[Gray might think that Liem can just Tell these things because he himself is half-vampire, but the reality is just that D told him that he was a dhampir within minutes of meeting him. Since he’s seen D tell other complete strangers this thing too, and knows from inquiring about it that he prefers to be forthright about what he is, Gray’s uncertainty whether her housemate is a vampire almost makes him reconsider whether she’s really talking about D after all.

But then he considers how reserved both Gray and D are, and he decides it’s actually completely plausible that they might never speak long enough for it to come up.]

Well… Where I am from, vampires are undead beings. They can be slain by sunlight or running water, but otherwise are very difficult to harm or kill. They cannot enter private dwellings without an invitation, they cast no reflection, and they can be repelled by holy symbols. None of those things were particularly true of me before I became a shard-bearer.

[Things have gotten weird for him over the past year, but that’s another matter entirely.]

I have a vampire’s teeth and senses and reflexes, but not its strength or resilience or supernatural powers. But to understand your housemate, you would be better served asking him directly.

[An introvert’s worst nightmare: bringing up awkward conversation. Sorry Gray.]

Meridian’s other dhampir is not from my world, and he is not like me. I did not ask the extent of his characteristics as a half-vampire, but he clearly has capabilities that I do not.

[And he’d told Liem that being brought to Kenos had made him weaker. Horrifying.]

Also, he is warm, and has a normal pulse. So, I could not tell you what being a dhampir means for him, other than a craving for blood.