through my most grievous fault

Like in True Blood, some “classic vampire facts” were propaganda pushed by vampires to blend alongside humans and trick them: Cecilia does have a reflection, appears in photographs, can enter churches and touch crucifixes. 

I don’t subscribe to the “vampires lose their souls when they’re turned”  theory, I think it happens gradually as they make their choices. Since Cecilia was a rich lady already accustomed to taking advantage of people when she was alive, not a lot has changed for her in that aspect, lbr. She’s not totally soulless and can still form attachments to people... it’s just harder.

Weaknesses: 

For my character, holy objects will only harm her if blessed by clergy in communion with Rome or the Eastern Orthodox church. Contact with those objects will burn and incapacitate her, much like silver in the True Blood universe (I’m undecided on where I stand on the effects of silver on my vampires, right now it doesn’t cause harm).

The Eucharist is fatal.  Not like in Buffy where generic “communion wafers” are used, but only if transubstantiation has occurred. It would kill her almost instantly (it would look similar to this, spoilers for True Blood 6x7). 

Stakes would kill her. Decapitation and dismemberment would kill her. Extended exposure to sunlight would kill her. A virus, like True Blood’s Hep V, would kill her. Draining her would kill her. Garlic makes her super sick and weak but doesn’t kill.

Cecilia can only enter a person’s home if invited by the human homeowner.

Cecilia can’t day walk. To go around this limitation, she’d need to consume fae blood (which would allow her a few hours to a couple of days in sunlight) or own an amulet like the Gem of Amara, neither of which are easy to come across.

Strengths and abilities: 

Immortality (duh). She is, at present, 189 years old and was turned at 65, in 1899. Her appearance has remained frozen in time ever since, only paler. 

Super speed and strength. She is still quite young by vampire standards -- so older vampires will have faster reflexes than her and generally are stronger.

Ability to hypnotize humans.

Healing. Vampires can heal very fast to most injuries (except stuff like losing a limb lmfao). Vampire blood can also be used for healing purposes in humans, which makes it very valuable in the black market.

 Enhanced senses. 

Flight. But short distances only, as she’s still a young vampire.

Maker/Progeny:

At this point, I’m leaving who her maker was vague for the sake of storytelling and to have more freedom.

But, whoever it is, they’d inevitably have a connection with Cecilia. I’m again following True Blood lore here, where becoming a maker is a pretty big deal and commitment to most vampires. Since Cecilia’s maker turned her in exchange for money, they likely didn’t care as much about it... She likely paid good money to be released from their bond (This can change depending on the storyline we write!).

As for Cecilia, I think she’d see it as a commitment and wouldn’t take it lightly. During her first decades as a vampire, she more likely than not turned a lover or two... and then abandoned them because she grew bored. After that, she’d refrain from turning anyone unless there was an important reason.

Vampire politics:

She will generally stay neutral for self-preservation but her true belief is that vampires are superior to humans. They’re food and entertainment, and most of them are disposable. 

She prefers to feed on humans vs synthetic options.