way. In the books, this means you fall in love. I don't like things that easy.

Creatures of the Night World

 Dragons - a concept that crop up frequently with me, because I find the idea pretty fascinating. Rather than being your traditional big winged lizard, dragons are immensely powerful shapeshifters who can change into any animal they wish. They also have powers such as flinging lightning, casting powerful spells, telepathy. Dragons are recognisable by a) their horns - the more horns, the more powerful b) their black fire.

 In the Night World books, some 30 000 years ago, there was a huge war between the dragons and the witches. The dragons were all either killed or put into an enchanted sleep. I've haplessly abused this idea to my own ends. They are by far the most powerful of any of the Night World creatures. The Ferraris of the Night World. No known object can harm them without first removing their horns.

 Shapeshifters - people able to change into animals, descendants of the dragons but far, far weaker. They eat internal organs, and can shapeshift either partially or completely. They can do fun telepathic stuff, and are faster and stronger than humans beings and witches, with better senses, though it does depend on their 'animal'. Treated as second-class citizens in the Night World books. Silver can hurt and kill shapeshifters, as will fire.

 Varying animals have different abilities: snakeshifters have no sense of smell, and let's not even get into the astounding things they can do with their tongues. Chameleons are hide to find a crowd, while sloths spend a lot of time just hanging around.

Shapeshifters' symbol in the Night World is a black foxglove.

 Vampires - there are two types. All vampires are faster and stronger than humans, witches and shapeshifters. They are adept mind-readers, able to influence humans by effectively hypnotising them, and able to mentally punch others, ie knocking them out or short-circuiting their powers. All vampires need blood to survive; they do not have to kill to feed. They can survive from animals. Wood will hurt and kill them, as will fire.

 1) Made vampires are created in the traditional way, by having their blood drunk by a vampire, and then drinking the vampire's blood. They cannot have children, and do not age from the moment they are made. In the Night World books, trying to change anyone over around twenty will kill them. Their flower is a black rose.

 2) Lamia are vampires who are born. They can have children, and age, though one of their powers is to choose when they stop ageing. Their symbol is a black iris. The Redfern family is the Night World's equivalent of royalty; they are a lamia family and extremely powerful. One of their unusual features are eyes that constantly change colour.

  Witches: the most vulnerable of all the Night People, with humans reflexes and strength. Their magick, often shown as coloured fire, allows them to interact with nature and alter the state of reality. Power varies among witches; some are more powerful than others. Iron will block their powers; they can be harmed just as humans can. They can use their powers to heal, to communicate telepathically, as well as to do the more mundane things. Their symbol is a black dahlia.

  Halfbreeds: Night World creatures who may be children of, say, a witch and a werewolf. Have abilities of both, though varying in strength. They are ostracised by most of the Nightworld as unnatural and impure.

  Old Souls: humans who have had past lives. A 'wakened' Old Soul remembers these lives.

 Circle Daybreak: an organisation lobbying for peace between humans and Night people. Panned by most of the Night World.

Other terms