Title: End Game
Author: Meridian
Spoilers: All the Blade films, right on through the end of Blade: Trinity
Notes: Surprisingly, with the exception of Jessica Biel, the Nightstalkers introduced in Blade: Trinity were a pretty average bunch. None had super-human strength that matched Blade's or those of vampires in general, and the group suffered some pretty heavy losses that it is easy to imagine would be typical of a group of humans attempting to take out immortals. Again, setting aside the inexplicably strong Abigail Whistler character, I would say the Nightstalkers were admirably human in their tactics-not facing the vampires head on most of the time, just strategically retreating after achieving a small victory, or else launching surprise attacks on unsuspecting vampires, usually ones of a lower order. As such, they are vulnerable, and, from a dramatic point of view, more interesting than inordinately powerful humans or even another set of human/vampire hybrids. This story picks up where Blade: Trinity left off, following the titular movie hero's reinforcements.
Abby started, entire body seizing with surprise. One leg kicked backward with the spasm. Behind her, King grunted and turned over onto his back. Figures, she groused, mentally. He could sleep through anything. Adrenaline coursed and receded as she tried to make out what had woken her.
"Abby?"
"Zoe," she breathed out with relief and flicked on a lamp beside the bed. On cue, the little girl padded over from the doorway and threw herself into Abby's open arms. "Bad dream?" Zoe nodded and burrowed deeper into her embrace. "About your mom?"
"Mm-hmm," Zoe sniffed.
"Okay," Abby said, simply. There wasn't any other comfort she could offer. Zoe pretty much had a handle on her loss, at least as far as Abby could see. Zoe had never been an average child; her mother had taught her to be more. Now, Sommerfield was gone, and Zoe had her and King. It would take a while before she warmed to Caulder or his group.
"You know your mother went to Heaven, right?"
Zoe nodded. Good, she took a deep, calming breath. Personally, she didn't believe one way or the other, but for as long as Zoe needed to know that there was a Heaven, so she would continue to live her life unafraid, Abby would tell her there was one.
King snorted beside them, blinking up at the darkness before he focused on the pair. He sat up when he saw Zoe. "Hey, rugrat."
"Hi," Zoe mumbled struggling out of Abby's arms to launch herself into King's. It was amazing, the corrosively adorable effect Zoe could have on even on a sarcastically vitriolic personality like King's.
He hugged her hard once. "You okay?"
"Bad dream," Abby filled in.
"That's too bad," he made a show of difficult calculation, "that was three nights in a row you went. A new record, kiddo." Zoe smiled, sniffling. King grinned at her and fell back onto the pillows. "Okay, ladies, assume the position." Abby flashed Zoe a comforting smile and lay down next to King on her side. Zoe required no prompting; she immediately nestled into the space between them, shrugging and kicking to get under the covers.
"Better?" Abby watched Zoe curl up comfortably.
"Mm-hmm," she nodded and yawned. Abby waited for an extra five minutes after she was certain Zoe was asleep to hazard a look up at King. His eyes were open, staring up at the ceiling.
"You're a big softie, King."
"That might hurt my desperate loner reputation around here, so keep it to yourself, would you?"
Abby pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. If it weren't for his mouth, she might actually love him.