On Halloween night, the streets will no doubt be full of witches, monsters, superheroes, princesses and vampires – some more real than others. 

Lord Braxton Lawrence Oliver Owen Darlington III, a vampire who relocated to South Portland two years ago, said Halloween is the perfect time to satisfy his desire for the taste of human blood. By day, Darlington is a math teacher at an area elementary school – a new career inspired by his love of watching online videos of Count Dracula from Sesame Street – and by night he is a 295-year-old British vampire. 

Darlington, a London native, moved to Maine after seeing pictures of fall foliage. After hundreds of years in London, he decided to “hop across the pond” to pursue a teaching career. He said he has managed to keep a low profile by abstaining from drinking blood as much as possible, in large part because he does not like to hurt people. 

Darlington agreed to answer questions from the Sentry to help “regular” people understand what life is like for a vampire. 

What was your childhood like?

I was born June 23, 1713 in London, though I spent school holidays in my ancestral home in Darlington, England. I fondly remember the hours my brothers and I spent playing on the banks of the River Skerne. My early childhood was relatively unremarkable until I turned 17.

What happened when you turned 17?

That was the year I met Chester Burne, a new pupil in my dormitory at school. He was there for several weeks before I spoke to him during supper. He was quite an interesting fellow, having just moved back to London after living for several years in a small village in Germany. I never knew where or why, as Chester was secretive about his past. We got on quite well, so I brought him home to Darlington on holiday in October. 

One evening we were out for a stroll looking at the full moon. As we walked down to the river, I saw Chester bend to pick up a rock. I remember nothing else about that night. I woke up the following morning in my own bed with a sore neck. Upon closer inspection, I found two puncture wounds on the side of my neck. Chester explained to me what happened and told me about life as a vampire. He apologized profusely, telling me he simply could not resist the urge to drink my blood any longer. 

As I adjusted to my new life over the next several years, Chester was a great source of support and encouragement. Chester retired from his banking career in 1903 and now lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I visit him whenever I need a quiet vacation.

How did becoming a vampire change your life?

The biggest adjustment was learning to control my desire for blood. I crave the blood of the living and like to hunt at night, but I do try to keep my urges in check to maintain my svelte figure and avoid causing people discomfort. I initially loved the idea that vampires are immortal, but quickly came to realize I do have weaknesses – stakes through my heart, fire, direct sunlight and beheading. I’m also wary of crucifixes, holy water and garlic. However, I apply lots of sunscreen and always wear a baseball hat during daylight and simply avoid cooking with garlic and visiting churches. Few people know that I am a vampire, so I don’t worry too much. 

As many people may know, vampires do not cast reflections in mirrors, so I never really know if my hair is as perfectly coiffed as I think it is. 

What kinds of activities do you enjoy in your free time?

I mainly enjoy reading, watching romantic comedies and cooking. I know some people may find it amusing that I enjoy romantic comedies – When Harry Met Sally is my favorite – but it’s nice to spent a few hours here and there thinking about romance. On evenings when I am fasting from blood, I try to cook some of the strange things I’ve seen in New England like “boiled dinner” and “franks and beans.” I must admit there was some confusion on my part about franks, as I assumed I was to find a man named Frank. Who knew hot dogs had another name?

What are your favorite books? Do you read vampire stories?

One of my favorite stories is “The Vampyre” by John Polidori. I read it in 1819, the year it was released, when I was just 106 years old. I was living in London at the time, where the story got a lot of attention because of its realistic portrayal of vampires. Before Polidori’s story, vampires were described as hideous, mindless creatures of animal instinct that crawled out of graves to prey upon their own families. Polidori, however, portrayed his vampire as a smooth, socially adept man who frequents parties, travels and sleeps in a regular bed. He could have been writing about me. 

What blood type do you enjoy the most?

To be honest, all blood is delicious. Types A and B are very similar and easy to find. Type O is probably my favorite because it is such a treat to find.

What’s the best part of being a vampire?

The extra years I now have to travel, meet people and pursue all of my dreams. In London, I worked many different jobs but always dreamed of being a teacher. After going back to college to earn another degree, I decided to follow my dream. I’m grateful I was able to move to Maine because it is such a beautiful state and everyone here is so friendly.