Six knights. Entombed for centuries. Stakes through their hearts. Now someone has found them—and the world may need them to rise.
When Martin Klein discovers a mysterious document in the Vatican Archives, he expects a footnote in history—not evidence of undead Templar knights buried beneath the streets of Paris.
As ARKANE's Head Librarian and Archivist, Martin spends his days creating AI-enhanced search algorithms to unlock centuries of Vatican secrets. But when he accidentally uncovers papal instructions for burying Knights Templar in metal coffins with stakes driven through their hearts, intellectual curiosity becomes an obsession he can't resist.
The document leads Martin to Paris, where he teams up with Professor Camara Mbaye, a paleo-botanist with her own expertise in ancient mysteries. Together, they descend into the crypts beneath the Église Sainte-Élisabeth de Hongrie in the historic Marais district—once the site of the mighty Templar fortress.
What they find in a sealed vault deep underground defies explanation: six perfectly preserved knights, bound in leather straps, locked in metal coffins, stakes through their hearts. These are the militia dei, the Soldiers of God, neither fully alive nor completely dead. Vampire warriors who once defended Christendom, now waiting in darkness until the world needs them again.
But should Martin wake them? In an age of modern weapons and ancient conflicts, what role could medieval undead knights possibly play?
And if he leaves them sleeping, will he condemn the world to face threats these supernatural soldiers were created to stop?
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
- Dan Brown's Vatican conspiracies and religious mysteries
- James Rollins' archaeological thrillers with supernatural elements
- Knights Templar fiction with a dark twist
- Stories set in Paris's hidden underground spaces
- Vatican secret archive thrillers
- Standalone adventures in beloved series worlds
- Intellectual protagonists solving ancient puzzles
Series Information: Soldiers of God is a standalone thriller set in the ARKANE universe. While it features Martin Klein from the main ARKANE series, no prior reading is required. It's perfect for both longtime fans wanting more of their favorite archivist and new readers discovering J.F. Penn's supernatural thriller world.
About Martin Klein: Unlike the action-oriented field agents Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber, Martin is ARKANE's brilliant but socially awkward tech genius—a mathematical savant who speaks the language of algorithms and ancient texts with equal fluency. This is his chance to step out from behind the screens and into his own adventure.
Themes & Content: Blending historical fact with supernatural fiction, Soldiers of God explores the real Vatican Archives scanning project, authentic Knights Templar history in Paris, and the question of whether some secrets should remain buried. The story features medieval crypts, vampire mythology grounded in religious tradition, and the ethical dilemma of awakening ancient powers in the modern world.
Story Details:
- Genre: Supernatural thriller, Historical mystery, Religious fiction
- Length: Short story (~25,000 words)
- Reading time: 2-3 hours
- Mood: Atmospheric, cerebral, mysterious, darkly historical
- Setting: Vatican City, Rome, Paris (Marais district)
- Series: ARKANE standalone. Fits between books 12 and 13.
- Content note: Some dark themes, historical violence (not graphic)