Upierzyca

(Oo-PEER-zee-ca)

The Ruthenian people of eastern Poland have in their lore a vampiric REVENANT called an upierzyca. Always described as a beautiful young woman, on nights of the full moon, the upierzyca hunts for young men. It attacks them and, using the barb on the end of its tongue, will pierce their skin, draining them of their blood.

If a deceased woman is suspected of being anupierzyca, her body must be exhumed. Upon examination the body will not only be undecayed, but the creature's eyes, head, and mouth will still be moving. Its burial shroud may also shows signs of having been partially consumed.

Source: Dundes, Vampire Casebook, 8; Haining, Dictionary of Vampires, 254; Masters, Natural History of the Vampire, 101; Perkowski, The Darkling, 113; Volta, The Vampire, 143