Vampires are on everybody’s tongue these days following movies like Twilight and TV-series like True Blood. But are they roaming freely in the midst of our society? And if so, how can we spot them? Bram Stoker offers good tips and tricks on how to spot a vampire in his work Dracula.

One of the most famous vampires seems to have been Vlad the Impaler, a notoriously cruel 15th century prince in Wallachia (now a part of Romania – the ancestral home of vampires). According to legend, Vlad the Impaler would have hung up his enemies, or anyone that displeased him, on poles and generally upholding a reign of terror until meeting a horrible end, although his tomb on a small island on the lake Snagov in Romania was empty when it was opened. Other names for these creatures are Nosferatu, Drakulya and Strigori. All words for one of the most famous creatures.

There are several famous people who have been accused of being vampires, the most famous being Lord Byron. Other known personalities include German actor Klaus Kinski, who was most certainly a vampire, and perhaps still is.

While we have entertained these bloodthirsty night-creatures in movies, books and games, they have only entertained us... as dinner. Should you suspect such a monster in your area, or if you find yourself wandering through a dark forest in Transylvania; fear not. With the right training and steps at your fingertips, you can hunt that which is dead but is not.
Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:
• Stake
• Garlic
• Holy water
• Crucifix, made of silver, if possible


Step 1

Look for patterns of attacks. Vampires will not be able to mask their attacks. Look for accounts of corpses with complete loss of blood and possible bite marks on the body. Given modern society's view of the supernatural, this will probably be discounted as a serial killer instead of an undead feeding of the living. The attacks will generally occur in the general area surrounding the vampire's nest.

Step 2

Check abandoned properties. Once you've determined the patterns of attack, look for any abandoned properties in the area. Vampires will like houses with basements or cellars and if there are any abandoned churches, vampires may take the opportunity to rest in forsaken and defiled holy ground.

Step 3

Arm yourself. Have garlic and crosses as protective measures and arm yourself with wooden stakes, a sword and holy water. Also make sure you have a medical kit for any injuries and a flashlight to illuminate your way.

Step 4

Hunt in daylight. A vampire is most powerful during the night. Do not hunt them on their own terms. Wait until daybreak and search for their resting places. If the hunt takes too long and it starts to get late, abandon the search until dawn.

Step 5

Destroy them while they sleep. Once you find a vampire's coffin or crypt, strike it while it is asleep. Do not give it a chance to wake up (although in the daytime this will be difficult for them, if possible at all) and do not hesitate. Vampires have been known to have demonic dogs or other unnatural servants employed to watch over them in the daytime, so be careful.

Go with a band of hunters if possible. Hunting a vampire by yourself is dangerous work. Find a handful of good men to accompany you. This will increase your arsenal and your chances of survival. Know your mutual strengths and weakness and use them to work together.