Depraved (Tales of a Vampire Hunter #2) by Zander Vyne Read Free Book Online Page A

displayed under glass in front of the shop owner. Not a price tag in
sight.
    Miranda wandered around the store.
    “Quality shit at amazing prices. That’s my slogan,” the big
man said, with a chuckle that shook his belly and made the hula-girls dance.
“You in the market for a sidearm?”
    “Maybe. What’s the cheapest one you’ve got?” No sense
beating around the bush. Daylight was wasting. Oliver wanted to get this done
and get on the road. They didn’t have far to go, but had to travel through the
mountains again, and that would add time to their trip.
    “That’d be this Raven .25 caliber. I could let you have it
for $75. I’ll even throw in a box of ammo.”
    “Throw in two boxes of ammo and you’ve got a deal.”
    “Done.” Al unlocked the case and put the pistol and boxes of
bullets on the counter. “Fires six shots. Want an extra magazine? I’ve got
hollow points too. Best thing for a gun like that.”
    “How much?
    “An extra $20.”
    “Done.”
    Miranda joined Oliver and pointed at a case on the far side
of the store. “Those daggers. The pair. Are they silver?”
    “Yes, Ma’am. Fine Mexican grade, which means they’re not
worth squat. But they sure are pretty.” Al hefted himself off his stool and
showed her the knives.
    “Cool. That means they should be inexpensive.” Miranda
grinned and picked one of the daggers up.
    The handle was short and almost dainty looking, but the
blade was long and had a wicked curve to it.
    Al chuckled. “I like you two, so I’ll make you a deal. You
make it an even $150 and you can take the whole lot.”
    “$125. We’re on a budget,” Miranda countered.
    “You drive a hard bargain, but it’s been a slow week, so
you’ve got yourself a deal.”
    Al put their purchases in a bag.
    “Thanks,” Oliver said.
    “ De nada .” Al smiled
and settled back on his stool. “You kids be careful now, you hear?”
    “Will do,” Miranda said as Oliver pushed open the door.
    They stopped in a little shop next door and bought some
water, a couple of protein bars and a notebook before they got back in the car
and started heading for the highway while Miranda loaded the pistol magazines
and found places to stash the daggers.
    “All right. We’re armed and dangerous.” Miranda grinned.
    “That’s a start. So, tell me how we’re going to stop these
fuckers from tracking us and putting their freaky shit in our heads.” Oliver
turned, following a sign pointing to Highway 175.
    “You probably know more about stopping the mind reading
thing than I do. Don’t Vampire hunters do that when they’re stalking vamps?”
    “Yeah. Vampires get all the credit for being seductive and
irresistible, but hunters are like catnip for a vamp. I wouldn’t call it a
spell like you do, but we do have the ability to sort of pull down our aura
over us, like a cloak. They can’t see through it, unless we slip up, so they
don’t know they’re the hunted, not the hunter until it’s too late.” Oliver took
the ramp putting them on the highway that would take them over the mountains.
    “Do you think I could do that too since I’m part hunter?”
Miranda asked.
    “I’m going to try to teach you. You said you couldn’t always
pick up my thoughts, and I know I can’t always pick up yours. We’ll try to read
each other and try different things to block the signal. Trial and error should
get us somewhere.”
    “Where are we going today anyway?” Miranda had fished the
guidebook out of the glove box again and held it in her lap.
    “Hualtulco. It’s over the mountains, only about 120 miles or
so. I read about it in a story once. Sounds pretty. I figure if we’ve got to be
on the run at least we should enjoy the scenery.” He grinned, his mood
lightening now that they were underway and armed.
    Miranda fiddled with the radio. “Then let’s get some tunes
going and start playing mind games.”
     

Chapter Seven
    “The guidebook said this is supposed
to be one of the