Why are we infatuated with vampires?

I don't know why we love them so much, but we do. Right now, if a chicklit book has the word Vampire in the title, it's the automatic rage and gets press. I'm so excited for New Moon coming out. And the Vampire Diaries are on tv (although I haven't seen the series yet). And...the HBO series True Blood is eccentric and exciting. I've watched the first season of Tru Blood (spelled True or Tru...now I can't remember), and bought all of the 9 True Blood Books by Charlaine Harris. Love them! Love those steamy, sexy vampires!