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The morning after their less than successful venture to the villain's lair the group reviews what went
wrong. The discussion eventually devolves into criticisms and accusations with little getting accomplished. Using her
photographic memory, Dana makes a sketch of the item they saw Alexander bring into the house but her frustration with
the night's events causes her to walk out without trying to identify what it was. With Dana gone the others try to
determine what the item was and it is Lauren who succeeds in identifying it, thanks to a museum catalogue. The item
is called the Scepter of Ra and it is, or at least was, on loan from the British Museum to a museum in San Diego. Ethan
does some more digging and learns that the Scepter is an item that was used by the priests of the Egyptian sun god Ra. It
appears the Scepter was one of the most holy objects used by the priests and according to legend was given to them by
Ra himself.
Back at the house in the San Gabriel Mountains the vampires are enjoying themselves out in the sunlight,
thanks to a ritual using the Scepter that has removed that curse. Many of them want to head into Los Angeles to cause
some havoc, but Alexander keeps a tight rein on the vampires. He reminds them that the time is not yet right for them
to strike. Inside the caverns beneath the house Sekhmet watches as Keri researches what is needed to remove the final
curse from her vampire subjects. Keri determines that they do not have what they need for it, so Sekhmet decides to
send Alexander and his soldiers out. Keri heads over to a computer and prints out a list of names and addresses, taken from
Talan's notes on the whereabouts of other Dusk Lords.
Dana's walk has taken her several miles, all the way back to her apartment. After a shower and change of clothes
she heads over to the UCLA library to see if any books in the restricted section have some useful information. Her research
into Sekhmet turns up little, just what is known from Egyptian mythology. Unfortunately the cult and aspect of Sekhmet changed
many times over the centuries of worship in Egypt and it is difficult to determine what may be relevant to the being that is
currently stalking Los Angeles. What is shown is that Sekhmet was a powerful warrior goddess, so powerful that even Ra could not
stop her by force when she went on a bloody rampage. In the end Ra stopped her by tricking her into drinking large quantities
of beer disguised as blood, effectively drugging her into passivity. With this avenue used up Dana turns her attention to
researching vampires, namely trying to figure out why Alexander was not affected by sunlight. Her efforts turn up references
to a magical item called the Gem of Amara that can grant a single vampire immunity to the standard undead weaknesses, and some
notes on a process performed by the enigmatic Dr. Maalik in the late 19th century that involved surgically inserting metal armor
plating around a vampire's heart to protect it from staking. Dana's attention is diverted, however, when in one of the books
she sees a picture of the vampire hitchhiker she met the previous night, and learns that she had been sharing the back seat
of the SUV with the mad vampire Drusilla.
While the heroes are pursuing various lines of research, Alexander and his soldiers having been attacking the
homes of Dusk Lords along the western coast of the United States. With most of their weaknesses removed, the vampire soldiers
are more than a match for even the sorcerous abilities of the elder Dusk Lords; and with sword in hand Alexander has been
personally dispatching many of them himself. Back in Los Angeles the research is proving fruitless as Ethan tries to find out
if any more Egyptian artifacts have been stolen by vampires while Jalen tries to figure out what Sekhmet's plan is, and wonders if
the group should try attacking the mountain house again to try and recover the Scepter. Later that night
Dana returns to the house to tell what little she has learned at UCLA.
Finally, after hours of effort, Patrick uncovers another clue. After finding no evidence of vampire-related thefts
of Egyptian artifacts he broadens his search to include any crimes that had indications of vampires being involved. This line
of investigation turns up the theft of several Celtic relics three weeks earlier. The items were made of petrified wood
and were used in ancient druidic ceremonies. Combining this information with the theft of the Scepter of Ra and the mysterious
break-in at Westminster Abbey the group comes to the conclusion that the vampires are using the stolen items to remove the
vampire weaknesses against stakes, sunlight, and holy water and crosses. If this is true, the group wonders if the immunity is
for all vampires or just Sekhmet's followers. The only way to find out will be to find a vampire in the city who is not already part
of Sekhmet's group, something easier said than done. As an alternate plan, Ethan suggests that Lauren try to use her psychic abilities
to find out what Sekhmet is up to, but this would require a personal item belonging to the blood goddess. With these two options the group splits up. Patrick and Dana head into the sewers to try and locate a vampire
while Ethan and Jalen head into the mountains to steal something from the house. Lauren remains behind to rest, preparing herself
to use her powers on whatever Ethan and Jalen bring back.
It takes several hours, well into the next morning, before Patrick's supernatural senses detect what he believes is
a vampire. Dana takes a knife and cuts her palm, allowing their vampire quarry to smell the fresh blood. The tactic works and the
starving vampire comes out to feed. Patrick intercepts the creature and brandishes a cross, which he is pleased to see still burns
the vampire with its touch. While Patrick struggles with the starved vampire Dana manages to knock it unconscious. The two haul the
creature up to the surface where a quick test shows that sunlight still burns it. Before the startled creature can react Patrick stakes
it, turning the sorry vampire to dust. Their impromptu tests seem to indicate that only Sekhmet's followers have been granted any
kind of protection from the traditional vampire weaknesses. While Patrick and Dana had been stalking the sewers, Jalen managed to sneak
into the mountainside home used by Sekhmet and her followers. The task was relatively easy as the house appeared to be deserted.
Seeking any item to use Jalen found it difficult to determine what would have belonged to Sekhmet. In the end he wound up taking
a pair of black lace panties from a washroom, believing that they likely were worn by Sekhmet and not one of the other vampires.
As Ethan and Jalen fled with the stolen item we see why the house appeared empty; all of its denizens were assembled in
the caverns hidden inside the mountain, gathered for the last ritual. Within the cave Alexander and his soldiers were emptying large drums
of liquid into a pool, the liquefied remains of the slain Dusk Lords. Once the pool was filled Keri performed a complex spell over it.
As the other vampires chanted the stolen essence of the ancient vampire that was used to create the first Dusk Lords was separated from
the foul liquid. As the spell concluded the mystic essence spread outward, enveloping all those present. With the ritual concluded Sekhmet
summoned Alexander to her. Taking his sword in hand she ordered Alexander to his knees, then promptly decapitated him with his own blade.
The other vampires then watched as Alexander's body slowly groped about until it found the head, which he promptly put back in place.
Within a few moments the wound had healed completely and Alexander was whole once more. With that Sekhmet raised the sword high and
proclaimed that "The blood link between heart, mind, and spirit is restored! The final curse is lifted!".
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