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.
Chapter 7 Night
Davey and Harris settled in for the evening. The two boys lay on the sleeping bags on Davey's floor. Davey figured that would be safest since it would be difficult for anyone to see them on the floor through the window. Harris lay in shorts and a t-shirt while Davey lay in shorts and a muscle shirt, the two facing each other.
"What are you thinking?" Davey asked his boyfriend.
"About Ryan."
"Tell me," Davey said with a slight smile. "I'd like to know him like you know him."
"There's not much more to tell than what I already shared."
"You must care about him a lot."
"I do. He was my best friend." Harris looked over and could see the look on Davey's face. Davey seemed upset by that. "I love you, Davey. With him, my love is different."
"I understand," Davey replied putting his hand on Harris's cheek. He leaned over and kissed Harris on the lips. Then he moved in closer and laid his head on Harris's shoulder. "You were worrying me in Michael's van. The things you were saying...I couldn't believer were coming from you."
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to worry you. I get cynical sometimes. Most of my short life, this world and the people in it have been more cruel than caring. You and the others are the only ones I've known who are decent. In fact, the Marvel Knights have gone above and beyond decency. You go out and actively oppose the bad that is in the world. I admire that."
"I wish we could have saved Ryan from what he went through."
"Me, too. But you can't be everywhere."
"Still," Davey said. "I know it brings you pain to see one of your friends going through a horrible time. I don't like to see you in pain."
"Me, either."
Davey reached out and put his hand on Harris's.
"What do you think he is capable of doing?"
"I don't know," Harris answered. "I never expected him to be violent. But I guess when you are raised to hate something so passionately it drives you to extreme measures. I'm glad I'm not like that."
"I don't think you could ever be like that. You are too gentle. And your spirit is deep and caring. I don't think any horrible violence is in you."
"I don't know. Look what happened with Larry. I was pushed to the brink and I acted violently."
"There is a difference, though. You dealt with the pain he inflicted on you. When it was me, when it was someone you cared about, you reacted. That's the sign of a hero. That's the sign of someone who will not tolerate someone else being hurt. That's the difference between you and Ryan. His motives are selfish. His actions are to alleviate his own pain. Yours were to alleviate mine."
Harris nodded and grasped Davey's hand.
All was quiet at the mansion. Whistler, Tandy and Ty were fast asleep in their beds. Weatherby, Johnny and Blade agreed to the first watch. Johnny sat in the basement monitoring the perimeter cameras and defenses. Weatherby stood downstairs and watched through the windows. Blade stood on the roof keeping an eye out.
The night was cloudy and the moon peeked out from time to time. Blade kept his sword in its sheath. If the Lanithro were to attack, he would have to attack swiftly and lethally. And the cloud cover provided a perfect cover for the demons.
The sound of wings caught his attention and he looked around ready for the demon. A Lanithro swooped straight down on him and pinned him. He grabbed the demon's wrists and held the sharp talons at bay. It shrieked in his face and snapped at him. Blade, then, brought his knee up and connected with the demon's abdomen. The creature slackened its pressure and he was able to roll the creature off him. The Daywalker stood and pulled his sword from its sheath. The creature looked on him narrowly and then attacked. Blade spun sideways and brought his sword around. The blade connected with the wing of the creature and sliced part of the leathery appendage off. The creature spun around shrieking in pain attempting to grasp its wound. Blade swung around again and decapitated the creature.
"It's begun," Blade muttered.
The sky filled with Lanithro descending from the clouds toward the mansion. Johnny hit the alarm button and watched Ty, Tandy and Whistler awake from their restless slumber. Once they were awake, he turned off the annoying sound and changed into Ghost Rider. Grabbing the chain that wrapped around his chest, he headed up the stairs ready to take on the demons.
Punisher met him with his shotgun on his back, pistols strapped to his legs and chest, and a fully automatic machine gun in his hand.
Dagger opened her French doors to the balcony at her room and climbed out. She grasped the ledge above and flipped up to the roof where she met Blade with his sword. She pulled out a dagger in one hand and charged her other hand with her light daggers. As a group of Lanithro came their way, Dagger let out a volley of energy. Two struck on Lanithro and it fell to the ground.
Cloak appeared in the backyard and used his mutation to create a large portal of darkness in the air. Three Lanthro flew into before being able to turn and the portal disappeared. Then the wizard tossed a few energy bolts into the air at several more Lanithro.
A small group of Lanithro headed toward the front door shrieking and clawing at the structure.
"I'm going out," Ghost Rider said. He opened the door and dived out, rolling down the steps to the driveway.
A Lanithro flew to the open door and was met by a bullet in the head by Punisher. It fell to the porch dead.
"Damn demons," Punisher replied.
Ghost Rider swung his chain around and tossed around the neck of one of the Lanithro. The he jerked on the chain causing the Lanithro to change course. He spun it around and caused it to slam head first into the concrete. The impact broke the demon's neck.
Dagger grabbed a Lanithro's wrist as it attempted to slice her with its talons. She ducked as it swung again and came up jamming her dagger in its stomach. It shrieked and clutched at its gapping wound. Dagger stepped back, spun around and kicked it, knocking it off the roof.
Blade rolled away as a Lanithro lunged at him attempting to grasp him. He rolled up to his feet and swung his fist at it connecting with its cheek. The demon's head jerked under the impact and he punched it again. Then, he snap-kicked and connected with the demon's chest causing the demon to fly backwards and land on its back. Blade jumped in the air and came down fist first with such force his hand went into the demon's chest. He pulled his hand back covered in blue blood. He looked at the dripping ooze, smiled and went after the next Lanithro.
"Gravidus," Cloak stated.
Sparkles flew from the wizards hand and hit a Lanithro in mid-air. Suddenly, it fell to the ground. Cloak watched as it attempted to get up but was unable to.
"Worked like a charm," he replied. "Pun intended."
A Lanithro landed behind him and he turned around slowly. His hand went under his cloak and pulled out a large broad sword.
"Let's see what you got," he replied.
The demon lunged at him and he spun sideways swinging the blade down. It sliced into the creatures claws and the talons fell to the ground. While the creature was distracted at the wound, Cloak spun and brought the sword around with all his strength. The blade went clean through the neck of the Lanithro and it fell dead.
"I wonder what is going on at the mansion," Harris asked.
"Everyone is probably sleeping."
"Weren't they supposed to take turns standing guard?"
"If I know them, the only two awake are Blade and Punisher. They are probably enjoying the fact they can stay up all night and keep watch. The warrior types are weird like that."
"And what type would you describe yourself as being?"
"Me? Well, I'm like Ty and Tandy. We enjoy doing what we are doing, but we want to enjoy the rest of life, too. Blade and Punisher are more the business-only type. They don't have fun, at least the way we have fun. Their fun comes when they are shooting or fighting or killing something."
"I'm not like either of them," Harris replied.
"How would you describe yourself then?"
"I'm the quiet type. I'll sit back and watch others do the fighting because I wouldn't know what to do. How I enjoy life is by doing the simple things, having a boyfriend, getting the schooling I want so I can be what I want to be, and singing.
"Music, for me, is a world of emotion, of releasing what is inside me. When I sing, I'm free to do and be whatever I want. I can be sad and be as sad as I want or need to be. I have the strength to do what I need. I get inspired to live, inspired to die, inspired to love, inspired to hate, inspired to be depressed and inspired to help."
"I hope that the dying and hating and depressing stuff doesn't happen all that much." It was obvious Davey was trying to be lighthearted about the subject, but his concern was evident in his voice.
"It doesn't. But I do have my moments."
"Like when?"
"At the end of the month, I'm going to be leaving for a whole month. I don't know what to expect when I come back. I trust and believe that you will be here. But at the same time, my mind wonders if you will move on to someone else."
"What makes you think that?"
"Just looking at the hotness of you makes me think that."
Davey smiled big at Harris calling him hot. But then he switched modes back to listening and concern.
"You think because I'm hot that I won't wait for you."
"Part of me wonders that, if someone better looking than me were to come along in your life while I'm away, you might fall in love with them."
"Harris, I love you. It doesn't matter how hot anyone is. I know looks matter to a lot of people. Hey, I can't say I don't look at other guys and see their cuteness. I would be lying if I said I didn't.
"But I have never met anyone with such a depth of soul as you have. Most of them are surface people. What you see is what you get. They have no inner soul to them, no depth of love of or caring. They are shallow and superficial. They put on masks in front of everyone.
"You don't. You put yourself out there for the entire world to see. I marvel at your bravery. You have gotten hurt before, but you still keep yourself open to the world. You are the bravest person I've ever met."
"What about Blade and Ty and Tandy? They are brave. Look at what they do every single night."
"They do those things because that's what they were born to do. They have those abilities and use them to protect. They are heroes, but being a hero and being brave are two separate things.
"Take Blade for example. He might be tough and is able to kill things with his bare hands. Ty might be able to perform all kinds of mystical, magical spells. And Tandy may be a chosen Vampire Slayer with a mutation on the side. But none of them hold their heart open for the world to see.
"Ty keeps things light. He can be serious, but he doesn't let that part show too much. We've had our moments of serious conversation, but mostly our conversation is fun stuff.
"Tandy, well, there's not much to say about her. She doesn't have much common sense and is always worrying about her hair and what other people are dressing like. When it comes to deep things, she seems as dumb as a rock. Don't get me wrong, I love her and care about her greatly. But she just doesn't seem there half the time.
"And Blade, he has no emotion except being pissed off all the time. He wouldn't know a joke or a good time if it fell out of the sky, landed on his face, and wiggled. He keeps his heart and emotions locked deep inside. He lets his toughness protect him. It can be helpful, I guess. But there is no vulnerability to that. He keeps everyone at a distance. How can we get close if he doesn't let us in?
"You, however, are brave for putting yourself out there for all the world to see. You may get hurt from time to time, but you don't let that stop you. You go on loving and caring and being an open book for others to read. I wish I were like that. That is something that is in you that I wish was in me. In many ways, you complete me, Harris. I've found my perfect match in you."
Harris wiped the tears from his eyes. "Why are you so sweet?"
"I was born this way."
Harris leaned forward, as did Davey, and the two kissed.
During the battle at the mansion, no one noticed the small Lanithro fly down the chimney and exit through the fireplace. I turned and looked around. Once finding a door that could lead to the basement, it headed down the stairs.
In no time it found the door leading to the lair, and the Lanithro entered. Its head turned slowly, observing the surroundings, searching for the Ashtoroth Amulet. When its eyes settled on the object, it moved with sure steps. It reached out for it when a metal pipe hit it in the back of the head. It turned to see Whistler wielding a lead pipe in his hands.
"I don't think so, dipshit," Whistler said as he swung the pipe again.
To his utter amazement, the Lanithro ducked and rolled away from the reach of the pipe.
"What the hell..." the Watcher muttered.
"You can't beat me. I have complete control of this Lanithro. It's as smart as I am and has the stamina of the demon."
"Ryfin," Whistler replied. "You...you can enter a demon's mind to control its actions?"
"I can do a lot, old man. I've been studying the dark arts for a long time. You see, I've needed to gain the power to put an end to people like me. Once faggots are all gone, I won't be like this any more. I will be able to turn heterosexual."
The Lanithro swung up and punched Whistler in the face. Whistler flew back and hit the wall, sliding down unconscious. The demon turned and went back to the amulet. It grabbed the necklace and placed it around its neck. Its eyes glowed, as did the eyes of all the other Lanithro. The demon then flew up the stairwell, through the fireplace and out the chimney into the clouds above.
The Lanithro demons fighting with the Marvel Knights swooped around, picking up their fallen members, and headed into the sky.
"What the..." Dagger said as the demons flew away. "What was that all about?"
"Someone must have gotten the amulet," Punisher replied.
The Marvel Knights ran into the mansion and down to the lair to see Whistler on the floor and the amulet gone.
A short while later, Whistler awoke.
"What happened?" Blade asked.
"Ryfin."
"Ryfin was here?"
"He inhabited one of the Lanithro. He took the amulet. He has great powers, Blade. Great dark powers. I hate to say it, but we may be in over our heads."
"We dealt with a wizard before," Dagger replied. "This shouldn't be too difficult."
"The last wizard did a spell to lure vampires to the Axis," Cloak said. "A wizard who can actually inhabit another demon through shared conscious, that's another story."
"A very dark one, indeed."
"It looks like we have to stop Ryfin tomorrow," Blade replied. "Tomorrow, the Marvel Knights patrol the Gay Pride Parade."
To Be Continued...