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 40 Taking the Offensive
I awoke in the early evening as the sun was setting. My room was filled with the orange-red of sunset. I stretched and climbed out of bed. My sleep was not as restful as I wanted it to be. Dreams of Macai and his horrendous acts coupled with the loss of Lance made for a restless night. Part of me wished I could close my eyes, make a wish, and count to three and I would wake up in bed next to Lance listening to the soft sound of his breathing. I would run my fingers through his hair and across his soft cheek. He would stir at my touch but not awaken. My hands would rest on his shoulder, chest or stomach depending on what position he was lying in; and I would waste the day just staring at my soul mate.
That wasn't going to happen, though. The harsh reality was that I was on the other side of the world. Evil had reared one of its ugly heads and I was involved in stopping it. It seemed so unfair. I wanted to pack up and leave this place behind. But I couldn't. I didn't have the means to do so. I was at the mercy of the Watchers' Council, the ones who paid for my trip here and who would pay for my trip home; the ones who waited for me downstairs now so they could form a plan of attack against the immortal demon.
I showered and dressed putting on a pair of black jeans, black t-shirt and black shoes and headed downstairs. The castle was quiet and seemed empty, almost abandoned with ghosts roaming the halls.
"Hello," I called out. "Is anybody here?" There was no response. "Where could everyone be?" I wondered.
I walked into the lounge and found Jayce sitting by the fire sipping some tea.
"Jayce?" I asked.
He turned. "Hello, Eric. How did you sleep?"
"Not very well."
"Understandable. We all have much on our minds."
I moved over to the opposite chair and sat down. "How goes the research?"
"The wizards have been practicing the ritual and the spell all day. Professor Dumbledore knows a few shortcuts that we may be able to take in order for the spell to move faster. We do have to weaken the demon considerably beforehand."
"Which poses the question, how do we weaken an immortal demon?"
"We've been racking our brains on that one. It will be difficult to say the least."
I nodded.
A steward came to the room and announced dinner. I followed Jayce into the dining room. He and I were the only ones present aside from the steward and butlers.
"Where are the others?" I asked.
"Marius went to a safe haven to sleep for the day. Hyppolyta has been practicing the obstacles and Quentin and the wizards have been studying the spell. They should be coming to the table momentarily."
On cue Hyppolyta, Quentin, Harry and Dumbledore entered the dining room from separate entryways. None said a word. As every took their places, the servants carried the food from person to person dishing it out.
"How are things going with the spell?" I asked.
Young Harry looked up at Professor Dumbledore who in turn looked to Quentin. Quentin cleared his throat and said, "It seems the spell is a bit more difficult than we thought, Mr. McCoy. Professor Dumbledore and Mr. Potter are doing all they can. We will have to wait before we attack."
"Hm," I said chewing a piece of roast beef. "Why don't we take the offensive?"
Several eyes turned to me quickly.
"Well, Mr. McCoy," Quentin began. All eyes turned to him. "It would be dangerous for us to take the offensive. The spell is not ready yet."
"Forget the spell for now. We have no idea what Macai is planning. If we hit the streets tonight, we may be able to uncover what his specific plans are. Knowing that, we would be better capable of stopping him."
"Who would you put on the streets looking for information? Harry?"
"No, of course not. Marius, Hyppolyta and I could go on the streets."
"Oh yes, and announce to Macai that Batman is back. That is rich."
"No, I wouldn't go as Batman. I would wear this. I would wear a stupid tutu if it would make you happy. My point is that we need to find out what Macai is doing definitively. Knowing his plans would give us a better indication of how to come about stopping him.
"Jayce, you told me Macai needed to be weakened. We have five persons here who can deal with weakening Macai. Hyppolyta and Marius have strength beyond anything I've seen. Albus and Harry can use magic and spells to weaken him. I have my mutation. We have power to weaken him."
"You are very enthusiastic about this, Mr. McCoy," Quentin said. "What seems to have brought that on?"
"To be honest, Quentin, I want to get the hell out of this place and this country and back to Lance. I have been away from the man I love for almost three months and I'm going out of my mind over it. I want to put this demon where he belongs and go home, as I'm sure everyone else does."
"I agree with Mr. McCoy," Hyppolyta said. "Diana, my one-year-old daughter, is waiting for me back home. I would like to see her soon."
"Very well," Quentin said. "As soon as Marius gets here, you can discuss it with him."
Before dinner was over, Marius showed up and we posed the idea to him. He agreed to it stating several battles throughout time that were won simply because one side knew what the other was doing. Having his experience on our side influenced Quentin's opinion greatly.
Hyppolyta changed into something more inconspicuous and concealing and joined Marius and I for a night on the town.
Deep in the underground palace, Puz came before Macai. "Master, the army is nearly complete. Soon we will be able to overthrow the humans in this country."
"Excellent, Puz. I have waited hundreds of years for this. I am due for some good news."
"We should gather some more numbers," Shetar said as she came around the corner.
"Why do you suggest that?" Macai asked.
"These vampires are weak. They have no idea what kind of powers they possess. They are inferior to the vampires of the past. We will need many more to accomplish what you set out to do."
"Very well. Shetar, take the beast and recruit some soldiers. Take several vampires with you to add to the species if there are few in town."
"Yes, sire," Shetar replied. She turned and left the throne room.
The vampire flew through the pub window and landed across the street. Hyppolyta turned from her attack as a second vampire swung his fist at her. She moved her head back just out of the vampire's reach and grabbed his fist. With a jerk on the demon's arm, she pulled it out of socket and tossed the vampire into the far wall.
Marius stepped aside as a large and burly vampire lunged at him. The vampire, missing his target, landed with a thud onto the bar. Marius brought his fist back and hit the vampire in the back of the head ramming his face into the wood. Marius looked up in time to see a taller, skinnier vampire came at Marius with a knife. The older vampire grabbed the big vampire on the bar and spun him around using him as a barrier. The tall vampire could not stop in time and plunged the knife into the chest of the large vampire to the hilt. The large vampire let out a wail of pain. Marius pushed him into the knife-wielder and they both landed on a table.
The dark-haired female vampire swung at me. I pushed one hand down. A second fist came at me and I pushed that one down. Then I let my fist fly and backhanded her in the face. In a quick, fluid movement, I grabbed her by the back of the neck and pulled her forward and down. She fell forward, flipping onto her back. I pulled out a stake and rammed it into her chest.
I didn't have time to watch her turn to dust as muscle-bound vampire grabbed me from behind and pulled me back. He squeezed tighter and tighter cutting off my air. My head was spinning and stars were forming with the lack of oxygen. He kept jerking me around adding to the disorientation. Once the vampire pinned me against the wall, I knew I had it if I didn't get away soon. Taking a deep breath, I kicked against the wall pushing clear of it. As he tried to ram me into the wall, I put my legs out and ran up it, flipping over his head. I landed behind him and kicked his back pushing him into the wall.
I know I could have used my powers and easily defeated him, but any vampire who knew Macai would have told my secret, that I was back in action. As far as Macai was concerned, I was happily living with Christian.
I turned to face the small vampire cowering in the corner. Marius and Hyppolyta were facing him as well and all three of us approached him.
"Have you heard of the demon Macai?" Marius asked.
The vampire shook his head no quickly.
"Perhaps your memory needs jogged," Hyppolyta replied. She reached over and grabbed a chair, smashed it on the table and pulled the splintered leg up aiming for his heart.
"Please, don't slay me."
"Macai! Where is he?" Hyppolyta demanded.
"He's...he's gathering an army."
"An army of what?" Marius asked.
"Vampires, demons, whatever creature of the night he can find. Word on the street is he has Excalibur and is planning on taking over the country."
"Where is he keeping this army?" Marius asked.
"I'm not sure. It's whispered he is staying in his ancient place until his time is at hand. But no vampire or demon knows where that is."
I noticed Marius relaxing. He must have known where Macai's ancient place was.
"Thank you for the information," I replied and turned and walked away with Marius and Hyppolyta at my sides.
We exited the pub and across the street into an alley hidden by shadow.
Puz walked in excitedly with a book in his hand. "Master, I believe I've found the proper incantation to bring forth all the power in Excalibur."
"Excellent, Puz. When we make our move, I will channel Excalibur's power before all the people of England and they will know who their true ruler is."
"Excellent, Master."
"In the meantime, I must check on my acolyte to see if my enemy is secure."
Puz nodded as Macai stood up and faded from the throne room and materializing in Christian's bedroom. He heard the noise of grunting and moaning before he could find the two bodies hidden under the blankets. He smiled to himself. "That's it, Christian. Pleasure him. Keep his mind off searching for the truth. In your pleasurable embrace he will remain incapacitated and will not be a threat."
Macai chuckled and disappeared.
Christian and his sex partner both let out a loud cry as they climaxed. Christian pulled off the blankets and sat up. He looked down at his black-haired partner and ran his fingers along the man's chest.
"You are wonderful, Darren."
"You are, too, Christian."
Christian smiled, got up and went to the bathroom. He relieved his bladder and washed his face. As he looked at his reflection, a tear welled up in his eye. "No matter who I'm with, I still imagine I'm with Eric," he thought. "Darren is attractive and nice and kind, but he's not Eric. I feel so bad about what happened, about how I treated Eric. And now I compound my sin with not telling Darren what I'm thinking and feeling every time we make love. This has to end. But how?"
Macai materialized back in his throne room. Puz approached him looking hopeful. "He is still not a threat, Puz. He and Christian are still together. Christian has done well. Perhaps I will release his family once my rule is secure."
Puz nodded in excited agreement.
Shetar, the beast and the band of vampires entered a small brothel in a back alley in search of vampires. The workers screamed in terror while some of the patrons looked upon Shetar's physique with awe and amazement.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen," Shetar greeted. "I have come to you to recruit you to a great and powerful being. It seems London's share of vampires has diminished somewhat and we need more to join us. I promise you strength and immortality if you come willingly. What say you?"
Several of the men, mesmerized by her beauty, raised their hands. She smiled. Turning to her vampires, Shetar said, "Start initiating."
The vampires grinned and attacked the patrons, feeding off the men and giving their blood to the men to change them to vampires.
"Ah, the sweet sound of evil feeding off of humanity. Music to my ears."
Once the vampires fed off the patrons, they turned to the employees of the establishment and began their initiation.
"Where would Macai go to find demons to join him?" I wondered out loud.
"In the old days, the hills and forests would be the place to find such dark creatures," replied Marius. "In this century, however, one could find the creatures of the night anywhere."
"We could spend days searching through the city to locate demons and vampires," Hyppolyta pointed out.
"We could check the brothel."
I stopped in my tracks. "Brothel?" I asked Marius.
"They are not uncommon. Demonic brothels exist. You would be surprised the number of patrons such a place would have. There are many humans stupid enough to pay for a night of sexual pleasure with a demon. And there are no guarantees the demon will not rip the heart out and feed."
"Sure there is a guarantee." Both Hyppolyta and Marius looked at me. "Capitalism makes this world go around. It would be bad business to kill clients."
Marius seemed to ponder this for a moment, then, with a nod of his head, accepted my words.
"Let us check out this brothel," Hyppolyta stated.
The queen and I followed Marius through alleys and byways until we came to the place in question.
"This is it," Marius replied.
"Shall we go in fighting or more subdued?" I asked.
"Quietly would be the better part of valor. There is no guarantee we will find enemies in here."
I turned to Marius. "Demons are inside, correct?" Marius nodded. "Then there are enemies inside."
"Brothels can be quite useful. A long time ago, I sent my Amadeo to several brothels. It was when he asked to become a blood drinker, a vampire as you call us. He went for several nights and stayed all night succumbing to the temptations and pleasures of the flesh."
"Why did you do such a thing?" Hyppolyta asked.
"I wanted to show him what he would miss out on if he became a blood drinker: simple human contact. I wanted to weigh what he would be losing by becoming what I am."
"And?"
"And no matter how much he was tempted, no matter the pleasure he received from the prostitutes, he still wanted to live with me forever as a blood drinker. I didn't have the chance to prepare him, though. My home was attacked and he was poisoned. There was no cure for the poison used, so I had to change him into a blood drinker."
We stood for a moment in silence. It was I who ended it. "Well, there is no time like the present. Shall we?"
My companions nodded. I reached down, turned the doorknob and pulled the door open. We entered the brothel and Hyppolyta let out a gasp.
To Be Continued...