Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 13:58:48 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight 30 Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Scary!! People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!! Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. Talamasca, Lestat, Louis, and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life, you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this. I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with. Part of his background is mine. I do hope that you enjoy it!!! Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks. jmsotc@yahoo.com Chapter 30 Remember "Some of it's coming back, Christian. I remember this guy," I said, pointing to the picture of Lance Bass. "I remember him holding me and me holding him. Can you explain what this is about?" I watched as Christian lowered his head. He seemed to be ashamed. He walked over to a table and steadied himself. "I can't believe I did this for this long." "Did what?" "Lied to you." I paused. He had said he loved me. If he loved me, he wouldn't have lied to me, would he? "What do you mean, Christian?" "I lied to you. You and I were not lovers. You and Lance were...are." "But...what about us? What about all those things you told me?" "Lies." My heart sank. He had lied to me. I loved him and he lied. "Why?" I managed to ask. "It's a long story. A demon took my family and threatened their lives if I didn't help him. He had me occupy you so he could to what he needed. I just took advantage of the amnesia. I took advantage of you." "I don't believe you did this to me!" I became enraged. Someone whom I loved and trusted just lied to me and betrayed me. All so he could get what he wanted. "I can't believe you lied to me! I can't believe you took advantage of me!" I stormed out of the room. I heard footsteps behind me and knew Christian was following. "Eric, please, at least try to understand why I did what I did." "And why is that? So you could have sex with me? So I would suck your cock and you could fuck me real good? Is that what you want me to understand? You lied to me just so you could get off?" "Eric, it wasn't like that!" "Then what were all those nights of making love?" I couldn't control my tears. "I gave you my heart! And all you did was lie to me!" "I didn't lie! I loved you! I still love you! But what happened...me taking advantage of you...that's the lie! That's what I did wrong!" "I can't believe someone would destroy my heart like this and still say they love me." "Eric..." "Get out." "Eric, please." "GET OUT!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. The open windows slammed shut. Christian put his head down, turned and walked out. I collapsed on the bed crying. When I got some semblance of control, I changed into the clothes that I had form the hospital. As I dressed I remembered why else Christian did what he did. A demon had kidnapped his family. I grabbed the card that had the phrase "Council of Watchers" along with their address and telephone number and left. Christian watched Eric exit his room and walk down the hall. No words were spoken. None could undo the damage that was done. Christian walked over to one of the upstairs sitting rooms and looked out the window at the dark sky. He looked as Eric exited the mansion into the pouring rain. A flash of lightning and Eric climbed into the waiting cab; the car driving down the driveway and Christian watched as the taillights disappeared in the rain. He sniffed and wiped a tear. What am I supposed to do With all these blues Haunting me everywhere No matter what I do Watching the candle flicker out In the evening glow I can't let go When will the night be over I didn't mean to fall in love with you And, baby, there's a way for what you put me through It is enough, it's robbery I'm sleeping with the ghost of you and me Seen a lot of broken hearts Go sailing by Phantom ships lost at sea On one of them is mine Raising my glass I sing a toast I sing a toast to the midnight sky I wonder why The stars don't seem to guide me I didn't mean to fall in love with you And, baby, there's a way for what you put me through It is enough, it's robbery I'm sleeping with the ghost of you and me The ghost of you and me When will it set me free I hear the voices call Following footsteps down the hall Trying to save what's left Of my heart and soul Watching the candle flicker out In the evening glow I can't let go When will the night be over I didn't mean to fall in love with you And, baby, there's a way for what you put me through It is enough, it's robbery I'm sleeping with the ghost of you and me Christian wiped the tears from his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Eric, for what I did. Please...forgive me. Someday...forgive me." A shadow stirred in the corner of the room and a form appeared. It walked up to Christian and grabbed him on the shoulder. "What happened?" the voice belonging to this shadow said. "He found out. He remembered and he left." "How much did he remember?" "Enough to know I'm not his lover." "That means..." "I don't know if he remembers you or not." "If he returns to the Council of Watchers and my plans to regain full power are stopped, your family will die. Know that right now." Christian turned around and punched the creature. "Bastard! I did what you asked me to do! It didn't work! All it did was ruin the relationship I had with someone I cared about! Let my family go!" The creature turned and walked back toward the shadows fading away. The cab stopped at a light. A cathedral sat at the corner. I looked at the stain-glass windows and the images drew me. "Eric," the still small voice called to me. "You," I whispered. "Let me out here," I said to the driver. The cabby told me the fare and I paid it with what money I had. The rain poured down on my head, a head full of confusion. I felt a drawing to the cathedral, a longing for something that was inside, the voice that spoke to me. Words came to me as I entered into the sacred building: Life is a mystery Everyone must stand alone I hear you call my name And it feels like home The words resounded in my mind and my heart. The voice that called my name so often echoed in me. I hear your voice It's like an angel sighing I have no choice I hear your voice Feels like flying I close my eyes Oh God, I think I'm falling Out of the sky I close my eyes Heaven help me My life seemed to be falling apart around me. I was remembering a life, a love, which I had and lost. The current life I have has now ended. I was alone. My life falling apart. But that voice seemed to call out to me. That voice was familiar to me. It comforted me and strengthened me. Like a child You whisper softly to me You're in control Just like a child Now I'm dancing Just like a dream No end and no beginning You're here with me It's like a dream Let the choir sing I went to the altar and kneeled. The candles the only inner light. The sunlight through the windows caused colors to dance on the floor. I folded my hands and looked up toward the ceiling. But I was looking past the ceiling. "Life has become scary," I began. "I am starting to remember who I am and what I have in life. But the more I learn, the more I feel alone in this world. My life is a mystery to me. I'm so afraid to solve it, and just as afraid not to. What am I to do?" I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I turned, no one was there. "Eric, you will be fine. Horrible things have happened, to you and to those whom you call friend. Your previous life has been disrupted by a great evil. You have a rich past. Allow me to help you remember." Before my eyes, images of my past flashed before my eyes. With each image, feelings came. I saw myself as a young boy different from others. I felt so alone and isolated, even to my closest friend Matt and my family. School was something I tolerated. It was just a routine. My heart wasn't in it. I moved to Los Angeles scared of the unknown. I was away from my routine, my family. I was in a completely knew place. The man on the CD, Christian called him Lance Bass, he was in my memory, as well as four other men who danced and sang. One had a relationship with a... a vampire?! A woman in a mask fought him. She called herself Huntress. She's a Vampire Slayer. I fought the vampire. He called himself Turic. There's a warehouse. Justin, the one involved with Turic, is tied to a pillar. I'm enraged. I love Justin. I'm...I'm causing things to fly around. Boxes. Wooden stakes. I pin the vampire to the wall and stake him. Justin, he loved me. But, after I staked Turic, he did not. I'm wearing a suit that makes me look like a bat. I call myself Batman. I'm a mutant. I fight evil. Images of people I've fought and helped come to mind. A woman who can freeze things. A man who loves to set things on fire. A female shape shifter. A man who can control and create magnetic fields. Vampire paramedics. A young boy needing rescued. I feel like a father to him. There's a blonde young man. His lover is dying. There's nothing I can do. I hate feeling helpless. Another boy. His mom loves plants. She kidnaps him. His father, wearing a mask, helps me rescue the boy. Another young man helps. He also wears a mask. A redhead girl wearing a purple suit. She wears a cape like I do. We fight a dark-haired woman and her father. The redhead is a Vampire Slayer. We are called to England, where I am now. Princes. They are in peril. A man in a top hat. A mutant who can control the weather. A demon. Macai. An explosion. A hospital. Christian. "I love you, Eric." I hunch over the altar crying as my life completes before my eyes, a life that was missing for so long in me. "Oh God, I've missed so much! Lance! Joshua! Justin! Jessica! David and Michael! Michael's dead! Oh no! Christine is dead! Macai, he killed her! The vile demon killed her! Is he still loose?" "Yes, Eric." "I've got to stop him." "You will, Eric. You will with my strength and my wisdom." A great confidence welled up in me. Strength, power welled up like a fountain. I felt my power. I knew my purpose. I had divinity backing me. The demon was going to be stopped. The words and the music came to me again. I stood and walked toward the exit. I was on my way to my destiny, to answer my calling. Life is a mystery Everyone must stand alone I hear you call my name And it feels like home Just like a prayer Your voice can take me there Just like a muse to me You are a mystery Just like a dream You are not what you seem Just like a prayer No choice, your voice can take me there The thunder and lightning cracked outside. I walked to the exit and the doors flew open as I neared. I felt them, their molecular structure, bowing to my whim, to my need, to my will. I marched through the doors with my head held high. The rain fell upon me but I was not deterred. I had a calling, a destiny and nothing would keep me from it. Nothing would stop my battle with the immortal, all-powerful demon Macai. To Be Continued... Eric remembers! The day I finished writing this chapter was the Monday after posting chapter 19. I received a dozen email messages concerning Eric's death. I hope none of you are mad at me. I wanted to explore the drama with the characters. There are so many lives Eric affected. One never knows how much his or her life will affect another. Even your life affects others. I know it has affected my life. If I had no readers, the story would not have gone on and Eric would not have had the wonderful adventures and created such close connections with others. So, to that, I want to say thank you, to each and every reader. Thank you for your emails, your suggestions, your kind words. Thank you for just saying "hi". Some of you I have talked with online. One I even had the pleasure of meeting in person, he's an awesome guy. And I thank heaven for each and every one of you. More to come. Keep reading.