February 2027

New York City

The Batmobile's tires screeched against the asphalt, gliding through the empty streets of New York just as the first rays of dawn began to creep over the skyline. Y/N's hands trembled against the steering wheel, his gloves slick with sweat. His suit was in ruins... scratched, torn, the reinforced armor barely holding together after the onslaught he had barely survived

The voice had returned

Batman: Let me take over, Y/N... you know it's what we need to beat those monsters

Y/N clenched his jaw, shaking his head as if that could silence it. His vision blurred momentarily, exhaustion weighing down on him like an iron shroud. He had fought killers before. He had battled enhanced humans, assassins, super-powered beings. But this? Vampires? This was something straight out of the old world, something primal and ancient, something that had nearly ended him tonight

And to make it worse, the voice... the other him was growing stronger

Y/N exhaled sharply, forcing his shaking fingers to activate the Batmobile's autopilot. A small beep confirmed the command as the car adjusted its course, seamlessly navigating the streets towards the hidden entrance of the Batcave. Y/N pressed the back of his head against the seat, closing his eyes for a moment. The hum of the engine was the only sound aside from his own ragged breathing

The sun was rising. He was only alive because of it.

The Batcave

4:42 AM

The Batmobile's engine growled to a stop on the platform, its cockpit hissing open. The moment Y/N tried to step out, his body nearly collapsed under him. The Batmobile's engine growled to a stop on the platform, its cockpit hissing open. The moment Y/N tried to step out, his body nearly collapsed under him

Alfred: Master Wayne...

Alfred was already there, his sharp eyes scanning Y/N's battered form as he rushed forward. Without hesitation, he hooked an arm around Y/N's waist, guiding him out of the vehicle

Alfred: You're heavier than usual

Alfred noted, ever dry in tone, but his concern was clear beneath it

Y/N: Armor's wrecked

Y/N muttered, groaning as he leaned on Alfred

Alfred: I can see that, sir. Though I imagine that's not the only thing in need of repairing

His eyes flicked to the torn bat symbol on Y/N's chest, then to the gashes in the plating

Alfred: I saw the footage

Y/N tensed. Alfred had seen everything

Before Y/N could respond, footsteps echoed down the cave's stone steps.

Kate

She was dressed casually. An oversized sweatshirt, shorts, her hair still slightly disheveled from sleep. Unlike Y/N, she had the luxury of a full night's rest

Kate: Did you just get back? What the hell happened to you?

Alfred helped Y/N onto the medical table, and Kate approached, her gaze flickering to his wounds

Kate: Seriously, what did you...

Alfred's voice cut through, grave and certain

Alfred: Vampires.

Kate blinked. Then scoffed

Kate: I... sorry, what?

Y/N sighed, running a hand down his face as he sat up

Y/N: Alfred...

Alfred: He was fighting vampires, Miss Bishop. Creatures of the night. I saw the footage from his cowl. They were real

Kate crossed her arms

Kate: Okay, hold on. I know you've got some sleep issues, but vampires? You sure this isn't just the sleep deprivation talking?

Y/N didn't answer.

Because honestly? A few hours ago, he would have agreed with her

10 AM

The weight of exhaustion still lingered in Y/N's muscles, but after finally getting some sleep, the relentless tension in his body had lessened. The voice had quieted, retreating into the depths of his mind, at least for now

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he ran a hand through his hair, his fingers brushing against a few stray dog hairs. Lucky had taken over his spot while he had been out on patrol, his absence filled by the loyal golden retriever who had kept Kate company in the nights he had spent in the cave, working himself into the ground

The door to the bathroom creaked open

Kate stepped out, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders, the scent of her shampoo drifting through the air. She was wrapped in nothing but a robe, tied loosely around her waist, her skin still warm from the shower

She caught his gaze, tilting her head slightly

Kate: Hey... you alright?

Y/N exhaled, looking up at her

Y/N: A little better

She approached the bed, studying him carefully before slipping onto the mattress beside him

Kate: I was starting to think you were trying to set a new record for sleep deprivation

He smirked, shaking his head

Y/N: I think I already hold that record.

Kate hummed in agreement before nudging him with her shoulder

Kate: So... vampires, huh?

Y/N sighed

Y/N: Yeah...

She didn't immediately respond, just laced her fingers through his, squeezing gently

Kate: Alfred seemed convinced. And you...

Her thumb brushed against his knuckles

Kate: You don't say stuff like this unless it's real

Y/N: You believe me?

Kate: Always...

His chest tightened slightly at her words. Even after two years... after everything, they still carried weight

Kate shifted closer, resting her chin on his shoulder

Kate: You scared me a little. Coming back all messed up like that... you're usually the one who does the messing up

Y/N huffed a small laugh

Y/N: The average criminal doesn't have fangs... or superstrength... 

She rolled her eyes, but her expression softened

Kate: You're not alone in this, you know. Whatever's going on... vampires, enhanced super soldiers, some biblical-level nonsense infecting New York... we'll figure it out

His fingers curled around hers, holding onto her like an anchor

Y/N: I know

Kate pressed a kiss to his shoulder, her lips lingering against the fabric of his shirt

Kate: Good...

For a while, they just sat there, hands entwined, breathing in sync. The world outside was waiting for them, as it always did. But in this moment, in their shared quiet, Y/N allowed himself something rare.

Peace...

But then...

Y/N barely had a moment to react before Kate's lips crashed against his, her kiss carrying the kind of hunger that sent a shiver down his spine. Her fingers threaded through his hair, pulling him deeper, her body pressing flush against his. The stress, the exhaustion, the weight of the night... all of it melted away in the warmth of her touch

The robe slipped from her shoulders, baring soft, warm skin beneath. Y/N traced his lips down the column of her neck, relishing the way her breath hitched as he pressed a kiss just below her jaw

He shifted, gently pinning her beneath him as her legs wrapped around his waist, her hands trailing over his back, nails lightly digging into the fabric of his shirt. His lips moved lower, his breath hot against her collarbone, his hands gliding along the curve of her waist...

And then... a sharp pain

Y/N: Ow! What the...

Kate blinked, dazed, as Y/N twisted around. His eyes darted down to his foot, where something small and annoyingly smug had just sunk its teeth into his toe

It was Lucky

The golden retriever sat beside the bed, tail wagging, staring up at them with his one good eye, completely unbothered by the fact that he had just cockblocked Batman

Kate slapped a hand over her mouth, trying (and failing) to contain her laughter

Y/N: You've got to be kidding me

Lucky just blinked at him, tongue lolling out, before letting out a soft woof, as if to say, "Not on my watch, buddy"

Kate, now fully laughing, pulled the robe back over her shoulders

Kate: I think he's jealous

Y/N groaned, flopping onto his back as Lucky happily climbed onto the bed and wedged himself between them

Kate smirked, propping herself up on her elbow

Kate: Well, guess that's the end of that

Y/N sighed, rubbing his face

Despite Lucky's well-timed interruption, the morning pressed on. Y/N and Kate had no time to linger in bed. The manor was already stirring with movement.

Outside, trucks were pulling up the long driveway, contractors unloading equipment while decorators began setting up the grand hall. The kitchen staff was already bustling, preparing the catering for the party later that day

Wayne Industries' Energy Expo was an important event, showcasing the company's latest advancements in sustainable energy. It was meant to bring together investors, scientists, and industry leaders, furthering Wayne Industries' reputation in clean energy innovation

Unfortunately, it also meant Y/N and Kate had to play hosts

Y/N stood by the window, watching as the event crew assembled the towering banners and the stage. Kate, now dressed in a sleek blouse and jeans, walked up beside him, sipping from a coffee mug

Kate: You're gonna have to put on your billionaire smile today

Y/N exhaled

Y/N: I'd rather fight those vampires again

Kate patted his shoulder

Kate: You'll live...

Later that day...

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in hues of deep orange and crimson, Deacon Frost descended into an ancient cemetery on the outskirts of New York. The mausoleum was old, forgotten by time, its stone walls covered in ivy, its crypt hidden beneath layers of history.

Frost moved with ease through the darkened passage, his boots clicking against the cold stone floor. His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he approached the grand coffin resting at the end of the chamber. A coffin fit for a king

Or rather... a Count

A smirk played at Frost's lips as he tapped the coffin lid

Frost: Wakey wakey, master... you've got places to be, people to bite

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, a slow, ominous creaking

The coffin lid shifted. A pale hand... long, elegant fingers tipped with sharp nails, pressed against the lid, pushing it open with a controlled, effortless strength

Then, he emerged.

Count Dracula

Unlike the grotesque depictions in myths, the creature that sat up looked... human. Agelessly handsome, dressed in dark, regal attire, his piercing eyes holding an unnatural glow. His skin was pale, but not sickly... it was smooth, untouched by time

Frost grinned

Frost: Those blood shakes really work wonders, huh?

Dracula ignored the remark. Slowly, he rose from his coffin, stepping forward with an air of complete authority. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply through his nose, as if savoring the very essence of the city above.

Then, he lifted a single hand.

A low, inhuman whisper echoed through the crypt, and from the shadows, figures emerged. Dozens of them. Men and women who had once been missing... now turned. Their eyes were empty, their skin pale, their mouths parted to reveal sharpened teeth

His proxies.

His children of the night.

Dracula's voice was smooth, yet commanding

Dracula: Rise... my children of the night

The creatures straightened, waiting

Dracula: We shall take this city, human by human, until our blood flows through its canals, transfiguring it into the city of the undead

He turned to face Frost, his lips curling into something that was almost a smile

Dracula: As you execute my dark purpose, I shall stake my claim among New York's elite

Frost chuckled, adjusting the cuffs of his leather jacket

Frost: Well... if you're looking to be numero uno of the rich and famous, there's one bird you'll have to knock off his perch...

Dracula's eyes flickered with interest.

Frost grinned

Frost: Wayne...

Later that day...

Wayne Manor

Wayne Industries Energy Expo

The manor was alive with the hum of conversation, the clinking of champagne glasses, and the soft melodies of a string quartet. The elite of New York had gathered in their finest attire, discussing the future of sustainable energy while indulging in luxury

Among them, unseen and unnoticed, a shadow materialized

Count Dracula had entered the manor.

His presence alone commanded attention. Unlike the other men clad in tuxedos, he stood out in his long, flowing crimson robe... an ancient elegance in stark contrast to the modern world around him. Yet, his aura was undeniable, a magnetism that made people hesitate, stealing glances but never questioning his right to be there

Then, he saw her.

A vision from his past

Kate

The glass of wine nearly slipped from his fingers as he stared, transfixed. Her face, her eyes, the way she carried herself it was her

Elisabeta

His beloved.

A love he had lost centuries ago... now standing before him once more.

Kate, unaware of the vampire's fixation, stood by the bar, laughing softly as Y/N handed her a drink.

Dracula's lips curled into a smile. Fate had delivered a gift to him.

He approached, his movements so fluid, so unnaturally graceful that not a soul noticed as he moved through the crowd. And then, standing just behind Kate, he spoke

Dracula: Truly magnificent...

Kate turned, startled by the unfamiliar voice

Kate: Oh... my necklace? It's a family heirloom

Y/N raised an eyebrow at the stranger before taking a sip of his wine

Y/N: And you are...?

The man gave a polite, knowing smile

Dracula: Alucard. Doctor Vlad Alucard

Y/N studied him, something about the name nagging at the back of his mind

Y/N: Y/N Wayne. I don't believe we've met

Dracula: I am new to the city. A recent transport from Eastern Europe

Kate took a sip of her wine, intrigued

Kate: Really? What line of work are you in?

Dracula: Cultural anthropology. I am here to study your Batman

Y/N's grip on his glass tightened slightly

Y/N: Our Batman?

Kate chuckled

Kate: You mean to tell me Budapest has a Dark Knight too?

Dracula's smile widened ever so slightly

Dracula: Rare instances have been documented of a man who assumes the likeness of a bat in societies ancient as well as modern. And I believe that while instilling fear by night, these beings cloak themselves as normal members of society

Y/N narrowed his eyes slightly

Y/N: Fascinating theory

Dracula inclined his head

Dracula: Bats are fascinating creatures

Y/N smirked

Y/N: As are you, Doctor

Their gazes locked... two predators sizing each other up, each suspecting the other was more than they appeared

After a moment, Y/N tilted his head slightly

Y/N: If you'll excuse us... we've gotta circulate

He offered his arm to Kate, and she took it, allowing him to lead her away

As they moved through the crowd, Kate leaned into him with a teasing smile

Kate: Seems you've picked up that he's my type, huh?

Y/N snorted

Y/N: Tall, dark, mysterious... and weird?

Just as he spoke the last word, Alucard appeared in front of them.

Kate jerked back.

Y/N's breath caught. How the hell did he move so fast?

Dracula smiled, ever composed

Dracula: We spoke of my work. What of yours?

Y/N, regaining his composure, answered carefully

Y/N: Research and development. For instance...

He motioned toward a large piece of technology displayed in the grand hall

Y/N: The Wayne Industries SL5. It's the most efficient technology to date for collecting solar energy and storing it as true sunlight

For the first time, Dracula's expression flickered

Dracula: It's about time science did something positive with the sun

He murmured, eyeing the device with clear disdain.

Before Y/N could press further, a waiter approached, holding out a tray of appetizers.

Waiter: Hors d'oeuvres?

Dracula glanced down, seeing the dish of raw meat. His lips curled into something close to pleasure

Dracula: Beefsteak tartare... exquisite

He plucked a piece delicately between his fingers and bit into it, savoring the taste. Kate, slightly unnerved, waved the waiter off

Kate: Thanks... but I prefer my meat cooked

Another waiter arrived, this one holding a plate of food that made Dracula's expression darken

Waiter 2: Some garlic shrimp?

A sharp hiss escaped him. It was quick, almost imperceptible. But Y/N caught it.

His eyes flicked between the plate and the so-called Dr. Alucard.

A smirk played at Y/N's lips

Y/N: Oh, but you must... really packs the punch

The waiter, sensing the playful malice in Y/N's tone, gave a tight-lipped smile and walked away.

Dracula remained still, his expression neutral, but Y/N didn't miss the way his lips pressed together, the faint tension in his jaw.

Interesting...

Then, Dracula shifted... just slightly, but his entire presence seemed to grow. His eyes, those deep, endless pools of crimson, locked onto Y/N's with an unnatural intensity.

Kate barely noticed. She was sipping her wine, glancing at the guests

But Y/N... he felt it.

A pull. A whisper in his mind, like a shadow wrapping around his thoughts, inviting, commanding

"You will let me in..."

Dracula's voice was soft, a mere breath in the air, but it resonated in Y/N's head like a storm. His vision blurred for half a second, his grip on the glass tightening as his muscles tensed.

Then... nothing.

The pressure stopped. The whispers faded.

Y/N didn't move. He simply stared back.

Dracula's brows furrowed.

"Impossible..." He thought to himself

Very few mortals had ever resisted his gaze. In all his centuries, his power had bent the wills of kings and warriors alike. It was a slow, methodical domination... one that began with a whisper and ended with complete servitude

Only once before had he met resistance.

Abraham Van Helsing

And now... this boy.

Dracula narrowed his eyes.

What was he?

Y/N tilted his head ever so slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching

Y/N: Something wrong, Doctor?

Dracula exhaled slowly, forcing his features into a relaxed smile

Dracula: No. Just... admiring your composure, Mr. Wayne

Y/N took a deliberate sip of his wine

Y/N: I try to keep a level head

Dracula hummed.

Yes. A level head. A fortified mind.

This was no ordinary man He had been trained. And not just against deception or trickery... no, this was something deeper. Something far older.

Who had taught him such resistance?

The idea of a mortal trained to resist supernatural influences... it was almost laughable. And yet Y/N Wayne stood before him, utterly unmoved, staring at him like a predator measuring another.

The Count felt something he had not felt in centuries

Curiosity.

And then his gaze flickered to Kate.

Kate...

Elisabeta...

"My love... you have returned to me." He thought to himself again

He had lost her once before... to time, to fate, to tragedy. But here she was, standing before him, unaware of who she truly was.

For centuries, he had dreamed of this moment. And now, she was so close.

If only this boy was not standing in his way....

He needed to separate them... to take what was his.

But not yet.

First, he needed to learn more about Y/N Wayne and why his will was as strong as Van Helsing's had once been

With one final glance at Y/N, Dracula turned, stepping back into the crowd

Dracula: It has been a pleasure, Mr. Wayne, Miss Bishop. I must take my leave... but I'm sure we will meet again

Kate gave a small, polite nod, unaware of the tension that had just passed between the two men. Y/N, however, watched Dracula leave, his instincts screaming that something wasn't right.

Then...

A quiet voice beside him

Alfred: Sir...

It was Alfred.

His old butler's usually calm face was slightly tense. His eyes flickered toward the hall where Dracula had just exited

Alfred: I believe we may have a... problem

Y/N followed his gaze... and that's when he saw it.

A massive, gilded mirror stood near the entrance of the hall.

People passed by it, their reflections shifting with movement. But as Alucard walked past it... there was nothing. No reflection. Not a flicker.

Just emptiness.

Y/N's fingers curled into a fist.

He turned back to Alfred, his voice barely above a whisper

Y/N: You saw that?

Y/N exhaled sharply. His mind raced.

That name.

Alucard

Something about it felt wrong.

And then it clicked....

With quick movements, he reached into Kate's clutch and grabbed her lipstick

Kate: What are you doing?

Y/N ignored her.

He snatched a tray from a passing waiter, spinning it in his hands so the metal surface gleamed like a mirror.

And then... he wrote the name

A ⅃ U Ɔ A Я ꓷ

He turned the tray, angling it toward a nearby mirror.

Kate's eyes widened as she saw the reflection.

Because in the glass, the letters shifted

D R A C U L A.

Y/N's jaw tightened

Y/N: Son of a bitch...

Later that night...

The glow of computer screens bathed the Batcave in a cold, artificial light. Y/N sat hunched over the Batcomputer, his eyes scanning through centuries of myths, legends, and historical sightings. The name Dracula appeared in countless texts. Some called him Vlad the Impaler, others Nosferatu, the Devil's Son, the King of the Undead

To the world, Dracula was folklore.

To Y/N? He was real. And he was walking among them

The books on his desk were old, some ancient, leather-bound, and fragile. He flipped through them, scanning every recorded weakness

Sunlight, Holy Water, Religious Symbols, Garlic, Silver, A wooden stake through the heart

He committed the words to memory, already considering their applications in the field. If this thing was hunting in his city, he needed every advantage he could get.

Then, his fingers danced over the keyboard, pulling up missing persons reports from the last few weeks.

Too many

Meanwhile, Kate sat on the Batcave's sleek black couch, her bare feet curled up underneath her. She held her phone tightly to her ear, her voice hushed but urgent

Kate: Jace, listen to me... make sure you have garlic with you, alright? And something silver. Oh! And carry a crucifix with you at all times

Y/N didn't turn away from the computer, but he did smirk slightly at that last part.

On the other end of the line, Jason Todd sighed

Jason: Kate... you do know I go to a school full of mutants who can shoot lasers outta their eyes, teleport, and read minds, right? If any bloodsucker tries something, I'll just throw them at Logan.

Kate huffed

Kate: Jason...

Jason: Alright, alright. I'll talk to Kurt about the crucifix. But don't expect me to wear garlic like some kind of cologne.

Kate crossed her arms

Kate: Do it for me

Jason: Fiiiine

Kate: And be careful.

Jason: Always am.

Kate: No, you're not

Y/N: Just... make sure everyone's safe, Jason

Jason: You got it, Dad. You guys watch each other's backs, alright?

Y/N smirked, but his eyes remained glued to the screen.

Kate smiled too. It wasn't official, but Y/N was Jason's father in every way that mattered

After hanging up, Kate set the phone down and turned toward Y/N. She leaned down, arms draping over his shoulders

Kate: You're more worried than usual

Y/N didn't answer at first. His eyes were still scanning over the data. The missing persons reports. The pictures of the incident in the nightclub a few days ago

Y/N: I need to find them. The ones who haven't turned yet. If I can get a sample of their blood before they fully transform...

Kate: ...You can  find a way to cure them

Y/N nodded.

Kate rested her chin on his shoulder

Y/N: Vampirism may be rooted in the supernatural, but it infects blood, and if it's transmitted as a disease, there's a chance it can be treated

Alfred then puts on the news channel on one of the monitors

Alfred: I believe this is something of your interest, Master Y/N

Vicki Vale stood in front of the NYPD precinct, microphone in hand, delivering the latest update on the Lost Ones, the string of mysterious disappearances that had gripped New York in fear.

Kate turned away from Y/N, her arms still draped around his shoulders, as she watched the screen with growing concern.

Vicki's voice was clear and professional, but there was an edge to it, a mix of skepticism and unease

Vicki Vale: It seems like the NYPD has new information on the Lost Ones, thanks to an eyewitness who came forward earlier today.

The screen cut to a grainy video of a homeless man, wrapped in layers of ragged clothing, his face weathered by time and hardship. His eyes were wide, darting between the camera and the reporters, as if unsure whether he should even be speaking

The microphone was shoved in his direction.

Homeless Man: I saw it... I saw it with my own two eyes...

Kate's grip on Y/N tightened

Homeless Man: It got the guy and... and it disappeared. A bat! A huge shadow of a bat with fangs and wings!

The camera cuts back to Vicki

Vicki Vale: As such, the NYPD has concluded that the perpetrator behind these bizarre abductions is none other than...The Batman

Silence.

Alfred pursed his lips.

Kate let out a breath

Kate: Oh, for f—

Y/N, on the other hand, didn't react.

His face remained impassive, but his fingers curled into a fist against the armrest of his chair.

Kate turned to him

Kate: You're not gonna say anything?

Y/N's voice was calm, even. Too calm

Y/N: This was bound to happen again...

Kate narrowed her eyes

Kate: You expected them to pin this on you?

Y/N leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk, his eyes locked onto the screen

Y/N: Their suspect is a figure of the night. A shadow. A thing with wings and fangs. And New York has only one of those

Kate clenched her jaw

Kate: That's complete bullshit! You've been stopping crime in this city for years, and now they think you're behind this?

Y/N's lips pressed into a thin line

Y/N: They need someone to blame... they always do

Black Pearl Nightclub

The streets of New York were alive with the usual chaos. Honking horns, neon lights flickering against rain-slick pavement, and the pulsing bass of the Black Pearl Nightclub, one of the city's most exclusive, and most dangerous hotspots.

Blade sat inside his black muscle car, its engine rumbling beneath him like a caged beast. He was parked across the street, his eyes hidden behind dark shades despite the late hour. His leather trench coat draped over the seat, the hilt of his sword peeking from the back like a silent executioner's axe

Karen sat in the passenger seat, fidgeting.

She was a hematologist... a blood specialist who had the misfortune of stumbling into the underworld of vampires. Days ago, she had been bitten by one of Deacon Frost's goons, Quincy, and now... she was on borrowed time.

Whistler, Blade's grizzled mentor, had injected her with a garlic serum, a temporary fix to slow the transformation, but not stop it. She had nights, maybe days, before the infection took hold. Before she would crave blood like the monsters they hunted.

But Karen wasn't just another victim.

She was a scientist.

And she was fighting back.

With every second, she was trying to develop an antidote... a cure for vampirism.

If she failed?

Blade wouldn't let her turn.

That much was certain

Karen swallowed, watching as Blade studied the area. He wasn't looking at the people—he was reading them, dissecting them with his cold, predatory focus.

Blade: Looks like we hit paydirt. This place is crawling with them.

Karen followed his gaze to the graffiti-covered wall across the street, its surface scrawled with cryptic symbols, an intricate language that didn't belong to any gang.

Blade: See that graffiti? Those aren't gang tags. Those are vampire markings. It means there's a safe-house nearby. A place they can go if dawn is coming.

Karen's stomach tightened.

A vampire nest.

Her grip on the garlic mace in her pocket tightened.

Blade gestured toward the club entrance, where sleek valets moved between luxury cars, their suits crisp, their movements unnervingly smooth... too smooth

Blade: See the valets over there? They're vampires. So is the doorman.

Karen's breath caught

Karen: How can you tell?

Blade never looked at her.

Blade: The way they move. The way they smell...

His voice was calm. Detached.

But his hands? They twitched toward his weapons.

Karen's eyes flickered to the corner of the street, where a woman, barely clothed, leaned against a lamppost, her gaze locked on a businessman exiting a cab

She licked her lips.

Blade: The whore on the corner, she's one too.

A crooked smile formed on Blade's lips.

Blade: Those assholes are in for a surprise.

He reached into the back seat, retrieving his sword and a satchel filled with gear. Silver stakes, pistols and a big UV flashlight Whistler provided to him

Karen exhaled sharply, still struggling to grasp the sheer scale of this nightmare.

Karen: I can't believe there are so many of them... this is a nightmare.

His next words made her shiver.

Blade: There are worse things than vampires out there

Karen turned to him, confused

Karen: Like what?

Blade: Like me

Blade snapped his sword into its sheath

That same night... 

New York Marble Cemetery

The cemetery was eerily silent. Moonlight filtered through the skeletal branches of the trees, casting twisted shadows over the weathered tombstones. The graves of the forgotten surrounded him, names etched in stone now lost to time.

Y/N crouched near a mausoleum, scanning the area. His cowl's lenses flickered with digital overlays, pulling up data on the missing persons case that had led him here

Y/N: This doesn't make any sense... Graveyards may not wash. As far as I'm concerned, vampires have an aversion to crosses...

But if that were the case, why were so many missing people last seen near cemeteries?

Something wasn't adding up

A high-pitched sound filled the air.

Y/N froze as a red laser dot landed on his chest.

Then another.

Then several more.

He barely had time to react before a booming voice rang out

SWAT Officer: We have you surrounded! Hands in the air, now!

From behind crypts, out of alleyways, NYPD SWAT officers emerged in full riot gear, rifles raised. Their helmet visors reflected the moonlight, making them look more like machines than men

This wasn't a warning.

They were here to take him down.

Y/N knew the NYPD was always wary of the Batman. He had done more for this city than they ever could, but still... he operated outside the law. A masked vigilante with no oversight.

Some cops respected him. Others saw him as no better than the criminals he fought.

And right now, it was clear which side these officers stood on.

The trigger fingers were itchy.

One of the officers gave a signal

They opened fire.

Y/N moved before the first bullet could hit him.

With a flick of his wrist, he fired his grappling hook and yanked himself up, twisting midair as bullets whizzed past, shattering headstones

As he soared into the night, he spotted Kate from a few rooftops over.

She had been keeping watch, her Hawkeye mask concealing her face, but even from here, he could tell

She hadn't seen the cops coming either.

They must've been waiting. Tracking him.

Y/N's cape snapped open, gliding him over the rooftops as he tried to lose them, but the cops were relentless. They kept firing, chasing him over the skyline.

He needed an escape. Fast.

A warehouse loomed ahead. A dark, empty structure, its windows shattered, its doors half-hanging off their hinges.

Without hesitation, Y/N dove inside

The interior was a graveyard of rusted machinery. Empty crates, broken forklifts, and metal scaffolding loomed in the darkness.

Y/N disappeared into the shadows as SWAT officers flooded inside, flashlights sweeping the room.

Officer: Fan out! He's in here somewhere!

A few buildings away, Kate parkoured her way to the warehouse and slipped in through a broken window.

Her suit was her signature purple, but now it had some upgrades—a domino mask, like Robin's, but in a dark violet shade, concealing her identity even further

Still, unlike Y/N... she wasn't trained to move within the darkness.

Kate kept to the shadows as best as she could, but—

One of the officers spotted her.

A flashlight beam landed on her face

SWAT Officer: HEY! You there—

Before he could finish...something yanked him into the darkness.

Hard.

A sickening crack echoed through the warehouse.

Kate barely had time to react before another officer was pulled away, vanishing into the blackness with a muffled scream.

She exhaled, pressing a hand to her chest

Kate: Nice catch.

But Y/N...

He didn't respond. Not immediately.

Then his voice whispered into her earpiece.

Low. Cold.

Y/N: That... wasn't me

The warehouse reeked of blood and gunpowder.

The NYPD officers were vanishing one by one, their shouts cutting off mid-sentence as something pulled them into the darkness. Something fast. Something ruthless.

But it wasn't Y/N.

And it wasn't Kate.

Y/N moved swiftly through the shadows, taking advantage of the officers' fear. They didn't know where he was, only that men were disappearing all around them.

He needed to keep them off Kate.

With a quick grapple, he launched himself onto an iron staircase, the metal creaking under his boots

Y/N made just enough noise to catch the officers' attention.

Officer: Up the stairs! He's headed for the roof!

They chased after him, boots pounding against steel.

They fired. Y/N dodged, flipping over a railing, using the architecture to his advantage. Bullets tore through old wooden planks and sent sparks flying from rusted metal

He reached the rooftop before them, stepping behind the doorway. Waiting. He heard them storming up the final steps...

And then...

In an almost comically anticlimactic fashion, something flew through the doorway. A machine gun.

He narrowed his eyes. The SWAT officers were no longer chasing him.

Silence fell over the rooftop.

Then...

https://youtu.be/kMNmL2B-rrw

A tall, elongated shadow stretched over the concrete

A voice, smooth as silk and cold as the grave, spoke from behind him.

Dracula: So the folk tales are true... there is another bat in New York.

Y/N turned around.

And there he was...

Standing in the pale moonlight, like a phantom conjured from nightmares and legend, was Dracula.

He wasn't in his monstrous form. Not yet.

Instead, he appeared human, the same way he was when he met Y/N back at the party. Tall, dressed in a flowing black coat lined with crimson, his dark eyes gleaming with ancient wisdom... and hunger.

Y/N: Count Dracula, I presume?

Dracula smiled, his fangs just barely visible beneath his lips

The cold wind howled over the rooftops as two shadows faced each other.

One was the Dark Knight, a man who had conquered fear, honed himself into a living weapon, and battled creatures that lurked in the underworld of men.

The other was Count Dracula, a creature of myth and nightmare, the king of all vampires, a predator who had terrorized humanity for centuries

Dracula: Ah... A legend you are apparently intimate with.

Y/N: Don't flatter yourself.

Dracula took a step forward, his movements eerily graceful, almost like he was gliding rather than walking.

Dracula: We cast kindred shadows.

Y/N instinctively took a step back, his mind was racing, his instincts screaming at him.

This wasn't a thug. This wasn't a mutant. This was something else. Something ancient.

Dracula chuckled darkly.

Dracula: Have you not seen the news?

Y/N: I don't harm people.

Dracula's smile vanished. His dark eyes gleamed with something... sinister.

Dracula: You have no concept of the harm of which I am capable... If only because I really hate to waste a life... when it can be spent in servitude to me.

Y/N: Life? Or living death?

Dracula's gaze hardened.

Dracula: To become vampire is to heighten all of one's senses... to attain speed, strength, and immortality.

Y/N didn't let him finish.

In a single motion, he flicked his wrists. Two batarangs snapped into his hands, blades gleaming under the moonlight.

Dracula's eyes glowed faintly red.

Y/N lunged forward. 

Dracula tilted his head slightly and vanished.

Y/N's batarangs sliced through empty air.

Before he could react, Dracula's voice came from behind him too fast.

Dracula: Predictable

Y/N swung again, but Dracula wasn't there.

A blur of motion, Dracula sidestepped the strike effortlessly, his inhuman speed allowing him to twist past the attack with graceful ease.

The batarang's edge passed inches from Dracula's face, just enough for him to smell something.

Dracula: Dripping with garlic...

A courtesy of Alfred.

Y/N barely had time to smirk before Dracula swatted him away with one hand, hitting Y/N so hard that he crashed into a brick wall, shattering the bricks on impact

Dust and debris rained down as Y/N groaned in pain.

Dracula: I shall steer clear of those.

Y/N rolled onto his feet, ignoring the pain.

His gaze narrowed.

He's fast... faster than anything Y/N's ever fought before.

Dracula took one step forward and Y/N responded by hurling the batarangs. However, Dracula dodged every single one, his movements fluid, like a shadow dancing through the night

Before Y/N could react, Dracula was already behind him.

A hand gripped his throat. Dracula hurls him off the rooftop

Y/N fired his grappling gun just in time, swinging across the rooftops, trying to create distance.

Dracula followed without effort.

He moved not like a man, but a force of nature. Each leap between rooftops was a blur of motion, each step defying gravity itself.

Y/N glanced back just to see that Dracula was gaining

SNAP!

Dracula's claws severed the cable

Y/N's stomach lurched as He found himself falling

Crashing down into a narrow alleyway, he rolled violently over the wet pavement, his body groaning in protest

But before Y/N could recover, Kate, perched on a fire escape, fired a garlic-laced arrow towards the king of all vampires, missing it

As she draws another arrow, Dracula was already in front of her

A hand seized her throat. 

Kate gasped. Her bow clattered to the ground.

Y/N, still on the ground, widened his eyes in horror

Y/N: N-No...

Dracula sank his fangs into her neck.

Kate arched her back, her breath hitching as the pain shot through her. Her heartbeat slowed. Her body tensed

Dracula drank deep.

Y/N could only watch, helpless, as the woman he loved was cursed.

Dracula finally released her, letting Kate's limp body slump to the ground.

Y/N's fists clenched.

Dracula turned to him, smiling.

Y/N pushed himself up, staggering, barely able to stand.

Dracula approached slowly

But then...

BANG!

A bullet tore through Dracula's chest. He stumbled back, eyes widening in shock

BANG! BANG! BANG!

More bullets, but these actually hurt him. His skin sizzled where they struck.

Dracula's gaze snapped upward

A silhouette stood on the rooftop, pistol smoking

Y/N looks up to see a man wearing black leather, dark sunglasses and a sword strapped to his back

Blade

Dracula hissed, his eyes flaring red. He turned and fled into the night

The city fell silent. A cold wind whispered through the alley.

Y/N didn't care.

He sprinted toward Kate's body, collapsed and motionless on the pavement. Her skin was pale, cold. Her chest barely rose and fell

Y/N: Stay with me, Kate... please!

His voice... raw, desperate. The last time he felt this kind of fear, this... helplessness was the night his parents die

He checked her teeth.

Still normal. No fangs, not yet.

His heart pounded as he pressed two fingers to her neck.

Her pulse was weak. Her breathing shallow.

He swallowed down the lump in his throat. He needed to move her. Needed to get her help. But when he tried to lift her, pain shot through his ribs. His entire body felt like lead.

The fight. The fall. Dracula's attacks

Y/N gritted his teeth. He wasn't strong enough.

A shadow loomed over him.

A gloved hand reached down.

Blade was there for him. His usual stone-cold expression was unreadable. But Y/N saw it. The understanding.

The reminder of another woman.

Karen

Blade had helped her the night she was bitten. Maybe Batman could do the same for Kate.

Without a word, Blade helped him lift Kate

Blade: Have you been bitten?

Y/N shook his head.

Y/N: No...

His fingers hovered over his utility belt, pressing a hidden button.

A distant roar filled the night.

The Batmobile. From the shadows, the sleek, black vehicle emerged, its engine purring

Y/N and Blade carried Kate toward it, her head lolling against Y/N's chest.

The canopy hissed open.

Carefully, they laid her inside asBlade moved toward the door

Y/N: You... get... get in.

Blade hesitated for only a second. Then, he climbed inside.

Y/N took the passenger seat, refusing to take his hands off Kate. Her head rested against his lap, and his gloved fingers brushed her cheek

Still cold. Still breathing.

For now...

He issued a command, voice barely above a whisper.

Y/N: Home... take us... home.

The Batcomputer's cold, mechanical voice responded

Batcomputer: Voice confirmation required.

Y/N's grip tightened around Kate's hand.

His throat burned. Then... he spoke.

A name he hadn't uttered in years. A name tied to his greatest pain.

Y/N: ...Martha

A couple of minutes later, the Batmobile roared into the cave, tires screeching as it came to a sudden halt

Y/N threw open the canopy before the car had fully stopped, his hands shaking as he cradled Kate's limp body.

Her skin was paler than before. Her breathing... shallower

He leaped from the vehicle, barely registering the pain in his ribs. His voice echoed through the cavern.

Y/N: ALFRED! ALFRED!

His desperate shouts bounced off the stone walls as he carried her toward the medical station.

The cave's overhead lights blared to life.

Alfred hurried forward, concern deeply etched into his weathered face

Alfred: Good heavens...

Y/N: She's been bitten!

The words came out ragged, raw.

Alfred paled, eyes darting between Kate's lifeless form and the glistening wound on her neck. Meanwhile Y/N gently laid her on the medical table, brushing the hair from her sweat-drenched forehead.

His hands lingered on her face, trembling.

For the first time in years, he felt helpless.

Alfred quickly got to work, retrieving gauze, antiseptics, and medical equipment. But deep down, Y/N knew this wasn't something simple science could fix

Y/N turned, his eyes narrowing.

The man in the long black leather coat stood just inside the cave. Blade.

Y/N had been so focused on Kate he had almost forgotten him.

His muscles tensed.

His grief momentarily fueled his suspicion.

He stepped forward, eyes burning.

Y/N: Who are you? And why did you help me?

Blade, unfazed, stepped forward, his expression unreadable. His eyes flickered to Kate on the table, then back to Y/N.

His voice was calm, gravelly.

Blade: The name's Blade. And I helped you because she doesn't have much time

Y/N had never felt this kind of fear before.

Not in all the years he had spent fighting killers, warlords and enhanced people. Not even in the moment his parents lay lifeless in the alley, their blood staining the pavement beneath his trembling hands.

This was different.

Because this was Kate. And she was changing.

Her body trembled on the metal table, convulsing violently, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her skin had gone pale... too pale. Beads of sweat glistened against her forehead, and her lips had parted slightly as if she were in the throes of a nightmare she couldn't wake from

Y/N moved closer, his gloved hand reaching for hers, but the second his fingers brushed against her skin, her eyes shot open

And they weren't her eyes anymore.

At first, there was a flicker of recognition, a soft glint of those big blues, the color he had memorized in every moment they had spent together. The eyes that had once been filled with love, mischief, and determination. But within seconds, something darker slithered into them, tainting the warmth with an unnatural, burning red

Y/N's stomach twisted.

Then, she moved faster than he expected.

With a feral snarl, she snapped the leather restraints on the table as if they were nothing but twine. Before Y/N could react, she had lunged, tackling him onto the cave floor with an unnatural force. The impact sent a sharp pain up his back, but he barely registered it.

Because Kate was straddling him now, pinning him down, her face inches from his

She breathed him in, slowly, hungrily.

Her lips curled into something between a smirk and a snarl, the soft pink of her mouth now tainted by the shadow of fangs... long, sharp, unnatural

Kate: So warm...

Y/N's breath hitched.

Her voice was still hers, but there was something else underneath. A second voice. A whisper from something ancient and wrong.

Then her expression shifted.

The sharpness in her features softened, her lips parting slightly as her gaze settled on him. Not as prey, but as something else.

For a fleeting moment, her face was different.

The curve of her cheekbones. The arch of her brows. The way her dark hair framed her face, it wasn't Kate anymore.

It was someone else

It was Elisabeta

Y/N's pulse pounded in his ears.

Kate smiled, but it was not her smile. It was knowing. Cruel

Kate: He's been watching you... he's been waiting for you, my dark knight...

Y/N froze.

Her fingers tightened around his throat, not choking him... not yet

She was playing with him

Kate: He likes you... admires you...

She continued, her voice lilting like a lover's whisper, but the malice behind it made Y/N's skin crawl

Kate: You are the man he once was... before the darkness claimed him

Her eyes bored into his, drinking in his horror, savoring it

Kate: He will take everything from you... the way he lost everything...

Y/N's heart pounded in his chest. The weight of her words pressed against him like iron chains.

Then... Kate's grip tightened.

Y/N braced himself, trying to break free, but she was too strong.

Blade moved first.

He stepped forward, his trench coat shifting around him as he drew a silver stake

Blade: She's turning!

His voice was sharp and unforgiving

Kate's expression flickered for just a moment. Her fingers trembled. Her breath hitched

And then, in the smallest, most broken voice, she whispered

Kate: Y/N...?

His chest tightened.

Her gaze was wild, terrified. It was her again.

She clutched his suit desperately, shaking.

Y/N felt his throat tighten as his hands cupped her face, thumbs brushing against her cheeks. She was still here. She had to be

Y/N: I'm here, Katie... I'm right here

A single tear slipped from her eye... and it was gone

Her pupils dilated, the red in her irises deepened. The monster inside her took hold again.

With a snarl, she thrashed against him, her claws raking against his suit.

Blade moved.

He raised his silver stake, ready to bring it down

Y/N: NO!

 Y/N roared, throwing his arm up

Kate stood still, her body weakening, but before she fully lost consciousness, she whispered one last thing

Kate: He will take everything from you...

Y/N swallowed hard, watching as the woman he loved went limp in his arms. And for the first time in years, fear took root in his soul.

Because Dracula had already taken her

Minutes later, Y/N had sealed the cell himself, ensuring every lock, every restraint, every inch of reinforced glass could withstand whatever unholy strength Kate now possessed. It wasn't just about keeping her in, it was about keeping himself together

She lay on the small cot within the dimly lit cell, her body curled into itself. Her breaths were shallow, uneven, her skin pale as if drained of life. She looked fragile. For a moment, just a moment, she looked like Kate again... his Kate

But he knew better.

Because just as soon as she appeared peaceful, the twitching started.

A violent shudder wracked through her frame, her fingers curling like claws against the cot's sheets. A faint, broken whimper left her lips before it shifted, morphing into something more sinister

Then, her eyes snapped open.

The soft blue he knew so well bled away into a deep, glowing red.

And she started whispering.

Y/N stood there, just outside the glass, listening.

She spoke in hushed tones, her words a tangled mess of English and something older. Her lips trembled as if trapped in a fever dream, her body wracked with violent spasms before she stilled again

Then, she looked at him.

A slow, creeping smile spread across her lips, her fangs peeking through

Kate: My knight...

Y/N's fingers clenched at his sides

Kate: You watch over me, so dutifully... just as he did

Y/N didn't answer. He couldn't

Kate: I can feel him... calling to me... searching for me...

A sharp gasp left her lips as if her very soul was being pulled apart

Kate: He knows now. He knows what he has done...

She let out a soft laugh. It was her laugh... but not

Kate: You cannot keep us apart, my love. He is coming for me... and you will suffer before the end

Her smile widened, her eyes glowing brighter

Y/N swallowed back the bile rising in his throat, forcing himself to step away

As Y/N approached the main cave platform, Blade stood near the Batcomputer, his arms crossed, his ever-present scowl deepened by the dim lighting. The vampire hunter had seen a lot. More than most men should ever have to

But even he had been disturbed by what he had just witnessed

Y/N didn't hesitate

Y/N: Why did you help me?

Blade exhaled sharply through his nose

Blade: Because you were getting your ass kicked

Y/N shot him a glare, but Blade didn't back down

Blade: I was tracking vampires when I found you. My mission at the Black Pearl Nightclub went south. I was there to get information. Thought I had 'em, but then...

His grip on the stake tightened

Blade: Karen was taken

Y/N's gaze sharpened

Y/N: Karen?

Blade: Hematologist. She got bit a few nights ago by one of Frost's goons. I've been keeping her close, trying to slow the infection. But now she's gone

There was an edge to his voice, one that Y/N recognized

The rage of failure. The weight of loss

Blade: When I got back to my safe house...I found Whistler, my... partner. Bloody. Bitten

Y/N froze

Y/N: Did you...

Blade: I gave him a gun. And let him end his own suffering

The silence between them was heavy.

But Blade wasn't finished

Blade: I've been hunting Frost for months. And now I've got reasons to believe he's the one who woke Dracula. He's using him. Using the count's influence to bring La Magra back, the Blood God

Y/N's eyes darkened

Y/N: And you tracked me... because?

Blade: Because Dracula found you first

Meanwhile, Kate trembled in the cell.

Her body ached, burned. Every muscle inside her felt as though it were ripping apart and stitching itself back together all at once.

She was starving.

The hunger clawed at her insides, feral and consuming.

Y/N stood outside the cell, his expression unreadable as he pulled a blood bag from the medical station. His own blood in case of an emergency

Blade had warned him against it, but he didn't care.

Kate was his... and he was going to keep her alive.

With a press of a button, the feeding hatch opened. Y/N slid the bag inside.

Kate's head snapped up, her breathing hitched.

For a moment, she hesitated. Then, she lunged.

She tore into the bag with an animalistic hunger, draining it as if it were her last meal. The crimson liquid smeared across her lips, dripped down her chin

When she finished, she laughed.

Slow. Soft. Distant.

Then, her red eyes lifted to his.

Her smile widened, her fangs glistening

Kate: We're gonna kill every last one of you