Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 17:38:17 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight 44 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 44 Vanquishing a Demon A little over an hour and the car pulled up alongside the darkened road. Jayce had brought Dumbledore and Potter to the bar and picked the vampire, the Amazon and myself and headed south. The road had become dark and quiet in the country. All around us were open fields, scattered trees spotting the landscape. Marius climbed out of the car and took a few steps to the west. I climbed out and followed him. "There," he replied pointing toward the hills in the distance. A small barn-like building sat butted up against the nearest hill. "Of course the barn wasn't there when last I was here." "No matter," I replied. I turned to the car and said, "This is it. Set up what you need." Everyone climbed out of the car. Wonder Woman, Marius and I helped carry the supplies for the spell over near the building. "It looks more like a warehouse," I commented as I sat down one of the podiums. Professor Dumbledore opened the ritual book that contained the binding spell. Harry held the empty book that was Macai's jail. Jayce bent down and started a fire under the pottery that would serve as a small cauldron. "Are you ready?" Jayce asked. Wonder Woman came up to my right and Marius to my left. I looked at each one and they nodded in the affirmative. "We're ready." Together we turned to the warehouse and made our way to the demon's lair. Puz placed Excalibur in the sword stand in front of his cauldron. On the opposite side of the cauldron, Puz placed the book of spells he needed to draw forth the power to unleash the full magnitude of the sword. "All is ready," Puz said. "Then proceed," Macai answered. Puz nodded and turned to the sword and began the incantation in the ancient tongue. The ground shook as we entered the warehouse. "Either that was an earthquake or..." I began. "The demon wizard Puz has begun the spell," Marius finished. The warehouse was full of boxes and crates. "He kept appearances," Wonder Woman said. "Anyone wandering in here would assume the building was in use." "Back here is where the entrance was long ago." Wonder Woman and I followed Marius to the back of the warehouse where we found a small opening into the hill. Marius took a step down and, using his powers, illuminated the torches along the narrow staircase. Wonder Woman followed behind him with me bringing up the rear. A van pulled up near Jayce's car and a small band of people climbed out. "Is that a Watcher's car?" the German-accented mutant asked. "It is," Captain Britain replied. "Something is happening." Just then the ground shook. "Let's move out." The group of mutants known as Excalibur made their way across the field to the small fire they saw burning in the distance. "Check it out," Captain Britain asked Nightcrawler. Nigthcrawler disappeared in a puff of smoke. In a moment, he returned. "It's Jayce Haverhill. He and two wizards are performing the spell to return Macai to the book. He said several have gone down into Macai's underground fortress to stop him. The spell on Excalibur has begun." "No," Captain Britain whispered. The mutants moved as fast as they could to Jayce. Marius walked to the end of the passageway that rested at the bottom of the stairs. A stone wall blocked our path. "Perfect," I muttered. "What do we do?" As if in answer, a door opened along one of the walls and two vampires tackled me. A door opened on the other wall and the vampires knocked me in a small room. The door closed and sealed me in with the two demonic creatures. "Batman!" Wonder Woman called out. She rushed over to the door and tried to push it. Bringing her fist back to bust the door, a whip lashed out and grabbed her wrist. "Mm, mm, mm," a female voice said. Marius and Wonder Woman turned to see the white demon with black stripes. "Shetar," Marius replied. "Hello, Marius. It's been a long time." "Not long enough," he replied and leapt into the air. The beast jumped from behind Shetar and tackled Marius in mid-air. Wonder Woman watched this unfold forgetting about the whip wrapped around her wrist. Shetar took advantage of Wonder Woman's distraction and jerked on the whip pulling Wonder Woman through the door of the main corridor. The stone door slammed shut leaving Marius and the beast in the corridor. Marius kicked the creature. It slid across the floor to the sealed door Shetar had just closed. The vampire stood and moved to the other end of the corridor where the stairs lay. However, as he approached, a stone door slammed shut caging him in with the beast. "Lovely," he replied. "Most lovely." The beast got up on all fours and looked at Marius snarling. "Nice puppy," Marius said. "Nice hell hound. No need to get worked up." "Maaarrrrriiiiuuuuusssss," the beast growled. "You know my name," Marius said. "Perfect." The beast tensed every muscle up and charged at the vampire. "What do you want with me, demon woman?" Wonder Woman replied as she stood up. "You don't get it, do you? I heard your name is Wonder Woman. You are not as wonderful as you think. I can crush you." "I would like to see you try," Wonder Woman replied as she jerked on the whip flinging Shetar at her. As the demon neared, Wonder Woman let her fist fly hitting the demon. Shetar flew back, letting go of the whip, and crashed into the wall on the opposite end. Shetar stood, shook off the impact, and crouched down. With a great leap, she jumped into the air heading right toward Wonder Woman. The tall vampire kicked me in the face. The smaller punched me in the stomach and then pushed me against the wall. The tall vampire spun around and kicked me in the face knocking me to the ground. "Go," the tall vampire said to the smaller one. "Tell the Master we are being attacked and by whom." The smaller vampire nodded and ran into a small alcove. A stone wall came down sealing off the small exit I had not noticed before. The taller vampire turned to me and brought his fist back, backhanding me. "You pathetic creature," he said. "You cannot hope to grasp the power Macai has. You cannot understand the power that comes from being an immortal creature." He swung his fist at me and punched me knocking me to the ground. "You cannot fathom the greatness that comes from the darkness." But I did understand the greatness of the darkness. I have been alone for three months, separated from those who love me and hold me dear. They believed me dead so they have not contacted me. I have completely isolated. Anger and hatred were all I had: anger at having my life taken and hatred toward the creature that took it. Correction, I was not completely alone. One was with me even through my darkest time. That was God. He was with me then. He gave me light when all around me was darkness. 'In the darkest hour, the smallest candle shines the brightest,' a voice said to me. The vampire swung his fist at my face. I ducked and his fist went into the stone. I heard ever bone in his hand snap and crackle under the impact. The vampire brought his hand up, clutching the wrist with his other hand. I rolled away from him and stood up. He turned around and I kicked at his head full force. The impact of my foot took his head clean off. He screamed and turned to dust. "Where is that alcove?" I muttered, turning my attention back to my environment. I looked around until I found the small door. "I can open this." I held my hand up and my mutation did its work. The small vampire ran into Macai's throne room. "He's coming!" he called out. "Who?" Macai asked. "Batman." "We will go help," Captain Britain said to Jayce. "Nightcrawler, Psylocke, Douglock, and Meggan. I want you four to stay here. Shadowcat, Colossus and I will go after Marius. He will need our help." The three mutants headed into the warehouse and made their way to the hillside entrance. Down the illuminated stairs they went. "I can feel the power of Excalibur," Captain Britain muttered. "The ritual is getting close to ending. In a short time the sword will return to full power. And then all hell breaks loose." "Puz," Macai muttered. "I want my army here. Now!" "Yes, sir." Puz muttered an incantation to hold the spell. He turned around and muttered some words. "They are on their way," he replied. "They won't stand a chance against your army." Puz turned back to the ritual and continued. Shetar brought her leg around and connected with Wonder Woman's face. Wonder Woman spun in the air and landed on her hands and knees. Shetar walked up to the Amazon and kicked her in the stomach. Wonder Woman flew up into the air and into a pillar. The pillar smashed under the impact and pieces fell to the ground. Wonder Woman continued on into the wall and fell to the ground. Shetar's laugh echoed throughout the room. "Poor pathetic mortal," Shetar said as she neared Wonder Woman. "Why do you fight when you know you cannot win?" "I can win," Wonder Woman replied as she stood. Blood ran out of the corner of her mouth where her lip was split. "Show me." "With pleasure." Shetar swung a fist at Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman brought her arm up and blocked. Shetar spun around and kicked at Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman blocked the kick and pushed the demon's leg away. As the demon spun around, Wonder Woman backhanded her. The demon turned again and Wonder Woman did an uppercut. The demon flew into the air and into the far wall. The wall cracked under the impact and the demon slid to the ground. "Told you," Wonder Woman replied with a smile. Marius jumped into the air and came down on the beast's back. The creature let out a yelp. "Serves you right, flea-infested creature." Marius flipped into the air and landed away from the beast. The beast turned and growled at him, then stood on its hind legs. It's front legs swung in the air, razor sharp claws slashing around. It lumbered toward Marius. As it's claws whizzed by, Marius ducked. The claws dug out part of the wall. The claws came down toward the vampire, who jumped to one side. The claws slashed his leather overcoat tearing it where the claws were. Marius took a moments notice to see the damage done before he could duck as claws came at his head again. He rolled past the beat and kicked it in the back. The beast stumbled into the wall. "Take that you filthy animal," Marius muttered. Macai watched as a portal appeared above the sword. Lightning shot out hitting around the sword, smashing rock and placing holes in the stone floor. Several of the bolts hit the sword and it began a small glow of power. Macai smiled with evil pride. His dreams he's held onto for so long were finally becoming reality. He was going to have Excalibur and all the power behind it, enough power to rule the world. The ground rumbled underneath him. 'A result of the spell,' he thought. It rumbled again and Puz turned to him. "Was that from the spell?" Macai asked. "No, my lord," Puz answered. Something grabbed Psylocke from behind. She felt something sharp pierce her neck. Her leg came up and contacted with the head containing the piercing teeth. The vampire released it's bite and stumbled back. She turned and, using a psychic knife, decapitated the vampire. It turned to dust right in front of her. As the dust cleared, however, what she saw took her breath. Vampires by the dozens made their way across the field toward her and her friends. "Kurt," she said. The blue mutant turned. "We've got trouble." Nightcrawler pulled his sword from his back as Douglock pulled out two stakes, along with Meggan. Psylocke created two psychic knives from her hands. "Get ready." Jayce, seeing what was happening, pulled out two wooden stakes as well. "Protect the wizards at all cost," he said to the mutants. They nodded agreement and began their assault on the vampires. Macai looked around attempting to find the source of the rumbling. The small stone doorway the vampire came through bust out of the wall and out emerged... "Batman!" "You didn't kill me, Macai. In fact, I have you to thank. Had you not blown me up, my mutation would not have become as powerful as it had." "It won't save you." Macai ran over to the now glowing Excalibur. "Master, no. The sword has not drawn out all the power," Puz said trying to warn Macai. Macai ignored him and grabbed the sword. Pulling hard he yanked it from the stand. The power of the sword pulsed through his arm. "At last," he muttered, "at last I will crush you under foot. And the world will be mine." "Master," Puz said as he neared Macai. Another bolt of energy shot out toward the sword stand. Instead of finding the sword, however, the energy bolt hit Puz. "No!" he screamed as his body vaporized before their eyes. "You've been a great help, Puz. Thanks." Macai grinned and turned back to me. The portal slowly closed since it did not find the object it's energy was intended to power. "Your portal closed," I said to the demon. "Its no matter. I have all I need. Especially since I see you do not have your laser sword." 'Laser sword?' I muttered. 'I never had a laser sword. What is he talking about?' Then I realized he must have been referring to the Batman that beat him last time. Macai swung Excalibur at my head. I rolled away just in time to see it slice clean through the stone pillar. I crouched and watched as the pillar came tumbling down. He turned to me and smiled. "I'm going to enjoy this." He brought the sword up and ran at me. To Be Continued... This chapter, as are the ending chapters, had to be rewritten. I had to reformat my computer and placed them on a CD-ROM, or so I thought. When I tried to restore them to the hard drive, I discovered the documents were not on the CD. Needless to say, I have much more writing to do. Only 6 chapters to go!