‘You’re right, I’m very skeptical,’ I admitted. I told Peter Westin about the most recent murder in Los Angeles, and then he let me ask whatever questions I wished about the vampire world. He answered patiently, and I soon learned that a vampire subculture exists in virtually every major city as well as some smaller ones, such as Santa Cruz, California; Austin, Texas; Savannah, Georgia; Batavia, New York; Des Moines, Iowa.
‘A real vampire,’he told me,’is a person born with an extraordinary gift. He, or she, has the capacity to absorb, channel, transform, and manipulate pranic energy – the life force. Serious vampires are usually very spiritual.’
‘How does drinking human blood fit in?’ I asked Peter Westin.
Then I quickly added,’If it does.’
Westin answered quietly/It is said that blood is the highest known source of pranic energy. If I drink your blood, then I take your strength.’
‘My blood?’I asked.