Forbidden Love

In all the evolution of the Unknown Chiroptera, the Chevalier have been forbidden to fall in love with human women. Yet things are not so forbidden as they seem.

Chapter 1

Mandi rushed in and stopped Saya from continuing her blood rage. Mandi was like Saya, not knowing what she was. In the jungles of Vietnam, both girls were out of their dresses and wearing other clothes. Saya, a shirt under a green coat and belt; Mandi, her sweatpants and a simple tank top. Saya was wearing boots while Mandi was bare foot.

"Saya," Mandi said, seeing the bright red glow fade. "Calm down."

Mandi looked around at the carnage and knew that the Shield would cover it up. Chiroptera, she learned, were relatively stupid. Haji appeared seconds before the others did. He nodded slightly, which Mandi caught. David looked around and left. Kai escorted Saya off. Which left Mandi with Haji.

"I don't get it, Haji," she said. "It's like Saya and I are alike. But I know we're not." Haji did not answer. "Haji, please answer me."

The Chevalier made a motion for her to follow; which she did.

"Long ago, a Chevalier was waiting for his Queen to wake," he began.

Mandi nodded, understanding the tale so far. She knew Haji was Saya's Chevalier, and Saya was one of two twin Queens.

"He met a woman and nature took the lead. A child was produced. The child, a female, was much like her human friends, until she began displaying symptoms that told she was not human."

The two of them walked into the jungle. There was little that could harm them.

"What sort of symptoms," Mandi asked.

"Chevalier symptoms. You may have read about them in Joel's Diary."

"I have."

"The child was ostracized and was driven away. Little is known after that. Until now."

"Until now?"

Haji stopped and looked at Mandi; the look telling her the answer.

"I'm the child? But what does that make me? I'm no human; nor am I a Queen."

Before Haji could answer, Mandi's cell went off.

"Come on back to the house," David's voice said.

"No, David. I"m not ready."

"Mandi...." Mandi hung up.

"I cannot answer that," Haji said, pertaining to her question.

Mandi sighed. She was a hybrid; but what kind? Human and Queen Chiroptera? Or human and Chevalier? Surely not human and common Chiroptera.

"Let's go back," Mandi said.

Days later, Mandi and the others were on the ship that was taking them back to Okinawa. Mandi had made friends with Saya in Vietnam; in the school they had infiltrated. Now Mandi was making friends with Riku. It seemed like Mandi had forgotten what she was; but she has not. She merely did not worry about it.

"You have a good throwing arm, Mandi," Riku said.

"Thanks, Riku."

Unknown to the two, David and Joel looked on the two friends.

"Mandi seems to be getting along well," Joel said.

"She has her place with Saya and Haji," David said.

"Mandi is not like Saya. In fact, Mandi is not a Queen."

Mandi dove for a ball that Riku had side shot. She caught it and did a somersault on the deck; coming up with a leg out to the side for support and a leg under. The action did not go unnoticed by Joel and David. It was took quick for a human, yet too slow for a Chevalier.

"Then what is she?"

"I believe my forefather called her a hybrid between a human and Chevalier."

David looked at Joel in half shock. A hybrid? It seemed like it was impossible for a Chevalier to impregnate a human woman. Then again, Saya, Haji and all other Chiroptera would be thought of being impossible.

"He also mentioned," Joel said, breaking the silence. "A journal of sorts found in the Caribbean. It contains much about Mandi."

"Any indication of how old she is?"

"Perhaps as old as Saya, probably older."

"That makes Mandi the oldest living Chevalier."

"There are older ones."

Mandi stood outside her sister's apartment. The high schooler had moved in some six months before the events at her school forced her to the Red Shield. Mandi did not know how her sister would react. She opened the door and found the apartment empty. With a sigh, she headed for her room to pack. Mandi had left a quick note and took a single bag right after the events at the high school. Now she had the chance to pack properly.

"Maybe I should go see a movie after I pack," Mandi said, thinking out loud. "But what movie?"

She loaded a few pairs of jeans into one of her suitcases before throwing all of her underwear into the case. After an hour, her suitcases were packed and waiting at the door. A knock came and Mandi allowed them to take her suitcases.

After they left, Mandi wondered what to do. She looked back at the apartment, not knowing if or when she would return. Mandi picked up a pad of paper and began writing the story that was cleared by both Joel and David to tell her sister. An hour past before the hybrid finished and left the apartment.

Leaving the cinema, Mandi answered her cell.

"Yeah?"

"It's Kai. Feel like a party?"

"What kinda party?"

"BBQ. I'm sure Saya will enjoy you being there."

"Sure."

Mandi had spent the good part getting to the beach. One of the unlucky people that did not have a license, she reached the beach by foot.

"'Bout time you got here," Kai said as Mandi joined them.

"Foot power's a sure bet."

Mandi gave a smile before joining Saya. The night wore on and Mandi found herself sitting next to Haji.

"So, do you know what I am," she asked him.

"You are a hybrid."

"A human/Chevalier hybrid. I know. But what does that mean for me? Am I a Queen; like Saya or Diva? Or just nature's experiment?"

Haji shifted his gaze to Mandi. She was in between worlds; belonging to neither the humans or Chiroptera.

"Hey, Mandi," Kai shouted at her. "Come and join us. You'll miss out on the fireworks."

Mandi sighed and looked at Haji; who made no motion. She moved and joined the others. Come morning, she knew this will be over.