Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. It has no intentions of resembling any real persons dead or alive. This is entirely from my imagination, with a little help from already established sources. This story is based loosely on the comic book character "The Punisher" from Marvel Comics. Other characters may appear from Marvel comics as well as DC Comics.
Punisher and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics.
Blade and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel copyright Joss Whedon, United Paramount Network and Warner Bros. Respectively.
The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
I have written another story on nifty entitled "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". It is in the Celebrity/Boy Bands section. Batman may appear in this story once or twice, as the Punisher may appear in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". Any comments may be sent to authorjames2002@yahoo.com
Thank you and enjoy.
Author's Note: This storyline will be the final installment for "Marvel Knights". I hope you have enjoyed the run as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Many issues that have come up in the last storyline will be resolved in this story line. Again, I hope you have enjoyed its run. Thank you.
Chapter 12 Forgiven
Whistler sat the computer looking through his records of the demon they were after. He did his best not to think of Davey but the situation didn't lend itself. Several facts interfered. Fact one: they just buried Davey several hours ago. Fact two: Davey's ex-boyfriend Harris was the best one to run the computers. He knew just what websites to access and how to manipulate searches to get rid of the junk that got in their way of finding the truth. The truth was that the Watcher missed the two young boys.
The computer beeped as it received a transmission to the police. Whistler had given it "instructions" to transmit any emergency calls that regarded the gay boy band. And this one was definitely an emergency.
"Unit seventeen, this is dispatch..."
Whistler listened as the unit was being ordered to the hotel Ryan and Caleb were staying in. And the dispatch added it was possible homicide. Whistler turned and hit the button. "Everybody up! We've got a problem!"
"Oh, great," Blade said as he looked down at Michael. "Are you close?"
Michael nodded from underneath Blade. Blade humped harder and, in a short amount of time, both men were cumming. Once the pressure was relieved, they stood up and entered the bathroom to clean up.
"I'm going to hop in the shower," Michael replied.
"You're covered in cum. That's a good idea."
Blade cleaned himself up as Michael hopped in the shower. Then the half-human, half-vampire exited, dressed and went down to the lair.
Michael finished and dried off. Then he went into the room to get dressed and found Johnny waiting for him. Michael jumped when he noticed his ex sitting in the chair. "I didn't see you there."
"You used to always see," Johnny stated. "You've lost your touch."
"What do you mean?"
"There was a time when you would enter into a room and have noticed everyone in it, regardless of whether the lights were on or off."
"Have you come here to point out where I've gone wrong?"
"I don't think you need me to do that. You've got plenty of people here ready to tell you what's right or wrong."
Michael looked at him confused.
"Like the boy you raped, for example. What have they been telling you?"
"I've been paying for that."
"Really? How have you been paying for that? By living in this mansion? Is that paying for what you did? By having freedom to come and go as you please? Is that paying for what you did? Or is it by fucking? Is sex with Blade your penance for what you did? If you ask me, it sounds like you are having an awfully good time paying for what you've done!"
"Are you jealous? Is that it?"
Johnny stood up.
"That's it, isn't it? You came back here hoping that I was pining after you, that I would beg you to forgive me, beg you to take me back. You wanted me to be so lost without you. And it burned you that it didn't.
"When I first met you, you were pining after me. You caused yourself to become possessed so you could save me. You want me to be bound to you forever. And the fact that I'm not, the fact that I've moved on with my life, that tears you up. You found out I can live without you, your hero can live without you, and you feel useless."
Johnny took a step forward. "Pretty strong words coming from someone who is a criminal. I thought you punished people like you, Michael. I thought you went after the criminals."
"I do."
"Then why aren't you dead?"
"Because I still have a purpose here."
Michael dropped the towel exposing his naked, gorgeous body. He wanted to display what Johnny couldn't have any more. He wanted to rub in Johnny's nose that he is within reach, yet is untouchable.
Johnny turned feeling his heart pull toward Michael, yet feeling that he shouldn't be allowed to reach out for him. He didn't want to say those things to Michael. He understood why Michael did what he did. Johnny understood why Michael hadn't killed himself even though he was sure Michael tortured himself over what happened. Michael felt remorse. The spirit inside Johnny could attest to that. Michael was remorseful of what transpired. Remorse is what kept him human as opposed to those who harm without remorse. Michael punished himself every day. And Johnny knew it.
"I'm sorry, Michael," Johnny said as he stepped toward Michael. He reached out and placed his hand on the dark-haired man's shoulder. Michael turned and looked into Johnny's eyes. "I didn't...I didn't mean to say what I said. I'm just so angry and hurt and confused. I haven't felt like that since before I met you. In fact, you saved me from those feelings. But after what happened...I was hurt in a lot of ways by that."
"I know. And I'm sorry. I can't explain why I did it. I don't know why I did it."
"Who knows...but...coming back here when Davey...seeing you and Blade...I've known that he has had feelings for you. He always has had feelings for you. And he always will."
"I know. I'm giving him this time."
"What? What do you mean?"
"I'm giving him his time to enjoy a relationship with me. Then I'm leaving. After this demon is beaten, I'm leaving."
"Why?"
"There is so much more that needs done, so many more who need punished, like the ones who killed Davey. You know, I understand something that a psychologist told me a long time ago about a vampire. He said something about remorse and souls and that people deserve a second chance. Those who have no remorse are the ones who need punished. I know what it means to feel remorse. That makes me a better judge."
"What are you going to tell Blade?"
"I don't know. I might not tell him anything. That might be the best thing."
"He deserves to know why you are going to leave him. He will think it was him."
"Then I'll leave him a note."
The sound of Whistler's voice came over the intercom. "Are you jacking off or are you coming down? The rest of us are waiting."
"I'll be there," Michael replied.
"I'll see you down there." Johnny left the bedroom.
Michael finished dressing and went downstairs as well. "What's going on?"
"There's trouble at the hotel Ryan and Caleb are staying in. In fact, I think its their room. Strange and Blade are going in to find out what's going on. I want everyone else ready."
"Count me in," Johnny said as his head flared and he transformed into Ghost Rider.
Whistler nodded and everyone headed out to the hotel.
Ambulances and patrol cars blocked off the front entrance and people gathered around outside wondering what was going on.
"How do we get in?" Dr. Strange asked.
"I can teleport you in," Cloak answered. "But I won't know if anyone else is in the room."
"Can we find some way to blend in?"
Dr. Strange nodded, waved his hand, and their clothes turned into that of paramedics. "I believe this will due."
Blade nodded. "Let's go."
The two made their way into the hotel and approached the bank of elevators. Police officers stood near them checking to see who they were and where they were headed.
"Allow me," Dr. Strange said. He walked up to the office with his hand extended. "Hello, officer...Erikson. I'm Dr. Stephen Strange. I was called in a few moments ago about the situation. They are expecting me upstairs."
"Uh, okay, Doctor."
The officer hit the call button for the elevator cart. When it arrived, they went up to the floor. Occupants were being kept from the room where Ryan and Caleb were staying. Dr. Strange led Blade down the hallway passed the police officers. Nobody stopped them as they entered the room.
"How in the hell did you do that?" Blade asked.
"I dressed the part and appeared to know what I was doing."
The two entered the room and found the bodies lying on the bed.
"Oh, God," Dr. Strange said.
"That must have been painful."
Blade could smell the blood and something in it caught his attention. "There's something foreign in their blood, something that doesn't belong."
"Then we'll get a sample and see what we can come up with." Dr. Strange conjured a bottle and pulled some of the blood through the air and into the bottle. "That should be enough."
"I'm getting a pair of these hand-cuffs to see if we can get prints." Blade reached down and grabbed a set of hand-cuffs. He snapped them off the bed and gently pulled one off of one of the boys.
When he turned around, Blade noticed Strange in a trance-like state. "Are you okay?"
"I am seeing one of their memories, the last few minutes of their lives." Strange turned and pointed to the dressers. "Someone in a cloak, scarf and goggles stood there watching what was happening. The boys were panicked, though not at first. They couldn't stop the pleasure they felt. It was insatiable. But their bodies couldn't handle it. The desire kept asking for what their bodies could not give." Strange's eyes widened and he returned to the moment. "It was a horrible, excruciating death."
"And we'll find the son of a bitch who did this. Let's get out of here."
"I hope things are going okay up there," Cloak replied.
"Hey," Dagger said from the car. "There's Harris."
Tandy grabbed Cloak's cloak, pulled it around herself and pulled off her mask. She climbed out of the car and approached Harris. "Hey, what's going on?"
Harris turned to look at her and she could see the sadness in his eyes. It nearly pulled her in.
"I know," she whispered, "I miss him, too."
Dr. Strange and Blade exited the hotel and Tandy and Harris both turned.
"What's going on?" Harris asked.
"Something happened to two of the members of the gay boy band. We're supposed to be watching them because of something that happened in New York several months ago. The Council wants us to keep an eye out for strange happenings."
"Anything strange happening?"
"Aside from everyone in the city wanting to kill themselves, no, not really. But Blade and Dr. Strange might have something."
Harris nodded. "I need to get going."
"Okay," Tandy replied. "If you want to talk, you know we're here for you."
"Yeah," he replied.
The two embraced and then Harris left. Tandy turned and walked up to Blade.
"Get in the car. We need to get back to the lab."
"Oh, no," Strange said.
"What is it?"
"The demon is nearby."
"Where?" Blade asked sternly.
Dr. Strange's amulet glowed and a light beam shot out from inside his shirt. It seemed to turn him in the right direction.
"We don't have time to deal with him just yet," Blade answered. "As much as I would enjoy shoving my fist through the fucker's face, we have to worry about this murder."
"Murder?" Tandy gasped. "You mean..."
"They're dead."
"But how?"
"We'll talk about it back at the lair. Let's go."
Tandy climbed into the car while Strange got in the Suburban and Blade mounted his motorcycle. The small caravan headed out of the city back to the lair where they could analyze the blood and, hopefully, discover who was behind the deaths of Ryan and Caleb.
To Be Continued...
Only 3 chapters to go. What are your thoughts of this story?