"All we know for sure is that we don't know anything for sure. - Neil Gaiman, "The Books of Magic" The following are answers to questions regarding vampires and the occult in general and VAU© which I have been asked via e-mail, ICQ or other methods. If there is something you would like to know in particular which is not listed here, if you have something to add or if you believe I have erred in my answers somehow and should make a correction, please e-mail me.

)Q: Do vampires exist?
A: Yes and no. If by the term 'vampire' you mean the 'undead' kind seen in literature, movies and folklore, then I really couldn't say. Personally, I have never encountered such a creature, but that is not to say they do not exist. After all, there are stranger things on Heaven and Earth as they say. Now, if on the other hand you refer to a living vampire, then yes, they do exist.

2)Q: So, what is a living vampire?
A: Living vampires are those who are, well, alive, yet carry a disease, affliction, blessing (call it what you will) which makes them different than your average mortal. Though there is no fixed definition to what actually makes a living vampire, there are basically three categories into which they fall. These are (1)Blood vampires (saguivores), (2)psychic vampires (energy vampires/"soul suckers") and (3)social vampires (vampyres/vampyre lifestylers).

3)Q: What is a blood vampire?
A: A blood vampire is a living vampire who drinks blood out of need. Blood usually arouses them sexually, revitalizes them and/or gives them extra strength. For all sanguivores, blood is a strong craving and need. Some feel imbibing blood is necessary for them to feel good and well, while others claim it merely makes them feel better in general, but is not a necessity.

4)Q: What is a psychic vampire?
A: Psychic vampires, or psy-vamps, feed off of and manipulate energy and aura. Whether they take it from human beings, living organisms or even other psy-vamps, the effect on the victim is one of weakness and draining. The Vampire takes the energy into himself, thereby gaining vitality and strength. Many psy-vamps also use empath, an ablity to read a person's emotions and feelings with very little effort. Also, usually psy-vamps possess a skill almost like ESP, in that most can sense things with uncanny accuracy. In addition, there are also psi-vamps, which use energy in much the same way as psy-vamps, but can also feed off of other energy sources (electricity, storms, even sunlight).

5)Q: What is a social vampire/vampyre?
A: A social vampire of vampyre is also a living vampire who acts and dresses like a sterotypical "undead" vampire. Some vampires of this category are more involved than others, drinking blood, getting their canines elongated and even sleeping in coffins. They do this if nothing else but to mimic an undead vampire's lifestyle. They may or may not possess the taint of vampirism, but have no special abilities or needs such as psy-vamps or blood vampires might.

6)Q: How do you know if you are a vampire?
A: There is no exact way to tell...the mark of a vampire reveals itself in various manners. Sometimes a person will have their own nature revealed to them by another vampire's telling them so. Other vampires know intuitivly of their nature. If you think you might be a vampire, some common signs include desire for or stimulation by blood; over-sensitivity towards sunlight or other intense sensations; a zeal for vampires from puberty (or eralier) onwards and a constant feeling of loneliness, even when surrounded by friends, to name a few.

7)Q: How does one become a vampire?
A: There are several ways actually, though none of these can actually be proven and occur differently depending on the individual. Most living vampires are born "into darkness", although some do not discover their true nature until a later time in their life...usually following a traumatic experience (such as puberty, the loss of a family member, suicidal tendencies,etc.). This is the difference between concious and unconcious vampires. As far as I am aware, blood vampires can make other blood vampires by an exchange of blood, although this has been debated. Whether this same method holds true for psychic vampires remains debateable also. Another method to become a vampire is by witchcraft. There are several spells which are supposed to turn a regular mortal into a vampire, but whether this actually works or not...well, I'll let you be the judge. Again, as to 'undead' vampires I am unsure as it varies from myth to myth (some need three bites, some need a blood transfusion, some require sexual intercourse, etc) ...but if you ever find one, do let me know. Also, if you are seriously considering becoming a living vampire, please consider what you are getting yourself into. The lifestyle is lonelier than any mortal can comprehend and the lust for energy and/or blood can be torture.

8)Q: Okay, so what is a cyber vampire?
A: A cyber vampire is a person who claims to be a vampire on-line. This does not necessarily mean that the person is a vampire in real life, but it doesn't mean they aren't, either. Usually, a cyber vampire is just a character created in the mind of the person behind the keyboard, much like roleplay.

8)Q: What is a blood fetishist?
A: Blood fetishists are mortals whose fetish (fascination and/or turn on) is blood. They derive sexual pleasure out of taking blood of others and/or being cut themselves, or bloodplay of other types. Fetishists of any type (people into the BDSM scene, people with foot fetishes, sexual-roleplay fetishes, drag, go-go, etc) including blood fetishists have nothing to do with vampirism. It is true that the BDSM and blood fetish scenes as well as some others tend to crossover into the vampire scene from time to time. As you might imagine, the bloodplay attracts blood vampires in need of donors, while the BDSM scene (which involves energy and power based on who dominates and who submits) attracts psychic vampires in need of energy. But this is not always the case, and many fetishists are simply fetishists and nothing more.

9)Q: What is a RPG?
A: A RPG is a roleplaying game. These are games which allow a person to act out various different fantasy situations and characters, usually with a troupe of other players. Some RPG's are played around a table with ten or more sided dice, others are acted out as in a play (Live action roleplaying). Some are played with cards, and still others are played with a mixture of all of the above. There are several different companies which design RPG's. Among them are Dungeons and Dragon (wizards, knights, shape-shifters,etc), Ravenloft (Vampires, but you play the enemy of the vampire), White Wolf (the "world of Darkness" series includes Vampires, Werewolves, changelings, Mages and ghosts), Wizards of the Coast (Magic: The gathering, Vampire: The eternal struggle) and countless others.

10)Q: What is a goth?
A: Goths are mortals who dress in blacks, reds and other gothic colors and styles. Usually, they follow Wicca (witchcraft), Vampirism, the occult in general or all of the above. Most goths are simply mortals, but some may be unconcious vampires as well.

11)Q: Who is this Anne Rice person and what's so special about her?
A: Anne Rice is an author who lives in New Orleans and has written numerous bestsellers about vampires, witches, ghost, mummies and other creatures of horror and fantasy. She essentially revolutionized the neo-vampire fictional movement with her wickedly romantic dark characters of Lestat and Louis, etc. The reason why most fans like her is because she makes herself so easily accesible...writing newsletters, allowing tours through her home and doll collection, doing booksignings, and showing up every year at the ARVLFC (Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat Fan club) gathering every year.

12)Q: I keep hearing something about vampire breeds...what is meant by this?
A: To my understanding, these breeds are some of the sub-categories of folkloric vampires, around the world. To read more about these breeds, Click here

13)Q: What is the difference between a clan and a breed?
A: Well, clans are for the vampires of roleplay as well as vampyres, in a sort of hierachial order. Breeds apply to folkloric vampires.

14)Q: What is the difference between the term "Vampire" and "Vampyre"?
A: The term "vampire" refers to psychic vampires, blood vampires as well as supernatural, undead vampires such as seen in fiction. A "Vampyre" (also known as a social vampire or vampyre lifestyler) is someone who simply mimics the life of vampires and enjoys the sense of "bonding" created by the vampyre community. It is also noteworthy that there are hierachies within vampyre "families".

15)Q: Why would you not recommend becoming a living vampire?
A: I would never condemn a non-vampire to a life of endless cravings which can never really be satisfied, the loneliness and exile one feels because you hurt your friends and loved ones, not to mention you can never truly trust anyone. Living vampires are not immortal, all can go out in the sunlight but usually the effects of the light cause headaches and burning eyes. Living vampires who drink blood can contract diseases from the blood they drink, and they always have to worry about where their next donation is coming from and what it will do to the victim. Psychic vampires are usually overly sensitive, which includes sometimes frightening rushes of emotion and mental anguish. In the long run, you are much better off as what you were born into. Follow nature...it usually knows best.

16)Q: If you, Rose Noire, are so against the confusion between living vampires and undead vampires and how many mortals mistake the one for the other, then why does your website focus on fictional, undead vampires?
A: The original concept and goal of this website was to make it a valuable resource for those seeking information on the fictional and roleplaying side of vampirism. I consider myself fairly knowledgable in all areas of the vampire genre, and just thought it would be a nice idea to have a website where all sides of that genre were represented. I also feel that exploring our dark side, the side that enjoys reading vampire fiction and vampiric roleplaying, is very important if we as a whole are to ever find the answers to the mysteries of life. For how can there ever be good without evil? And if we are to improve ourselves personally, would it not be crucial to understand what makes us evil in order to better appreciate good and learn how to attain it? For no sole human being, or creature of any kind really, can determine what is moral or imoral, good or bad, but if we all search together and educate ourselves, then perhaps we can find a common bond uniting us all and use it to achieve a greater goal.

17)Q: Interest in Vampires seems to be increasing in popularity. How would you explain this?
A: Well, I believe that many people are searching for their identity...and for a meaning to the chaos called life. This would mean that we no longer dread what we have been taught to fear by instinct, but embrace it to perhaps find an answer within. Traditionally, 'undead' vampires offer release...they are free to do what they please, having inexorable control over their victims (who wouldn't be a least a little tempted by that kind of power?). They posses amazing abilities and can arouse sexual desire unlike any mere mortal, and yet they are cursed to never experience the joys of the flesh albeit by drinking blood from their human brothers. The gift/curse of (undead) vampirism gives a person the chance to start a new life...in effect,with a clean slate. Life is no dress rehearsal, but at least as an undead vampire, you can kill the audience if they dislike your performance....

17)Q: Is vampirism and/or witchcraft satanic/evil in nature?
A: No. Living vampires have nothing to do with satan or God or anything of the like...in fact, many tend to be very nice, normal people living ordinary lives who are tolerant of a lot of different religions. Some are even devout christians, while others worship different Gods/Goddesses/etc. Still, indeed, some might be worshippers of satan but this is a matter of their personal spiritual choice and has nothing to do with their vampiric nature. Along these same lines, people who practise witchcraft are not necessarily evil or satanic in nature either. Wicca (modern day witchcraft, stemming from pagan roots) is a positive, earth based religion whose followers generally tend to worship Gods/Goddesses and the earth/nature itself. Nothing at all to do with Satan. And in the end, who can really say what is good and what is evil, anyway? Now, I'm not saying there aren't people who are vampires or witches, who don't take things to dark and "evil" places...the kind who practise black magick or intentionally try to harm people in other ways. But this is the exception and not the rule, and these people do not define the aspects of a vampirism or wiccan. So of course, you'll get some witches or vampires or satanists who might do bad things to others...but then, even some Christians also do bad things to other people. People in general do bad things to other people. But we don't automatically assume that the whole human race is evil and satanic just because there are psycho killers out there. And we don't automatically assume that just because one religious person might take a fit into their head that their mission from God is to convert/or destroy all those who do not believe, that all people of that respective faith are evil. And likewise, it is unfair, biased and wrong to assume that the whole nature of vampirism/witchcraft is evil just because one person claiming to be a vampire/witch does some heinous crime. I could go on, but I'm trying to make this short...so I think I've made my point for now.

17)Q: Where can I find the music playing on your site and/or what are the songs?
A: You can find a list of songs playing throughout VAU© by Clicking Here

18)Q: Is this website affiliated with the novel Vampires Among Us by Rosemary Ellen Guiley?
A: No. This website is a privately run endeavor by a member of the vampyre/vampire community for the vampyre/vampire community. It is not affiliated with any novel, business, organization, etc. I chose the title of Vampires Among Us© due to the fact that there are vampires everywhere, all around us. Some of them do not even realize what they are. Some of them do. In either case, this site wishes to acknowledge the existence of the vampire/vampyre community and strives to benefit it.

19)Q: Can you send me some information on Vampires?
A: Most of what I can say about vampires/vampyres is listed throughout this site. The pursuit of knowledge requires effort, my friends...seek and ye shall find. Please do not just ask me to send you miscellaneous information about vampires when there is literally billions and billions and billions of things relating to the vampire...I'm a very busy woman and I hate having to repeat myself. Whatever you're looking for, please try searching through VAU© for a bit first. If you have a specific question or comment, or you need help in navigating VAU©, then by all means contact me.

20)Q: How do you know so much about vampirism/ What is your credibility?
A: I am a long-term member of the vampyre/vampire community. It is my lifestyle, my essense and my soul. I am in contact with many of the major vampire/vampyre organizations and I am always looking for new information concerning the vampire genre in reality, fiction, folklore or any mmanner of ways. I believe in the integrity of the vampyric/vampiric circle and community...and integrity in all things in general...therefore all imformation I provide at VAU© is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and observances. This does not mean; however, that I am always right. After all, nobody knows the total truth anyway no matter how much they think they understand and know. I am merely a very informed source, I suppose. If you still have concerns as to my credibility and personality, please refer to My Bio Page.