"You cannot destroy a vampire by popular means. Indeed, many of the undead weaknesses of legend are fabrications, spread by the monsters themselves. Yet this campaign of misinformation is itself a sign of their vulnerability. They have only devoted so much time to these deceptions to hide their true weaknesses.

Sunlight and fire are still their most persistent of banes, and decapitation with a honed blade will finish the fight as well. The modern era has been generous to our efforts as well. Small arms fire is largely ineffective against the vampire. But explosives, incendiary rounds, and even a well-placed blast from a shotgun will end them without issue. Staking them will not kill them instantly, only stun them. Of course, that makes dispatching them easier, but the difference is something to keep in mind.

Above all, holy symbols and iconography have no effect on them, unless you are faithful. Remember this, my fellow inquisitors and hunters: your willpower and faith in our divine mission remain your most powerful asset. For it is this conviction that allows us to stand in God's light, and use it to smite our foes."

Excerpt from "A Commentary on Lesser Fiends", by his grace the Bishop Kristoff Stoykiy.

*********

Three days and two nights had passed since Ruprecht first arrived in Phoenix, and the hunt was continuing unabated. The Sabrina, the Gangrel spy, was now dust. She thought to play a game of cat and mouse in the wilderness, where she felt safe and in control. But Ruprecht had only used himself as bait, and Lawrence had used his newfound powers of Obfuscation to circle around and end the overconfident huntress.

The local Gangrel responded with riots and destruction. There was clear evidence that their leader was killed by another Kindred. And just as Ruprecht predicted, they turned their fury on the Prince. And with that crisis at hand, Ruprecht was allowed the breathing room to bring in reinforcements. A squad of seven men, hardened from war and longs years of hunting answered the call.

They had top-of-the-line equipment and knew some of the miracles practiced by the Vatican's hunters. Above all, they were willing to die for the chance of ending even one of the undead fiends. More were waiting beyond the city limits. Helicopters had been set aside in camps for the assault soldiers to board and use as rapid deployment.

In his small room, away from all the bustle of his team as they examined their equipment and planned considered different scenarios, Ruprecht sat and mediated. He needed to focus on the events thus far, and in particular how to exploit the chaos of the Gangrel revolt.

"And as a happy surprise, the Gangrel have led me to the prince herself." The Gangrel's assault was more focused than expected. Though the other Kindred viewed them as beasts, they were no fools. Their assaults on Camarilla assets had been so complete in fact, that the Prince's hideaway was all but revealed.

The Hunter was pleased with his work of course and almost proud of Lawrence's contribution. But the fight was not over yet, he needed to lure Amaya from her stronghold, or at least lure enough of her defenses away. Which presented him with a unique problem.

"The Tremere are the only direct counter to my greater abilities. Beyond that, if they are aware of a hunter's hand..." Taking out the Gangrel or the Tremere first was a coin toss at best. Ruprecht had calculated that whipping the beasts into a frenzy would allow pay off, and it did. But the Tremere, the false magicians of the undead, were always the more potent threat. They could sense him from many miles away if they had the right supplies. The revelation of a church hunter in the city, let alone one who was also a true mage, would end all conflict between the different factions of the Kindred.

Until the threat was seen to at least.

Then there was Isaac Shape. He had entrenched himself quickly and already flooded the city with his minions. Ruprecht could not risk an open battle in the streets, not yet. If he moved against either the Prince or Isaac individually, it would expose him. The survivor would then have time to hide away and call for aid.

"They are both Camarilla, though I am sure this prince resents Isaac's presence." It was always frustrating for the Hunter, to see the pathetic and weak envy the truly great as they did. And Isaac Sharpe had once been a great man indeed.

"Katherine, I will keep my vow. I swear it." He broke his meditations and pulled a locket from within his jacket. Within it was the image of a young woman, she had blonde hair but green eyes. Her face was round, and her smile was soft and gentle. He'd taken this photo when they were children. She'd tried to shoo him away, saying she was embarrassed.

Then a few days later, she made this locket. This silver bauble was made by her own hands, and she'd given it to him with the photo inside.

"Dear God, I pray to you now: Let my love be at peace. And to you, my dearest: I hope you forgive me for what I must do." He closed his eyes, picturing happier times. A knock at his door disturbed his reminiscence, but he felt it was for the best. There was work to be done after all.

"Come in, Lawrence." He knew the young vampire's habits by now and knew when he might check in with new updates.

"We've got a problem." Lawrence was always direct, but he was also smart enough to close the door behind him before starting the full conversation. "I've been running around, keeping in touch with whoever will still talk with me."

"I almost forgot, my colleagues, have made your kind paranoid of cellphones and such. Montrose Enterprises has found a way to protect their comm lines though."

"Yeah, it's a pain in the ass." Whatever Lawrence came to tell, it was worrisome enough for him to pause and consider his words. He was a blunt creature at heart though and must have decided to rip the band-aid off as quickly as possible. "Every Tremere in the city bailed. They all disappeared."

This news was enough to make Ruprecht massage his temples, and sigh at the many new difficulties that awaited him.

"I knew it was suspicious when we heard so little of them." He stood, and began pacing the room. "I thought it was simply in keeping with their isolated nature, perhaps they counted on that."

"What do we do now?" Lawrence did not dare interrupt Ruprecht's path, but he was confident enough to question his handler in private. He had an investment in their shared success after all. "I'm all for a straight fight, but if they get wise before we're set: We're fucked."

"Yes, and fighting the different factions individually is not an option anymore. Once we strike, we will alert all others to our deeper intentions."

"So? What do we do?" The Brujah may have been hot-blooded, but he was learning quickly. It was almost a shame that he could not remain under Ruprecht's command. He seemed determined to make himself useful though. "Could we get them all together? Take 'em out at the same time?"

"That's a keen idea, Lawrence." This is was what Ruprecht had been waiting for. He'd been avoiding this road. Yet now that it was his only avenue of success, he could turn all his powers towards it. "I've been fearful of fighting against a united resistance, but if we could arrange the circumstances of this union, then we could entrap and kill all our enemies in one move."

"Ok, but how do we make that happen?" The youngster was eager now. He was rightfully proud of his idea and now wished to see it bear fruit. "I looked around the Montrose building, that place is locked tight. And how many ghouls does that asshole have anyway?"

"Enough to inconvenience us. As I said, a battle in the streets would not suit our purposes."

"Perhaps I'm going about this wrong. My most successful tactics have been asymmetrical in nature. I cannot treat this as an open battlefield. Treachery. Yes, treachery will suit me as well as raw power."

The vampires were cunning, that much was true. But they relied too much on their vaunted powers. Ruprecht could match them with magic, but not against all of them. No, the weakness of the vampire was in their arrogance. Their presumption that they would outlast any single trend or idea. Technology and its rapid advancement had been their Achilles heel for the past twenty years. And if that could be augmented with magic...

"Tell me, Lawrence, how committed are you to seeing the Camarilla bleed?" The answer was obvious, and the hunter knew it. But he had to be sure, to ensure this ploy's success. "What price are you willing to pay for victory?"

The vampire's eyes widened, he knew the full implications of this question. Fear was creeping into his face, and he'd grown very still. Had Ruprecht misjudged him?

No, Lawrence gritted his teeth, stood tall, and gave his answer.

"I'll do anything. I'll even pay up my Final Death; if it means taking those bastards with me." His words were firm, and despite the fears he may have had behind his gaze, they were being pushed aside by the fervor in his damned soul.

It was quite moving.

"Your heart, corrupted as it may be, is still that of a man. That may not comfort you, but it is the truth." Ruprecht did not smile, but he could help but admire this young man, dead and tainted before his time.

And Lawrence too seemed appreciative of those words, however slightly.

"Come." Ruprecht placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and made ready to lead him to his final redemption. "You are in need of surgery."