“Or maybe use your bishop to threaten the rook.”
Recognizing the voice, Grace was smiling as she turned around. “Darcy!” she exclaimed. “Darcy! How brilliant to see you!”
Darcy Flotsam stepped over from behind Grace and beamed at her. Grace got up to hug her hello. She reached out her arms, but Darcy shook her head. “Sorry, Grace,” she said. “I’m not here for real. I’m on one of those astro-thingies!”
“Astral journeys?” Grace said helpfully.
“Yes, that’s the one,” said Darcy. “Like when I came to see you at the pirate ship that time.”
Grace nodded. “I remember.” It didn’t matter to her whether she could touch Darcy or not. It was just great to have her here to talk to. She sat down again, grinning from ear to ear, and indicated a chair for Darcy.
“I hope you don’t mind me coming like this,” Darcy said, hovering above the chair. “I couldn’t sleep and there was no one about to talk to on The Nocturne. Besides, I missed you, Grace. I miss our girlie chats.”
Grace nodded. “I know exactly what you mean. And you couldn’t have picked a more perfect time to come. I couldn’t sleep either. Lorcan’s dead to the world . . .”
“How is Lorcan?” Darcy asked, her voice and eyes brimming with concern.
“Oh, he’s doing better and better,” Grace said. “The physical damage is beginning to heal. It’s going to take time, though. But Olivier — he’s one of Mosh Zu’s assistants — well, he made up this special salve and it seems to be working. But the wound isn’t just physical. Mosh Zu thinks that Lorcan’s blindness might be psychosomatic — in part, at least.”
“Cycle-so-what-ic?” Darcy said, going virtually cross-eyed.
Grace smiled. “Psychosomatic. It doesn’t make the condition any less real, but it means it’s caused by mental rather than physical factors. The most usual cause would be stress, so Mosh Zu thinks Lorcan’s stressed about something.”
“Well, it must be something big if it’s made him go blind,” Darcy said.
Grace nodded, thinking about the discoveries she had made through Lorcan’s ribbon. Part of her wanted to confide in Darcy. Darcy had always proved a most understanding listener. But she knew that the conversation would only bring them both down. It could wait for another time. For now, she was in the mood for chitchat and, for want of a better phrase, “girl talk.”
“So tell me,” Grace asked. “What’s been happening onboard The Nocturne since I left?”
Darcy’s eyes bulged. “So much, you wouldn’t believe!” she said.
“Well, go on,” said Grace. “Start talking. I don’t want you being summoned back to the ship before I’ve heard at least some of the good stuff.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Darcy said. “I think I’m getting better at this astral travel thing. The captain gave me a few pointers. But look, here’s the thing.” She looked fit to burst. “Grace, I think I’m in love!”
“In love? Wow! That is major news. Who’s the lucky man?”
“Why, Mr. Jetsam,” Darcy said. “You know that I’ve been waiting all this time for Mr. Jetsam, my one true love?”
Grace nodded. “Well, yes, but you don’t mean to say that someone actually called Mr. Jetsam has come into your life?”
Darcy shook her head and then tucked her hair behind her ears. “No, no, I don’t expect that to happen. But I know, deep in my heart — or the place where my heart used to be — what kind of man my Mr. Jetsam would be, and I think he’s come onboard the ship.”
Grace was thrilled. “Well, what’s his name, then?”
“He’s called Stukeley,” said Darcy, her voice suddenly dreamy. “His full name is Jez Stukeley.”
“Jez Stukeley,” Grace repeated.
“What’s wrong?” Darcy asked.
“Nothing.” Grace shook her head. “Nothing at all.”
“Don’t lie to me, Grace. I may be on an astral visit, but my mind is as sharp as a tack. There’s something in your voice. A warning.”
“No,” Grace said. “I’m just surprised, that’s all. I knew a Jez Stukeley. He was a good friend of Connor’s, onboard The Diablo. He died a few months ago.”
“Why yes,” Darcy said. “I know that. And it’s the same Jez Stukeley. I mean, it’s not like it’s that common a name! There’s nothing common about my Jez. And it was Connor who brought him to the ship.”
“Connor came to The Nocturne?”
“Yes!” Darcy said. “Him and that big muscly friend of his . . . I’ve forgotten his name.”
“Bart,” Grace said with a smile.
“That’s the one! Bart. Connor and Bart came to The Nocturne, with Jez. They brought him to seek the captain’s help. You see, Jez crossed over during a duel.”
“Yes,” said Grace. This was starting to make some sense. “I know. It was during my time on the ship. I was at his funeral.”
“Oh yes,” Darcy said. “Of course, you would have been there. I’m sorry.”
Grace shook her head. “No problem. Carry on!”
“Well, it seems that after the coffin was thrown into the ocean, Sidorio found it and broke into it and sired Jez to be his assistant. He’s a Vampirate now, just like me.”
“Jez is a vampire now?” Grace exclaimed. This was big news indeed.
“No, silly. Not a vampire. A Vampirate! Just like me!”
“I see,” Grace said distractedly. She was still reeling from the news that Connor had visited The Nocturne. How had he known where to find it? Did he share the same kind of bond with the ship that she did? This was a surprise, and no mistake. “You said that Connor and Bart brought Jez to seek the captain’s help. What kind of help?”
“Well, you know that Sidorio’s missing, presumed dead? Certainly, that’s a blessing in so many ways. But not the least of it is that Jez was completely under his control. Well, you can imagine, can’t you? Being a sire to another vampire is like being a parent . . . and you can imagine the kind of parent Sidorio would make.” Darcy’s eyes bulged once more. Grace shuddered at the thought.
“After Sidorio went missing, Jez was all alone in the world. He did some bad things. But how could he have stopped himself? It’s hard adjusting to the Afterdeath. And he had no one to help him. Not like us, on board The Nocturne with the captain, or them what’s here with Mosh Zu. Jez was so lost he was . . . well, he was thinking of ending it all.”
Grace was wide-eyed once more. “Is that possible?” she asked. Her knowledge of vampires dying — or whatever the next stage after dying was — was minimal.
“I don’t know,” Darcy said. “But I think there’s no end of ways to torment yourself in this world — that is, in your world and in mine.”
Instinctively, Grace reached out her hand to Darcy’s, though it only slipped through the phantom wrist. “We live in the same world, Darcy.”
“Well, yes,” Darcy said. “But you know what I mean.”
“So how is Jez since he joined the crew?”
“Oh, he’s much better. Really happy, I think. In fact, he’s been a breath of fresh air aboard The Nocturne.”
“And is he taking to the Feast and the donor relationship all right?” Grace asked.
Darcy frowned at this. “You did have to go and bring that up, didn’t you?”
“Sorry,” said Grace. “Is he having trouble with his donor?”
Darcy shook her head. “No, he isn’t. But I am! The captain’s gone and given him that Shanti as a donor.”
“Shanti?” Grace was initially surprised, but then it made sense.
“Yes, well, after she came back from Sanctuary with him, she had no vampire partner of course, and that wasn’t doing her any good so I’m sure it seemed like the obvious solution. But I really wish it hadn’t been. Truly, Grace, I do. She’s so jealous of us. We all know that there’s a special bond between vampire and donor. I have a very special relationship with my Edward. But it’s different from my relationship with Jez. It’s different from a love
relationship.”
“What does Jez say about all this?” Grace asked.
“Oh, he says that it’s all in my mind. He says that there’s nothing between them, that it’s just a business relationship. But you know what Shanti’s like. You’ve seen how possessive of Lorcan she was.”
“Yes.” Grace nodded. “Well, be careful, Darcy. I know you think you’re in love, but I’d hate to see you get hurt.”
“I don’t think I’m in love, Grace,” Darcy said airily. “I know it. I feel it. Jez is my Mr. Jetsam. I felt it from the moment he stepped aboard the ship.”
Grace wasn’t so sure. She’d have to keep an eye on this situation, as best she could. But she wasn’t about to rain on Darcy’s parade. “I’m really thrilled to see you so happy,” she said. “He’s certainly put a spring in your step and a glow on your cheeks!”
“Oh no, he hasn’t!” Darcy smiled. “That’s my own very special new rouge. I’ll let you borrow it when I next see you for real . . . Yes, hello. Who’s there?”
Grace was confused. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
“Oh, it’s you, darling! Just a moment! I’m just in the middle of something . . . Grace, I have to go. He’s outside my door. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to cut this astral visit short. It was great seeing you!”
“You, too!” Grace said, standing to say goodbye. But as she looked up, Darcy had already faded into the ether. Typical! thought Grace. The minute she finds a man, Darcy disappears from view. Grace sat back down again, glumly surveying the chessboard.
“Have you been messing with my pieces?”
“Johnny!” She looked up to find him grinning down at her. He was dressed in a toweling dressing gown, his customary bandanna still knotted loosely around his neck.
“Couldn’t sleep,” he said.
“Me neither.”
He sat down on the chair beside her. “Were you talking to someone? Just now, before I came in?”
Grace shook her head, deciding it was simpler to tell a white lie. “No,” she said. “No, I was just chatting away to myself.”
Johnny spiraled his finger close to his head. “I won’t be friends with you any more if you lose your marbles,” he said. “Just thought you should know that, Grace.”
“Thanks for the heads-up, cowboy,” she said. “Now, sit down and make your move. You’re black tonight.”
36
COMPLICATIONS
All eyes remained on Alessandro and Moonshine. Cate stepped forward. Connor could sense her thought-processes. It was vital that the crew could see and take the lead from her at this point. Things seemed to have moved into the danger zone, but depending on what happened next, a combat situation could still be avoided.
Alessandro kept hold of Moonshine but turned to address Cate. “Your boy here asked to use one of the conveniences. Of course, I was happy to direct him to one. But on the way back he took a detour through the Emperor’s own quarters and pocketed a souvenir or two.”
Now, the security aide reached into Moonshine’s pocket and withdrew a handful of items. Connor, like the others, was transfixed. It appeared that a fascination for sapphires ran in the Wrathe family.
Moonshine didn’t even try to deny it. He just looked peeved to have been caught. Connor wondered if he realized the extent of what he’d done. He hadn’t just placed himself in danger but Cate and the entire attack squad as well.
“I am terribly sorry,” Cate said now. “Of course, I will want some time alone with my staff member to look further into this. But I can assure you this is an isolated incident.”
Alessandro was not easily mollified. “Frankly, we expected better from the ORC.”
“Of course,” Cate said. “And at this stage I can only offer you my sincere apologies. But I can assure you, there will also be a significant discount off the fee.”
Alessandro shook his head. “It’s not as simple as that,” he said. “Security has been breached and I no longer feel comfortable using your company. This contract is terminated. We’ll expect a full refund of the deposit. And I’d like all the Emperor’s items removed from your ships.”
“Removed?” Cate’s expression said it all, but she spoke calmly. “Can’t we talk about this? I’m not for one moment understating the seriousness of the offence, but the rest of my crew have been completely professional.”
Alessandro shrugged. “We only have your word for that,” he said. “And, as I say, that word is now called into question.”
Connor held his breath. What would happen now? He couldn’t bear the thought of having to carry everything back out of the ships and into the fort. Surely Cate wouldn’t agree to it.
“Of course,” she said. “If you’re at all unhappy, then we must do whatever we can to make you happy again.”
“Alex.” Salvatore stepped forward. “Don’t you think you’re being a little hasty? One bad apple, and all that!”
“No, Salvatore, I don’t think so. Our trust has been misplaced. Who knows what other misdemeanors this lot might have planned?”
There was a hubbub from the ranks. Connor was impressed by the acting abilities of the crew to get into character as disgruntled removal guys.
“Please,” said Cate. “I appreciate that you are disappointed, terribly disappointed, with the actions of this one . . .” she surveyed Moonshine intently, looking for the right word. “This one member of my staff. But I will not stand here and have the rest of my team — who have worked tirelessly and in good faith — I will not have them slandered.”
“Try to understand,” Alessandro said. “Your feelings have very little importance in all this. What matters is that the Emperor’s considerable personal fortune has been placed in grave danger. Now, tell your crew to put down their glasses of lemonade and start bringing the loads back out and into the fort.”
Cate looked close to tears — whether genuine or not, Connor couldn’t ascertain. “All right,” she said. “All right, everyone, listen up! We’ll do exactly as we are asked. Go back into the ships and begin unloading the cargo. And do it carefully. Excuse me for one moment,” she said to Alessandro and Salvatore. “I just need to brief my second in command.” She strode after Bart. Connor overheard her as she passed on instructions quickly and precisely.
“Get everyone back on the ships,” she said. “And get ready to sail off. Understand?”
Bart nodded. “Yes, boss!”
“I’ll deal with Moonshine and follow. But no one else is to come back, you understand?”
“Yes, boss!” he repeated. Then he began moving the teams back toward the ship, calmly passing on the orders.
In a matter of moments, only Alessandro and Salvatore, Moonshine, and Cate were left on the green. Well, only the four of them, plus one other person.
“Connor?” Cate said, noticing him for the first time. “What are you waiting for? Go back to the ship and join your team. It’s all hands on deck if we’re going to get that cargo unloaded.”
“But boss,” he said without missing a beat, “he’s my work partner.” He nodded toward Moonshine. “I can’t lift stuff on my own, can I?”
Cate smiled at Connor. Her smile conveyed a number of thoughts and emotions that they didn’t have time to work through then and there.
Now she turned to Salvatore. “You have apprehended the thief,” she said. “Be assured he will be disciplined most severely. But in the meantime, the most important thing is to get your cargo out of the ships. It’ll take us just that much longer with a pair down. Would you consider releasing this boy so that he and his partner can proceed while we three agree to suitable reparations for this mess?”
Salvatore nodded. “Yes, I think that would be accept —”
“No.” Alessandro stepped in between them. “No, I don’t think so.”
At that moment, Moonshine made a decision. Connor could see what he was about to do as if in slow motion. And if he’d dared to open his mouth, he’d have cried out, “Noooooooooooo!” Instead,
he could only watch as Moonshine shoved Alessandro to one side and began to run. Alessandro fell heavily against Cate and Salvatore and the three of them tumbled to the ground.
Moonshine ripped open the flap in his boiler suit and produced his weapons of choice — starfish shuriken. He began throwing these at the security aides. It was a typical Moonshine attack — instinctive, unplanned, vicious.
The two guards were swiftly on their feet. “I told you!” Alessandro shouted, running toward Moonshine. “I told you, Salvatore. We’ve been conned!” He pointed to the water, where both ships were lifting anchor.
For a moment, Salvatore looked crushed. Then he grabbed a jewelled dagger from inside his pocket and threw himself at Cate. His small talk now all used up, he swung the dagger in the direction of her heart. As he did so, she unsheathed her épée and expertly parried the throw. Then as he prepared to strike, she delivered a precise épée blow to his rib cage. As he fell to the ground, stunned, Cate looked down at him. “Your lemonade wasn’t all that!” she said.
Meanwhile, Connor watched as Alessandro caught up with Moonshine and tackled him to the ground. Like his fallen colleague, he was carrying a small jeweled dagger. This he positioned across Moonshine’s neck. “I’m going to enjoy this,” he said.
“No!” Connor leaped forward as Alessandro lowered the dagger. He threw himself upon Alessandro, driving the blade of his rapier in between the guard’s shoulder blades. Immediately a pool of blood erupted from the wound, soaking the guard’s shirt in an ever-increasing circle, like a setting sun. Alessandro’s body slumped on top of Moonshine, pinning the lad to the ground. The dagger blade, which moments ago had spelled certain death, was now plunged only into the Emperor’s manicured lawn.
“Get him off me!” Moonshine cried. “Get him off me!”
Connor had fallen onto Alessandro, his hand still clasped about his rapier. Now, he raised himself up from the lifeless body of his victim. On one level, he knew exactly what he had done. Cate had ordered him to protect Moonshine at all costs, and as he had seen the guard attack with the jeweled dagger, instinct and training had joined hands and taken over.
Blood Captain Page 24
