The Chosen Knights

by Mary Ting

  Jack held his head up proudly. “My grandfather told me his side of the family descended from the bloodline of one of the original Knights Templar. His name was Jacques de Molay. My family has named the first son of every generation after him, but my father named me Jack, which is an English version of Jacques, and the reason why my last name is Molay. They also passed a story down from generation to generation. Would you like to hear it?”

  “Yes.” All three of us confirmed so loudly our tone startled Jack.

  Jack took a moment and then continued, “Around the year 1118, a French knight named Hugues de Payens founded a military order. Seven knights were handpicked by him. The knights’ duty was to protect pilgrims on their journey to the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem from bandits, which were plentiful back then, especially on the road to the temple. The knights set up headquarters on the sacred Temple Mount and pledged to protect Christian visitors to the city. Meanwhile, a rumor spread that the knights had dug up treasures from the Temple and brought them back to France. Whatever it was they found, the Church had wanted badly, and in return, rewarded the knights for their accomplishment.”

  “What kind of treasures?” I asked, mesmerized by the story.

  “Nobody knows.” Jack shrugged.

  “And how does this have anything to do with Friday the thirteenth?” I cut one of the meatballs in half with my fork and took a bite.

  “Let me continue,” he said softly. “I’m getting to the point.”

  Jack was always patient with me.

  “Hurry up, Jack. I don’t have all night. You don’t have all night.” Uncle Davin yawned to emphasize his point.

  Jack wiggled his nose and raised his glasses higher with his index finger. “Okay,” he snapped, frowning, then cowered a little when my uncle glared at him. “So”—he let out a nervous snort—“where was I? Oh, my grandfather told me a few trusted knights were given artifacts to keep hidden. They must have been very important. Not only were they valuable, but a demon lord named Cyrus wanted one of them.” Jack snorted. “I know this sounds odd, and you’re going to tell me there’s no such thing as demons and monsters, but maybe there is.”

  None of us said a word. We knew those things existed. But I’d never heard of Cyrus. Perhaps Uncle Davin knew of him. I leaned back in my seat and crossed my legs.

  “There are no demons,” my uncle said matter-of-factly. He was definitely blunt today. “But you don’t ever want to be face to face with one.”

  Jack drew his brows together, seemingly confused as to whether Uncle Davin was crazy or joking.

  Before anyone could jump in, I spoke, “Can you get back to Friday the thirteenth?”

  “Oh.” Jack snapped out of his daze. “So Cyrus told Jacques if he didn’t give him something he was looking for, he would kill all of them. One by one, the knights were accused of many wrongdoings: worshipping the devil, being homosexual, rape, witchcraft, and stealing from the Church and the people. The king of France had the soldiers round up all the knights they could find and burn them at the stake. It happened to be on Friday the thirteenth. I guess that is where the superstition came from for me, and it got worse when the teens went missing on that date. But nobody seemed to see the pattern.”

  “Oh,” the three of us said at the same time with our eyes glued to Jack.

  “How do you know if your grandfather was telling you the truth?” Zach asked.

  Jack seemed conflicted. “Why would he lie? He believed everything he told me because his father had told him, and his father before. The family has passed a book down through the generations so the Knights Templar would never be forgotten.”

  Uncle Davin pushed his empty plate forward. “I thought the knights had to take vows of chastity, poverty, and piety, and in addition, sign over all material possessions to the Order. How could there be a bloodline?”

  “Jacques’s brother married and had a family, and carried on the family line,” Jack explained. “So it’s not his bloodline per se, but the family’s bloodline.”

  Zach sat back in his seat. “Again, explain what this has to do with Friday the thirteenth. You’re not suggesting those missing teens were from the knights’ bloodlines, are you? If they were, then why didn’t they go after you?”

  “Thanks for making me see it in a different light,” Jack said sarcastically. “Maybe I need to go into hiding instead of attending the homecoming dance, don’t you think? Not that I had planned to go.”

  Uncle Davin leaned in closer like he had a secret. “Maybe he reeks so badly, the demons won’t go near him.”

  Zach let out a boisterous laugh, and so did Jack at first, until he realized they were laughing at him.

  “Not funny,” Jack spat out. “This is a serious matter. Friday the thirteenth is coming in three weeks. Do we need to bring this up to the principal? But people would think I’m crazy, just like they thought my grandfather was.” Jack placed his head down somberly.

  I wrapped my arm around his shoulders. “Your grandfather wasn’t crazy. He was brave to tell your family the truth even though he knew no one would believe him.” I saw my uncle shake his head, and I knew that meant to stop talking.

  “Then you believe me, right?” Jack flashed his head up with wide eyes.

  “No,” my uncle said sternly. “It’s only a tale, Jack, not that I’m saying your grandfather was crazy. There are no such things as demons. You have no proof. However, this tale is very interesting. Do you have the book?”

  “My mom put it somewhere. I can ask her.” Jack had lost his elated tone. His eyes, which had sparkled when he spoke about the knights, had become dull.

  “How about your dad? Does he believe?” my uncle asked.

  Since I’d only met Jack a week ago, I didn’t know much about his family. I knew his grandmother lived with them to help take care of his eight-year-old brother, Gustavo. And his mother, whom I’d never met, was a doctor. Jack had never mentioned his father, and I didn’t want to be nosey.

  “My father passed away when I was eleven,” he said casually.

  “Oh. I’m sorry,” I sighed.

  “It’s okay. I have pictures of him.” Jack eased the awkwardness suddenly filling the air.

  Not knowing how to respond, Zach and my uncle kept quiet. I wanted to ask him more questions about his father, but decided it was probably not the best time to do so. Jack had shared more than we’d asked, but I loved to hear about his life. Human lives were so interesting, filled with emotions I had yet to feel. But a part of me was afraid of them. Spending time with humans would bring out these feelings, and I didn’t know how I would handle them. I felt like a brand new baby, seeing and feeling things for the very first time.

  “Well, I better get going home.” Jack stood up, holding his empty plate and glass. “My mom is working the night shift, as usual, and my grandmother told me to come home right after dinner. She worries, especially since we have school tomorrow. She also doesn’t like me to stay out too late. I think all my grandfather’s stories got to her. You know, about the demons. I know you don’t believe they exist, but if there are demons then there have to be angels. I mean, my grandfather told me life was about balance. If there was good, then there was bad—that kind of stuff.” Jack went to the kitchen, placed his plate in the sink, and came back. “Thanks for dinner. It was delicious.” He shook my uncle’s hand, then Zach’s. When he extended his arms to give me a hug, my uncle cleared his throat.

  I frowned at my uncle and then pulled Jack into my arms. “Thanks for sharing your beautiful story with us. I would love to see the book.” I opened the door for him.

  Jack’s lips curled to his eyes. “You want to see it too?” The sparkle in his eyes came back, catching a glow from the porch light.

  “Yes.” I felt joy at seeing him in a better mood.

  “Great. See you tomorrow at school. And by the way, you can research more information on the Knights Templar on the Internet.”

  “I will tonight. Thank you,” I said
, looking at Zach. He nodded his head to confirm he would as well. I guessed that would be our homework tonight on top of our school homework.

  “Anyway, thanks for the delicious dinner, Uncle Davin.” Then he was out of our sight, jogging back home.

  “Did he just call me Uncle Davin?” My uncle’s lips twisted to one side and he furrowed his brow.

  I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed or touched. But my uncle, who pretended to have a heart made of steel at times, was as soft as a warm blanket, cuddly as a teddy bear, and his soul—his beautiful soul—was too big for anyone to comprehend.

  Chapter 7

  Zach and I cleared the remaining dishes from the table. After placing them in the sink, we went back to the family room. Having never washed dishes before, I had no idea what to do with them. Seeing Uncle Davin lazily sprawled on the sofa, we plopped beside him.

  “After we take a look at Jack’s book, we can’t discuss the topic of demons with him again.” Uncle Davin’s tone told me it was final. “We’re putting his life at risk. Hopefully, what he said about Friday the thirteenth isn’t true. But I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “There are so many different demons, how do we know which one is kidnapping the teens and why?” I asked, greatly concerned after the strange encounter with Eli, who I knew was some unknown type of supernatural being. And what kind was Milani? What did they know about the missing children? Could they be the cause of the missing children?

  Uncle Davin kicked up his feet onto the coffee table, closed his eyes, and crossed his arms behind his neck for support. “Be on your guard at all times. The demons might be able to feel our divine presence and powers. I’m pretty sure at this moment they’re going crazy, trying to figure out why we’re here. If what Jack told us is true, a war is coming. Not because they planned on it, but because they know the good will try to stop them. Before I let the Divine Elders know our findings, I’m going to need some proof. So if you find out anything, even if you don’t think it’s important, let me know.”

  “We will.” I thought about Eli and Milani again. I couldn’t get them out of my mind all day. They were my targets tomorrow.

  My heart thumped out of beat when I heard a loud crash which sounded like the outdoor trash can lid being slammed back on top. Did someone go through our trash? Talking about demons hadn’t helped my nerves either.

  “Gladius,” I whispered, standing up as I willed my bow to me. As I brought forth my bow from behind my back, I noted Zach had done the same, while Uncle Davin had pulled out his sword. We carried our weapons with us at all times, and they appeared with only a simple command.

  Our bows were not like ordinary bows. They were thick and long, without any strings attached, and there were no arrows. When we needed to use them, we pulled back our arm as if there was an arrow and a string attached to the bow and then let go. What came out of it was magical. Silver lights, like lightning bolts, sizzled and zapped to the target. They shot with precision and could kill on contact. The bow also lit up on command in dark places.

  Zach pointed up. “On the roof.”

  If they were trying to be inconspicuous, they weren’t doing a good job of it. It sounded like countless giant spiders were scurrying about the roof. Another banging sound of the trash can confused me. They had to be on the ground too. We cautiously moved out of the house with our backs against the wall. It was impossible to see anything because our backyard was almost a forest. Tall trees guarded the perimeter of the house, but they only kept the humans out, not demons. Lucky for us, we had night vision and our weapons glowed dimly in the dark.

  Uncle Davin pointed to the roof and soared to the top in one swift jump. Zach followed while I ran further back to get a better look. When I spotted two dark shadows to the left of the house, near the trash cans, I ran toward them. I didn’t know if my eyes were playing tricks on me, but suddenly there was only one.

  “Who are you?” I demanded, swinging my bow, but it only went through the dark empty space. At my speed, it should have gone through the demon’s gut. “Show yourself, coward.” A shadow appeared again, moving and fading in and out. When I realized it wasn’t dangerous, but rather toying with me, I stopped. Then it hit me—the smell of sweet coconut and the freshest greens of nature. Eli?

  My muscles relaxed when I sensed Zach and Uncle Davin’s presence behind me. A Venator should never look back when a target is in front, but I did. I couldn’t help it. It was only for a split second, and when I turned back, the demon disappeared.

  “Whatever was up there, is gone now,” Zach informed me. “We saw shadows with incandescent amber eyes. Not sure what they are.”

  “Whatever was here is gone too,” I said. “I don’t think they were the dangerous kind. Not all demons are evil, right?” I said, more to reassure myself.

  Uncle Davin picked up the silver trash can lid to peer inside. “They were just curious. Like I said, we’ll be drawing out more demons, so be careful.” Uncle Davin sniffed. “Why would they want to dig into our trash?” He shut the lid. “It’s cleaner than some people’s toilets.”

  We went back into the house and locked the door, though it did little good. If demons wanted in the house, they would find a way, especially the spirit-like ones.

  “Like I said, be on the lookout,” Uncle Davin warned, then went to the sofa and turned on the television.

  “I don’t want to be in my room. Want to go on the roof?” I asked Zach.

  “Sure.” Zach sounded hesitant, his eyes wary. I didn’t blame him after the encounter with the demons.

  The next day at school was just like the first day. Some kids were in groups, chatting away. Others were hustling to get to the other side of campus. Little did the humans know, there were demons living among them. In most cases, demons left humans alone, ignoring them, unless they were the evil kind and wanted to take over their bodies and souls. Only weak and heartless humans could be taken over easily. But we had no idea what we were dealing with, so I wasn’t sure about anything anymore.

  Uncle Davin was not just popular among the students; the staff liked him, too. I laughed when I saw him interact with the humans. He treated them no differently than he did other angels. He was jovial in every way.

  I tugged my brother’s arm to get his attention. “Zach. I’ll see you in class.” It was a perfect time to leave his side. Vanessa waved at him with a flirty smile, and he couldn’t look away.

  “Okay. Just be careful.” He patted my head as if I were his pet while still keeping his eyes on her. Had he even heard what I’d said?

  “Okay.” I giggled, though I didn’t like being patted on the head. Spotting Eli out of the corner of my eye, I pushed away Zach’s arm and followed him outside the school building, but kept my distance. Eli was talking to a friend I’d never seen before and it resembled a heated argument. Were they even friends? I hadn’t seen him at Eli’s table at lunchtime. Maybe he had been there, but I hadn’t paid careful enough attention. After his friend left, Abel approached Eli, so I had to back away. This conversation seemed even more intense. Abel was in Eli’s face. What the heck was going on?

  After the talk ended, I followed Eli across the parking lot. Then he went behind another structure. Where did he go? The football field lay ahead, and beyond the gated fence, tall grass waved in the wind.

  Taking in the beauty of the simple greens and the fluffy white cotton clouds that stretched for miles, I paused to think about my parents and my home and felt a sad tug at my heart. I refocused on reality when I thought I heard a noise. I didn’t see Eli, so I turned to walk away, a force whipped me around to face the fence again. Someone had yanked me from behind. I hadn’t sensed a presence. I was just about to call upon my bow when my angel instincts told me I would be fine.

  “Why are you following me?” Eli asked in a slightly angered tone. His hand still gripped me.

  His dark, full-of-danger eyes stared piercingly into mine, assessing me. Being up close and in person—not like before, i
n the cafeteria when he was in his supernatural form—made me feel out of breath and weak in the knees. He was gorgeous with a flawless facial structure: thick eyebrows, high cheekbones, chiseled jawline, and supple beautiful lips, not to mention his angel-like body, and those captivating eyes, taking me in so deeply I couldn’t look away. But at the same time, he frightened me in ways I couldn’t describe. It wasn’t fear of seeing a monster, but something else I couldn’t understand.

  “Get off your high horse. I’m not,” I retorted, pulling free from his hand on my waist. I didn’t like being that close to him. Warning signals ran like crazy through my every fiber. “How do I know you’re not following me?” I huffed.

  His soft, unexpected chuckle and a step toward me threw me off. “Maybe I was. Who wouldn’t want to follow a beautiful girl? Not that you’re a girl.” He dipped his face lower, and his lips were a breath away from mine. “I know what you are. So, tell me. What kind of demon are you? Ever since your so-called family appeared, there’s been a lot more energy floating about.”

  It was difficult to register what he had asked when all I could recall was that he’d called me beautiful and his sweet scent spiraled around me. I managed to snap out of it, reminding myself why I was there. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. If you’re asking me what kind of demon I am, then you must be one. And I don’t believe in demons. You’re crazy.”

  He let out a soft chuckle again. Was he finding our conversation amusing? “Actually, you do know about demons. You sit with them in the cafeteria. You know them by name: Abel, Cayden, Vanessa. Shall I continue?”

  I gasped, freaking out. Then I realized he was only insulting them and they weren’t actually demons. They couldn’t be...I would have known. “If you’re not a demon then you must be an angel,” I responded sarcastically.

  His lips slowly curled up and his brows waggled. His smirk was so sexy I wanted to smack myself for having such thoughts. Taking a step toward me so our bodies were almost touching, he spoke slowly, but somehow his tone sounded seductive in my ears, “Believe me when I say this. I can be your fantasy. I can be your dream come true. I can be whatever you want me to be. But I am no angel. If you rub me the wrong way, I will be your devil, your worst nightmare.”