Kalindra (GateKeepers) Read Free

better convince her they had some.
    “Theft.”
    Again with the one word answer. One would think they didn’t want to talk with her. She was hurt. No, really.
    Fine. Kalindra was done playing with them anyway. She had better things to do, and she clearly wasn’t getting anywhere.
    “See, I’d like to believe you. Really, I would. But that man there is a human. I can smell it all over him.” And damn if that man didn’t stand up straighter as if offended. Her voice rose. “Add in the fairly modern clothing, and the human corpses outside my gateway, and I’m led to believe you’re lying. And if there’s one thing I hate, it’s liars.” Her claws visibly grew a few inches. Three sets of eyes dropped to her hands, and she stretched them for effect.
    Now the vampire male looked nervous. He reached for his sword, but Kalindra struck before his hand could grab the hilt, swiping her claws from shoulder to waist. The man fell to the ground. Not dead–yet–but no longer a threat.
    “Now, are you going to answer my questions?” she asked the woman, blood dripping from one claw.
    That was all it took. The woman dropped the prisoner’s arm and started to run. Guess she didn’t want to answer any questions.
    “Stay,” she said, gazing straight into the prisoner’s eyes. He nodded cautiously.
    With a sweep of her arms, Kalindra soared into the air. Foolish vampire. Everyone knew harpies could outfly anything on two legs. A couple four legged creatures could outrun a harpy, even some six legged ones. But her measly two legs were no match for Kalindra’s speed.
    When she caught up to the woman, Kalindra grabbed her shoulders in her foot talons. In this position, the woman was helpless. Kalindra rose into the air, taking the woman with her, until she reached optimal height.
    “Let this be a lesson to those who think to trick me. Those who think they can take from Inverness without consequence.” There was no one to hear, but others would know. When they found the remains, they would know, and the message would spread.
    With that, she released the woman, and listened to her scream as she plummeted to the ground. The sickening crunch of impact filled the clearing. She stared at the remains from her position above.
    Should she feel bad for taking the woman’s life so easily? Guilty, maybe? Or victorious? Surely she should feel something. Anything. But she didn’t.
    She tried to tell herself the woman deserved it for what she’d done to the humans. That the woman had it coming for lying to her. But truthfully, Kalindra felt…numb.
    Not a good sign. Losing her connection to the world was the first sign of madness. Madness and defeat went hand in hand. For a warrior like her, defeat equaled death.
    She’d been keeper for too long. The restless feeling had grown stronger in the past year. No one could handle the life of gatekeeper forever. After awhile, the loneliness and constant struggle to hold the barrier drove keepers insane, if they didn’t die on the swords of the invaders first. And she’d been keeper for a long time. But for now, the duty was still hers.
    Looking over her shoulder, she saw the prisoner still standing exactly where she’d left him, his head turned away. At least someone followed her orders.
    In less than a minute, she stood over the fallen male vampire. His wound already showed signs of healing, but still bled. She’d cut him deeper than intended. Maybe now he’d be willing to answer some questions. He’d live. Until she decided he shouldn’t.
    “What were you doing here?”
    Blood stood out starkly from his teeth when he smiled up at her. “You can’t win. Others will come. They know what he is, and what he has, now. Every race in this world will kill, and die, to possess it for themselves. You and your fellow gatekeepers will all fall.” His bitter laugh ended on a wracking cough. Eventually, his eyes drifted to the prisoner. “You should never have come into this world. Now nothing