Vampirates 6: Immortal War (25 page)

Evrim had a sudden thought. “Do you have any idea who the Nocturnal—I mean—who the
other
Nocturnal is?”

Grace lifted her hand to cut off this line of inquiry. “We don’t have time to discuss this now. I need to ask you a further favor. I can’t explain to you why I’m asking, but I just need you to trust that it’s the right thing, okay?”

Noijon and Evrim both nodded. Grace felt enormously grateful that she had established a complete circle of trust with them both. She was going to have to push that trust to its limits now.

“I need to have a potentially difficult conversation with Deputy Peacock,” Grace said. “While I do that, I want you to remove the other patient from here.”

Evrim looked confused but Noijon was more practical. “Where would you like us to remove him to?”

“He needs to be off the main ward in a private recovery room.”

Noijon nodded in understanding as Grace continued. “His trauma was very intense. I want him completely isolated for the time being. No one but us three should know where he is. Not Dani, or even Mosh Zu.”

“I know the perfect place,” said Noijon.

“It would be best,” Grace said, “if no one saw you taking him there. Is that possible?”

Noijon nodded again. “I’m on it, boss. Don’t worry! You
go and talk to Deputy Peacock. Evvie and I will take care of this… situation.”

“We will?” Evrim still looked confused.

“Yes, we will,” Noijon said with complete confidence.

Grace smiled, breathing a sigh of relief. Then she took a moment to gather herself before stepping outside for her encounter with Jasmine.

“What do you mean, I can’t see him?” Jasmine’s intense dark eyes were wide with concern. She gazed up at Grace from the other end of the wooden bench in the anteroom adjacent to the healing chamber.

“I didn’t say you
can’t
,” Grace corrected her. “I just think the best thing for him now is to rest, undisturbed, until we have him on a steadier footing.”

“But you said he was already in a steady condition,” Jasmine said, her eyes narrowing. “Why do I feel like you’re lying to me, Grace?”

Grace smiled sympathetically. “Because you’re tired and worried and angry and there’s no one but me to lash out at?”

Jasmine nodded, her face softening. “You’re right,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”

Grace put her hand over Jasmine’s. “I’ve made him as comfortable as I can. There’s a long journey ahead of him, but I’m confident he’s going to make it.” She chose her
words carefully. “You know you’re welcome to stay here at Sanctuary tonight, Jasmine. I can find you a room. You can stay as long as you want, but you might prefer to go back to
The Tiger
and be among your friends. I will see to it myself that you are kept regularly informed of Jacoby’s progress.”

Jasmine nodded. “I really should go back,” she said. “It’s not a matter of choice. I have duties on
The Tiger
. The war has reached a turning point and I can’t let Connor shoulder my work and responsibilities on top of his own.”

Grace smiled. “I’m sure Connor will want to support you at a time like this. He’s your boyfriend, but he knows how much you cared for Jacoby. How much you
still
care.”

“Thanks, Grace,” Jasmine said. “You’re good people—you and Connor.” She smiled. “I knew that from the first.”

Grace glanced at the ticking clock. “I wish I had more time to spend with you,” she said, “but there never seems to be time for anything anymore. I have another patient to check up on now.” She stood up but, seeing Jasmine’s deflated expression, she added, “There’s a garden just outside the complex. Turn right at the main exit and you’ll soon come across it. You might want to go and sit there for a while. It’s a peaceful place.”

“Thanks, Grace,” Jasmine said, already sounding more composed. “But my ordeal is nothing compared to Jacoby’s.” She rose to her feet.

Grace felt a sense of sisterhood and the desire to protect her brother’s girlfriend. “We’re all casualties of this war,”
she said. “It wounds each of us in different ways. But often the invisible wounds are the ones that hurt the most.”

As she stopped speaking, Jasmine put a hand on her arm. Grace realized that Jasmine was crying, albeit very quietly.

“Thank you,” Jasmine said, once again. “Thank you for helping Jacoby and me. Thank you for everything you’re doing for the pirates.”

Grace nodded. She felt a wave of guilt run through her. Jacoby Blunt’s time as a pirate had been brought to a sudden end, and, while Grace might not have lied to Jasmine—not in so many words—nor had she told her the whole truth. She realized that Jasmine might not be quite so thankful toward her if she knew who else Grace was treating.

Glancing left and right to check that no one had seen her, Grace inserted the key in the lock and twisted it. It made her think back to her first days aboard
The Nocturne
, when Lorcan had kept her locked up inside her cabin. He had told her it was for her own safety. She had been dubious about that but now she completely understood as, key in hand, she darted inside the room and closed the door swiftly behind her, then locked it again.

In front of her was—how had Olivier described it?—a
cocoon
of gauze. Grace approached the bed and drew back the curtain to enter the cocoon. As she did so, Johnny opened his eyes in wonder.

“Hello,” he said, his voice cracked and low.

“Hello,” she echoed, reaching for his hand. She only cupped it gently but still thought to ask, “Sorry, does that hurt?”

He shook his head, but only slightly. She could tell that it still wasn’t entirely comfortable for him to move. “No,” he said. “Doesn’t hurt. Feels nice.”

Grace smiled, gazing down at him. “Do you know where you are?” she asked. “And why?”

Again, he made the smallest possible movement with his head but she could see he was trying to nod. “Your nurse guy… the one with the funny name, he told me. I’m back at Sanctuary. And you saved my life, Grace.”

His fingers brushed hers gently. The smallness of the movement and the simplicity of his words drew tears from her eyes.

“Hey, don’t cry!” he said.

“Sorry.” She brushed her free hand across her face, trying to mop up the tears. “I’m just so relieved that you’re back, that you’re going to make it through.”

“It’s all thanks to you,” he said. “I wouldn’t be seeing or touching you if you hadn’t worked your healing magic on me, sugar.” He paused to summon up more energy. “For that, I will be eternally grateful. In fact…”

Grace held up her hand. “You’re still in critical condition, Johnny. You mustn’t tire yourself through talking.”

Once more, he attempted a nod. “All right, I’ll shut up and you can do the talking. I like it when you talk to me.”
He smiled and, once again, she noted how blistered his lips were.

“You can’t stay here,” Grace said. “If the Alliance has the merest suspicion that you survived the attack, they’ll dispatch someone else to finish the job. We need to get you away from here.”

“Okay,” Johnny said. “But where? How?”

“I don’t want you to worry about that,” Grace said. “It’s all under control. I just need you to concentrate all your energy on recovering.” She let go of his hand. “I’m going to conduct a fresh healing session with you now. It will send you into a deep sleep. When you wake, you might already be on your way home.”

“Home?” he said, as if the word had no meaning for him.

“I know your ship is… gone,” Grace said. “But you’re going back to your comrades.” She began to stand up.

“Wait!” His voice was hoarse. “Can’t I stay here with you a little longer?”

Grace thought about it. For so long, she had hoped that he would choose the Nocturnals rather than the Vampirates. But, whatever he might say now, in truth that decision had been made long ago. Now it wasn’t safe for him to stay. Sadly, she shook her head. “I’ll always be here for you, Johnny, but, for now, I think it’s best you go back to Stukeley and the others as soon as possible.”

Johnny tried to sit up in bed but found the movement too much for him. “I don’t understand, Grace. If I’m still the enemy, why did you bother saving me?”

Grace shook her head once more. “You’re not
my
enemy,” she said. “And you never will be. You’re on the wrong side in this war and I hope with all my heart that your side loses. But some things are more important than battle lines.”

“Like what?” he asked.

“Like dear, old friends,” she said, lifting his hand and very gently kissing it. “Now, I need you to be quiet and still and let me do the job I’m here to do.”

Johnny smiled and his dark eyes sparkled momentarily. Grace knew then that she’d done the right thing. Whatever anyone else said. Whatever the repercussions.

After Johnny was settled into a deep, restorative sleep, Grace slipped back out of his room and into the corridor. Checking once more that she hadn’t been seen, she locked the door behind her, pocketed the key, and strode briskly away along the corridor.

The second healing session had left her thoroughly depleted of energy and she knew that it was vital she now got some rest. She pushed open the door to her room, grateful to find that Darcy had not yet returned from her own labors. But, though it was tempting, she did not settle down to bed right away.

There was one more thing she had to do before she could rest.

On board
The Albatross
, Stukeley lay in Mimma’s arms.