Vampirates 5: Empire of Night (32 page)

Grace raised an eyebrow. "All right, Darcy! I was only asking!"

"Quite so," Mosh Zu said, in soothing tones. "As I said before, the hours of darkness will be over soon. I must send Darcy back to her post at the prow of the ship now."

Grace nodded and smiled. "Figurehead by day..." she began, but her powers of projection were already fading. Her voice cut out and Darcy watched as, piece by piece, the image of Grace slowly disappeared. After she had

354

gone, the captain's cabin seemed to echo with silence and emptiness.

Darcy turned to Mosh Zu. "We need to talk about Grace," she said.

He nodded.

"You saw the look in her eyes," Darcy said. "Didn't you? When she was talking about that girl at the fountain."

Mosh Zu nodded again. "Yes, I saw the hunger."

"We have to get her back," Darcy said, "before she acts upon her hunger."

Mosh Zu did not respond.

"Well?" Darcy said. "What do you think?"

"Oh, Grace has already taken blood," Mosh Zu said, calmly.

"No!" Darcy clenched her hand into a ball. "No!" she repeated, her voice laced with despair.

Mosh Zu nodded. "We, of all people, know that taking blood is not in itself a bad thing. What matters is
how
you take it. Grace took blood from the girl at the fountain, but I strongly suspect that it wasn't her first taste. I believe that someone has been helping to stir up her appetite."

Darcy felt herself reeling from his words. "You really think that Grace fed on that poor girl?"

"Only a little," Mosh Zu said. "Grace's appetite is only just surfacing."

Darcy shook her head. "How can you be so...
accepting
of this?"

"Grace is a dhampir," Mosh Zu said. "You didn't know

355

this when you first met her, so you formed your views about Grace and her character based on the notion that she was mortal. Now, you must adjust your viewpoint. That may take a little work."

Darcy frowned. "I can get past the idea that Grace is a dhampir and that she has an appetite for blood, but there are other changes I'm finding harder to accept. She seems to have become so cold and selfish. She never used to be that way. She's changing, no doubt thanks to the influence of that vicious Lola Lockwood and Sidorio."

Mosh Zu shrugged. "Changing fundamentally
or
, like a chameleon, adapting
temporarily
to the challenging circumstances in which she finds herself?"

"I care very deeply about Grace," Darcy said, firmly. "She's one of my dearest friends. She's done an amazing job on that ship, but now it's time to bring her home."

Mosh Zu smiled softly. "Soon," he said. "But not yet."

"Why not?" Darcy asked, unable to keep the irritation out of her voice. She wished Lorcan was here to back her up but, as he wasn't, she'd have to fight this battle solo. "Grace's mission was to go and see how the rebel empire works and to report back to us. Well, she's done that--night after night--in sufficient detail to give us all tortured dreams."

"You're right. The information Grace has relayed to us is exceptional."

"We know enough now," Darcy said. "
More
than enough. Her mission is complete."

356

Mosh Zu shook his head. "You look only at the effect that others are having on Grace. You should pause to consider the impact
she
is having upon
them
."

Darcy shook her head in disbelief. "You're surely not suggesting that Grace is acting as a civilizing force upon the rebels? It certainly doesn't seem that way when they are out every night hunting blood, hijacking pirate ships, and recklessly killing anyone who strays into their path!"

"Appearances can be deceptive," Mosh Zu said. "Grace is working her way to the heart of Sidorio's empire, just as the captain wants."

Darcy froze at the mention of their captain. "Is it
really
what he wants or what
you
want?" she asked. There was steel in her voice as she continued. "I'm sorry, but it's no longer clear to me who's running this ship--him or you."

Mosh Zu's voice remained calm. "Nothing has changed, I assure you. I am merely holding the reins until the captain's return. Then I will go back to Sanctuary and the captain will take his rightful place, at the heart of the Nocturnal world."

"Yes," Darcy said. "Yes, that's what you say, night after night. But we only have your word that the captain
is
going to return. And, with the greatest respect, I'm not sure I believe you anymore." She shook her head. "The captain would never have sent Grace into such a dangerous situation. And, if he had, he'd certainly have rescued her before now.
Before
she took blood."

"No," Mosh Zu said. "You're wrong. The captain knows

357

exactly where Grace is. He wants and needs her to be there. Darcy, the captain that you knew--or thought you knew--is gone. When he makes his return, you'll find him a changed man."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what I say." Mosh Zu's face was serene.

"Stop talking in riddles!" Darcy said. "You always do that, and it's infuriating!" She felt more frustrated with him than ever.

Mosh Zu smiled. "Daylight is not far away now," he said. "You must take your position as our figurehead once more."

"In other words," Darcy said huffily, already walking toward the door, "I'm dismissed."

"Something like that," said Mosh Zu.

Johnny was getting ready for bed. It had been another nonstop night, and he was more than ready for a good eight hours of shut-eye. He pulled his undershirt over his head and hunted around in his closet for a fresh one to change into. As he turned around, he was dumbfounded to find Grace standing right in the middle of his cabin.

"Grace, what are you doing here?!"

"Please, don't be angry!" she said.

He broke into a warm smile. "I'm not angry,
carina
. I was just surprised. I didn't even hear the door open."

358

She looked agitated. "I didn't come in through the door." There was a haunted look in her eyes.

"Hey," he said, stepping closer and reaching out his arms. "What's wrong, G?" He drew his arms around her but found that they just moved clean through her and he was left hugging himself. "Hey, where did you go?"

"I'm still right here," Grace said, as he stepped back and gazed at her, curiously. "Only I'm not exactly here. This is an astral projection of me. My physical body is still on
The Vagabond
, but I needed to talk to you. This is just a little thing I can do."

"Seems like there's no end to your talents," Johnny said with a wink. He slipped the shirt over his head and pulled it down across his tanned chest, then reached out to her again. "Wow! My hand goes right through you. Grace, this is weird... but very cool. Can you teach me how to do it?"

"I don't know," Grace said, her eyes pained. "Johnny, I really needed to see you. I need your help."

Johnny's face became serious. "Of course," he said. "Anything for you, Grace. What's up?"

Grace looked imploringly into his eyes. "I need blood," she said. "I'm so hungry for it. I thought maybe you could help me find some."

Johnny nodded. "Wow! Sure! I mean, yes, of course."

"Thank you!" She looked deeply relieved.

Johnny folded his arms across his chest. "I'll come over to
The Vagabond
just as soon as it gets dark."

359

Grace looked panic-stricken. "Can't you come right now, Johnny?"

He glanced at the clock at his bedside, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, Grace, but the sun is due to rise in a matter of minutes. Sunlight and Vampirates don't mix... as you know only too well." Seeing her obvious nervousness, he racked his brains. "Look, if you need blood, you're already in the perfect place.
The Vagabond
is the main storage depot for all our blood. Just head down to the cellars and crack open a bottle!"

Grace heard his words but looked far from reassured. "I'm scared in case I drink too much or I have a bad reaction to it. I really want you to be there."

"I know," he said, his voice as soft and warm as melting chocolate. "Look, can you wait, what, twelve hours? I'll come right on over as soon as the sun goes down."

"Twelve hours?" Grace said. She bit her lip. "I just don't know if I can wait that long..."

"Could you try,
carina
?" Johnny said, smiling encouragingly at her. "For me?"

"All right," she said. "I'll do my best."

360

34 CONNOR'S DECISION

Connor stood on the beach, waiting for Kally and listening to the waves crashing onto the shore. He still felt numb from the news that Molucco was dead. Stukeley had told him that their former leader's blood now filled six bottles kept under lock and key in Lola's "wine cellar." The thing that was most horrifying to Connor was that this kind of information no longer shocked him. He inhabited another world entirely now. There was a time when he had thought of Molucco as a father figure. How ironic, he reflected, as the spray from a wave hit his face: all that time he'd spent thinking that Molucco might be his new dad, when his true father--Sidorio--was just waiting in the wings.

Connor had had to shed one persona after another in a short space of time--lighthouse keeper's son, orphan,

361

pirate prodigy. Now, he was Connor Quintus Antonius Sidorio--the dhampir. And where did his loyalties lie?

Stukeley had told him about the next attack. By rights, he ought to be guarding the information closely. Yet here he was on this beach once again, waiting to pass on the intelligence to Sidorio's sworn enemy--the Pirate Federation. But this would be the last time he passed on such information. Not because he was switching sides. Nothing as simple as that. This war was raging out of hand, and he was no more able to stop it than he was able to prevent the tide from coming in to the shore. He was resigned to that now. He had done his best for Cheng Li and the Federation. He hoped they would use his latest intel to their best advantage. Maybe they would even, by some miracle, repel Obsidian Darke and his crew. But Connor had to be realistic. It was just as likely that Cheng Li would be defeated. That really would close the book on Connor's career as a pirate. For, though Molucco had often claimed the credit, it was Cheng Li who had plucked him out of the ocean and made a pirate of him. But, in spite of his early signs of promise, the dice had been loaded against him from the start.

Seeing Kally's familiar spiky blue hair bobbing into view, Connor dived into the water and began swimming out toward her. As ever, she was pleased to see him, but today he had neither the time nor the inclination for pleasantries. He wanted--he
needed
--to get this over

362

with as soon as possible. "I'm sorry to rush you," he told her, "but we need to get down to business."

She nodded and swam alongside him to the nearby rock. As Connor pulled himself up out of the water, Kally ran a hand through her hair, then rested her arms on the rock and her elfin face on her arms. "Okay. Tell me the latest."

Connor experienced a sudden flush of anxiety, feeling the heavy burden of what he had to say. Then an increasingly familiar numbness returned, and he became businesslike once more. "The next attack will be tomorrow night," he said. "And it's the big one. They're going to attack
The Tiger
."

Kally's rainbow-colored eyes widened.

"Obsidian Darke will lead the attack. I told you about him before, remember?"

"Marble-cold and merciless," Kally said with a nod.

"That's him," Connor said. "As usual, he'll be able to choose his team from the rest of the crew."

"Wow!" Kally said. "So this is really going to happen. Cheng Li will flip, but, from what I hear, she's ready for this. According to Jacoby, she and Cate have some new secret weapon."

Connor's ears pricked up at this. "A new weapon? Do you know what it is? Has she commissioned more swords from Master Yin?"

Kally shook her head. "I'm only told what I need to know. I'm not even sure
Jacoby
knows what it is."

363

Connor nodded. "Cheng Li likes to keep an ace or two up her sleeve," he said. "Always has. Always will."

"Well, I'd better head off and deliver the bombshell. And tell them your plans, of course. Are you coming with me now or tomorrow?"

Connor heard her words. He'd been expecting them, preparing for them. But, now that they had come, he said nothing in response, only gazed deep into Kally's extraordinary eyes.

"Connor?" she asked. "When do you want to make your bid for freedom? The clock's ticking now, isn't it?"

Connor shook his head. "I'm not coming back with you," he said.

"Not today but tomorrow, right?" She gazed at him with concern.

"No, Kal. I'm not coming back. Full stop."

"What?"

"Kally, there are things you don't know about me, and I plan to keep it that way. The fact is, this is where I belong. In time, I think you'll understand."

She shook her head, fresh tears budding in her eyes. "No. How can you say that you belong here, with these monsters? After what they did to Molucco..."

"It's complicated," Connor said. "And we don't have time to get into it now. You need to get my message about the attack back to Jacoby as quickly as possible. Secret weapon or not, Cheng Li and Cate are going to have to pull out all the stops this time."

364

Kally nodded. "I'll go now," she said. "But I'll meet you back here at the same time tomorrow. You might have more information for me to pass on at that point."

"I've told you everything," he said. "There's nothing more to say. Wish them luck." He paused. "And tell Jasmine that I'm sorry."

"Just meet me," Kally said, biting down her emotions. "As a favor to an old friend."