started small, but suddenly grew exponentially in only a few decades. When the nine founding members recovered the Grail and brought it back with them, they attempted to share it with the Church. Fortunately, they hid it well, because unfortunately it did not fit within the established doctrine of the Vatican. At that time salvation was attainable, rightly, through charity and good conduct. Actual physical eternal life would have caused quite an uproar in the world, despite the Templars’ good intentions. Essentially, they used it as blackmail over the Church for disavowing the omnipotent object handed down directly from its maker. In return the Popes allowed them complete legal abstention from borders, allegiances, taxes and a host of other extraordinarily generous reliefs. In fact, Andre de Montbard’s nephew, a high-ranking clergyman, became the Order’s patron Saint.”
“Why Switzerland in particular?” Will asked.
“Most important were the organization’s financial institutions,” Jefferson continued. “They created the first international banking system. This allowed people to deposit money in Europe, take a Templar check to the Holy Land, and there retrieve their money without having to worry about losing it along the treacherous journey. Due to this and the Grail, the Templars grew into the massive multinational corporation that we know they became. Naturally their power drew a lot of critics. The most vulgar of them was Philip IV of France, who was enormously indebted to them after his own military campaigns. France’s prominence as the center of the Christian world during that era gave Philip enough sway over the Pope to convince him to prosecute the Templars over a series of baseless heresies. Due to their banking prowess and possession of the Grail, both King and Pope finally found mutual benefit in disbanding the Order. Dawn on Friday October 13th in 1307 marked the day when French forces stormed, raided and abducted all present members of the Templar houses in France. Their leaders were tried and executed. King Philip, however, did not recover much. Thanks to forewarning, the great Templar fleet and nearly all of their treasure had already been evacuated. After that event, and within a generation, a mountainous backwater between Italy and France suddenly stirred. The free Swiss peasants in what was a fairly undesirable land, often ignored by the rest of the Christian empires, suddenly garnered a reputation for ferocious military conduct as well as astute financial acumen, and began contending with the region’s royal superpowers. Contemporary accounts note that the earliest organizers of the Alpine communities were trained and supported by nationless white knights.”
“The traditional garb of the Templars, as I’m sure you’ve seen in movies,” Martha edged in again with the air of a tempting storyteller.
Jefferson smiled at Martha. “Not long after, the current Swiss banking system took hold, built upon the organizational structure and capital accumulated by the Templars. The companies they founded continue to flourish as our premier international banking bodies. Even Switzerland’s flag is an inverted Templar emblem, a white cross on a red field. Not to mention that it is the Templar-drilled Swiss Guard who still act as sentinels at the Vatican. Five of the founding members are still alive and sit above their corporations as one enduring trust. It is from them that the Grail was dispatched from lurking political upheaval in Europe, and sent to America for safe keeping.”
“It’s…perfect,” Will stammered. “I’ve heard my dad and his peers theorize that exact thing on several occasions. If only I could tell him he’s right. They’re still alive?”
“Very, although it’s been a little while since we’ve heard from them,” Madison confirmed. “Everyone seems to want to wash their hands of the Grail after a few centuries.”
Washington awoke from his silence. “Perhaps that time will come upon us as well, but these creatures are not the people to whom it belongs. It will choose a good person who will not abominate its power.”
Will’s eyes went wide indulgently. All the puzzle pieces were laid out for him. He was hooked.
“In the graveyard,” Will pondered, “you said that the Marquis has been missing. Is that how you think these things have survived to find you?”
“I do,” said Washington. “Between that and the iron cross that you recovered from the assailants in your home, I think that these are old enemies come back to continue their assault on the free world.”
“So these…vampires,” Will gulped, “are somehow linked to the Second World War?”
Washington nodded slowly. “During the war Lafayette was a chief operative in the French Resistance.”
“Really? I wish I could have studied that in school,” Will remarked.
“We were all involved in some capacity,” Washington explained. “Lafayette was captured at least twice. He escaped each time, but had been badly tortured for information.”
“Apparently he was a part of the breakout that later inspired the movie ‘The Great Escape,’” Martha added solemnly. “Every time I watch it reminds me of him, lovely man.”
“In spring 1944 we lost contact with him. We presumed he’d been caught again. When the war ended we spent years searching across Europe, but never recovered any signs of him. I presumed his body had finally been destroyed,” Washington muttered.
“It was like losing a son,” Martha said as she put a hand on her husband’s knee.
“As soon as Franklin described to me his encounters with the men who are attempting to steal the Grail, George and I immediately thought of Lafayette,” Jefferson continued. “We had always worried that if he was captured and tormented per the Nazis’ standard operating procedure, that some observant commandant would become aware of Lafayette’s accelerated regenerative abilities. Consider that these men seem piqued by the smell of our blood, apparently enjoy its flavor, have considerable disposable resources, speak German and conceal relics from the war. Not to mention they knew at least enough about the journey of the Grail to come here and search for us. Lafayette is the only key to all of those variables. He must be alive, and they must still be harvesting his blood to survive.”
“Which is an absolutely unimaginable horror after all this time,” Martha gasped, facilitating the churning sensation in Will’s stomach.
“So these men are,” Will asked tensely, “Nazi vampires?”
“Vampire Nazis is more to the point,” Jefferson stated. “Which is perhaps much worse. If anything about their internal society is to be followed, they are most assuredly the worst possible ones. Exactly how high up the chain of command this got, I’m afraid to suggest.”
Will shook his head yet again in disbelief. “This is the worst B-movie ever.”
“Indeed,” Jefferson sighed. “These are not your little sister’s vampires.”
Half A Truth Is Often A Great Lie
A pillar of weights was suspended above Will’s head. His fingers were fastened tightly around the bar, and his arms trembled from the prolonged extension. The massive bulk pinned him on a bench in the team’s lifting room. His lungs popped and he exhaled as he slowly lowered the bar to his chest. Just as the metal grazed his shirt, he heaved it back up into the air. The exercise repeated, accompanied by his exasperated gasps. Worried, one of his teammates looked on from a few benches over.
The teammate hinted at Will’s bothered condition. “You alright, man?”
“Yeah, Reggie,” Will sputtered between breaths, “fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” Will replied with more annoyance. “I’m fine.”
“I’ve never seen you put that much on before.”
Will responded with another push.
“I guess that’s good news then,” his teammate suggested. “The doctor cleared you?”
“Yeah, it was just a slight concussion.”
“Really? It looked pretty bad,” Reggie said with shock.
“I’m fine,” Will curtly stated again and eked out another repetition. His whole body was shaking now under the stress. Seeing him strain, his teammate rushed over to spot.
“You still thinking about that girl?” Reggie pressed.
/> Sparked with suspicion, Will tossed the weight up on the pegs and sat up. “What girl?”
Reggie clarified, “Your ex.”
“Oh yeah,” Will said and he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Forgot all about her.”
“Right. It’s cool if you want to talk about it,” his teammate offered.
“Don’t worry about it,” Will shrugged off the concern.
A towel hung down in his face, which he grabbed from his friend and frisked his hair. As he caught his breath, Will’s whole body pulsed as his blood redirected through his limbs. It did nothing, however, to calm his mind.
“Ryan is having people over his frat tonight,” Reggie invited. “You should come out. You haven’t been around for a while.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Will replied.
“You should have a little fun after that work out. There should be some other girls there too.”
“I’ve got enough girl problems right now,” Will said quietly.
“Thought so,” said Reggie. “Something new?”
“Something old, actually,” Will said and got up from the bench.
“Alright, well I’m here for you, man,” his teammate acknowledged and hit him on the shoulder. “I’m going to get moving. Let me know if you’re coming out.”
Will nodded with what little energy he had left, and both friends parted with a wave. When he was finally alone, a liberating sigh of relief rushed out of his lungs. Arduously, he