I’m a tattooed, Puerto Rican vampire – I get tan in the sun and don’t bite people but I do drink blood, it’s spiritual
A TATTOOED self-proclaimed vampire is setting the record straight on what it's really like to be a creature of the night.
Though he does, in fact, drink blood, he says it's a "sacred practice" — and warned that people shouldn't believe everything they hear about immortality, pale skin, and fear of garlic.
"I will say this: That it is something sacred, treasured by someone who I have a connection with on not just a physical level, but also an emotional and spiritual level.
"I don't need it to survive like some people, you know, like the stereotypical movie vampire that has to consume blood.
"I've been able to incorporate the feeding process more through energy than the physical of blood."
Miguel, who works as a tattoo artist and has his own ink covering his face and body, implements all the precautions when it comes to feasting on O+.
"It's a very sacred practice and we go through testing first, and then it's almost like a counseling session that I'll have with someone," he said.
I don't burn up in the sun. I'm Puerto Rican, I'm Caribbean, you know what I mean? I tan.
Miguel Valentin
"It's not a practice that's not done with extreme preparation and care."
He promised that his way of acquiring blood is nowhere near as grizzly as the horror films depict vampirism.
"I don't bite people," he said. "I think there are cleaner ways to draw from them."
Valentin also cleared up some other misconceptions people have about vampires from books, movies, and TV shows.
"I don't sparkle in the sunlight," he said, referring to Twilight. "It doesn't burn me."
In fact, many of the things vampires supposedly fear don't apply to him.
They're open to all who identify as or with mythical creatures, from vampires to witches.
He said the only restrictions he places on the readings is a three-minute timer and that it must be original content.
"I don't put a limit on what type of poetry you have to read," he said. "You can read whatever you want to read.
"There's been very erotic poetry. There's been a whole spectrum of topics with the poetry."
One time, however, someone came to crash the party but did not succeed.
"I had a vampire hunter come to one of the events," he said. "It was interesting. He never made it into the club."
Valentin said it was a testament to the energetic practice behind vampirism.
After Valentin told the self-described vampire hunter that he was welcome to the event if he went home and changed into proper attire, he didn't return.
"Before he knew it, he was facing the other direction, walking away," he said.
"That was us de-escalating a situation using energy."
Valentin highlighted that poetry has a place within vampirism and other lore of the immortal.
"The whole vampiric idea is primarily a metaphorical concept," he said.
"I believe that through my art, my writings, and different manifestations that I have been able to do I can become immortal.
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"Generations will be still talking about some of the things that I've done. My art walks around the Earth, all over the world."
Previously, The U.S. Sun spoke to a vampire and his witch girlfriend.