Slawter by Darren Shan Read Free Book Online

with a rough plot outline and descriptions of some of the demons — I needed
something
to grab the interest of potential investors. But I don’t like revealing even that much, especially to someone who hasn’t signed a contract yet.”
    “I understand,” Dervish says. “But if I could have a look, I’d be able to tell you whether or not you need me. I don’t want to waste your time or mine. If there’s no reason for me to be there — nothing I can help you with — then...”
    Davida doesn’t look happy. “I have a few copies of the DVD,” she says, nodding at her handbag on the floor. “They’re digitally protected, so you shouldn’t be able to copy the material or send it to anyone by e-mail. But...”
    She thinks it over, then reaches into the bag and produces a boxed DVD. “I don’t know why I’m trusting you with this. You’re not
that
important to me. But you’re the first person to turn me down on this movie, and I don’t like it. People aren’t supposed to say no to the fabulous Davida Haym.” She laughs shortly, then rises.
    “You can have it for twenty-four hours. Juni and I have that interview tonight. We’ll be passing back this way tomorrow. We’ll drop in to collect the DVD. I’ll ask — just once — if you’ve changed your mind. If you don’t want to do it, fine.” She beams at Dervish, nods at me, then heads for the door like a person of noble birth.
    Juni gets up, smiling. “She’s a drama queen, isn’t she?” she says when Davida is out of earshot.
    “And then some!” Dervish laughs.
    “But she’s sweet,” Juni says. “And a natural with the children. She treats them like a mother. Not a bad bone in her body, despite the horrible films she makes.”
    Juni starts for the door. Pauses. Looks at Dervish. “I hope you change your mind. I . . .” She stops, clears her throat, smiles quickly, and exits. Dervish hurries after her, to see the pair out. I remain in the TV room, staring at the DVD on the couch, sensing trouble of the very worst kind, though I’m not sure why.

Don’t Go Down the Cellar!
    D ERVISH is humming when he returns. “Nice people,” he says.
    “Especially Juni,” I note drily.
    “Yes.” He picks up the DVD and looks at it silently.
    “What made you change your mind?” I ask.
    “I haven’t,” he says.
    “But you’re thinking about it, aren’t you?”
    “Yes. This is probably nothing to worry about, just a film maker conjuring up the usual smorgasbord of hysterical fakes. But I got the feeling Davida knows too much for her own good. She wants the film to be realistic. Maybe she plans to dabble where she shouldn’t, use old rites that might backfire. I’m a hard man to find. I’m worried that she was able to root me out. It makes me wonder what else she might know.”
    “So you want to check the plot and demon descriptions, make sure there’s nothing questionable going on?” I ask.
    Dervish nods. “Except, I got the impression you only agreed to think it over when Juni smiled at you.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous!” Dervish protests. “She had nothing to do with it.”
    But by the strength of his reaction, and the way he storms out of the room in a huff, I’m sure she did!
    Having shrugged off my foolish sense of unease, I try convincing Dervish to let me have a look at the DVD — I want to know what a David A. Haym film looks like at this early stage. But he refuses and locks himself in his study. Back downstairs, I fall asleep on the couch. Wake sometime during the night, cold, shivering. Think about hauling myself up to bed, but I’m too lazy. Instead I grab a few pillows and stack them around me for warmth. Starting to drift off to sleep again when I suddenly snap wide awake.
    Dervish is in trouble.
    Not sure how I know — gut instinct. I slide off the couch, scattering the pillows, and race upstairs. Dervish isn’t in his bedroom or study. Nowhere on the second floor. Or the first. I wind up back on the ground floor. A