The night was very still, yet a warmth clung to the air. Swept in off of breezes from earlier that day, Mediterranean warmth clung to anything fortunate enough to be out in the night air, well lit as it was by both the Gibbous moon and the skyline of Venice in the backdrop. 350 feet above the street below was the balcony of the World Children's Sanctuary Global Headquarters. The building was relatively new, an architectural wonder and technological marvel, a twenty first century addition to the city. And yet the balcony was almost archaic.
At either end, marble angels crafted in the renaissance watched over the streets below, arms open to take in wayward children as needed. Glimmering above the balcony was a stained glass portrait of St. Jerome Emiliani, Patron Saint of Orphans. Yet all of these artistic expressions were not half as inspiring as the woman who strode the balcony.
Slight of build, scarcely over five feet in height, a pale woman in a silken red gown and matching heels strode out into the night air. The warmth pleased her, as her skin was cold as the grave. Her long brown hair was styled efficiently, left down, and her jewelry was sparse, merely a heavy chain adorning her neck. Crimson heels clicked against the polished black stone of the balcony, and she spoke, a soft, gentle voice.
“Robin, please do take down some notes. I 'ave much to accomplish tomorrow.”
Prompted by her vocal request, a faint glowing orb appeared near the woman. It swirled with data and bobbed gently, a technological will-o-the wisp following her as she paced back and forth. A fairly common Artificially Intelligent Assistant, it began recording her words, and breaking them down into a logical 'to do' list.
“First, I must visit Armani. My wardrobe is in danger of being 'orribly out of date.” Her faint brown eyes gazed over her dress, as if it ran the point home even further. “Second, I must phone Ani. It  has been weeks and I need to invite her to the charity auction. Such things that girl has gone on to accomplish. A shame her mother died unable to see...”
Hundreds of feet below, cars and other land vehicles moves two and fro, well into the night, carrying mortals and other beings to destinations unknown to the narrating woman. Her AI sat still when she stopped moving, her pale face illuminated by the moonlight, a smile crept upon her kind face.
Striding to a small table beneath the stained glass, she picked up a bottle labeled “Balthasar Bludworks” and poured a small portion of the contents into a fine crystal glass. It had been decades since the world became aware of her kind, and being a vampire was never quite the same. Sure, she could purchase synthetic blood substitutes, and they even tasted more and more like the real thing each passing year, but they were shadows of true food.
“Third, I believe I shall attend the symphony. I 'ave yet to go this season and I would like to indulge myself in some culture. Children's music can only be taken for so long.”
Delicate fingers raised the glass to unpainted lips, which parted and the synthetic plasma flooded her mouth, rolling over her tongue and down her throat. The “blood” was mixed with a red wine. Something she had been enjoying for far longer than this synthetic derivative was ever created. She remarked how much sweeter it tasted that way, but did not dwell.
“That shall be all, Robin. Please have the print out ready in my chambers.” She finished speaking and the ball made a faint beeping noise before vanishing into the night as if it were never there.
In the distance, streaking across the heavens like a divine chariot, was a streak of emerald light in the distance, racing east to the horizon. The light, likely a nearby comet, was striking and even from a distance is lit her alabaster skin with a pale green glow.
“Well, a shooting star. 'ow fortunate..”
Paola smiled at her good luck, finished her drink, and made a wish before reentering the building, leaving the night behind to sleep the day away.