Supernatural Species - Siphons
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Supernatural Species of the Dark World - Siphons

Also called siphoners, are a subsection of witches born with a rare genetic mutation that makes it so that they cannot produce their own magic, but have the ability to absorb it from other magical sources (ie. other witches, vampires, enchanted objects). They are considered to be abominations by many witch communities and almost often banished or face harsh treatment.

Siphoners are few in numbers and controversial due to the fact that they have the potential of becoming vampire-witch hybrids, which are specifically referred to as Heretics.

Powers And Abilities

Siphoning: The most obvious being their ability to siphon magic in all forms from another source.  By extension, they are able to detect the magic within other beings as well as unravel the most sophisticated of spells.

Spell Casting: After absorbing magic, Siphons have the ability to perform magic and cast spells like any witch, changing and manipulating events through use of incantations, binding agents and more. They can also brew potions/elixers like other witches.

Merging Ritual: A tradition that is so far only practiced by the Gemini Coven. It is performed during a celestial event by twin siblings, where the more powerful of the two wins by absorbing and combining all the magic and essence of both twins into one. The weaker twin dies. There is a loophole, that a merging ritual doesn't necessarily have to be performed by twins, so long as the two witches are 22-years-old and are blood related. Siphoners are able to become full-fledged witches by competing and winning in the merging ritual. If successfully performed, said siphoner will gain the power of a typical witch whilst retaining their ability to siphon.

Weaknesses

Distraction: Denying a witch from concentrating or giving full attention to their spells, may render them ineffective.

Herbs: Ingestion of certain herbs can cause a witch to lose consciousness and prevent them from using magic for an undetermined amount of time. The Lobelia flower prevents concentration and the practice of magic and can be used to weaken a witch as one would weaken a vampire with vervain.

Magic: Siphoners are just as susceptible to the forces of witchcraft. This is inclusive of mystical objects such as Papa Tunde's Blade, and dark objects. It is currently unknown if Siphoners can siphon magic from one another or from Dark Objects, but this is very likely.

Physical Contact: Siphoners need physical contact with their source in order to siphon from them. This can be overcome through the use of magic containing amulets that can be worn with them to be siphoned in defense.

Mortality: Siphoners, like any witch, are still human, they share many of the same weaknesses as non-supernatural beings (e.g. age, decapitation, disease, heart-failure, suffocation, etc.).

Heretics

Heretics are the only known vampire-witch hybrids. The originally start out as living siphoning witches who have died with vampire blood in their system and had to complete the transitioning phrase just like any other human who transforms. Siphons fall into a loophole in Nature's laws that when they become vampires, they are allowed to not only retain their ability to siphon magic, but to channel the magic of their own vampirism, which essentially gives them a limitless source of power.

Heretics even have the ability to siphon the magic from the venom of werewolf or vampire-werewolf hybrid bites, essentially making them immune to infection that would typically be fatal to normal vampires. They also have the ability to cure other infected vampires. 

The only known surviving Heretic to date is Valarie Tulle.