No Pulse

by E.V.A.Graebel

Btwn Blade II and Trinity. A human hunter falls in with Blade and they both get more than they bargained for when he is forced to turn her. UPDATED and FINISHED.

4. Chapter 4

Part 4.

INT. THE LAIR - CONTINUOUS

Meg is standing at the far side of the room. There are no lights, just utter and complete darkness until Blade opens the door and light from the hallway spills in. She doesn't turn to face him. The change has continued to take place, her skin paling from the virus, her hair darkening in turn. There is something frightening about her posture, as though she's been fighting with a demon inside herself.

She's wearing a scarlet top over black pants. So vivid it shows in the gloom, especially to his eyes.

MEG
It's growing.

BLADE
The thirst.

It's not a question. He knows exactly what she means.

MEG
Yes….

BLADE
We need to talk.

She turns finally and sees the vial in his hands. Recognition and then relief sweep across her face. Liquid salvation.

MEG
It's here. Thank…

BLADE
Not yet.

She walks towards him, the urgency on her face is painful to behold.

MEG
I don't understand. This is what we've been waiting for.
Please. This or ash. Not life as this.

BLADE
What if you could do more good for us as a vampire?

MEG
(Disbelief.)
Why? Godammit, Blade. Why?

BLADE
You can go places we can't. Learn things. Things
that Whistler and I can't.

MEG
You're talking about leaving me like this?

He nods solemnly.

BLADE
You use the tools you're given.

MEG
You're asking a lot. You're asking a hell of a lot!

She lunges at him, nails like daggers. Blade sidesteps the movement, she follows, attacking. Even vampire fast, he is still faster. They clash and she falls back. Everything he does is non-lethal, it is her desperation that drives her but she can't make him kill her.

Finally he grabs her and pins her against one wall. Her chest heaves with anger but there is nothing she can do. He glares at her until her eyes drop in submission.

BLADE
Enough.

MEG
Damn you.

BLADE
You know, you're as bad as Whistler.

His grip loosens and she struggles free, her chest heaving with exertion.

MEG
And what does Whistler think about this? I can't see
him going along with this plan.

BLADE
I haven't told him.

She turns away slightly, one hand reaching up to touch the edges of her fangs.

MEG
I don't want to be a vampire. I never did.
And now…with the thirst growing.

BLADE
You can control it.

MEG
…I don't think I can.

Her voice is chilling, she is starting to lose hope.

BLADE
You can.

She changes tracks, a last desparate gamble to alter what she already knows he wants her to do.

MEG
He won't forgive you.

BLADE
That's my problem. This isn't going to be easy for either
of us. But this will help you. (He passes something to her.
It's small and silver but she palms it quickly into her pants
pocket.) Are you ready?

MEG
Do I have a choice?

He gives her a wry look – definitely a no.

MEG (cont.)
Let's get this over then.

BLADE
You wanted to hunt them.

MEG
I never thought it would get so personal.

BLADE
Things have that habit.
(He glances down as if seeing her for the first time.)
You look good in red.

MEG
So would you. (She turns away from him.)
It's going to take me a long time to forgive you.

Blade nods.

BLADE
As long as you do what you're supposed to.

INT.THE LAIR - NIGHT

Whistler jerks as a scream lances through the air. Meg's voice is harsh and shrill as it arches up and then cuts off completely. He waits but Blade does not open the door for several minutes. When it finally swings open Blade is standing there grimly.

Neither man says anything at first as Blade pulls the door shut behind him. He descends and lays the empty vial on the table in front of Whistler. A smear of blood is along the top of it but the vial is empty.

WHISTLER
Blade…. I'm sorry.

BLADE
It's done.

Whistler lays down the gun he was cleaning.

WHISTLER
She was right. You don't go into this line of work without
knowing the risks. She wanted it to end the way it did.

BLADE
(Coldly.) Are you justifying this to me? Or to yourself?

WHISTLER
You…

BLADE
Listen, old man. You were one of them for far longer
than Meg. How do I know I can trust you?

This tension isn't really that new. But it has been growing ever since Blade pulled Whistler out of the blood tank and brought him back to the land of the living.

WHISTLER
Because I'm the one who saved you! Who got you the
serum! Of all the ungrateful…

BLADE
That was a long time ago. And both you and I were
different men.

WHISTLER
That's right. (More softly.) I can't help the fact that
I'm getting older. Faster every year it seems. But I
still know what I'm talking about. You brought me
back because the cure took, without it, she would have
given in to the thirst. We might have delayed it, but
the thirst is inevitable. She was a vampire.

Blade lunges toward him faster than the eye can follow. When he opens his mouth his canines flash in the light.

BLADE
Before you forget. So am I.

He spins and grabs his sunglasses and sword off of the bench where he'd left them.

WHISTLER
Where are you going?

BLADE
Out.

He pauses for a moment next to the Charger but then gets in and roars away without so much as a backward glance. Whistler remains motionless at the top of the stairs.

For once, the older man seems to be at a loss.

WHISTLER
(To himself.) Maybe he's right. Maybe I am getting too old.
But he's still like one of my own. And just like them – he'll
never forgive me for forcing his hand with Meg. But he needs
someone he can trust at his side. Someone human.

He shakes his head slowly.

WHISTLER (cont.)
Someone to be at his side when I'm gone.

He limps slowly out of the bay, not noticing the soft noise inside the room as a window opens and then shuts.

EXT.OUTSIDE THE LAIR - NIGHT

Blade's Charger is parked barely a half mile from the lair. He is sitting inside it with a stoic expression on his face when the side door opens and Meg gets inside. There is a smear of blood across her neck along with a rapidly healing cut. She frowns slightly at him.

MEG
That didn't go well.

BLADE
You shouldn't listen at doors. I told you to leave.

MEG
Sue me. (She glances over at him again.) I'm sorry
you had to deceive Whistler.

Blade doesn't answer except to start the car. They pull away from the warehouse district and get onto the highway. They ride in silence for a long time before he speaks.

BLADE
The ring is from Overlord Damaskeinos. You should
be able to masquerade as one of his house with it. There
is enough confusion in Europe that no one will argue
with its legitimacy.

MEG
I'm still angry at you.

BLADE
Be angry. Use it.

She almost reaches out for him and stops herself.

MEG
How will I contact you?

BLADE
You don't. You follow them. Learn what's going on.
Then we'll hunt them.

MEG
And Whistler?

BLADE
He'll get over it.

MEG
Not if you lose his friendship.

BLADE
We all do what we have to do.

But as they speed down the darkened highway his words seem to be hollow to both of them. Even as identical hazel eyes track the lights outside and shared blood beats through both of their veins, he realizes that he's given her more than life, she has a bond to him that will never go away.

MEG
(Quietly.) He loves you. Even I can see that.
And the older he gets…the less he can protect you.
Don't hate him for fearing that.

Blade doesn't answer. He can't. Finally…

BLADE
You remember the plan?

She nods, long dark hair falling over her hands as she turns the ring between her fingers. A vampire ring for a vampire. Even if she is a reluctant one. Blade is right and Meg knows it. If something dangerous is coming, they'll need every advantage they can get. Even if Whistler never forgives them for it.

Neither of them say anything else as they roar off - into the night.