Kela's Guardian Read Online Free PDF Page B

hand.
    Despite the gashes and cuts Kela inflicted, Roland’s creations continued their assault. Arms burning with fatigue, Kela backed farther into the alley. Long, claw-like fingernails slashed out, ripping at her leather jacket. In the mayhem, Roland had vanished. Why hadn’t he stayed and finished her off?
    Kela stabbed and jabbed, forcing two vampires to retreat. As quickly as the attack had begun, it stopped. As if on cue the vampires lifted their heads and sniffed the air. The vampires ran toward the street, then shrieked at the top of their lungs.
    A head flew across the alley and smashed into the wall. Another head tumbled through the air, hit and bounced over the asphalt. A man with long, black hair, dressed in a black vest and black pants, holding a thin-bladed sword waded through the group of screeching vampires.
    The remaining vampires split apart, slinking back against the walls, their fear of the sword-wielding man palpable. Leaving their fallen sisters behind, the vampires scrambled up the walls of the alley and disappeared over the rooftops.
    The stranger turned toward Kela.
    The path to the street blocked, fear spiked through her. Despite the adrenaline rush, she was no match for this guy. Raising the wooden stakes, Kela prepared for his attack. At least she’d go down fighting.
    * * * * *
     
    Sheathing his weapon, Ansara gave his full attention to the wild-eyed female. Her fighting skills were rudimentary, but the Earth woman had fought bravely and appeared to have survived the attack without being bitten.
    “Back off.”
    Hands clenched around sharp wooden stakes, the slender woman held them in front of her chest. Although she posed no serious threat, Ansara stopped short of her striking range. “I’m here to help you.”
    A short crop of honey-colored curls framed a delicate face that belied the woman’s fierce expression. “I don’t need any help.”
    Letting that fallacy pass, Ansara glanced at the blonde female crumpled on the asphalt a few feet away. “What about her?”
    The neophyte fighter looked at the fallen woman and whispered, “Forgive me.” She pressed the back of her gloved hand against her mouth and gagged.
    “What’s your name?”
    “Kela. Kela Lance.”
    Since Kela hadn’t lowered her weapons, Ansara wasn’t about to turn his back on her. “Step aside.”
    When Kela skittered away, something glinted on her chest. A cross? Ansara’s breath caught. Not just any cross, but a Thasian cross.The intricate design and blood crystal at the center were unmistakable.
    That explained the urgency of his mission and the reason for the strength-sucking, back-to-back celestial jumps he’d made to get here. How had the Earth woman obtained a warrior’s cross?
    “Is she dead?”
    Ansara kneeled next to the blonde. She had multiple wounds on her neck and wrists. He pulled down the straps of her dress and looked at her full breasts. Both bore bruises and deep puncture wounds close to her nipples. A vampire had viciously fed upon the young woman. He placed his palm on her chest. Her heart had stopped and her skin was already cold.
    “She’s dead.” Ansara turned toward Kela and reached out his hand, palm open. “Give me a stake.”
    Kela stared at the victim. “How could Roland do this?”
    Ansara wasn’t sure who Roland was, but time was of the essence. The young woman hadn’t turned yet. Instead of severing the blonde’s head from her body, a stake to the heart would suffice. “If she rises, she’ll be like the pack that attacked you. Is that what you want?”
    Stakes still clenched in her fists, Kela shook her head.
    “You’re a hunter. You know what must be done. Hand me a stake.”
    Kela tossed the stake. Ansara caught it and drove the point deep into the blonde’s chest, straight into her heart. The young woman had suffered a terrible death and she deserved to rest in peace.
    Ansara pulled up the straps of the dead woman’s dress and stood.
    Kela had turned away. The