Kalerian: The Gatekeeper Series
Page 3
he went faster. This was nothing like any other women he’d been with. They were made to fit together and it was more than he’d ever felt for anyone. She wasn’t just a conquest, she was a need that burned deeper than anything he’d ever felt.
She moaned louder as he tensed for climax. His body shuddered over hers and he caught his breath and rolled her to lay on top of him. She didn’t move, but laid there holding him with something he thought he’d never find: love.
“Am I still a challenge?” Kalerian smarted off and pulled a little at her long black hair.
“Always,” she said without looking at him.
He didn’t want to move for fear it was all a dream and everything would change.
“I have to go. My father will be looking for me.” She started to move and he grabbed her arms.
“Stay,” was all he could say.
She looked at Kalerian with something other than smart remarks burning behind her eyes. He thought it may be a spark of what he was feeling.
“I can’t. Tomorrow I’ll meet you here when the sun goes down,” she said and grabbed her clothing.
He rolled over on his stomach and watched her leave. How he wished he could just grab her and run away from this place. He’d made a pledge to his master, but right now, it didn’t seem to matter.
Kalerian stayed amongst the trees a little longer, wondering how he could get Lynn out of this place in time to keep her from being a part of this take over. He knew she could fight, but he just wanted to claim her as his own and not have her witness the death that was going to take place here.
Kalerian didn’t realize how long he had stayed under the Cherry Blossom tree until he saw the sun rise behind him.
A voice floated into his head, making his entire body cold. “It’s time.”
Kalerian waited for only a short time in the clan’s bed house until the darkness started to roll in. It painted everything a dark hue and made his blood run cold, but there was no turning back now. This clan would be destroyed and by his hand.
He put his assigned battle gear on his body, covering every part including his face. The mask was of an old war god said to never lose a battle. He felt himself connect with the god and the power run through him. There was no way he was going to lose this battle.
Kalerian walked out of the house and turned to the training field. As soon as he stepped into view, the lower students scattered in fear. The feeling was nothing like he’d ever felt before. He heard the bell ring in the small tower at the front of the clan home. Then the feeling of others behind him made his adrenaline rise and heart beat faster. The thought of battle made him tingle all over.
The first warriors fell without much issue at the hands of first line of his own warriors. Kalerian slashed at the dark-haired man that charged him, cutting his arm from his body. Kalerian stepped to the side of him and watched the next small group charge. At a thought, they flew backwards into the building next to the training fields. He looked back at the others who seemed to be calling the elements from somewhere beyond this world.
“Kill the master,” the dark voice echoed in Kalerian’s head. He took a deep breath and pushed through the remaining fighters until he reached the door to the master’s cabin. Only one warrior stood in his way, Raiden.
Kalerian waited for his first strike. Radien came straight for him with his sword. Kalerian sidestepped it and swung his sword at Radien’s head. He ducked and blocked Kalerian’s back swing before it could hit the side of Radien’s face.
Kalerian felt him push at the sword to knock him off balance, but Kalerian was stronger than Radien was and didn’t lose his balance.
Radien pulled away and swung his sword at Kalerian’s arm. He met Radien’s sword with his and the clang of metal hitting metal rattled Kalerian’s ears. He stepped back, stalking Kalerian and waiting for his next move. Kalerian didn’t wait long before he swung his sword fast at Radien, causing him to lose balance and slicing his arm with the blade.
Before Radien could react, he had Kalerian’s sword to his throat. Radien didn’t move and neither did he. Kalerian’s heart beat in his ears as he waited. He wasn’t here for Radien, he was there to kill the master and that was what Kalerian would do.
He hit Raiden with the handle of his sword and waited for a moment until Radien hit the ground unconscious.
Kalerian stepped over him and slid open the door to the master’s home. He glanced around the corner and saw the master sitting in the middle of the room facing away from him.
“I had a feeling this was going to be the end of us, but I never expected it by your hand, Kalerian.” Manishi spoke without looking back to him. A part of Kalerian wondered how he knew it was him.
“I am sorry, but I don’t have a choice,” Kalerian said removing his mask and walking around the man so Kalerian could see his face.
“Everyone has a choice. This choice will define you in ways you could never imagine.” He didn’t even look at Kalerian.
He drew his sword and held it there waiting for something Kalerian didn’t understand. His mind was taking in what The Master had said, but he still had to get the power Kalerian had been dreaming about. The power to answer to no one was intoxicating and this was the only way to get it.
“Kill the master, Kalerian. Prove yourself.” The voice echoed in his head.
He raised the sword and brought it through Manish's neck separating his head from his body. Kalerian instantly felt the power surge through him and his breath caught. The air swirled around him blowing out the candles that had been lit before the battle, leaving him in near darkness.
Kalerian opened his eyes and was met with Lynn’s stare. She was standing on the other side of the room watching. Her fists were clenched and her eyes had death in them.
Kalerian took a step towards her and she backed away, hitting the wall. He crossed the distance between them in two strides, pinning her to the wall.
“I did this for us. Now I have enough power that no one can stop me. I can give you everything.” He didn’t move.
“You killed my father. How can I ever forgive that?” She said, trying to push him away.
“I had too. I had to prove my loyalty. You have to understand that.” Kalerian didn’t even make it possible for her to deny what he was saying. She would come with him. That was all there was to it.
She didn’t answer, but hit Kalerian’s arm with a blow that caused his grip to slip and kicked his knee with enough force to make him stumble backwards.
Kalerian watched her run to the wall and grab her pair of Sai. She stood there waiting for what he’d do next.
“You know what happened the last time you tried to beat me,” he said taking a step towards her.
“And you remember what I said about if it was a real battle you would not have survived.” Her eyes pierced his with the same fire he’d seen before.
She didn’t wait for him to react before she charged with her Sai ready to strike his face. Kalerian brought his hand up and the wind pushed her back to into the wall, her Sai hitting the ground in front of her.
“I told you, you can’t win. I have too much power now.” He leaned against her pinned body taking her all in. Every bit of her was perfect and there was nothing to keep her from him.
Kalerian felt a shock to his left side and pulled back from Lynn in surprise. When his gaze shifted to the left, Raiden was standing there with his hand out. Kalerian watched electricity run through his fingers and smiled. Maybe there was something to his name after all.
He didn’t say a word, but shot more electricity from his hand hitting Kalerian full force with it. He lost his concentration and fell to the ground in pain. It felt like he was being burned from the inside out.
When he could think again, Kalerian opened his eyes to an empty room. Lynn and Raiden were gone.
Kalerian hurried to the doors and pushed them open to a crowd of dark elemental warriors. The dark had won, but he still didn’t have the one th
ing he desired.
“You will in time.” The dark voice echoed in his head. Kalerian didn’t know who owned it, but he hoped they were right. She had power and fire and he wanted it.