After an intimate and emotionally connecting night with Bette who left to return to her cottage before dawn, Tina was now immersed in memories again of her life as Christina as she slept.

Los Angeles—September 24 1931–Seascape Lookout

The wind blew across them in gentle waves as they lay side by side looking up at the stars  illuminating at their brightest across the clear night sky.

A slight graze of her lover’s finger across her left cheek broke her stargazing sending chills throughout her body along with an impassioned desire as she smiled lovingly at the vampiress and kissed the tip of her finger letting her lips linger upon it.

“It really is amazing what a simple touch of your finger can ignite inside my body”

Bette smiled rubbing her finger lightly over Christina’s warm lips “And It really is amazing how I fall more in love with you with every passing second”

Christina giggled placing another soft kiss upon Bette’s finger  “I do believe I feel the same.  Something inside me was drawn to you immediately that evening in the park. A very strong almost magnetic pull. It was almost like we were meant for each other”

Bette inched her body closer closing what was a small gap between them and rested her forehead against Christina’s “It was the same for me my love.  I haven’t lived for a very long time but I feel so alive with you”

Christina turned her head briefly at the sound of a falling branch in the distance then turned back to Bette who moved her finger behind Christina’s left ear tracing over her birthmark

“I never told you how much I love your birthmark behind your left ear.  It’s almost the exact replica of the moon…Extraordinary…The light that bounces from the sun reflects off the moon giving it its own beacon of light. The moon has no light of its own. Just like I had no light of my own until you came into my life”

“I will always be your light” Christina sighs as Bette continued tracing the mark behind her ear “And I do not think I ever saw it quite like that but it does resemble the moon.  And what is really interesting is that my mother has the exact same birthmark but it is not behind her ear.  It is located on the back of her thigh. She has also said her father, my grandfather, had the same mark on the inside of his wrist”

Tina had fallen back asleep on the sofa and woke up thankful for the uninterrupted sleep she got. Although she was a little disappointed she did not have any more  dreams or memories. To say they were memories made her overwhelmed.  It was a lot to process and she really wanted to see Bette and talk to her about them. She looked over at the walk clock and saw it was 8pm.

“Shit…I slept all day just about” she shook her head and sat up raking her fingers through her hair and fluffing it out. She takes a deep breath and did what Bette told her to do to call for her. Clutching the stone in her right hand she closed her eyes and said her name

“Bette” she says almost whispering and opens her eyes looking around the room as if she would just appear out of thin air like she disappears..And nothing “Well that didn’t seem to work” she mumbles getting off the sofa and jumped as she walked toward her bedroom upon hearing a light knock on her door.  Something told her it was the vampiress and smiled as she made her way to the front door and unlocking the deadbolt.

She opened it to reveal the beautiful brunette standing before her looking exquisite as always but oozing a newfound sexiness. Her thick beautiful curls were perfectly hanging just below her shoulders.

Tina stood slack jawed staring at the sleeveless black halter top she was wearing that was tied at her neck and showed just a hint of cleavage of her perfectly shaped breasts and her perfectly toned arms. The black choker necklace she wore accentuated her neckline.  Her black leather pants hugged the vampiress’ curves tightly not leaving much room to even pinch the fabric between a pair of fingers.  Her choice of shoes were a lace up pair of high heeled black boots.  Tina was literally frozen at the sight of perfection before her. She had never seen anything so erotic before.

“You summoned me my love” Bette asks smiling at Tina’s trance like state along with her mouth agape “I do believe I have rendered you speechless” she gave a sultry chuckle and waved her hand in front of Tina who snapped out of her entranced state

Tina climbed into bed exhausted and extremely overwhelmed from the events over the last several hours. To think she was shut up here in her apartment mourning the end of a relationship with one woman earlier that day to be thrown straight into a complicated relationship with a vampiress. Tina couldn’t really call it a relationship because she wasn’t technically in one but she couldn’t deny there was truth to what was presented to her tonight. Also her finishing the poem Bette was reciting added further confirmation unless Bette was doing mind tricks on her. Tina giggled at the thought. But she felt a connection to the vampiress and wanted to learn more about her and of the relationship they shared in her supposed past life she had no memory of. She clutched tightly at the stone that hung around her neck. Her eyelids grew heavy and drifted off to sleep straight into a dream

Los Angeles- July 4 1931– Sunset Park

The Independence Day festival is in full swing at Sunset Park. Patrons are scattered around the park sitting on blankets and makeshift chairs.  Those nimble enough climbed trees located around the park in search of the perfect branches to catch the fireworks show later that night. Life had been difficult after the stock market crashed. However that didn’t stop people from trying to enjoy the national holidays that seemed to lift everyone’s spirits during a difficult time. As the sun was setting over the park, a small marching band made their way around entertaining the crowd before the fireworks. They passed by two women currently sitting together on a blanket.

“The crowd is overwhelming tonight isn’t it Christina” the woman says watching the band proceed behind them

Christina nods scanning the crowd and turns back to the woman “Indeed Cora. I’m so glad I was able to get the washing finished for Ms. Newstead so I could join you”

“You are so lucky you never lost your job when the stock market crashed” Cora said matter-of-factly “I went from working at the textile factory making good money to working at Poppa’s farm for nothing”

“Cora at least you are clothed, fed, and have a roof over your head. Stop bellyaching” Christina nudges Cora in her side

Tina looks around as Bette leads her down the hallway into the living room. It had a log cabin look from the inside. It was cozy yet had a aesthetic appeal to it. It lacked much of the modern amenities most homes had today but Tina guessed a vampire wouldn’t have much need for such things. She scanned around for light fixtures and electrical outlets but did not see any

“So you live off the grid so to speak” Tina asks

Bette turns around and smiles. “How peculiar of you to say. That’s exactly what I am doing” she says giving Tina a sly wink

Tina slightly chuckles amused that the vampiress just teased her “Very funny..I meant not using public utilities like electricity”

Bette looks at Tina and gestures nonchalantly with her hand

“I guess it’s because I have no use for it..My vision allows me to see perfectly in the dark. These candles are to provide you with light. And as far as the gas stove”…She pauses and points at the mini stove/oven combination next to the refrigerator ”…… I have no need for it as I do not require food. I however used it to heat the water for your tea” Bette explains and opens the front door stepping out onto the front porch and waited for Tina to step out before pulling the door shut.  The sounds of crickets and locusts harmonized a delightful melody to her sensitive ears

“So you drink blood right? I mean that is what vampires do” Tina asks as she followed Bette down the steps and the two started on a path that lead behind the cottage. Tina could see a lighted gate in the distance

Bette nodded “Chief Benally keeps me supplied”

“Wow….Really? How?” Tina says and catches Bette glancing at her as they walk side by side

“Well I’m not sure you would want to know”

“It’s ok..You can tell me” Tina says encouragingly

“Very well then..There is a slaughterhouse on the reservation and..”

“Ok!…Nevermind” Tina interrupts not wanting to hear the rest and inwardly winces at the jolt of pain that hit the hip she landed on when Uta threw her in the alley

“I knew you would not like the answer” Bette says apologetically and stops as they approach the gate “Are you ok?” Bette asks concerned

Tina slowly opened her eyes blinking a few times..her focus slowly returning to take in her surroundings immediately concluded that she was in a place she did not recognize. She pressed her hands against the sheet feeling the mattress concave under her movement. Her gaze shifted forward to see a candle burning in the holder mounted on the wall across from her..The flickering light illuminating the entire room. She shifted her gaze back to a Victorian style rocking chair placed closely by the bed she was currently occupying. Slowly she lifted her head and turned slightly on her side feeling something fall from her forehead and onto the floor..As she was leaning over to see what had fallen she jumped at the door making a shrill creaking sound as it opened. Her gaze shifted to the sight of the woman that had saved her in the alley and that she had met on the bridge in the park..All the events of the night began flooding her mind at once.

“……I am a vampiress” the last thing she remembered hearing before everything went dark. Tina couldn’t move or speak at that moment…She didn’t know if it was from fear or from the gentle, nurturing look the woman was currently giving her.  She knew she should either be screaming or trying to get away but something inside of her was telling her not to be afraid.

“Let me get that for you” Bette says walking cautiously toward the bed as to not startle Tina. She reached down quickly picking up the hand towel off the floor “Are you feeling any better?” she asks stepping back maintaining her distance

Tina slowly nods finally finding her voice “Yeah…uh….Where am I?” she asks feeling like she knew the answer but needed confirmation

“You are in my home. I brought you here after you fainted” Bette replies watching as the blonde lightly rubbed her forehead with her right hand

“I remember you told me..uh…you told me you were a..uh..a..uhmmm“ Tina couldn’t bring herself to say the word not because she couldn’t say it but because saying it would make everything real

“…..a vampiress” Bette finished her sentence. Tina let out a breath and so many questions flooded her mind.  She should be screaming right now but the woman standing before her did not look like a monster. What monster would go to such links to save someone’s life? Were vampires even real?