Page 66 of The Timeless Vigilante

“You’re pathetic,” Gen said, bearing down on the man. However, when his eyes skirted to something over her shoulder, she knew that Emperor was there, glaring down at Hamilton. The dragon was what was really intimidating with his pensive and electrifying gold eyes.

“I-I-I can’t tell you anything,” the weakling said, drooling and shivering, his teeth clanging together due to fear.

Knowing that the dragon’s imposing form was blocking his escape, Gen released the man and stood back, appraising the sniveling jerk. “He’s not lying…”

“No, he’s not,” Emperor affirmed, narrowing his eyes on the man who was now crying slightly. Gen thought he might have even peed himself. It was simply sad and despicable for a man to be so weak in any day and age. However, it seemed that the modern world created more fragile people. It was strange that all the conveniences had made people feebler rather than given them the opportunity to be stronger.

“Who do you work for?” Gen asked, watching the man’s face carefully for the telltale signs of deception.

Hamilton shook his head. “I can’t tell you…”

Gen cut her eyes to the dragon. “What’s going on? He’s telling the truth. Thieves lie.”

“That they do,” Emperor replied. “But he really isn’t allowed to say. There’s a spell at work and it makes it so that he can’t say the name of the person he is working for. I can’t even get to the information in his mind. It’s blocked.”

Gen balled up her fist, about to punch the car again. However, she thought that the adrenaline had worn off enough that it might actually hurt this time. She turned her attention back on Hamilton Dixon. “Fine, then tell us where you were taking the medieval artifacts. You will know where that is and would have to have instructed your crew.”

Tears actually fell down the man’s face as he shook all over. “If I tell you that, they’ll kill me.”

“Who will?” Gen asked.

Hamilton shook his head, crazed. “I can’t say. I really can’t. But they will kill me if I talk.”

“If you don’t tell me, then I’ll kill you,” Gen promised.

“No, I can’t…Please…” Hamilton sobbed.

Gen sighed, glancing up at Emperor. “Do you want a snack? You can eat this guy’s arms. Or would you rather use mind control to make this joker play in the road? Maybe you can give him a bad headache? Or I could, of course, punch him until he?—”

“No! No! NO!” Hamilton pleaded. “I’ll tell you. But you have to let me go. You can’t hurt me.”

Gen pursed her lips, giving Emperor a tentative expression. “What do you think? I say we hurt him and get him to tell us. Then it’s a win-win for me.”

“It’s better if you can get people to talk without force,” Emperor advised wisely. “Save your strength and brutality for when you need it.”

Gen sighed, slightly disappointed. “Fine, I won’t hurt you. But tell me where they are taking the stolen artifacts. And fast. We have to stop them.”

“It’s too late,” Hamilton Dixon said, pointing down the road. “It’s down there at the Warehouse District. The address is 1600 Olympic Boulevard, Suite 100. But they’ll either be done unloading by the time you get there or they’re heavily armed. You won’t stand a chance on your own.”

Gen laughed. “For one, we won’t be late. We don’t have to wait in traffic. And secondly, I don’t think you know who I am or what we’re capable of.”

“Wh-Wh-Who are you?” Hamilton stuttered, still shaking furiously.

Gen smiled up at Emperor. “We’re medieval warriors meant to protect the modern world.”

“And you’re not going to hurt me?” Hamilton asked, looking around for someone to help him but the street where they were was deserted.

“No, a promise is a promise,” Gen said, not asking permission and reaching into the man’s pockets. He screamed, backing into the car more, but not getting away. It wasn’t until Gen reached into his other pocket that she found the electronic device that everyone in the modern era carried around and were obsessed with.

“What are you doing?” he asked, looking more offended that she’d taken his device than that she grabbed into his pockets without permission.

“I’m calling you a ride,” Gen said, grabbing the man by the shirt again and stuffing him back into the car.

“What?!” he yelled as she slammed the door in his face.

Gen turned to her dragon, a grin on her face. “Two things. Can you tell me how to use this?” She held up the device.

He nodded dully.

---