Life Among the Vampires

It’s late at night. Late for me, anyway, but still early for the gentleman sitting beside me—he sleeps during the day, and has only just awakened a few hours earlier. We’re at his house, where I’ve interviewed him more than a few times before, but tonight’s a little different.

On this occasion he produces a small rectangular box. Opening it, he reveals a new ceremonial knife, one that will be used to make a small incision in my arm. At his own insistence, he won’t do the cutting himself, due to a physical disability that impedes his dexterity. So we’re waiting for his wife to get home from work and take care of it. Once the cut is made, she’ll step back, and he’ll come forward to feed on my blood.

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Today, there is a worldwide community of human vampires, or “real vampires,” as scholars typically