Black Knight  By: Shanis   [email protected] Chapter One: The Beginning Edward looked up at the imposing man above him. He had tried his best he really had. It wasn't his fault that his opponent had been bigger than him and had had more training. No if it was any one's fault Edward had lost it was the man standing if front of him. The man that was daring to tell him that he hadn't done enough. He'd done the best he could with what he had. He down at his shoes, refusing to gawk at the awful man who was yelling at him. "Are you listening to me, you foolish boy?" the man thundered. "Yes, sir," Edward replied, terrified, all thoughts of rebellion squashed. "You should have done better boy. I won't have this sloth. You'll win next time or I'll beat you 'til you do. I am making myself clear?" "Yes, sir, but I tried sir, I really did. If you'd just stop placing me against bigger opponents, I'd win, I know I would." Edward replied ernstly. "So, it's my fault that you can't win. You stupid, revolting, ungrateful piece of trash!" Edward saw the fist flying towards him, but there wasn't time to move out of the way. Not that it would have mattered. Moving would only make the beating that would follow worse. He'd gone through this before, it wasn't like this was anything new. His feet left the ground as his body was prepelled across the room. He hit the wall with and crash and slid down to the floor. He didn't move again, knowing that movement would draw the man's anger. Edward waited a few minutes, not moving, the only sound the man's harsh breathing. "Get up, boy! We have to teach you how to win. I won't expect anything but the best from you. Not your best, THE BEST. By the time I'm done with you, you will be perfect. The best in the world. I won't except any less." Nodding, Edward got up and followed the man out of the room, moving ginerly, but trying not to show how hurt he was. After all, being seriously hurt in this place was a death wish. People, not people, children had died because they couldn't do what was demanded of them. Edward thought of his parents, but only briefly. He couldn't remember much about them, and that annoyed and scared him. He knew they loved him, they missed him, that they had had no choice in giving him up. They owed to much money to the man. He'd come to their small house one night demanding money that his parents didn't have. They'd told him that. The man said that it was all right, he'd just take 'the boy' instead. His mother had screamed and fought and the man's men dragged him from his home. That was three years ago, Edward wondered if in time he wouldn't remember his parents at all. He hoped that didn't happen. Shivering, Edward followed the man as he enter a big room with other boys in it. Fear shot through Edward. The last time he'd been in a room withnthis many people had been unpleasant. He didn't want to repeat that experience. "All right, boy, go find a place to stand." Edward scurried towards the group, fter all there was safety, if that's what it could be called, in numbers. "Listen up, scum. Today you're gonna learn how to shoot." Pulling out a gun, the man aimed at the group and pulled the trigger. A boy fell. The man looked at the corpse in disgust. "If he couldn't dodge that he deserved to die," the man said. Not for the first time Edward wondered if he'd ever escape this hell, and what kind of deal with the devil he'd have to make to do it.
		Disclaimer: I own only the characters that I made, an example being Edward's parents, the rest are the property of LKH, I'm just putting my own spin on the story of Edward's life Black Knight Chapter Two : Going Out The young boy had changed, he'd grown up. At about twelve now, Edward was in advanced training. He had never had a fair chance against his opponents. He had just learned how to play dirty, really dirty.  Just because he wasn't the most skilled, or the biggest, didn't mean he couldn't win. He had learnt to out think his opponents. It had been a successful solution to his problem, and success was all that mattered. It had been a motivator that losing was "rewarded" with beatings. "Boy," he heard the man's voice again. He had come to think of the man as his own personal tormentor. "Yes, sir," he replied. "I think your ready to start your reality training. Remember, when your out there, if you screw up, you die." "Yes, sir," the boy replied while thinking that it was the same in this hell. But out there, at least,  his death would be quick and clean, which was more than he could say about this place. "Don't fail me, boy, I don't like it when people fail me. I've put to much effort and time into you. I'm making you into THE BEST. Don't you dare screw this up. You here me, scum." "Yes, sir," Edward replied. Though it wasn't much, at least he'd be able to see the world again. For seven years all he'd seen was this complex. A week later saw a sweaty little Edward walking out of a training room. His arm was bleeding and his lip was spilt. However he didn't even feel the pain, he'd suffered much worse before, much worse. He entered the boys barracks, Van Cleef didn't discriminate, he was an equal opportunity cradle robber. He proceed to peel off his clothes and turned on the shower, as usual, only cold water came out, shivering he cleaned himself quickly and dried at an equally quick pace. Towel wrapped around his waist, he moved to the steamer trunk at the end of his bed. Opening the trunk he pulled out a set of clothes, exactly like the ones he'd just taken off. The only thing different about clothes around this place was their size. Looking at the picture of his parents at the bottom of the trunk, he smiled, a just faintly there smile. Tucking the picture away, Edward tumbled onto his bunk. He could get three hours of sleep before he was briefed on his reality training exercise. Three more hours than he had gotten the night before. He was asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. Van Cleef stared at Edward as he slept. The boy was so innocent looking, most people would be fooled by him. He was that good. That didn't surprise Van Cleef though, he had spent a lot of time working on him. He had taken a personal interest in the boy After all, his father, a man named Jacob, had been one of the best assassins Van Cleef had ever seen. Then  he'd gotten married and hung up his guns. It was such a pity Van Cleef had found himself having to kill Jacob and his pretty wife, Marie. It wasn't that Van Cleef had wanted to, it was that he'd had to. Jacob would have come for the boy and destroyed everything. It was better this way. Edward woke, jolted upright, climbed out bed and scurried towards the briefing room. "Alright, boy, your target is the eldest son of the Governor of New Mexico. He's planning on running for president and your employer doesn't want that to happen. This is an extended mission. You will befriend the target and wait for the most opportune moment to dispose of him. He's your age. Here's your new identity," a envelope was pushed towards Edward. "You leave at 2100 hundred hours, boy. DO NOT DIAPPOINT ME!" Edward nodded, gulping, he pushed back his chair, and said, "Yes, sir," in a crisp military voice. Returning to his bunk, Edward opened the file and began to memorize it. One of his advantages was the ability to quickly learn a new skill. The file contained basic knowledge and some detailed info, this he couldn’t let on he knew, it would blow his cover and probably get him killed. Getting killed was something he had no intention of doing before he got to see his parents again. His parents, there wasn't a day that went  by that he didn't think of his parents. The lullaby that his mother had sung to him, one he hoped to sing to his own children, ran through his head as he read the file a final time, before gong to a small briefing room to receive the supplies that he would need to complete the mission. Entering the room he saw two bags, a suitcase, and a large manila envelope. Opening the envelope Edward saw a plane ticket and some assorted papers that feel out. The ticket was to the Santa Fae airport. The papers ranged from a false birth certificate to a bank account. As he was playing the part of a child, Edward could not be expected to support himself. Even though he'd be living an easy life, compared to the one he currently lived, Edward knew he must continued to train and hone his skills. If he didn't things would he twice as bad when he returned to Van Cleef's cozy "family." Picking up the bags in one hand and the suitcase in  the other, with the envelope tucked under his arm, Edward left the room and continued out to the car that was waiting for him. it was time to prove his worth. Edward looked at the Santa Fe landscape, marveling at his temporary sense of freedom. Tomorrow he would begin his assignment. Plan and ruthless carry out his objective, because he could not afford to anger Van Cleef. Exiting the cab that had taken him to his new residence, Edward paid the driver and walked up the path to his house, his new "home." Inserting the key in the door he opened it and looked around. Dragging his luggage into the entrance way he quickly scouted the house, looking for bombs, assassins , or other possible mission ending opposition. Finding the house clean, he began to settle in. From this moment on he was Brent Norton, average grade seven student. The show was on and it was his time to shine. Four months passed and Edward stayed in character, he was Brent, good ol' boy, and his target's current best friend. His target was a natural politician, but as much as Edward hated him, he didn't want to kill him. The doorbell rang and his target entered the killing grounds. Hiding his Firestar under his sweatshirt, Edward went to greet his company. He escorted the target deeper into the house and leaving him in the living room with some cookies, went to get the new video game that had lured the targets to the killing grounds in the first place. What Edward actually got was the suppressor for the Firestar. Threading it on to the gun barrel, he holstered the weapon again, and headed down stairs. "So, where is it?" The target asked. "Right here." Edward murmured, unleathering the suppressed Firestar and pointing  it at the target. All the color drained out of the target's face and he backed up until his knees hit the sofa, and he had to sit down. "You can't shoot me, " he blubbered, crying and Edward found himself weakening. "My father is a really important man. He's going to be the next president, " the boy announced, confident that his father would save him. "And that's why you have to die," Edward told the boy. Never mind, he thought, if you don't kill the greedy brat you'll never get to find your own parents. "You can't shoot me. We're friends Brent." The target was obvious grabbing at straws to stay alive, so, Edward let the gun speak for him. The bullet cored the target's head, blasting brain matter all over the sofa. "Wrong, Lewis," Edward murmured to the dead boy before picking up the phone and calling for a clean up crew. His mission was accomplished, he could leave now, he could go back to hell. But one day he'd own a place like this and be able to raise his own family, not destroy someone else's. Opening the door, Edward walked out and closed the door on the first test of his prowess, secure in the knowledge that he'd won this round.
			Black Knight Chapter Three: Graduation 'thoughts' Life had moved on, the seasons had changed, and the small boy had grown. In fact, the small boy had grown so much that he had completed his training. 'What a strange day this is,' not so little Edmward mused. 'First, I'm told not to go train, then I'm told to report to the devil himself, Van Cleef." "Come in, boy. I don't have all day! I have a school to run. I would think that I'd thought you better in the last thirteen years." "You did, sir." "Now that your done your schoolong youhave two choices. The first is that you come and work as an instructor here at the school, and the second is to become one of my agents." "Actually, sir, " Edward hesitated, saying the wring thing now could get him killed. "Well, speak up, boy. I don't have all day, I'm sure you know that." "I'd like to become a free-lance agent, sir." Edward blurted out. 'Now, ' he tought, 'the shit will hit the fan.' "FREE-LANCE!!!" Van Cleef roared. "Aren't I good enough for you, you little shit. After everything I've done..." he trailed off. "Sir, what I'm trying to say is that I want the challenage of working alone, totally on my own. I want the challenage of not having back-up." "So," Van Cleef said ponderously, "you want a challenage. Well, boy, I'll think about it. Dismissed." Edward rose and moved to the door, "Thank you, sir," he murmured on his way out. Van Cleef smiled. He should have expected this. te boy ws too good to stay in an organization. He'd have to let go, conditionally, of course. A week passed and Edward became more and more nervous about Van Cleef. Would he say no, or would he go against all the odds and say yes and grant Edward te freedom to fin his parents. To start his own family, which he'd protect better than he'd been protected. Van Cleef wouldn't touch his children. Someone bumped into Edward in the hall way that lead to the shooting range, and snapped him out of his thought induced daze. "Watch where you're going, " Edward snarled, as he pushed past and entered the range. Since he'd completed his schooling so soon, which still shocked him a little, to tell the truth, he knew he still had to stay sharp. Van Cleef sat in his office, the spy cameras that were located all over the complex showed many different images. The one Van Cleef was watching was one of his boy, his little killer, a man now simply known as Edward. He was slightly concerned with how much time Edward was spending at the shooting range, and how much time he would continue to spend there. Oh, he understood the concept of working off nervous tension well enough, hell, he even knew why the boy was tense, but this seemed to be more. Maybe it was that he still didn't have answer to the question of his future. A question that plagued all his graduates. Van Cleef smiled it had seemed best to let Edward stew a little before telling him that he would be graduating in a special way. He'd be free to carry out his own business. It was an honor that Van Cleef had never given before. If Van Cleef trained you then he owned you, and you worked for him until you died or were put out of your misery. The PA system crackled to life and Edward heard the number 3428 called out, his number. Holstering his gun, he walked  out of the range and back into the hall. Knocking on the door to his own devil's office. "Come in," he heard, so he did. "Ah, 3428, good to see you. Do sit down." "Yes, sir," Edward replied. "Boy," Van Cleef began, "I've thought long and hard on your request and decided to let you go out on your own. Now, this must not get out to the other... recruits because a mutiny would be very bad. After you are all assigned your posts you may leave. However, there are a few rules  that come with my kind generosity. Never tell anyone about this place. It's worth more than your life and the lives of the ones that you tell and all those close to them. Am I clear?" "Yes, sir," Edward intoned, "never tell anyone." "Number two, leave my people alone unless they mess with you. If there are any unexplained deaths of my agents, especially my top agents. I will drag you back here and execute you. Clear?" "Yes, sir." "That is all. You may go, but remember, not a word to anyone. if you do you can kiss your dreams. Good bye, 3428." "Yes, sir." "I don't want to see you again. You are free to leave after the graduation ceremony, as long as you keep your nose clean." "Yes, sir." Edward took himself out of van Cleef's sight, determined not to see the man again in his remain time in this hell-hole. Entering his room Edward fought to contain his glee. He was not wholly successful and a small, slight smile appeared on his face. He couldn't help it, his dreams were now within his reach. He'd be free from Van Cleef and he could  find his family, or start one of his own, well, in a little while at least, and he'd have the challenge he's been craving. Lately, everything that Van Cleef could throw at him seemed tame. The boy was trying  not to show his glee at his judgment, Van Cleef reasoned. There was no reason for him to be unnerved at the boy's total lack of expression. The boy had just learned his lessons well. He truly was his father's son. And that made him a dangerous man, a very dangerous man. Perhaps, more dangerous than the man who trained him. He would have to keep an eye on the boy because he had truly made him into one of the best. A month later... Edward had isolated himself  even more to keep his secret. He had slowly  closed himself off from, everyone even those closest to him, those that had been here  since he had been brought or before. Everyone had noticed it, but no one was brave enough to confront him about it. Edward, however, was protecting himself  and his dreams, it was as simple as that, and he didn't care how the others saw it. He had no wish to stay and live the rest of his days out under Van Cleef's rule of terror.  So, Edward kept his performance and continued to excel, at well, everything. He was by far the most talented student to ever be dragged through the gates of Van Cleef's school. Some, most actually, just thought he was pre-occupied. After all, the final, and most deadly round of tests started in a mere week. To fail even one test meant death, but by now death was an old friend to most of these children. It had been a constant companion since the first moments that they had been here. Only about 10% of the people brought to the school survived to reach this point. Only about 50% of  those 10% survived this last set of tests. It was crunch time, if you wanted to keep breathing that was. Some didn't, so they just died horrible deaths during the tests. So things continued in thus manner. Edward continued to cut all his ties with the people that he had trained with and cried with, in the earlier days at least. Edward would decline spending his free time with his few  former "friends." Now he spent all his  free time practicing for his adventures in "real world." Van Cleef watched Edward as he practiced his shooting. He had isolated himself so he would have no allies among Van Cleef's new group of agents. And he's probably make more than a few enemies because  he was THE BEST. That was Edward's problem, he may be better than his teachers and that would be a bad thing. It would be awful and a major setback in the other's training. It  would get the others thinking that they could de-throne him. That would simply not do. So he handled Edward differently by letting him work on his own, so it was a radical move on his part. So what? Things would operate just the same here. No matter what Edward decided to do on the outside. Edward wiped the sweat out of his eyes. He had spent all his free time practicing his shooting. He was now a better than crack shot. Edward smiled to himself. Tomorrow he could leave this hell-hole, and be free. He was already packed. All he had to do was grab his bags. And he wouldn't let the door hit his ass on the way out. The next night Edward stood among his class mates, waiting to get out. Van Cleef was waxing eloquent about all the virtues of the graduating class. Edward listened with one ear. Van Cleef was over doing it,  there was an award ceremony for those who had survived. Edward thought that was enough, let then mourn their lost innocence privately and celebrate how each saw fit. It was they were here, but not for Van Cleef apparently. But it was enough for his students. The morning dawned clear and bright. Edward slipped out of his own personal hell and into the light. His shades over his eyes, he stepped over to his car, got in and roared down the road to freedom.
	Black Knight Chapter Four: The Dead Rise Six happy months had passed for Edward. He was doing fairly well on his own. He made enough to live on while he was busy making a name for himself. He knew that soon he'd have to make a new idenity for himself. He had no idea who he wanted to be, but he did know where he wanted to live. Funny how these things worked out. This little solider was moving to the Santa Fe area. It was the first place that he's ever gotten a glimpse of  true freedom, and the land had absolutely enchanted him with it's rugged beauty and an untamable quality. Yes, Edward wanted to move to the Santa Fe area, and he wanted to make a permanent home there. But first he had a job to do. A job that would take him to Saint Louis on a job from a vampire. an oddity because he usually terminated the bloodsuckers with out hesitation, but the offer had been too sweet for him to resist. he could always get the vampire after he'd collected his money. After all, he did have a reputation to build. And part of that reputation would come from his kills, so he'd best get to Saint Louis as soon as possible. Tomorrow he could work on what he wanted to do. He shoved the last gun into his bag and threw the bag onto the passenger's seat. It wouldn't do to have his weapons too far from reach. One never could tell if they were going to be attacked. It was best to be prepared. And even a rank amateur could kill a man, all that it took was luck, and one squeeze of the trigger. Edward  preferred not rely on luck. He had his Beretta 92 in a shoulder holster, and a Mini Uzi in the duffel bag on the seat beside him, along with some other party favors. It didn't pay to be unprepared because you couldn't collect when you were dead. Edward grinned as he slipped behind the wheel and started the powerful engine in his Jeep. One of the first things he'd done was buy a reliable car. He only had his motorcycle when he's left Van Cleef's, and motorcycles didn't work to well for carrying weapons, so he'd bought the Jeep for himself. Hours of driving on the Interstate had lulled him into a false sense of security. He'd expected traffic to be fairly light, so the traffic jam he hit made him grit his teeth. At the speed he was reduced to it felt like he'd never get into the city in time to do some recon on  the target. He's have to change his plans. Oh well, they said that plans never survived first contact with the enemy, and the traffic was the enemy right now. Edward drove by a very normal looking apartment complex, that was to be expected, she was just out of school, waiting for that first crucial job. The reason his employer wanted her dead was she was a training to be a vampire executioner. Vampires frowned on that sort of thing. Dangerous business! Which made this little lady a challenge. He hadn't been lying to Van Cleef about that. So he could get into her place easily enough, but he wouldn't risk it. A thorough search would take too long and he didn't want to get caught. Knowing  when to wait and when to act was important to staying alive. Now was a time to wait. He'd ask around a bit tomorrow, in the lower circles of society. This girl, this Anita Blake, would prove to be a challenge, and Edward did so love a challenge. What he had gathered was very interesting. Ms. Blake certainly has built herself a reputation as a... bad ass. This was going to be fun. The girl also had a power that his employer had failed to tell him about, an omission that would cost his employer his life, the little lady could raise the dead. This complicated things because he had been lied to. He was going to take  the vampire's money, and kill him, but he'd leave the girl alive. A fitting revenge, because no one screwed with Edward. And it would help his reputation. Unlocking her door, he slipped into her apartment and looked around. The place was very Spartan, well, she was just getting on her economic feet. Sitting on Ms. Blake’s uncomfortable couch, he waited for her to show up. it wasn't long before the door was unlocked and Ms. Blake entered, not noticing the man on her couch. "Do be careful, Ms. Blake, I could have killed you if I choose too. You need to be more careful." She started, "Who are you?" She had her gun out and pointed at him. "A man who could  have killed you if he wanted. If you weren't an animator you'd be dead right now." "You couldn't kill me," she boasted, "I'm the one that has the gun." Quicker than Anita would think possible, Edward had his Beretta out a leveled at her head. "Guns don't mean anything. I thought you'd be a challenge, but I find a naive little girl instead. I find a girl where I expected to find a warrior. I don't see anything that resembles a warrior in you, right now. If I were you, little girl, I'd invest in a better lock, and some more training. Because I guarantee that we'll meet again. And then my motives won't be so humane. I'm not sure you know how rare your talent is necromancer, guard it well. One day it could save your life, just like your little gun." Edward brushed past Anita and opened the door. Quietly as he exited murmured "Until we meet until." The door closed leaving a flushed, confused, and frightened Anita Blake on the other side. "How?" She murmured. Edward smiled at the clear road in from of the Jeep. Ms. Blake would become a very valuable asset to him... someday. Until then he'd make sure someone looked out for her. Life had gotten a hell of a lot more interesting. He's always known that his target would make a profound difference. And she had just not the way that he'd first thought, and not the way that he'd wanted. Just not the way that he'd planned. Now to go pull the curtain on that undead bloodsucker, it was way past time that he did that anyway. Edward exited his Jeep, the duffel over his shoulder, using stealth he crept past the vampire's security. It was broad daylight, so he expected light resistance from within. Getting in would be the true test. How he did love a good challenge. The inside of the  was a very posh affair. He was sure the carpet he was standing on cost a goodly bit, but in the end all this money wouldn't save this master vampire. Death had come a-calling because you never fucked with death and he didn't play mind games. He was an assassin, not a politician. And to him this was a clear case of betrayal. He had judged his betrayer, and the verdict was death, and now he had come to execute it. Edward entered the coffin room, and sighed. They always made it hard to find the one that he wanted to kill, it wouldn't  stop him, but it would slow him down. Edward began to carefully lift the lid of each coffin, just a  tiny bit, just enough to peer inside. It was the thirteenth coffin that yielded the master vampire. He would have to do this quickly. He screwed the bulky silencer onto his Beretta, and checked the clip. It was loaded with silver bullets, perfect. Putting the gun to his betrayer's head, he squeezed the trigger, and smiled. Then he moved the gun to creature's heart and fired again, just to be sure. Slinking out of the house, Edward returned to his Jeep and drove off, stopping only to check that the transfer of funds, that had been arranged last night, had been carried through. His destination was now Santa Fe were he'd look for a place to call home and start on the  search for the answers, the missing pieces, to the puzzle that he called his past. Looking at the setting sun he smiled. Death had arrived and everyone should beware, because now no one, no matter what they were, was safe. End Chapter Four

Chapter 5
Black Knight: Kitchens, Coffee, and  Casseroles

Edward sat at his kitchen table in his stark white kitchen. Sipping a cup of strong black coffee in a plain black mug. There was nothing in the kitchen, or the house for that matter, that would give anyone an idea of what its owner was like. It didn't feel very lived in, in fact the house felt sterile. Edward hadn't spent much time in the house since he'd bought it. It looked like a traditional Santa Fae home, right down to the fact that his door was a charming green colour. What was most disturbing about the area, the house, the lawn, etc. was the air of calm that the man at the table radiated, sitting there, slowly sipping his coffee. In front of him sat an opened letter with a Texas return address. His current persona, Ted Forrester, bounty hunter in training, didn't know anyone in Texas. But Edward, child of death, did. Those people, however, had promised to leave him alone, and have nothing to do with him ever again!!!

Slowly he picked up the envelop and carefully opened it up. It wasn't from Van Cleef directly, as he'd feared, not did it tell him to return to that compound of death, what it told him was possibly worse. Van Cleef had named his heir last week, maybe feeling his own mortality, and he'd named his NEPHEW Edward. Edward dropped the letter. He was related to Van Cleef? Van Cleef's attorney was writing to inform him that he was Van Cleef's sole living heir? And that he could expect to inherit all of Van Cleef's massive empire when the old bastard made the journey to hell? Edward stared at the letter. He could be related to that monster!!! He'd rather die first. He'd ask his parents about it when he found them. If worst came to worst and he did inherit the monster's creations he could just disassemble the entire operation. That would be his contribution to the safety of the world's masses of sheep.

The chirp of his phone startled Edward out of his thoughts. Picking it up he heard the voice of the PI that he'd hired with his first paycheck.

"What can you tell me?" Edward queried.

"I'm sorry to inform you that all the evidence I've found is that you're parents are dead. From what I've seen so far, the case files, etc., it looks like they were murdered. There's an unsolved case, murder that is, in Fort Worth, Texas, and it matches the MO of your victims. I'm afraid that there's not much more that I can do."

"Can you confirm it?'

"Yes, of course."

"Do it."

So his parents were dead, silenced by Van Cleef's enforcers or by Van Cleef's own hand. Setting his phone down Edward stared at the wall in front of him. It was stark white, and numb. Just like he was inside. Edward had been considering painting the house, but now he'd just leave it white and black. Whit for mourning and black for the death that he'd create in revenge. His parents would not go unavenahed. Van Cleef would pay dearly for their deaths, he'd make sure of it.

His somber thoughts drifted, a luxury that he rarely allowed himself. He thought of what he'd done so far in his life. Other than saving the animator, he hadn't done much to be proud of. But the little animator, that had been a strange encounter. He could have killed her so easily, he remembered, but he'd chosen to spare her, to save her life. The little girl had potential. One day she'd be a name in the preternatural field. But not today. His thoughts drifted past Miss Blake. He had started to think of the vampire who'd hired him to kill her, when his door bell rung. Pushing himself out of his chair, and he wondered if being a good neighbor was worth it, but it was always best not to raise suspicion concerning himself.

Sighing deeply, he rose and opened his door. An average lady was standing on the other side with what looked like a casserole dish.

"Hello," she said, "I'm Elise and I'd like to welcome you to the neighborhood."

"That's very kind of you," Edward murmured, shocked that she'd go through the trouble. "Thank you. would you like to come in?" He moved aside so she could enter, but she shook her head.

"I'm sure your very busy getting settled in, young man. Besides I live just down the street."

Edward placed the dish on the end table by the door, grabbed his keys, and said, "The least I can do is walk you home, after you've been so kind to me."

Edward, or Ted, smiled as the old lady, Elise, she'd called herself, shut her door. He wasn't sure what had prompted him to taker her home, but the need to see the sweet old lady home had been unescapable. Now, however, he needed to turn his mind back to business. He needed to kill something, and it'd be nice if someone payed him to do it. Yes, that would be wonderful. He'd be able to release the tension that had come with finding out about his... family. He smiled, just a tiny vicious one, that he didn't  even notice, as he picked up the dish and took it into the kitchen. He'd have to return the dish before he went out on an assignment. One glimpse of the letter, however, set Edward's face into a grim mask, which looked like it had been carved out of granite, Yes, de definitely needed a job. He needed to kill something and let his frustrations out.

Picking up the rest of his mail, he sorted it into bills and job offers. There ended up being one bill and three job offers. Opening the job offers, he studied all of them, and spent a moment considering which one to take. He could only be in one place at one time.  The offer he did except was for a werewolf that had been terrorizing a small town. The people were desperate enough to contact him, and pay for his services. Besides, preternatural creatures were harder to kill. His last few kills had been flat and boring. There just wasn't enough challenge in killing normal people anymore. He hadn't found supernatural creatures boring. No, they were still a challenge, which was the major reason he was taking this contract. He loved a challenge, even if it wasn't worth as much as the other two. Edward didn't need money all that badly. So the challenge was worth it.

The scenery flashed by Edward's face. He'd done what he'd been payed to do. Most of his tension was gone, and the small town was once again safe. Now, he could go home. It was strange to think of the house in Santa Fae as home, but it was, however strange that whole concept was.

Tossing his keys onto the kitchen table, Edward hit the answering machine. The machine whirled, and buzzed, then the PI's voice came on.

"Mr. Forrester, I've found the evidence that the people, by that I mean the man and the woman, were murdered. I'm 100% certain.  There identities, names I mean, were John and Martha Van Cleef, and they had one son, a boy they named Edward. They left him a letter..."

 

Black Knight
Chapter Six: The Painful Truth

The message continued, but Edward wasn't listening. His parents were dead, and he knew who had killed them. Van Cleef was the only one who would have been able to kill them, and get his hands on their child, to get his hands on Edward. The second major shock was that his parents shared the same surname as that monster. Maybe that letter had been correct, maybe Van Cleef hadn't been lying when he'd claimed a blood connection. Maybe the man who had been terrorizing him for so long really was his uncle. If it was really true, then what type of man was he? Would he get so vindictive that he's start destroying children's lives? In ten years what would he be? It made him think that he might become like that monster. That thought alone would be enough to make him watch his step.

Hitting rewind on his answering machine, Edward listened to the message again, and this time he heard where he'd have to go to get the letter that his parents had left him. It would answer many of his questions, of that he was sure. Entering his sterile kitchen, Edward took off his jacket, and draped it over a chair. Opening his fridge, Edward looked for something to drink, his stomach not feeling up to actual food, not with the emotional shocks that he'd undergone tonight.

Tomorrow he'd have to start off toward Fort Worth, Texas. That was where is parents has been in residence when they'd been murdered. Again, Edward found himself wondering if Van Cleef was just an assumed name. He sincerely hoped so, he truly didn't want to be related to the monster who'd taken away his childhood and replaced it with endless training. But that training would pay off now, and in the long run.

Sipping the orange juice that he'd pulled from the fridge, Edward mused that he's have to create some identification to prove that he was Edward Van Cleef. Yes, sometimes being trained all your life could come in handy. Now, he could make an id that could fool anyone, and he did mean anyone. It was time to go prove, or make the proof, that he was indeed Edward Van Cleef. The things that he had to do to find out what his past was. To find out what he could have been if he hadn't been molded into death by a human devil.

It took Edward about three hours to make a fake id that passed his test. It was certainly good enough to fool lawmen, and lawyers, in Fort Worth. Edward collapsed onto his couch for a few short hours of sleep.

At 4:30 AM Edward's eyes opened, and he blinked twice in an effort to allow his night vision to kick in faster. Making his way through his home he pulled out a duffel bag. Shoving some nondescript clothes into it, he zipped it shut, and set it by the bedroom door. Opening his night stand, he pulled out his favorite Bretta 92. Putting it in a spare shoulder holster, he put it on top of the duffel. Gathering a few other necessities, he opened the duffel, and shoved them all into it. Then he zipped it and pushed it out the door with his foot. Grabbing it, Edward strode out of the door, down the hall, and through the house. The keys found their way into Edward's hand. The house was locked, and Edward tossed the duffel into the passenger's seat of his Jeep. At about 5:00 AM Edward's Jeep pulled out of Santa Fae, home, and  down the road that would lead to Fort Worth, and Edward's mysterious past.

It took Edward two days to drive across the arid land that made up most of the American Southwest. Pulling up at a small cafe and gas station on the outskirts of  Forth Worth, Edward filled the Jeep up and bought himself a coffee. Climbing back into the Jeep he drove to where he was supposed to meet the PI he's hired to track down his parents.

Entering the small restaurant, Edward sat with his back to the wall, and waited for the PI. He came in about ten minutes later, and sat down facing Edward.

"Mr. Van Cleef?' He asked.

"Yes?" Edward's reply was soft.

"This is the information I've found on the people that you hired me to find." A file was slid across the table.

Glancing through it, Edward smiled, a little smile, a sad smile.
"Thank you for being so thorough."

"I was only doing what you payed me for, sir."

"Still, thank you. Where do I go to obtain this letter that my parents left to me."

"It's being kept by your parent's solicitor."

"And where would I find him at this time of day?"

"At his office. I believe that I left the address for you on your machine."

"You did. Thank you again." Edward slipped an envelop of money across the table, stood, and left the restaurant. And went to find  yet another puzzle piece to his past.

When Edward entered the lawyer's office a pretty secretary looked up at him.

"May I help you sir?"

"I'm looking for Mr. Calbert."

Do you have an appointment, sir?"

"No, do I need one? I'd just like a few moments of Mr. Calbert's time."

"I'll check with him. May I have your name sir?"

"Edward Van Cleef."

"I'll check if he has the time to see you Mr. Van Cleef."

"Thank you miss."

The young woman turned and began to rapidly talking into the phone on her desk. Edward waited a few feet from the desk.

She turned back around to face Edward, "Mr. Calbert will see you, but you only have half an hour."

"Thank you very much, miss."

"Go through the third door to the left."

"Thank you miss."

"You're welcome, Mr. Van Cleef."

It was a calming walk down the short hall for Edward, and taking a deep breath Edward knocked on the door."

"Come in, sir."

Edward pushed the door open and entered the office. The man sitting behind the desk  had a forgettable face. It  was most likely one of the reason that his parents had chosen him.

"Mr. Van Cleef, " the man greeted him. "It's good to finally meet you."
"I'm sorry that this meeting is so delayed. But I only recently found out that my parents had left me anything."

"May I inquire to why?"

"I was staying with a relative, and I'm not sure that he knew about the letter, or if he thought that I was to young to understand."

"That I can understand. I'm glad that you made it to visit me at this point in time."

"So am I, Mr. Calbert."

"I take it that you wish to see the letter that your parents left to you."

"Yes, please."

"You understand that I need to see some identification. To prove that you are actually Edward Van Cleef. This is just a formality, but we have to observe it. You understand?"

"Of course," Edward replied, and dug into his back pocket for his wallet. Pulling out his recently made id, he handed to the lawyer that was guarding the key to his past. And waited for what he knew would come.

"Thank you, Mr. Van Cleef. If you'll kindly come this way, I'll write a note to the
storage facility, And phone them so that you don't have to go through this again. And, of course, get you the directions to the  storage facility that your parents requested that their belongings be kept."

"Thank you, Mr. Calbert."

"You're welcome Mr. Van Cleef. Please allow me a moment to get the directions, And of course, phone ahead for you."

"Thank you very much. That's very kind of you."

Edward took the directions from the lawyer, And said his good-byes. And with the directions that his parent's lawyer had provided  he had no problems finding the place. The key, that he'd been given with the directions, clenched tightly in his fist. Edward knew that the key that he held was literally the key to his past. The storage facility was across town, so it took Edward a while to get there. But he did. Entering the office on the grounds, Edward looked for someone who was official looking.

"Mr. Van Cleef?" The woman behind the counter questioned. Well, she was official looking enough.

"Yes."

"That's good. It's good to see you. We were told that you were coming. Number 794."

"Thank you."

Edward followed the numbers to his past. When he reached 794 it was in the third warehouse from the office, And the middle of the room. He opened the little cubby box thing that had his number on it.

He pulled the contents from it slowly. Careful not to lose anything, not to drop anything. he sorted through it until he found the letter that he was looking for. He'd have to deal with the rest later. Finding the letter, he opened it, careful not to rip the envelop to badly. Everything here was a cherished piece of his past. Unfolding it he began to read.

Edward,

Our dear little boy. If you're reading this then you aren't little anymore, And things haven't gone well between us and your uncle. He always was upset when your father hung up his guns, In all likelihood we are dead. But we didn't want to go with out letting you know how much we love you. And we do, more than anything else in the world. Even though we haven't seen you grow up, we're proud  of you. You've probably been trained by your uncle to be a machine, but don't give into that. You're a human being and it's all right to feel. This letter probably doesn't contain all that you want to know, but the document, And the envelop, the other one, should contain most of what you seek. There is also a key to a box like this in Baton Rouge, it should contain the rest, And another key. But we thought that you should know that we love you, believe in you, And are proud of you. NO MATTER WHAT!!

Love,
your parents,
John and Martha Van Cleef.

And for the first time for as long as he could remember Edward cried.

End Chapter Six

 

Black Knight

Chapter Seven: Finding Hope

 

Edward sat at his kitchen table, starring at nothing. He's followed the path that his parents had left him. He'd traveled the south of America. His parents had seemed to love the south. But they seemed  to love their child, him, and each other even more. It had been the hardest thing in Edward's young life to feel that love, but never truly know it.

 

There was a knock on the door, and Edward forced himself from his chair. Elise was standing there with another woman. This one was younger, and blonde. "Ted," Elise chirped

 

"Elise, it's good to see you again. And who is this lovely young woman with you?"

 

 "This is Donna. She just moved  into the neighbourhood, and I thought you two should meet."

 

"Thank you, Elise. It was nice to meet you Donna. Would you like to come in?" Edward asked, trying to polite.

 

"No, that's all right. It was great to meet you Edward. I hope to see you soon."

 

Bemused Edward closed his front door. He carefully stored all that his parents had left him in his attic. Death  may have feelings but that didn't mean he had to show them.

 

*One year later*

 

Edward stumbled into his kitchen. This last job had caused him to run into another assassin. The man had been called Bernardo, and he's been protecting the target. By sparing the man's, Bernardo's, life he had earned another ally. He'd run into the little animator, Anita Blake, another time, and she was learning. She wasn't quite as bad as she had been. He'd also taken Ted Forrester to a new level. Ted had just become a bounty hunter, which would explain some of Edward's gear. It had been a busy year. But none of the things that he'd done had filled the hole in his soul. He worked, to avoid depression. He spent time as Ted Forrester to avoid depression. He did a lot of things to avoid depression.

 

He entered his kitchen and hit play on his answering machine.

 

"Ted," Donna's voice sobbed, "Elise is in the hospital. Phone me when you get in."

 

Edward grabbed his phone and hit number three on his speed dial.

 

"Hello?"

 

"Peter is your Mom there?"

 

"Sure. I'll get her for you Ted. Elise will be okay, right?"

 

"I'm not sure. But I hope so."

 

There was a minute of silence and then Donna came on.

 

"Donna, how is she?"

 

'They don't think she'll make it. They say that she's to old. You'll go visit her?"

 

"I'm on my way now."

 

*One Week  Later*

 

Edward, dressed in black, sat down next to Peter and Donna. Little Becca was only two and couldn't really understand what was going on. Edward sat through out the funeral of his first real friend and he knew that he's have to go away for a little while. There looked to be a job in Saint Louis, and he'd get to meet Miss Blake again. That may not be good, but he had to get out of Santa Fae.

 

escorting Donna to her car her watched her kids get in before saying, "I'm going away for a while. I need some space to deal with all of this. I'll be back soon." Kissing her cheek he turned and walked away.

 

Edward dumped his bags inside his door. He'd dealt with his grief over Elise in the last three months and become fairly close friends withy Ms. Blake, at least by his standards. But it was still good to be home. Hitting Donna's number he left a message on her machine. It was going to be strange but he'd live with the knowledge his friend wasn't just down the street.

 

Going out to Santa Fae he decided to introduce Ted to the monster community. That only took him about  two hours but when he got home there was a message from Donna suggesting they meet for coffee.

 

Edward hit her number and left another message, and so a game of phone tag had begun.

 

The next week found Edward sitting in a coffee shop on his first date ever, well romantic date, and he's admit that Donna and her kids filled that empty part of his soul. But how he dealt with ut would be another story entirely. The date had passed quickly and another was set up. It was very strange to Edward. Both dating and his having a girlfriend confused him on some level. But he was happy as he made his way home.

 

That happiness disappeared when he was looking through his mail and he found a twenty fifth birthday card from his Uncle. Time certainly went by fast, and it was funny to think that he was only twenty five. He felt older, and he looked it, and acted it. Hell, even his fake ID's put his age at thirty one. But that was all a lie. Edward Van Cleef, death incarnate, was living a suburban lie, but it made him happier then killing  ever had,  Funny how the only thing that he could ever really do didn't make him happy. It was kinda funny,  but Edward wasn't going to think about it. Hmmm, it was certainly a dilemma, but Death could handle it.

 

Getting closer to Donna wasn't going to dangerous as long as she never figured out there was more to him then she saw. Appearances must stay deceiving if Donna and her children were to stay safe. All that mattered was that they stayed safe. He's lost a  enough in his life so far.

 

But for now he's go out on business, and make sine more money and "help" some more people. Maybe meet some other assassins, and stay as far from his living nightmare as possible. After all, the key to dealing with anything was not thinking about it... ever.

 

It was time to let Death out of his cage. Not much time passed before Edward was standing beside another coffin and pumping  silver nitrate into another blood sucker's veins. This one  had been no challenge, just a flunky. He was really interested in the Masters. They looked like a challenge that could hold his attention. It would  be a challenge as just about nothing else. And it would make him forget these ridiculous urges to hang up his guns. That was what had gotten his father killed and him in this situation. No, he decided as he walked away from the scene, he wouldn't give into these stupid feelings and get himself killed. But he's have to remove the temptations. Yes, he'd just have to avoid Donna and her children. That was the answer to this problem. He's begun to enjoy being Ted... too much. From now on Ted went back to being an act. It was safer for all of them.

 

*Two Years Later*

 

Edward dropped the tools of his trade by his door. Soon after he'd returned to New Mexico he's moved out of his house in Santa Fae. He now lived outside of the city proper. And the last two years had seen him avoiding Donna and her company. But now he had no choice but to face them. A gang leader like businessman had contacted him and asked him to kill someone, to be Death. And that someone was Donna, but could be do it? Could he kill the innocent widow who'd taken him out on his first date?

 

And worst of all he couldn’t get his parent's words about feeling out of his head. It was... unnerving because though he allowed himself to feel some things he didn't want to feel the overpowering things that he felt around Donna.

 

"Mr. Edward?"

 

Edward nodded his head at his employer, or possible employer. The man, who by asking for this, had just sealed his own death warrant. The man who'd just guaranteed his own death.

 

"I'm sorry Mr. Robos but I won't take the hit, not enough challenge, you see. You on the other hand look to be a challenging mark."

 

Edward had his Beretta upholstered in the blink of an eye. Pulling the trigger, he put a third eye in the man's forehead.

 

"Well," he murmured to himself, "that was disappointing. And now I have to find another job. Sometimes doing the right thing is a major pain in the ass."

 

Edward's expression was downcast as he entered his house. It didn't feel as much like as his home as the other one did, but it suited his personality.

 

He tossed his dirty laundry into the washer,  listened to it start, and hit the buttons on the answering machine that would allow him to listen to his messages. He listened to it start up, and run through the useless messages. As it did Edward began the task of cleaning his weapons  and with that done, he moved to toss the laundry in the dryer. He was beginning to regret getting such a long tape, it had more room for junk messages. Then he moved  to his computer and turned it on. There were messages waiting  from him there too, but only one was of any value. It was a message from one of his contacts  in Saint Louis. He said that someone was trying to kill Anita. That meant that he's have to stop them. He didn't invest all this time in her to let someone kill her. No, she was one of  few friends and she wasn't doing to die and she wasn't going to die because he wasn't going to let it happen. But for that he'd need some back up, and to get back up he'd have to call in some favors. Picking up his little green book, he sifted through it until he saw one name: Harley. With the people that Anita now kept company with Harley would be the one man he could count on if he brought him in. So, Harley it was. Picking up his phone he dialed the number.

 

"Harley..." the voice on the other end answered.

 

"Harley, this is Edward."

 

"Death. It's good to hear from you. Why are you calling me?"

 

"I'm sure that you've heard about what's going on around Anita Blake."

 

"I have."

 

"I think that it's a monster, and I don't want a monster taking out one of the best monster hunters out there today. And I want your help to stop their plan."

 

"Of course, were are we meeting?"

 

"In Saint Louis. And Harley?"

 

"Yes?"

 

"Don't harm a hair on Anita's head. She's like a sister to me."

End Chapter Seven

 

Black Knight

Chapter Eight: Confronting the Past

 

Edward gently set his bag on the couch, his soul wearied because of what had happened up in Saint Louis. He'd lost on friend and ally to another. Staring into his sterile kitchen Edward remembered Harley's eagerness to help, and Anita's coldness concerning his death. But he didn't let those emotions show upon his face. He'd taken no more then a favor for Harley's death, it didn't seem right. But it was a favor that he'd call in when it felt right, and just, when it was something that Harley would have stood against.

 

The answering machine kicked in behind him. "Ted," Donna's sliced through his thoughts. "I know that we have a somewhat unexplained past, but I'm phoning because I need you help. There are these men after me and the kids, and I was hoping  that you'd know what to do to make them leave us alone. Please phone me. You still have my number."

 

Looking at the time, Edward sighed. He'd phone her in the morning. She just sounded so pathetic and scared. He couldn't just leave her hanging, not after he'd started protecting her from the underbelly of society.

 

His eyes closed as he allowed his body to relax and the burdens that he carried to be lifted. of only temporarily. Edward  allowed himself to sleep a few hours on his couch, and just escape all of it.

 

Seven the next morning saw him rubbing his eyes, and wandering towards the kitchen for a cup of coffee. With the caffeine in his system he'd be better  able to deal with Donna and her children. He simply sipped a cup of black coffee. And after staring out the window for a few minutes Edward grabbed his phone and punched in Donna's number from memory.

 

"Hello," a sweet little voice answered.

 

"Hello, Becca. Honey, can I please speak to your mommy?"

 

"Okay, mister. I'll go get mommy for you."

 

She set the phone down and could hear her little footsteps as she raced to get Donna.

 

"Hello?" Donna sounded slightly winded from her journey to the phone.

 

"Donna, you called me last night, but I missed it. So I', returning your call."

 

"Oh, thank you, Ted! I'm so glad that you called back. I have no idea what to do about these men. They're terrifying me and my kids. Becca's so scared that she won't go outside with out me. Ted, what ever happened in the past aside, will you please help me and my children?"

 

"Of course, Donna. Just because some stuff happened that separated us doesn't mean that I'm not still your friend, and that I still don't care about you."

 

"Thank you so much Ted."

 

"Anytime Donna. You have my number, phone any time that you feel threatened."

 

A while later, Edward ser the phone back into its cradle. He managed to get a name out of Donna. And he's have a little talk with that man as Ted, and if that didn't work then he'd have a little  talk with the slimebag as Death. He was fairly certain that wouldn't be required though.

 

Edward phoned the small time gangster and set up an appointment as Ted Forrester, if Death was needed there would be no appointment required. Edward sat in  the comfy lounge area, waiting to be seen. His life had taught the value if patience. Things didn't always happen quickly, and a good assassin was one that could wait until the target was in the perfect position, much like a sniper had to.

 

Finally the tiny blonde behind the desk signaled that it was time for Edward to enter the office.

 

Standing, Edward entered the office of his pray with a compact grace that was highly enviable.

 

"Mr. Forrester, what did you wish to meet me about?" The suave man behind the desk asked.

 

"You're harassing a woman named Donna, and her young children. You will stop this of I will stop you."

 

"You're a bounty hunter. What can you do to me?"

 

Edward allowed his blank face, the one that Anita called 'the monster face', to slip through. "It's very simple, if you don't leave the nice new age widow alone I can, and will, kill you. Am I making myself clear?"

 

"Very clear, Mr. Forrester. I'll leave Donna and her children alone from now on. You have nothing to worry about from me. I'm out of both of your lives the moment that you leave this office."

 

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear, so I'll be going now. And remember what will happen if you break you promise. I'm not a very forgiving man."

 

Edward smiled as he climbed into his SUV. It felt good to threaten, and terrify, that worm. It probably would have felt better to kill him, and remove any future threat, but that would upset Donna, and  draw far to much attention to him. Even if they'd never be able to prove that he'd done it.

 

So, now he'd wait and hope the worm kept his word and didn't make Edward regret not killing him.

Donna had asked to meet him later in the day, and Edward had agreed/ so now he was going to a late lunch with Donna and her little girl.

 

He entered the cafe and Donna waved from a booth in the corner. The position of the booth made Edward feel a little better about his. He slipped into the booth, pleased to be able to put his back to a  wall.

 

"Ted," Donna's voice wavered a little, and he offered her his hand to squeeze.

 

"It's okay now Donna," he reassured before turning his attention to the cute as a button bundle of little girl seated  next to her mother.

 

"I'm Becca," she piped up.

 

"Well, Becca, I'm Ted and I'm pleased to meet you."

 

"I'm happy to meet you too, Mister Ted."

 

Donna smiled, and turned her attention to Ted, or Edward, "So did you get a chance to meet with him?"

 

"Yes, I met with him and talked with him. He won't be bothering you or your kids again."

 

"How did you manage that?"

 

"I just explained the folly of continuing with the course of action he was on. He agreed and we both agreed to drop the matter."

 

"Oh, thank you so much, Ted."

 

"My pleasure. Now we should order."

 

The small group placed their orders and settled in for a peaceful lunch together. Most of the conversation was supplied by Becca who chatted on eagerly, ignoring the tension between the adults. And Edward was soon completely caught up on what had happened to Donna and her family during his absence.

 

After lunch, Edward walked Donna to her car and helped her  to strap the small Becca into her child seat. Standing by the driver's door, Edward waited for Donna to get it.

 

"Ted, whatever happened in the past..."

 

"Had nothing to do with you, Donna. That had to do with me, and my own problems. I hope that I've worked through them and we can be friends again."

 

"I'd like that too."

 

She opened her door and ducked inside, starting the car, and she drove out of the parking lot, and was soon out of sight, Edward walked back to his own car, the reliable Jeep, and departed as well. He wondered, as he got caught in the Santa Fae rush hour traffic, which he had gotten trapped in. He knew what happened when he got close to Donna. And now her children provided another temptation to lure him into hanging up his guns. He's just have to use more of the will power that he'd had drummed into him by his devil of an Uncle this time around. It shouldn't be that be hard. She was only a woman and he'd had dozens of those since he's been granted his freedom. After all, he'd had ten years to learn his own lessons too.

 

Getting back to his house, Edward booted up his computer. He'd have to listen to the info-messages later. But it wasn't as if anyone ver phoned him. He phoned them, and he never left a return number. The machine was a formality. And the only people who left messages on it were the people who he him as Ted, and only knew him as Ted. But right now his main concern was dealing with, and nd locating, any more threats to the health and mental well being of Donna and her kids. Even moe then Donna this was about her kids. edward knew enough about his own motivations to realize, to him, this was more about Donna's children then it would ever be about Donna herself.

 

Edward snooped around the criminal, and not criminal, computer systems if Santa Fae. Soon, Donna wasn't a very threatening activist, he'd been through all the possibilities, and he hadn't found any more threats to Donna.

 

Edward smiled thinking if Donna's little girl. If there was one thing that Edward cherished above all others it was adorable little children who weren't afraid of him.

 

Edward wandered to his kitchen. He hit  the percolate button on his coffee machine and settled into to listen to the bullshit on Ted's machine.

 

"Edward, Death. I am phoning about your Uncle. I'm his medical officer. I believe that it would benefit his health if you would come to visit him."

 

"Not in this lifetime. He's done nothing to earn my respect. Let him suffer. I'll just enjoy it from here."

 

End Chapter.

 

Black Knight

Chapter Nine: The Quiet Before the  Storm

 

Edward sighed. Things were quiet, too quiet. Instinct told Edward that the only time things were this quiet was right before something horrible happened. Nothing had tried to kill him, his "friends", and  all his hits had gone well. Hell, things were even going well in the friendship with Donna. That was why he had a page yellowed with age. It was a letter from his father had written him that told him to always reach for love, no matter the cost. Now, he had to decide if a relationship with Donna was worth it, and he could live with himself if he didn't take the chance If he did his life would change forever.

 

The phone was ringing behind him, so Edward reached around and grabbed it.

 

"Hello," his voice sounded pleasant, even if his mind was a mixture of chaotic thoughts.

 

"Ted," the object of his troubled thoughts replied. "I was wondering if you'd come to dinner with me and the kids."

 

"Of course, I will, Donna." Tonight he'd settle his troubled thoughts. Decide whose path he wanted to follow his dead father, who told him to love, or his monster of an Uncle who'd shaped him into an incarnation of Death. Contrary to the way that it sounded, the decision wasn't an easy one. Death was having a young-life identity crisis.  Now who was he, but what did he want to be remembered for. Who did he want to grow old with, who did he want to... love.

 

Sighing, Edward listened to Donna's instruction of when and where, and said his good-byes.

 

In his room, painted black to remind him who he was, lately it was becoming to easy to be just Ted, he looked for the clothes that Ted would wear to an event like this. Finding just the right ones, he grabbed Ted's cowboy hat and his keys, slipped a gun into the mix, and then left the house so he wouldn't be late.

 

When he got to the restaurant he watched the three hard men, for lack of  a better term, loitering around. They were waiting for someone, and it became apparent. When they began moving towards Donna recently arrived car. Meandering over Edward mentally readied himself to fight. The three lackeys surrounded Donna's car. Edward tapped one on the shoulder, "What'd you want, tough guy?" the man snarled.

 

"For you to leave the nice lady alone."

 

"Sorry, buddy, we can't do that."

 

"But I'm afraid that I can't let you do that."

 

Donna still safe in her car, looked absolutely terrified. It took Edward about half a minute before deciding that they had to go, under their own power, or not. That depended on them.

 

"I'm asking you one last time, to leave the nice lady alone."

 

"You don't hear too good, do you buddy. Just go away and we won't have to hurt you."

 

"Well, I'm afraid that just can't do that. So let's get to the fighting."

 

Edward grabbed the arm that swung towards him and twisted it until until he heard the sharp crack that was the sound of it breaking, followed by the man howling. He was out of the fight. The next man rushed forward, enraged by what had happened to his friend, and took a jab to the nose. He crumpled to the concrete. The third man, smarter then his two partners, he reached down and dragged them away.

 

Donna exited the car, tears on her face as she raced over  and hugged Edward.  He hugged her back, before asking, "Are Peter and Becca okay?"

 

Donna's  children had slowly, hesitantly, made their way out of the car.

 

"Are you two alright?" Edward asked earnestly.

 

Becca ran, crying, up to her mother and Edward, launching her small body into Edward's arms. "It's okay, honey, it's okay," he whispered. "The bad men are gone now. It'll be okay now."

 

The four of them made their way to the restaurant, and Edward asked to be seated. The shaken new age family placed their orders and waited.

 

"Mom," Peter asked, "who were those men?"

 

"I don't know. But I think that they work for that business man who was upset with me lobbying against his building  and destroying all that history. I don't remember his name."

 

Peter nodded, accepting his mother's explanation of the  night's terrifying experience. Edward, however, had made his decision about Donna. She needed someone to protect her, someone who would do what they had to. And her children struck a long forgotten cord in Edward's heart.

 

The beginning of the meal was strained. The tension crackled between Peter and Edward, and the woman were just shell-shocked to notice. For Edward the decision was made, it was looking to be a long, fairly uncomfortable meal. But that was nothing new to Edward. He'd just have to pretend nothing was wrong, and Peter did the same. This was not the meeting he would have liked with Donna's eldest child, but he's have to make the best of it.

 

Becca, with the resiliency of a child, soon recovered and began to fill the air with harmless child chatter. Edward listen with one ear, while he internally tried to find all the reasons Peter could dislike him, he, however, remembered to male all the appropriate adult noises, and responses, to Becca.

 

All in all, Edward found it to be an enjoyable, but different meal. It was certainly different then anything else that he's ever experienced. He was beginning to see the sense in his father's words. There was more to a  man then how well he could destroy countless other lives.

 

The meal was uneventful, and over about an hour after it had began so dramatically. Edward walked the same family to their car. Peter, surly as ever, climbed into the passenger's seat, and Becca was buckled into her child seat.

 

Standing outside the car, Donna looked up at Edward, "Thank you," she told him.

 

"It was nothing."

 

"No, not just for tonight, but for everything. It means a lot to me and the kids," she chuckled, "even if Peter isn't very good at showing it."

 

"It's my pleasure to help out any way that I can. Don't be afraid to call me if you ever need anything."

 

"I don't want to bother you..."

 

"It's no bother. I like being able to help out."

 

"Okay. Then, do you think we'll be able to do this again."

 

"Count on it."

 

Donna ducked into the car, and rolled down the window. After exchanging a quick chaste kiss. Edward murmured, "Drive safe." And Donna just smiled. Edward watched the car pull away, and then stumbled toward his own car. He wouldn't call what he felt for Donna love, it wasn't even sexual desire, it was the desire to have something, someone, to cherish, love, and protect. It was a strange feeling, but pleasant in it's own strange way.

 

Getting home, Edward went through his normal routine. Nothing of interest had happened in either of his worlds. With Van Cleef supposedly ill, he couldn't help quiet before the storm. That in all this downtime, something big was brewing. Waiting until it was strong enough to pounce, and when that happened all hell would break lose. Edward just hoped it was figuratively instead of literally.

 

It was late before Edward slipped into a discontented sleep. His dreams, rare occurrence, were filled with images of death and destruction, they came from his childhood. He woke up in a cold sweat, to the sound of his phone ringing.

 

Stumbling towards it, he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Picking it up, she spoke into it. "Hello?"

 

"Mr. Edward Van Cleef?"

 

"Yes," he replied warily.

 

"I'm sorry about the interruption. But I felt obliged to inform you that your Uncle is not well."

 

"Yes, I know."

 

"I'd like to know if we can expect you come to visit him?"

 

"I don't think so. Things are pretty hectic in my life, and we've never been close."

 

"Still..."

 

"I'm sorry, sir. I simply can't."

 

"I understand. Your Uncle simply wanted you to know. He's been asking for you. I just wanted to know if we can expect you."

 

"I'll try my best."

 

"Thank you."

 

Two hours later and a strange urge saw Edward on a plane to Texas. When he entered the morbid compound of his childhood, hid face became a stoic mask. He was solemnly guided toward his Uncle's room.

 

"So you came, boy"

 

"You knew I would." It was an accusation.

 

"Of course. I trained you too."

 

"How comforting. Why did you call me back?"

 

"It's time for you to come home."

 

"This isn't my home. I've made my own home. I'm my own man. I make my own life. Like my father."

 

"Then you'll end up like him."

"Dead by your hand. I don't think so. I'm all you've got and better then you."  Head held high Edward left the nightmare of his childhood, and flew back to his home, and the family that was creating. He entered his house and punched in Donna's number.

 

"Hello," she answered.

 

"Donna," he said, "what do you think about making this a steady deal. A boyfriend-girlfriend thing?" A decision, and a path chose.

 

"I think I'd love to."

 

End Chapter Nine.

Black Knight

Chapter Ten : A Different Take

 

Edward felt like he was wading through horror, and worst of all he had no idea how to stop it. He had no clue what it even was. And he had no other options, it was time to call in the favor Anita owed him. Even though he hated to do it, and with Olaf with him too it would be asking for trouble. There were just no options left. He dailed the number from memory, one of the many Anita facts he had stored in his head. She  picked up after four rings. "Hello?"

 

"Anita, I'm calling in my favor. I need you in Santa Fae, as soon as possible."

 

"What's going on Edward?"

 

"You'll see when you get here, but come prepared." They both hung up. The ball was in motion, it couldn't be stopped now. Edward just hoped that it would be enough to stop this monster.

 

Making explanations to Donna had been tricky, and then she'd had to go along, which Edward found he couldn't refuse without giving away part of his ruse. So, Donna and Anita met. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, but ti wasn't the situation which Edward had been hoping for. But these days nothing went the way that Edward wanted. Especially with Olaf waiting back at his place, Bernardo wouldn't be a problem. Anita and Bernardo would get along just fine. They were a lot alike, though neither one would admit it.

 

Edward played his Ted persona to the hilt, knowing it would annoy Anita, wanting to get some subtle jabs in while he could. Before he was immersed in the horror that was his latest case, his latest monster, the one that he needed Anita for. The one that scared him, and it wasn't just that. There were some movements underground ring, movements that made Edward edgy, because they were rumored to involve Van Cleef. Just what he did not need. All in all, he was glad to have Anita backing him up, and protecting his new family.  If Van Cleef hurt them, there would be hell to pay, and it would be payable to Death.

 

Edward hadn't counted on Anita and Peter hitting it off so well, or being so scathing. That was nothing compared to the shock he felt seeing the low grade thugs he'd put in the hospital coming towards their table. If their boss wasn't dead by the end of all this he would be soon after. The message had been clear, the results of ignoring spelled out clearly. Those results were a very painful death. The results of that little encounter had made him realize the differences between Donna and Anita. Made him think that Donna wasn't the one for him, but there was something that just wouldn't let go. He'd just be more careful with Donna and the kids. And, of course, catch his monster. His Ted persona  firmly in place he began to work. Every once in a while Anita could still do something to surprize Edward. The kick had been a surprize, he reaction to Bernardo had been expected, even if it had occurred in a little more extreme conditions then he would have liked. Olaf's reaction, however, left much to be desired. Anita had been able to contain herself, and Olaf had just been a disappointment. But, now, it was time to get serious, and stop the monster. Edward watched Anita wade through the carnage, he watched Bernardo  play host, and he thought. Not just about this case, but the rumor that Van Cleef had sent someone to eliminate his new family. He thought of his brutal past, his blood soaked present, and his hopefully brighter future.

 

Listening to Anita reason, he couldn't help beaming. The woman he thought of as his little sister has grown so much since the first time he met her, but only in someways.

 

~A Day Later~

 

Edward watched Anita try to manage Obsidian Butterfly. With Anita's help Edward had begun to discover things about the situation, and the locals. He was beginning to think that they'd actually be able to solve this case with out anymore loss of life. Things were very good right now, he'd soon be able, he'd soon be able to concentrate on taking out Van Cleef because the man had to go.

 

The private lair of the master of the city, was a morbid place, that filled Edward with an uneasy sense of dread. The reason behind that was soon revealed as vampires flooded the cavernous area. It would take some quick thinking and faster talking to get them out this of this one whole. Sometimes Edward believed that working with Anita was more trouble then it was worth. Luckily this was not one of those times. Now they seemed to be going nowhere with the case, but Edward knew they were going somewhere.

 

~Time passes~

 

Edward sighed, looking at Anita laying so lifelessly on the hospital bed. He didn't know how she managed to attract so much trouble. Bernardo now had a broken arm, making him even more useless then before, and Anita had ended up in the hospital. He hoped that she had learned enough, or anything to help balance the cost of what had happened. Even more disturbing was the rumor, in certain circles, that Van Cleef's man had joined up with some stupid resentful enemy of Donna's. The name of this idiot escaped him right now.

 

Anita had learned some, now had a mild crush on a detective, and a new lead. Edward began to think the hospital debacle was almost worth it. Even the tensions in his house had eased a bit, and for that he was grateful. The other thing he was grateful for was that they seemed to be getting closer to solving this mess, and his family was safe.

 

"Anita," he said, catching her attention. "Are you sure you want to do this? I'm sore that there are other ways."

 

"Not that any of us can see, Edward. I have to do this before any more people die."

 

"Are you sure?"

 

"I'm sure."

 

"Then I'm sending Bernardo with you... as back up."

 

"What can he do Edward. The man has a broken arm."

 

"You'd be surprized Anita. I'm not letting you do this without backup, and trust the good detective to be able to do what has  to been done."

 

"Fine, but he'd better not get in my."

 

"He won't." This was one of the times that working with Anita just wasn't worth it.

 

Edward sat quietly in his house, letting the quiet soothe his battered soul. Anita had been asking questions since she'd arrived. What did Donna and kids mean to him? How was he suppose to answer that when he didn't even know himself. They were important, important enough to kill for, but considering who he was, what he was, that didn't say much.

 

"Ted," Donna's voice snapped Edward from his morse, complex thoughts.

 

"Yeah, Donna. I'm in the living room."

 

"Thank heavens. Ted, can you watch Becca and Peter for a couple of hours for me?"

 

"Sure thing, Donna. Just let me put these case files away."

 

"Okay."

 

So, from that point on, Edward found himself unable to even work on the case. Peter sat around and sulked about being left with the man he considered a rival, and Becca race around the house, burning more energy the Edward could ever remember having. It made him feel old and tired. It made his soul hurt.

The door in the kitchen burst open, and Edward was calling to Becca to run, and telling Peter to hide. A man appeared from the kitchen, Becca in his grasp, Edward got ready to fight. He never got the chance to, however, because two men came through his front door. Edward's battle honed senses picked then up, and he tired to move as he heard the click of the trigger. Ducking the bullet, Edward felt the pin prick of a dart. Pulling the dart out of his shoulder, Edward looked at it.

 

Edward woke to find his pristine home in shambles. "Becca?" he called, but there was no answer. "Peter?' he screamed, growing frantic. Again there was no response. Edward tore through the house. A search of the house yielded no children. He did, however, find a letter with Van Cleef's logo embossed in the corner in the middle of his pristine kitchen table.

 

He opened it.

 

My Dear Nephew,

 

Since  you are so enamored of the course of your dear father took in life. I've decided to put you to the 'test.' If you have what it takes to get these children back, you can keep them. But if you can't, then they will die! Think of this as a way to keep you freedom, and your little 'family.' If now you can't, well, then, you all die.

 

V.C.

 

Edward crumpled the letter in his fist. A test!  The man had taken Becca and Peter to test his resolve. The bastard. Bernardo and Anita entered the house to find Edward cleaning up.

 

"Suit up," he murmured, "we have a job to do."

 

"What?" Anita asked.

 

"Get Becca and Peter back from the bastards who took them and then drugged me."

 

Edward could feel the tension in the car as he drove to the place his sources had told him Becca and Peter were being held. They spread out, Bernardo and Olaf into the dark knight, and Anita and Edward going to the front door to meet the welcoming committee. While trading witty retorts with one of Van Cleef's cut outs, Edward could feel his sense of unease growing. Becca and Peter were in danger, and he was playing with these idiots, watching them posture like the amateurs that they truly were.

 

Watching them cart Anita off, Edward felt mild concern and thankfulness. That they were still breathing and that the children were too. So that meant he still had a chance to pull them out. Edward watched Anita kill her targets, and he felt the rage burn in him. He felt for a smart assed thugs pulse. It wasn't there. The true mission had begun. They had to get the kids out. Finding them in  dungeon like rooms, then they began to pull back, with Olaf and Bernardo helping. They were close to the house, and working to help out. They were almost safely out of the house, but there was still Simon and  Van Cleef to deal with, and  they would be dealt with. Then, there was a threat, coming at them, coming at Peter. Edward inserted his body. The pain was extreme, and Edward could feel the worry around him. He could hear Peter, and tried to reassure him. But Anita's words had him paralyzed. she had to get them out, away from here. Bernardo and Olaf were there too, Edward ‘s hazy brain realized. "Get them out," he whispered to Anita, as they made their way out of the hellhole prison. Then there came a point which the pain over came his will to stay awake. He just hoped that all went well.

 

The next thing Edward knew was pain, fighting past it he realized he was in the hospital. that must have meant the kids were alright. His fears were put to rest when he saw his family, and since he'd lost his family, his parents, Edward felt like crying because he had a new family. Explaining what had happened to Anita, and the underlying fear that she had killed Edward, or that he had killed her, had been emotional, or at least it had been for him. All said  and done, Edward was glad to be sending her on her way, even if Olaf would be hunting her. He'd deal with Olaf if that time ever came. Keeping his ones loves safe was a full time job, and sometimes it was painful, that much was becoming clear to him. But it had to be done. Now Van Cleef had to understand Edward's point of view. A simple note would do.

 

V.C.,

 

Looks like I won this one. My family is safe.

                                                            - E

 

 

The letter dropped from the ashen old man's hand.

 

End Chapter.

 

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