The district where Jon’s apartment building was located was abuzz that day with activity, the central square having become the host for a large fair offering hundreds of various stalls and activities for young couples to indulge in, everything from food vendors, to carnival games.

“You really should try one of these,” Miya insisted eagerly before offering Jon a piece of her takoyaki. “It's really good.”

“How can you still be hungry?” he asked in disbelief. “We just had lunch like five minutes ago.”

She pouted at him. “I don't get to indulge often. Only when there's really good food available.”

He chuckled. “Hey, don't get me wrong. Us southern men can appreciate a woman with an appetite.”

Miya snickered at him before popping another piece of takoyaki in her mouth. Even with her cheeks puffed out with food, Jon couldn't help but think just how damn hot his girlfriend was. Part of him was still nervous; he knew this relationship probably wouldn't end well. But since that kiss a week ago he had decided he didn't care. He was happy just getting to spend time with her and getting to live like a normal young adult for once.

And in all honesty, what she said was true. Miya was far safer with him than she was on her own now. At least until he figured out who it was who sent that Doppelganger after her.

“So pick up where you left off earlier. You were telling me about your Order or whatever.”

His smile faded slightly. Jon still wasn't exactly comfortable discussing the intimate details of his past just yet. Then again, she had a right to know the kind of danger she was in.

“Officially, they don't exist,” he explained. “You'll find no mention of them in any public Church records.”

Miya nodded in understanding. “So they're a secret order,” she commented, her mouth full.

“Unofficially, however…” he continued. “...the Saintly Knights of Michael have existed since the Saeculum Obscurum first united the Papacy and formed the Roman Catholic Church as we know it. It is an order that traces its roots back to Saint Peter himself and the founding of the Church of Christ."

“But what do they do? Like, what's their mission statement?”

“It's complicated.” He admitted. “Hell, I don't know everything about them. But to put it simply, they were ordained by the Ministry with the charge of protecting the world from Satanic forces.”

“Sort of like the Templars?” she guessed, not seeming off put in any way.

“Something like that. Though their Order dealt more with human heresy. Our Order is more involved in the supernatural.”

“So vampires, werewolves, witches, that sort of thing.”

He nodded.

“What are they like? Other supernatural creatures I mean.”

Jon thought for a moment on how best to answer. The fact she was asking this with a straight face was bizarre enough. He never thought he'd have to explain monsters to anyone before.

“You'd have to ask one yourself if you wanted details, not that I recommend that.” He scowled as dark thoughts welled to the surface. “All I know is every creature I've come upon has all reacted the same way in my presence. They immediately try to kill me.”

She frowned, a look of concern on her face. “I'm sorry. If you don't want to talk about it…”

“No, it's okay,” he assured her. “It's honestly refreshing being able to talk about this with someone. I just don't understand why you're so curious. I mean...after what happened with the Doppelganger…”

She chuckled sweetly at him, throwing her trash away before wrapping herself around his left arm. “Life goes on whether we want it to or not. I’m not gonna let something like that stop me from enjoying the time I spend with you to the fullest.”

He quirked a disbelieving brow at her. “You’re either crazy or the single most well adjusted human being on planet Earth.”

She laughed at his observation. “What can I say? I don’t scare easily.”

He still had trouble getting over that.

“They look for the most part exactly like us,” Jon continued. “It's relatively easy for a dark creature to conceal itself as a human. It helps them get closer to their prey.”

“So they could be all around us and we'd have no idea?”

“Unfortunately,” he replied grimly. “With the right training there are ways to distinguish them from humans. But if you happened to bump into one on the street you'd never be able to tell the difference.”

She frowned, a slight shiver running down her spine. “That's...a little unsettling.”

“I wouldn't worry too much,” Jon assured while subconsciously clutching her closer to him. “Humans vastly outnumber the amount of dark creatures that exist on planet Earth. The chances of you randomly running into one are slim; slimmer still that they would attack you.” He turned his head away, clutching the palm that bore his mark beneath his jacket. “It's only people like me who have to be constantly wary.”

“Because of your mark?”

He nodded.

“What is it anyway?”

“I'm not entirely sure. Part of why I came here was to learn more about it.” He sighed wearily. “All I really know is that it came from my mother's family and it grants me abilities normal humans don't have.”

She stopped walking. “Wait, what kind of abilities?”

“Heightened senses, if you're curious. Sharper vision, better hearing, that sort of thing.”

She narrowed her eyes at him puzzlingly. “Can you prove it?”

He cocked a brow at her. “How exactly?”

A sly grin crossed her lips. Miya pointed over to a nearby stand where a popgun game had been set up.

He gave her a disbelieving look. “You can't be serious.”

“Come on!” she pleaded. “I suck at these things, and I saw a really cute bracelet hanging on the display.”

“I'm not in the habit of using my abilities to win carnival prizes. Those games are always rigged anyway,” he insisted.

“Come ooooon,” she pouted while staring up at him with big doe eyes. “No boyfriend’s ever won me a prize before.”

He groaned in exasperation. “Now that just ain't fair.”

Miya continued her little act, staring up at him with the saddest puppy dog face imaginable. Jon didn't even stand a chance.

“You're quite the little actress, you know that?” he teased. “Ah hell, fine. Let's go before I change my mind.”

She squealed with delight before gripping his arm tighter as he led her over to the kiosk with the rifle game.