Demons of the Ocean (23 page)

"What was that?" Lorcan asked Grace."What was what?"

"That noise."

"I didn't hear anything."Lorcan frowned. "Someone's out on deck. I heard footsteps."

"It'll be Miss Flotsam," Grace said. "She'll be off to ring the Dawning Bell."

"No, Darcy's more fleet-footed than that. Those are a man's boots. There's a man out there."Grace's eyes widened. "Not Sidorio?"

"I pray not," Lorcan said, "but I'd better check."

"You can't go out now," Grace said. "It'll be light in a few minutes. I don't know where Miss Flotsam can have got to."

"Something isn't right," Lorcan said. "I'm going out. You close the door and stay here."He pushed open the door of Grace's cabin and darted out onto the deck. She followed him.Connor continued along the deck, as quietly as he could. It was still empty as far as he could see, though he could hear muffled noises across the other side. He heard a girl's voice."Grace," he said, unable to stop the word coming out.

"Connor?" She had called his name. As clear as day. She was alive! He was in time. He ran around the side of the ship. There she was."Connor," she said, raising her hands to her head in disbelief.It was then that Connor saw the man at her side. No, not a man--a Vampirate. He gripped his sword in readiness and ran toward them.Lorcan was troubled to find Grace had followed him on the deck, and even more so to see a stranger running toward them, sword in hand."It's

 Connor," Grace called breathlessly. "It's my brother. He's found me at last!"It took a moment for Lorcan to compute her words, and then, as the lad came closer, he saw that it all made sense. They were twins. They were not identical, but there was a clear resemblance. Lorcan stepped back as Grace leaped into Connor's arms and the reunited brother and sister hugged one another.Lorcan glanced away. The light was starting to lift in earnest now and he'd have to go inside. But although the light was coming, they were losing visibility as a mist had started to rise. But wasn't that a ship next to theirs? It was! How else could the boy have made it onto theirs? And now, as he looked through the deepening mist and the gathering light, Lorcan saw hordes of men standing alert on the opposite deck, armed with swords.He looked back at Grace, who was still holding tight to her brother. This couldn't be a trick, could it? Was the other ship about to attack theirs?Just then, a door opened and Darcy Flotsam stumbled out onto the deck.Glancing up at the sky, she ran toward the bell. Without losing another precious moment, she began to toll it. As she did so, she noticed Grace and Lorcan and... a stranger. What was going on? Why was Lorcan here at this time? Who was the stranger? If only she hadn't overslept."Lorcan," cried Miss Flotsam, "go inside. It's dawn."As the bell began to sound, Connor pulled back from Grace."What's happening?" he said."It's okay," Grace said. "It's called the Dawning Bell."Back on The Diablo, Connor's friends struggled to see through the mist how things were going on the other deck.As the bell started to sound, Bart gripped Cate's shoulder. "What's that?"

"I don't know, Bart. Some sort of alarm?"

"Connor needs our help," Bart said, grabbing his broadsword."You don't know that," Cate said."I'm not waiting here to find out," Bart cried. Without another word, he ran across the wish, blinded momentarily by the settling mist.He felt the deckboards under his feet and broke through the mist, seeing figures up ahead.There was Connor, and a girl. That must be his sister. He could see the resemblance. Connor smiled. But there was another lad and a girl, too. And, as he ran up toward them, the lad darted forward and drew a cutlass.Bart lifted his broadsword and swung it up to meet the face of the cutlass."No," cried Grace, confused by the attack. "Connor, stop him, stop him! Lorcan hasn't done me any harm."

"Lorcan, go inside!" cried Miss Flotsam.But Lorcan ignored her, his attention focused only on the sword of his attacker. There had been some trick. Whoever had brought Grace's brother to the ship had come prepared to do battle with the Vampirates.The light was starting to hurt his eyes now, but he was a good swordsman and he managed to land a direct hit on his attacker's arm.Bart jumped backward. He wasn't used to being in the direct line of attack. Usually he encountered only fellow broadsworders, not vicious rapier bearers.

Connor pushed Grace aside and leaped in front of Bart, waving his rapier in Lorcan's face."Connor!" Grace cried. "No! Lorcan's my friend!"

"And Bart's mine," Connor cried, not daring to check over his shoulder to see if Bart was okay."Lorcan!" cried Miss Flotsam. "You must go inside. I need to take my position."

"Take it, Darcy," he cried. "Take your position and leave me be. I said I'd protect Grace and that's what I mean to do."Sobbing, Miss Flotsam raced across the deck and jumped into her position as figurehead. Grace watched her quickly transform from living flesh to painted figurine.Connor saw it, too, unable to believe his eyes."Lorcan, please go inside." Now it was Grace's turn to plead. Light was streaming onto the deck now and she could see the effect it was having on him. His eyes were closed and he was lashing out with his rapier to little effect."There's a ship of them, Grace," he cried, weak of breath. "They sent your brother to get you, but there's a horde waiting to follow. Like this one."He pointed his sword at Bart."That isn't true," Connor said, "it's just me. They brought me here to get Grace, but that's all I want. I don't want to harm you."

"What about him?" Lorcan said, indicating Bart."I came when I heard the bell," Bart said. "I thoughtConnor was in danger. I thought you'd raised the alarm."

"That isn't an alarm," Grace said. "It's to clear the deck, not to fill it."

"So you're okay?" Bart asked."Yes," Grace said, smiling but still anxious to see Lorcan get safely inside."And you're not sending over any others?" Lorcan asked Bart."No, buddy, no way. I'm just here for my friend."

"Go inside, Lorcan," Grace said. "Please go inside." The light was shining directly on his face now. It madehim flail about and almost drop his sword."How do I know this isn't a trick?" he said."It isn't," said Connor. "I'm just here for Grace."

"Please, Lorcan. I trusted you. Now you must trust me."

"All right, Grace, all right."At last Lorcan staggered back inside her cabin, grabbing the door as he fell and letting the sword slip from his hand."Look, I'll go back and tell the others everything is cool," Bart said. "Okay?"Connor nodded.As his friend departed, Connor looked at his sister again. "I've got so much to tell you," he said.

"So have I," said Grace."And I've got something for you." Connor lifted his hand under his shirt and removed the locket, holding it out to her.Lorcan knew that he should close the door, but he had already been exposed to so much light that a small chink couldn't do him any further harm.He watched Grace and her brother through the thin crack of light. He should feel happy for her, he thought. Happy that after all the upset she had been through, she was reunited with her brother at long last. She seemed happy now, as she took the locket into her hands and then placed it around her neck.It was painful for Lorcan to watch. He didn't want it to be so. More than anything, he wanted to feel joy in his heart for Grace. And yet, as she snapped the locket into place around her neck, Lorcan felt the sadness of loss such as he had not felt in a long, long time.His eyes were burning. At first he thought it was tears and he wiped them with his hand. But his eyes were dry, though they still burned.Grace was safe. That was all that mattered. He'd sworn to protect her and his work was complete. He just needed to rest.

He stole one final glance at them but it was growing harder and harder to see them clearly. The mist was so thick on deck now that it created a veil between him and the twins. But it was more than that, he realized, as he finally closed the cabin door. He could not see properly even inside the cabin. The light seemed to have permanently damaged his eyes.The strange mist completely encircled Grace and Connor now, until all they could see was each other. She still couldn't believe he was here. It was as if it had all been a dream. Well, a mixture of a nightmare and a dream."I missed you," she said."Missed you, too."

"And I miss Dad."

"Me too."He opened his arms and hugged her tightly. Just for a moment it felt like they were back in the lighthouse with their dad. All safe.How had he found her? And what would they do next? Would he join her on the Vampirate ship or would she follow him onto his? Was it time, after all, to return to Crescent Moon Bay?But for now none of this mattered, she thought, dismissing the noisy questions. She hugged him tight. And as she did so, she realized that she'd been right all along. Now she knew what home meant. Now she not only knew it but felt it, too.And as Grace hugged Connor and Connor hugged Grace and the mist circled around them, she heard the captain's whisper inside her head."So it ends. So it begins."

HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK AT THE SEQUEL,VAMPIRATESTIDE OF TERROR

CHAPTER 1

THE THREE BUCCANEERS

Cutlass Cate strode across the deck of The Diablo, surveying her elite pirate attack force. The attack would commence within the hour and already her chosen pirates filled every space on the deck, preparing themselves mentally and physically for the challenge ahead. Cate walked slowly down the center of the deck, monitoring them all as they trained, making mental notes to pass on to individuals and teams. It was still strange, but exciting, to think of herself as deputy captain. Much had changed aboard The Diablo in the past few months. Cheng Li had left the ship--on a teaching assignment of all things!--and opened up the post of deputy, which Cate had needed little urging to fill. Captain Molucco Wrathe was back in his old high spirits now that Cheng Li had gone. She had always been something of a thorn in his side. He seemed far happier having Cate as his number two. They might not always agree on strategy but they maintained a friendly respect and, in matters of attack-planning, he generally let her have the final say. But, of all the changes that had occurred these past few months, to Cate the most important had been the arrival on board of the Tempest twins.Their advent had been in the most tragic circumstances. Connor had turned up first, a week or so ahead of his twin sister, Grace. In the days following their father's death, they had fled from their hometown--Crescent Moon Bay--in the family's old wooden yacht. But misfortune had piled upon misfortune and the boat had been caught in the fiercest of storms. The twins had almost drowned, but fate had brought them to safety, though it had kept them separate for a time.Cate knew what a testing time that separation had proved for Connor but, to the boy's credit, he had thrown himself into life aboard The Diablo with every fiber of his being. She could see him now, at the very end of the deck, practicing his swordplay with his two best buddies--Bartholomew "Bart" Pearce and Jez Stukeley. She hastened her pace toward them. Bart and Jez had each been members of the crew for

 several years and were two of the most popular pirates on board. Both were in their early twenties now but had signed up to the articles while in their teens. Even as a teenager, Bart had been one of the strongest men aboard. But under her guidance, he had acquired expert swordsmanship to complement his muscles. Jez was smaller and leaner but, truth be told, the more accomplished swordsman. While Bart used the broadsword and often led the attack force, Jez--like Cate--was a precision fighter who, with his rapier skills, could determine the success of the day.And then there was Connor Tempest--still just fourteen years old. He had only been aboard a little over three months and had no previous pirate training. Cate had introduced him to the rapier and was delighted with both his natural ability and his commitment to training. Now, as Cate observed the three young pirates executing their maneuvers, there was very little to separate them in terms of talent. Cate was especially delighted that Jez had taken Connor under his wing. Hopefully, the full genius of his rapier-handling would rub off on his young apprentice."And how are the Three Buccaneers, this fine day?" Cate asked, with a smile. She had come up with the nickname and it had stuck. The three pirates were inseparable. Each one looked out for his comrades--in and out of attack.The three of them looked up from their swords, smiling as they saluted the deputy captain."We're doing good, thank you, ma'am," said Bart, with a grin. He and Cate had an ongoing flirtation, which she secretly enjoyed but could not encourage when she was on attack duty."At ease, lads," she said, drawing closer. Though she was giving them permission to relax, the command also served to demonstrate her authority over them.Bart took the hint. "So," he asked, "tell us more about this ship we're pursuing."

"It's a containership," Cate said. "We've been following it all morning. Captain Wrathe received a tip-off early yesterday from one of our most reliable sources. Apparently, the ship's loaded with cargo--and under-defended. Better yet, it's in our own sea-lane."

"Should be an easy victory then," said Jez Stukeley. "Never assume that," Cate said. "The odds are in our favor, but we mustn't be complacent."

"No, sir!" exclaimed Jez."No, sir?" echoed Bart. He and Connor grinned at their mate's slipup.Jez shrugged, flushing red. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I don't know what ..."

"That's quite all right," said Cate, amused but keen not to let it show. She turned her eyes toward Connor. "And how's young Mister Tempest feeling today?"Connor looked her in the eye. "Poised and ready for attack!"

"Excellent!" said Cate. "And how's Grace?"Connor shrugged. "Fine, I guess. I haven't seen her since breakfast. She was on early swords-maintenance duty, I think."

"She's making good progress with her own sword skills," Cate said. She noted that Connor immediately tensed up, as he always did when the subject of Grace and swords came up. Surely he couldn't be worried that she would prove a rival to him? As good as Grace was--and she certainly showed some natural flair for attack--she just didn't apply herself as consistently to swordplay as Connor. It was a shame, Cate thought. Why should the boys have all the glory for themselves? She must have another word with Grace and get her to take things a bit more seriously. Maybe a little one-on-one training with another of the women pirates--perhaps Johnna?--was the way forward."You're not going to put her into attack for the moment, are you?" Connor asked."No," said Cate, shaking her head. "No, she's not quite ready." She saw Connor's shoulders immediately relax. Now she thought she understood. He was simply a brother, being overprotective. He didn't like to think of Grace putting herself into danger. But there was no free ride on a pirate ship and, besides, Grace had proved that she was able to deal with significant danger. After all, she had been "rescued" by a ship of vampires--or rather Vampirates--and lived to tell the tale. In spite of her crewmates' urging, Grace had said very little about what she had endured aboard that ship. She had only confided in Connor and, though he had steadfastly kept his sister's secrets, he had hinted that she had faced some truly horrific situations on board. It was understandable that he wanted to protect her from further trauma."You mustn't worry about her," Cate said to Connor. "She's as tough as the leather on my sword hilt."Connor smiled, but only faintly. "She's my sister, Cate. She's all I have left in the world."