Vampirates 6: Immortal War (48 page)

“For a rallying call,” Black said. “I want to punch home the message that we’ve won the war. Tomorrow we’ll parade Connor Tempest in front of them, announce his investiture, and outline the next phase in our strategy.”

“Which is what?” inquired Barbarro. “To send out
every last Alliance captain with a price on Sidorio and Lola’s scalps?”

Black grinned once more. “Well now, that wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world, would it?”

“I agree,” said Moonshine Wrathe. “We should go after the Vampirates, and not just the demon duo. We shouldn’t rest until every last one of the ships they hijacked from us has been taken back—just like
The Diablo
.”

“With respect,” René Grammont interjected, “that’s fine rhetoric, Captain Wrathe, but there is a price tag attached to every Alliance vessel pursuing the Vampirates.”

“Not only that,” Cheng Li spoke now. “But if we further antagonize Sidorio and Lola, we could start up the war all over again.”

“It’s not like you to advocate mercy, Commodore Li,” said Black.

“I’m advocating
caution
,” Cheng Li said. “I’m as concerned about this situation as the rest of you, but I don’t think there are any easy answers.”

“I completely disagree,” interjected Kirstin Larsen. “Surely this is blindingly simple? We
must
have a decisive end to the war.”

Cheng Li remained calm. “Why don’t we ask Commanders Darke and Furey how
they
feel it is best to proceed? After all, they both know Sidorio far better than any of us.”

“Hear, hear!” Captain Quivers agreed.

Along the length of the conference table, all eyes turned to the two Nocturnal leaders.

At last, Obsidian Darke spoke. “I regret to say that I do not believe the threat from Sidorio is over.”

“We have our answer!” Ahab Black punched the table. “I don’t know what further prompting the rest of you need. We cannot rest easy until this threat is completely neutralized. We have the ships and the money. It’s time to crank up our war machine to the max.”

“We have a worrying skills shortage,” Barbarro interjected. “Need I remind you all that this war has seen unprecedented levels of pirate fatalities?”

“On the Nocturnal side, too,” Cheng Li said.

Ahab Black nodded, facing Obsidian Darke once more. “All in all, my friend, it’s a pity you didn’t call on these mysterious allies of yours somewhat sooner.”

Darke did not rise to the bait. There was, momentarily, silence within Room 13. It seemed that there would be no easy answers. Cheng Li glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already well into the early hours. At this rate, they’d be lucky to have reached an accord by sunrise.

“Shouldn’t you be down below in the Alliance bunker?” Grace asked Connor, pointing to the floor of the Rotunda. “After all, you are a Federation captain now.”

Connor shrugged. “Aren’t you the Alliance’s leading
healer these days? You’ve earned your place at that table just as much as I have.”

Grace considered his words. “Perhaps. Still, I’d much rather be here with you. We’ve spent far too much time apart, don’t you think? We didn’t even get to spend our birthday together. That was a first.”

He nodded thoughtfully and glanced upward. They had left the lamps of the Rotunda unlit, but still Grace and Connor were bathed in a watery blue light—the result of the moonlight filtering down through the colored glass in the building’s domed roof. Grace saw that Connor was staring up at the cases of swords belonging to some of the greatest pirates the world had ever seen. She knew they had fascinated him since the very first time they had visited Pirate Academy. He gazed up intently for a time, then his eyes slowly returned to her.

“Hey,” he asked. “What’s in that satchel of yours?”

Grace unzipped the bag and removed from it the book she now carried with her at all times. She’d been wanting to tell him about it since the moment she discovered it. Now seemed as good a time as any.

They stepped toward each other, directly beneath the cluster of swords. Grace held out the small book and Connor took it, holding it up to the light so he could read the words on the cover. “
The Way of the Dhampir
.” He glanced up at Grace questioningly.

“It’s a guide,” Grace said. “It was blank when I found it, but it talks to me.”

Connor looked askance at Grace, then back at the closed book. “It talks to you?” he said. “What about?”

“It answers questions no one else can answer,” Grace said. “Have a look. I’m interested to know if it works for you, too.” She stepped closer. “Open it and ask it a question. You don’t even need to say the words aloud.”

Not so long ago, Connor would have dismissed this as one of Grace’s fantasies, but experience had taught him to take her at her word. He opened up the book and, with a soft sigh, focused on the blank pages before him.

Grace had walked over to stand beside him and watched over his shoulder as text began appearing on the page.

Your time as a dhampir is coming to an end
.

They both stared at the page, then Connor’s hands began to tremble and he dropped the book to the floor.

“Oh, Connor,” Grace said sadly. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he said, turning to face her. He was smiling. “I’m trembling, but it’s with relief, I think. I’m not like you, Grace. I can’t accept this thing I am. There’s nothing I want more than to stop being a dhampir.” He smiled broadly at her. “Your magic book has given me the best news I’ve had in ages.”

It dawned on her that he didn’t understand that the book was telling him that he would be the one to die. Because surely that was what the words meant—the time of the prophecy was drawing near and now it was
revealed which one of the twins was going to be sacrificed. Grace felt bereft. As much as she had feared her own death, now she realized that the idea of Connor’s dying was far worse. She felt as if she had betrayed him somehow, by failing to tell him sooner about the prophecy. But, truly, was it something they had any power to change?

Grace couldn’t even face looking at her brother. Seeing the book lying there on the floor of the Rotunda, she knelt down to retrieve it. As she did, more words began to appear before her.

The time of the prophecy is now
.

“No,” she said. “No. I’m not ready.”

“What does it mean, Grace?” Connor asked, at her side. “What prophecy?”

She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t be the one to tell him he was going to have to die to bring peace to the oceans.

“What prophecy?” Connor persisted. “Grace, you have to tell me.”

Down in the bunker, Cheng Li glanced at the clock once more.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock
. Would this meeting never end?

“We’re not getting anywhere,” Kirstin Larsen said, speaking, it seemed, for the majority of the assembly.

“Can I make a suggestion?” Moonshine asked. “We’re a democratic organization, aren’t we? Why don’t we just put this to the vote?”

There were murmurings around the table, largely, it seemed, in favor of the suggestion. Then two things happened in quick succession. Ahab Black raised his hand to restore order. Then there was a hammering on the door to Room 13 and a breathless Bo Yin pushed it open.

All eyes turned to her. Suddenly everyone was quiet. Something told them that she brought news of the utmost seriousness.

“The Vampirate fleet is making its way to Pirate Academy,” she said. “Kally brought the news.”

Cheng Li glanced at the clock once more. “But this is madness,” she said. “It’s scarcely more than three hours until sunrise.”

Ahab Black’s expression was grim. “You’re right, Commodore Li, but I don’t think we require much further evidence that Sidorio and Lola are mad.”

“Or,” Lorcan sounded a note of warning, “extremely confident.”

“How can they be?” cried Barbarro Wrathe.

A din of voices began to bubble up again.

Cheng Li addressed Ahab Black. “You need to invoke Protocol Nine,” she said.

For once, he did not protest but simply nodded. “Consider it invoked.” He rose to his feet and addressed his comrades. “Sound the attack sirens! Every captain needs
to get to their ship!” He turned to Bo Yin. “Tell Kally and the intel team to get word to Sanctuary that we need medical backup.” Bo Yin nodded, remaining admirably calm as the commander in chief of the Pirate Federation continued to bark orders at her. “And get them to warn the rest of our fleet that they are sailing into a battle zone.” As Bo Yin raced off to execute his orders, Black continued to reel off commands. “All senior students to go to their assigned ships, juniors to gather in the bunkers…”

The sirens echoed in the vast dome of the Rotunda. The noise caused the bank of swords above their heads to tremble and agitate.

“We’re under attack!” Connor cried, scrambling to his feet. “I have to get back to
The Tiger
.”

“Wait!” Grace implored him.

He shook his head. “This is Protocol Nine, Grace. We all have to move fast.”

“But there’s so much we need to say to each other,” she said. “Especially now that you know about the prophecy.”

Connor shook his head once more. “We can’t talk now. We both have important jobs to do.” Seeing Grace’s desolate expression, he added, “Maybe it’s better this way.”

Grace was trembling. Was this the beginning of the end? How were you supposed to say good-bye to the brother you might never see again?

She felt him hug her. She was numb but, as he released her, she managed to get out two words: “Be careful!”

After he’d gone and she was alone in the Rotunda, she berated herself for not saying something more meaningful. She realized it was futile. There were no words to reach across the terrible chasm they now faced.

She was still holding the book. It was open in front of her. As she glanced down, tears spattered onto its pages, staining the paper. Then she saw words gathering again, even over the tear marks. The book was speaking to her once more. But what could it possibly have to tell her?

It is time for you to enter the realm of the dead
.

She experienced a sudden tremor of shock, then a strange form of relief. Then confusion. Did this mean that it was her, not Connor, who was destined to die? Her heart was racing as further instructions began to appear right before her eyes.