Truly, Madly, Deadly_ The Unofficial True Blood Companion - Becca Wilcott [33]
When asked if the lvg engages in any fetishistic activities — the sexual or even spiritual gratification derived from non-sexual objects, or an excessive devotion to a particular activity — Summers suggests that depending on one’s definition, an obsession or interest in vampires alone might constitute fetish. Many people into the vampyre culture are naturally drawn to fetish, “partly due to the fact that we like to dress up in leather, pvc, latex, and ‘fantasy’ costumes,” she says. Many of the vampyre community’s members are highly artistic and creative individuals. Summers elaborates, saying there are some who do take their interests to the extreme, “by indulging in a blood-drinking fetish, although this tends to be behind closed doors and not generally condoned by most groups.” At its core, however, the lvg exists to provide an avenue for those who just want to meet up with friends to chat about a genre that they love and identify with.
Rebecca Summers of the London Vampyre Group. (Courtesy Rebecca Summers)
But let’s back it up a bit. Did she say blood-drinking? This brings us to the oft-asked question: are there real vampires? And do they all drink blood? The answer to the first question is yes, self-identified vampires exist, but they’re not of the undead variety. And to the latter question, the answer is no, not all, if many, “real vampires” drink blood . . . but some do, with the assistance of a consenting donor.
To break it down, the major vampire groups are: sanguinarian (sang) vampires; psychic (psy or psi) vampires; and donors who may also be vampiric, but more often claim to suffer from an overload of energy that they need to expel. “Real vampires” are mortals who have awakened to, or self-identified, a need to feed from a variety of energy sources in order to maintain physical or spiritual health. They claim to suffer from energy deficiencies that result in deep cravings. They subscribe to any number of faiths and religions, and attach significant meaning to their ritual feedings. Sure, these vampires may dislike garlic but only as a personal preference, and all will die if staked in the heart, because . . . you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn’t. (And, that said, don’t be staking anyone in the heart!)
By far the smallest group, a sanguinarian vampire will experience a weakened immune system and may develop pain and depression if they don’t consume blood, a tablespoon or two a week, offered by one or more donor. While there are famous sangs, such as Don Henrie (“The Vampire Don”) who appeared on the reality show Mad, Mad House as well as a number of talk shows, most prefer not to be publicly identified because they see their condition as a natural state, rather than a lifestyle. As such, they don’t necessarily engage in activities such as Gothic dress and music. As to the expected question of safety, most vampires and donors are in good health and take every precaution to ensure a safe session.
Michelle Belanger, author of the bestseller Psychic Vampire Codex and a regular guest on A&E’s Paranormal State, is a psychic vampire. In her youth, Belanger had multiple surgeries. She claims that feeding on psychic energies made her stronger, so much so that she’s since staved off a looming bypass, having experienced a complete reversal of her symptoms.
How does a psychic vampire feed? Most draw from the ambient energies given off by large crowds. Others may draw from specific individuals in a social setting. If you ever feel suddenly drained of your energy, it’s possible you could be under a psychic attack, although this practice is frowned upon within the vampire community. One-on-one feeding is more intimate, and requires a donor. Some donors experience a sense of euphoria during a feeding. The energy itself can be tapped into via eye contact, touch, sexual intercourse,