Being the blood-thirsty "Vampire Diaries" addict that I am, questions and thoughts about immortality have become part of my everyday routine.
Actually, I have been intrigued by these night-dwelling creatures since before Damon Salvatore graced my screen with his beautiful presence.
Maybe, I always think, just maybe . . . mywildest and vivid thoughts can someday make me part of the cold ones' mystical world.
But never did I think would come across the opportunity to interview a self-proclaimed vampire, or rather Vampyre, that spends her free time working in a butchery on Fridays and Saturdays to ease her aching need for blood.
She prefers to go by her night-time name, Rosadantus – "dantus" being the Latin word for giver [actually, that would be "dator" - Ed.] and this 21-year old Wits-student claims that she has known about her vamp tendencies since the age of 10.
Now, little Rosa didn't exactly run up to mommy and rip out half an artery to let her mom in on the secret – the only reason mom knew something was up was because of her little girl's self-harming behavior which started before her eleventh birthday.
And the word ''vampire'' never crossed her mind.
"I have always thought about blood and what it would taste like before I went to bed at night," Rosa says.
Her self-harming became more frequent and before she knew it, she was gulping down her own blood.
Even my eyes stretched at the picture that formed in my head: put long straw in wound and suck HARD, bloodsucker! Luckily this was not at all the case.
Rosa explains that it only takes a few shallow cuts to her thigh and an ice-cream scoop to complete the feast.
When she was 15, her real awakening dawned on her when she accidentally hit two arteries in her school's bathroom - the fangs were out for good. But Rosa doesn't like any blood, only human blood gives the high that is desired.
She started exploring the blood-driven community and met various self-proclaimed vampires.
Rosa started donating her own blood to two vampires at once, feeding them two to three tablespoons of her crimson juice twice a week.
But don't think you shove a spoon or tooth into your donor, suck them dry and make like a bat and evaporate. A Donor Bill of Rights needs to be signed by both parties to give consent.
Rosa also educates that it is only common courtesy for the feeder to buy their donor's bandages and make sure that the bloodbag is treated with respect at all times.
"The reason we don't drink straight from the vain is a precaution. It is unhygienic in the first place. The only person who I have fed from the vain is my girlfriend Andi which I met six months ago. It was even more special than sex," says Rosa.
Within this young vampire romance, both Rosa and Andi agree that blood needs to be warm and if you really want a good fix you have to sink your fangs into some anemic blood, since the metal taste is not predominant at all.
Rosa admits that she has taken advantage of her butchery job and drink animal blood, but nothing comes close to the finger-licking taste of freshly squeezed blood.
"Cold blood is disgusting. Me and my previous vampire tried to freeze our blood in the form of ice cubes, but it just curdled and tasted vile, so I decided there and then that I will only stick with fresh, warm blood," says Rosa.
According to her, nothing gives you a warm, full feeling like blood and the energy that it provides can't be put into words. On being asked if she has to lurk in the shadows to avoid sunlight and run circles around churches, the thin, pale being cracks a smile.
"The only reason I burn is probably because I have a very pale skin. It was scary walking into a church once, but luckily I didn't burn at the door."
While paving the nicotine highway to her lungs on a sunny August afternoon, Rosa declares that she has not had a drop of blood over her lips for three weeks!
Andi does not want her to harm herself in order to feed the habit, but Rosa is suffering.
From going to the real thing to having to feed off energy of others while sitting in her examination hall, is a tremendous change of lifestyle.
"We will still find a way to feed every week, that is a promise," Andi sets her love's mind at ease.
According to Rosa the vampire community is very alive and active in Port Elizabeth.
The South African Vampyre Alliance's (SAVA) website has allowed the newly awakened creatures to be encouraged to be themselves. SAVA is an independent and autonomous organisation operating within the South African Vampyre community, which consists of those who self-identify as vampyres and those who associate with them for their own general reasons. And why the ''Y'' spelling rather than the ''I''? Simply because it is the older term used for self-proclaimed vampires.
Rosa reckons it is time that the dust and cobwebs on the coffins are swept off and her brothers and sisters need to start being who they are without hiding from the world. "Crosses and garlic and all that other shit does nothing. The only thing that will probably work is a pure silver stake through the heart which won't be necessary. I will never force anyone to be a vampire and I would never wish it on someone. I won't be able to turn someone, it is a choice they have to make and you thirst for blood is with you since the day you are born," Rosa concludes.
I have definitely established that vampires do not glitter and I am still on team Jacob when it comes to Twilight. Knowing what I know now, I would rather still sit comfortably in my vampire bubble in Mystic Falls with Damon Salvatore completing the picture of what a vampire should be and occasionally coming into my room sucking the blood out of my artery than get a minora blade and ice-cream scoop to satisfy my fantasy...
Rosa admits that she has taken advantage
of her butchery
job and drank
animal blood
was not how it works. Rosa explains that it only takes a few shallow cuts to her thigh and an ice-cream scoop to complete the feast.
When she was 15, she accidentally hit two arteries in her school's bathroom - it was an awakening, and the fangs were out for good. But Rosa doesn't like just any blood; only human blood gives the high that she desires. She explored the blood-driven community and started donating her own blood to two vampires at once, feeding them two-to-three tablespoons of her crimson juice twice a week. But don't think you shove a spoon or tooth into your donor, suck them dry and make like a bat and evaporate. A Donor Bill of Rights needs to be signed by both parties to give consent. Rosa also educates that it is only common courtesy for the feeder to buy their donor's bandages and make sure that the bloodbag is treated with respect at all times.
"The reason we don't drink straight from the vain is a precaution. It is unhygienic in the first place. The only person who I have fed from the vain is my girlfriend Andi which I met six months ago. It was even more special than sex," says Rosa.
Within this young vampire romance, both Rosa and Andi agree that blood needs to be warm and if you really want a good fix you have to sink your fangs into some anemic blood, since the metal taste is not predominant at all.
Rosa admits that she has taken advantage of her butchery job and drink animal blood, but nothing comes close to the finger-licking taste of freshly squeezed blood.
"Cold blood is disgusting. Me and my previous vampire tried to freeze our blood in the form of ice cubes, but it just curdled and tasted vile, so I decided there and then that I will only stick with fresh, warm blood," says Rosa. According to her, nothing gives you a warm, full feeling like blood and the energy that it provides can't be put into words. On being asked if she has to lurk in the shadows to avoid sunlight and run circles around churches, the thin, pale being cracks a smile. "The only reason I burn is probably because I have a very pale skin. It was scary walking into a church once, but luckily I didn't burn at the door."
While paving the nicotine highway to her lungs on a sunny August afternoon, Rosa declares that she has not had a drop of blood over her lips for three weeks! Andi does not want her to harm herself in order to feed the habit, but Rosa is suffering. From going to the real thing to having to feed off energy of others while sitting in her examination hall, is a tremendous change of lifestyle. "We will still find a way to feed every week, that is a promise," Andi sets her love's mind at ease.
According to Rosa the vampire community is very alive and active in Port Elizabeth. The South African Vampyre Alliance's (SAVA) website has allowed the newly awakened creatures to be encouraged to be themselves. SAVA is an independent and autonomous organisation operating within the South African Vampyre community, which consists of those who self-identify as vampyres and those who associate with them for their own general reasons. And why the ''Y'' spelling rather than the ''I''? Simply because it is the older term used for self-proclaimed vampires.
Rosa reckons it is time that the dust and cobwebs on the coffins are swept off and her brothers and sisters need to start being who they are without hiding from the world. "Crosses and garlic and all that other shit does nothing. The only thing that will probably work is a pure silver stake through the heart which won't be necessary. I will never force anyone to be a vampire and I would never wish it on someone. I won't be able to turn someone, it is a choice they have to make and you thirst for blood is with you since the day you are born," Rosa concludes.
I have definitely established that vampires do not glitter and I am still on team Jacob when it comes to Twilight. Knowing what I know now, I would rather still sit comfortably in my vampire bubble in Mystic Falls with Damon Salvatore completing the picture of what a vampire should be and occasionally coming into my room sucking the blood out of my artery than get a minora blade and ice-cream scoop to satisfy my fantasy...
just shove a spoon or tooth into your donor, suck them dry, make like a bat and evaporate. A "Donor Bill of Rights" needs to be signed by both parties to give consent. Rosa says it is also only common courtesy for the feeder to buy their donor's bandages and make sure that the bloodbag is treated with respect at all times.
"The reason we don't drink straight from the vain is a safety. It is unhygienic, for one. The only person whose vein I have fed from is my girlfriend Andi, who I met six months ago. It was even more special than sex."
Rosa admits that she has taken advantage of her butchery job and drinks animal blood, but nothing comes close to the finger-licking taste of freshly squeezed blood.
"Cold blood is disgusting. Another vampire and I tried to freeze our blood in cubes, but it just curdled and tasted vile.
so I decided there and then that I will only stick with fresh, warm blood," says Rosa. According to her, nothing gives you a warm, full feeling like blood and the energy that it provides can't be put into words. On being asked if she has to lurk in the shadows to avoid sunlight and run circles around churches, the thin, pale being cracks a smile. "The only reason I burn is probably because I have a very pale skin. It was scary walking into a church once, but luckily I didn't burn at the door."
While paving the nicotine highway to her lungs on a sunny August afternoon, Rosa declares that she has not had a drop of blood over her lips for three weeks! Andi does not want her to harm herself in order to feed the habit, but Rosa is suffering. From going to the real thing to having to feed off energy of others while sitting in her examination hall, is a tremendous change of lifestyle. "We will still find a way to feed every week, that is a promise," Andi sets her love's mind at ease.
According to Rosa the vampire community is very alive and active in Port Elizabeth. The South African Vampyre Alliance's (SAVA) website has allowed the newly awakened creatures to be encouraged to be themselves. SAVA is an independent and autonomous organisation operating within the South African Vampyre community, which consists of those who self-identify as vampyres and those who associate with them for their own general reasons. And why the ''Y'' spelling rather than the ''I''? Simply because it is the older term used for self-proclaimed vampires.
Rosa reckons it is time that the dust and cobwebs on the coffins are swept off and her brothers and sisters need to start being who they are without hiding from the world. "Crosses and garlic and all that other shit does nothing. The only thing that will probably work is a pure silver stake through the heart which won't be necessary. I will never force anyone to be a vampire and I would never wish it on someone. I won't be able to turn someone, it is a choice they have to make and you thirst for blood is with you since the day you are born," Rosa concludes.
I have definitely established that vampires do not glitter and I am still on team Jacob when it comes to Twilight. Knowing what I know now, I would rather still sit comfortably in my vampire bubble in Mystic Falls with Damon Salvatore completing the picture of what a vampire should be and occasionally coming into my room sucking the blood out of my artery than get a minora blade and ice-cream scoop to satisfy my fantasy...
"So I decided there and then that I would stick with fresh, warm blood," says Rosa.
Nothing gives you a warm, full feeling like blood and the energy that it provides can't be put into words, she says.
Asked if she has to lurk in the shadows to avoid sunlight and run circles around churches, the thin, pale being cracks a smile.
"The only reason I burn is probably because I have very pale skin. It was scary walking into a church once, but luckily I didn't burn at the door."
While paving the nicotine highway to her lungs on a sunny August afternoon, Rosa declares that she has not had a drop of blood over her lips for three weeks.
Andi does not want her to harm herself in order to feed the habit, but Rosa is suffering. From going to the real thing to having to feed off energy of others while sitting in her examination hall is a tremendous change of lifestyle.
"We will still find a way to feed every week, that is a promise," Andi says to set her lover's mind at ease.
According to Rosa the vampire community is very alive and active in Port Elizabeth. The South African Vampyre Alliance (SAVA) website has encouraged the newly-awakened creatures to be themselves.
SAVA is an independent and autonomous organisation operating within the South African Vampyre community, which consists of those who self-identify as vampyres
or those who associate with them for their own reasons.
Rosa reckons it is time the dust and cobwebs on the coffins are swept off and her brothers and sisters start being who they are without hiding from the world. "Crosses and garlic and all that other shit does nothing. The only thing that will probably work is a pure silver stake through the heart, which won't be necessary. I will never force anyone to be a vampire and I would never wish it on someone. I won't be able to turn someone, it is a choice they have to make and you thirst for blood is with you since the day you are born," Rosa concludes.
I have definitely established that vampires do not glitter and I am still on team Jacob when it comes to Twilight. Knowing what I know now, I would rather still sit comfortably in my vampire bubble in Mystic Falls with Damon Salvatore completing the picture of what a vampire should be and occasionally coming into my room sucking the blood out of my artery than get a minora blade and ice-cream scoop to satisfy my fantasy...
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