He’s the undead man’s Batman, jaded, dark, and brooding avenger of wrongs, as campy and clichéd as that may be. But Angel’s title character isn’t the only fanged fiend burdened with a soul. So . . . how do you handle it when Darla is the vympyre with a soul?


Writing Darla pre-1609

Darla, of course, first had a soul in its original packaging . . . as human.

Darla was born in the late fifteen-hundreds, presumably on the east coast of what would become the United States of America. Though the specifics of her birth have not been fully disclosed in canon, we do know that in 1609, she lived in Virginia Colony (present USA) and worked as a prostitute. This profession, while providing her with considerable wealth, was also the cause of her step into death. When the Master sired her in 1609, Darla was dying of a heart condition with its roots in the venereal disease syphilis.

On her death bed, the only place we have seen human Darla before her siring, she is bitter, sharp-tongued, and rather cynical about herself, salvation, and life in general. She banters freely with a man she believes to be a priest, and openly calls herself “a whore.” She seems not afraid of death, but, rather, resigned to accept whatever fate may be in store for her, may it be Heaven, Hell, or some unknown.

This Darla is flippant, smooth-talking, and experienced. While writing her, remember that not only does she know how the world works, she also knows people, men in particular. She is not likely to be frightened by much, or surprised by anything.


Writing Darla, pre The Trials