Vampirates 6: Immortal War (39 page)

“Up onto the deck,” Jacoby snarled, releasing Connor
and shoving him roughly along the corridor. “To sort out the situation between you and me.”

Connor did not protest. He knew this moment had been coming. Jasmine had let him know she intended to come clean with Jacoby, to trust him with the truth about herself just as he had trusted her. She must have just told him. Connor felt sick, partly with trepidation but mostly with guilt. He could understand how Jacoby might want to tear him apart limb by limb; he’d have felt the same in his friend’s shoes. Only he wasn’t even sure he could call him that anymore. Because, whichever way you looked at it, Connor Tempest hadn’t been much of a friend to Jacoby Blunt.

As they reached the door to the deck, Connor opened it and felt Jacoby jostle him roughly from behind. They fell together onto the deck boards, Jacoby pinning Connor down and raising his fist once more.

At the last second, as Jacoby’s fist came down, Connor managed to twist his head. The full force of Jacoby’s blow sailed into the deck boards. Clearly pained, Jacoby frowned but said nothing. Connor took advantage of his comrade’s weakened state to push him back and bring himself to his feet.

Nursing his injury, Jacoby rose to stand before Connor. There was fury in Jacoby’s eyes, and, as he opened his mouth, Connor saw—for the first time—Jacoby’s enlarged incisors. It was a chilling reminder of what Jacoby had become.

“Save your breath,” Jacoby cried, smiling strangely. “You’re going to need every last gasp.” As he finished speaking, he let out a roar and propelled himself up into the air. As he plummeted down again, he reached his arms around Connor’s neck and dragged him across the length of the deck. Where had Jacoby learned to fight like this? He’d always been handy with the sword, but this was something else entirely.

“One of the advantages of being turned,” Jacoby rasped in Connor’s ear. “Those rancid Vamps left me with a few new tricks.”

Of course. It made complete sense, and it was a wake-up call to Connor. He wasn’t exactly short on new tricks himself. Focusing himself, he slipped out of Jacoby’s clutches and back-flipped across the deck, landing a few meters away and catching his breath. He could see Jacoby was surprised. For a second, he even looked impressed. Then his eyes began to change and Connor saw deep pits of fire there. Connor shuddered. Fire was usually the sign of a hungry Vampirate. Had the triggers between anger and hunger become muddled in Jacoby? He was new to this state and, it seemed, not quite as in control as he appeared.

With a sound much like the whistling of the wind, Jacoby flew across the deck and, grabbing Connor, continued racing toward the mast. Connor felt his back collide with solid oak at an incredible speed. The pain was intense. His head ached and his eyes watered.

Now Jacoby’s hands reached out for Connor’s neck and
began to squeeze. His strength was considerable but Connor’s was a match for it, and, lifting his hands, he began to pry Jacoby’s fingers away. With relief, he felt the pressure on his neck release and saw again the surprise in Jacoby’s eyes. Then Jacoby smiled and squeezed harder. Connor felt his airway being closed. It took him back to his dream. Was it some kind of omen? His eyes closed, and, just as in the dream, he found darkness. It was something of a comfort. He found himself wondering, is this the end? Was death coming to him not through a sword but simply the hands of a former friend?

Jacoby maintained the pressure on both sides of Connor’s neck. Seeing that Connor’s eyes had closed, he wanted to release his hands but found himself powerless to do so. Suddenly, he felt someone reach from behind him and tear his fingers away. He was torn between gratitude and fear. Turning, he was shocked to see Connor himself standing behind him. How had he managed to slip out of his clutches in such a weakened state? Then Jacoby realized that Connor was still in front of him, eyes closed. Connor was both in front of him and behind him. Either he was going mad or there were two Connors.

“What’s going on?”

Jacoby turned to find Cheng Li striding across the deck. “What
on oceans
is going on here?”

“It’s a private matter,” Jacoby cried, “between Tempest and me!”

Cheng Li shook her head. “I’m captain of this ship and
you are my deputies,” she said. “There
are
no private matters here.”

Jacoby turned and saw that Connor—the first Connor—was opening his eyes and feeling his neck for bruises. Jacoby immediately felt ashamed of his actions. Then he remembered about the second Connor and glanced around him. But, to his confusion, he had disappeared. There was now only the one Connor. In his furious reveries, had he simply conjured up the second?

Cheng Li shook her head. “You two are senior officers aboard this ship and within the Federation. You are incredible fighters but you should be saving your aggression for the enemy, not unleashing it upon each other.” Her almond eyes narrowed as she looked from one combatant to the other. Shaking her head, she pushed Jacoby away from her. “Go to your quarters and cool down. Connor, I want a word with you.”

Jacoby loped off, glancing back at Connor and scowling.

“What exactly just happened?” Cheng Li asked Connor as Jacoby disappeared inside.

Connor looked across at her, bruised and battered. “The whole situation between him and Jasmine and me just exploded…”

Cheng Li raised her hand to silence him. “I’m not interested in adolescent angst,” she said. “What interests me, Tempest, is this: When I came out, I saw not one but
two
of you fighting Jacoby. Is this some new power of yours?” She lowered her voice. “Can dhampirs split into two?”

Connor shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess so.” Suddenly, he remembered. “It’s happened before. During the attack on
The Diablo
, I divided. I was in two places at once.”

Cheng Li’s eyes were wide with wonder. “This could be useful,” she said.

“I’m not sure I can control it,” Connor said.

Cheng Li was contemplating his words when there was a fresh cry from below.

“Permission to come aboard!”

Cheng Li turned and called into the night. “Who seeks permission?”

“Commodore Ahab Black, commander in chief of the Alliance,” came the response.

Cheng Li took a moment to compose herself. “Permission granted,” she called.

There was the sound of a bridge being lowered, followed by footsteps.

Connor and Cheng Li watched as Commodore Black strode down from the bridge of the Federation vessel onto the deck of
The Tiger
.

“Commodore Black,” Cheng Li said, giving him the Federation salute. “What brings you here at such a late hour? Your business must be urgent indeed.”

“It is, Commodore Li,” Black said with a nod. “I’m here with a proposal on behalf of the Federation. It concerns both you and your deputy.”

“I have three deputies currently,” Cheng Li said. “Which of them in particular are you referring to?”

“Connor Tempest,” Ahab Black confirmed.

“Me?” Connor said, stepping forward curiously.

“Yes,” Black said. “I’m here to make you an offer you can’t refuse.” His cold eyes drilled into Connor’s. “I’m here to make you the Federation’s next captain.” He punched Connor jovially on the shoulder. “Now what do you have to say about that?”

“He’s just so darling!” Holly said, swinging baby Evil up in the air. It made the little lad giggle.

“He’s a doll,” agreed Nathalie. “He has his father’s nose, don’t you think?”

“Never mind.” Lola spoke from behind them. “We can always get that rectified later.” She shrugged. “Still, much better he has Sidorio’s looks and my brains than the other way around.” She moved over to the other bassinet. “Look at dear little Hunter snoozing away. Now
he’s
definitely got the looks of a Lockwood! Such a stubborn little jaw!” She turned back toward Holly and Evil, who let out a yawn. “That’s a big old yawn for a little man! Are you sleepy? Shall Mummy put you down for a nap?”

With both babies settled in their cribs, Lola led Holly
and Nathalie out from the little nursery into the main part of her cabin. “Ladies, can I offer you a drink?”

“Yes, please, Captain,” Nathalie said.

Holly nodded. “That would be nice.”

“Make yourselves comfortable!” Lola gestured toward the collection of chairs clustered around the coffee table. “I’ll bring them over.”

“Thank you!” chorused the two young Vampirates, taking their seats.

“It’s I who should be thanking you,” Lola said, “for keeping me company while Sidorio and the others are engaged in the attack on
The Nocturne
.” She carried over the drinks, then walked over to collect her own glass before taking her seat on the chaise, beside Holly. “It’s not in my nature to miss an important attack like this, but Hunter was a bit colicky earlier and I didn’t feel comfortable leaving him.” She glanced over her shoulder, toward the nursery. “He seems happy enough now, though, doesn’t he, my little devil?”

The girls nodded. “Motherhood really suits you, Captain,” said Nathalie.

“Thank you.” Lola nodded graciously. “Of course, I had children in my mortal days, but that was several lifetimes ago. I thought I might be rusty, but it all seems to be coming back to me.” She sipped her drink. “Gosh, this is good!”

“What are we drinking?” Nathalie asked.

“Molucco Wrathe,” Lola said, wistfully. “Sadly, we’re down to the last couple of bottles. He drinks unusually well, doesn’t he?”

Nathalie nodded. “Simply delicious.”

“Doesn’t he have a brother?” Holly said.

“That’s right—Barbarro!” Nathalie exclaimed.

“We could always harvest
him
!” said Holly.

Lola smiled at Holly. “You’re an ideas girl.”

“Captain,” Nathalie said, opening her bag, “since we have a little time on our hands, how do you fancy a game of cards?” She reached into the bag and took out a small velvet pouch with a gold tassel and set it down on the table.

“What a splendid idea!” Lola exclaimed.

Nathalie tugged at the drawstring of the velvet pouch and freed the deck of cards inside. “How’s about I set them up and you turn them over?”

“Perfect!” Lola clapped her hands with delight. “What fun!”

“Why do you want me to become a captain?” Connor asked Ahab Black as he faced him across the table in Cheng Li’s cabin.

“You’ve shown great potential,” Black said, his bored monotone somehow lacking conviction. “We’ve reached a crunch point in the war, and, by investing in a young gun
like yourself, the Alliance will be making a powerful statement to our enemy. We’ve got no end of surprises! We fight on! We fight until we win!”

There was a discreet cough from the other side of the table. Both men turned their gaze toward Cheng Li. “As Connor’s commanding officer and a key member of the Alliance war cabinet, isn’t this something that should have been discussed with me first?” she asked.

“You didn’t know about this?” Connor was surprised. Generally, Cheng Li knew about everything before it happened.

“No,” Cheng Li said. “I didn’t. And I’d have appreciated a heads-up.”

Connor knew she and Black had history, and her irritation seemed genuine. What was Black up to?