“A criminal.” The male vampire this time. Short. Brusque. Apparently he didn’t know the trouble he courted.
“What’s his crime?” She crossed her arms over her chest, her sharp nails tapping lightly against her arm. She wanted information. These two had 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 can save you. Not even her.” His laughter turned maniacal, not stopping until Kalindra picked up his own sword and removed his head from his body.
She stared at the corpse for a long moment. Such senseless death. If he had never come here, he would still be alive, his companion would still be alive, and those poor humans would still be alive. Foolish.
Her gaze shifted to the human before her. He stood his ground, even lifted his chin, as she crossed to him. Somehow his bravery didn’t bother her like the vampire’s had. On the human, it was a novelty that appealed to the warrior spirit inside her. She removed the rag from his mouth and pushed it so it hung around his neck.
“Key?” she asked, pointing to the cuffs.
“Front left pocket,” he said on a cough, nodding his head toward the vampire on the ground. At least it hadn’t been on the woman. That would’ve been messy.
Once she’d located the key, she released the man, and watched as he rubbed circulation back into his hands.
Anger flared. The vampires had cuffed him too tight. But why did she care? In surprise, she realized she felt sympathy toward him.
“Why you?” she murmured.
“Sorry?” he asked.
“Why did they take you when they killed the others?”
The man shrugged, but his gaze drifted away. She recognized diversion when she saw it.
“Dunno. Maybe for food?”
Lies. This man knew why he’d been taken. What was he hiding?
“You saw what happens to those who lie to me,” she warned.
As she expected, the man shivered in disgust, or maybe it was apprehension. Most likely a mix of the two.
“How’d you get through the gateway?”
She heard the man swallow. Now, wasn’t that interesting? He hadn’t been frightened of her before. Cautious, yes. Frightened, no. But something scared him now.
“These two took us through.”
The quaver in his voice was barely detectable. But it was there. More lies? But what was the point?
“I think you’re lying.”
The man’s gaze met hers, and she knew she’d been right in her assessment. She didn’t know why, yet, but she knew the man hadn’t told the truth. “Until I get some answers, you’re coming with me.”
“Wha…” he started as she took off into the air, only to stop when she grabbed his shoulders in her talons. “No, wait.”
“Relax.” She sighed. “I won’t kill you until I get answers.”
“Somehow that doesn’t reassure me.”
The man’s hands swept over her legs. Searching for a grip, no doubt. But she had no intention of letting go. And not just because she sought answers, although she would get those.
Something about this man intrigued her. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she wanted. Until she found out the answers she sought, he could keep her company.
2
The creak of the door as Cameron eased it open ricocheted down the empty stone hallway. He grimaced at the sound. Subtle. Why didn’t he start whistling, too? Just to make sure the harpy knew he was coming.
Since