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.
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.
Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
Other stories set in this universe:
"Marvel Knights" "Tales of a Young Mutant" (no new postings in a while) "Tales of a Superhero Band" "Tales of the New Phoenix"
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authorjames2002@yahoo.com
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Chapter 14 Doctor Strange
Jessica and Blade ran out of the woods to hear the sound of punching. When they got to the Suburban, they found Punisher attempting to fight the vampires. He was able to keep from being bitten. But he was bleeding in several places as well as bruising.
The Slayer and Daywalker went into action. Blade pulled out his silver Sikhs and hurled them at two vampires. The silver blades decapitated the vampires and came back to him. Then he went after a third vampire. That vampire had grabbed Punisher and was ready to feed off him. Blade hurled the Sikhs at the creature's hands and the silver blades cut them off. The hands turned to burning ash. This was a vampire that had the disease of vampirism and was allergic to silver.
Jessica noticed how the vampire reacted and thought to use it to her advantage. "Keep that one alive!" she called out.
The Slayer jumped into the air and kicked two vampires in the head. As she came down, she backhanded one, then swung the same fist back around and punched the other. In a quick, fluid motion, she pulled out a stake. Jumping and spinning in the air, she kicked the vampire on her left. It stumbled backwards with its arms out trying to find balance. This left a perfect opening and Jessica took it, staking the vampire.
The other vampire swung his fist at her. She ducked as it whished over her head. She rolled forward as the vampire's momentum turned him away from her. She rolled into a crouching position and kicked her foot out connecting with the back of the vampire's knee. It fell backwards and she staked it.
Jessica got up and joined Blade with the other vampire. Punisher was sitting against the Suburban attempting to nurse his wounds. He had never taken on as many vampires alone. And he couldn't do it on his own. He doesn't have the super strength.
Jessica grabbed the vampire and hoisted it in the air. "Listen up, vampire," she said. "You seriously messed up my friend. I don't take kindly to that. I want to know why you came to stop us. Your boss knows we're here. I want you to tell me."
Blade left Jessica to deal with the vampire. He went over to Punisher to check on him. The Daywalker knelt down and looked at Punisher's wounds. "You don't look so good," he said.
"I've been worse. I've had knives stuck in me, bullets lodged in me; I can take a beating from some vampires."
"Hardly," Blade said looking closer at the human. "You look terrible."
"Thanks for your assessment."
Blade stood up and grabbed the First Aid kit from the glove box and knelt down in front of Punisher. "Let me have a look at you."
Blade pulled out the alcohol and some bandages and proceeded to clean Punisher's wounds. "That one's deep. I may have to stitch you up."
"Lovely," Punisher replied. "Go to it, doc."
Blade grabbed the thread and needle and slowly stitched up the wound. He was surprised by the trust Punisher had of him. Most human beings shied away from Blade for many reasons. And the only ones who trusted him were those who were like him, different from society, cast out of this world by birth. But Punisher accepted that as natural.
Blade stitched a little bit quicker.
"Ouch," Punisher replied. "Do you think you can be a bit more careful? I'm not like you. I don't heal up easily."
"Sorry," Blade said, and focused back on what he was doing, not who he was doing it to. 'God,' he thought, 'I can't be doing this. He's involved with someone.'
Jessica walked over as Blade finished up the stitches.
"Well," Punisher said when he saw the Slayer.
"It seems they've kept an eye on this guy, Dr. Strange, for a while. Apocalypse has wanted to use him for his own purposes if Ghost Rider didn't work out. I guess this mutant is jonesing for mystical person for a while. According to this vampire, a vampire with mystical powers was raised a few months ago for this very purpose, but was staked on an island off the coast of Florida."
"Any ideas on who did that?"
"Sure do. It was Lance. The vampire was an old nemesis of Eric and me. I guess Lance is the reason Ghost Rider was selected, at least indirectly the reason."
Punisher shook his head. "I can't go blaming the boy. He was just protecting his lover. The same with me."
"Are you well enough to travel?" Blade asked.
"Oh, please," Punisher replied. "I'm well enough to do you."
"Then let's get going."
Blade climbed into the driver's side trying not to let Punisher's word choice get him worked up. Jessica climbed into the passenger side and they had Punisher sit in back and rest.
A few miles more and they pulled into the mysterious chateau. The driveway wound up the mountain and finally stopped in front of the chateau.
"Here goes nothing," Jessica replied.
The three climbed out of the Suburban and approached the door. Jessica grabbed the pull-string and pulled. The bell sounded inside and, after hearing some footsteps, the door opened.
"Can I help you?" a middle-aged man asked. He had black hair, with some graying at his temples, and a black mustache.
"We need to speak with Dr. Strange," Jessica replied. "It is of the utmost importance."
The man looked at the Punisher's face and frowned. "He does not perform surgery any more."
As he attempted to close the door, Blade put his hand up and stopped it. "This isn't about surgery. It is about mystical forces. And we need him desperately."
The man sighed and finally invited them in. Once he bolted the door closed, he showed them into the study. "Please, have a seat. What can I do for you?"
"Our friend needs help," Jessica answered. "He performed a spell so he could be possessed by a spirit of vengeance. He did this for love." Jessica looked over at Punisher indicating the object of affection. "He was kidnapped a few weeks ago and is now under the influence of something mystical that allows the spirit complete control."
"We need you, Dr. Strange," Blade said. "Shiro told us you had the ability to help us save a life."
Dr. Strange stood from his chair and walked over toward the window, one arm crossed over his chest, hand resting on chin in thought.
"Doctor," Punisher said forcing the words out with labored breath. "I love him. He became possessed to rescue me. For the first time in my life, I have felt something other than duty and obligation. I felt genuine compassion for another and I felt that same compassion toward me. I cannot sit back and let some damned mystical force take him away from me. I won't allow it. I'll die trying to save him."
"If what your friend speaks is true," Dr. Strange finally answered. "Then you could very well die trying to save him. That is, if I weren't going to help you."
Everyone smiled.
"Do you know exactly what spirit possesses him?"
"We have a list of ideas," Jessica answered. "We don't know exactly since we weren't there when he did it. But based on Punisher's memory of what was in his apartment, we narrowed down the possibilities."
"Excellent. Let me see the lists."
Jessica pulled out the piece of paper and handed it to Dr. Strange. He looked over the materials.
"Your memory is good, Punisher," he replied. "I know several spells that can save him. However, there is some danger."
"Danger?" Punisher repeated, obviously more attentive now that freeing his boyfriend included some risk.
"By not knowing exactly which spirit possesses him and what power is holding him, his life could be in danger."
"I don't want anything to happen to him."
"I know. I need to see him. I can perform a spell that would let me see the spirit."
"Then that's what we'll do," Jessica replied. "Let's head back and figure out where to go next. Punisher needs medical attention as well."
The four headed out to the Suburban and climbed in. Their trek back to the lair was uneventful, which was happily accepted due to the fact they had enough excitement going to find Dr. Strange.
I awoke quickly hearing the noise coming from the hallways. I climbed out of bed, pulled a robe on and opened the door to see Shiro rushing down the hallway.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"The team has returned."
"That's good news."
"Yes it is. Unfortunately, Punisher was hurt badly."
"What do you mean?" I asked surprised. I figured he was too stubborn to get hurt. "What happened?"
"Vampires ambushed the team. Jessica and Blade pursued after one that they believed was the last. Another group came out and attacked Punisher."
"Was he bit?"
"I don't know. They just radioed that they were close by."
"Do you need my help?"
"You still need time to heal," Shiro said as the elevator doors finally opened. "Get some rest. I'll send someone if I need your help."
"Okay," I replied and went back to bed.
But I was unable to fall asleep. My mind wandered to the Punisher and how he was fairing. I hoped and prayed well. I couldn't imagine being in his position, searching for your lover who has for one reason or another turned bad. Lance could probably relate to that. I went bad twice, the first time because I was raped, the second because I was killed. I could imagine what Johnny would think and feel if Punisher were to die. I know I would have been devastated if something had happened to Lance. Who am I kidding? Something did happen to Lance. The bastard Paul was abusing him. That would be enough to send me back over to the bad side. Hell, when I did find him, I was ready to kill the son of a bitch had Lance not intervened.
I rolled over and looked at Lance. He seemed so at peace in this strange place. I always had a hard time sleeping at unfamiliar places. I guess all the touring NSYNC did made him comfortable with sleeping in strange places.
For me, unfamiliar places gave a feeling of strangeness, a feeling of being alone in the world. Even at this moment, I felt alone. Lance was the only saving grace at the moment. Had I been here without him, I would not have slept at all. He was my security blanket, the only thing that would help me sleep. Well, him and the fact I got the snot beat out of me by a very powerful possessed man. What is it with me and these dark creatures, anyway? Why can't I get to face off with normal psychopaths?
Shiro entered the medical bay and looked over Punisher's wounds. He took a needle and drew some of his blood for testing in case he was bitten by a vampire. Then he checked his wounds.
"Will he be okay?" Jessica asked.
"I think so. Too early to tell, though." Shiro looked up at Dr. Strange. "I could really use a medical doctor right now."
Dr. Strange looked at Shiro and, in his most serious voice, said, "I don't practice any more."
"I'm not asking you to perform surgery. I know what happened. I need someone who has an eye for this stuff. I need someone with your expertise. Will you help me?"
The room was quiet while all eyes were on Dr. Strange. Blade stepped forward and looked Dr. Strange in the eye.
"We need your help. We brought you here because you have the power to save a life. Now his hangs in the scales of life or death and you have the knowledge to save him, too. He and the other guy are linked. Get off your ass, swallow your pride, and get over there and help him. If you let one die, you might as well go back to your house on the hill and shut yourself away from the rest of the world."
Dr. Strange took a breath, two, then he headed over to the table and began examining Punisher's wounds.
Blade looked down at the floor.
Jessica noticed Blade's action and looked upon him questioningly. Blade noticed her look and went out the door. She followed after him.
"Blade," she said as he walked down the hall. "Blade!"
"What?" he responded stopping in the corridor.
"What the hell just happened back there?"
"I just saved Punisher's life."
"True. But I also saw a display of emotion that you normally hold inside. Is there something going on between you and Punisher that I should know about?"
Blade did not answer.
"If there is, we need to know. That could be why Ghost Rider is acting like he is. And it could be a variable as to whether or not we can save him. If he knows you and Punisher are together, he may not want to be saved."
"No," Blade finally answered. "There's nothing between us."
"Okay."
Blade walked ahead and climbed the stairs instead of taking the elevator. He walked into his room and, once the door was closed, a tear fell from his eye. "No," he said to no one. "We are not together."
To Be Continued...