I have met a real vampire before!
Did they feed on the life essence of the living?
They had a friend who would let them feed on them.
Vampires have been recorded in most cultures and have been known by many names, so there is a good chance that was a real vampire 
Probably just someone trying to be a vampire.
In modern times the vampire is generally held as a fictitious entity, though believe of vampiric creatures still exists 
I don't believe they exist. I think it's all a myth.
Vampire
A vampire is a being from folklore that subsists by feeding on the vital force (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires were undead beings that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths in the neighborhoods they inhabited while they were alive. They wore shrouds and were often described as bloated and of ruddy or dark countenance, markedly different from today's gaunt, pale vampire which dates from the early 19th century.
Vampiric entities have been recorded in most cultures;
putting her into a trance-like state that allows them not only to submit to his will but also seek him and satisfy his need to feed.
Dracula's powers and weaknesses vary greatly in the many adaptations. Previous and subsequent vampires from different legends have had similar vampire characteristics.
Character development subsequent to the novel.
Dracula is one of the most famous characters in popular culture. He has been portrayed by more actors in more visual media adaptations of the novel than any other horror character. Actors who have