When the other rangers arrived she was starting to feel the hunger from the fight. She had been so careful with her powers before, careful not to burn away her blood, now she had lost so much of the headway she had made before. She needed more blood in her. Needed more donors. More lovers. She jumped when Myla suddenly asked, “What was that?” Had she said something? She looked at Myla in confusion. The ranger gestured at her, “You mumbled something in Polish.” Damn. Was it starting to fray? Maybe that's why…

  She shook her head, “Just musing to myself. Solomon shades are a dangerous thing to summon and bind, and costly to maintain. You don't just send them wandering, you deploy them with purpose.” She decided not to explain that she recognized the shade. Not until she figured out what was going on at least. Myla frowned at her feet then looked at Kasia, "Do you know how to pierce a veil?” The vampire blinked at her then sighed. Right, they hadn't talked about the last part of her visit to the sheriff, “Montok asked me about it already. I gave him advice, they can handle the rest on their own. Vampires and unicorns don't mix.”

  Myla frowned but nodded, “Oh. Well I was thinking, you said they're vicious and malevolent and all that right? Would summoning one use black magic like at that site?” Kasia nodded, “It would, summoning them requires blood sacrifice. And slapping down a veil would be one of the only ways to hide that sort of magic from the Leshy too, so it stands to reason.” Myla started to pace, “And you can hide people from him if you try to. But why do it here in the first place? Why not do it where you got the sacrifices? And what would they need the shade for?”

  Kasia shrugged, “I could guess, but you might have better ideas on that than me.” Myla frowned, “Well the most basic and obvious reasons… there are the unicorns, a few full blood lesser fae, the nightmare herd, the Leshy… just the mana well itself. But mages don't usually try themselves against the preserves. Everyone knows if you do anything that might threaten a mana well the dragons will respond.” Kasia rolled her eyes, “Oh yes and mages never have an ego. Not one has ever declared themselves an all mighty god.” Myla snorted and shook her head, “Point taken.”

  Kasia sighed, “Complacency is the most deadly venom. Anything here could be a target, including you Leshy child. Not sure how closely related you two are, but if I can smell his blood in you then anyone could figure it out.” She gestured out into the dark, “He has real enemies, the kind you can only get with hundreds if not thousands of years to cultivate real hate.” She lifted a helpless hand, “Hell it may even be me, I just don't think anyone would know I'm still alive, let alone awake. Not yet anyway.” Myla sighed, “Yeah, I suppose that's true. I'm going to update the chief on our thoughts.”

  She paused before she left, “Are you sure you won't help with the veil? Maybe if we got the unicorn to leave you alone?” Kasia pursed her lips, “No offense, but I'm not comfortable with that. It's not in their nature to tolerate my kind.” Myla nodded without comment and went to speak with the chief. Another truck pulled up, she recognized the markings of an ambulance without having to ask about it. The vans changed but a red cross was a red cross. Two people came out, a man and a woman. They spoke to Myla and the chief for a little before the woman started towards her.

  Now this one looked the part of a changeling, her hair was blue and her eyes were gleaming gold, and maybe five six or so in height. She was stocky, strong arms and hands, a little flat chested but with an obvious feminine swell. Her face was more handsome rather than pretty with a prominent nose. Her arms gleamed though, magic runes ran up caramel fingers and arms to disappear up under her sleeves. She was pulling on gloves and when she spoke her voice was a deep baritone, very pleasant to hear but unusual. A second female voice followed along with her in Polish from the device in her top pocket.

  There was something odd about her scent and aura too. They were feminine but with a strong masculine mix. Odd, her instinct on genders was usually accurate but the mix was making her second guess herself here. The medic spoke clearly and with kind authority, “Evening miss, my name's Shannon and I hear you tangled with something nasty out there. Mind if I give you a look over?” Kasia slowly blinked, the name hadn't helped. Well it was better to not offend, fae blood ran hot, “Please feel free to do your work. Though I will ask, how might I address your visage moving forward?”

  The medic was listening to the same box to translate her speech and she blinked at the question, “Uh what? I'm sorry I don't understand, are you asking my name again? You can hear me clearly can't you?” She pulled out a light to check Kasia's eyes. She resisted the urge to blink, “Ah no I heard you perfectly fine, that's not what I meant. I mean do I address you as sir, madam, medic, or something else?” Many fae courts acknowledged a dozen forms of address, it was impossible to keep up. On purpose to trip up guests of course.

  The medic smiled slightly, “Ma’am I guess, or just Shannon.” She looked at a deep wound on her arm next, “How old is this cut?” Kasia gestured with her free arm, “However long ago that fight was. I have a rune to stop bleeding on, I could remove it but...” Shannon nodded, “Ah one of the Persian runes.” She blinked, “You know it?” The medic started cutting pieces off the almost crystalized blood, using a piece of gauze to soak up the blood as she did, “Yup. If you're using the full line of those then this won't hurt, but I do need to know how deep this cut actually is so I'm going to start by cleaning it up.”

  She worked carefully and didn't look away as she spoke, “Hey, maybe you can answer a question I have while I'm working?” The vampire sighed, “No offense but I do think you're wasting your time on me. If I can get some blood then I'll heal on my own. And you can ask whatever you like, I don't mind.” Shannon paused and she could feel several eyes on her, “Blood?” Kasia smiled, “Well it's a small town so it's going to get out sooner or later now that I'm moving in so… I'm a vampire. Save your supplies, I really just need the blood and everything will heal.”

  Shannon considered that before nodding, “Ah that does change things. I'm still going to carve away the blood plugs and make sure nothing got into the wounds. You won't be able to reuse the blood anyway, and if we clean the wounds they'll take less of your vital energy to repair.”Kasia tried and failed to find a response for a moment, “Oh. Uh yeah that… that's probably right actually. Am I not your first vampire?” Shannon smiled as she worked, “Can't say miss, I don't give away former patients private information. Now my question.” She pulled something black out the wound.

  She focused on the conversation, “Most people guess at what to call me when they first meet, some just ask, and others get all weird about it. But that felt like a very deliberate way of asking how to address me. Why is that?” Kasia tried to shrug and Shannon tightened her grip on her arm, “No moving, I'm cutting here.” The vampire gave her an apologetic look, “Right right. Have you never met anyone with formal fae court training before? I thought most magic countries would have classes on it.” The medic pulled out a long splinter of wood from her arm that Kasia hadn't noticed before.

  That actually would have been annoying to push out while healing. “I guess a couple of fae and spirits have asked something similar, yeah. But no one has ever explained why they did it.” Kasia chuckled, “Ah that makes sense. It's just the polite way to ask a fae who you're talking to without forcing them to lie or reveal a trick. Extremely few of the fae have anything close to static forms and they wear many names to match, it helps you avoid giving offense on introduction. Actually it's a good way to address anyone you think is a shapeshifter. They probably assumed you were one.”

  Shannon gave her an odd look, “Do I give shapeshifter vibes?” Kasia blinked, “Vibes? Sorry, I'm not familiar with the term.” She eyed the vampire like she was waiting for a joke to land before answering, “It… it's like saying does my aura read like one, but it includes my looks and how I present myself to people.” Kasia turned that over in her mind. Vibes. That would be a good word to start using, “Ah, well you present as fae to me. It's the eyes, lovely gold those, there's a clan up in Norway that shares the same color. Some quirk of their magic keeps the eye color even when they shift.”

  Shannon was looking at a cut on her side visible through the rip in her top, “Can you lift your shirt?” Kasia just took it off. That got a few nearby the rangers to stop what they were doing before the chief started yelling at them. Shannon coughed, “You… do you need something to cover…” The vampire glanced down, “No, there's not much to see anyway.” Myla hurried over and picked up the shirt, pushing it against her chest, “Kasia! What are you doing!?!” She grinned up at the taller woman and decided not to help. Yet. “The good nurse was just examining my torso. Why?”

  Shannon coughed, “EMT.” The vampire cocked her head quizzically, enjoying the rapidly expanding blush on Mylas face. Was it anger or embarrassment? Probably both. Nope the spluttering confirmed it, both, “You- that- you can't just-!” She grabbed Kasia's arm and pushed it against the shirt, “Damn it just cover your tits!” Her grin became a teasing smile, “Aw but I like having your hands on my body.” She heard Shannon cough again and caught the laugh in it this time. Someone thought it was funny. Myla hissed, “My boss is already mad that you were here, don't make it worse by distracting the boys too.”

  Kasia felt a small amount of guilt and reached up to touch Mylas cheek gently, “Sorry, I forgot he was upset with you for a moment there. I'll keep my bare tits put away until we're alone.” Now that deepening blush was just embarrassment. Myla stepped back, “Just… don't say stuff like that so loud?” Kasia snorted, “Why not? It's not like anyone can…” She suddenly became conscious of the talking translation box. Which was still talking after her. A glance saw the rangers and the other EMT doing a poor job of not giving them knowing looks.

  “Huh. Nevermind, guess they can understand me. What, you don't want them to know I stayed at your place last night?” Myla snapped at her, “Katarzyna!” She shivered and practically purred at the sound of her name shouted like that, “Fine fine, if you insist. But I'm not ashamed of it and I'm willing to accept their jealousy happily.” Myla eyed her but went back to the chief when he snapped at her. Shannon worked in silence for a minute before turning down the volume on her translator and popped something into her ear from a box. She spoke softly, “You uh have good hearing right? Being a vampire?”

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  Kasia nodded, “I do, why?” The box didn't repeat her words out loud but she could hear the thing in the medics ear speak instead. Shannon glanced up, “Because I figured you embarrassed Myla enough already, but now I'm all curious. Did you two actually…?” She flashed her a smile, “I stayed at her place last night because I didn't have anywhere else to go. But it's fun to tease isn't it?” Shannon laughed, “Guess so. You really did a number on yourself, I'm glad you're undead or this might have been pretty serious.”

  Kasia sighed, “Yeah, not a surprise. I wasn't exactly ready for the fight, I applied those runes because they're easy not because they're my best. I have more complex runes for real fights. Where does a girl get blood around here by the way? I'm actually very hungry and being near mortals makes it worse.” The EMT glanced up, “You'll need to be patient while I finish what I'm doing. It's like you got tossed into a thorn bush by a mountain lion.” She shrugged, “Not that different from what actually happened really.”

  She studied the odd woman with the deep voice for a moment, “Say, is it still too forward in the modern day if I can have a taste of you?” She froze and looked up at the vampire, “Do you mean my blood or…?” Kasia flashed her a fanged smile, “Why does it need to mean one thing?” She coughed, “Maybe I should get you that drink. You uh, might be too thirsty right now.” Kasia laughed as Shannon yanked another large piece of wood out of her.

  The Ranger

  Myla tried not to fidget under the chief's disapproving look, “You're lucky I'm just writing you up for having her here and not suspending you.” She sighed, “Yes sir.” Jameson came down from the tower with a tablet in hand, “Got the footage sir and I gotta say, damn. That vampire really is fast.” He handed over the tablet and the chief started to watch, “And we're positive that she knows what she's talking about?” She nodded, “Yes sir, my grandfather can vouch for her as a scholar, and the sheriff made inquiries to Europe if you want more official verification too.”

  She gestured into the night, “Someone had to send that shade here and it's not a small thing to do.” She could see the moment he got to the fight when his eyebrows went up, “Damn, she didn't even hesitate did she? You said she's fought one before?” She glanced at the vampire as she flirted shamelessly with Shannon. Or at least that's what she assumed the smiles and giggling was about. She felt a pang of jealousy at that, “No sir, I said she's familiar with them. She never actually said why, but she said she knew their aura.”

  He drummed his fingers on the back of the tablet as he held it, “Hm. I'll check her information but for now we'll assume it's accurate. We got reports from the other towers that they haven't seen anything on their ends, so either this was isolated or your friend is right about how sneaky they are.” Shannon was moving with purpose for the ambulance while Kasia stayed sitting where she was. The vampire caught Myla's eye and winked at her before she turned her back on them to pull her shirt back on. Whatever the EMT had been doing, the red lines of crystalized blood looked less brutal at least.

  The chief called over to Shannon, “Well? She gonna live doc?” The EMT slowed, glanced at Kasia, then moved over to join them, “Bit late for that Felix but she's not dead yet.” He nodded, “How bad did it look to you?” She hesitated and glanced over at Kasia, who was now laid back on her back to stare at the sky, “Well I got a good look under the hood…” Jameson sniggered, “Oh we all got a good look under her- ow!” Myla punched his arm, “Don't be a perv Mike.” The chief ignored them, “Those looked like nasty rips in her gut.”

  Shannon sighed, “If she wasn't undead she would have been dead before we got here. Even then, vampires do still feel pain, if she didn't have the fearless rune on then she probably would have passed out at least.” That got a frown from the ranger, “She's got those old Persian runes on? Explains the lack of bleeding. I thought they were illegal.” Shannon shrugged, “I don't know the laws around them, just what they do. Those rips you saw? Just the surface damage. When I was cleaning them out I got a look at her… well her guts.”

  Shannon shivered, “Felix her internals burst, I could see bits of rib and meat stuck inside more blood crystals inside her. When we remove the Bloodless rune she's gonna be a river organs and blood. I didn't know vampires could even survive this level of damage. Actually I was certain they couldn't, I saw them die to stuff like that back in the last war.” Shannon looked at Myla, “Do you know what kind she is? Her age?” She shifted uncomfortably, “I think that's something you should ask her about… but uh Montok called her an eldar when they met earlier.”

  The chief and Shannon exchanged a look and the EMT nodded, “That explains it then. I need to make a run to get her some blood from the clinic, it looks like the thing that she fought left wounds she can't heal without… ah feeding.” The chief frowned, “Really? So that shade actually could have killed her…” He was mulling that over when Jameson grinned, “Hey doc, if she needs blood I might be willing to give her some. Unless you wanna offer up your neck Myla.” She felt heat on her neck, “I uh… can't.” Shannon raised an eyebrow and Myla felt heat spreading with her blush.

  Might as well get it over with before the speculation started. “I let her feed off me last night when she stayed at my place. I'm… tapped.” She punched Jameson's arm when he opened his mouth, “Ow! I didn't even say anything!” She glared, “You were thinking it.” He spread his arms innocently, “Look, she needs blood and I got some to spare.” He then looked more serious and dropped his arms, “And if that thing is half as dangerous as it sounds, she already proved she could fight it. We might need her if it comes back later or if there's two, right? Chief?”

  Felix sighed in response and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Myla was about to step away if he was going to smoke, then nearly had a heart attack when Kasia was suddenly there and clinging to her arm. She grabbed her chest with her free arm, “Holy fuck! Kasia, don't do that! You scared the fuck out of me.” She flashed a sheepish smile up at her, “Sorry sorry, it's hard to get back down to mortal after a fight. But I am dying for a cigarette, I haven't had one in weeks, could you ask him if I can bum a smoke?”

  She blinked, “You smoke? I mean yeah I'll ask for you.” She looked at the chief and realized all three of them looked like they had seen a ghost too. Jameson was white as a bedsheet as he shoved his side arm back into the holster, “She uh… she's really that fast huh?” The chief took his hand off his pistol slowly, “Yeah. What does she want?” Apparently Shannon's translator was turned off. Myla pointed at the cigarette pack, “She wants to know if she can bum a smoke off you.” The chief hesitated then offered her one.

  She took it with a grin, “Finally. I got a pack in the bunker, but those barely lasted the first week awake. I gotta get a job just so I can buy more. And wine. Maybe whiskey? Ooo better idea, cigars and bourbon. Me and the boys once raided a German officers club when they were doing a cigar night, and I got a taste for it.” The chief took his own cigarette out and lit it, listening to her chatter on. He offered her the lighter and the vampire didn't miss a beat lighting up while talking. Myla didn't really like cigarettes but the relief on Kasia's face almost looked sexual

  The vampire sighed, “Stars above that hits the spot after a fight. Only way it could be better is if it was Hashish.” Jameson cleared his throat, “You should let her know I'm willing to give blood.” She tried not to roll her eyes. She knew what romance fiction he liked. Kasia peered at him, “Don't want to translate that for me?” Myla decided she was being childish. Maybe she wouldn't get sexual when it was someone else? Or maybe she was getting possessive over a one night stand. Just tell her, “He's offering to let you drink his blood. He's fascinated with vampires.”

  Said vampire grinned around her cigarette and blew a smoke ring. She then subtly sniffed at him and frowned slightly, “Ah. Um that's very generous but… how do I say this? He's… ah caught the bug?” Myla gave Kasia a blank look so she tried again, “He might have gotten bad blood?” Myla frowned, “What like someone doesn't like him? What's that got to do with anything?” Kasia’s sigh was more resigned, “He's caught something from someone. If he's unaware then it might be from his last evening companion.”

  Myla took a second to parse that. Shannon suddenly spoke, “Hey Jameson. You're nearly five months overdue for a proper physical aren't you? I wouldn't suggest you give blood until you get one and get tested. Some breeds of vampire are highly susceptible to illness after all, especially blood born ones, so it would be best if we didn't gamble.” He looked disappointed and glanced at the chief. The chief shook his head, “Go ask for a volunteer instead, if they say yes send them back and take over their post. If no one volunteers, Shannon can run her back to the clinic. We don't need her haunting us out here anyway.”

  Myla shook her head, “Can I bring her? I'm shaken up after the fight, I've never shot something three times without it dropping. That's after they used each other to down small trees too.” They would need to replant those before the dryads found them. They would pitch a fit about it if they didn't. He nodded as one of the other rangers, Kai, came trotting over, “Uh Jameson said we need a… donor for vamp? This isn't a prank right?” The chief chuckled, “That could be a good one, but no. Miss Kasia here got tore up by the shade, just needs some blood to fix it. Er how much Shannon?”

  The EMT glanced at the vampire, “Not sure the exact amount but he's gonna be dizzy after. A good meal and night of sleep will be in order.” Myla pipped up, “She's good at controlling herself. You'll be fine after. Just don't try to make small talk, she doesn't speak English yet.” He nodded, “Alright, do I just roll up my sleeve or…?” Myla shifted uncomfortably, “You'll… you'll want to do it up in the tower for privacy. Just trust me on that, it's an intense experience and people watching might make it awkward.” They all looked at her oddly.

  She shifted uncomfortably, just when the blush was starting to fade, “What? It is. I already said I let her feed on me, stop looking at me like that.” She looked at Kasia and switched back to German, “He's volunteering to let you feed.” The vampire grinned, “Great! I'll take him up the tower, it gets awkward otherwise.” Myla sighed, “That's what I said and now everyone is looking at me again.” Kasia grinned, “Oh you're going to get a lot more looks after this, unless he downplays it, men all have one reaction to me.” She took Kai's arm and led him away, and Myla heard Shannon snort.

  She studied the EMT out of the corner of her eye and saw the ear piece. So she could understand them then. That explains the timing on the physical comment. Finally she looked at the chief, “So we have a shade that requires a summoner stalking the towers, potentially other ones watching us, and no idea why. Think we should push it up the ladder?” He rubbed the back of his head, “Mm. I'm going to report it and see what they say, after hearing that the mana well stirred though? They'll probably send an investigator at the least, this could be a mage after the well.”

  Myla sighed, “Yeah it sounds like some wannabe sorcerer king trying to power up.” She glanced up the tower, “So how's Eva doing? College treating her right?” He groaned, “Maybe too well. She stopped by last weekend, wanted to borrow our laundry room and get away from her roommates. She's got piercings all over her damn face and spent dinner tryin to educate me on the parahuman struggle.” Myla snorted, “Seriously? You?” He shook his head, “I spent an hour arguing with her over the Masks alone, it's like the girl forgot that I was in the streets for all that shit. Still would be if I hadn't gotten this job and a family.”

  She gave him a sympathetic look, “She’ll learn boss, but fighting with her won't help. You know that.” He sighed, “I know I know. Stubborn brat. She got herself a boyfriend though, so she at least came back with one nice surprise for me.” Myla smiled, “Wow didn't bet on that, figured her to be as fruity as her dad.” He laughed, “Right? Instead she just got my taste in men.” She considered that, “So she brought home a bear?” He snorted, “Fuck you.” She grinned, “I think Trace would kill you and then me.” He punched her arm, “Fuck. You. Trace is encouraging her of course, he says she'll find her way through the bullshit if we let her.”

  She nodded, “And they're right as always. She's smart chief, she’ll come around. You meet the boyfriend yet?” He shook his head, “Nah, but she's already got the meeting planned out apparently. She wants us to stop by for a play she's in, she's going to introduce us at dinner afterwards.” She snorted, “Of course she's in a theater group. What's the play?” He shrugged, “A classic about depressed cats. It's new to her I guess, she's ecstatic at least.” Myla laughed.

  As they made small talk she was starting to wonder how long it took for Kasia to eat when the vampire came down from the tower looking more energized than before, “All good to go! Holes are all closed up now. But I am going to feel like hammered shit once I break the fearless rune, so I would really like to go do that part in private.” Myla nodded, “Looks like we're gonna head out chief. Uh maybe give Kai a couple minutes though? He's probably out of it after that.” He nodded, “Blood loss like that can take a sec. You're free Lesnik, get going. I have you slated for the afternoon shift tomorrow so don't be late.” She flashed him a grin, “Thanks boss.”