Molucco reached out and put his hand on her wrist. It was the kind of gesture that previously might have enraged her, but now it merely silenced her as she lifted her eyes to his face. He was looking at her with genuine kindness and patience.
“Connor Tempest isn’t here,” he said.
AT SEA
Connor and Grace sat in the small boat making its way across the dark velvet waters.
“Just like old times, eh?” he said with a grin.
She nodded. “Just like old times.”
They had already left the coast behind them and were out in the ocean waters. But the vessel was steady and making good progress through the night. Grace watched as Connor busied himself expertly with the ropes.
“When did you first realize you could split in two?” Grace asked him.
Connor continued working on the ropes as his face turned toward her, illuminated by the full moon. “It first happened during the recapture of The Diablo.” He paused, trapping a bit of rope in his mouth, as he knotted another section. “Then, Jacoby and I had this fight,” he continued. “Over Jasmine, of course, and it happened again. So I knew, going into the last battle, that it was a possibility.” He came to join her at the center of the boat again. “After what you told me about the prophecy, I knew it was my destiny to fight Sidorio. But I was down at the other end of the ship. I couldn’t get to him—not by conventional means—before Cheng Li and the others beat me to it. When the split happened, one of me was able to speed to the center of the ship, while the other one jumped overboard to make my escape.”
Grace nodded. “Did you know that the one taking on Sidorio was destined to be killed?”
Connor’s eyes met his sister’s. “Yes, I think so. I’ve foreseen my death several times. The pieces of the jigsaw seemed to fit. That’s why it seemed a good idea for my other self to get the hell out of there and wait out the rest of the battle.” A dark look clouded his face. “My only regret is the hurt I’ve caused to Jasmine, Bo Yin, and the others.”
Grace smiled reassuringly. “Perhaps it’s better this way. After all, you are going to disappear from their lives for quite some time.”
He nodded. “Yes, according to your book, it’ll take seven years. Seven years of wandering the world, encountering no one I know, and I’ll rid myself of the dhampir gene.” His eyes were bright. “When I come back, I’ll be a mortal again.”
Grace felt a rise of emotion at his words. The thought of being apart from him for seven years was hard to bear. But she knew how much he yearned to become mortal once more. If this was what it took to bring her brother back a sense of peace, it was well worth it.
“It’s your book now,” she said. “I want you to keep it with you during this time away. It will comfort me greatly to know you’re not completely alone.”
“Thank you,” he said, sliding closer toward her. “I’ll come and find you, you know,” he said. “The moment my seven years are up.”
She nodded, determined not to cry. “You better!” she said. “And just think what adventures you’ll have to tell me about then.”
“Yes.” He nodded. She could see how filled with conviction he was for this fresh journey.
“I’d better go,” she said. “Someone’s knocking on my door.”
“I think I can guess who that might be!” Connor grinned. “I wish I could have been there for the wedding—nice dress, by the way—but it’s better like this.”
Grace nodded. All things considered, he was right.
“And I wish I could hug you good-bye properly!” Connor added.
“That’s the problem with these astral visits,” Grace said. She brought her hand to his cheek and, though it did not make conventional physical contact, still the gesture comforted them both. “Travel safe,” she said.
“You, too!”
Grace watched as his eyes turned back toward the ocean. It shimmered with reflections of the moon and stars. Comforted that her brother’s future was now assured, Grace exited the boat and returned to her cabin on board The Nocturne.
The knocking at her door had grown louder. She jumped down from the bed and opened it. Darcy Flotsam floated into the room, looking more beautiful than ever before.
“Oh, Darcy!” Grace said. “Jet Jetsam is a very lucky man!”
Darcy flushed with pleasure. “I’m the lucky one, Grace. I never thought this night would come. And now, of course, I’m a bundle of nerves!”
“Come here!” Grace said, grateful that she could hug Darcy for real. As she held her close, she thought once more of her brother, making his way on the beginnings of his seven-year odyssey.
“What are you thinking about?” Darcy asked her. “Or rather, who?”
“Connor,” Grace admitted.
“Of course,” Darcy said, her face suddenly grave. “I understand.”
“But look.” Grace wiped away her tear. “This is your night, Darcy. We’ve waited a long time for it, and there’s something I want to do for you.”
“What’s that?” Darcy inquired, intrigued.
Grace reached up her hands and unclasped the chain around her neck. Catching the locket she had been given by Connor many months earlier, she held it out toward her friend. “Something borrowed,” she said. As Darcy glanced at her in surprise and delight, Grace added, “It seems about time I lent you something of mine!”
As Grace was fastening the locket around Darcy’s neck, there was another knock at the door.
“Come in!” cried Grace.
“We’re all ready for you!” Lorcan said, hovering at the cabin door, looking off-the-scale handsome in his tuxedo and Grace’s favorite ice-blue cravat.
“Oh, no!” Darcy cried. “You mustn’t see me! It’s bad luck!”
Lorcan laughed. “Now, now, Darcy. You’re marrying Mr. Jetsam, remember? No more bad luck for you.” He took her in his arms.
“Of course,” she said. “How silly! See what a state I’m in?”
“You look very beautiful, Miss Flotsam,” Lorcan said. “Just think—that’s the last time I shall call you that. From now on, you’ll be known as Mrs. Jetsam.”
“Yes.” Darcy smiled. “Yes, I suppose I shall.” She seemed calmer now. Over her shoulder, Lorcan grinned at Grace. “Speaking of beautiful… Grace Tempest, you are a picture to behold!”
Grace rose to her feet. “Why, thank you,” she said as he stepped forward to kiss her. It began as a brief brushing of their lips but soon developed into something more.
“Come on!” Darcy said. “People, we have a wedding to get to. Mine!”
Lorcan and Grace broke off their kiss, laughing.
“Off you go!” Grace pushed him away playfully. “We’ll see you up on deck.”
Lorcan nodded. “It’s a beautiful night,” he said. “The stars have all come out for you, Darcy.” He turned to go, then had a fresh thought. “Oh, and Tempest, a word to the wise…”
Grace was busily gathering up the edges of Darcy’s train. “Yes?” she said, glancing up at Lorcan. “What is it, Furey?”
Lorcan grinned. “Just so you know, I’ve put down good money on you catching the wedding bouquet. I trust you won’t let me down!”
As he winked at her, Grace thought his eyes had never looked so blue. They were eyes you could never tire from looking at—as deep and constant and infinite as the ocean itself. In her head, Grace heard a familiar whisper.
So it ends, so it begins.
Also by Justin Somper
VAMPIRATES: Demons of the Ocean
VAMPIRATES: Tide of Terror
VAMPIRATES: Blood Captain
VAMPIRATES: Black Heart
VAMPIRATES: Empire of Night
Contents
FRONT COVER IMAGE
WELCOME
DEDICATION
PROLOGUE: FIVE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
1: TICK-TOCK
2: MOLUCCO’S HEIRS
3: KILLING PIRATES
4: EMPTY CHAIRS
5: NEW ALLEGI
ANCES
6: MOONSHINE’S PROPOSAL
7: CASUALTIES
8: THE NOCTURNAL PATIENT
9: DEPUTIES
10: MIND GAMES
11: CAMP DECIMATION
12: THE TURNING OF THE TIDE
13: THE LOST BOYS
14: BROUGHT TO BOOK
15: SHOWDOWN
16: SILENT ASSASSINS
17: DEADLY EMBRACE
18: PLANS INTERRUPTED
19: REUNION
20: A GREAT LOSS
21: INVISIBLE WOUNDS
22: BRIEF ENCOUNTER
23: WALKING WOUNDED
24: RETURN FROM THE DEAD
25: BIRTHING PAINS
26: AFTER MIDNIGHT
27: THE VORTEX
28: RETURN TO THE NOCTURNE
29: CELEBRATIONS
30: LORDS OF THE SEVEN OCEANS
31: MINOR ADJUSTMENTS
32: LOVE AND DEATH
33: DIVISIONS
34: LADY LOLA TURNS THE CARDS
35: THE LAST FEAST NIGHT
36: UNDER ATTACK
37: OBLIVION
38: THE FOUR CARDINALS
39: THE ACE IN THE HOLE
40: PROTOCOL NINE
41: THE DESCENT
42: WOUNDS
43: THE LOST BUCCANEER
44: GOOD-BYES AT DAWN
45: NEW BEGINNINGS
ALSO BY JUSTIN SOMPER
COPYRIGHT
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Text copyright © 2011 by Justin Somper
Cover hand lettering by Leah Palmer Preiss
Interior illustrations by Jon Foster
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Little, Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group
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First e-book edition: January 2012
Little, Brown and Company is a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
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ISBN 978-0-316-12613-7
Vampirates 6: Immortal War Page 36
