That night had been a very humid summer night; many people were reluctant to dance as it was too hot. The bar windows and doors were all open to try and cool the room but there was nothing much that could be done. Everyone smelled of lust and sweat; one of Tristana's favourite aromas. She wished she knew the technology to create such a perfume; she would have it made. Maybe she could find a scientist and turn him or her and make them work for her in her laboratory. She chuckled to herself and thought of an old movie she had watched as the mad scientist laughing an evil laugh. She watched Chantal on the dance floor, all alone, dancing to Gothic music. Tonight was Gothic night and Tristana felt right at home, as she always liked the feel and look of the Goth's, the dark and gloomy people.

She felt right at home, they were more erotic than the everyday people. She drank a bit of her wine, even though she knew it would not satisfy her thirst. She was mesmerized by this new mortal. Even though she was depressed and hurt inside she had an aura of passion and overwhelming love to people. It was nearing midnight, and she knew that the bar would be closing in about two hours. She hated this country for that. in Europe the parties would last all night. This country was a party pooper but it was also one of the most beautiful as well.

She stood and slowly made her way to the dance floor, and made her way to her prey; she approached her dancing and did not smile. She threw in a bit of her gypsy dancing that she had learnt many years ago. swaying of the hips and a couple of twirls. She had a lot of time on her hands and had learnt many dances. but this one was one of her most favourite as it made her dress flow nicely. She approached Chantal and began to use her wonderful mind magic on her; but Chantal did not listen to her; she was blocking Tristana from entering her mind. This had been one of the first in a long time.

She attempted again to do it but Chantal only stopped dancing, looked at her and in a whisper in Tristana's ear, she said:

"I know what you are, take me with you tonight."

Chantal grabbed Tristana's wrist and pulled her outside, across the street to a bench near the edge of the park.

Tristana sat down in amazement, and looked at Chantal into her eyes. Chantal looked at her in return and Tristana knew that this woman meant business, that she knew what she was. How did she know? Chantal caught her breath as she sat beside a true live vampire.

"You look just like her! You look just like the painting that I saw in my great aunts' attic when I was a little girl. When I had asked her back then; I did not believe her. She had told me that, the painting was of a great friend of hers, who helped her come to Canada when she was just a little girl. She had called you Tristana Goddess of Blood. This is you?"

Tristana had put all of the pieces together now. Emily Grandcoeur was her name, the little French girl that she had aided out of the war. When it had gotten too severe and she had found her crying in the rubble of the city, and decided that she would take her to Canada, to a mortal family that could care for her. Tristana had then decided to stay in Canada for a while.

Tristana smiled and relaxed a bit now. Now she looked at this young woman wondering how much her great aunt had told her. How much did she really know, as she had allowed Emily to write everything about her, to write a story of her life to keep as a treasure? Emily had probably let the young girl read it unless this young woman snuck in and took it as her own as a false fantasy. She would have to visit great aunt Emily and find out what had happened. Tristana stood and suddenly turned around and walked away, leaving Chantal behind.

Chantal sat on the bench shocked; she did not want her to leave. But she did have an idea of where she was going to. She ran to her car and made her way to her aunts'.

"Aunt Emily was now about 80 years old. It had been a long time, but she knew that Emily would remember her. Tristana would frequently visit her in lovely warm evenings and Emily would smile, and Tristana did not see the aging woman, she only ever saw her when little Emily was 6 years old.

She knocked on the door and waited. Looked at her watch and realized that if was 2 am in the morning and she was not sure if Emily would be awake, not at her age. She walked to the patio and looked for the room that had the night light. That is where Emily would be. Since a very young age Emily had never lost her fear of being in complete darkness.

She arrived at the back of the small home and found the room with the light, and of course a little landing was added by the window. Tristana smiled to herself and jumped up, landed without a sound. Tristana had always been welcomed into Emily's home. She was considered as her godmother.

Tristana opened the window, gathered her dress into her arm and climbed in. She still had the dolls that Tristana had given her all those past years. She had wrapped them in plastic to preserve them. Every birthday Tristana would leave a doll at the door step in the hopes that it would end up in Emily's hands. It seems that her adoptive parents did give them to her. She took a few more steps and saw Emily snuggled into bed, and not to startle her, she crouched down to mattress level and whispered into her ear.

"Sweet Emy, it's aunt Tristana"

Emily opened her eyes slowly and smiled as she realized who it was. She sat up slowly and Tristana could see that she had a difficulty sitting up. Tristana stood and assisted her to sit up, and fluffed up her pillows for her.

"Stop fussing over me, auntie. I have told you this before. I at least have the strength to still do a lot of things"

Tristana stopped and smiled to herself. She was still independent and stubborn; Tristana looked behind her and took the chair that was against the wall, pulled it up to the side of the bed.

Emily took a sip of her water that had been set on the night side table by herself every night and then put it back down again. Emily took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she had always done when thinking. She knew Tristana never came without a reason. She also had a feeling she knew why she was here, but wanted to hear it from Tristana first.

Tristana sat on the edge of the chair, her elbows resting on the arms of the chair and her fingers intertwined and touching her lips. Emily looked at her, and as impatient as she was, asked:

"So Auntie, what are you here for? It is so late at night. It must be important?"

Tristana raised her head and looked at her with disappointment. She needed to find out why Emily would share such deep secret information as her life to her great niece. Emily's face reacted to her aunt's look but then gave her a great smile. Emily readjusted herself in the bed by moving the blanket aside and letting her legs fall over the edge of the bed.

"Oh you are here for my little Chantal!"

She paused and took another sip of water. Tristana now knew that a bit of this had been planned; now what did Emily have in store for her Chantal?...