Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 19:14:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight 41

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 41 Giving Up the Flesh

	Hyppolyta let out a gasp as soon as we entered the brothel.  I was
surprised to hear her act in such a manner.
	"What in the name of Hera is this?" she exclaimed.
	Marius looked up her in puzzlement.  "What do you mean?"
	"Men treating women such as this!  This is deplorable!"
	Looking around I understood her reaction.  Women were the
prostitutes of this brothel.  They wore next to nothing and were being
degraded by the male patrons.  One was on her knees giving oral sex to a
man sitting on a couch.  Another was straddling a man in a chair.
Prostitution is such a horrible act.  It is the selling of one's body, the
temple of God's spirit, for something that is intended to be beautiful
between two people who love each other, something holy.  Prostitution made
sex unholy and dirty.  I understood Hyppolyta's reaction quite well.
	Before I realized it, Hyppolyta walked up to a man and grabbed him
by the throat.  "You call yourself civilized," she sneered.  "You are an
animal."
	Hyppolyta threw the man across the room and into the wall.  She
turned to the next one closest by.  He drew himself up and hunched against
the wall.
	"And you women!  How could you allow these beings to degrade you?!
You do not have to live like this!"
	Hyppolyta went up and grabbed the man hunched over in the corner.
She picked him up over her head and body slammed him into a table.  The
table buckled under her strength and then collapsed.
	"This is deplorable!  Who is in charge here?"
	An older woman came out of the back.  "What is the meaning of this?
Who are you?"
	Hyppolyta turned to her.  "I am Hyppolyta, queen of the Amazons!  I
demand to speak to the owner of this establishment!"
	"I am the owner," the madam replied.
	Hyppolyta's eyes widened and a gasp escaped her lips.  "A woman
supports the treatment of her sisters?  Appalling!  How could you do such a
thing?"
	"I provide men with what they are willing to pay.  I make a nice
living."  The madam looked Hyppolyta up and down.  "You look like you have
stamina.  Perhaps you would like to join my ladies in..."
	Hyppolyta grabbed the madam by the throat and picked her up.  Her
grasp cut off the madam's air intake.
	"You may not speak to me in such a way!  I am to be respected!"
	I ran up to Hyppolyta and put my hand on her shoulder.  "Calm down,
your highness."
	Hyppolyta's face was one of fury as she turned to me.  "You condone
this activity?  I believed you to have more respect!"
	"I have nothing but respect for women, highness.  But now is not
the time to address this injustice.  We have work to do elsewhere.  This
isn't the place we are searching for."
	Hyppolyta took several breaths and turned back to the madam, who by
now had turned a light shade of blue with the lack of oxygen.  Slowly the
queen lowered the female pimp and released her grasp.  "You are a poor
excuse for a woman.  You have not heard the last of me."
	Hyppolyta turned, threw some dirty looks at several patrons and
exited the building.  I looked at Marius.  "Nice job."
	"I did not know this was a human brothel.  I believed it to be one
of demons."
	"Why did you think that?"
	"The name of it is Satan's bedroom."
	"Believe me.  It is."
	Marius and I rushed out of the brothel after Hyppolyta.  By the
time we caught up with her, she was exiting the alley.
	"What was that all about?" I asked her.
	"This place is nothing like my home.  I find man's world more and
more despicable.  No wonder the goddesses forbade men to ever set foot on
the island.  They are nothing but barbarians."
	"Thank you for the vote of confidence," I answered.
	"You yourself see the horrible acts perpetrated on females by the
males of the species.  Aside from procreation, men do nothing more than
pollute the world, strip the land of its resources, and treat anyone
different as inferior."
	I thought of how heterosexual men, the majority of who was in
charge, and how they treated homosexuals.  Too true they treat us as
inferior.  We do not receive the same rights as the heterosexual community.
They do not make us equal in the laws they write and pass.  Homosexual men
are just as uncivilized.  They go by another's physical attributes alone.
They do not care about the heart and soul of a person.  All that matters is
a man's physical beauty.  Anything beyond that is moot.
	Men truly are uncivilized.
	"Where to now, Marius?" I asked.
	"We will check more haunts of dark creatures and gather more..."
Marius clutches his forehead and became faint.
	I rushed over and grabbed him.  He placed his hand on my shoulder
for support.  "Are you okay?" I asked.
	"Yes.  Just a passing..." and then he became weak again.  It took
all my strength to keep him from stumbling.
	"What is going on?" Hyppolyta asked.
	I shook my head indicating I did not know.  I helped Marius down to
the pavement where he wouldn't get hurt if he fell over.  Who am I kidding?
He's over a thousand years old.  A fall to the pavement wouldn't kill him.
I don't even think it would bruise him.  I guess you could say it was the
human thing to do.
	"I can sense...something," Marius whispered.
	"Is something horrible happening?" I asked.
	"No.  The...something...is a being.  A sentient being.  Something
old, ancient.  And very evil."
	"Macai," Hyppolyta whispered.
	"No," Marius said shaking his head.  "I've sensed this before.  I
am surprised it is free from its prison."
	"Who are you speaking of?"
	"It is Shetar.  A female companion of Macai.  Very old and very
powerful.  She is free and she is nearby."
	"What do we do to stop her?" I asked.
	"Nothing.  She is gathering an army.  A great and terrible army.  I
can sense her motives, read her thoughts.  They are preparing for the
battle ahead."
	"Can you tell when this battle is to take place?"
	"Soon.  That is all I know."
	"We must get back to the others and tell them what is going on."  I
began to lift Marius when a sound and a voice grabbed my attention.
	"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" a gruff voice said.
	I turned and saw a small group of vampires coming towards us.
	"It's the trio that attacked the bar earlier this evening.  And one
appears hurt.  Perhaps this is a sign for us to take care of them."
	"You do not wish to do this," Hyppolyta said.  "We are stronger
than you realize.  It would be to your advantage to turn and walk away."
	"Nuh uh, pretty one.  We are going to take back what is rightly
ours.  Our respect.  No human being invades our space and humiliates us."
	"Here we go again," I mumbled.
	The vampire approached Hyppolyta.  "This is your last warning," she
said.  "Turn around and walk away."
	The vampire leader laughed and put his arm on her shoulder.  She
reached up and grabbed his hand pulling it off and twisting it.  I could
hear his bones cracking as she twisted his hand completely around. The
vampire's face twisted in pain as she released him and he dropped to his
knees.  Hyppolyta looked to the others and then, with full-force, kicked
the vampire.  He flew up into the air and into a building down the street.
	The other vampires looked from one to another then rushed
Hyppolyta.  She spun around and kicked a vampire female in the side of the
head.  The kick was so hard, the vampire's head came off and her body
turned to dust.
	A skinny vampire approached using martial arts moves to show his
prowess.  The corner of Hyppolyta's mouth curled in a smile.  He kicked at
her.  She ducked.  He swung the back of his fist at her.  She leaned back.
His fist came at her face.  She caught it in mid-air, reached up with her
other hand and, grabbing him by the material around his waist, hoisted him
up in the air.  The queen of Amazons brought him over her head and down,
body slamming him to the pavement, which cracked under her force.
	A vampire snuck up behind her and grabbed her from behind.  The
others gathered around her trapping her amongst them.  I watched as they
enveloped her, drowning her in a sea of demons.
	"Oh God," I muttered in prayer, "Are they going to kill her?  Oh
no.  Maybe they are going to try and turn her."
	With a great explosion, the vampires flew in the air in all
directions.  Hyppolyta had thrown them all off her.  They flew into
buildings, cars, lampposts, trashcans, fire hydrants, anything and
everything that lined the streets.  One tried to stand up but only managed
to fall into a different position.
	"You were warned," Hyppolyta replied as she turned and approached
Marius and I.  "How is he?"
	"I...will be fine...once we get out of the city."
	Hyppolyta bent down and scooped the vampire up in her arms.  "Let
us hurry."
	I followed her as quickly as I could back toward the Watchers'
Council.  She continued to amaze me at her speed, strength and stamina.
She was stronger than a Vampire Slayer, of whom I've had the pleasure of
seeing three in action.  Even with her carrying Marius, it was all I could
do to keep up with her.
	When we finally arrived at the castle, I was exhausted.  Hyppolyta,
however, was not the least bit out of breath.  And Marius was looking much
better.  I opened the door and must have startled young Harry Potter.  He
had in his hands a glass of milk and some cookies.  Some of the milk had
splashed out, no doubt when I opened the door and startled him.
	"Hello, Mr. McCoy."
	"Hello, Harry," I gasped.
	"Are you okay?"  When he caught sight of Marius, he asked if Marius
was okay.
	"I'll be fine," Marius answered.
	Hyppolyta took him into the lounge and laid him on the couch while
I questioned Harry of Quentin's location.
	"I believe he's retired for the evening.  Everyone has.  Except me.
I was hungry."
	"Its okay, Harry.  Go ahead up to bed and eat your cookies.  I will
see you in the morning."
	Harry nodded and went on his way.  I, on the other hand, turned and
went into the lounge.  Marius was pulling himself to a sitting position.
Hyppolyta sat in the chair nearby and watched.
	"How are you feeling, Marius?" I asked.
	"Much better."
	"What happened?"
	"Like I said before, I sensed Shetar.  I had not felt her presence
for several hundred years and did not plan on feeling it.  I thought she
was banished forever.  I guess I was wrong."
	"Will you be okay if she is nearby again?" Hyppolyta said.
	"I should be if I close my mind.  It would be the only way."
	"You said this Shetar worked for Macai.  Were there any others that
worked for the demon?"
	"Yes.  There was a wizard demon named Puz and a creature known only
as the beast.  They are very powerful beings.  Immortal like Macai."
	"How are they bound?"  Hyppolyta chimed in.
	"I'm not sure on that.  A dimensional portal was opened before.
That may work just as well."
	I nodded.  "Can you get back to your home in time before the sun
rises?  Perhaps you should stay here?"
	"Is there a place for me to sleep?"
	"The dungeon area.  That is the safest place."
	"Let's go," Marius replied.
	I helped Marius to his feet and aided him down the stairs to a
small room.  After making it nice and comfortable, I closed the door and
put a sign on it that the door was not to be opened.
	I climbed up the stairs to my bedroom.  Hyppolyta had already gone
to her room to sleep.  As I undressed I thought of the events of the
evening and how strange they were, how strange the people were that I was
to fight along side.  We all came from different worlds: Hyppolyta from an
island of Amazon women; Marius from the distant past; Harry and Professor
Dumbledore from worlds of magic.  Then there was me.  I came from a world
of love and hope.  I came from a world where I could hold the man I love
and he would hold me.  If I was afraid, I could be folded into his arms and
be safe.
	That world is gone for me.  That world is dead to me.  All I have
now is the spiritual world facing me.  A woman endowed with supernatural
strength from Greek goddesses, a vampire from ancient Rome with
supernatural strength and abilities, and two wizards, one with experience
and the other with power.  Then there is me.  What do I have?
	As if in answer to my question, my body relaxed and I felt a
presence I had not felt for a few days, one that I had not felt for a few
months before that.  It was the presence of God.  His love was filling me.
He was telling me He was with me.

	In the midnight hour
	I can feel your power
	Just like a prayer
	No choice
	Your voice
	Will take me there

"I am with you, Eric," a voice said in my mind.  "Each person is given
their own gifts, their own abilities to accomplish whatever tasks are
before them.  I have given you the abilities you need to accomplish the
tasks you must face.  Your mutation is a gift from me.  Your compassion is
a gift from me.  What you do with your gifts, like any other person, is
your gift to me.  Use it wisely and know I am with you always.  Even unto
the end of the earth."
	My heart broke with the love God was revealing to me in word and in
action.  God's love flowed into me, empowering me for the task set before
me, the task of putting the demon Macai into the chains of darkness.
	I wiped the tear from my eye as a knock came at the door.
	"Who is it?" I called.
	"It's Harry."
	I chuckled slightly and pulled my robe on.  Then, I went over to
the door and opened it.
	"Can I help you with something, Harry?"
	"I was wondering how...how the vampire is doing?"
	"He has a name, Harry.  It's Marius."
	"I know.  I'm just not used to seeing a vampire doing good things.
I've heard of them being evil and doing bad things."
	"I know.  That is the trouble with the human mind.  We get too
caught up in what people in power say.  We listen to them so much we let
ourselves be limited to what we can do.  We have to put off this house of
flesh, put off the limitations of what others say we can do, and use our
minds, step beyond what logic and humankind tell us.  Only then can we be
what we were intended to be, accomplish what we need to accomplish.
	"I used to believe all vampires were evil.  For too long people
told me that vampires are evil.  I've even been told witches and wizards
are evil.  For a long time, I believed it."
	"What changed you?"
	"Meeting Marius helped.  I still believed he was evil, but I was
willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.  After I got to know him, I
realized there was a soul in him.  He cared about humanity and about life.
He wants to stop the demon Macai.  That has opened my mind to other
possibilities.  Perhaps not all witches and wizards are bad.  You and
Professor Dumbledore are not bad.  Maybe it is the person who makes the
position.  An evil vampire makes vampires look evil.  An evil wizard makes
wizards look evil.  This world seems to be pretty subjective when it all
comes down to it.  What is right and what is wrong is between the person
and God.
	"I'm sorry, Harry.  I got off on a tangent. The answer to your
question is Marius will be fine."
	Harry smiled at me.  "What happened?"
	"I'll tell you when I tell everyone else tomorrow.  Now go get some
sleep."
	Harry nodded and went down the hall to his bedroom.  I shut my
door, pulled off my robe and climbed under the warm covers.

To Be Continued...

Only 9 more chapters to go!  What do you think of "Chronicles of a Real
Dark Knight"?  Which do you like best?  I'd love to hear from you as
"Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight" winds down.