"Did you see her tonight? That is why you are probably here then; I know you sensed that she was sick. I hope you did and that will help explain why she knows about you."

Tristana nodded in agreement; she had sensed it. She would not have been interested in her unless she was sick. Drinking from the sick mortals and then healing their wounds after every drink was a great cover up, as the already sick gets a bit sicker and then recovers. It is just considered a relapse and that is it. With every mortal she changed into her family, they loved this fact as they were never killing humans but only draining them of enough blood to eat, and with the saliva healing properties it made things even easier.

"That is the way we live; if you cross this way of life I can end your life just as quickly. This is one of our codes and it must be followed"

This is what she always told her new family member as that is what is needed for the pact to live and survive.

Emily had now stood and headed to her little table at the other end of the room where she retrieved a cigarette and a lighter; she came back near the bed and with her shaky hands attempted to light the cigarette but with great difficulty. Tristana noticed this and offered to help, which Emily gratefully accepted.

"I told her when she was very young. She has always been sick, fighting this fighting that. It all began when she was three years old. She contracted an ear infection that never seemed to heal properly; the infection had gone into her blood stream and almost killed her at that age. After that her mother told me that it was almost like her body had given up trying to fight as it had tried so hard that time."

Emily took a small haul of her cigarette and did her typical smoke rings. Emily walked to her writing desk and removed the old journal that was written by her for her aunt Tristana.

"She found this in my trunk upstairs in the attic along with the painting of you. The chest had been under lock and key. I had gone out one day for errands and she stayed at home; her mother had been trying to find full time work, but as she had an interview she would not leave Chantal alone at their place but as she was okay to be on her own for a little bit I went out. I left her resting in the house and when I returned she had the painting and the book in the living room. It seemed a bit odd but I think that day she found a salvation to her illness and not only that, I also believe that she had known so for a long time; but of course there is no real way to prove it."

Emily placed it in Tristana's lap and tapped it gently to signal for her to keep it.

"It's been in my hands for too long my dear it's time for you to do something with it. Like I was saying I truly believe that she knew about this book for a longer time that I can really think about. The way she spoke to me about it. Telling me that this would be what she would dream of. That this is what she would want. I did however try and turn her away from it but it was no use at all, she did not want to hear nothing that I had to say on the topic. So I told her that in due time your aunty might find her; you might find her because she is ill, but that I would never introduce her to you. Never as I know that you would have been very upset with me."

Tristana stood up and walked away from Emily. She already knew where this was heading. She already knew. The classic "please change me into a vampire so that I won't be sick anymore. This was a moral issue for her as this was one of Emily's relatives. This would be a hard decision to make. She was not a blood relative but she was still a family member none the less. She was tired of fighting with mortals over this issue. Her great niece will ant to be changed; there will be no turning back once she is changed unless she begs Tristana then end her life. That would be even more difficult as she is then part of her blood family.

"Emily, you do not need to say anymore. Just have her meet me at the location that I will draw up in this book. She will have to bring it to me to prove that she really wants to be turned. You know all the things that she needs to do to prepare for this. I will also recap quickly in the back of the book, I know it's inside the book already but I want to confirm with her that all the steps really need to be done."

She stopped for a moment and put her hand out. Emily gave her a pen as she knew that is what Aunty wanted. Emily watched her write all of the information in the back of the book and smiled. She knew what Tristana was writing. She knew what was going one. Tristana was writing the rights of passage. All the tasks that needed to be done before a mortal could be changed into a Vampire. She knew that once all of these items were written Chantal would get all excited and she would run out to try to attempt them. She knew herself that this was a way for Tristana to watch and see if Chantal was serious enough. Emily knew that her niece was that dedicated to the cause but Tristana did not know what she would have to see for herself.

Tristana finished writing and handed the book and pen to Emily. Emily knew what had been written in the book, as they were all things that Tristana had made her do when she was in her mid 30's. Emily had not been able to complete them all, over the period of the tasks she realized that it was not something that she wanted. She had wanted so much when she had first gone to Tristana crying and screaming, she had just lost her husband because she was unable to have children. She had lost everything in her world, as they had been trying for so many years. She had found out as well that she had been ill for some time with cervical cancer and that she would have to have an operation to remove all of her child birthing equipment as she called it. But after the task list, and only completing the first one, she was unable to completely finish the second task. She could not get her mind across from it.

Tristana lowered herself a bit and kissed Emily on the forehead; and slipped outside the door. She knew Emily would do what had to be done to make sure that she received this before the end of the week. As she would have to start next week if all would go well with the date she had written on the back of the book. Emily slowly made her way down the staircase of the old house. She would have to move her bedroom to the main floor soon; her legs would not handle all the steps any longer. She went to the kitchen. Filled the kettle with water; she would have a long lovely cup of tea with her great niece. She walked to the front door looked thought the door window unlocked the door and opened it to her niece Chantal standing there; a bit out of breath. She was surprised to see her aunt awake; she thought she would have had to bang on the door several times; while waiting for her to come down the stairs.

She has not eaten all night and she needed to feed...