Chapter 14:
The Parting Blade
The night had been long, and the battle had taken its toll. Batman, his strength
sapped by the cure that ran through his veins, knew that the final confrontation was
Blade’s to face. The Dark Knight’s determination was as firm as ever, but his body
demanded respite.
“You can handle this,” Batman said, his voice laced with the grudging acceptance of
his own limitations. He handed Blade an emergency beacon, a small device that
gleamed like a promise in the darkness. “If you need me, activate this.”
Blade took the beacon, clasping it with a nod of understanding. “Don’t worry,
Batman,” he assured with the confidence of a man who had faced down the night
countless times. “This is what I do.”
Batman watched as Blade turned towards the heart of the vampire’s lair, the place
where the leader, the source of the outbreak, awaited. The Daywalker moved with a
predator’s grace, his silhouette a part of the night itself.
As Blade disappeared into the shadows, Batman allowed himself a moment of rest.
He had fought valiantly, had pushed himself to the edge for Gotham, and now he
entrusted its safety to the hunter who walked the line between darkness and light.
