Vampires, what does that word mean to you? To some in Western Civilization, it can mean nothing more then a creature of seductive, subliminal qualities. Evil, yes, but holding something of a romantic dark mystery about him or her. Yet, to others, especially in Eastern European countries such as Chezkoslavakia, Yugoslavia, Romania, and Transylvania, this word means something else, entirely. To the majority of people living in those little villages and towns, vampirism is very real indeed, and is part of their daily lives.

There are many different types of ‘Vampire’. I will endeavour to at least enlighten you with just some of the ones that I know about. I will not only tell you about the different types of ‘Vampire’ but also a little about their history too. So, here we go. The first vampire on my list has to be those of the human kind. I would call these creatures, ‘Mortal Vampires’, for that is exactly what they are. These are people who, for one reason or another, seem to be obsessed with blood. They are fascinated by the liquid, the feel of it, the texture and the taste of it.

Indeed, some people who are like this, even go so far as to have their teeth sharpened in such a way so as they actually look like their demonic counterparts. They even play the part, dressing in dark colours, or black, and resting in coffins. This all adds to the experience of actually ‘feeling’ like a vampire’. To all intents and purposes they are, they drink blood and revel in it. Indeed, blood becomes the only liquid that passes their lips. This condition is known as ‘Reinfields Syndrome’. This is not clinically classified as such, but it is a disorder of the brain, in which the patient clearly has an obssesion to the drinking of blood.

This condition is also known as ‘Clinical Vampirsim’. It is interesting to note that the people suffering with this condition, on a whole, are males. Obviously,blood drinking can also bring about sexual excitement, and also a belief that drinking blood can prolong life, eg: ‘Enhances their life’. Indeed, anyone suffering with this mental condition in the past {especially during those times of superstition, and the burning of ‘witches’}, would have undoubtedly, been burned at the stake, at the very least. Simply because the condition was not known to be a mental one at that period in time. Superstition, even after the ‘Inqusitions of the 12th Century, still held sway.

Next we come to those creatures that are also classed as ‘vampires’…but vampires of a different kind. Yes, these entities are what are known as ‘Psychic Vampires’. These creatures can normally be found around the dead or dying, they inhabit graveyards and can also attach themselves to the living in such a way, as to make the person feel ‘drained’ of energy. These entities seem to be very attracted to people who are in a depressive state of mind, feeding off their negativity and making them feel twice as bad as they already are. For instance, have you ever been in a room feeling quite happy within yourself, when somebody you know walks in. This person, you know full well, is very depressive, and therefore makes you feel the same as he or she, thus draining you of your energy. This is a form of vampirism, making you feel just as bad as the person who is suffering the depression. That is exactly how ‘Psychic Vampires’ work. They can attach themselves to the living and it takes a tremendous amount of effort and will to free yourself from them. Beware if you ever suffer feelings of deep despair, and those feelings linger, for you could have attracted to yourself a ‘Psychic Vampire’.

Next we come to those creatures of the night that are ‘True Vampires’. Those demonic entities that pray on the living. Drinking blood and terrorizing poor souls during the twilight hours. Dismiss these creatures at your peril, for there have been authenticated cases of ‘true supernatural vampirism’, throughout different parts of the world throughout the centuries. Indeed, not least where I am living now, in Liverpool, there was a case of a vampire stalking the streets of my home town city, in the 19th Century. This case was authenticated, and the house where the vampire was reputedly said to reside within, is still standing now, in Parliament Street, as I write this.

Funny enough, a few months ago, early in 2008, there were eyewitness accounts that told of a strange tall, dark humanoid-type creature, dressed in a top hat and tails, that seemed to glide across the ground with ease. One of those eyewitnesses happened to be an off-duty policeman, who had described this creature, the way it had always been described, back in the 19th Century. Maybe the stake that was put through the creature’s heart back then, did not destroy the entity fully? Who knows? Now, some people may laugh this off, as just up-to-date superstition, but remember this, within fiction, there is always a grain of truth.

The blood-drinking, supernatural vampires are the best known of all the vamipre clans throughout Western and Eastern Europe. They are known also, in other parts of the world, as well, Africa and South America being the areas that they have been known to reside in, along with North America too. Vampires belong to very ancient clans and are very proud. Now, I talk about them as if they are a reality, and indeed that is true, because to me they are. As I have stated, in fiction, there is always a grain of truth. For, there are more things within the Heavens and upon the Earth and in Hell, then you can ever imagine possible. And, with that thought in mind, I shall leave you to your own imagination. Yes, there are other types of vampires too, but too numerous to mention here. Suffice to say that to me, vampirism is still alive and well, right here in the 21st Century. But that is just my opinion, I will leave you to make up your own minds…What do you think?