Vampirates 5: Empire of Night (25 page)

"Couldn't Johnny go with you?" Connor suggested. "Or Sidorio?"

Stukeley shook his head. "Johnny's off gallivanting with your sister. And Sidorio, well, I'll give you three guesses as to whose company
he's
keeping."

"Lady Lola's," Connor said.

"Bingo!" Stukeley mimed the release of a gun. "Anyhow, it's you I want to celebrate with, Connor. You're my friend." He stepped forward and enveloped Connor in a bear hug, whispering in his ear. "We're blood brothers, you and me."

Connor felt his insides run cold at the words. But, like it or not, there was a certain unshakable truth to them. Once, they had been as close as brothers; now perhaps they would be once more. And what, if not blood, united them?

As Stukeley released him from his clutches, he stared into Connor's eyes. "What's up, mate?" he inquired.

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Connor weighed his options. He needed to talk to someone, and there was no better confidant than Stukeley on this particular subject.

"My hunger for blood has risen."

Stukeley nodded, waiting for his friend to elaborate.

Connor felt some of his burden lift as he continued. "It happened when Sidorio took me along on the first attack. It was one of the reasons I was so freaked out. Not just by the bloodshed around me but the fact that I..." He faltered. "That I could feel my own hunger for it." He dropped his eyes.

"Connor." Stukeley's voice was softer now. "This isn't something to feel bad about. It's a cause for celebration."

"Is it?"

"This, my friend, is a red-letter day." Stukeley looped his arm around Connor's shoulder. "Come on! Your old pal Stuke is going to take you out to the tavern and treat you to your first pint of blood."

Connor shook his head. "No," he said. "I'm not ready. Not yet."

"We'll see," Stukeley said. "But either way, you're coming with me. I'm not taking no for an answer. I told you before, there's no one better than me to guide you through these changes. Speaking of which, mate, would you
please
change your shirt? That one stinks worse than mine, and you haven't even come from a battle!"

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The Blood Tavern had seemed an alien environment to Connor the first time he had escorted Stukeley there, and it was still a forbidding place. The same milky eyes greeted them through a gap in the door on their arrival. And, as they stepped into the vestibule--resembling an old, neglected theater--Connor recognized the strange and unique figure of Lilith, the woman who ruled the tavern from her glass pod in the center of the foyer. Since their last visit, she had dyed her hair red, but still wore it in a distinctive beehive. Her eyelids were caked in turquoise glitter.

The last time he had come here, he and Lilith had had quite a heart-to-heart. But if she remembered him, she showed no signs of recognition. Instead, she seemed preoccupied with counting Stukeley's money.

"You're sure you don't want a go?" Stukeley asked. "There's plenty of gold in my pockets. Drakoulis was uncharacteristically generous in death."

Connor shook his head. "It's okay," he said. "I'll just wait for you to... finish."

Stukeley examined his friend's face, perhaps poised to try one last attempt at persuasion.

"Room seven!" Lilith announced, inclining her head toward the velvet curtain. "Get a move on, luvvie. There are others waiting their turn."

Stukeley sauntered over to the curtain, turning to salute Connor before he disappeared into the gloom beyond. Connor retreated to the worn velvet sofas in the

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gambling room and watched the parade of Vampirates making their way beyond the red velvet doorway.

"Next!" Lilith screeched from inside her gilded cage.

Connor couldn't pull his eyes from the red velvet door. He realized that a change had occurred since his last visit to the Blood Tavern. Then he had felt the division between himself and Lilith's clientele. The door had served as the divider. On this side, normality, mortality; on the other, a world beyond his imaginings, chaos. Now he might be sitting in the very same seat as before, but it was clear he belonged on the other side of the door. He might have turned down Stukeley's offers of blood tonight, but Connor felt in his heavy heart that it was only a matter of time before he caved in.

"You still don't feel like you belong, eh?" Stukeley asked, finding Connor waiting for him back at the boat.

Connor shook his head. "The opposite," he said. "I feel like I
do
belong. And it freaks me out."

Stukeley nodded, maneuvering the boat away from the rock. He seemed more robust, more like he had been in mortal life. It made Connor think. Maybe he should just give in to his hunger. But, as he thought of this, a face appeared to him in the darkness. Jasmine. He could see her as clearly as if she was standing there, watching him

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from the rock. Her dark, intelligent eyes were trained on him, wide with concern.

He considered their relationship. Surely it was doomed now. She had once told him that he could tell her anything and that he was not alone. Although he knew Jasmine's words were genuine, he was just as certain that her feelings would change if she ever found out the truth about him.

"Hey," Stukeley said, placing his hand on Connor's shoulder. "What's up?"

Connor sighed. "There's this girl," he began.

Stukeley smiled and rolled his eyes. "There's always a girl."

"Things are complicated, but we have this special connection," Connor said. "At least, I thought we did, but she doesn't know the truth about me and, if she did, I know that would be the end of it."

"No." Stukeley shook his head. "You don't know that at all, Connor. You're just tormenting yourself. You have a lot on your plate right now. You're only beginning to come to terms with your real identity. Getting to know your biological father and your stepmother. You're just taking your first steps through this new world. Give yourself time. And don't try to second-guess this girl... what's her name, by the way?"

Connor hesitated, but as he spoke her name, he couldn't help smiling. "Jasmine," he said. "Jasmine Peacock. She's really something..." He frowned again. "But I

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know her, Stuke. I know her and how she feels about Vampirates...."

"You're not exactly a Vampirate, are you?"

Connor shrugged. "Vampirate. Dhampir. What's the difference?"

"I know you don't believe me," Stukeley said, "but I can assure you that being a Vampirate hasn't hurt my success with any women. Quite the opposite, best bud. Fighting them off, I am." He sent a couple of punches into the air. And then lost his balance. For a moment, it looked as if he was going overboard. Connor laughed.

"That's better. Good to see a smile on that ugly mug of yours, young Tempest."

"You're a Vampirate," Connor said. "And the girls you like are Vampirates, too. So of course there wouldn't be any issues between you. It isn't the same with Jasmine and me. We belong to different worlds."

"Oh, I see," Stukeley said. "Well, to be frank with you, even between us Vampirates the path of true love doesn't always run too smoothly."

Connor grinned. "Sounds like
you
have a story to tell! How about some details? I told you all about me and Jas."

Stukeley shrugged. "Not much to tell. Except her name is Darcy Flotsam and she's the figurehead on
The Nocturne
."

"Darcy!" Connor said. "I know her!"

"You do?" Stukeley's eyes lit up momentarily. "Well, you probably also know that I let her down. Big time. But

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I hope one day to convince her how crazy I am about her." Stukeley smiled at Connor. "I reckon this Jasmine must be a pretty amazing girl if she's having this effect on you. Have faith that you'll be able to make it work, man, just like I do with Darcy. You can't keep a good buccaneer down!"

Connor felt his spirits lift. Maybe Stukeley was right. Even if there was only the slightest glimmer of a chance, it was enough for him to seize onto.

Connor and Stukeley were met on the deck of
The Blood Captain
by Johnny. He waved to them and ran over.

"Stukeley,
mi amigo
, I hear congratulations are in order!" He smiled and shook his head. "You took
The Albatross
and all its crew. The captain is pleased as punch."

"Is he?" Stukeley couldn't keep the pleasure out of his voice.

"Oh yes," Johnny said. "Yes, you've certainly set a benchmark for the rest of us. I can't wait for my turn!"

"Your turn?" Connor said. All his feverish thoughts of the night were displaced by this new seed of information. Clearly the next attack was already being planned.

Johnny nodded. "Yes-sirree, I'm going to be in command of the next takeover mission, and I do not intend to disappoint."

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"Any idea which ship you're going after, mate?" Stukeley asked.

Johnny's eyes shone in the moonlight. "The Captain and Lady Lola are still making their final decision, but they've narrowed it down to two." Connor felt tense beyond measure as he waited for Johnny to continue. "Either
The Typhon
or
The Diablo
."

"
The Diablo
?" Connor and Stukeley exclaimed in unison.

"You know it?"

"Um, yes," Stukeley said. "That was our ship. Back when we were pirates."

"Your ship?" Johnny let out a whistle. "So if I get it, should I be merciful to the captain?"

"Molucco Wrathe?" Stukeley said, turning to Connor. "Show mercy to Molucco Wrathe? The man who was responsible for getting me killed? What do you think, Connor? What would
you
do if you were taking a walk in Johnny's shoes?"

Connor thought of Molucco. The man who he'd first viewed as a lovable rogue, then as a substitute father. Increasingly, however, he had come to view Molucco as something else. Someone more dangerous and irresponsible. It was true that if anyone was responsible for Jez's death, it was Molucco. Even so, the thought of him being slaughtered by Johnny and the Vampirate crew made Connor feel sick.

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"Go on, Connor," Johnny said. "Tell me what you think."

Connor pointed up above his head. "I think we should get back down below deck. The sky is beginning to lighten. Night is fading."

"As always, young Tempest makes a good point," Stukeley said. "Come on, my two blood brothers." He stretched out his arms and propelled his comrades toward the door leading down and away from the danger of the fast-gathering light.

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28 CODE SILVER

Cheng Li pushed open the doors to her cabin. Cate followed her inside and closed the double doors carefully behind her.

"Have a seat," Cheng Li said, gesturing to the round table she often used, in preference to her desk, for strategy discussions.

Cate sat down.

"Water?" Cheng Li lifted a carafe.

"Water is just fine," Cate said.

"Well, then, you were going to debrief me on the latest developments in combat training. What's the story?"

Cate nodded. "It's going well. Should the need arise to defend ourselves against Vampirate attack, I think we could fight a good fight...."

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"It's not a question of
if
, Cate, but when. And to
think
we can fight isn't good enough. I need to be
certain,
which means
you
need to be certain."

Cate nodded. "I completely understand your position, Captain Li," she said. "My problem is that we haven't yet tested my training against any Vampirates. Until we do, I have no absolute way of knowing whether we're on the right track or not."

Cheng Li took a sip of water and lifted her pen to scribble a note on her pad.

Cate tried to read the writing upside down but was interrupted by a sudden hammering at the cabin doors.

Cheng Li frowned. "I specifically asked
not
to be interrupted," she said, rising to her feet. "Who is it?" she called.

In answer, the doors opened and Jasmine and Jacoby strode in.

"We're sorry to interrupt your meeting," Jacoby said.

Now Jasmine spoke. "We have a Code Silver situation."

Cheng Li nodded. "Cate, we'll have to resume later. Jacoby, Jasmine, what's going on?"

Cheng Li strode along the grand hall of the Pirate Academy, flanked on either side by Jasmine and Jacoby.

"Captain," Jasmine said. "Before we go in, could I have a moment alone with you?"

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"No," barked Cheng Li. "In a Code Silver scenario, every second counts. If you wanted to raise something with me, you should have done so on the journey here."

Jasmine flushed. "I was hoping to be able to talk to you
alone,
Captain," she said. "It's about Connor."

"Why would you want to talk to Captain Li without me?" Jacoby asked.

"It doesn't matter now," Jasmine said.

"No," agreed Cheng Li. "It doesn't. Whatever this is about, it will have to wait."

Jasmine and Jacoby exchanged strained glances as Miss Martingale sped toward them, her heels clicking on the black-and-white checkered marble tiles.

"Captain Li," Miss Martingale said. "Captain Grammont, Commodore Black, and the others are waiting for you in the vaults," she said. "I'll take you down." She pushed open the door to the headmaster's study, which was currently deserted. Marching briskly to the headmaster's antique writing desk, she reached out for the hole puncher and pressed down on it five times. As she did so, one of the leather wall panels swung open.

"Follow me!" chirped Miss Martingale, twisting her brooch until it illuminated. She led the way down the spiral staircase into the vaults below.

"They're in room nine today," Miss Martingale said.

"Thank you," said Cheng Li. "We'll take it from here, Frances."

Miss Martingale stood still and gave Captain Li the

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Federation salute. "Always a pleasure to see you, ma'am," she said. "Whatever the circumstances."