Chapter 1 - A Kiss through the Sunset

10 in the morning, the Hillingdon City local police was in for a shock... A house filled with corpses... 30 of them... All littering the abandoned house like Christmas decors... What really made it more puzzling are the manner these men died... crushed skulls... severed limbs... massive lacerations in the body made by an unknown weapon... and to the fact that these dead bodies were in uniform... some sort of an elite commando group.. But of whom… the insignia in their uniform and the weapons they carry are not that familiar to the local authorities... and there were no signs to identify the bodies either...

Lilah Sorena took time to look at the insignia on the uniform of a victim. “Any ID on this fella?” she asked a fellow officer... “Can we at least have any names for these guys?” The detective beside her gave no reply.

“Ey Lilah... check this out.” Sgt. Jacob Rinus, Lilah’s partner called out... The sergeant then hand over to Lilah a MP5... “Check out the magazine...” he added. Lilah remove the mag only to find the bullets are made of silver. “Now this is interesting... Are all their bullets like this?” “Yep...” “An elite group of commandos from hell knows… with silver bullets... gets massacred in a house by somebody or something...” Lilah commented. “Well... this is going to be really interesting...”

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Later that evening, a young girl walks quite slowly in the shopping district. The lady seemed to be enjoying the evening alone. Dressed in elegant yet out-of-date attire, she attracted a lot of passers-by. Then something caught her eye…somebody is following her... A sly grin came to her face... she turned into a dark corner alley... the fellow followed her...

Lilah stares at the pictures of the dead bodies. A lot of things are going into her mind... “Why were they there at the first place?” she asked herself. “What or who was they supposed to apprehend?” The young officer stare aimlessly at the silver bullet inside the evidence bag Jacob found at the crime scene... Then the phone rings…“What?” she asked. “Something’s up...” her partner answered. “Riverton Street...” Lilah then placed the phone down and grabbed her jacket and gun.

The smell of blood is everywhere... the yellow police tape guards the alley like a barricade. The sight is lighted up by blue and red police car lights. A headless body of a man lies 5 feet from a trash can where his head was found. “All I got from an Identification Card in his pocket is a name Marcus Sintra.” Jacob said. “He’s from sort of government agency... but I cannot really tell... the agency insignia is the same as the guys in the house though.” As the body was taken by the city coroner’s office... Lilah stared at the blood that covered the whole place. “The man was killed in the same manner as those clowns in the Thurston house... We may be looking for the same suspect in this case...” Jacob suggested. “Sgt. Rinus... Sorena... can I have a word with you two.” Lt. Leronio, the police chief called. “There is someone I want you to meet.” the chief pointed to them a man in black looking at the crime scene with such familiarity...

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Back at the station, Lilah almost laughed at the man she just met hours before. “Do you want me to believe what you are saying?” Lilah asked. “Sir... have this man seen a doctor lately? Vampires... Did you think we would fall for that crap...?” “Sgt. Sorena!!” the chief exclaimed. “I understand her position, Lieutenant.” the man answered. “But believe it or not... we are after the same person...” The man then hand over to the three police officers a few confidential documents... bearing the insignia found on the bodies days before. “It seemed that our government has secretly recognized and has accepted that vampires do exist. These vampires have a society of their own.... a so-called kindred. And this kindred have ties with our present government. And the government has created an organization to monitor their activities... an agency so confidential I cannot even tell you the name. The guys you found in that house where part of that organization... your dead guy at Riverton also... they were after her...” Lilah then found a picture of a girl in the document. “Name’s Lieondah... a vampire... an Assamite to be precise... a vampire assassin... The vampire kindred sought the government’s help in finding or eliminating her... a rouge assassin on the run...” the man continued. “A vampire on a killing spree... And our intelligence units indicate that she may be around in the city still... and due to the current situation... I am asking your outmost cooperation...”

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11 in the evening, three weeks after that. The young vampire stood on top of Whitechapel Square Hotel, staring at the city life below. “Target acquired sir...” “Roger that...” Lilah listens to the radio in an armored van blocks away from the hotel. “Should I take it out sir?” the sniper asked. “Fire at will once you have a clear visible range of the target” the man besides Lilah replied. Jacob lights a cigarette outside the van, staring at the hotel blocks away.

“Oh shit!” the sniper exclaimed. “She spotted us sir...” “What!!” the man responded. “Relocate now...” “Roger t…..” “Snowcap! Do you read?” the man shouted at the radio. “Shit!! All units converge on the current position of Raven 1... Now!!”

Three teams rushed to the sniper location only to find both the sniper and the rangefinder dead... “Raven 1 has been eliminated sir.” Raven 4 leader replied. Then a flashbang was thrown into the middle of the room... The bright light illuminated the whole room... gunfire echoed across the whole city block... Raven 2 team rushed to the scene... A MP5 flew straight at a member... hitting him and knocking him unconscious... Another was thrown into the wall... The rest opened fired... the vampire rushed at the soldiers in extreme speed… hacking a head off one... tearing a hand off another… Gunfire and screams of pain can be heard on the radio... “What the hell is going on up there?” Lilah asked nervously… Jacob then took his gun... “I’m not going to stay here and listen to our guys die.” The sergeant ran towards the scene... “Jacob... wait!” Lilah tried to run after her partner but was held by the man. “No... It’s too dangerously... even for you... sergeant.” “But Jacob...” Lilah tried to argue... “He’s on his own now...” the man explained. “Archangel has now clearance to proceed...” Lilah heard him order on the radio.

24^th floor, Jacob holds his gun as he looks for any slight movement. The whole floor is now a blood bath. The detective found himself drawn into a room… Slowly opening the door, Jacob lay speechless at the sight... the vampire stood in the middle of the room... dead bodies litter the place... Lieondah licked the blood off her fingers… staring at the sergeant with a satisfying smile... “Have you come to die?” Lieondah asked with sarcasm. Jacob fired at the vampire. Lieondah received each blow like it was nothing. The vampire then threw him out of the room... Jacob found himself crashing through the door. Reloading his gun, the detective fired more shots but to no avail... Phrenic grabbed him and smash his body into the wall. Jacob struggled for his life... Half-dead, the detective took a knife hidden in his back-pocket and thrust the blade into the vampire’s side. Lieondah ignored the blade and held Jacob up for the last bite.

An arrow bolt sprung out of nowhere and hit the vampire on the shoulder. The vampire screamed in pain. Letting the officer go, Lieondah c turned around to face a man clad in black. The vampire then suddenly disappeared from sight. Jacob saw the blurry image of the man as he finally lost consciousness from the severe loss of blood.

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3 days after the incident. Jacob woke up in the hospital. Lilah stood there smiling back at him. “We thought we lost you there...” “What happened?” the detective muttered. “Good thing he showed up...” That was all Lilah could answer to him. “Who showed up?” “Hush now... you need to rest.”

Lilah left the hospital later that night, “You liked the guy?” a man asked her. “Since when were you interested in my private life?” she irritatedly answered. “Pardon... I don’t know much to understand you humans and your concept of love... Forgive my ignorance.” The man disappeared.

“Concepts of love?” The words lingered in her head. Jacob and Lilah have been partners for three years now. Their relationship has been more of a strong friendship. But after that encounter, Lilah has found out that she carries with her a strong affection for her partner. And she won’t forgive that vampire who nearly cost her partner’s life.

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Club Romanus Deus. The party capital of the city, with its techno beats and swirling lights. It’s Saturday and it is filled with people. Lieondah entered the place with a smile on her face. “Ey there sweetheart...” A man approached her. The vampire looked at him a bit surprised. “How about a dance?” “A dance it is...” the vampire agreed. The man the guided her to the dance floor. As Lieondah c entertains herself, somebody in the crowd called unto a cellular phone.

Minutes later, Lilah entered the Club. “Roger that sir...” she silently whispered on her radio. Turning towards three people behind her, “She was last seen entering this place... try find any traces of her.” The other guys agreed on proceeded. Then the man appeared again out of nowhere and approached her. “She is here alright... I can sense her.” Lilah looked at him, “Well... It will be quite difficult with all these peop....”

A shriek echoed from the dance floor. “Well... does that answer your question?” the man in black answered. “Shit!!” Lilah took her gun from the holster. “Suspect is confirmed, send back-up immediately.” she ordered on her radio. “Proceed with caution.” she ordered her men.

The people mindlessly scattered as the dance floor finally cleared to reveal a lifeless body of a man. Lieondah stood in the middle, still enjoying the taste of her kill. “Freeze!” a cop shouted as he aims his gun at her. Two more approached her with gun drawn. Lilah tried to reach the dance floor through a stampede of panic stricken people all in a hurry to leave the vicinity. The man in black rushed towards the dance floor as well.

Lieondah smiled at the cops. Then before one could fire his gun, the vampire’s hand smash right into his skull. With speed Phrenic broke the neck of the other and rush at the last as Lilah finally reached them only to find 3 of her men being slaughtered. Lilah fired at Lieondah, and the vampire rushed towards her. The man in black then suddenly jumped at Lieondah, slamming her face to the floor. The vampire then threw the man into the bar section. The force of impact literary obliterated everything.

“So... Lord Valgathri sent you to dispose of me.” Lieondah said to the man as she licked her own blood form her lips. “Killing an elder is a crime to us vampires” the man answered as he stood up from the wreckage. “Your bloodlust cost us vampires a lot... We vampires try to maintain a good stance with the humans... feeding only when possible... They provided us with blood to sustain our existence... We do some of their dirty work, they kept their mouth shut. And you abuse all of these... killing when and whom you like... Lady Rikku cannot tolerate it anymore. She sought to stop your killing spree... thus you killed her... your own elder and drank her blood... Now Lord Valgathri wants your head on a platter. ”

“And the kindred sought the help of humans to kill me... How pathetic…” Lieondah commented. “Asking cattle to do your work...” she laughed. The vampire then took her weapon hidden in her dress. A pair of scissor katars..

“Laugh all you want Lieondah.” the man said. “It will all be over soon...” Lilah still points her gun at Lieondah as the two talked. Her hands are now shaking in fear.

Lieondah took the first step, rushing towards the man at incredible speed… thrusting her katars right at him. The man took several pieces of wood from the wreckage. Thrashing at the wooden fragments to create some sort of shield to receive Lieondah’s first blow. Lieondah slice through the debris with ease only to find the man gone from the wreckage. A kick came out of nowhere to strike Lieondah from the back. The blow sent Lieondah right through the bar wall. Recovering immediately she land on her feet to lash at the man now behind her. Her blade ran into an empty space as the man lands 14 feet away from her. Facing Lieondah, he then realized that Lieondah was able to cut a small wound in his face. The man just smiled.

Lilah now took an opportunity to shoot at Lieondah. The vampire quickly evaded the shot to rush right at Lilah. The vampire was about to slice the officer in half when the man suddenly stood in front of the vampire. He received Lieondah’s blow… letting the female vampire’s katars to penetrate both his shoulders. Before the vampire could finish him, he kicked Lieondah away. The vampire landed 10 feet away from them. “Are mad vampire? Are you that willing to sacrifice your life for a human?”

“Leave her out of this...” the man held a katar still stuck in his shoulder. “Your fight is with me.” Lieondah then licked a small amount of blood from the katar left in her hand. “Your blood is… You’re no Assamite... Who are you vampire?” The vampire asked in shock.

“The Lord Elder sent me to handle you personally…” the man answered as he removes the katar from his wound. He then threw it beside him. “My name is no importance to you…”

Lilah stood shocked behind him, still trembling with a gun in her hands. In fear and shock, she finally let go of the gun… the weapon’s impact on the floor echoed through Club Romanus Deus.

Lieondah then smiled, “No matter… Letting yourself be injured for that girl, gives me a fighting chance… should I say, Ventrue?” The vampire now addresses her opponent as a noble-blood.

“Enough talk, Assamite...”

Lieondah resumed her attack, lunging her katar right at the man. The man evaded her first strike only to meet the vampire’s fist to hit him right at his injured shoulder. The man was sent a few feet back, the pain in his shoulder now has become unbearable.

Lieondah now stood in front of Lilah. Her katar inches away from her abdomen… “Any last words, luv?” the vampire asked her. “I… I… do... don’t… want… to die…” Lilah muttered in shock as she felt the blade... “Awww… too bad...” Lieondah gave a sadistic smile, and thrust her blade into Lilah…

“No!!!” the man shouted. Forcing himself up made him bleed furiously. “Big mistake Assamite...”

The man then rushed right back at Lieondah as she finally let go of Lilah’s lifeless body… Lieondah eyes gleamed as she saw the man. The female vampire prepared herself for his blow. “Ahhhhhhh!” she gave an ear deafening shriek as she was to counter his move… But before she could even move, the man grabbed her by the forehead and threw her to the wall… The wall trembled, sending vibration throughout the whole infrastructure. The man then grabbed both her hands and tore them from their sockets… The female vampire screams in pain…

Holding Lieondah’s neck… the man’s now glowing eyes sent fear into the Assamite… “It’s time for you to die…” the man said to her. With a powerful blow, the man smashed Lieondah’s skull into the wall… The vampire, lifeless then slumped into the floor… The man’s hand then thrust right at Phrenic’s heart. Removing it from her body… and crushing it with his bare hands.

The man now stood staring at his kill… a lifeless lump. The man looked at Lilah’s body across the dance floor… He then bowed his head… only to realize as slight movement in Lilah’s fingers.

Approaching the officer, he found Lilah struggling for her life. Seeing her injury gave him an insight that she would die eventually. “I… I… I… do... don’t… want… to die…” Lilah pleaded. “I don’t want to die…” she repeated as tears flow from her eyes… “Please… don’t let me die…”

The man carried her in his arms. He then slowly approached the exit of the establishment.

The police arrived minutes later, only to find the place basically crumbling into pieces. The ambulance then took 5 bodies out of Club Romanus Deus. Lilah’s body was never found.

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