Disclaimer: This story is fiction. There are two celebrities who will appear from time-to-time. The other characters are fictitious. Any similarities to persons living or dead are completely coincidental.
In this story, I have continued the adventures of Batman, my Batman, which his story first began in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight" in the Boy Band section of this archive. It spanned 250 chapters. You will find many universes merging, as the below copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this.
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. Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston. Copyright DC Comics.
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.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. I do hope that you enjoy it!!!
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authorjames2002@yahoo.com
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Chapter 19 Vesta the Vampire
The sun set and Lance and I dressed in our tuxedoes. Justin stayed home with Preston and Randy. Randy asked why Sarah and the others were going but Preston was staying home. I explained to him that the dinner was for the organizations that received grant money from the city and I was going to have several of the teens show up and talk about their experiences there. I explained that Sarah bonded with someone at the Center and Dinah, the girl she bonded with, wanted her to go. He understood that but asked why his mother was going.
"There's an old friend going to attend," Jessica answered. "And I would like to catch up with her on what she's done with her life."
"It's going to be very boring," Lance answered. "You'll have a much better time staying here with your dad and cousin."
Randy then dropped it and we were able to go our way. We swung by the Center and picked up Clark, Dinah and Diana. It was amazing seeing them in formal wear. No one would ever guess that they were really superheroes. I noticed Clark wearing glasses and became troubled.
"Is there something wrong with your eyes?" I asked. "Maybe we should have the Council send a doctor to examine you."
"There's nothing wrong," Clark reassured. "I thought the glasses might conceal my identity a bit more. It is one more thing that might make people think Clark and Superman are two different people."
"You are going to wear the mask, though, right?"
"Yes," he answered with a tone indicating he was frustrated.
"I don't mean to be a bother, I'm just worried. Where is your costume anyway?"
"I have mine on underneath my suit."
"My costume is underneath my clothes, as well," Dinah said.
When Diana didn't respond we all turned to her. "Mine is in a secret location. Only when the time is right will I reveal where my costume is."
"Fair enough," I said and we headed off to the banquet.
The valet took the SUV and we made our way inside. Lance and I entered arm-in-arm while Jessica entered to scout around. The others had their radio receivers hidden on their person and mingled with the crowd. Everyone was instructed to look for any suspicious activity, not look conspicuous, and, above all, have a good time.
Lance and I approached several members of the board that granted the Center the grants to keep in operation. They smiled and shook our hands and we expressed our gratitude.
Clark and Sarah stood near the punch bowl and watched Sarah's parents as they talked with the powerful in this town.
"They mingle well with the upper crust," Clark said. "But they are so mild-mannered. Have they always been like this?"
"As far back as I can remember," Sarah answered. "They've been stern when they needed to be and they've been gentle when being gentle was needed. They're my dads and I wouldn't have it any other way."
Dinah walked past one of the waiters and stopped. She turned around and her eyes widened in disbelief. "Barry?"
The waiter turned around and Barry looked at her with a smile. "Hey, Dinah, what's up?"
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"You're working here?"
"Hey, I need to work. I don't get paid much for performing."
"But your voice is so good. I would have thought that clubs would clamor to get you!"
"Not many are going for hip-hop at the moment. They are all about rock. It's just a phase. Next year it will be hip-hop again. Until then, I'm serving wine and appetizers."
"Hey, Allen, get your butt back here," someone yelled from the kitchen. "We've got another tray for you."
"Duty calls," he muttered. "Enjoy the party from this side."
Dinah watched Barry turn and hustle through the doors leading to the kitchen.
"Who would have thought that Barry would be a waiter?"
Dinah noticed something out of the corner of her eye and turned. Several men in tuxedoes were paired off and moving throughout the crowd. None of them smiled nor did they have any drinks in their hands. Something didn't feel right about them.
I smiled at the Senator and her husband and thanked them for their support. As they moved off I looked over and saw Lance dancing with David Gallagher. I was shocked to feel a twinge of jealousy rush through my body and head straight into my heart.
'Eric, get a grip. They are just dancing,' I told myself.
"Eric," Dinah said getting my attention off the scene which sparked the jealousy.
"What is it?" I asked as she moved toward me with a smile that I knew was fake.
When she got within whispering distance she told me she noticed several men and women who appeared to be rather serious in their demeanor. She didn't think they were security. I had a feeling it was an aspect of her Slayer abilities coming into play.
"How do we find out?" she asked.
"I'll use the same tactic I learned a long time ago," I replied.
I looked around and found a pitcher of water on a nearby table and approached the persons sitting at the table. "Can I borrow this?" I asked. They replied affirmatively and I took the pitcher of water. As I walked away, I prayed over the water just as I did thirteen years before when I revealed the vampire Turic to NSYNC.
Once my prayer was finished, I headed toward the nearest stoic pair and, as I approached, I tripped and splashed the water on them. The people around us gasped at my clumsiness.
"Sorry," I said as I reached for a napkin. However, when I turned to wipe off the water, what Dinah suspected turned out to be true. The man's skin bubbled and burned under the holy water. He grabbed at me and picked me up.
"Now, now, boys," a voice rang out from the entranceway. Everyone turned to see a beautiful woman with long red hair, pure white skin, and green shining eyes. "That isn't any way to treat dinner guests."
Vesta entered and her minions quickly moved into place guarding the exits.
"No need to be alarmed," she said as she moved toward the center of the room. "I'm only hearing looking for virgins."
Men and women alike looked at one another wondering who amongst us were virgins.
"Don't worry; there aren't many here. But I am looking specifically for one."
I looked around hoping to locate Diana. At first it was difficult but then I saw the raucous and saw her standing as tall as the adults in the room. Two vampires thought to grab her wrists but she was having none of it. She jerked her arm and sent one of them flying through the air across the way.
"Now, Eric?" Dinah asked.
I nodded to her and she slipped away toward the nearest exit. As she walked she slipped out two wooden stakes and, before the vampires guarding the door could respond, she shoved them into their hearts and exited the room.
I turned back in time to see Diana throw the other vampire into the air. Then she spun around and her dress disappeared only to be replaced by the costume I was shown the previous night.
Clark, or should I say Superman, entered the room near two piles of dust with the Huntress right behind him. Jessica and I made eye contact and grinned as the team went into action.
"What is the meaning of this?" Vesta screamed.
"Consider your little cult destroyed," Black Canary replied as she emerged from the door Dinah exited.
"Slayers. You cannot beat me."
"It doesn't take a Slayer to stake a vamp," a voice said as the red man zoomed in and shoved a stake into Vesta's heart.
The vampire clutched at her chest and stumbled backwards. The people around her moved as far back as possible. The man stood there with a grin on his face. I could only shake my head as I knew he made a grave mistake. The kind of vampire Vesta was would not die by a stake in the heart unless the stake was in place long enough for her to bleed to death. And I highly doubted she would let that happen.
Vesta stood up and, when the young man turned to her, she grabbed him by the throat. "You stupid, little man!" And she threw him across the room. He landed nearby with a thump and I rushed over to help him.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Just peachy," he replied as he rubbed the back of his head. "That bitch can throw down hard."
I turned back and noticed the blood soaking the front of her dress. "I need to feed!" she screamed and she reached for the nearest person.
Wonder Woman's lasso wrapped around Vesta's wrist and Wonder Woman pulled her up away from the crowd. Black Canary and Huntress were taking care of the vampires. Wait, make that both Huntresses were taking care of the vampires. Superman joined Wonder Woman in the air to take care of Vesta. Wonder Woman swung Vesta around into the walls.
"You have taken too much from those young girls," Wonder Woman said. "Tonight they go free and their captor is punished for her crimes."
Vesta grabbed the end of the lasso and pulled Wonder Woman toward her. "You didn't know I could fly, did you?" she asked as she jerked hard and Diana flew into her arms. "Now, all I wanted to do was make you my servant. Now, you are going to have to be my meal."
Vesta went to bite down on Wonder Woman's neck but Wonder Woman was able to get a hand up and the vampire bit down on one of Wonder Woman's gauntlets. She pulled back and screamed as she felt a tooth snap. She hurled Diana across the room into a nearby wall.
"You bitch!" she screamed.
Superman flew at her and she caught his movement out of the corner of her eye. At the last minute, she dropped down and Superman flew through the wall to the outside.
"Thanks, Big Blue," she replied as she flew out the hole.
"I got her," Wonder Woman said as she flew out after them.
The man in red got up and started staking vampires in the room. Jessica looked at me and I knew she had things under control. I looked over to see Lance standing near David and I couldn't help but feel jealous again.
'You're imagining things,' I told myself. 'There's nothing to be jealous about. Besides, you have a job to do. If you don't straighten up, you'll get others, or yourself, killed.'
I ran out of the hall and changed into my costume. Once I was changed, I went outside to the damaged wall and saw the three flying higher up the building. At first, I was going to float myself to the top. Being able to control molecules made it very easy. But my powers had gone crazy before and I didn't want to risk it so I pulled out a grapple and shot a line as high as it would go. Then I ascended up the side of the building.
When I reached the top, I saw the vampire punch Wonder Woman and block a punch from Superman. 'If these kids can hold their own now with a vampire, I wonder if their strength will increase with age. If so, these two could very well be the most powerful beings on the planet.'
Vesta grabbed Superman's wrist and spun him around so that she had him in front of her. "Now to get a taste of your strength," she replied and she sunk her teeth into the young man from Krypton.
His eyes widened as he felt the pricks of her teeth. She fed like she had not fed in years. Then, suddenly, without warning, she pulled away from Superman and released him. He plummeted to the roof and landed with a hard thud. I went over to him, as did Wonder Woman. The door from the stairs opened and Black Canary, the man in red, and both Huntresses emerged.
Vesta shrieked in the air like a banshee. "Your blood!" she screamed. "Your blood!" And she burst into flames.
We watched as her body turned to ash and slowly dissipated with the wind.
"My abilities," Superman said, "they come from the sun. Drinking my blood is like drinking liquid sunshine. It was poison to her."
"We should be thankful for small favors," I replied. "Are you okay?"
"A little weak from her feeding, but other than that I'm okay."
"Wow, that was tight," the man in red said. "You guys looked awesome."
"There's room for one more," I replied as I turned around to face him. "That is, if you're game."
He looked around at the masked faces of the others. "We all seem to be on the same side, so why the hell not. With this mask on, I call myself Flash. Without it," he reached up and grabbed the mask, "I call myself Barry."
Black Canary's eyes widened in disbelief. "No shit!" she exclaimed. She reached up and pulled off her mask.
"Dinah?" Barry replied in shock. "Why are you doing this? What's going on?"
"I'm a Vampire Slayer," she answered.
"A what?"
Dinah filled in her friend about Vampire Slayers and how she was called to be one. Everyone went around and removed their masks showing Barry who we were. Dinah could vouch for him when members of the team were a little uneasy.
"Keep this up," Jessica told me, "and you're going to have to get a bigger cave."
I laughed, but the thought had crossed my mind.
To Be Continued...