Real-life vamps not like movie versions

ATLANTA, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Atlanta-area residents who claim to be real-life vampires say don't have much sympathy for glamorous movie and TV bloodsuckers.

The pouting young beauties of the "Twilight Saga" movies and the CW Network's "Vampire Diaries" have little in common with members of the 4-year-old Atlanta Vampire Alliance, whose members say they suck energy from people and only occasionally drink small amounts of blood, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

"Merticus," an alliance organizer, told the newspaper real vamps are no different, physically or psychologically, from anyone else.

"We could be the model-train group down the street from you," he said, adding that they don't have supernatural powers such as immortality or skin that sparkles in the sunlight.

The Journal-Constitution said vampire groups have been around for years, with a recent academic study of the phenomenon indicating most self-styled vampires blend in with everyday people in appearance and behavior ... though some vampires reportedly wear fake fangs and "goth" fashions.