I came back to camp and hid behind some debris to stakeout Bradley’s office again. I sat down looking at my watch to check on time. Just then, when I thought that tonight was a bust, I saw the light from Bradley’s office go off. I waited and saw Bradley leaving the office and heading towards the Barracks. Strange, cause Bradley didn’t reside in the Barracks. His quarters was located in a separate building altogether. As I kept my distance to follow him, I saw Bradley walk into the barracks and along the long dark hallway. Electricity was still being worked on so the building was lit with lamps instead. I followed him all the way up to a room. My room. Bradley was standing in front of my room. Shit.

I looked around the corner contemplating on whether to slip back into my room or not. I saw Bradley raise his hand to knock at my door. But then he stopped. Bradley then shook his head and started to walk off. Well, looks like he decided to not tell me after all. I followed Bradley up to the emergency staircase that led down to the emergency tunnels. The very tunnels Beth and I used during the Lycan attack. He stopped for a second and looked around giving me seconds to react and hid behind a corner, almost getting caught. I waited a moment until I heard him start to down the stairs. I followed. I crept down the stairs as it descended into darkness. But unlike the last time, the emergency tunnel was lit with a dim green light. The light flickered and was weak. But it was emanating enough light to for me to see the area. I looked around to find Bradley, but I couldn’t find him. I thought I lost him when I saw a flash of white light coming from up ahead. I crept over towards the light as quietly as I could, but with haste. When I got to the location, all I found was a concrete wall. But I was sure that there was light coming from this wall. Was the tunnel playing tricks on me again? I knocked on the concrete wall and heard metallic clinks coming back. It was a door. I felt around the concrete wall to try and figure out how it opened. Then I saw a small groove in the wall. It was in the shape of a small cross. My mind flashed at the small cross I recovered from the skinwalker and pulled it out. I matched it to the groove in the concrete wall. Perfect fit. Bastard had a key to this place. As I placed the key into the concrete wall I heard mechanical noises and then the concrete wall opened up slightly. I pulled it open to reveal an opening. Bright white light blasted me in the face as I had to cover my eyes with the back of my hand. As I walked in my eyes adjusted to the light and I found myself in a cave like tunnel with a low ceiling. Down the cave I saw bright lights emanating in the distance. I followed down the cave and finally came to an opening.

The cave opened up to a vast cavern that was huge. It was spacious enough to hold multiple buildings inside. Outside the night was still young but for some reason, rays of bright light tore through the cave ceiling. The rays of light came down and hit pillars. Man made structures. Standing before me was a man made structure that looked to be centuries old and what looked like an ancient temple of sort. Slowly and cautiously I made my way up to the entrance of the temple. Up the stairs I came to a large archway that led into the center. I cautiously made my way in, keeping to covers and shadows just in case I was detected by Bradley or any others who were here. Not long before I entered the temple I head screams and chanting coming from further inside. I followed the screams to a wide open space where I saw multiple individuals in cloaks standing in a half circle. Soon I saw Bradley coming out from another opening on the other side. Behind him were two more cloaked individuals. They were dragging someone behind them. Only, that someone had fur like hair all over its body and looked to be huge. It was a damn Lycan in its werewolf form. The moon was full tonight and Lycans can change into werewolves on such a night. The werewolf was in chains and seemed to be beaten and tortured. I looked on as they brought the Lycan to the center of the area. They shackled the Lycan onto the floor. It held the Lycan in an upright position knelt and restrained. Bradley then came over with a silver sword that looked like the ones provided to hunters. Then he raised it up into the air and started to chant in a language familiar to me. It was ancient Hebrew. What the hell was going on here? As I tried to fathom the sight I was before me, suddenly a ray of light came down from an opening at the ceiling and hit the Lycan. The werewolf screamed as it bathed in white light and Bradley’s chanting became increasingly loud and clear.

“El melekh neʾeman!”

Bradley’s chant ended and the beam of white light disappeared. But now the werewolf was glowing white and still screaming in agony. It was burning as smoldering smoke emitted from its body. Then, I saw the most horrifying scene in all my life. I saw a greenish hue arising from the Lycan. It gathered and then took form. A human like form. It looked around like it didn’t know what was going on. But then The cloaked individuals circling the Lycan started to chant and the human like form started to show signs of agony. It opened its mouth but no sound came from it. The ghastly figure tried to flee but could not as if it was held in position. As it resisted Bradley came over with the sword and then softly chanted. Then I saw the ghastly figure latch on to the sword as if it was being sucked into it. Then it disappeared, leaving the sword glowing in gentle white light. As the sword bathed in light, the Lycan dropped its head and lifeless. A gentle breeze flowed through as if an invisible hand was caressing the Lycan that was reaped of its soul as the body proceeded to crumble and turn to ash. The light slowly faded from the sword but the sword was now shining with a white silver blade.

“Moon light endowed silver…”

I muttered. The most shocking revelation had just taken place before me. I was dumb founded, but as the cold realization that the moon light endowed silver weapons issued to the hunters were made from the souls of Lycans slowly pierced through my mind I was sick to my stomach. What were they doing? Though Lycans were demonic creatures, they were still human at the core. In truth, they were sacrificing human souls to make moonlight endowed weapons. The sickly feeling soon sank deep into my mind and became fuel to my anger. I was beyond sickened, it burned inside me that I once used moonlight endowed bullets to hunt and even, at some level, considered myself among these lunatics. I had to get out of here, I had to breath in air that was not from here, I had to …. I took a step back and was about to high tail it out of there but then Bradley called out.

“I know you’re there Jack!”

I froze in my tracks. I turned around to face Bradley looking straight at me with a strange grin. He just stood there looking at me. The cloaked individuals were startled and started to whisper among themselves. But Bradley remained calm and just stood there. I got the hint and slowly made my way towards the center. As I walked near enough, Bradley suddenly chuckled.

“Well, looks like I didn’t have to spill the beans on you after all. I knew you would make it out here all on your own. Even found a key to get in I see.”

Bradley looked at the cross amulet I was holding with amazement. He smiled and then looked at me straight with an expression that said ‘thanks for saving me the trouble’. I just stood there waiting for the explanation. Bradley looked at me and then nodded to himself.

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“Well Jack, you saw the whole ordeal. What do you think?”

“What do I think? I have no idea. What the hell is going on here Bradley?”

I looked at Bradley urging him for answers. Bradley looked around at the others and then back at me. He then proceeded to nod again.

“Well, you’ve earned some explanation from me so fine. Jack, what do you know about the Knights Templar?”

“The Knights Templar? Only that they’re a favorite subject of fantasy and fairytales.”

The Knights Templar was one of the favorite subjects of myth, legend and conspiracy. They were also condemned as heretics by the Catholic Church a long time ago and killed.

“The Knights Templar were best known for their escort services into the holy land. They were rich and powerful. But they were also the guardians to ancient secrets of the church. The knights Templar were the guardians of the Temple of Solomon.”

I stared at Bradley. The Temple of Solomon? Was that what this place was? I looked around in disbelief and then back at a more smug looking Bradley.

“The Temple of Solomon was a safe that held the Ark of Solomon, or better known as the Keys of Solomon.”

“The Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon, those are documents and details that are easily accessible by the public.”

It was true. The ‘Keys of Solomon’ were actual books that contained knowledge of demons and angles as well as religious ceremonies, prayers of exorcism and such. The books were divided in two parts. The Greater and Lesser keys. But these were easily accessible for the public and were no great secrets. But Bradley shook his head.

“Those are not the real Keys of Solomon Jack. When the last remaining Templars fled the persecution of the church, they made sure that the real keys remained hidden. But they also knew that the Catholic Church would not stop until they had found the source of the Templars’ power. So, they threw them off with minor books and information that pertained to the real keys.”

Bradley went on about the history of the Templars. How they went into hiding and all their wealth was hidden and then later retrieved secretly to build the organization. Various branches that swore to protect the Keys at all costs. Although the Vatican vindicated the tarnished name of the order and all accusations of heresy was lifted, the newly found order of the Knights Templar were nothing but a show and a ruse to get the descendants of the order to reveal themselves and join under the control of the Vatican once more. A ploy to obtain the vast amount of wealth and knowledge they were hiding in the process. But the real descendants of the order distanced themselves from the Vatican and no longer took orders from the Pope. It had created various branching organizations to disperse its identity, while safeguarding its secrets and wealth. The Hunters' Guild was also one of these branch organizations that took on a few of the many secret duties of Templars.

“So, this is it. You are the real order of the Knights Templar.”

“Yes Jack. We’re it.”

“And that magic show that you just pulled?”

I looked at the pile of ashes that was once a Lycan, now scattered on the floor. Bradley looked at me for a minute and then shrugged.

“Moonlight endowed silver is actually imbued with the soul of the damned.”

“Soul of the damned?”

“Contrary to popular belief Lycans and Vampires do have souls. It’s just, their souls are damned and destined to roam the netherworld for all eternity.”

I looked at Bradley. The first time I found out that there was indeed such a thing as a netherworld I was lost for words. But it turns out that the netherworld is actually…

“Purgatory…”

“Yes, Jack. Their souls are damned and will never be saved. We gave them a way Jack, a way of redemption.”

“Redemption? Is that what you call it? If what you’re saying is true, then you are sacrificing human souls to make weapons!”

“Weapons to fight the good fight Jack.”

Zealots. That’s what these people were. They were the ones that would gladly fall into the pits of hell to continue their fight against Satan. I felt my heart sink deep into by stomach as I again started to feel sick and disgusted. I think Bradley caught on as he quietly shook his head in disappointment and to tell me not to do what I was about to do. Shame, I was getting comfortable here. I looked at Bradley and I guess he saw it in my eyes.

“Jack, maybe you should take some time to process this. I know this is shocking at first, but when you think about it….”

“I thought about it… I thought about it from the moment I saw that hocus-pocus bullshit. You know, the one that sacrificed a God damn human soul Bradley!”

“Take it easy Jack. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

As Bradley held his hands out to calm me down, I saw from the corner of my eye, a few of the hooded members slowly encircling me. I knew that if I started a fight here it would get bloody very fast. They mean business, since they just gave up their biggest secrets to me. Well, unfortunate for them, I have enough experience fighting up against multiple enemies. Enemies that are literally none-human. I fought against a horde or skinwalkers, and I sent every single one of them straight to hell. I kept a keen eye on the encircling hooded members as they showed clear signs of hostility. I heard Bradley still trying to convince me to change my mind.

“Jack, don’t do this. I’m putting my ass on the line here for you.”

“Sorry Bradley. You know I don’t play well with others.”

With that the hooded figures turned attack mode and moved in with the clear intent of putting me down. They started to pull out weapons glowing white in silver. Those disgusting weapons. Moonlight endowed silver weapons have a low pitch humming sound to them when they are taken out of their specially made scabbard. Now I know the truth I don’t even want to know what the scabbards are made of. Those low pitch hums now sounded more like howls of the damned souls sacrificed to empower them.

“Well, I’m sorry it had to come to this Jack. Maybe you’ll change your mind after you cool your head in solitude.”

“I doubt it.”

I retorted with little care to the notion. With that response I pulled out my ax to deflect an incoming stab attack, while at the same time swung my other hand with my blade to parry another attack that was hacking into my right upper thigh. As my defensive moves forced my body to swirl, my feet pressed hard against the floor and pushed hard to launch myself towards one of the hooded individuals standing watch at the back. Piercing the air like an arrow I shot towards the one individual now caught off guard and too late to react.

“Jack NO!”

I heard Bradley shout after me in panic. But the situation was now inevitable as momentum grabbed hold of me. My blade flew straight into heart of the hooded individual. It was a reflex move that came from the many experiences of hunting skinwalkers. There was no maiming or threat attacks needed in hunting them. I bit hard on my molars to twist my wrist to steer inches away from the heart. My blade cut through flesh and impaled the target hooded figure. Blood spilled into the air and splashed the floor and surprised faces. It was a critical injury but I successfully failed to take the person’s life. The hood was pulled back by force of air to reveal a surprised face of a young man.

“Stephan….”

I knew the face. It was a young hunter that had joined our ranks not few months ago. He must have been a direct descendant of a Templar Knight. Too bad he met me tonight. As blood spilled on the floor followed a scream of pain by its donor, snapped everyone out of a trans like state. I took the opportunity of shock that held all in place for a split second, to quickly back away and escape through the door I came in by. I heard screaming and shouting from the room and soon I was being pursued by a dozen hooded Templar fanatics. I had to get out of here and lead them out into the forest, cut them off from immediate reinforcements and supplies. I had a moment of hesitation in my mind on attacking humans, but then came to decide that anyone that could sacrifice a human soul for their own benefit had given up their humanity themselves. They are no better than the demonic entities they fight against. They are just the lesser evil that’s all. If anyone asks if I would gain help from the lesser evil to fight against the greater evil, I would say I’d kill them both. I made it out into the barracks and proceeded to bolt through the complex and into the woods via the back gate. The Templar fanatics still hot on my trail had followed me straight into my territory. I hid myself in a pre-made hideaway spot that I had put together after taking care of the skinwalker from before. I stayed very still in hiding. Waiting for the trackers to come into my set kill box. I know I would have a lot to explain to Beth before I leave. I owe her that much. But for now.

“Let, the hunt begin…..”