Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:50:56 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight 32 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. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. Harry Potter, Hogwarts, and all related characters created by J.K. Rowling. Copyright Scholastic Press, Inc. 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 32 Reincarnation It took us several days to get the castle in order. I used my powers to lift heavy objects and melt metal to put back in place. I even had to manipulate electricity to run several devices until the wires could be repaired. All this time, I did not see Jayce Haverhill or Quentin Travers. Neither did anyone else. It was unnerving, but I kept myself occupied with helping the Watchers. Once everything was done, we could do nothing but wait. Correction, I could do nothing but wait. The Watchers went back to work monitoring the slayage going on around the world. I sat and waited. One day, as I sat in my room reading a book, Jayce knocked. "Come in," I called. "Eric, I need you to come with me, please." "Sure," I replied putting my book down. I stood and followed Jayce down the stairs. "What's going on?" Jayce didn't answer. We kept going further and further down into the tunnels and caverns beneath the castle where the Watchers do their most secret work. Jayce walked into a back room. I followed him in. "Close the door," Quentin said. Jayce closed the door and bolted it shut. "Eric, what I'm about to show you must be kept secret. Promise me you won't share with anyone." "I promise." "Good." Quentin turned and walked over to a large steel wardrobe. "In your battle to protect the Watchers Council and the way of life for all humanity, you lost many things. Your life and lover are the two most important. You also lost a very important part of you, as well, your identity as the Batman. The Council would like to show you our appreciation in presenting this to you." Quentin pulled on the lever and the door slowly opened. A light came on inside. He pulled the door open all the way to reveal to my utter amazement, a brand new Bat-suit. I was shocked and amazed. The suit was made entirely in black leather. The mask was like my old one, with the exception of the eye openings being two, one for each eye, instead of one large one. There was a bat on the chest and the top of the bat formed the bottom of the large, black leather cape. Several silver compartments lined the waist as a belt. On the right arm and left leg were silver daggers attached. On the left arm and right leg were wooden stakes. The suit seemed to blend in with the shadows. I was entranced by it. "You have done much for us, Eric. We wanted to show you how much we appreciate your help. Also, we ask you to help us against the demon Macai one more time. Will you?" I stepped up to the suit and looked into the empty eyes. This suit embodied the darkness that Batman has always been associated with. It was truly dark. It needed someone to fill it, someone who could bring the compassion that Batman also represented. "Yes," I replied, knowing that God was showing me what I was intended to be, the compassion of the real dark knight. Batman is not just a suit. Batman is an ideal, a principle of justice in an unjust world. A call to help those who are helpless and to bring compassion to those in desperate need of it, even those deemed unworthy by the standards of this world. "Excellent," Quentin replied, the relief obvious in his voice. "Mr. Haverhill and I were discussing the situation the last few days and making some contacts. We would like you to go and escort some of our contacts from where they are to here." "Not a problem, Quentin," I said still gazing into the suit. Then I turned and looked at him. "Where do I have to go?" "Your first contact is far away from here, in a secret, mystical place in the north." "What is this place?" I asked feeling slightly uneasy. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." "What?" I smiled at his words. It was hard to believe such a place existed that would teach witchcraft and wizardry. Most of that was believed to be confined to religion and personal pursuits for such knowledge. There was actually a school that taught such things? "It is a school that has been around for quite a long time. The Headmaster is who we've contacted. He is willing to help us in this matter. To ensure his safety, we would like you to go to the school and escort him here." "How do I get to this school?" "By very special means," Jayce replied. "I will take you to the train station and the platform tonight at midnight. For right now, it would behoove you to try on the suit and practice with it." "Excellent idea," I said. I was hoping he would suggest that. I had fallen in love with the new suit. "I think I will patrol tonight." "No," Quentin replied. "We don't want Macai to suspect you are alive. You will not confront any of his minions this night." "What else can I do?" I wondered. "I have a thought," Jayce replied. Within a few moments, Jayce and I were traveling through the forests surrounding the castle of the Watchers. I had on my new suit, which felt amazing to wear. It was like my skin; very form fitting and not clumsy in the least. "What are we doing out here?" I asked. "There are many creatures in the forests at night. We are going to patrol. It will give you practice." "Delightful." We walked for a short while. "Do you know if Lance was told?" "Told what?" Jayce asked. "Told that I died." "It is very well possible. Jessica left a few days ago for the United States of America. I believe she planned to tell Lance." "I need to tell him I'm alive. I can just imagine what he's going through." "It can't be done, Eric. Macai believes you dead. It is not a good idea to advertise that you are alive." "I'm not talking about advertisement. I'm talking about saving my lover's heart from being torn from his chest and shredded to pieces." "I can appreciate your position." "Can you?" "Yes, I can. When I became a Watcher, I was not allowed to tell anyone I loved. It would have put them in a position of grave danger. I loved them too much to tell them what I was to become. I had to break all ties with them. Needless to say them being angry with me and not knowing where I am is preferable to them being threatened by a vampire or werewolf or demon such as Macai. They may hate me. But they are alive and living a life they may not have had otherwise." We walked in silence for a moment. "I understand, Jayce. I hope this is over soon. I don't want to be away from Lance any longer than I have to." "We all want this over as quickly as possible." Macai, Shetar, Puz, and the beast stood in Macai's makeshift throne room. Macai sat with Excalibur at his side. "It has been a long time," Macai said to no one in particular. "For an eternal being, being separated from the world was...an eternity. I don't know if I could have dealt with that for very much longer." "But you are free now, my lord," Puz stated. "And rising to power once again. Your kingdom is being reborn as we speak." "We have vampiric foot soldiers. We have Excalibur. All that is left is the throne." "We will have that soon, as well, my lord. We just need to add some more to our ranks. We had some losses at the Watchers' castle. We dare not make a move against the throne without more troops." Macai nodded. "Just like old times, sire," Shetar said, "all of us together, the sword in your hand, and humanity trembling at your name." "I'd rather them trembling at my feet." "So shall it be, my lord. Humanity will be subjugated. You will be the master of this world. Nothing can stop us." "Yes, not like last time," Puz added. Macai shot Puz a look. "Who can stand before me now? The Warrior Princess is dead. The wizard is dead. The powerful vampire is nowhere to be found. And the bat is no longer a threat. He cannot remember his own name and is content in his place. The Watcher's Council is in shambles with most of the members dead. The Slayers are spread throughout the world and know that I killed one of their own. They dare not oppose me. There is no one to withstand my advancement to the throne. No one." Macai stood and turned to Puz. Grabbing the demon wizard by the throat, Macai hoisted him into the air with ease. "And we no longer need reminders of past failures. Do I make myself clear?" Macai threw Puz across the room and into the stone wall. Puz slid down the wall to the floor. Looking up at Macai, he replied, "Crystal clear, my lord." "Nothing can stand in my way. Nothing." I jumped to a tree limb and kicked out, kicking the demon in the face. He flew back into a nearby tree. I spun around the limb and perched myself on top of it. The demon recovered from my attack easily and looked up at me. He lunged for me. I jumped to the above branch as the demon landed where I was perched. I pulled myself up and then kicked downward releasing my grip on the branch. I landed on the demon's back hard. The tree branch cracked with the force of the impact, then snapped and down we tumbled to the ground. I rolled away from the demon and fallen branch and stood up. The demon recovered rather quickly. The creature being a very powerful being from a very ancient race made the odds a bit better in his favor. But I was counting on the presence I felt in the church. The continued confirmations that God was on my side and nothing could stand in my way from bringing Macai down. The demon lunged at me. I jumped into the air, wrapped my legs around his neck and spun. I pulled the demon off balance and rammed his head into a nearby tree. I heard the crack of the wood as well as the crack of the neck of the creature. Releasing my leg hold, I fell to the ground. I stood up as Jayce came out of the bushes. "Well done, Batman," he applauded. "Thanks," I replied. I turned to see the demons face imbedded in the tree, his lifeless body hung from the neck down. "It's so nice of you to join me now, Jayce." "I cannot be blamed for being taken by surprise and knocked into the bushes and down the slope. That is a rather treacherous hill to climb." "I know. I'm just giving you a hard time." I smiled, though the only way one could tell I was smiling were my eyes. "What kind of demon was that?" "Perago demon. Very powerful. Very fast. You did well against it." "Thanks. What kind of demons does Macai normally recruit for his gang?" "There are three that he has been in league with for thousands of years. Shetar is a Vocan demon. Vocans are nearly as old as the fallen angels themselves. They cannot be killed, either. They are fast and very skilled fighters. Shetar is a most formidable foe. "The second demon is Puz, a Nagan demon. Nagans are known for their wisdom and mystical powers. Puz's role is to call upon mystical forces to aid Macai for whatever his needs may require. "The third creature known to be loyal to Macai does not have a name. He is merely referred to as the beast. He is comparable to a werewolf or hellhound, though much larger and much, much stronger. It, too, cannot be killed. It is very vicious and feral, as well. I do not recommend getting too close to its jaws or claws. They are razor sharp and have been known to cut through steel swords." I looked upon Jayce dumbfounded. I've been able to handle vampires. I've fought with mortal demons. I do not know how I survived the battles except for having a Slayer beside me. And now I face four immortal, ancient demons without so much as a Slayer to back me. Of course, after what happened to Christine, I do not want any Slayers to fall victim to this being. "What did I get myself into?" I said aloud. Jayce just looked at me. We turned and headed back to the castle. Within a few hours we arrived at the castle. I was exhausted from the walking and the battle with the Perago demon. I went up to my room and pulled off my suit. As I stood under the warm running water of the shower, my mind went to Lance and prayer went forth. "God, be with Lance. Love him and protect him." I dried and pulled on my boxers and stood before the window looking out at the night sky. There were even more amazing things in this world than I knew of, more mystical powers, more avenues into the spiritual realm than anything I had learned in Sunday school, or even taught in Sunday school. As I dressed, I thought of where I was going, venturing into new, unfamiliar territory, and I was frightened. But I knew God was with me. That was enough. To Be Continued... A short chapter but a good transitional chapter, I think. What do you think of the elements of Harry Potter and the world created by J.K. Rowling? I admire her writing and her blend of factional mystical information with her fantasy creations. I applaud her talent and ingenuity. Next chapter, Eric journeys to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I have a request to readers who enjoy drawing. I would like a Batmobile designed for this Batman, as well as a motorcycle. I am planning on them in the future and am having a tough time coming up with a realistic design that matches my Batman design. If you want to see the suit to aid in your endeavors, I would be happy to email it to you. The picture is available to all who want to see it. I would appreciate any help. Depending on the number of drawings, I will show it to several comic enthusiasts for judging, myself being one of them. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Chapters will be coming more quickly as I am well ahead in writing them. I'm up to chapter 43 as of this posting. Questions and comments are welcome!