The afflicted, she said, were characterized by thin, pale skin and small teeth and gums, which gave the teeth a pointed look. A lack of blood platelets and need to nourish the loss was another symptom. And although most people view vampirism as mythology, some, including Smith, believe vampires are real. Vampires dress and imitate vampyres, but they are not genuine, Knight said. He said he needs the blood of a living person in order to sustain his life as a vampyre.
Knight attests that vampyrism is often misconstrued through fictional Hollywood films.
I don't go around sucking peoples' blood unless they consent. Although not diagnosed with a medical condition, he said he consumes enough to survive. The sensitivity to sunlight is also exaggerated in Hollywood. At night vampires are not troubled with nightmares, he said. According to Knight and folklore, the dreams typically portray the dreamer as the protagonist who is daunted with blood-rain or bloodbaths.