The night was the most dangerous time in the forests surrounding my home. Mutants of all kinds, some pained inflamed retches that hated the world, and a few were elegant beasts growing strong with each generation. They all hunted one another, turning entire lines of mutants into dead ends in the savage game of predator and prey. Even I was a known entity in these woods I frequented, and the intelligent mutants gave me space for that reason.

I tracked a pack of mutant wolves with red fur, locally called bleed wolves. Their saliva contained natural blood thinners that made their bites bleed profusely. According to the locals, the vampires released them to kill off some of the rampant deer population. That lasted until the wolves got a taste for fenced-in chickens and cattle, and then they killed off the sheepdogs.

If I caught the pack, I planned to kill every bitch at least to limit their reproduction. They were the kind of mutants stubborn enough to make their way through the wards and tough enough to strain the fence.

Jason and I were at least a month from mastering concealment. Jason would probably say we should add an extra layer to the fence. We had a flowing stream for the cows and energy-infused grass, so we didn’t need to take them out of our fence for better grazing and clean water.

A howl cut through the woods, followed by several more. I made my way up a nearby tree and scared a roosting steel-feathered hawk to death before climbing to the top and looking through my scope. It was pitch black in the woods, and no amount of energy enhancement would fix that. Instead, seals did the job of giving my scope infrared. A pack of bleed wolves chased something cold through the woods with something hot enough to flash white on the scope. My energy sense picked up the signature of bleed wolves but not their quarry.

On my scope, I could make out the weapon and put a face to it. I wasn’t sure it was her, but the flame relic was distinct. What was a vampire royal doing in this backwater? I loved the place I was born in, but nothing happened here. Nothing except for a Mythril mine that opened a century back.

Father taught us who the enemy of energy users was. Vampires were nothing new, though I could count on one hand the number that passed through our woods with enough fingers left to pull the trigger. This wasn't a routine raid unless the wolves were a part of her regiment. Something stunk, and it would be smart to pack my gun and head home. Jason would probably like some help with a second and third fence layer.

As I watched the cold silhouette of a woman flee, I hesitated. Her online photo appeared in my mind. Vampires were celebrities in the Megacities, and we country bumpkins still received their media. Ember Marishka, the wielder of a powerful fire relic.

One of the wolves latched on to the cool entity and hung there before she lashed out, knocking the wolf away. The pack continued the chase at a sedate pace after that. It wouldn’t be long; even with a vampire’s regeneration, a bleed wolf’s bite was nasty.

I aimed for the one furthest from the pack and fired. Father would kill me for being a fool. I fired again, picking another wolf off. Long hours of practice in the yard and hunting some of the mutant bucks that roamed the land had made me a decent shot. 10 shots cut the pack to a quarter before they knew what happened.

The vampire was leading her pursuers further away, and I pursued, jumping from tree to tree in the congested forest. I told Jason we should make fire lanes, but he didn’t mind a forest fire. Our fence would take care of it in the same way it took care of the giant birds of prey.

Mid-jump, I fired twice more, testing my luck and rifle performance. I wasn’t disappointed. The wolves went down, but the vampire slowed. The wolves hadn’t given up on the hunt. One bit the vampire’s leg when I moved in close. The light of the moon through the thick branches.

The sight of her paused my brain. High cheekbones on an oval face, stunning red eyes, glorious dark locks covered in leaves, and an expression of determination. She hadn’t given in to despair, even with a bleeding arm and leg.

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I kicked off a tree branch and brandished my knife. Like a heavy man-shaped rock, I smashed down on one of the remaining bleed wolves and felt the bitch’s bones snap under my fall. My foot stomped onto its wide head for purchase before I rocketed toward the closest beast. The big stud didn’t see me come up from its flank or my knife pass into its jugular. I ripped my knife free and tossed the body into the leaping wolf behind me. My rifle was nice and handy, still hanging from its shoulder strap.

Two shots blasted more holes in the wolves as I turned on the remainder of the charging pack. I squeezed the trigger, and my T98 fired short 3-round bursts as I slew wolf after wolf, aiming from the hip. When the last wolf fell, I turned back to the woman.

She was beautiful, exotic, and the first woman I’d seen since my own mother who wasn’t on drugs, mutated, or inbred to hell. I had standards, unlike Jason.

Jason sent me a message to my box.

Jason: For the love of father, don’t bring that woman back to our home. I won’t let her through the fence.

That wasn’t an issue; I didn’t need his permission to bring her through the fence.

Jason: I will lock you out.

Jason hadn’t been able to lock me out of anything since we were kids. In our 20s, we had both gained massive experience in seal craft and knowledge of each other’s shortcomings in the craft. I was far more focused on making weapons with my seals, while Jason enjoyed manipulating large expanses of energy to be transmuted into macro effects. He could make whole areas inhospitable while I could make a bullet fire far, silent, and pierce dense energy barriers.

“Watch out.” The vampire shouted, and I moved into action when a hidden wolf lunged.

Golden eyes flashed in the moonlight before a jaw full of yellow teeth opened. I swept my foot, knocking it off its paws, and kicked it away. My aim was true through my infrared scope, and plenty of rounds remained. I squeezed the trigger, and my rifle clicked.

Perhaps I miscounted. I lunged, and the wolf fled like a truck full of vampire hunters was on his tail. After ejecting my mag, I popped my spare in and loaded one in the chamber. I aimed, but too many trees were already in between my shots. Once I sensed the wolf leave my range, I lowered my rifle and sheathed my knife.

The vampire poured some powder on her wounds, and the bleeding stopped but didn’t heal immediately.

“I heard vampires healed quickly,” I said.

“Who told you that the only ones who talk so openly about our capabilities are fans or mages? Are you a mage?” The vampire said.

I snorted.

Her lips twitched before her eyes locked on my reloaded rifle before turning back to me.

“Those were some slick moves, not something I would expect from a human, but you live in the danger zone. Is this evolution at work?” The vampire asked.

“Bleeding wolves are a tool of the government, and you’re a vampire. What’s wrong? Are you competing with them?” I asked.

Her fangs ground together, and I knew I had struck first blood. I felt a bit of deviant pleasure.

“That’s none of your business; which castle do you belong to. I have information to report and require a communication terminal.”

I pointed up at that sky. “Big brother is watching; shout your news. I’m sure someone will pick it up.”

“A myth, but your ignorance is forgiven. Did I do something to offend you, citizen? You risked yourself to save me, do you expect a reward.”

I sent a message through my cube.

Atom: You’re right.

Jason: I told you she was dangerous. Lose her and get home to finish the fence’s second layer.

Atom: No, I meant you were right when you said the pretty ones are crazy.

Jason: I told you that at the Inquisitor’s ball a month ago.

After giving her a look over and thinking the situation through, this stunk of a conspiracy. I should point her toward the vampire hunters’ little shanty town and let them go at it. One less enemy and the vampire hunters do their job instead of demanding tribute from the little communities that survive outside the megacity and castle lands. Mutant-infested lands were better than being a land-locked serf to a vampire noble that could drain their citizens dry at any time.

The vampire slumped to a knee. “I may need some assistance.” Her fangs extended. “Please come here and present your neck.” She said in an echoing voice.

I took a step forward and then shook my head. Pulsing my energy disrupted whatever she did, and my head cleared up quickly.

“So that’s vampire compulsion,” I said.

“And you just exposed mage resistance, the kind only lvl30 wizards possess.” The vampire said.

“Nah, didn’t you see me? I shook your trick away. That was all mental strength and my badass genetics.”

“Unless this area has had an unknown infestation of mutants with hypnosis as their exclusive mutation for centuries, I doubt your claim. No, but your mana flare was so precise I barely felt it. Who are you? I don’t recall your face from the wanted posters or the DNT cards from the Mage College?” The vampire said.

An explosion in the distance lit up the night sky, scattering animals of all kinds. Within the explosion, a massive hunk of metal sliced through the trees. My feet moved on their own. I grabbed the vampire and leaped away as something crashed hard where she had been. Within the crater surrounded by burning trees was a metallic ball around a person in diameter covered in seams. An eye emerged as parts of the metallic object emerged. I felt something touch me, and I knew the thing had scanned me.

The vampire in my arms was terrified. Printed on the metallic ball were the words World Gov.