Date: Mon, 27 May 2002 20:44:42 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight 38 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 38 Invading the Talamasca Marius and I entered Quentin Travers's office. I was unsure of what the Watcher wanted but it sounded urgent. Marius did not seem to have any uncomfortable-ness about him. But living for as long as he had, there were bound to be few things that could unnerve him. "Thank you for coming so quickly, Marius," Quentin greeted as he stood from his chair. "Mr. McCoy filled you in on what was going on, I hope." "He did," Marius answered with a slight bow of his head. "Please, have a seat." Quentin sat back down. Marius and I sat opposite him. "There has been a slight problem. There was a book that I had retrieved from the Talamasca detailing the history of Macai's previous release from the book. However, the book did not explain the details of the magical ritual to return Macai to his prison. Dumbledore and Potter have exhausted all the material we have concerning magic spells and incantations. We do not have the spell on record. I contacted the new head of the Talamascan order but they declined any more assistance." "Did you explain to the Talamasca the emergency?" I asked with concern. Marius let out a slight chuckle. "I did, Mr. McCoy. They do not get involved in these matters." "Even if it could mean saving millions of lives?" "The Talamasca is a rather interesting group. Their motto is "We watch. And we are always here". The order has been around longer than the Watcher's Council. The Watcher's Council and the Talamasca have always had a difference of opinion. They do not get involved with matters of supernatural significance. They record. "Given that, they have some detailed files of the ritual to bind Macai. We need you two to go to the Talamasca Motherhouse tonight, infiltrate their order and retrieve the files." "Should be easy enough," I replied. Again Marius chuckled. "What is so funny?" "The Talamasca is not an ordinary order," Marius explained. "They are psychic detectives. They have well-developed mind powers. They can know your thoughts before you enter the Motherhouse. Some are able to move things with the mind. They are very powerful." "Then how do we get in?" "I have the ability to shield my mind from their thoughts. I can also shield your mind. But, I warn you, do not underestimate them. They are very talented and very gifted. One doesn't become a member of the order simply by filling out an application. They approach you after years of observation and recording. No, my friend, it will not be easy and not a task to be taken light-heartedly." "Are you up to going tonight?" Quentin asked. "I am, of course," replied Marius. "Oh, how I wish my old friend Raymond Gallant was still alive. He was so generous with information when I needed it. He helped me contact my beloved Pandora. "Then again, there is David Talbot I could contact. He used to be a member of the Talamasca. He could aid us in getting in. But I do not know the whereabouts of either at the moment. And since this is such a pressing matter, we should act immediately based on the information we have." Marius turned to me. "Are you up to going tonight?" "Yes," I replied very firmly. "The sooner Macai is bound, the sooner I can get out of this nightmare and get back to Lance and my life." "Yes, well," Quentin replied. "You may wish to change into more concealing apparel, Mr. McCoy." Quentin, Marius and I stood up at the same time. "Meet me in the foyer as soon as you are ready," Marius stated. I nodded to him and headed up to my room. Closing the door I began to disrobe. Looking around at my environment, I realized how alone I was in this place. Sure I had people to talk to, some who I could even relate with, but none of them knew me well enough to call me 'friend'. Each one of us was a misfit in some way, different from those in our lives. But even those in our lives accepted and loved us as we were. Everyone was accepted but me. Those who were in my life now believed me dead. In their eyes, I was gone. Was anyone waiting for me to return home? Was anyone even wishing I were alive? By this time, everyone had moved on with their lives. I was completely and utterly alone. The vastness of the world hit me again and a tear formed in my eye. So what if I helped seal Macai back in the book. So what if I saved the world from an immortal demon. What did I have after that was completed? The answer lay before me on the bed. I walked down the step in full bat-garb. My confidence was at its peak. No matter what, I was going to see this mission through, even if it was my last. I had a job to do, I had loved ones to save, and, by God, I was going to do it. I was the real Dark Knight, after all. Harry, Professor Dumbledore, Hyppolyta, Quentin, Jayce and Marius stood in the foyer watching me as I came down the stairs. Harry's eyes were wide with surprise. He was not sure what to do or feel with someone dressed as I was. I didn't blame him. "You look like a demon from the Dark Forest," Dumbledore replied. "Most intriguing." "I see you are ready," Marius stated. "Come. We have work to do and the night is not young." I nodded to him. Quentin gave us some last minute instructions and we left. "Come to me," Marius said to me. "Place your arms around me." "Um, I have a lover back home. Not that I don't find you attractive. It's just that..." "I'm going to carry you to the Talamasca." "Oh." I was thankful to be wearing a mask. It was hiding my embarrassment. I walked up to Marius and wrapped my arms around his neck. He smiled at me showing me his fangs. I was in a very interesting place with a vampire. Thank goodness he was the kind that did not kill just anyone or I would have been in big trouble. To my surprise we lifted up into the air easily. His ability was to move at will. It required no effort on his part. I guess it was advantageous to be the kind of vampire he was. We landed in outside London in a grove of trees. "There," he said. "We only have a short way to go and we will be at the Talamasca Motherhouse." I followed through the trees. "You said you had a lover back home?" he asked. "Yes." "What is your lover's name?" "Lance." "Ah, interesting name." Marius was quiet for a moment. "I had a lover once. His name is Amadeo. These days he refers to himself as Armand." "He's a vampire," I stated. Marius nodded. "Why are you no longer lovers?" "A great and terrible thing happened in our past. I was burned severely and Amadeo was taken. It took me years to recover from the assault. When I was well, I discovered Amadeo had been taken captive by the ones who burned me. He was brainwashed by them to believe as they believe. The worshipped Satan and believed that by doing so they worshipped God. It was a vampire cult." "Does Amadeo still run the vampire cult?" "Nay, since then the vampire cult has gone through changes. It was last a Vampire Theater troupe, which is no longer running. Louis helped with that." "Louis?" "Another vampire." "There must be many of your vampire species." "There were countless at one time. But when the queen arose, she burned most. There are some who exist, though." We entered a clearing and a large building sat. I knew without a doubt that was our destination, the Talamasca. Marius turned and looked at me. "Ready?" I nodded. He marched toward the building. I felt a wave of pressure or energy flow over me. It wasn't visible but I could feel it and sense it. "There are Talamascans who are to search the night for any beings attempting to do what we are doing. I have shielded our minds from their probes. They should not be able to detect us." We reached the wall and moved alongside it keeping to the shadows. "How do we get in?" I asked. "You know this place better than I." "One moment," he whispered. I didn't know it then but Marius was using what his breed of vampire called the Mind Gift to sense others around them. He was finding the location of those in the Talamasca and determining the best point of entry for us. "This way," he finally said. The vampire and I moved away from the entrance and made our way along to the front of the enormous building to the side. "Do you know how to pick locks?" he asked. "Sure." I knelt down and placed my hand over the lock. Using my powers I unlocked the lock and pushed the window open. "Age before beauty," I said motioning with my hand. Marius smiled at me. "In either case I would have to follow myself." "Smart aleck," I replied. Marius slid in the open window and I followed. We entered a small room filled with dusty old books. "So far, so good," I said. "We are on the level of the records we need. We just have to get down the hall five rooms. No one besides us is on this level. We have the advantage." Marius walked over to the door and turned the knob. It was locked. With a quick jerk, the knob turned his vampire strength an easy match for the metal lock. We entered the hallway and I followed him down the corridor. At the fifth room, Marius did the same with the locked door and we entered. "Now to find the appropriate book." We attacked the books with a fury looking through them as feverishly as possible. Marius was unsure how long he would be able to shield us from all the psychic detectives in the building. The area we were in could easily be noticed as a "void" in their psychic sight. After looking through two full bookshelves I turned to the vampire. "Is there any way you could do this faster?" "What do you suggest?" "Can you pick the location of the book out of one of the Talamascan's minds?" "That would be too dangerous. They would easily be able to sense my presence and act on it." "Are you fast?" Marius became thoughtful. "I did not consider... If you will excuse me please. Stand by the door and wait." I stood over in front of the door and watched as, with vampire speed, Marius searched each book. After five more minutes, he stopped with an old leather volume in his hand. "This is it. It details the ritual used in binding Macai." "I can't believe they wouldn't give it to the Council," I stated. "Do they have no care about humanity?" "They believe in letting the world unfold naturally, on its own, without interference." "Who in the hell are they to say Macai ruling the world is natural? I don't know of very many demons that are qualified to rule. Do you?" "Indeed," Marius answered. All of a sudden, he looked as if he were listening to something. The room was quiet and he seemed to be gazing off. "What is it?" I asked. No answer. "Marius." "They know we are here. I don't know how but they have heard our minds. We must leave quickly." I opened the door and ran down the hall. Without warning, I was thrown off my feet by a blast that held no heat. I traveled the rest of the way down the corridor and slammed into the wall. When I recovered, I looked up to see Marius approach. "What the hell was that?" I asked. "You were hit with a psychic blast. Some have learned to use their abilities as an offensive weapon." "Why didn't they attack you?" "I moved quickly. So quickly they could not see me. Although now they can unless we move." I forced myself to stand up even though my surroundings were spinning. "Not good," I thought. Marius pulled me into the room and slammed the door. "Can you move?" he asked. "Not very quickly. Whatever that blast did, I'm too dizzy to move. My equilibrium is way off." "Then we will have to fight. Perhaps I can explain to them what we are doing here. They have great respect for supernatural creatures such as myself. They may be lenient on their judgments." "Don't be crazy, Marius," I replied. "We cannot take the chance they reclaim their information. It must be taken to the Watchers' Council." "But with you unable to move...I could carry you." "How are you going to get me through that window? It's not going to happen, Marius. The only viable solution is for you to take the information and head back to the Council. I can distract them from pursuit." "Are you sure?" "I should be fine, unless these people kill those who trespass on their property." Marius smiled. "All right then. I will take the information to the Council. But I will return for you." "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Now go." Marius nodded to me. It was noticeable that he was torn between getting the information to the Council and helping me. I hope he realized that I was not as important as the information in the file. He nodded again and leapt through the window. The door burst open and several men and women barged in. "What you are?" a woman asked. "Human," a second female with red hair called out. "Mutant," an older man with pale skin added. They must have probed my mind to get the information so rapidly. "We did," the one closest to me said as he reached down and grasped my hand. He pulled me up to my feet. "Don't try anything. We can hit you again with a psychic blast if we have to." "This way," a Talamascan with short black hair and dark skin said to me. I was pulled into the hallway and stumbled against the wall. There was no way I was going to make it down the hall on my own. Two heard my thoughts and placed my arms around their necks using themselves to support me. "We are taking you to a room to be cared for until you regain your strength. Then you can tell us what you are doing here." The men helped me to an elevator and it took us up to the top floor. They carried me down the hall and placed me in a room on the bed. "Do you want your suit off?" they asked. I was getting weaker and weaker by the moment. All I could manage was a groan in response. "That was probably a yes," one said. "The poof would enjoy our hands stripping him down." The two laughed at the homophobic comment. My mutation kicked in and I felt my strength returning to me. To Be Continued... Batman stuck in the Talamasca? At least the information was taken back to the Watchers' Council for deciphering. But what is to come of Eric? Twelve chapters left in "Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight". What have you thought of this installment to the "Real Dark Knight" saga? Anyone have any favorites? I know, wait until this one ends before you decide. That's fine. More stuff to come like Eric escaping the Talamasca and the showdown with Macai. All in the next twelve chapters! Questions and comments are always welcome! Keep reading!