Empire of Night

by Justin Somper

  Lola led Grace back to the carriage. Mimma and Zofia were already waiting inside, three cases stowed at their feet. Lola ushered Grace up the steps, then turned to the young driver. "Crack the whip, Rodrigo!" she said. "Our business here is done."

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  33 WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT GRACE

  "They've just started using these new tool belts and cases," Grace said. "Before, they had to bring people back to The Vagabond to drain their blood efficiently, but now they have this new portable equipment, which means they can drain and bottle the blood anywhere."

  Darcy shuddered. "Oh, Grace. And you saw this happening? How awful!"

  "It's okay, Darcy." Grace shook her head. "I didn't stay in the room for long."

  Darcy frowned at her friend. "I didn't mean how awful for you ." Thinking she might have been a little harsh, she added, "Though, of course, I wouldn't have wanted to see such things. It must have been distressing."

  Mosh Zu nodded to himself. "So this is how they

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  organize their so-called blood hunts. An extremely valuable insight." Turning back to Grace, he asked, "And there were twelve victims, you say--trapped and killed by Lola Lockwood's crew?"

  Grace nodded. There was a strange look in her eyes that Darcy found impossible to read. There seemed to be a growing gulf between herself and Grace at each of these nightly conferences, and she didn't know what to do about it.

  "Is there something else you want to tell us?" Mosh Zu inquired.

  Grace looked agitated, then took a deep breath. "One of them escaped," she said. "A young woman. The dinner was to celebrate her engagement..."

  Darcy gasped, bringing her hand to her lips in horror.

  "I was out in the corridor," Grace continued, her eyes wide. "The girl ran toward me. Her dress was torn and her flesh was pierced." She paused, a distant look in her eyes.

  Darcy turned to Mosh Zu, hoping to catch his attention, but he was fully focused on Grace, waiting for her to continue.

  "The girl asked me to help her. I said that of course I would. We ran out of the house. There was a fountain outside. The most beautiful fountain I've ever seen."

  "And the girl," Mosh Zu asked. "How was she??"

  Grace narrowed her eyes, as if refocusing. "The girl was weak--from the bleeding, perhaps..."

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  Or perhaps from seeing all the people she loved massacred on the night of her engagement party , Darcy thought angrily.

  "She was weak," Grace continued. "She leaned against the fountain... to rest."

  Becoming silent, she closed her eyes for a time, as if she was journeying back to that place and moment. When she opened her eyes once more, Darcy froze. Grace's beautiful emerald eyes had disappeared. In their place were deep pools of fire. Darcy was no stranger to such sights--her own eyes went through the same transformation when she was hungry for blood--but she was unprepared for the shock of seeing Grace in this state.

  "What happened at the fountain?" Mosh Zu pushed her.

  Grace looked pained. "The girl was bleeding. She was weak. I couldn't help..." She broke off, then began again. "I couldn't help..." She sighed deeply. Her eyes closed once more.

  "You couldn't help what ?" Mosh Zu probed.

  Grace opened her eyes. They were back to normal--greener and brighter than ever, like stones washed in a mountain stream. Darcy almost cried with relief.

  Grace looked momentarily disoriented, then continued. "I couldn't help her," she said. "There was nothing I could do. Lola and the others came out of the house. They soon got to work on her."

  "The poor girl," Darcy said.

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  Mosh Zu rose from his seat and stepped toward Grace. "How has this difficult experience left you feeling?"

  Grace shrugged. "Drained, I guess. And tired."

  "You should rest," Mosh Zu said. "The night is almost over."

  "Where's Lorcan?" Grace asked. "Why didn't he come to see me tonight?"

  "We told you when you first arrived," Darcy said. "Don't you remember?"

  Grace shook her head, frowning slightly.

  "His combat training is demanding so much of his time and energy," Mosh Zu said. "He wasn't able to join us tonight."

  Grace frowned. "I tried to visit him before, but I couldn't get through to him. Is he avoiding me?"

  Darcy could not contain her irritation. "Of course he's not avoiding you, Grace! We all have difficult and demanding roles to play in this mission. Sometimes it's just not possible for us all to be together at the same time."

  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

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  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

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  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."

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  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 f
orce 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

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  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."

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  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."

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  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."

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  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,

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  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

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  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 t
his 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."

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  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."

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  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."