Vampiric familiars do not at all resemble by definition those ascribed to witches and witchcraft (i.e., spirits/demons in animal form).
In actual "vampirism" as actually existed anciently before they were vilified and forced to "separate themselves" (as per the Bible: Jude v. 19), and become "wandering stars" (ibid. v. 13), the term "familiars" had a very specific meaning.
For the true vampire (i.e., those of the Rephaimic bloodline and in possession of the true "Dark" Gift), familiars are human females who have had their full insatiable eroto-emotional potentials fully awakened by a Rephaimic male possessing equal sensual and emotional capacity. As such a singularly powerful awakening for a heterosexual female is possible only through days'-long communal bonding together with her "vampire" sire, she attains therein a hunger and thirst previously unimagined, and one that through and with him alone she can find fully though temporarily quenched. She then is privileged to become one of his most intimate companions, his "familiar" with whom he will forever continue to feed... and be fed by her, in return.
Ironically, one of the best definitions of "familiar" as most closely describes the term in true vampirism is found in Roman Catholicism's own website: www.newadvent.org.
There, "Familiars" are defined as:
"Strictly speaking, seculars subject to a master's authority and maintained at his expense. In this sense the idea embodies service rendered to masters, as well as wages, board, and lodging provided by the masters. In canon law the term usually signifies seculars residing in monasteries and other religious houses, actually employed therein as servants and subject to the authority of the regular prelate to the same extent as servants are subject to their masters. Many of the privileges and exemptions granted to religious are accorded their familiars. For this reason familiars validly receive absolution from a confessor approved by the regular prelate, or from one approved by the ordinary of the place where the house is located. In like manner, familiars actually dwelling in a monastery may receive their Easter Communion in the church or chapel of the monastery. Extreme unction and Viaticum may also be administered to them in the monastery. Boys boarding in colleges or academies supervised by religious or by diocesan clergy, and girls boarding in convents conducted by sisterhoods, practically enjoy the same privileges as familiars."
- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05781c.htm
While the above definition, being here a religious term, is obviously not the same as it applies in true Rephaimic "vampirism," yet there are many striking parallels.
Thus in actual Rephaimic relationships ("vampirism" as it historically exists), a true "Familiar" is neither slave nor free; she is a voluntary devotee -- heart, body, and soul -- to him who rebirthed her, who awakened her to her full true potentials by possessing within himself (as normal mortal males do not) all such capacities fully matured as usually lie dormant, unknown, unexperienced, and thus untapped, in almost all females.
