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a lot of life and good health, even just listening to music. When the vampires in legends do not have these other forms of sustenance available or cannot use them then they can also maintain their life force with the blood of others. In many cases in the original legends the victims of blood drinking may not die or become a vampire themselves.

Unfortunately the actual legends that modern film and books are based on have never caught on or been examined by Hollywood or the general population. The only groups who have delved into these stories other than historians are fringe groups who are obsessed with the film versions and Goth groups who conveniently use the original legends as base to claim that they themselves are living vampires (Vampyre is more popular to them) and live in a fantasy world where they are able to indulge their dangerous fantasies with other like minded people. This refusal to face reality and live in the real world is not only sad, but dangerous, as many participants can find themselves ill, anemic, or infected with Sexually Transmitted Diseases caused by the culture of blood sharing as an expression of their Vampyric intimacy.

In history there are three major historical human "vampires" who have helped to propagate the popularity of the legends and the modern films.

In the case of Dracula, Bram Stoker loosely based his lead character on a historical Romanian prince by the name of Vlad Tepes who died circa. 1450. Vlad Tepes was also known as Dracula because his father's name was Vlad Dracul and Dracula meant "Son of Dracul". In Romanian the word Dracul meant Dragon, their enemies used the word Dracul for Devil, so Vlad Tepes was known to his country men as "Son of the Dragon" and his enemies as "Son of the Devil" Although his father was an iron fisted ruler Dracula was even more so, and was often at war with the Turks. At many times Romania was much more vulnerable and weaker than the Turks who were constantly trying to invade her. Through many grand and theatrical displays of war Vlad was able to defend Romania's borders for most of his short reign. In one such instance a large contingent of Turkish troops attempted to storm Dracula's home. The Romanian troops were able to hold them off and took many prisoners from the Turks. Vlad had all the prisoners as well as the townsfolk from a village loyal to Turkey rounded up and promptly impaled on large wooden spears which were then hoisted tall and planted into the ground. This created a forest

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