The dark alleyways New York were the perfect hunting grounds. Habetus easily managed to find waiting prey for him here, either by luring them to his waiting clutches, or just finding an intoxicated drunk stumbling in without realizing it. He had come hear often, feeding off those who wandered into his private little feeding grounds. The ancient vampire, though refined in his tastes, found feeding off the common rabble quite enticing. One of his sick perversions from years of being infected by the curse of Caine. He loomed here now, tapping his fingers patiently upon his knee. He sat upon one of the scattered dumpsters that always littered these alleys. With his other hand, he wiped a bit of blood that had trickled down his chin, a satisfied smile on his face. He casually looked over to his latest meal, a middle-class man, who had just pissed his money away in a sea of booze. Predictable cattle, thought Habetus to himself. He leaned his head back, and rested it gently against the wall behind him, barely aware of the silent footsteps making their way ever closer to the resting Cainite.
Ethan Merek held his powerful cross bow to the inner grove of his shoulder tightly. The silver tipped arrow glinted off the feint moonlight. He had been stalking this particular vampire for a few days now, knowing he was a member of the Sabbat, and thus a vampire he was charged to kill. He slowly made his way down the alleyway, careful not to disturb any of the trashcans that crowded the path. He stuck to shadows, clinging to them eagerly; knowing that to step would mean death. He felt the usual rim of sweat forming along his brow. To him, that was a good sign. He was building the adrenaline he would need to fight this vampire. In the few days Merek spent following his own prey, he had learned much. He knew that Habetus was the name, and that he wasn't a young vampire. Merek would have to be careful when dealing with this one.
When Habetus finally came into view of the Hunter, Merek raised his weapon, placing the sight in front of his eye, and tracing an invisible line to his targets heart. He careful adjusted his grip, as his palms were sweating, and making it difficult to maintain a solid grasp. He cocked the crossbow, placed his finger on the trigger. A click resounded in the alley. It seemed to echo more loudly then it should. He saw Habetus shoot up, a frenzied look on his face. Who dared to disturb him? It didn't take long for the experienced vampire to trace in on the human who was about to send a bolt of righteousness to him. Habetus sprang from his sitting position, and charged maniacally towards Merek.
Merek didn't flinch once. He watched as his prey sprang up, and even charged. The twang of the crossbow went off, and the arrow sped through the air, striking Habetus Square in the heart. Merek, feeling a bit more secure, dropped his crossbow to ground, intending to come back and retrieve it later.
Habetus felt the arrow slam into his unbeating heart, and although it didn't kill him, it did slow him greatly. He felt his body seize up, and he began to loose control of his basic motor functions. His face portrayed that of a wounded animal. How it wanted to rip this mortal to pieces. He watched Merek close in on him, but could do nothing. Habetus's vision went red with frenzy as he struggled against the shaft in his chest. He saw the human draw a blade from his back, a long double-edged sword.
Merek raised the blade in the air over the immobile Cainite. HE swore a prayer to God, and brought his weapon down with a celestial fury, removing the snarling face from the now dead vampire. He raised the blade again, and wiped the blade clean. Another vampire dead. "Burn in hell" Merek kicked the corpse. He hated these creatures with a passion. He kneeled beside the limp creature, and began to search the pockets, looking for some piece of information he could use to find the local Sabbat Prince. He withdrew a piece of paper, and looked at it closely. It was nothing more than an idea, but it did list a name he could use.
"Marshall Brend" Merek said with a grimace. "It seems your next." He turned towards the end of the alley, and walked to his crossbow. He picked it up, and slowly made his way out of the darkness, each footstep resounding off the tight walls.