The winds are quite high tonight, catching at my clothing and trying to break my concentration. A touch of frost is in the air and the mortals down below me have their clothes pulled close and tight to ward against the chill. I don't feel it, not anymore. I haven't for years. Crouched above the mortals, seated on an outcropping so thoughtfully provided by the Toreador in their machinations of the art world, I wait for my prey.

I'm a vampire. We call ourselves Kindred but that is what we are. Vampires. Me, I'm Clan Gangrel. At least so I tell everyone. Don't worry about the terminology, it'll come. Let's just say that there are many groups of us, not all the same. Those that I claim affiliation to are considered the outlanders, the wild one's. That and possibly the most dangerous group to cross. What am I doing seated 60 feet above the ground on the ledge of a building looking down on the world in temperatures that are hitting 2C you must be asking yourself. I'm the Sheriff of this city. Have been since the old one took a wrong turn and ended up brightening the sunsets a month ago. Guess you could call me the local law enforcement for the supernatural. Works lousy, the hours are even worse but the pay isn't bad. And someone has to do it. Which is how I ended up here, waiting for the local Sabbat informant to get his ass here on time. Normally I'd get someone else to do this shit but since I ain't sure who I can trust, leaves it up to me as usual.

We started working out that we had a mole the day the Sheriff kinda coped it. What most people did not know was where he was going that night. Only a few did, so that helped pin point that we had a problem. Oh hell, Lady Luck could have tossed her dice but once is coincidence, twice is happenstance, 3 times and you definitely have a problem. And the Sheriff hasn't been the only one to disappear. Been a few Caitiff, vagrants of our world and other Anarchs that have gone missing. No one thought anything of it till the Sheriff went and bit the dust. Or more correctly became dust.

I've known this guys' route for the last 2 weeks or so. Don't know the face just yet but sure as hell know he drops by here weekly to do a drop off and pick up. Not sure what, but I can guess. Doesn't take a rocket scientist. Why haven't I dropped him yet? Got a feeling there's something I'm missing, it's been nagging me for the past 2 weeks. Ah hell, the boss wants results so I'm making my move today. Thanks to the sloppy tactics of the other guy I've got the local packs haven to. I'll settle this guy tonight and get my men to settle the haven tomorrow afternoon. I'm sure we can borrow a wrecking ball or two. Bingo. Uglies right on time as usual. A quick scan with the thermal binoculars to ensure it is who I want this night and I'm moving to close the gap. Leave the binoculars here for tonight, no one comes up here anyhow. Seems like I've been dropping and leaving these things around the city a lot. Useful when I need it later on.

Legs are pumping, muscles flexing and I'm in the air, crossing the gap between me and the next building in a single jump. I hit the roof of the other place just right, tucking and rolling without thinking. And right now, I'm letting my Beast rip through me, run along side my body. Always good to let it out of its cage once in a while. Reminds me that whatever else, I'm not in this in body alone.

Stop for a moment and watch. This guys smart, changes his route all the time. But there's only so many variations and I know them all. I'm moving as soon as I note his presence, jumping, tucking, rolling, spinning. Sometimes you have just got to love the way being dead. No torn muscles to worry about, no running out of breath. I could do this the whole night long. Literally. I stop, looking around and frown. Damn. He took the other turning. That leaves me with only one chance to get to him or else it'll get messy. Ah hell, I hope my lucks in tonight. I'm already crossing to the other side by the time I think this much, cutting across his possible route.

By the time he actually shows up I'm already waiting for him, seated on another gargoyle. Trench-coat lies across my body, shrouding me in it's black comfort. Some people think I wear it for effect. They're right. The long blown trench is this times version of the cape. Others think I wear it to help hide and hold all the weapons I carry. They're right again.

He doesn't look up, he always is more relaxed coming from the drop off than he is going. Reason why I chose to let him do the drop. Makes the job easier. I wait for him to bypass me before I drop. 40 feet to the ground from where I am. Legs take the shock and I'm already up and moving even before he turns at the sound. I'm fast. He's faster. If a mortal was to walk along here right now he'd get a scare of his life. We're both moving at speeds that no mortal could hope of achieving. If this was based on speed alone I'd lose. But I cheat. By the time he realises its time to run I've got my sawn-off shotgun in his face. Both barrels. He stops then and at last I get a proper look at this guys face. Except it ain't a guy.

"Coke. You scared me. Is this how you do your duties, scaring your betters whilst they carry out personal business?"

Got to hand it to her. She's fast in recovery. Then again, Miss Isabelle Stone supposedly of Clan Toreador has always been. I smile. "If you're on personal business you don't mind if I take this for now do you?" I reach for what she was reaching for. A gun I guess. At least she thinks that is what I'm going for. My gloved hand wraps around the small canister that she picked up and it's in my hand and inside a sealed pocket within my coat before she realises what's happened.

Yeah, I can see it now; she knows I know. The hand that went in the coat comes out with the stake, held in the left hand. She's wondering what I intend to do next. If I shoot her, the noise will bring the cops and other passer-by's here. She knows I can't afford that. Keeping the veil of ignorance drawn over mortal eyes and all that. If I try to stake her, I need to lung in from a cross angle. Means I'm going to lose concentration on the gun and that will give her the chance she needs to run. Tricky timing. She knows she's faster than me. And as she opens her mouth to bargain I change the rules again.

The kick takes her where her balls would be if she were male. Dead as we are we don't need those parts anymore. Nor have the desire. But it still hurts, not as much for a female but it hurts. Doesn't help that I've already utilised some of the blood in my body to make myself stronger than any mortal can ever hope to be. Or that I recently got hang of how to make my blows land even harder from using our blood once more. Seems at times I was born to be a vampire, the way I pick up these tricks from others so easily. Not exactly right of course.

Nasty crunching sound as I break her pelvic bone. She's crouched over in pain and it's the easiest thing in the world whilst she's still trying to get over the pain for me to put the stake through her heart. Of course, easiest things are never that easy. She moves at the last minute and I end up putting it through her chest bone. Nasty sound and I'm certain that has got to hurt. She ain't moving anyhow after I drag it out and put the stake back in properly.

And no, she doesn't go to dust. All wooden stakes in the heart do to us is paralyse us. Useful however if you need to question the person later. Propping the body up in a doorway I drop the beacon I set off a short while ago. My men will pick the body up, the few that I can actually trust.

I pick up the information to take a quick read as I've always done. 1 hour between drops is a good idea in theory. Only problem is that it gives people like me more than enough time to read the mail. That's when I start swearing. Seems like the pack is to move today on Elysium. Hell, I hate that art fag place but it's my job to keep it safe. Got to change plans then, at least they are still waiting for the location and timing from this. Gives me a window of opportunity.

The second pick up is a lot less cautious and 4 hollow point bullets and a silence later it's over. Another beacon and I'm on my way to the haven. Got to get there before he would normally. They'll not be expecting any problems till then but they're still going to be armed to bear.

Bike's been parked a short distance away and I've taken out the stuff I want from the saddlebags. I set off my last beacon, the "It's going to hell here and get your asses together and here now" one. Now the question is to do this soft or loud. That's when I see them dragging along a couple of mortals in the place, one of them turns to me, her eyes are wide in terror. I'm moving before I can think, guns in my hands and opening fire. Damn the conscience. Guess I'm doing it loud.

The first two fall fast and hard, hollow point rounds to the heads break their hold of the three mortals. Not sure if these were for snacking or recruits, quite possibly both. The mortals aren't dumb but they can't move, tied up as they are. Someone's going to have to do a mind-wipe on them. I'm already pass them, just taking long enough to drop another couple of bullets into the prone bodies of the pack members. Bullets can't kill us, but put enough of them into a vampire and they aren't going to be moving for a while. Someone comes out with a pump action shotgun from the doorway and begins to level it at me. Too late for him by the time he gets it down to shoot at me. I hit him with my shoulder, slamming him into the hallway with me and bringing the fight inside. Not too worried about gunfire. In this part of town, the mortals know better than to stick their noses in other people's business. He's a strong one, already recovering by the time we bounce on the floor. I'm on top and I use it, head butting him a couple of times and breaking his nose. And while I'm doing that someone opens fire on me. Two someone's to tell the truth. Bullets slam into the walls and doorway and some into me. Good thing I traded holds on a gun for this guy since the force of impact is already picking me up. I roll with it, pulling the body upwards and using it as shelter. I'm on the bottom, he's on top and taking bullets for me.

Bad thing is unlike me he's not half as tough. Or smart. That's the other reason why I wear a trenchcoat. It helps cover the fact that I'm wearing a kevlar vest underneath all this. Doesn't help against claws or fire, but it sure as hell gives the mortals a reason for believing the fact that I've just taken 10 bullets to the chest and I'm still going. Most likely could do it anyhow; another trick I learnt. One that's integral to me really. The Masquerade's a bastard at times but that's the breaks. Bullets that would bounce off me or get stopped by the vest are punching through this guy, slamming into my shirt. Damn, I'll need a new shirt. Ah hell, I'll bill the boss for one.

I'm rolling into a room with ugly's bodies in a moment once the shooting stops. Drag the body up, toss it out and listen to the bullets. Should nearly be out of bullets by now. I yank out another gun and then jump out. Near the ground, sliding along it. Can't see where I'm going but I can see these guys as they look around for me. One's changing his clip, the others got a new gun. Doesn't matter. Bullets to the kneecaps take them down. A couple more to each head and I'm up. Duck into one room to make sure there aren't any surprises waiting to hit me in the back whilst putting the last of my clip into the body lying there. Change rooms and do the same. That's the plan anyhow.

I get into the room and I realise that this must have been a Tzimisce at play here. Damn, their ability to warp the body is one sick thing. Seems like he decided to coat the inside of the room with the living flesh parts of his victims. There's a lady there, blond and pretty and quite possibly half mad. I've seen a lot in my life but this is just sick. Of course, with so much blood lying around the Beast in me isn't going to just sit back. It's slamming into my walls of self control and I'm not even sure I can control it and not throw up at the same time.

By the time my mind clears the Tzimisce is already on his feet. I barely get away from the hand that goes for my face, age old reflexes honed in years of training and more years of combat kicking. The gun comes up and opens fire on his chest region. Not as good as a head shot since we don't have to worry about internal organs for the most part but that's why I use hollow points. Opens them up even more and throws them back. Enough bullets and he's down once more.

That's when something hits me in the back. Tears up my trench-coat, gets through my shirt and vest and very nearly rips me a new back. I've got enough fortitude to soak most of the damage after he gets through all that armour of course, leaving me with some nice claw marks and somewhat hurt but not enough to matter. I'm already throwing myself forward, twisting and looking for him before the brain kicks in. I didn't see him come in. And even as distracted as I was I would have. Which means he's likely City Gangrel.

I'm already heading down the corridor with that thought, moving faster once more as I drop more blood into my body. Can't fight what I can't see so I'm not going to. Got to learn that trick of disappearing but that's for another time. As I head up the stairs the first landing turns into a bloody bonfire.

Tremere. The Beast tries to run away but this time I'm ready for it and I'm ducking through the flames, hitting the wall and bouncing upwards, heading through it. I get a bit burnt, lost a bit of hair but I'm pass the fire before it can actually do any real harm. Hand drops into the coat and the sawn off is in hand once more. I get up the last few steps, stick the gun under the Tremere's neck and pull the trigger.

Here's a trick of the trade. Nothing out there in my experience lives once you remove it's head from it's body. Then again, I've not met everything. Still, two barrels from a sawn off stuck under an individual's head is enough to relocate what's left of the head somewhere else.

Duck inside and I'm moving through the area. I figure I know where the main office is, looked at the floor plans enough. I guess right and I scan the area quickly hunting for what I need. The shotgun's on the floor, it's a one shot wonder and I don't have time to reload it. Fire on the staircase set off the sprinklers. Should slow the City Gangrel down but not for long. I spy what I want soon though, seems like he was waiting for the new report. I grab the safe, drop a bit more blood into my body to help pick it up and put it through the window.

Not fast enough unfortunately. The burning sensation in my left arm tells me that as the claws rip out a few deep furrows in it. I kick him away and dive out, leaving him a present in replacement of me. I'm already hitting the floor and rolling for the stairs, pulling myself into a ball when the world goes HOT. Phosphorous grenades. Got to love them. Or hate them as you will. 2600F of pure heat, concentrated in one room as it goes up. Of course the walls aren't going to hold all that together, never expected it to. But it'll make anything coming out of that room very unlikely and kill some of the blast when it gets to me. Still hurts like hell as I get singed, burnt and turned the colour of burnt toast. Oh yeah, one other reason why I wear the trench-coat. Got it fire lined so that it'll help keep the heat away. Won't stop white phosphorous from burning through it but it gives me time. That's all I need. I'm up in a moment as I stop bouncing off walls and stairs, ripping the coat off me. I feel like shit and I don't think I have a single hair on my body left but I'm alive. Doubt anything up stairs is.

I'm moving, heading for the Tzimisce's playroom to get the girl out when the world begins to shake. Can't set off a good phosphorous grenade these day indoors without faulty workmanship shows. Ceiling looks like it'll fall apart, certainly the walls seem to want to. I'm moving, kicking in a bit of speed once more, yanking the knife out from my neck sheath. A few quick slices and the girls free and in my arms. Even as I turn to the door the corridors ceiling collapses. No way out there.

The Beast is clawing at me, wanting freedom. Needing it. Surival instinct in a vampire is more powerful than anything else. I got to agree with it, got to get out. I go through the wall that splits this room from the next, hitting it with my shoulder. It gives way. I don't feel it at all but I think the mortal does. Doubt she'll be thanking me in the morning. I take the window next in front of us, hitting it with my back and holding her close to me as we slam through it.

I hit the floor first, the girl on top of me, both of us skidding along the pavement before coming to a stop. Now that I got time to worry about my hurts I realise I need to negotiate a new contract with the boss. Danger pay has got to be added to my pay packet. Feel like someone put me out in the sun for a minute or so before dragging me back in. My left arm isn't working properly from the claw attack, the wounds in the back are even deeper than I thought and I've got a piece of wood stuck in my right leg which I don't remember picking up.

I look up at the sound of more people arriving, dumping the lady to the floor and rolling up. I'm moving slower now. Much slower as the pain distracts me. Still got a gun in the back holsters which I take out, the other one got lost somewhere in all the bouncing. Still got the knife in the boot and the revolver in the other but I don't think I'm in any shape to fight. Luckily, I don't need to.

It's the cavalry, late as usual. I stand up, moving to the van and let them take care of the clean up. They know this part of the job. I inherited them from the former Sheriff and while I might not trust them fully, they know their job. Anyhow, they aren't about to mess around with so many others watching. 2 days later I'm standing on the ledge of the tallest building I can find, looking down on the city. I much prefer the outdoors, it's more peaceful but at least up here the noise and smells and crowding that the city is so full off disappears. It even looks somewhat beautiful if you squint. But that isn't the reason I'm up here. I said it wasn't exactly correct to say I was born to be a vampire. You see, a vampire is just another predator. A more powerful, cold and efficient predator but a predator nonetheless. A killer. And that is what I was born to be. A killer. I'm good at what I do, the best in my class. As the years go on I only get better. It's what I was born to do.

I look on the city and I see the lights twinkle down there. The boss isn't happy. Stone's been in the city for 10 years. She was trusted and hell, she was one of the Harpy's. If she's making her move now, starting to leak even more information than normal it means the Sabbat are on the move. They're going to hit the city hard soon. Very soon with the death of this pack. There's going to be a lot of blood, death and bodies everywhere. I need to look over the old Sheriffs plans, change them as I need to and I need to find out who I can trust. And that's just the start. I've got a million things to do down there. But I'm up here. They can wait.

You see, I might have been born to be a killer but no one ever said I had to like it.