Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 13:58:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
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.