Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2001 13:54:48 -0800 (PST) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight 7 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 7 Landing in London With a start I awoke. The plane was coming down at a London airport. The guards radioed that we were landing. I looked over at Jessica and she smiled at me. "It's about time you woke up. I was getting a bit concerned, thought you might sleep through everything." "Nah, not likely. I'll be awake when I need to be," I replied. Jessica stood and moved over by me. "So how have you been treating Lance? I hope well." "Yes, I've been treating Lance well. I wouldn't treat him any other way." "I didn't know. After what happened to you in Los Angeles...first Justin, then Aaron, I thought you might think that is how men are supposed to treat their significant other." "I may have been on the wrong end of some relationships, but that doesn't mean I don't know how to be in one. For your information, Lance asked me to marry him." Jessica's jaw dropped. "He what?" "He asked me to marry him. He loves me that much. And I love him." "I hope you don't hurt him...for your sake." "I don't plan on it." The pilots voice came on the loudspeaker telling everyone to fasten our belts. The plane landed and rolled, slowing down until it came to a complete stop. The security stood up. "Everyone remain seated until we get the Princes secure." After five minutes of waiting, the guards came back and told us to grab our luggage. They took us to two waiting cars. "Men in one, women in the other." I watched as the Slayers climbed in the car in the back. I climbed into the one in the front and found myself staring face-to-face with the handsome princes. "Uh...hello," I stuttered. Jayce climbed in beside me. They smiled at me. "Hello," Harry replied. "You are Mr. McCoy...also known as Batman." "Yes...I am," I chuckled. "Please, don't let my secret out." "Just so long as you don't let ours out." "And that would be...?" "That we are both gay, like you." My jaw dropped so far to the floor of the car I could feel the drive shaft turning. "Don't be so surprised," William said. "It's not unnatural." "Oh, that I know. I'm just amazed. Surprised. So many young women want to be with you." "We don't know if it's for our looks or our position," William said. "Being gay helps us not lose our senses about such things." "Right," Harry replied. "We won't jump into bed with a girl who could possibly frame us for getting her pregnant or force us to marry her if the story gets out." "But doesn't it make your social lives a bit awkward?" "What social life?" William asked. "We go to parties concerning our country. We don't go to nightspots with others our age very much. Once in a while I go to the monthly dances at Eton. And that's horrible, as the women want me all the time. I couldn't dance with a boy if I wanted to." "That must be rough for you...having to hide who and what you are. I can relate. I did that for a long time. Not for the same reasons, but because I thought my family would hate and reject me." "Don't get me started," Harry replied. "It seems that many in our family are against it. Always talking about continuing our family line, making sure there are more descendants of the crown." "It's unbearable at times," William added. My heart went out to them. Sure, I had it understood to some level what they were going through. Lance could even more so with his job being on the line. But these two were referring to the leader of a country, guaranteeing that the family would remain in power, all based on one little fact of procreation. They couldn't even have a lover in secret. They HAD to marry to have children. They couldn't even say anything to their wives about their orientation for fear of blackmail. They were prisoners in their own lives and could never escape. The car lurched hard to one side. "What's going on, driver?" Harry asked. "The wind seems to be picking up, sire." The car lurched again. William and Harry were mortified by his words. Why be bothered by the wind? Couldn't he just find a place to pull over or perhaps drive a little slower? The car lurched a third time. Then, without warning, lifted off the ground and flew into the air. I rolled down the window so I could see the surroundings. I relaxed and stretched out my molecules hoping to control the car's trajectory. I saw that the car the Slayers were in was doing the same. I manipulated the molecules around them as well, controlling how the cars were moving. Slowly the wind died down and I set the cars right. Looking over at Harry and William they stared at me in shock. "What.... what just happened?" Harry asked. "I used my mutation to keep the cars safe." "You're a mutant?" William asked. "Yes." "That was...amazing. I never seen anyone do that before." "Do what? Manipulate molecules?" "Is that what you did?" Harry said. "You seemed to fade, almost turn into a ghost. I could see right through you." "Hm," I answered sitting back in my seat. A new development in my mutation, if I had to manipulate large objects, it took more of my being to manipulate the atoms. It made my own molecular structure dissipate. Fascinating. I would have to consult with Professor Xavier when I returned to the United States. The cars arrived at Buckingham palace. The door was opened and Prince Harry, Prince William, Jayce and I climbed out of the car. "Here is their stop, Mr. McCoy..." I gave him a stern look. "Eric. We are continuing on to visit the Council of Watchers." Jayce turned to the guards. "Two will be along later this evening to attend to the Princes' protection. Until then, the guards should suffice." "Thank you," the leader of the guards said. Jayce and I climbed back into the car and off they went through downtown London. After several minutes of driving, we exited the city and headed toward the mountains. The cars came up to a castle on a hill and a gate opened automatically. We pulled in and parked out front. As I climbed out the beauty of the castle overwhelmed me. This was something I had only imagined in my head, something I read about it novels of medieval times. It was nothing I ever planned on seeing. "Home sweet home," Christine replied. "It's been a long time," Jessica added. Serena just huffed at their words. "Shall we?" Jayce replied and we followed him into the castle. At first entrance it seemed like what you would expect a castle to be. A large foyer greeted us with a set of stone stairs heading up. Several doors around the foyer led to separate parts of the castle. "This way," Jayce replied. We followed him into a nice sitting room. "Please wait here." And he was gone. "Wonder why they are making us wait here?" Christine said. "They don't trust Bats," Serena replied. "I know I don't," Jessica added. "Why not?" Christine asked. "Long story. Let's just say I don't approve of his methods any more." "I didn't kill Dr. Israel," I said. "Though I don't know why I keep trying to convince you when obviously you don't want to be convinced." "When you give me proof other than the video tape I have, then I will believe you." "Get me a copy of that tape, Jessica, and I will prove it to you." "We'll see." A man walked in to the sitting room with Jayce right behind him. He was a stout man, thinning hair and a salt and pepper goatee. "Ah, Jessica, Christine...and Serena. Good to see you here." He walked over to me. "Mr. McCoy...pleasure to meet you." "Likewise, Mr...." "Travers. Quentin Travers. I'm glad you could make it on such short notice." "Not a problem. I just hope I can help." "That's what we're going to find out. We have a dilemma." "What dilemma?" Jessica asked. "I'm sure Jayce filled you in on some of the information. We have been able to uncover a little bit more about what we are dealing with." Quentin pulled a book from off one of the many shelves and opened it. "Our research concludes that someone opened the book of hell." "The book of hell?" I asked. "Yes, an ancient book containing incantations to bring forth powerful demons known as the counts of hell. We believe one has been released." "Demon...we've fought them before. Remember, Jessica?" "The counts of hell are not any ordinary demon. They have been around for a very, very long time, since the creation of the world. Information has it that the counts are the original third cast out of heaven. These demons are pure demon, they cannot be killed." "Then how are we supposed to fight them?" Serena asked. "Throw rocks at them? Call them filthy names?" "No. Our best bet is to get it back in the book. The only questions we have are which count it is and how to weaken it enough to get it back into the book?" "There are ways to weaken it? That's a start," Christine said. "I can check some of my sources and see what information they have," Serena replied. "Your...sources?" Quentin asked. "The Talamasca." "We don't trust the Talamasca," Jessica replied. "They don't get off their ass to help. They just sit and write and observe while innocent people die." "I understand your reluctance," Quentin said to calm her. "But we don't have much choice. If a count has been released, we are going to need all the help we can get to stop it. "Eric...perhaps you can join Serena in going to the Talamasca first thing in the morning to get the information." "Certainly." I replied. "Why not go tonight?" Serena replied. "They don't know me as Serena anyway. I will have to wear my costume, and let's face it, so will Bats. And we work much better at night." "Very well. Tomorrow night you will go. We don't have time tonight. I'm going to assign you and Eric to guard the Princes tonight. Unpack your things quickly and one of the drivers will take you." Serena and I nodded and Jayce escorted us out of the room and up the stairs. We ended up in the north tower with our rooms right across the hall from each other. "Well, it isn't the Carlton, but it will do," Serena said after taking a look at her Spartan room. "I'll be downstairs in five minutes, Bats. I don't like to wait." "Gotcha," I replied. I went into my not so luxurious room and quickly unpacked my things. I changed into my Bat suit but put normal clothes over top. I didn't want to leave my suit behind in case I needed it. I was downstairs and Serena stood in the foyer waiting for me. "I was almost ready to leave without you. Are you ready?" "Sure am." "Good." I followed her out and we climbed into the car. Within moments we were back on the highway heading toward downtown London. The car pulled up at the door we stopped at earlier. We climbed out and I looked out at the city. It was beautiful at night with its air of mystery. I looked up at the night sky and my eyes fell upon two men climbing on the roof. "We've got company," I said stripping off my outer clothes. "What the hell are you..." Serena began. But her eyes followed mine and she saw the guys, too. "Great." "I'll go up. You go in and secure the Princes." "Since when are you giving the orders?" I looked at her as I pulled my mask into place. She nodded and headed inside. I pulled out a grappling gun and shot a line up to the roof. Within minutes it reeled me up and I was climbing onto the roof. "Care to share what you're doing up here? Kind of late for maintenance, wouldn't you say?" The two looked at me. They were wearing the same outfits as Dr. Jenkins wore in Orlando when he attacked the Princes. One kicked at me with her left leg. I ducked as it passed overhead. I stood up and pushed her before she could get her balance. The other kicked his right leg at me. I blocked it with my left and punched with my right hitting him in the chest. He fell back to the roof. The woman stood up and kicked at me again. Her snap kick caught me in the face and I felt blood come pouring out of my nose. She was tough and she was trained. She punched him in the face twice. On her third punch, I caught her hand in mid air. I then punched her and brought my fist back backhanding her. Taking her arm, I brought it over my head and spun. She flipped over and landed on the roof hard. The man stood up and hit me in the back. I fell, catching myself with my hands. He brought his foot up and connected with my side. I clutched myself. He brought his foot up and kicked me in the face knocking me completely over. I relaxed my body and closed my eyes almost completely hoping he would think I was unconscious. It worked because he did not pursue hurting me. He turned and helped his partner up. "Let's go," he replied. "Hatter will not like this," she said. Hatter, I thought. They are working for someone named Hatter. They approached where they were first working and heard the sirens going off. "They know we are here," he said to no one in particular. They turned and ran to the end of the roof and jumped. I hopped up and ran over to see them driving quickly away. Several guards came out of the palace guns pulled. "Where are they?" one asked. I turned to them. "They got away. But next time, we will be ready." I walked past them and down the stairwell. After I reached another door I opened it. A guard was standing with a gun ready. "Where is the Slayer?" I asked. "She took the Princes downstairs." "Take me to her." Reluctantly the guard showed me to the room Serena was with the Princes. The boys were surprised to see Batman walk in. They knew who I was, but still seeing me in costume for the first time can be quit overwhelming. "My God, that's intimidating," William replied. "Yes, quite," Harry added. "Thank you," I said. Serena walked up to me and spoke softly. "Do you know who it was?" "No, although they did make a reference to someone named Hatter." "I will contact the Council and have them look for someone named Hatter. Whoever he or she is, they won't be able to hide for long now that we know their name." I nodded to her. "We should be getting the boys to bed. They have things to do in the morning." "Quite right," she replied. We walked over to the Princes. "All right, your majesties. It's time to retire to your bed chambers." They stood up and Serena led the group up the stairs to their bedrooms. I took up the rear in case anyone tried to attack. When we arrived at their bedrooms, they stayed in the hall while we searched their rooms carefully. Both came up clean. "So which boy do you want to watch sleep tonight?" Serena asked. "Doesn't matter to me." "Why don't you take William? You may get a chance to see his large package." I rolled my eyes at her. "Is that all you think about, Serena?" "No, I think about money, too. But with a package like he has, it's hard to think of anything else. Sleep tight," she replied as she stepped out of the room. William walked in and bolted the door. "Just to be safe," he said. "I understand." He pulled off his robe to reveal only pajama bottoms. His chest was smooth and attractive. He smiled at me and moved over to the bed, climbing in. "Come sit here," he replied patting the bed. "Why?" I asked. "I would like to talk with you." I moved over to the bed and sat down with the handsome prince of England. To Be Continued... Who do you suppose Hatter is? I'd love to hear from you. Questions and comments can be sent to me. My address is at the top. Keep reading!