Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 17:38:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
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!