What Is It Like To Live As A Vampire?

(From the Weird Darkness episode, “From Leeds to Lore, The Jersey Devil”: https://weirddarkness.com/jerseydevil/)

There exists a group of individuals who identify as vampires, not solely for the sake of trendy pop culture. These contemporary vampires possess fangs, attire themselves in vintage clothing, and uphold what they consider to be vampire philosophies. The primary enclave of these vampires lies within the Sabretooth Clan, situated in Los Angeles. This group comprises like-minded members, each wearing custom fangs crafted by their founder, Father Sebastiaan. Members of the Sabretooth Clan integrate into society, with some selectively displaying their vampire identity at events, while others are more overt. The lifestyle of the Sabretooth Clan may not appeal to everyone, but for those intrigued, they are open to welcoming new members.

Some of these modern vampires do engage in blood consumption, which they obtain from Black Swans—individuals who admire vampire culture but do not consider themselves vampires. However, the Sabretooth Clan abstains from the blood-drinking practices embraced by certain vampire factions. Instead, members prefer to don custom fangs, wear colored contacts, attire from different eras, and adopt the persona of “children of the night.” By day, Sabretooth Clan members blend seamlessly into society, holding regular jobs, raising families, and leading generally conventional lives. The Clan believes in a group of spirits that watch over them. One of these spirits, Fred Samedi the Host, serves as the emblem for the Clan’s Endless Night Vampire Ball and bears a resemblance to the Voodoo spirit Baron Samedi. Members of the Clan present gifts to Fred Samedi as offerings during the Ball. Described by the group’s founder, Father Sebastiaan, Kitra the witch is recognized as “the Sorceress and Vampyre Witch,” characterized as both forceful and emotionally intense. Elorath the Dragon can be invoked in rituals for power, while Mradu the knight is viewed as a protector.

According to Father Sebastiaan, individuals belonging to the Sabretooth Clan identify as vampyres or “lifestylers.” This contemporary vampire lifestyle allows flexibility in adhering to their chosen way of life, enabling them to decide when and where to embody vampiric traits. Most modern vampires fall under the lifestyle category, steering clear of role-playing games and instead following a vampire philosophy rooted in traditional vampiric elements (excluding blood-drinking).

As per the Sabretooth Clan forums, the Current is considered the spirit and “blood” of the Clan. It stems from a collective energy formed by members’ interactions, personal achievements, rituals, and events. The Current gains strength through new initiates completing the Rites of Transformation, drawing and sharing their excitement and passion to enhance the spiritual energy of the collective. To be considered for an official invitation to join the Clan, prospective members must undergo the Rites of Transformation. This process includes the creation of custom fangs by Father Sebastiaan for the applicant, followed by the recitation of specific promises in a Southern accent, such as “I WILL NOT SLEEP WITH MY FANGS ON! BY THE POWER OF SEBASTIAAN!” Subsequently, the second rite involves looking at oneself in a mirror with the fangs in place, followed by the Naming and the Ankh ceremonies. After these rituals, select individuals may receive invitations to join the Clan.

Father Sebastiaan’s fascination with vampires began at a young age. As reported by *The Cut*, he initially requested a set of fangs from his orthodontist grandfather, a request that was denied. In 1994, Sebastiaan started crafting his own fangs, which are prosthetics attached to the wearer’s teeth with adhesive. Members of the Sabretooth Clan, Sebastiaan’s personal clientele, undergo a 30-45 minute in-person appointment for custom-made fangs priced between $150 and $299. Sebastiaan claims to have created thousands of sets of fangs since the commencement of his practice.

The Sabretooth Vampyre Clan, much akin to Taika Waititi’s vampires in *What We Do In the Shadows*, hosts an annual Vampyre Ball on Halloween known as the “Endless Night Vampire Ball.” Celebrated for the past two decades in various locations, the Ball enforces a strict dress code inspired by a different historical period each year. Described as a fusion between a Venetian masquerade ball and a vampire court, infused with the vivacity of a rock concert and the sophistication of a burlesque cabaret, the Ball promises a unique experience.

Upon induction into the Sabretooth Clan, members gain access to certain exclusive privileges, including attendance at the Conclave Festival held in different castles worldwide over five days. Exclusive to Sabretooth Clan members, the festival offers a range of activities such as seminars, musical performances, Vampire and Fetish Balls, as well as interactive games with other Clan members. In 2017, the festival was hosted at Castle Finstergrün in Austria.

To maintain formal communication on official Clan message boards and during events like the Endless Night Ball, vampires steer clear of using human names. Instead, they adopt sobriquets—personal and descriptive pseudonyms chosen by or bestowed upon Clan members. With guidelines in place to prevent excessively flamboyant or overtly pop culture-inspired names, members are encouraged to draw upon ancient languages or deities for naming inspiration while being cautioned about the potential potency such names may hold. When given or selecting a vampire name, it is expected that a Clan member be addressed by that name in all interactions with fellow members. Referring to them by their mundane, human name is considered extremely impolite, disrespectful, and an infringement of their privacy.

(“What Is It Like To Live As A Vampire?” source: Jodie Smith, Graveyard Shift/Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9dz58b)