The Fantasy Trove

Bobby learns the truth about his father and the legacy left to him.

 

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Chapter 02

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Legacy

 

Now, I don’t consider myself an insensitive person, and I have a high regard for life. However, I also believe some people should be removed from society with extreme prejudice: child molesters, rapists, and people who don’t use their blinker among them. Okay, I’m joking with that last one. Anyway, my father’s death gave me more of a feeling of relief than one of sadness.

 

Yet, as I sat in the lobby of Kingsley, Nowell, Issa, Geirbrandt, Holland, and Thomas, I felt a pit form in my stomach. My hands grew sweaty, holding my extra-large triple-shot vanilla and caramel espresso—the barista gave me a funny look when I ordered that for some reason—and I began to wonder if I was underdressed for the occasion. I’d stopped off at my dorm to shower and change out of my party clothes but went with a simple t-shirt and jeans. As people walked in and through the lobby, I only counted one other person not wearing a full three-piece suit, and he delivered breakfast.

 

“Mr. Brody?” The receptionist called. From her tone and the sour twist of her lips, I gathered it wasn’t the first time she’d said my name. “They are ready to see you now.” The woman was more handsome than pretty, and I couldn’t help but notice how much of her cleavage was on display. My eyes would have zeroed in on her chest under normal circumstances, but I wasn’t in the mood. Blame on the lack of sleep, the uncomfortable position of coming to this fancy office to discuss the will and testament of the man I hated most in the world, or the incredible sex from last night.

 

I followed her directions down a hallway lined with pictures of court cases and news articles. I didn’t know how old this firm was, but judging by some of the images, it went back at least as far as the camera. From the lush carpet, marble columns, and finery, they must be doing well for themselves. How much had they cost my dad? Money that could have gone towards making my mother’s life less hard, no doubt.

 

I located the conference room I was directed to and found two men already seated inside. One was bald, his light black skin reflecting the overhead light. He was a heavyset man with a triple chin and moobs bigger than Charlotte’s. The other man couldn’t be more opposite. His almond-shaped eyes spoke of Asian heritage, other than being blue. He had thick black hair, parted on the left, and was beanpole skinny. He also wore a thin goatee, where the black man was clean-shaven.

 

“Mr. Brody, nice to meet you,” the larger man stood and offered his hand. I took it as he met my eyes, looking for something. After a firm shake, he turned to his partner. “I am counselor Peter Lancel, and my partner is counselor Alie Luu.”

 

“Allie?” I asked before my brain had time to filter. Wasn’t that a girl’s name?

 

“Alie,” the man pronounced with a little more emphasis on the long ‘i’ sound. Despite his obvious annoyance, his voice was deep and rich. Coming from the thin man, it caught me off-guard. “It is a perfectly respectable name where I’m from.”

 

I almost asked where he was from since I didn’t detect an accent, but the other man cut in.

 

“I’m sure you have a lot of questions, Mr. Brody, but unfortunately, there are a few formalities to be met before we may proceed.” Mr. Lancel indicated that I sit on the other side of a large, oval, mahogany conference table before sitting down next to Mr. Luu. I noticed a thin manilla folder as they pushed it across to me with a pen. “In there is a form I need you to initial and sign.”

 

Curious and wondering why they needed signatures before anything else, I opened the folder. Inside lay a single sheet of legal-sized paper, partially folded at the bottom to fit inside the folder.

 

“What’s this about?” I asked, picking up the pen but making no move to sign the document. “I thought I was here to hear about my father’s will.”

 

“Yes,” Mr. Luu said, meeting my gaze with his sharp blue eyes. “But there are a few formalities, first. His will has some proprietary information in it that we must protect. There were also some stipulations in his will, and signing this document was the first. It’s all quite standard and ordinary for our clients.”

 

“It’s merely a non-disclosure agreement,” Mr. Lancel broke in with a genial smile. “All it says is that you agree not to discuss anything you learn here today. You’re more than welcome to read it over before signing, of course.”

 

“And if I don’t sign?” I asked, not liking the secrecy from the beginning. Their reassurances that this was ‘standard and ordinary’ had my hackles raised. “I mean, if I’m getting anything from my father, how would I explain that to my friends? I’ll be learning what’s in his will, right? I can’t be expected to keep everything a secret.”

 

Mr. Luu grimaced, but Mr. Lancel kept his innocuous grin as he answered. “We will, of course, let you know before such information is presented.”

 

I took a moment to glance over the form and couldn’t make out anything that seemed out of the ordinary. The spot to initial said that I was here of my own free will, and my signature claimed that I agreed with the document. I inked both of them, then slid the folder back across the table.

 

Mr. Luu smiled for the first time as he verified my signature, then set the folder aside. Mr. Lancel bent down, then huffed as he lifted a much thicker folder and put it on the table with a thunk.

 

“Thank you for your understanding,” Mr. Lancel said, his voice and face losing his grin as he continued. “I understand this must be a difficult time for you, and we usually would wait until after the funeral, but as I mentioned before, your father’s will had some stipulations in it.”

 

“There are also matters concerning his death that precludes a proper funeral,” Mr. Luu interjected, his voice crisp and clipped. “And our time is concise after recent events.”

 

“Yes, well, we’ll get to that,” the large black man kept his gaze on me as he spoke. Despite his obese frame and genial attitude, I got the distinct impression he watched my every move and word. “Please bear with us, as again, I’m sure this must be difficult for you. We have some questions to ask you, and then we can read the will.”

 

I looked between the two men, debating telling them what a dirtbag my father was, and decided to hold back. With a firm this large and offices all over the place, they probably never met Asshole Brody Sr. Wait… Does that make me Asshole Brody Jr? Ah, you know what I’m getting at! Discretion is the better part of valor and all that.

 

“I barely found out this morning,” I tried to sound contrite and depressed. “With everything else going on in the world, it’s a sad time for many.”

 

“Yes,” Mr. Lancel said, nodding his thick and jiggly head. “Our firm is quite busy after yesterday’s events. Quite busy, indeed. Now, as I said, we have some questions to ask you before we can proceed to read the last will and testament of Bernard Oscar Brody. Please don’t think of this as a quiz with any right or wrong answers, but we need to know what kind of a man you are before moving forward.”

 

Despite the calm in his voice, I knew there was more to whatever they were about to ask me than they were letting on. And while I was by no means a lawyer, this seemed highly irregular. It also didn’t escape my notice that Mr. Lancel was playing good cop, while Mr. Luu played the opposite role. Perhaps it was their actual personalities—goodness knows Lancel looked like he took life easy, while Luu remained strict—but I couldn’t help but feel like I stepped under a microscope when walking through the door.

 

“Go ahead,” I nodded, still trying to sound as if my father’s death weren’t something to celebrate.

 

“I’m sure you’re familiar with the—what’s the new legal term—Lydenese, and how they are beginning to integrate into our society. What is your view on them?” Mr. Luu asked the first question, reading from a paper. Both men prepared to write as I thought that over. “Please don’t take current events into account with your answer.”

 

Should I be honest and tell them the truth? I wondered. I couldn’t tell what answer they were hoping for with their question, though the last made it seem like they liked the freaks. What does any of this have to do with my father, anyway? Thinking back on the few times he visited my mom and me, I couldn’t remember him ever saying a kind thing about them.

 

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to ignore their recent actions,” I said, figuring I should be honest, even if it put me on some freak-hater register. “They’re dangerous. How many people have to die or be hurt before everyone sees that?”

 

Neither lawyer spoke as they made notes. I couldn’t even read their facial expressions.

 

Mr. Lancel asked the next question. “This next one is purely hypothetical. Just answer the best way you think you would behave. You’re walking through a forest when you hear someone scream. You run to see what’s happening and find a bear getting ready to attack an injured man. You have no weapons on hand. What do you do?”

 

I didn’t hesitate before answering this one. “I’m guessing that the man can’t escape very fast on his own. I also suspect that I could sneak away and be just fine, but it would mean leaving the man to die. As such, I would grab a stick, or a rock, throwing it at the bear to try and get it to chase me. Hopefully, I could lead it away and allow the man time to make his escape. I’m pretty fit, and as long as I’m careful, I should be able to escape the bear.”

 

This time I caught both men nodding their heads as they wrote. They then spent the next thirty minutes asking questions on various subjects. While many were pointed, some were imaginary scenarios but gave me no indication of what they wanted to hear. Many also included the issue of the freaks

 

Finally, they put their notes aside and nodded to one another. It was Mr. Lancel that spoke. “We already know your father only had one child, you. At the risk of giving you more information than you want… Shortly after your conception, your father was involved in an accident at work that rendered him sterile.” He opened the thick folder and rifled past countless forms before pulling a single sheet out. “As his sole heir, it is our sad duty to dispense of his worldly goods to you, Bobby Brody—you have no middle name, correct?”

 

I nodded, and they both looked at the single sheet of paper. From where I sat, I couldn’t see how much was written on it. I couldn’t help but wonder what information I was supposed to keep secret. So far, all they’d done was ask me a bunch of questions. And despite their claim of being in a hurry, they weren’t rushing things along. I was more confused now than I was when I first walked in. I felt more like I went through a job interview than to find out if my good-for-nothing father left me anything worthwhile. While the chair I sat in looked and felt expensive, it wasn’t comfortable, and I eyed the clock, wondering how much longer I’d have to endure this.

 

“What we’re about to reveal is what you signed the non-disclosure agreement for,” Mr. Luu said, and I felt my pulse quicken. They waited for me to nod before moving on.

 

“What do you know about the work your father did to earn a living?” Mr. Lancel asked.

 

I thought back on what little I knew. If he could afford lawyers like these, he seemed to be wealthy and was rarely ever around. That about summed it up. “Not a lot,” I admitted. “I think he traveled a fair bit and made good money, but that’s about all.”

 

“Your father was a good and righteous man,” Mr. Lancel spoke into the silence following my words. “He did God’s work, fighting for what’s right and protecting the innocent.”

 

“You make him sound like a warrior monk or something,” I half chuckled. Their description of him didn’t fit with what few memories I had. A holy man wouldn’t abuse my mother and all but ignore me. I never got any Christmas presents from him, and if not for the monthly child support and scholarship money, I’d think he didn’t know I existed. Of course, monks also couldn’t afford expensive lawyers, either.

 

“You are half-right,” Mr. Lancel said.

 

I waited for him to clarify, but it was Mr. Luu who spoke up.

 

“What do you know about the holy order of Paladonic Knights?” Both men regarded me as those words slowly made sense. I’d swear neither one breathed as they waited for me to answer.

 

My mind raced as I tried to decide on how to answer. I knew the Knights fought against the freaks and the government recently labeled the P.K.’s as a terrorist organization. Was that why I was here? It seemed odd that they would want to meet me so soon after my father’s death. And those questions they asked… Were they really my father’s lawyers? Were they saying my father belonged to that organization? Or were they trying to see if I’m a Knight? If my father was a P.K., what did that mean for me? Their phrasing seemed to support the group, but was that a trap? Were they really my father’s lawyers? If they weren’t, then I severely misjudged why I was here.

 

Glancing between the two richly suited men, I decided to stick with being honest. “I don’t know much about them, other than they fight the Lydenese. I understand that Wyoming’s attack was a battle between the Knights and the Lydenese, but no one knows who set off the bombs. On the one hand, what strategic value does Wyoming have for either side? On the other, how did either group get that kind of destructive power?”

 

“Great questions to ask,” Mr. Lancel said. “What I can tell you is that your father was a Palidonic Knight. He fought his whole life to protect humanity, and he was in Wyoming when the Lydenese set off the bombs. Countless innocent women and children died in that attack.”

 

“You’re here today to see if you want to follow in his footsteps,” Mr. Luu added. “General practice is to approach an heir after they have completed college. However, due to our recent losses, we are coming to you earlier. Your answers to the questionnaire show you would be a good candidate. Your own questions show you’re a man who knows how to use your mind. We have your college transcripts here as well. Please remember that regardless of your answer, what we’ve discussed must remain confidential.”

 

I didn’t miss the fact that they were all but calling themselves Paladonic Knights. Sitting back in my chair, I tried to keep my face neutral. Even so, I’m sure the way my hands twitched under the table or the fact that I couldn’t meet either of their eyes showed how nervous I became. I’m pretty sure it requires some permission from me to get my transcripts, so the fact that they had them meant that they had some pull with my college. They were revealing quite a lot to me and trusting in that agreement. The Knights were labeled as a terrorist organization, and I’m sure there is a reward of some kind for turning them in.

 

A reward that would set me up and help my mom out.

 

But they fought against the freaks… And some of the conspiracy theories around campus said that the current political administration was in bed with and selling America to those monsters.

 

Join the Paladonic Knights? Me?! I’m no fighter. My mind ran in circles. I was great at sports, playing basketball and football, and decent at e-sports, but that didn’t make me a warrior. I was only supposed to be here for my father’s will. This wasn’t supposed to be a job interview. Now all those questions made sense.

 

“I can see you’re a little surprised,” Mr. Lancel said. I was more than a little surprised. “You should know that there are more to the Paladonic Knights than warriors. We all do our part. I’m certainly no specimen of physical prowess. But just because we don’t fight those vile creatures doesn’t mean our role is any less important.”

 

I continued to stare between the two men. I didn’t know what to say. It also dawned on me why they were so adamant that I sign those documents before we started. They couldn’t have it known that such a large law firm was made up of an alleged terrorist organization. I only came here to hear my father’s will and hopefully get enough out of it to help my mother. Not… not this!

 

“What about my father’s will?” I asked, pointing to the paper in Lancel’s chubby hands. I hoped to change the subject and get time to think. I didn’t like the freaks or appreciate them invading my country, but I didn’t want to fight them.

 

“Everything your father owned belongs to the Paladonic Knights,” Mr. Luu stated. “As a Knight, his bills were paid, to include taking care of you and your mother. Regardless of your decision today, your education is already paid for. However—”

 

“If I don’t join the Knights, then all of that is cut off,” I said, finishing for him. I didn’t appreciate where that put me. Both men continued to look at me as though the decision were obvious. Join the Knights, and they would handle all my finances. My mom would continue to be taken care of. Walk away, and I walk away with nothing but my education, and my mom would be even worse off.  Sure, I could try and get a job right out of college, but I knew the chances of landing a decent job on my own were about the same as winning the lottery. Compounding the issue, they’d made it clear that I needed to make a decision today.

 

No pressure or anything, I thought with a sneer. Make a decision on the spot that will affect the rest of my life. Become a communist in all but name, fighting evil and protecting humanity, or forge my own path and see where that gets me.

 

As the silence stretched on, I realized I didn’t have much choice. Sure, my education was taken care of, but that was no guarantee that I would make enough to help my mom out. She was in her late forties and still waiting tables. She had no retirement and no skills for a better job. The woman raised me on her own, often sacrificing to make sure I had what I needed because the stipend she received—apparently from the Knights and not my deadbeat father—wasn’t enough.

 

Drawing in a deep breath, I let it out slowly before speaking. “Where do I sign?” Both men nodded as though it were the only reasonable answer I could give. I realized as they opened that thick folder once again that, in the end, my father did leave me with something; a legacy to follow in his footsteps.

 

But that didn’t mean I had to be the terrible human being that he was.

 

“You don’t have to decide today what your responsibilities will be within the brotherhood,” Mr. Lancel stood and took my hand in his pudgy digits after I finished signing countless forms. I didn’t even take the time to read them; I was too numb. “Another of our associates will take you downstairs, where you will officially swear in. You’ll also be shown some perks of being a Knight and some of the duties and responsibilities inherent for everyone.”

 

I’m not going to lie. The next few minutes were a bit of a blur that I don’t remember. I’m not trying to hide anything here. One moment the two lawyers discussed my bright future and how I’d make significant contributions to the cause. The next thing I remember was walking down a hallway, following some broad-shouldered guy into an elevator.

 

What had I just agreed to? Was I now a terrorist? Would I be expected to kill other creatures? It was one thing to despise the freaks and what they represented, but another to think they expected me to fight and possibly kill them.

 

I realized my guide was talking to me and decided I’d best pay closer attention.

 

“—will be your reward once you complete your first mission,” The man’s voice droned as though he’d said these words many time already today. “Now, if you’ll step into this room?”

 

I stepped through the indicated doorway. Two loud pops sounded in stereo around me, and pain lanced down both arms. I jumped back or tried to. My guide stopped me and shoved me further into the room.

 

“Go through that door, and have a seat,” he told me, pointing to another doorway. “Your first briefing will be in a moment.”

 

I looked around, ready for another attack, and saw two men in white lab coats. One pulled a vial out from some kind of contraption, while the other slipped a vial into his. I didn’t recognize what they held, but it looked like a cross between a staple gun and a pistol. I pulled up my sleeves, and other than a slight red mark, both arms looked fine.

 

“What did you—” I started to ask, but the big guy scowled and pointed to the other room.

 

Returning his look with one of my own, I rubbed my arms and walked to where I was told. Apparently, I was losing my freedom a little sooner than I expected.

 

The other room held another surprise, though this one was not as violent. About eight other young men sat in evenly lined chairs facing one wall. No one spoke, and they all eyed me as though I was a minotaur. I was by far the largest in the room, but none of them looked out of shape.

 

One chair sat empty next to a redheaded guy with more freckles on his face than normal skin.

 

“You’re pretty big,” the other man said. “You must play football.”

 

Looking back now as I write this, I realize he was trying to be friendly, but after the morning I’d had, I was in a sour mood.

 

“And you look like one giant freckle. You must play a lot of Connect-the-Dots. I should introduce you to this thing called sunscreen.” I tried to look around the room as I gave my off-hand reply, but his laughter caught me off guard. It seemed so out of place in the severe atmosphere.

 

“My name is Alfred, but you can call me Al.” I looked at him, and it took me a moment to realize he was holding his hand out to me. As I took it, he continued talking in an easy-going manner. “If you think my face is bad, remind me not to take off my shirt. I once won a contest to see who had the worst sunburn… I wasn’t burned.”

 

“Bobby,” I gave my name as he let go of my hand.

 

“Everyone around here is so solemn,” Al went on in an upbeat, though quiet voice. “You’d almost think someone died… Too soon? Sorry. I don’t handle serious situations very well.”

 

“Yeah,” was all I could say. Either this guy was a sociopath or had a few screws loose. Either way, I understood why the chair next to him was empty.

 

“Don’t get me wrong,” Al continued, unable to read my unease, “I’m sad that my father died. He was a good man. I didn’t get to see him much. What I do remember of him are good memories. I’ve been looking forward to becoming a Knight for a long time. I wish it were under better circumstances, but I’m ready to do my duty to protect humanity.”

 

My mind raced as I tried to follow him. He had a good relationship with his father? I admit I was jealous. By the sounds of it, he knew what his father did, and today wasn’t as much of a surprise to him. What would it be like to have a healthy relationship with a father?

 

I know I haven’t said much about my father, in part because I’d rather not think about him. He rarely came around. I could count the number of times he visited without having to take off my shoes, every time etched into my memory. He’d belittle mom and me, verbally abusing both of us, and physically abused my mom. When he came by smelling of alcohol, it was worse. But the thing that always made me feel like the dirtiest piece of trash was how mom would sing his praises and beg him to stay longer. She loved him, and any time I spoke out against him, I ended up in trouble.

 

I don’t want to give the wrong impression of my mother here. She never abused me, never hit me when I didn’t deserve it, and raised me with all the love I could ever want from her. Some of the physical abuse she received while protecting me. I never doubted her love—only her devotion to my asshole father.

 

“For the third and last time, where is Mr. Brody?” A deep voice broke into my thoughts, and I looked up to see a new man standing in the doorway to yet another room. Dressed in—of all things—a long white robe, he carried an air like an ancient wizard. He reminded me of the LARPers from last night. Though he only had a short-cropped goatee, his eyebrows were bushy enough for the job.

 

I stood and raised my hand, saying, “Here.”

 

The man eyed me for a long moment, his lips turning deeper into a scowl. “Are you slow or stupid? Never mind, don’t answer that. After yesterday, we need all the bodies we can get. Follow me and don’t dawdle.” His voice took on a patronizing cadence as he added, “Dawdle means to waste time or be slow. There, I taught you something. Come along.”

 

“I’m not stupid,” I snapped as I fell in behind him. “Just trying to wrap my head around everything. Until yesterday, something this grandiose and superfluous would have been unimaginable. To think such a storied and clandestine group as the Holy Order of Paladonic Knights would be so inconspicuous as to operate under the esteemed law offices of—”

 

“All right, kid,” the man scowled over his shoulder. “No need to get snarky. There was a discrepancy in your bloodwork we need to talk about before you swear in.”

 

“My blood work?” I asked, assuming that was the vial the one guy took from that contraption. That was fast. “What’s wrong with my blood?”

 

“Have a seat, and we’ll talk about it,” the man said. I looked, and a metal chair moved back from a thin, matching gray table.

 

“I promise that I’m healthy,” I said as I moved to the chair. I couldn’t see any wheels on it and wondered if they used magnets to make it move or if this guy used magic. The hard surface of the chair was uncomfortable as it creaked under my weight. I tried to adjust to get comfortable while my mind raced over what was wrong with my blood.

 

“I’ll just get right to it,” the man said, standing near a glass mirror. I had no doubt it was a two-way mirror, and for the second time today, I felt like I was being interrogated. “Have you come into contact with one of those monsters? The Lydonese?”

 

I stared at him, confused about the switch of subject. What does this have to do with my blood? I wondered. It took a moment to find my voice. “I… No? I mean, I guess I had contact with That one guy’s son—Sheldon Lance, I think—a few months ago. But otherwise, no.”

 

“A few months?” he asked. “And you survived an encounter with that monster? I’m impressed. Lyden Snow may act like he wants peace, but his children are some of the most dangerous creatures we know about. Even so, your blood wouldn’t show traces of contamination from that unless he laid a massive curse on you?”

 

I thought about my so-called blurse but shook my head. Even if I believed in that, why would that woman-stealing bastard do something like that?

 

“I doubt it,” I told the man. “How is my blood contaminated?”

 

The man’s very bushy eyebrows drew down as he regarded me. “Are you trying to protect someone? It’s better if you come clean now and don’t try to hide who it is.”

 

My head shook as I tried to figure out who he might be talking about. My mind flashed to Charlotte and the wild sex from last night but dismissed her. she was undoubtedly human, as I intimately discovered. I don’t know a lot about shapeshifters, and I had to admit that maybe she was one, but deep down, I doubted it. What about the LARPers? The thought crossed my mind. I went onto the dance floor around them. What if one or more of them weren’t in a costume?

 

“Um… Maybe?” I struggled to gather my thoughts and figure out how I was going to explain this. “I was at that tavern last night. The fantasy-themed one that plays country music? Dragon’s Den. Anyway, there were a bunch of people in costumes, pretending to be wizards, orcs, elves, and other stupid stuff. They’re called LARPers.”

 

“I know what LARPers are,” the older Knight said, cutting me off. “Were you around them a lot?”

 

“A lot? Not really. I mean, I went onto the dance floor, and they were there also.”

 

“Maybe…” He rubbed his chin in thought before piercing me again with his dark eyes. “Were you there with anyone else? Some creatures can feed on you or manipulate your emotions from nearby, but let’s rule everything out.”

 

“I was there with some friends,” I was already shaking my head. It had to be a LARPer. That was the only thing that made sense. “I’ve known most of them for some time. They’re human.”

 

“Most of them?” he pounced on my words.

 

“Well, Adam was kind of new. It was his birthday, and we were out celebrating him turning twenty-one.” I tried to think of what I knew of him and had to admit it wasn’t much. “You don’t think it could be him, do you?”

 

“Possibly.” I couldn’t read him well enough to know if he thought we were on track or way off base. “If he were an incubus, going to a bar on a Wednesday night, with all those emotions, would act as a nice meal. Unless he bit you, I doubt he’s a werewolf or vampire. Have you seen him under a full moon or in the sunlight?”

 

“I-I don’t know,” I hedged. “I don’t pay a lot of attention to the phases of the moon, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him outside during the day.”

 

“Well, that eliminates a few other cryptids.” He regarded me for a long moment before continuing. “How much do you know about this ‘Adam’ person?”

 

The way he worded that let me know that this guy thought Adam wasn’t human. “Not a whole lot.” I admitted before adding, “I’ve never seen him do anything that made me think he’s a freak.”

 

“Monsters are well versed at hiding what they are,” the old Knight growled. “Look at the bastard, Lyden Snow. Sure, he may look human, but he’s been seducing governments to hand humanity over as food for his friends for over two decades.”

 

I opened my mouth to respond but couldn’t think of what to say. I hadn’t heard anything near that and wondered where he got his intel. Not that I felt it was untrue, but I liked a little more substance than hearsay when forming my opinions.

 

“I see you’re not up-to-date with the latest news,” he told me, reading my facial expressions. “Our President admitted last night in front of Congress that she’s been having an affair with Lyden’s son, that shapeshifter. What was his name?”

 

“Sheldon,” the name escaped my lips before I could think better of it. Why does he keep showing up? I wondered. He stole my girlfriend and was even sleeping with President Louise? I’ll bet Megan is regretting that decision now! Except, I’d watched her die last night…I buried my emotions on that before this guy noticed.

 

“Heh, yeah, that’s right. Sheldon Lance,” the Knight grunted. “Bastard Snow didn’t even have the decency to marry the kid’s mother.”

 

I managed to keep my jaw clenched instead of responding this time. I couldn’t trust anything that might come out.

 

“Was there something else you wanted to talk to me about?” I asked, wanting to change the subject. What do I care about politics or who the president allows between her legs? Megan is dead after chasing after that creature. She would still be alive if Sheldon hadn’t shown up at the club that night. She—

 

“Watch your tone, kid. You’re not a Knight yet, and even if you were, you’d be the lowest of the low.” The man paused, his eyes digging holes into my soul. “Is there anyone else that you may have come into contact with that would be a cryptid?”

 

I thought hard, dismissing my friends one by one. The only other person would have been Charlotte, but my gut told me she was human even if she was inhumanly great in the sack.

 

I shook my head again, and he slammed his hands down on the table. “Anyone? Anyone at all?”

 

“Why don’t you tell me how many times you want me to say I don’t know,” I snapped, losing my patience. “Then I’ll add one more so you understand that I have no idea who it could be.”

 

The Knight’s voice dropped an octave as he growled, “Some people may think you’re funny, but now is not the time to test me.”

 

I nodded, doing my best not to grind my teeth. I needed to remember that this wasn’t a place to relax and let my guard down. The Paladonic Knights were labeled terrorists for a reason. “I’m sorry. My dad died, I just found out he was a Paladonic Knight, and then you tell me that I recently came into contact with a monster. I’m trying to process it all.”

 

I felt the old man’s eyes boring into me as I stared at the table. Hopefully, he took that as grief with my father’s death.

 

The silence dragged on for another moment before I heard him open the door. I hadn’t even heard him move. My head snapped up at the unexpected noise, and I saw him still looking hard at me.

 

“You’ve got a choice before you, kid,” the man’s voice sounded firm and unyielding. “You can walk out this door, return to your life, and pretend all of this was a fever dream. I’ll have your contract torn up, and you’ll be free to go.”

 

I met his gaze then, shock spreading across my face. I could go? But then I remembered that if I left, I also lost all the financial support. I knew I could deal with that and was young enough to come out on top. But my mother couldn’t, and I didn’t think I could support her, finish school, and land a job that would get us by.

 

“Or, you can continue on the path your on and fight back against the Lydenese,” the Knight continued after a short pause. “You can get the woman and help save the day. You can be a hero to humanity and ensure that we remain the dominant species on this planet.”

 

“Get the woman?” I asked, thrown off by his statement. Did he know about what happened with Megan that night at the club?

 

“Oops. Spoilers!” The man laughed and shook his head. In an instant, he went from grumpy grandpa to jovial uncle. Was he bipolar? “You need to be sworn in first. So, what’ll it be? The coward’s path, or the hero?”

 

I stood and met his eyes, even as I felt my heart resting in my stomach. I didn’t have a choice. Not really. “I’m ready to serve, Sir.”

 

“Great choice!” He rounded the table and reached his hand out. When I took it, his grip crushed mine, and he pulled me in to slap my back. His voice dropped to a whisper as he continued.“Keep your head on straight, and I’m sure you’ll rise in the ranks. Keep your eyes open, and you’ll serve humanity’s cause by destroying those monsters. Keep your heart guarded, and they won’t be able to seduce you. Keep your feet on the right path, and you’ll never be led astray.”

 

The whole thing sounded like a ritual. By the time he released my hand, my fingers were numb and purple. He stepped away, indicating the door again. “Return to the other room. I’m sure they’re about to swear everyone in. This is your last chance to walk away. Turn right and forget everything that happened today. Turn left and prepare for a life of defending humanity against its enemies in whatever capacity you’re able.”

 

I nodded to the Knight as I passed and turned right. I’m proud of how well my wobbling knees held me up as I returned to the waiting room. No matter what they said, I didn’t have much choice. My best hope was to land some desk jockey position and not have to worry about killing anything.

 

“What did they want?” the boy from earlier asked as I sat down. I looked at him, and for the life of me, I couldn’t remember his name. Wasn’t there something about a song? Something about a bodyguard and Betty?

 

“They…” I trailed off, not wanting to admit that I’d come into contact with a freak. “They told me that I need to look more professional,” I lied. A glance around the room showed that I was the least dressed up.

 

“Really?” The redhead asked, looking around the room. “Huh. I guess they take stuff like that pretty seriously. I’ll have to remember always to look my best, though I don’t know many ways to dress up a tomato like me. Hmm, tomato… Maybe something green with a dash of off-white? I’d make a great salad.”

 

I noticed we were getting more than a few glares from the others in the room, but this man’s humble attitude was growing on me. He was weird, but nothing seemed to get him down. I could certainly do worse than him as a possible friend.

 

I tried to think of something to say, but someone in the front of the room cleared their throat, grabbing my attention.

 

“On your feet!” a male voice boomed. I found myself standing before I even thought about it. A couple of men took their time standing, and I noted someone off to the side taking notes. Whether I wanted to be here or not, I was determined to put my best foot forward. The man in front—the same that’d interrogated me—spoke up again, and while it was quieter than when he entered, it was still too loud for the size of this room. “You’re in luck today, as you’ll have Commander Oglethorpe administering your oath today.”

 

“Thank you, Scion Anderton.” A broad-shouldered man dressed all in white, except for a stylized golden sun set behind a black cross on his chest. I suspected it was also on the cape hanging on his shoulders. Who wears a cape? While he looked physically fit, his thick gray hair and the wrinkles crisscrossing his face told of great age. He turned to regard all of us for a moment before he continued speaking. “As Scion Anderton mentioned, I am Commander Oglethorpe. I am the commander of the US-West division of Paladonic Knights. While it heartens me to see so many new recruits, I am also saddened by the cause of this. Yesterday, we lost many great men: men that were your fathers and our brothers. Each of them is worthy of the seat they earned in Heaven by fighting the evils that face humanity. Make no mistake, though. While the so-called Lydenese may have struck us a blow, our resolve is as firm as ever. As future Knights and protectors, you carry upon your shoulders the hopes and dreams of every man, woman, and child who wants to be able to sleep at night, knowing they are safe. For a thousand years, the Palodnic Knights have protected humanity from the monsters that were thought to be myths while also taking care of our families and livelihoods. We protect the weak who cannot defend themselves. And while we must do it in the shadows, we will not shirk the duties given to us from the very first Knight. He struck down a succubus that terrorized his village and then spent the rest of his life fighting the evils that we still face today.”

 

Commander Oglethorpe looked around the room, his eyes fierce and determined. “Today, you take the oath and join our ranks. In the following weeks, you’ll learn what it means to be a Paladonic Knight. But tonight, you’ll enjoy a tradition called First Knight. The future, our future, and the future of humanity rests on your shoulders. Your fathers performed great acts, and I see the seeds for such bravery here in this room. Stand proud as you take the oath today and join our hallowed ranks. I’ll leave you with one last bit of advice before I turn this podium back to Scion Anderton. Search with your hearts for that which your eyes cannot see, but trust your mind when your heart is clouded.”

 

The Knights around the room clapped as Oglethorpe stepped back and walked to the back wall. I found myself standing and clapping along with the rest, roused by the speech. I was no great orator, but I’d attended enough debate classes to recognize what he’d done. That wasn’t a speech that sounded memorized, nor had he read from any cards or prompters. It came from his heart, and I couldn’t deny that I was ready to take my oath and defend my fellow men!

 

 

*    *    *    *

 

My dorm room looked small and insignificant as I stepped inside. The rest of the afternoon became a blur as I took the oath and was given instructions to go home and change into something that represented me. While I’ll admit that I wasn’t in the proper attire for going to the lawyer’s office, I didn’t know what they wanted me to wear. Something celebratory, but not too much, as we were still mourning those lost yesterday. Something appropriate for a young Knight to wear, showing that I was confident but not cocky. I needed to look professional but not stand out. Sophisticated, but I had to remember that I am a new recruit and have not yet earned any rank.

 

“About time you got home,” Adam snapped as I walked in.

 

“What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped back. Then I took a step out the door and verified I’d walked into the correct room. I shouldn’t have, though, because I recognized how my small portion of the room was decorated. “And where is Josh?” Joshua Bins is my roommate and believes in my blurse as much as I do. Usually, we’ll laugh about it after a night out, but I hadn’t seen him since yesterday. He didn’t go out with us because he was Mormon or something, and they don’t drink alcohol.

 

“He said he had to get to work,” Adam said as he stood up from my desk and walked up to me. “What happened last night? I thought I was supposed to go home with the chick, not you.”

 

“And he just left you alone in our room?” I asked, liking this guy less and less. I recalled my interrogation earlier and wondered if he was the supernatural creature I came into contact with recently? Did I have to be careful about any magical abilities? Could he read my mind?

 

“Don’t ignore my question,” Adam sneered. “I did everything right. I was the one who was supposed to have my world rocked with mind-blowing sex. It was my birthday. Why do women always choose the assholes?”

 

I stood there, staring at the guy, trying to comprehend what he was going on about. How was I an asshole? What’d I do to him to bring on this anger? Sure, I left with Charlotte, but it wasn’t my fault this imbecile believed in the blurse.

 

Though I had to agree that the sex last night was pretty damned good.

 

“I always treat women with respect,” Adam went on as though I had a clue what he was raving about. “I’m a nice guy. I open doors for them, say nice things, am very respectful, and believe in women’s rights. And yet they walk all over me and sleep with men like you. What’s wrong with them?”

 

“Men like…?” I trailed off, starting to understand where this douchebag was heading. “What’s wrong with them? Listen, chuckle-head. Women aren’t some dating sim that you can walk up to, press ‘A,’ and get them to bend over for you because you say something nice. They don’t have a point system that gets you laid when your score is high enough. You have to treat them like a person, not an object put on this planet for your enjoyment. And if a babe isn’t interested in you, that doesn’t mean something is wrong with them. It means that you don’t have chemistry together. You have to find some commonality between you and build it. Not expect it to fall into your lap because you’re supposedly a ‘nice guy.’”

 

“Yeah, whatever. Women should want to have a piece of this,” Adam dismissed my words as he groped his crotch. It took most of my willpower not to reach out and sock him. “But they always say it’s not me and that they’re leaving me before they hurt me, or some bullshit.”

 

“I’ll tell you what,” I said, unclenching my jaw. “I’ll give you the best advice I can think of right now.”

 

“Oh yeah?” his eyes lit up, and I had to smother the vindictive feeling burgeoning in my chest at his excitement. What a quick change in attitude.“What’s that?”

 

“You see that door over there?” I pointed to my dorm room entrance, and he nodded. “Don’t let it hit you too hard on the way out.”

 

He blinked a couple times as his brain churned to comprehend my statement. I let my own smile split my lips as his eyes darkened. What makes him think he has the right to come in here and act like that in my room?

 

“Mother-fucker!” Adam flipped me off as he walked out. He stopped just outside the room, a malicious grin splitting his face. “I wonder what the Dean would say if she knew that you were running this scam? Taking advantage of people, tricking them into believing is some blurse, and paying for your drinks.”

 

I took two steps towards him—intending to close the door in his face—but his eyes grew wide in fear, and he fled.

 

“Dumbass,” I cursed him under my breath. I wasn’t running any scam, and if the Dean had any problems, I’d gone on the record multiple times, stating I didn’t believe in it. I closed the door, making sure it was locked.

 

Of course, that was also when I remembered I was supposed to investigate him and see if he was the freak I’d come into contact with.

 

Well, if he is, hopefully, he’ll stay far away from me, I thought as I moved to my wardrobe to figure out what to wear.

 

In the end, I picked out a pair of grey slacks and a fitted black polo. It wasn’t too dressy, but it wasn’t lounge-wear either. I left a note for Josh, letting him know I may be home late and not to let Adam in our room again.

 

A cab dropped me off at the address given to me, and I felt both awe and ire rise up in my gut. The hotel I stood outside of somehow presented an air of wealth while also looking ancient. It wasn’t worn down, but one of those stone buildings that would have fit in with Gotham architecture or erected during the renaissance. Of course, this was California, so I knew it wasn’t that old. Gargoyles adorned the crenelations, and it stretched high into the night sky.

 

If the Knights had this kind of money, why did my mother and I have to grow up so damned poor? I found myself at odds, hating them for how my childhood ended up while also respecting the work they did to rid the world of the freaks.

 

“Your invitation?” a doorman asked as I approached the rotating doors. He must have read my blank look as he took in my clothes. I realized that once again, I was underdressed. “The hotel is booked for a private event. Without an invitation, I can’t let you in.”

 

A wild impulse to charge past the man struck me—I was a bit bigger than him, and probably faster, too—but I pushed it down and dug in my pocket. “I have this card telling me to be here. It says ‘First Knight’ on one side. Does it count?”

 

The card vanished from my hand as he took it, inspecting it. After a brief second of him rubbing it between his fingers, it went up in a puff of purple flame and smoke, much as an illusionist would create. I opened my mouth to curse at him, but he stepped aside and said, “Right this way, Sir. The entire hotel is at your service. The bar is open. When you need a room, simply talk to the front desk, and a key will be furnished. Consider our hotel to be a safe second home for the evening. Enjoy First Knight and our hospitality.”

 

Free booze? Free hotel room? It was a college kid’s dream! Not to mention one who grew up poor. It might be a Thursday night, but I planned on having a killer hangover tomorrow! What was all this First Knight nonsense, though? I guessed it was the event’s name, though the look in the bouncer’s eyes as he mentioned it indicated more. Hadn’t Oglethorpe said something about a tradition tonight during his speech?

 

The lobby was just as gaudy as I’d expected, with marble pillars, statues, plush furniture, and well-dressed staff. Classical music played over invisible speakers. It was also at least four times larger than the apartment my mom lived in. A few people milled around, one of them Al.

 

“Bobby!” he called out, making me cringe. I waved back at him, hoping he wouldn’t yell anymore in this room, as all eyes turned to regard us. Were all the new recruits this surly, or were Al and me just that easy-going?

 

“Hey, man,” I said when he was in conversation distance. He didn’t seem to care about the dirty looks we received.

 

“It’s me, Al,” he said with a slight grimace.

 

It took me a second to realize why he told me his name again. “I know. You sat next to me when we swore in. I haven’t forgotten.”

 

Despite all the freckles on his face, I still noticed his cheeks burning as he looked at our feet. “Sorry. Most people seem to forget or don’t care. And most of this group is pretty stuck up, but you were nice to me earlier. Sorry if I insulted you.”

 

I was nice to him? I wondered, barely remembering talking to him. If that was nice, he’d lived a rough life. A smile lit up his face a moment later, though, and I suspected not much kept him down for long.

 

“Can you believe we’re here? We’re Knights?” He slapped me on the back, his skinny arms holding more strength than I gave him credit for. “And tonight’s the night! I’ve waited my whole life for tonight. I hope I don’t screw it up.”

 

I pulled Al to the side, wanting to have a quieter conversation with him. I lowered my voice, hoping he’d get the hint. “I didn’t know my dad was a Knight until this morning. All of this is new to me.”

 

Al’s eyes grew almost as large as his open mouth. “Really? He never told you? I mean, I know my dad told me more than he was supposed to, and he always said to me that I couldn’t tell anyone what he said, but we’re Paladonic Knights now, so it should be safe. Right?”

 

“I guess,” I said, not sure what else to say. Al spoke so fast, it was almost difficult to keep up with him.

 

“Oh, and he told me so many stories about the night when he took the oath,” Al went on as though I hadn’t spoken. His voice started to rise again, but then he stopped and lowered it. “But he also said that it was supposed to be a secret from new recruits.”

 

“What is?” I asked, not sure if I wanted to keep one more secret.

 

“Well, typically, there are only a few new recruits at once,” Al continued but stepped closer and lowered his voice even more. “So I’m hoping this will be similar.”

 

“What is?” I asked, wishing he’d just spit it out.

 

“Well…” Al paused and looked around. No one else was even close, and even though he whispered, there was no mistaking the excitement in his voice. “Tonight’s the night we meet our future wife.” 

 

 

*    *    *    *

 

1066 A.D.

 

 

Ardin’s muscles rippled as he flung the net out into the waves. Sweat dripped from his brow even as it created runnels down his back. He reveled in the work that would help feed his village tonight. With the sun shimmering brightly in the sky, his legs up to his knees in the salty water, dark skin glistening, and a few fish already caught, there was little more in life he could want.

 

“The elders have finally decided,” his friend, Karcher, said.

 

Ardin looked over at him, keeping a firm grasp on his net. “What decision?”

 

Karcher pulled in his net as he gave Ardin an incredulous look. “About the refugees! As long as they work, the elders will welcome them into our community. Sometimes you need to pay more attention to what’s going on around you, and a little less to your nets.”

 

Ardin glanced to the shore, where some women were busy cleaning their catch. One woman caught his eye, her light-colored hair—a rarety in this area—shining, despite being pulled back from her rounded face. The woman looked up, and despite the distance, Ardin felt as though their eyes met.

 

“Another empty pull,” Karcher grumbled as he prepared for another throw. “You know, if you don’t start looking for a woman, you’ll end up an old, lonely man.”

 

Ardin opened his mouth to argue that he was only sixteen and had plenty of time to find someone he was willing to spend his life with, but a tug on his net brought him back to his task. Twisting his wrist, he gripped the lead on his net with both hands and hauled his net back to him. A cheer erupted from his broad chest as he eyed the wriggling mass.

 

“It looks like you’ve emptied this spot,” Karcher glared at Ardin’s net, despite knowing that it would mean they’d eat better tonight. “I’m going to move a little farther down.”

 

Ardin waved his friend away as he worked to keep as many fish in the net as possible. He struggled to keep it contained as he walked to the working women. He tried hard not to look at the young woman he’d noticed earlier, though he thought he felt her eyes on him.

 

 “Seems you have an admirer,” Old Maerta cackled as Ardin dropped his load before her. “Young Venita has watched you more than the fish she’s supposed to be cleaning. Can’t blame her, though. If I were a little younger, I’d be trying to catch your eye as well.”

 

Ardin grimaced. The ancient woman was over thirty! He never knew how to handle it when the crone made such comments. Instead, he focused on pulling out rocks and other inedible debris caught in his net. With a gasp, he pulled back and grabbed Old Maerta’s hand before she lost a finger.

 

“Oh, what a good sign!” Old Maerta laughed as she circled the pile of fish. “You caught one of the hungry ones! They’ll be a great addition to dinner, and it means they won’t be eating our uncaught food or attacking our catchers. A great portent indeed!”

 

Ardin listened to Old Maerta babble as he helped sort the catch. The sooner his net was clean, the sooner he could repair any damage and get back out into the surf.

 

“Hello?” a soft voice pulled Ardin from his thoughts. Turning, he felt his mouth go dry. “Hi, I’m Venita.”

 

“A-Ardin,” he managed to choke past numb lips. Karcher may tease him about being blind to women, but the truth was that he didn’t know how to act around them.

 

“I know,” she twisted her hands in front of her as her cheeks burned. Such pale skin on a woman was unheard of anywhere that Ardin knew. Where did she come from, to be so striking?. Her green eyes captivated him, making her blush deepen. “I may have asked about you. Will I get the chance to talk to you tonight?”

 

Ardin tried to answer, but his lips moved without sound. Instead, he nodded. Her dazzling smile stole his breath and what little remained of his thoughts. It looked like she even had all of her teeth! He couldn’t find a flaw in her beauty. Despite the color of her skin, or perhaps because of it, she appeared radiant to him.

 

“Great!” Venita shifted on her feet for a moment, uncertain, before giggling and running back to where she was supposed to be working.

 

Ardin felt as though the sun grew brighter and hotter. He couldn’t imagine the day getting any better until he remembered that he would have to find words to talk to her that night. Sudden panic took over, worsened when Old Maerta cackled.

 

“Careful with that one, Ardin!” The crone poked at his chest with a slimy finger. “She may look innocent, but she’ll run circles around your heart if you’re not careful. Maybe I shouldn’t let it slip that her virginity was verified only yesterday? Or that she’s just a year younger than you? No, no. I should definitely not get your heart beating too fast. It might make your pretty bronze skin turn even redder.”

 

Ardin gripped the net, gave it a hard shake, pulling it from the pile. Without saying a word, he turned to where other men were repairing their nets and took off at a run. Despite his embarrassment, he felt lighter and stronger than ever before.

====================

From the Author

====================

Okay, so I know there were no saucy bits in this chapter. Trust me when I say the next one makes up for that. Chapter 03, titled First Knight will see Bobby navigating the party and learning a few things...

Also, you'll see the next part of Ardin's story. I know you're not too invested in him yet, but he plays a crucial role in Bobby's future... Even if he starts his story in 1066 AD.

As always, please leave any comments or advice below.

Bobby Brody