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.