In regards to Friday the 13th, it's now considered a day of ill omens and bad luck, because it was on a Friday the 13th that the Catholic church of the Medieval period betrayed and attacked the most devout order of the Knights Templar. The day itself means little, if anything else, to the casual historian.

Of course, there are those of us who feel that the betrayal by the Catholics, and a potential curse by the supporters of the Templars, may have given us very real reason to fear the malfortunes of this day...

I wish I could've been there to help heal you, my friend, if I couldn't've been there to back you up. You've been posting, so I know it ends the best way a story could end--with you walking away from the situation alive.

What else happened?

Sorry, I'm still getting nausea and headaches if I look at the screen too long.

Being barely able to stand, I think I did a very good job of throwing myself behind my car before the shotgun went off. Fortunately I've customized my car for a variety of eventualities otherwise the 00 buckshot would have gone right through the body work and caught me.

I scrambled along the side of my car, trying to put as much of it between me and him again.

He was laughing at me while he racked and fired the shotgun a couple of more times.

"I can hear what you're thinking, all your doubts and fears." he mocked me.

I poked my gun around the side of the car and fired a few times at where I thought he was. I ducked back before the next volley of shot, though not quite fast enough - one of the pellets creased my forehead coating my face in a red mask of my own blood and further buggering my vision.

"I got you didn't I? I can smell it. When this is over I'm going to feast on you."

He was enjoying this.

"Won't you come out to play with me some more Mr. Hunter. I promise I won't shoot until you're ready . . ."

Fat chance.

Something thumped on the hood of my car, instinctively I pointed my gun and fired. The yelp told me it was one of the dogs he had with him. A moment later a dark shape rushed around the edge of my car.

By the time I got my gun on it, my gun was almost halfway down the doberman's throat. The back of it's head blew of quite satisfactorily.

Then the rest of the pack was on me. A golden lab knocked me over while a poodle went after my face. A Jack Russel's teeth were fortunately deflected by my groin protector.

I managed to clear my blade and slash the lab's throat open. Another point blank shot took care of the Jack Russel, while a well placed boot knocked the poodle away. When it began to rise I put two shots into it.

BLAM!!

The monster had come around the end of the car while his dogs had me busy and let me have a full load point blank.

Fortunately silver is a poor penetrator and my armour managed to stop it.

Unfortunately it left me on the ground, gasping for breath as he racked the slide again and walked over to point the barrel under my nose. I could smell the burnt gun powder and my blood

"When I was told I could find a hunter in this town, I was expecting something a bit more formidable. Any last requests?"

It was then the police cruiser turned the corner and roared up the street with it's lights and siren on.

The monster turned to the oncoming cruiser, raised the shotgun and fired. The drivers side of the front windshield shattered and the car veered out of control, knocked over a hydrant and slammed into a light post.

I rolled around the end of my car and got my feet under me. Shakily I stood up.

The monster turned around and pointed the shotgun at me.

"Well at least you get to die on your feet." He racked the gun and pulled the trigger.

Click.

"You forgot, I know how many bullets are in that thing."

I emptied the rest of my clip into him, rocking him backwards forcing him down.

I dropped my empty and slammed in a fresh and stood over the beast, shooting down into him. At that range the bullets were passing clean through him and ricocheting up off the street into his back, lifting him a little with each shot - making it look like he was still moving. I almost put a third clip into him because of that.

Instead I staggered through the falling snow and the spray from the fire hydrant to the cruiser and opened the driver's door. The policewoman in the driver's seat had taken the spray of broken glass and shotgun pellets in the face. I reached across her and grabbed her radio and called in an officer down.

I stumbled back out through the spray and snow. I was cold, wet, bruised, battered, bleeding and my vision still wasn't cleared up. I made my way back towards my car so I could get out of here before I got entangled with the police.

My foot bumped against the beast's body and I looked down at it for a moment. It looked dead.

Too dead.

Like been dead three days dead.

None of the bullet wounds were bleeding either.

I realized the danger I was in a split second before it opened it's eyes.

Ron glad you ok all things considered. I would like to be the first to offer any help that I can. The fact that this looks like a setup is something to be more than a little worryed about. Whatever arrangements you make good luck and good hunting.

Ron Caliburn wrote:In my experience, there are two kinds of vampires.

1) The predator, looking and hunting for it's next meal, barely able to control itself.

2) The genius, A sophisticted mosnter who has moved past worrying about where it's next meal will come from and has moved on to pursue it's higher aims - usually th acquistion of power, wealth and slaves.

I may possibly be a modification of number two. My goals still stand.

Though I suspect I am beyond your experience.

So, if you believe that this is related to what was going on before; do you think KT is in as much trouble as you are?

I'm not in trouble, yet, but with the guardian spirits in our home, and with me constantly maintaining and reinforcing the wards around my home, my family and I should be practically invisible on the radar. I'll be vulnerable when I'm at work, but when even *I* don't know where I'm gonna be from one day to the next, it should make it even harder to track me.

I also usually tend more towards the defensive hunting type, rather than the offensive. I don't go after the baddies unless they come after me first. That way, no matter what, I get to choose the time and place, and force the home team advantage, so to speak.

I would be more like Ron, being a more active hunter, but I have too much to worry about. Just like the druids and witches of old, I have a family to care for, and a life to live, outside of hunting monsters and protecting innocents from demons.

I go back to work on Monday... We'll see what, if anything, comes of it, and I'll most certainly keep y'all posted.

Ron, it's good to know you're on the mend. No matter what, make sure you're well-healed before you go back out there after that 'sucker. They're going to try to draw you out beforehand, because with the defenses I added, there shouldn't be any way they can get to you.

Just keep in mind, our job is to save everyone that we humanly can. If you're not at your best, no matter what happens, DON'T GO OUT THERE. You're no good to anyone if you're dead. That could end up really sucking, but just remember this... If you willingly give your life to try and save one, you most likely will not only fail to save that life, but fail to save a great deal of lives further down the road. Everyone's counting on you, Ron.

On all of us. Including each other.

Well, I wish you luck. If I weren't still healing after the assault on the Church I'd offer my help to you both.

Always, my friend. I wish I could take some more time off and come help you, but with the added costs of formula, and with my wife's maternity leave, our finances are already uncomfortably tight. My family needs my income...

Hmm... Neutral ground. Ron, why don't I return the favor you paid to me? Close up shop for a week, and make it well-known you're coming up here. Leave a day early, in the middle of the day; that alone should keep you safe from attacks. If they really are after you, then by the time they've caught up to you, it won't be them facing a wounded and lone Mr. Caliburn.

We may not be able to get them into a position of home field advantage, but we should be able to get that neutral ground you were hoping for...

(Also, the more intelligent and cunning vamps don't seem to go on killing sprees in nicer neighborhoods, so if you're in this vicinity, the innocents may be safer, too...)

Sounds like a smart plan to me, assuming Ron is in any condition to travel.

KonThaak wrote:(Also, the more intelligent and cunning vamps don't seem to go on killing sprees in nicer neighborhoods, so if you're in this vicinity, the innocents may be safer, too...)

I believe you’re right on that one, Konthaak, though I don’t know what you mean by “nicer” neighborhoods. But I think this vampire may just follow Mr. Caliburn wherever he may travel. Vampires have pride too, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this one wants to “sever the artery,” if you’ll pardon the expression. I suspect this vampire, if it has an idea of Caliburn’s identity, will be a very regular attendee on this board. To travel or remain stationary will likely have equal amounts of risk. And, as unfortunate as it may sound, you may already be “taken care of,” Mr. Caliburn. If you must rest and recuperate, then you are out of action already – just as good as dead, if they only need you out of the way for so many nights.

Ron Caliburn wrote:I have no intention of going out after this thing until I'm ready to fight it

What? You must be ready now! This may very well be the best time to attack it, if you can find it. Very likely it’s preaching to the choir in this respect, but don’t give up vigilance, Mr. Caliburn, physically and mentally. And speak often as you can to friends, especially those that may possess psychic abilities and the ability to sense such phenomena. Under the instruction of my sire, I killed many would-be hunters. And those I didn’t slay immediately, I attacked in more insidious ways . . . mentally. I got them questioning their skills, their confidence, and the difference they were making in the world. Quite often, they died through feelings of sheer hopelessness and despair. Though humility is indeed a laxative that ought to be taken often, forgo a few doses here. Do not doubt yourself. Do not let this defeat trouble you more than it should.

In terms of trying to find it, this vampire will likely try to present an aura of sorts, which may or may not be a true display of its personality. Invincibility is always one, but it may try to present a feeling of bloodlust, control, or absence. That is, it may feed far more often than necessary, or not at all. Check newspapers and hospitals, and not only for victims of possible vampire attacks, but thefts of supplies. Hospitals always carry stashes of blood for transfusions and surgeries. If you have the proper links, find out if there are any unaccounted losses in the blood bank.

And lastly . . . be strong. Need I say more?

Celeste Darken wrote:You must be ready now!

I should clarify that statement. Of course I do not advocate blindly rushing against a vampire, who has already defeated you once in battle, while your wounds are still fresh and bleeding. But, you must be prepared for such an event of it happening, especially if the vampires does track you down. Do to not hesitate to trust in known allies, and do not take bed rest for granted. Evil never sleeps; I should know. Konthaak and Willie have offered their aid. Reject them at your own risk. I would hate to have one of evil’s staunchest enemies slain because he was to prideful to admit he needed help.

Ron Caliburn wrote:Which leaves me the unpleasant possibility of having to go after this thing again, on ground of it's choosing, again, with it knowing I'm coming, again, and it knowing a good chunk of my playbook, again.This won't go well.

Check your PMs. My calendar's open, Jack, and I got moves it ain't never seen.

"We don't all recover as fast as you do."

Amen to that. I'm still waiting on this psychic healer to show up. If you want, Ron, I can see if he's willing to take a trip to your place when he's done here.

Okie dokie.

Celeste, believe you me, the last thing I was worried about was Ron's spirit. I've spent a week with him, and when I heard about this, the biggest thing I was worried about was him trying to pull heroics when his body was still badly battered. I had nightmare visions of him getting himself killed trying to save some poor innocent, but since he gets killed, the vampire lives, and the victim dies, anyway...

Not all of us are blessed with any form of rapid regeneration. You and I are lucky; you have it naturally, I have it magically. However, remember, when I was attacked in my own home, I ended up spending myself out completely, magically, and had to rely on the hospital's ER to get myself on the path to recovery. It was a few days before I could heal myself. (And I think the doctor might still think I should be in a cast... I dunno, I skipped out on my return visit, told him I'd been to another doctor, that my insurance insisted I see, and he'd insisted I was fine.)

Anyway, Ron, the offer still stands. Even if they do monitor these boards, there's no way a vamp can track you during the day. Even if they could now identify you, they still can't, me. All they know is that I'm in a Chicago suburb, and that it's a "nicer neighborhood" (which describes--ooh, about 75% of the ones that I've seen). Even if you don't take me up on my offer, as always, if you think of anything I can help with, don't hesitate to ask.

KonThaak wrote:Not all of us are blessed with any form of rapid regeneration. You and I are lucky;

Blessed? Lucky? No, my friend, I possess nothing that resembles anything holy. It's a curse, pure and simple. I heal fast because I am a vampire. Any merit such an ability holds is instantly offset by the prices paid for it: to be a blight upon nature; to have zealous hunters ready to kill without quarter; to be stereotyped as a monster. Any powers I have that sets me above humanity, I use for their benefit.

You, as a druid of nature, are the one that is lucky and blessed; to see the sunlight and not be burned by its pure heat. To be on intimate terms with nature, not shunned by it.

KonThaak wrote:Even if they do monitor these boards, there's no way a vamp can track you during the day.

Don't be so certain. There are still human pawns and slaves. Be near to help him, if Caliburn allows it; be near him to help him, even if he doesn't allow it.