Down On The Bayou Detective Agency - Case Files

Chapter 20

Case #20 - Ordre du Temple

~o0o~

Previously:

I could see her faintly in my mind, sitting on a hill amidst daisies. Sitting beside her were the children, and a very dark presence was standing behind them.

The vision resolved itself further. Bella and the twins became clearer as did the figure standing behind them. He spoke directly to me.

"Hello, Edward. Your children are very strong with psychic energy. They shall feed me for a very long time. Then, after I consume them, I'll come find you and your friends."

Then they were gone.

BELLA!

~o0o~

Esme heard Edward screaming Bella's name and came running back into the room where she found Edward on his knees clutching Bella's hand.

"Son! What's wrong?"

It took her a few minutes to get him calmed down enough to tell his mother what had just happened. Esme understood about her son as she had always had what her mother had called a "twinkle" herself.

"So you see, mom, my family is once again in danger because of me! Why is this happening to me?" Edward was still clutching Bella's hand. His eyes were filled with tears and sobs still racked him. When he was finally able to get a hold of himself, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called Sam. The call went to voicemail, so Edward explained what he'd just witnessed. Next, he called Angela and Lauren and told them.

"It appears we have more than one more energy vampire to deal with. Why we didn't know this before is beyond me." Edward paused, listening. "Yes, Sam will be back in the morning or later tonight. I don't know what his flight information is." He stopped to listen again. "Yes, that's a good idea. I need to go back to the inner planes and see what else I can find out." He listened again and then answered impatiently, "Yes, Angela, I'm a wreck. Look, I'll be at the houseboat in about half an hour, and I'll go into much more detail. We've got to get moving on this, or we'll all be killed by this, this monster." He disconnected the call and looked at his mother.

"Mom, I've got to go meet with Angela and Lauren and see if we can't get more of a handle on how to eliminate this threat." Edward turned to Bella's still form on the bed, kissed her forehead, hugged his mother, and left the room.

Edward was no sooner out in the hallway when Michael appeared by his side, and then they disappeared. They suddenly appeared at the bottom on the stairs leading up to the houseboat. Edward waited a few seconds to orient himself to where he was before he started to climb the stairs.

Angela was not too surprised to see Edward walking into the kitchen. When Lauren saw him, she yipped but just accepted that he was there.

Angela, ever the mother of the group, made Edward sit down and drink a cup of hot tea and a full glass of water. "You look like hell, though I don't blame you at all. If you don't get some liquid into you, you won't be able to function at your full capacity and won't do Bella and the children any good. Now, tell us again what that creature said to you."

Edward went through it one more time and added, "It's not what he said so much as what I was seeing and feeling from him." He paused gathering his thoughts. "The one that we destroyed was a mate or child. I'm not sure which, but it was someone very special to him. They were, are, a vanguard for more to follow. We really need to figure out how to deal with this one too." Edward's eyes took on a panicked look. "He's going to kill my children and Bella!"

Those words were hanging in the air when Sam walked into the kitchen with a rather bewildered look on his face. Moments later, Michael followed Sam into the kitchen carrying both Sam and Edward's suitcases.

Edward visibly relaxed.

Sam sat down hard in the kitchen chair next to Edward, still disoriented.

Michael walked up to Angela and Lauren and introduced himself to them since they both looked very bewildered. "I am special friend of Edwards. I am your friend as well, and I am here to help."

Angela looked at Michael to see if she might be able to read his aura, and saw a bright, golden light surrounding him. She understood then that Michael was someone very special, and she would not question him, Edward, or Sam about who this Michael was or where he'd come from. She knew all would be explained-eventually.

Lauren started to ask questions, but Angela shook her head. "No, Lauren, just look at him." That was all Angela had to say. Lauren too then saw what Angela had seen. Both women were accustomed to seeing things that others could not, all their lives and for the most part, just went with it.

~o0o~

Once the detectives had settled, Michael said, "I have called in some more help to find and fight this new threat. They will be here in just a little while."

Edward looked up at Michael and asked, "Who?"

"A group you should have met by now, but until now, the time never seemed right. Their French name is Ordre du Temple or Templiers or in English, The Knights Templar."

"Who?"

"The Knights Templar, the Order of Solomon's Temple."

"They still exist?"

"Yes, they do. They stand to assist all good souls in time of great need, and, my friends, we are in great need."

Angela spoke up, "I've heard of them, Edward. They work very quietly in the background and never call attention to themselves."

Then Edward remembered something from several years ago. He'd been in deep meditation when he'd found himself standing in front of a door which had opened without him touching it. He'd found himself then standing in a great library filled with more books than he had ever imagined a single library holding. The rooms were filled with soft, golden light and some of the books glowed brightly.

One of the books seemed to glow brighter than the others and called to him. He touched it and heard a voice speaking. This voice filled the room of the library with a calm strength. Edward had no idea who this voice belonged to, but he knew it came from the Light.

Always being able to hear Edward's thoughts, Michael said, "Yes, Edward, that voice belonged to the Master of the Brotherhood of Light. This brotherhood is always active on the inner planes, waiting to be reached for by those who walk on the outer planes. I have been given permission to help you receive help in the form of the Templars. They are God's Warriors, and this fight is right up their collective alleys. You were once a Templar yourself which gives you more of a claim on their help."

Sam, unable to remain silent any longer, asked, "Then why the hell didn't they kill these creatures to begin with?"

"It was judged that you all were capable of taking care of the original problem, which you did. Now you need more help, and it's available to you. You have seven more individuals coming to you, physically, anytime now."

As if that was the cue, there was a loud knocking on the door.

Angela rose and went to door and opened it.

She gasped, "Oh my!"

~o0o~