Read Online The Slayer by Theresa Meyers - Free Book Online Page A

when it comes to Darkin.”
    She nibbled a bit on her bottom lip. “He doesn’t have to know.”
    The Hunter snorted and placed his hands on his lean hips. “Lady, he probably knows already. The bat wings on the emblem of your ship are kind of a dead giveaway, and Marley’s likely been watching us since first daylight.”
    â€œBut if you made the introduction ...” she suggested hopefully.
    â€œBut nothing. I can’t guarantee Marley won’t shoot you on sight, and I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t please His Vampire Majesty much.”
    â€œWhy don’t you let me be concerned with what pleases His Imperial Majesty.” This was an opportunity she couldn’t afford to miss. No one had heard of Sir Turlock since the unfortunate electrical experiment that had turned his hair prematurely white, injured a few people, and wiped out the entire fish population in a lake in North Umbria.
    Mr. Jackson cracked his neck to the side and rolled his rather large shoulders. “It’s your funeral.”
    â€œThose are very overrated,” she murmured, gazing down at the strange little house.
    The dirigible neared the bluff. Zip . Ping. The unusual noise caught her attention. A small ball sailed past them and burst into flame. “He’s shooting at us!”
    Mr. Jackson simply shrugged. “Told you he don’t care much for supernaturals.”
    â€œCan’t you reason with him?”
    â€œHe won’t hear me at this distance, even if I shouted.”
    She extended her hand, and a dark swirl of smoke turned into the solid physical shape of what looked like the horn off an Edison phonograph, only with a straight tube instead of a bent one. “Would this help?”
    â€œHow’s it work?”
    She smiled and flipped a few switches on the side of the horn. “It’s my own invention. Try speaking through the narrow end.”
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    Winn didn’t see the harm. He’d done far worse testing out Marley’s inventions, which tended to be fantastic successes or horrible failures, with little in between. He held up the small round end to his mouth and spoke. “Marley ... Marley ... Marley ...” The sound came so loud it echoed off the hills. Winn pulled it back and looked at it. “I’ll be. It works.” The astonishment in his voice earned him a sour look from the contessa.
    Another missile sailed past and, with a ping , exploded against the hull. “Good. Get him to stop shooting before he damages us,” she ordered.
    Winn lifted up the horn and bellowed. “Damn it, Marley! Stop your shootin’, it’s me, Winn ... Winn ... Winn ...” The words vibrated his arms so hard they tingled. The volley of projectiles from Marley’s direction stopped.
    One enormous lens on the roof swiveled into position, lifting to look at them. Winn waved his hat, knowing Marley could see them. A few moments later, Marley flashed the word SAFE in Morse code via a large communication mirror.
    â€œHe knows it’s me. He gave us the go-ahead to land,” he said. She gave him one quick nod, then closed her eyes as if concentrating.
    He waited until her lashes fluttered and her eyes had opened again and the ship began to drop down toward the bluff before he questioned her. “What are you doing?”
    â€œBeg your pardon?”
    He rolled his hand in a small circle. “You’re doing something when you close your eyes. What is it?”
    The contessa gave him a mild look. “Talking to my crew.”
    â€œTalking— Mind -talking?” He’d heard of the strange and improbable ability, but Winn wasn’t sure he bought into it. He had a hard enough time communicating sometimes even when he spoke clearly and concisely, but deep down he had known something had been going on between her and Enric, and now he knew he’d been right.
    The contessa gave him an indulgent smile, as if he were