The Slayer by Theresa Meyers Page B

second massive engine sputtered to life, the whine smoothing out until the ship once again flew level. The rain still lashed at the airship, buffeting it about, but at least they were still airborne.
    Then, like all monsoons, as quickly as it had released its fury, it moved on. They emerged out of the violent tumult into a clear blue sky, scoured clean by the storm.
    Off in the distance Winn spotted their target. “There’s Tombstone.” A blast of dry heat, smelling of horse, dust, and the oily scent of creosote, tightened the skin on his face as he opened the door to the outer deck to look over the railing as they neared the town. Far below, the grid-like layout of the growing town was evident. So were the ant-like mounds of tailings from the various mines that surrounded the town.
    In moments they were overhead, descending slowly over the main street. A mixture of screams, whinnies, and the galloping of spooked horses filled the air. Winn saw one of the crew cast over an anchor. The thunderous crash of wood splintering as the anchor cleaved through a roof indicated his aim had been off.
    â€œIt looks like you are making quite an impression on the locals.”
    She glanced at him, humor dancing in her eyes. “We always do.”
    Citizens and animals scattered beneath the looming shadow of the ship. Winn pulled at his mustache. He didn’t like spooking folks, and he was certain the massive ship, all two hundred feet of it hanging over their heads, was doing just that.
    â€œPrepare the ladder,” the contessa told a nearby crew member. Still wiping grit from his face, the man raced off to do her bidding.
    â€œYou’re used to people following your orders, aren’t you?”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t I be? I was born to lead.”
    Winn stuffed down an irritated grunt. She’d better not presume that, since he was there, she could boss him around. He wasn’t about to be told what or how to do things by a skirt-wearing vampire, no matter how beautiful she was.
    He was only with her to find that missing piece of the Book and get it back here before the moon went dark and all Hell broke loose.
    She was a means to an end. Nothing more.
    â€œYou might need these.” She held out two more pairs of the dark glass goggles to Winchester.
    â€œWe’re just going to drop off Tempus.”
    Lady Drossenburg gave him a knowing smile. “Humor me. Not all your brothers are as clever as you in hiding their thoughts.”
    Winn grumbled, irritated that she’d looked into his brothers’ heads at all, but took the goggles and stuffed them into the pocket of his duster. Never hurt to be prepared.
    The little half door, built into the railing of the deck, was swung open and latched into position so Winn could descend. He grabbed hold of the railing and eased his boot down on the swinging rungs of the ladder. Once he had his footing, he took it at a quicker pace, eager to see his brothers.
    He glanced down and recognized the two smaller figures who appeared from beneath the wooden awning that shaded the walkway.
    â€œAbout time you made it out,” Winn shouted down to his younger brothers. “I was beginning to wonder if Marley had told me wrong about you coming here.”
    They were both armed, but holstered their weapons once they recognized him. “What in tarnation are you doing on a vampire dirigible, Winn?” Colt called out. A large animal that looked suspiciously like a mountain lion paced behind them, but they paid no attention to it.
    Winchester made it farther down the ladder and hopped the last few feet to the ground. The dust billowed up in a cloud around his boots as he pulled the dark goggles down to rest around his neck. “Was made an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
    Remington stood gussied up like some city-slick lawyer in his fancy pinstriped pants, long black jacket, and red paisley vest. His middle brother gave him a narrow-eyed look,