The Sacred Knights

by Mary Ting

  “What the hell?” I barked, rising up swiftly on my feet.

  “You can’t enter. Cyrus placed your mother in between realms and used a spell so her loved ones can’t find her,” Mortem said. “It’s why you didn’t see her at the Rabbit Hole.”

  “The what? The hole? The Rabbit? The Rabbit Hole? What kind of name is that for such a sacred place?” Seeing Lucia there made it more sacred in my memory. It had been like watching the sunrise and being in the violent storm at the same time.

  “There is no name. The humans called it the Rabbit Hole because it’s underground tunnels, and the entrance is like a giant rabbit hole.”

  I half listened to what he said. How to find my mother dominated my thoughts. I’d hoped traveling back would give me more clues about where Cyrus could have imprisoned my mother, but the only solid answer I got, which was the more important part, my mother was alive.

  Chapter 20

  Lucia

  I knew where we were headed, but I went with a heavy heart. In the middle of a courtyard, on a dais for all to see, the Knights Templar were tied to wooden poles. Each pole was positioned to create a large circle, and in the middle and surrounding their feet were piles of hay and wood.

  Some threw stones at the Knights Templar, and some cried out for mercy. My heart squeezed from the horrid sight. Humans could be so cruel. They judged and condemned so easily. They closed their eyes and shut their ears. Did they not know the Knights Templar were being framed?

  At one point in history, people adored the Knights Templar. Boys and men wanted to be them, to serve God and the pope. How small their minds had become from the rumors. They had forgotten what they had seen with their own eyes, all the good the knights had done. Humans were so critical, quick to blame others, quick to believe the worst in their kindred.

  “The knights are charged with heresy, and so must the punishment fit the crime. They will burn at the stake,” the man holding a torch carried his voice across the crowd.

  Many knights would die that day, but other knights were sentenced to perpetual imprisonment. One by one, the Knights Templar were accused of many wrongdoings: worshipping the devil, being homosexual, rape, witchcraft, and stealing from the Church and the people.

  “There’s Jacques de Molay and Geoffroi by his side.” Jack pointed to the left of him, his voice in a panic. “Hurry. Get them out.”

  Jacques stood out from his comrades. Blood trickled from his matted hair, his eyes and cheeks covered in black and blue. Though his fellow men had been beaten as well, Jacques seemed to have gotten the worst of it.

  “No, Jack.” Uncle Davin shot out his hand to Jack’s shoulder, preventing him from dashing into the crowd. “We can’t change history. And if we could, I wouldn’t allow it. They will set an example for all mankind. They are martyrs. This day will be marked in history. This day ended the era of Knight Templars. Let them be remembered, never forgotten.” Uncle Davin dipped his head, his fist over his heart.

  “I can’t watch.” Brody covered his eyes with his hands.

  “We’re not here to watch this cruelty,” Uncle Davin said.

  “Then why are we here?” Zach asked.

  “There. I see something, rather someone.” Abel’s eyes widened, pointing toward Jacques de Molay.

  “The reason we came.” Uncle Davin carefully pushed his way through the crowd. We trailed behind him.

  “Ikelia,” I murmured under my breath.

  Ikelia wore a black cloak, blending in with the crowd. A hood covered her eyes, but when she approached Jacques, she became invisible. She again appeared on the dais next to Jacques.

  We listened from below with our supernatural hearing.

  “I’m sorry I cannot save you, my friends.” Tears glistened in Ikelia’s eyes, glancing between Jacques and Geoffroi.

  “No. You mustn’t. We knew this day would come,” Jacques managed to say in a hoarse voice. Then he glanced about his friends. “I wish they didn’t have the same fate as mine. Sometimes I ask why. Why must we suffer in such a way? But it is not my will but our God’s. Thus, I give my life to him.”

  “You are a brave man, Jacques.” Ikelia’s voice quivered, and tears threatened to fall. “And you as well Geoffroi.”

  “I am not brave, but my men are.” Jacques shifted his weight. His hands tied behind the stake gave him little room to move. “They have fought alongside me, as they will die beside me. For their loyalty to our Father and me, they will join me in an afterlife of heavenly bliss.”

  “It was an honor, my friend,” Geoffroi said. “Even knowing death is upon me, I would do it all over again.”

  “Then it is done, my friend. Say a little prayer for me when you are in the presence of the holy ones,” Ikelia said.

  “I will, Ikelia. You’ve been my greatest ally. Do you have our swords?” Jacques asked.

  Ikelia stroked his greasy tangled hair. “Yes. I will bury the seven originals’ ashes in Rosslyn Chapel when it is built, along with the sword. People will remember all that you have done and accomplished. Knight Templars will never be forgotten. I swear this upon my life.”

  Tears streamed down Jacques’s dirty face. “I am a man. I’ve never shed a tear, but your words have truly touched my heart.” More tears streaked down his face. “I know God will not abandon me. His will be done.”

  Ikelia caressed his blood-caked cheek. “I’m here, my friend. I will not leave you.” She gripped Jacques’s and Geoffroi’s hands tightly, standing between them as the crowd cheered for the fall of the lit torch.

  “I can’t watch.” Milani went rigid, wiping her tears.

  I wiped my own uncontrollable tears, waiting for Uncle Davin’s instruction.

  “We wait with Ikelia until it’s time. Everyone hold hands. Milani get ready to take us when I say jump,” Uncle Davin instructed. He too had sadness written all over his face.

  People screamed when fire scorched the first layer of hay, burning faster and spreading. Smoke and ashes swirled around them like falling snow. The Knights Templar held up their chins high and bravely and said as one, “Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam.”

  “Not unto us. O lord, not unto us, but to thy name give the glory,” I whispered, my heart ripping to shreds from their pain and death.

  Fire undulated through stacked wood, and as flames licked at the knights’ legs, Milani took us away.

  We arrived back at Rosslyn Chapel safe and sound, but I fell to my knees, gagging on the violence I’d witnessed. I held my sides as dry heaves racked my stomach. My breathing became labored, and I couldn’t stop my tears.

  “Lucia.” Jack dropped down to my eye level and put a comforting hand on my back.

  “I’m sorry you had to see that, Lucia.” Uncle Davin gave me his hand to pull me up. “But we had no choice. I had a feeling Ikelia would be there so that Jacques could give his last instructions. I too am broken by the treachery that killed them, but know that it can teach humanity a lesson—one they will remember. Jacques and his men are in a better place, and their legacy will always be treasured.”

  Zach embraced me and stroked my back. My brother’s love and his concern for me always soothed me, but lately, I had witnessed too many horrendous acts. I’d placed too much hope in humans. Perhaps it was terrible for me to think it, but maybe we should allow the volcano to wipe out Hawaii’s population and start anew, like during the era of Noah and the ark.

  When I let go of Zach, Milani released Brody’s arm, and Abel wiped away tears he tried to hide. We needed a moment to gather ourselves from being too shaken up by seeing Jacques and Geoffroi. I didn’t know them personally, but getting to know them through astral traveling, I had become somewhat attached by their kind hearts, charisma, bravery, and quirky ways. If I had lived during their time, I would have wanted to be their friend.

  Memories flooded back as I glanced about the pillars. We had trashed the building fighting off the teens-turned-demons, not to mention the help from Aaron’s sta
ff that had turned into a giant cobra. Father had asked Uncle Caleb to rebuild the structure the way it was. No one could tell the destruction the chapel had endured.

  “Uncle Caleb did a great job.” Zach glanced about the archway.

  “Yeah, he did,” Uncle Davin agreed and ambled down the aisle. “Look for something, anything. But don’t touch.”

  “What are we looking for?” Milani extended her hand, light shining from her fingertip like a scanner.

  “A burial place,” I said. “Ikelia buried the treasures with Jacques.”

  Abel’s blue eyes twinkled in the sunlight pouring through from the windows when he peered up at the roses. “Ikelia wouldn’t bury them on the top level of the chapel. If I were her, I would do it underneath.”

  Zach stopped at the carving of the green man. Brody froze in an awkward position, scanning under the pews. Jack stilled under the archway. Milani’s fireballs extinguished when she neared the altar. I wasn’t sure if she had done it or if she had found something. My question was answered when her eyes grew wider.

  “Under here.” Milani’s eyes went to the altar.

  Uncle Davin moved like lightning and began to examine the tiles. I recalled this area. It had not been destroyed during the recent battle.

  “Do we break it down?” Brody tapped his hand on one of the tiles.

  “No,” Uncle Davin said, his eyes beaming with an idea, no doubt. “We’re going through it.”

  “Through it, like a ghost?” Jack croaked, adjusting his glasses. “I can’t.”

  Uncle Davin rolled his eyes. “Of course you can’t, but Milani can.”

  Milani’s eyes twinkled. “You bet your a—I mean, hold my hand and I will guide you there, my friends.”

  Uncle Davin’s scowl eased into uplifted eyebrows. “Someone is being sardonically sweet.”

  “Do you want me to take you or not?” Her sassy tone came back.

  “Ahhh…there it is.” Uncle Davin raised his lips into a smirk. “Don’t pretend to be someone else. I never do. Now get to work.”

  We linked hands in a circle, and Milani worked her magic.

  Chapter 21

  Lucia

  I closed my eyes, waiting for the rush of air to slap my body and escalate around us, but when I opened my eyes, we were in the same spot as a heartbeat before.

  “What the hell?” Abel’s eyes suddenly gleamed crimson. Anger seemed to trigger a color change in his eyes.

  “Why are we still here?” Brody released a breath.

  When I looked at Uncle Davin, I got my answer. He had broken the circle and stopped Milani from performing the rest of her spell. Milani held her position, staring at Uncle Davin. I gasped. Uncle Davin held Harper and Hugo by their throats, one in each hand.

  “Traitors, liars, idiots, what other names shall I call you,” Uncle Davin growled. “Who the hell are you working with?”

  We knew the answer. Jack’s father had warned us, but Uncle Davin gave a good show of pretending not to know.

  Harper’s and Hugo’s legs dangled a foot off the ground, their fingers gripping around Uncle Davin’s fingers, begging for release. Grunting was their only answer.

  “Well, speak up. I can’t hear you,” Uncle Davin drawled.

  Zach placed a calming hand on Uncle Davin’s shoulder. “Let them go so they can explain. We need to hear their side of the story. Technically, they haven’t done anything wrong.”

  Uncle Davin cursed under his breath. Instead of letting them go, he flung them against the nearest pillar. After hitting the stone, they dropped and rose back up, rubbing their arms.

  “We’re not traitors,” Harper began. “There’s a witch named Lilith, and she has us under her control. If we don’t…um…do as she says, then—”

  “Like what?” Uncle Davin hiked his eyebrow. “You better have not told her anything, little human girl, or else you’ll see another side of me you’ll regret you let loose.”

  Harper backed away. “I didn’t tell her anything that would jeopardize—”

  “Our parents. Lilith has our parents,” Hugo blurted out, his eyes glancing to his sister and Uncle Davin, concern etched on his face. No doubt he would hear it from Harper for ratting them out.

  “Is that all?” Uncle Davin didn’t sound worried, but heavily annoyed. “You should have told us from the start.” He took a step, his gait slow and deliberate as they slowly scurried backward. “We could have helped you. But nooo, you had to be sneaky and go behind our backs. I hate sneaky people. You know what I hate worse than sneaky people?” His pitch went higher, poking at their chests. “I have no idea. I just felt like saying it. So you better have a trustworthy explanation, busters, or so help me I will squash you both like bugs. And boy did that feel good to blow off some steam.”

  “We couldn’t tell you. Lilith would have killed our parents,” Harper confessed. “But since Hugo said it, we have no choice but to tell you all of it.”

  Abel frowned. “That’s fine and all, but we’re running out of time. Cyrus is going to blow up the volcano soon, so we need to find that treasure.”

  Uncle Davin gripped Abel’s shirt collar with one hand and yanked him a breath away. “First, Abel, don’t tell me what to do. Second, Abel, I need to know what’s going on, and I mean everything. Third, then we’ll find the treasure. Fourth, I have no idea why I said the fourth.”

  Abel straightened his shirt when Uncle Davin released him. “Fine then. But we need to hurry.”

  Harper told us how Lilith showed up with Cain one day at their house and kidnapped her parents. Lilith had chosen them because they were from the Knights Templar bloodline, and they had the swords. She wanted Harper and Hugo to get information regarding mostly Jack because she held Jack’s father prisoner. Harper explained that though she gave Lilith information, she didn’t offer her any that would harm us. Uncle Davin didn’t seem to believe her, but I did. I didn’t like Harper, but she didn’t seem like the type to betray someone. Scratch that. I blamed it on short-term memory. Harper was a hothead at times and deserved a tongue whipping from Uncle Davin.

  “Fine, you want to prove yourselves? You’ll have to give up your Knights Templars swords,” Uncle Davin said.

  Harper unstrapped the sword sheath on her back and presented Uncle Davin her sword, and Hugo did the same.

  Uncle Davin held both their swords with admiration. “If you leave without permission from me, I will gut you both with your own swords. Do you understand?”

  Harper and Hugo nodded with wide terrified eyes.

  Uncle Davin flashed all his teeth, a mischievous grin spread over his face. “Oh, by the way, we recently found out about Lilith and your parents. I wanted to see if you would be honest with us. Perhaps I can trust you to be on our team. But you have a lot to prove before that happens.” Then he feigned a smile at Milani. “Take us all down.”

  We released our joined hands when we landed underground. Thick, muggy air greeted us. Though I couldn’t feel the temperature, Jack was shivering.

  I had expected it to be pitch dark, but once again eternal lights illuminated the tunnel. Unlike at the rabbit hole, they were attached to the walls. No doubt from Ikelia’s doing, they gave us enough light to see our surroundings.

  “Here. Over here.” Jack had gotten used to astral traveling, jumping into portals, and being carried away by Milani’s magic. His skin didn’t pale, and he didn’t clench his stomach like he was going to vomit that time.

  In a huddle, we rounded the corner and all steps ceased. Seven rectangular stone caskets lay in a row, each large enough to fit a body.

  “Their ashes must be inside the caskets as Ikelia promised.” Milani brushed her finger over Jacques de Molay’s name etched on the middle of his casket.

  “Check this one out.” Brody stood by the sixth and seventh tombs. “There’s a sword on the last.”

  “Don’t touch it,” Uncle Davin barked, surveying the sword.

  “I think we’re supposed to place the sword
s on top of the tombs.” Jack hovered his sword over Jacques de Molay’s casket. “Should we try?”

  Uncle Davin nodded.

  I placed the one I retrieved on top of the sixth casket. When all swords were placed, they lit up with a soft luminous glow. If we had the last sword, I imagined they would be brighter than the sun. A gentle breeze caressed me, and an angelic beautiful voice hummed through me like a lullaby.

  “They’re beautiful.” My heart pounded as I gazed at the fifth casket with no sword.

  We were missing Eli’s sword. Eli. His name echoed inside me, causing all sorts of heartache and guilt. Cyrus had not sent his soldiers to follow us. Why? Too busy raising the volcano? Perhaps he was waiting for us to find the treasure and then planned to fight for it. Or maybe he didn’t even need to find the treasure anymore. Who was to say that after we placed the last sword, we would find the treasure? Perhaps there would be another clue, and then who knew how many after?

  “Eli is never going to give up his sword,” Abel said.

  “Yes, he will. I will make him,” I countered with conviction. No matter what happened, saving the world took precedence over Eli.

  Milani glared at me, sadness filling her face.

  “What do we do now?” Brody asked.

  Uncle Davin squared his shoulders. “Grab your swords. We leave. There’s nothing we can do. Once we get Eli’s sword, I’ll come back and get the treasure. We…uh…we…” Uncle Davin’s fingers pushed through his hair. His eyebrows pinched in the center, baffled.

  I understood how he felt, like his world had collapsed. Helpless. Hopeless. Defeated. We had all the clues, and yet we couldn’t get the treasure, and worse, we didn’t know what that treasure was. What if Cyrus had already retrieved it and led us on a wild goose chase?

  When I picked up the sword from the casket, it left a shining imprint. It continued to glow softly, as if waiting for something. When the others picked up theirs, the caskets underneath did the same. It seemed as though the swords were the keys, and we needed one more to unlock the chamber.