The White Knight Chronicles

The White Knight Chronicles Volume 1

PROLOGUE                                                Covered in blood and gore I set out to find my sisters in the huge mansion. I ran into the main hall, trying to edge my way back to the chandelier room, where all the most important guest were―including my sisters. I hoped nothing bad had come of my family, as I hurriedly sped to find them. Telepathically I sent Demi to the kitchen area, and the places of the east wing, if my sisters were not in the chandelier room or not dead, then maybe Demi would find them. I would worry about the consequences later, as I was very concerned for the safety of my sisters.
  I edged my way closer to the west hall; I could feel the anticipation building up inside me. Four more of the armored masked men stopped in front of me. They traveled in a formation of two-by-two, each dragging a bloody wounded civilian by the arms. They stopped, spotting and situating their guns at me, firing with the bullets. I was quicker, and using my super-speed I dodged the bullets fluently moving toward them, without hesitation. I brought up my sword beside me. I swung it at their hands, cutting them off as the blood sprayed the walls. The wounded victims below me screamed in pain and gasped in fear.
Suddenly, before I had time to question them, they all blew up, guts splashing wildly everywhere. The wounded man and woman screamed with terror, letting out screeching cries as the men echoed one word before their gruesome and ugly departure, “Dead End!”

I had to be even quicker, in finding my sisters. I needed to find them with haste and save as many people as I could. So I started with the two beneath me. I grabbed my dagger and bent down toward the older man below. I put my hand on his chest listening to his heart, soaking in his character. Much like every rich person here, this man was not good-hearted. I saw only ugly crime in his life and hidden so dark that I decided not to go further.

“Help me,” he said, spitting up blood. He was internally bleeding and dying from the inside out.

There was nothing I could do for the man. I couldn’t feed him my blood because of his evil, as it would only worsen his condition. He would die a terrible death, even worse than now, so I turned my gaze upon the woman lying behind me. I placed my hand on her chest, and listened into her heart. It sounded of spring, beautiful flowers blossoming and apple trees bursting with flavor. I traveled further, (unlike the man) and found myself dipping into a crystal clear river. The vivid smell of the grass being grazed and the cool embrace that the water fed my body told me one thing―this woman was good.

I cut my palm with the dagger and forced the blood in her mouth. As she drank, the piercing wounds inside her closed up. Life returned to her body with invigoration. I pulled my hand back and helped her to her feet.

“What-wha-what …” She tried to find words to explain the supernatural healing of my blood. I silenced her, not having time to explain. “Go now; follow this wing until you get to the side hall. then take the last left to the exit.” I said. She quickly obeyed, wanting to get out alive desperately.

I looked down at the guy on the floor and heard no heartbeat―he had died. Morosely I stared, wishing I could have saved him, regardless of his evil. But this was the natural order of my abilities, and saving him was something I could not do. Being a White Knight was of the highest honor, and burden. I made my way swiftly around the main hall and entered the Chandelier room. At the top I heard the clapping of hands and a soft whistle, echoing from the vicinity. I glanced around, noticing Lynda at the top of the stairway surrounded by a half dozen armed men. They all carried semi-automatics with sharp swords situated firmly into their sheaths. Then―very slowly―Nathan Hawkins held a dagger to Lynda’s throat.

Chapter 1:

 

I lingered by the kitchen bar in the family mansion, sipping on Bourbon whiskey, as my youngest sister ambled in with her backpack suited neatly on her shoulders. Abby sprouted short brown hair that perceptibly curled similar to mine. Her apparel consisted generally of graceful colors, but she never wore anything black. Abby held malice for the color just how I disregarded it. Her favorite color was yellow and always wore dainty makeup consisting of the colors: Yellow, pink, blue, green, and even red. My sister held a firm connection to me. She told me many times that I was her closest friend and family, her only open door she could vent to. I always took Abby to school and came afterwards to pick her up. Abby was fifteen years of age and still had a year left before she could drive herself.  She grabbed the Bourbon out of my hand and poured it down the drain inconsiderably.
“Come on were going to be late for school. Its bad enough you’re already drinking. Can you drive?” She examined.
“Little sis… I hunt supernatural monsters who threaten the very existence of people like us. I think I can handle driving you to school.” I said.
“Mhm and do you fight those monsters drunk?” There was a sharp glimmer in Abby’s eyes. “Yeah I didn’t think so, now come on lets go. I’m already gonna be late as it is.” She said, grabbing my hand and pulling me outside.
I cranked up my truck and drove my sister to school. On the way we conversed. Abby tried keeping me between the gravel and making sure we didn’t end up dead by my wasted driving, but to her surprise face I guess it was actually pretty good… considering
“How are you Aaron?” Abby asked me carefully, spreading uneasiness across her unbiased smile.
“Do you remember before dad died?” I said.
“No that was nearly seven years ago. Very little do I remember… why?” Abby said.
I mentioning my father, which I rarely did, seem to intrigue the attention of my younger sister.
“That’s the thing―me either.” I paused for a slight second, revealing the impediment that pushed my mind.
“Do you remember that road trip we took down to Alaska Mask eight years ago?”
Abby took a deep breath, trying to remember the scene. “Yes of course. I was only eight then, but I remember it so clearly as if that part of my life was―”
I interrupted, “Highlighted?”
Abby glanced over me, probably wondering what I was getting at with the sudden outburst of the past.
I greeted her gaze and finish the point I was prodding at. “Dad told me that one day I would have to make a hard decision― something that would put my heart on trial and set me down a dark path. He told me that the moments leading up to this decision would be catastrophic, causing me to drink, worry and no matter how many I saved, it wouldn’t fill the hole of what was to come.”
I finished with a subtle, yet simple, manifestation of gloom across my face. This memory had haunted my mind for years.
My sister hardly believed, from the look I received from her. “And this thing that dad warned you off, you think it’s coming true?”
“I don’t know,” I responded, parking my truck into the school parking lot.
“All I know is what I feel inside. My body is changing. I feel burdened about something in a way I can’t explain. Kind of like when a drug addict doesn’t get the ecstasy their use to… they start detoxing and going through hell pulling themselves through the trials and tribulations―and then eventually it stops―the pain is gone and they are no longer bound to the drugs that enslaved them. For me it doesn’t stop.” I clenched my fist and rolled my head in pure ache. “There’s pain―and detoxification doesn’t seem to come. So I’m reliving the same emotions and feelings every day. The booze helps but still not enough―I’m afraid.”
I knew my sister couldn’t help me, even with her sweet words and remedies, but Abby was the only person I ever felt open to. My sisters were far from close to me. Hell, sometimes I even forgot I had two others! All I knew was Abby tried her hardest to be there for me, even if what she did resorted to little aid, it felt good having someone to talk to, especially when your life is concealed. Abby saw the gloom expression on my troubled face. I could feel her heartbeat slow down to a rhythm such as mine...
“Dad was a real hard-ass Aaron. I loved him and I know you loved him too, but what he told you he couldn’t have known. I mean White Knights can do some pretty badass things but foretelling the future, really?” Abby chuckled.
“I think the job of saving people and hunting monsters has just gotten to you is all big brother. And I know just the thing to take your mind off the daily pressures of being a White Knight.” She started smiling.
Passing her a more vivid smile and expression this time, I said “and what’s that?”
Before Abby could say anything to me, her best friend Melissa trotted along to Abby’s side of the door.
“Hey there strangers,” she giggled, right along with Abby.
Melissa was more of the bratty blonde popular type, a wild kind of gal. Her silky blonde hair was more than desirable by most of the guys that attended Harpersville High School. She had dazzling, sapphire eyes that made even the most stunning oceans, thirst for the perfection that the coral eyes possessed. Her reflective attitude toward relationships was that of a mere “beneficial one” for both partners. She never seemed to crush on any guy and typically made them all pursue her and almost plead for a date. Any typical guy would agree that she was a real assured goddess. She never stayed in a relationship for very long with anyone because of her self-absorbed attitude, but despite all this Abby put up with her and she loved Abby; they had been best friends for a very long time.
Abby greeted Melissa and vice-versa, exchanging giggles and little whispers. Abby then turned to me, remembering the previous conversation we were having before Melissa appeared.
Melissa fluffed back her golden hair. “Hello Aaron,” Melissa said, almost seductively. Melissa had been over at the family Wolf mansion plenty of times, and flirted with me almost every opportunity she could afford. She had asked me out multiple times, yet I denied, which is something no guy ever did. This instinctive act alone drove the hot-headed blonde girl mad; at least it seemed so anyways. She had never been the chaser in any relationship but felt that way with me for some reason. The only thing was―I did not try to keep Melissa enticed to me the way she thought I was doing. She believed I wanted her badly but was just playing hard to get, but this was hardly the issue. I honestly did not care about Melissa in a passionate way, I never have. Truth was I never dated because of who I was; I had many enemies who wanted me dead. Loving someone and then having to protect them from my adversaries seemed impossible and I found it more suitable to just not hold any relationships at all.
“Hello Melissa,” I yawn.
I glanced over at Abby and noticed the situation dying of attention. The silence took over and the awkwardness ate up the words. Abby took a deep breath “You two should date.”
Bam!
The words created an awkward silence for me as I stared ambiguously at my sister, but Melissa only smiled gracefully at the words from her best friend.
“I think it would be fun don’t you Aaron?” Melissa tried to encourage.
I only stared at my sister more, thinking to myself “I can’t believe she just said that.” Even in my disbelief I then hit a sudden epiphany and realized how my little sister was only trying to help me relax. Before my tongue was dry with words, but now seemed wet with a little bit of courage. I smiled and to both my sister and Melissa’s surprise... I agreed. Melissa’s mouth dropped open as well as Abby’s
“Really, your serious?” they both said.
I turned my gaze upon Melissa, giving her a supportive nod. “Yeah I mean, why not?” “What time do I pick you up tonight?” I asked, as if I was normal. If I hadn’t known any better I could have fooled myself with the act. Melissa only reflected the beauty of her sapphire eyes back into the deep brown eyes of my own. By this time Abby was already out of the vehicle patiently waiting for Melissa and me to finish our conversation.
“Around eight sound good?” I nodded my head, as Melissa suddenly realized something. I didn’t know what, but her broadened smile turned into a subtle snarl. “But be warned I may not be ready by the time you arrive and if you come too late I may change my mind.”
“I’ll see you at eight tonight,” I repeated, almost laughing at her sassiness. Melissa backed away from the truck, moving toward Abby. I drove off as Melissa grabbed Abby’s arm.
“Oh my god! I finally got a date with him.” She exclaimed. She seemed to be happy. Abby just smiled, rolling her eyes seeing her best friend and brother get together finally. The girls walked into Harpersville High, while Abby contemplated…