The Chosen Knights (Read Prequel--The Angel Knights first) (The Angel Knights Series Book 2)

by Mary Ting

  Eli pushed Abel off him. Abel stood, rather than being thrown a few feet away—an indication Eli only used his supernatural abilities when absolutely necessary. Relieved he hadn’t, I continued to listen.

  “Like I said,” Abel began, “I got this. Oh, by the way, maybe you need to put a leash on Milani. She’s showing off too much.”

  What did he mean by that? Was Abel a supernatural too? How else could he know about Milani’s powers?

  Eli’s fists became tight balls. Sighing, he walked away.

  “Ready to go?”

  Uncle Davin’s voice broke my concentration.

  “Where have you been?” Zach asked. The girls waved goodbye and left. Maybe my uncle had scared them away.

  Uncle Davin opened the door on his side. “I’ll tell you at home. Get in.”

  It never failed. Every time we went back home from wherever we were, we checked every room, every closet, and every cabinet. The cabinets seemed like overkill, but I guessed the demons could hide in their mist form and pop out. Or so Uncle Davin thought. Sometimes I didn’t understand him. But he was experienced with demon hunting, so I did whatever he told me to do without question.

  “So what did you find, Uncle Davin?” I sat on the sofa after dropping my backpack.

  Zach sat across from me and kicked up his feet to the coffee table. He watched Uncle Davin bring out the chips and salsa.

  “Boy, I certainly needed this today.” Uncle Davin sighed, placed them on the table, and sat next to me.

  Uncle Davin had mentioned some humans drank alcohol to help with stress. I guessed chips and salsa relieved stress for my uncle. He dipped a chip into the salsa bowl and gave it to me.

  “Thanks.” I took a bite to try it for the first time. Not bad.

  Uncle Davin shoved his into his mouth and finally answered my question, “Sorry I was late today. I kept Milani and Brody after school. Eli wasn’t in class today or I would’ve spoken to him too.” He raised his brows. “We had a chat. I made them talk, but I know they were holding back.”

  Zach sat up and leaned forward with his hands on his knees. “What did they tell you?”

  Uncle Davin swallowed his chips. “When I confessed who we were, Milani told me about her kind. She’s an Elementum. But Lucia had already told me that. She said you already knew, so telling me was no big deal. And by the way,” he huffed, “Milani has a major attitude.”

  “I could have told you that,” I rolled my eyes.

  “Anyway, Brody, on the other hand, wouldn’t say a word.”

  “You didn’t find much. We’re still back to square one,” I leaned back into the sofa.

  Uncle Davin took another bite. “Not quite. Milani suggested we spy at Hapuna Beach this Saturday night.”

  “Why?” Zach asked.

  “She said other demons might come out,” Uncle Davin answered.

  I recalled Eli telling Abel it wasn’t safe. Did he know something bad was going to happen, the same way he’d known about blue moon night?

  I picked up a chip and dipped it into the bowl of salsa. “Don’t worry, Uncle Davin. Zach and I are going. We were invited to the bonfire party. We’ll check it out and let you know.”

  “Good. I’ll be close by.” He twitched his brows.

  Oh joy.

  “Oh, by the way—” Uncle Davin started to say.

  He made me nervous whenever he started his sentence with those words.

  “We’re having dinner with Jack’s grandmother on Sunday. I made a friend.” He lit a dorky grin, showing all his teeth.

  Later that evening, when I knew Jack’s family would be finished with dinner, I walked over to his house. Jack stood on his front porch and appeared surprised when he saw me approach.

  “Lucia? What are you doing here? I mean, I’m glad to see you. Is everything okay?” Jack sounded nervous.

  “Everything is fine. Can I join you?”

  “Sure.”

  I plopped down next to Jack on the swing. We sat in silence for a few seconds until Lucky pawed at the door.

  Jack got up and opened the door to let her out. “She knew you were here.”

  “Hey, Lucky.” I stroked her head and then allowed her to lick my hand. After the greeting, she sat in front of me but kept her distance so the swing wouldn’t hit her.

  “How was your first week of school?” I asked, straightening my legs out in front of me as the swing glided back and forth.

  “Like any other year. It was fine.” Jack didn’t sound too enthused, as I’d expected. Didn’t kids like school? “How was yours?” he asked.

  “Fine, I guess. I don’t have much to compare it to.” I changed the subject. I was afraid he would ask me questions about where I was from. “Can you tell me if Abel and Eli were ever friends? I mean, they don’t hang out. It’s obvious Cayden and Kohl don’t like Milani.”

  Jack looked off into the distance before focusing back on me. “I’m not sure what really happened, but if I remember correctly, they used to be good friends. Eli was on the football team until his mother passed away.”

  My heart sank at the thought of what Eli had gone through. “When did this happen?”

  “Last year around this time. I can’t remember the exact date, but it was during the first week of school.”

  I pushed on the porch floor to give the swing more momentum. Oops. I’d pushed too hard. “How did she die?”

  “I don’t know.” Jack placed his hand on my shoulder. “Not too fast. Remember, I threw up in class.”

  I shrugged sheepishly. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

  Jack placed his hand back on his lap. “It would have been great if I’d thrown up on Cayden or Kohl.” He chuckled.

  I smiled to agree, then recapped. “So, Abel and Eli were good friends, but after Eli’s mother passed away, they weren’t?”

  “Yup. I think Eli blames Abel for his mother’s death. And before you ask me how I know, I heard rumors. People make up stuff at school. They were the two big guys on campus. Every girl wanted to date them—they still do—and every guy wanted to be them, and they still do, but they were huge together. Now they’re just history.”

  I stopped the swing and turned to face Jack. “I need to ask you a question, and I need you to tell me the truth.”

  Jack’s brows pinched together, probably wondering why all the questions.

  “You know what I am and you seem to be fine with it. So have you seen demons? You know they exist, right?”

  Exhaling a deep sigh, Jack locked his eyes with mine. “It’s not a topic I like to talk about, but yes.”

  I shook my head. “Humans can be possessed by them, but they can’t see them. Did your grandfather tell you anything else?”

  Jack nodded. “Grandfather said when the demon lord Cyrus touched Jacques, he branded him. Meaning, Cyrus gave him the gift of sight. So Jacques could see him. From then on, all the Knights Templar were branded too, passing this gift down to their heirs.”

  I leaned back and gazed at Lucky pouting up at me, her tail wagging like a windshield wiper. “That makes sense and was the reason why my uncle couldn’t compel you. Angels can control human minds, but not supernatural ones. So, in a way, your mind works like a supernatural being without any powers. You have been cursed to see them.”

  Jack looked up and planted his feet on the wooden floor so the swing would remain steady. “I hate that I can. It creeps me out.” He paused and then spoke again, “I can’t wait for Sunday dinner. You’ll get to meet my mom. And by the way, she said she’d bring out the book. She forgot last time. She keeps it in a safe at the bank.”

  “Perfect.” I leaned back the way Jack did with my head tilting back. The stars were countless, glistening against the black sky. I extended my hand as if I could touch them, so near, yet so far. Beauty did exist in this mad world. Wondrous, mysterious entities existed to remind us we were not alone; there was a purpose to all the craziness, pain, and hardship. And in the end, light would prevail. I had to belie
ve it would. If an angel didn’t believe in the light, how could I ask it of a human sitting beside me?

  “I could stay here all night and stare at the stars,” Jack said.

  “Me too,” I seconded. “Zach wants to buy a surfboard. Can you go shopping with us Saturday morning?”

  “Yup, sure can. Just remember you owe me a dance.”

  “I know, Four-Eyes,” I teased. “I think Goose is spying on us.”

  “He’s always spying on you. He finds you fascinating, and so do I.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that. “Thanks, I think?”

  “How does it feel to have wings?”

  I didn’t how to answer his question. “Like having arms, I guess. They are a part of me. I don’t know anything else. But it’s amazing to be able to fly.”

  “Can I see your wings again?” Jack asked.

  “No!” I didn’t mean to snap at him, but asking an angel to see her wings was like asking a human to take off his clothes, sort of.

  “Okay. I guess I have to wait then.”

  “Yup.”

  “Awww.” His lips dipped low into a pout.

  Jack made that sound so cute. When I leaned my head on his shoulder, he took a deep breath. “Thanks for being my best friend.”

  “Always,” he said. “You’re a lot stronger and faster than me. And you can kick my butt. But know that I’m here for you...for keeps.”

  I wrapped my arms around his. “And I’m here for you, Jack, for keeps.”

  Chapter 14

  Saturday couldn’t come fast enough. So much had happened in the first week that I hoped things would slow down. As much as I worried something bad would happen, I was anxious to see what humans did at a bonfire party on the beach.

  Zach drove Jack and me to the party. After he learned Zach and I weren’t humans, Jack didn’t seem to care how fast we drove. In fact, he enjoyed the ride. At one point, Jack and I stuck our heads out the sunroof. He even stuck half his body out and pretended to fly. That was dangerous, but I held on to him the whole time.

  The fire caught my eye first, blazing red and orange to the sky, dancing to the sway of the light breeze. The scent of the burning wood and the crackle of the flames tickled my nose and caressed my ears. I knew “bonfire party” meant partying around the fire, but I never imagined it would be so massive.

  As I looked out over the dark water, I noticed the waves were higher than I’d seen at other local beaches. The crashing of the surf sounded deadly, but at the same time it created a serene atmosphere. When Zach entered the parking lot, a slew of cars were already there. I guessed, as the humans would say, we were fashionably late. People were already around the fire, dancing to the beat of the music, smiling, laughing, and having fun.

  As soon as we got out, Abel welcomed us. After he gave me a hug, he helped us carry our bags, beach chairs, and surfboards, and led us to the party. Thank goodness Jack had known what to bring. Zach and I had no idea.

  An information board beside the parking lot caught my eye. Pictures of missing teens covered its surface. One picture stood out. She had long, dark hair and brown eyes. Under her pretty face was the name Clarissa Goodman. Was this the Clarissa they’d been talking about? It saddened me to see countless photos of missing teens. I could only imagine the pain their families were enduring. We had to find a way to stop it.

  Sand shifted between my toes, tickling my feet when we stepped onto the beach. I loved how I sank a little into the sand, even though being an angel meant I was light on my feet. The music became louder the closer we got to the group. They were gathered around the fire with their surfboards dug into the sand behind them. Some shouted greetings while others waved at us.

  “I saved spots for you,” Abel said, helping Jack set up the beach chairs while Zach and I watched. We had no idea what to do. “I’ll be right back. Let me get you something to drink.” With that, Abel walked away.

  “What’s up, Four-Eyes?” Cayden gestured with a tip of his chin to Jack after he greeted us. He had his top off like Abel, who I tried not to stare at. Droplets dripped from Cayden’s hair and swim trunks, so I assumed he’d just come out of the water. “Nice board.” He sounded sincere.

  “Thanks,” Jack sounded hesitant, but pride glinted in his eyes. “It was my dad’s.”

  Jack’s board was black with a gold shield and sword design running through the middle.

  Cayden took a sip of his drink. “Cool. Going to ride that thing tonight?”

  Jack tilted his head to the side. “Maybe.”

  Cayden’s eyes darkened and his shoulders tightened. “I’m warning you. Stay out of my way. I will crush you.” Raising his bottle as a final warning, he went back to his friends.

  “What was that all about? Never mind what he said, Jack.” I consoled. Briefly, I’d thought Cayden was finally going to be nice. Sometimes, when least expected, people changed for the better, but then there were people like Cayden.

  “Hi, Jack, Lucia, Zach.” Vanessa went straight to my brother and dragged him to her crowd.

  I didn’t try to stop him since Jack stood next to me. There were so many people I didn’t recognize. I wasn’t sure if they all went to our high school. One thing was sure; we were the only group on the beach. Why did that bother me?

  “Here you go.” Abel handed an open bottle to Jack.

  Jack shook his head. “No, thanks. I don’t drink.”

  “I know you don’t drink, and I’m pretty sure Lucia doesn’t either. It’s sparkling water.” Abel gazed at me a bit too long.

  “Thanks.” Jack broke Abel’s stare. He took both of the bottles, handed me one, and sat down on his beach chair.

  As I was sitting, someone tugged me to the side. Liquid splashed out from the bottle in my hand.

  “You can sit on my lap,” Abel said.

  Next thing I knew, I was sitting on Abel’s lap. I tried to get up, but he held me fast. “I missed you all day. I couldn’t wait to see you.”

  As my cheeks flushed, Jack spit liquid and coughed relentlessly.

  “Jack, are you okay?” Placing my bottle down, I hopped up and patted his back.

  After what seemed like forever, he finally stopped. “I swallowed the wrong way.” He cleared his throat several times.

  Abel got up and tugged my T-shirt. “He’ll live. Right, Jack? Let’s go dance.”

  I didn’t have a chance to protest. Abel picked me up and carried me until we were closer to the fire. After he gently helped me down, he held my hands and swayed us to the beat.

  “What did you do today?” he asked over the loud music.

  “We went surfboard shopping for Zach. Jack helped us pick one out.” Having never danced with a guy before, I felt a little awkward and hoped I was doing it right. The sand under my feet didn’t help either. I wasn’t as graceful as I thought I should be. In fact, I was a little clumsy. I glanced around, trying not to make it obvious, and from the corner of my eye, I spotted girls glaring at us.

  “I think the other girls want to dance with you. They’re all looking at us.” I pulled Abel closer to whisper in his ear, but he’d gotten the wrong message and pressed his body against mine. We were slow dancing. Not what I had in mind. Abel smelled of something sweet and alcohol. For some strange reason, I thought of Eli and wondered what he was doing tonight.

  “But I’d rather dance with you,” Abel whispered back. “Are you wearing a swimsuit under your clothes?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why don’t you show it off?” His voice sounded seductive and his lips slowly started to move closer to mine.

  A part of me wanted to know what it felt like to kiss a guy, but a part of me didn’t want Abel to be the one. Another part of me would have felt guilty if I had let it happen. However, our handbook had no rule about getting a kiss from a guy. Just as Abel’s lips contacted mine, Jack’s voice came to my rescue.

  “Hey.” Jack tapped Abel’s shoulder. “The waves are high. It’s time to ride.”

&nbs
p; “I’ll come watch.” I ran after Jack who was holding his board to his side. He had taken off his shirt. Abel grunted, sounding upset. As for me, I thanked Jack in my mind.

  I stood watching, in water up to my knees, as Jack lay flat on his board and paddled his way to the waves while I worried. The only light Jack had was the massive bonfire, and I wondered if it was enough. It must have been. It seemed like they went night surfing often.

  Never had I seen Jack so happy. He stood on his board, riding the wave like a pro. Moving his board to the motion of the wave, he was one with the water. Abel and his friends were skillful too. It was crazy to see all these surfboards daring the ocean. Unbelievably, on the right my brother howled along with the rest of the crew.

  Excitement and sounds of joy filled the night...until the air shifted. Something seemed wrong. Even the dark sky seemed ominous, when earlier it was peaceful and still. My awareness kicked into high gear and every muscle was on alert.

  I turned to the bonfire when I thought I saw a blanket of dark shadows. The fire seemed to go out for a split second, but that was impossible. When I turned back to the ocean, I was horrified. A group of black mist demons were trailing behind Jack. Was I seeing things? I jumped up and down and pointed in Jack’s direction. “Behind you!” No use—he couldn’t hear me.

  Warily, I had to speak to Zach through my mind. Jack’s in trouble. There are Possessor demons here.

  Zach had heard me and came out of the ocean in no time. “Where is he?” he asked worriedly.

  I pointed, unable to say a word. The group of mists had joined together and turned into a face with a wide-open mouth, ready to swallow Jack. Instinctively, I wanted to whip out my wings and rescue him, but I couldn’t among so many humans. The other option was to shoot light from my bow, but that would expose me too. So I did what I could—I swam to Jack with Zach right behind me. Underwater, no one could see how fast I could swim using my angel powers...but I never expected the Possessors to be under the water too.

  “Gladius.” I willed my bow and shot the ones that came for me. Zach and I swam side by side and watched each other’s back. It was difficult to make headway when the demons moved in circles, creating a tornado. They were trying to suck us in. And the sparks from the impact of our bows on their swords clouded our vision, sometimes blinding our eyes from the brightness.