It was simple, really. His kind were hunters by nature. Long ago, they’d hidden from the sun and humanity had been scarce. They’d used their wiles and hunted discreetly, careful not to take too much from a community lest their presence be suspected. Vampires were, after all, still vulnerable during the day. Others lived apart in large communities like Penglai Island, where the eight immortal leaders of China made their home, keeping a stable of healthy blood donors at their convenience. But for many, the hunting urge was too strong, especially when young or absent the fear of a powerful leader.

And so they hunted. Humans didn’t prove much of a challenge unless there were other enticements. Wagering was popular. Setting down rules about speed. Giving the humans weapons to fend the vampires off. All these things prolonged the hunt and added extra amusement. But the practice had almost become taboo with the explosion of the human population. It was considered too risky. Too blatant. And no respectable leader would allow it.

But then, Ivan had always been fond of breaking the rules.

A whiff of enticing blood reached Baojia’s nose. There was a human close. A woman. And she had Elixir in her system.

“Ah,” Tulio said. “I smell the pomegranate now. This drug, it makes the humans stronger?”

“No, it kills them,” Natalie said. “Eventually.”

“It makes the vampires stronger at first,” Baojia said through gritted teeth. The human was coming closer. “Then it weakens the amnis and causes confusion. It attacks the mind. Eventually, it will drive you mad.”

“That would explain their behavior,” Tulio muttered. “They seem to hunt the girls in packs. They even fight with each other like dogs. The humans can he Ttry to run away, but out here?” Tulio shrugged. “We’re miles from anything. Even if they lasted till the morning, they’d die of heatstroke and thirst before anyone found them.”

“So Ivan’s arranging these hunts?”

Tulio said, “I think so. I haven’t seen him, but I recognize some of his men. They don’t take part in the hunts, just watch. The vampires hunting are strangers. Lots of languages. Lots of accents.”

Baojia sensed it before he saw it. A vibration in the wind or the earth. Something tipped him off that others of his kind were approaching.

“Time’s up,” Tulio whispered. “We should go now.”

“What are you doing?” Natalie said. “We can’t just let them kill these girls.”

Tulio glared at her. “There will be ten or more vampires, woman. If what you say is true and they are stronger than average, we don’t want to confront them. Besides, officially, we are on their territory. They would be within their rights to attack us.”

“Baojia!” Her indignant voice tore at him. “You can’t let them.”

He turned over to look at her. “What would you have me do? Take humans from another’s territory? It would start a war. It’s likely Ivan or one of his people has fed from all these women before. They are under his aegis to do with as he pleases.” He saw her face drain of color. “Natalie, we are not prepared to fight them tonight.”

“But… you can’t.” Her hollow eyes turned toward the women scrambling in the valley. “You’re going to just let them die?” He caught her a moment before she made for the opening of the tunnel.

“No.” He held her without amnis, restraining her arms and legs as she struggled.

“You… you monster! They’re going to kill them!”

Tulio said, “If they don’t kill those girls out there, they’ll kill someone else tonight. They come in bloodlust. We cannot prevent this.”

She was sobbing by then. “You’re a bastard. They’re going to die and you’re not going to help them.”

“If we tried to, it would cause more deaths than theirs. Now is not the time.”

Tulio said, “Someone is going to hear her. Knock her out.”

“No,” he whispered, bending down to her ear. “Natalie, you have to calm down. You’re putting us all in danger.”

“I hate you.”

“I don’t hate you. And I understand why you’re angry.” He was angry with himself. The humans did not deserve death. But neither was he prepared to tackle ten elixired vampires that night. He doubted Tulio would help, and Natalie’s safety was his first priority. Not to mention, he had no idea if he could control himself around ten women who all smelled as tantalizing as the woman who was scrambling toward their tunnel.

“Ayúdame,” she cried out in Spanish. “¡Cristo, ayúdame!”

Baojia closed his eyes when he heard her.

“She’s going to die,” Natalie whispered, limp in his arms. “You could help her, but you’re letting her die.”

What would he do with the human if he did save her? Her sobs grew louder, and Baojia heard the car doors open and close. Then the snarling began as the vampires began to hunt.

“We need to leave,” Tulio said. “You don’t want her here.”

“¡Ayuda!” the pitiful human called again. Her blood was redolent with the smell of ripe fruit and sunlight. His fangs lengthenfanampires beed in his mouth and he clutched Natalie closer. She was crying just like the woman outside the tunnel.

“Baojia, please.” Her quiet plea did him in. He rolled over and shoved Natalie toward Tulio.

“You carry her. I’ll get the woman.”