As dawn crept over the horizon, New Haven stirred to life, the chill of the night lingering in the morning air, filling it with a sobering stillness. Despite the early hour, there was a palpable tension in the community as the final preparations for the hunt were underway. News of George's encounter with the master vampire had spread, and the threat loomed over New Haven like a dark shadow, casting a hush over the usual morning activity.
George gathered his team, Raven, Lucy, Jackie, Stephanie, Akari, and a few skilled fighters who had volunteered to join them for the hunt. Each of them was outfitted with stakes, vials of holy water, silver-bladed weapons, and anything else that might give them an edge against the vampire. Akari had worked through the night, adding fresh protection spells to each item and reinforcing them with ancient symbols to bolster their effectiveness against the undead.