Black Heart

by Justin Somper

  “Lorcan, you’re hurting me!” Grace cried as he dragged her along.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, loosening his grip. “I just don’t want to lose any time.”

  “Why can’t you tell me what’s going on?” Grace asked.

  “It’s best to talk to Mosh Zu,” he said, pushing on toward the guru’s quarters.

  Mosh Zu met Grace and Lorcan at the threshold of his chamber. His tone was serious as he ushered them inside. Lorcan shut the door tightly behind them.

  “I need to prepare you,” Mosh Zu said to Grace once they were sitting on cushions in the center of the room.

  “Prepare me?” Grace asked, feeling a wave of cold panic. “For what? Did something go wrong in the healing process?”

  Mosh Zu shook his head and smiled at her. “No, Grace. Not at all. Sally is fine. She is in her room sleeping. We’ll go there in a moment.”

  “I don’t understand,” Grace said. “If she’s all right, what do you need to prepare me for?”

  Mosh Zu’s dark eyes watched Grace intently as he continued. “Others of the shades the captain was carrying have begun fading.” He paused, allowing her to process his words. “In spite of my best efforts, I have not yet been able to reverse this process.”

  “How terrible,” Grace said. She was sad for all the souls, but, of course, her thoughts turned to her own mother.

  “Terrible in some ways, yes,” Mosh Zu said. “But the reason why the souls were traveling with the captain, why he rescued them in the first place, was because they were in torment. What I have managed to do for them is to release them from that torment and allow them to move on.”

  At last she understood. “My mother is in torment, too, isn’t she?”

  Mosh Zu continued to gaze at Grace carefully. “I would prefer to say that she has unfinished business,” he said. “I believe that once that business is concluded she, too, will move on.” He paused. “It will be hard for her to leave you and very hard also for you to let her go. But she must embark on that final journey with joy.”

  “How much time does she have left?” Grace asked.

  “I can’t tell you,” Mosh Zu said, shaking his head. “I just don’t know.”

  Grace’s head was spinning. “Isn’t there a chance that Sally could be different, that she could beat this and become fully mortal once more?” They were difficult questions, but she had to ask them.

  Once more, Mosh Zu shook his head. “I’m sorry, Grace. I know you are looking for definitive answers, but on this occasion I don’t have any for you.”

  Grace trembled but took a breath. She had to be strong. And she didn’t want to lose any more time.

  “Can I go and see her now?”

  Mosh Zu smiled. “Yes,” he said, heading toward the door once more. “Yes, let me walk with you.”

  Sally was propped up in bed sleeping. She still looked very frail. Grace lingered in the doorway. Her head was racing with everything Mosh Zu had told her, but she didn’t want Sally to witness her upset. She couldn’t bear the thought of adding to her mother’s torment.

  “Why don’t you sit with her while she sleeps?” Mosh Zu said, resting his hand on Grace’s shoulder and pushing her gently into Sally’s chamber. “I’m sure she’ll be delighted to wake up and find you here.”

  Grace nodded, stepping forward and walking toward the bed as quietly as possible so as not to disturb her mother. She stood by the chair at Sally’s bedside. Gazing down at her, Grace thought how peaceful Sally looked in the soft candlelight. As Grace sat down, Sally stirred under the covers. At first, Grace thought she was about to wake up, but she must have simply moved in her sleep. One of her hands now rested on the bedspread. It was as if, even in sleep, her mother was somehow reaching out to her.

  Instinctively, Grace extended her own hand. As her fingers interlaced with her mother’s, she realized her mistake. Immediately, her head was filled with a searing pain. It was so strong that she almost broke contact. But then she thought, No. I have to ride this out. She didn’t know how much time they had left. She didn’t know how much strength her mother had to continue her story. But this way, even while Sally was sleeping, Grace might find out more about her past and perhaps help to ease her mother’s burden. She gripped Sally’s hand, waiting for the pain in her head to subside, which it swiftly did. Then, as before, the vision took her on a journey back to the Nocturne.

  This time, she was looking right into Sally’s face. Then she realized that she was still seeing things from her mother’s point of view; it was just that she was looking into a mirror. In its reflection, she saw Darcy, too! Grace smiled to herself as she watched Darcy fussing around with her mother’s hair. She was putting it up, fastening the auburn tendrils with delicate combs. Her mother must be getting ready for a big night out. Only, Grace reflected, there were no nights out on the Nocturne. But there were nights in—Sally must be getting ready for Feast Night.

  Now she heard Darcy’s voice at her mother’s ear. “You look beautiful, Sally. He’ll be so happy that you’re his donor. Don’t be nervous! It’ll all be fine. ”

  She saw her mother’s face in the mirror, attempting a confident smile. It was only natural that she should be nervous. This must be her first Feast, and although she was paired with Dexter, she didn’t know him yet. Grace had no idea what Sally’s life had been like before joining the ship, but it must have been a difficult journey to lead her to make the choice to become a donor.

  Now Sally stood and smoothed the gown she was wearing, no doubt one procured from Darcy’s bottomless closet. She looked very pretty, very innocent. She saw Darcy nod behind her. “Told you I’d make you look like a fairy-tale princess!”

  The vision shifted, and Grace found she was downstairs in the long cabin where the Feast took place. She was still seeing things from her mother’s perspective, as she sat between two other donors waiting for their vampire partners to arrive. In the background, she could hear the music that accompanied the Feast—the strange, percussive music. And then the Vampirates began entering the room.

  Grace watched them file in, eagerly awaiting her first sight of Dexter. This would be the final confirmation that her dad was indeed a Vampirate. In her previous visions, he had looked recognizably like the father she remembered, albeit younger and a little slimmer. She was filled with wonder at how he might look at the Feast, dressed up in his finery. Through Sally’s eyes, she saw Lorcan enter the room, smile at her, and take his place opposite Shanti, who was sitting close by. Then she saw Sidorio enter, followed not far behind by the captain. The door closed behind them.

  That was strange, thought Grace. Had she missed her dad’s arrival? There was still a gaggle of Vampirates in the center of the room. Perhaps he was among those?

  The gaggle began to disperse, and the seats filled up on the Vampirate side of the table, but still the place opposite Sally remained vacant.

  She turned to glance along the table and found Shanti smiling and winking at her. Then, as she turned back, she saw that at last the chair opposite her had been filled. Her Vampirate partner had arrived.

  Grace’s heart was pounding as Sally’s eyes traced up his shirt cuffs and jacket, past his shoulders, to his neck and, at last, his face. But though the face was indeed familiar, it was not the one she had expected or wanted to see.

  The Vampirate grinned at her. “So, you’re my new donor! Funny little thing, aren’t you?”

  Grace felt a cold chill spread through her body as, through Sally’s eyes, she looked up into the unmistakable face of Sidorio.

  9

  HOUSE OF CARDS

  Another night. Another dead-end coastal town. Another beach.

  The two women stood on the cliffs, looking out to sea. One wore a minidress and tall leather boots. The other was dressed in a tight bodice and figure-hugging leggings. They both had on very large, very dark sunglasses.

  “Look,” said the first. “I think our ship has come in.” She pointed at a vast prison hulk
that had just turned into the bay.

  “Right on cue,” said the other. “Shall we go and meet the boys?”

  The two women watched from the shadows as the Vampirates made their way to shore. It was just the same as the previous two nights. The ship dropped anchor in the farthest reaches of the bay. Then the crew made their way onto land. Some surfed. Others swam. There was a riotous atmosphere. They were hungry and ready to feast.

  “May I borrow your binoculars, Jessamy?” Camille asked her companion.

  “Of course.” Jessamy passed them to Camille, who lifted them to her eyes and scanned the ranks gathering on the sand.

  “There they are! Our two special friends,” she said with a smile. “I’m looking forward to seeing them again. Aren’t you?”

  “Oh, yes,” said Jessamy, running a hand through her hair. “Yes, indeed. Every night it’s as if we are meeting for the very first time, don’t you think? It never loses its excitement.”

  She laughed. Camille nodded and joined in her laughter.

  They waited for Sidorio to give his command, then lingered at the fringes of the beach while the crew ran off to pillage the town.

  “They look very, very hungry, don’t they?” said Camille.

  Jessamy nodded. “They certainly do. But I’m afraid they’re going to be disappointed again tonight.” She drew her lips into a pout.

  “Come on,” said Camille. “There’s Johnny and Stukeley, waiting till last, as usual. Let’s go and introduce ourselves.”

  “Good evening, ladies!” Tonight it was Stukeley who noticed them first.

  Jessamy raised her hand but said nothing as she and Camille continued their approach.

  “Where are you two off to, all dressed up like that?” Stukeley asked.

  “We’re just looking for some fun,” said Camille.

  “Well, you’ve come to the right place!” said Johnny. “Fun is my middle name.”

  “Really?” said Camille coquettishly.

  Johnny grinned. “Actually, my name’s Johnny. Johnny Desperado. And you’re?”

  “Camille,” she said, reaching out her hand.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Camille,” Johnny said, kissing her hand. “Tell me, why are you both wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night?”

  Camille turned to face Jessamy, then both women looked at the boys. “Fashion, darling!” they said in unison.

  Much later, the quartet walked back across the sand. Johnny felt light-headed from the feasting the four had embarked on together. He could see that Stukeley was in a similar state.

  “That was amazing!” Stukeley said, turning to face Jessamy and marveling again at the strange heart-shaped tattoo around her right eye. “We should do this again.”

  “Yes,” Jessamy said with a smile. “Perhaps we should.”

  “We ought to get going now,” said Camille.

  “So you’re from another ship?” Johnny said. “What’s it called? Where is it?”

  Jessamy shot a warning glance at Camille.

  Camille shrugged and leaned over to whisper in her ear. “What does it matter? They won’t remember any of this. They never do.”

  The women turned back to their companions. “I’m afraid we really must be going now,” said Jessamy.

  Stukeley looked crestfallen. Jessamy walked over to give him a hug good-bye. At the same time, Camille drew Johnny into her arms. The couples embraced for a moment. Then the women stepped backward, and the numb bodies of their dates slumped down onto the sand. Their eyes were closed.

  The women stood observing them. “Don’t they look sweet?” Camille said, wrapping her arm around Jessamy’s waist.

  “Yes,” agreed Jessamy. “Like sleeping puppy dogs.”

  Camille reached into her trouser pocket and produced a playing card. The jack of hearts. She brought it to her lips and kissed it, leaving the imprint of her lipstick on it. Then she let it flutter down to Johnny’s chest.

  “Nice touch,” Jessamy said.

  “You don’t think the captain will mind, do you?”

  Jessamy shook her head. “She always encourages us to improvise on a theme.” Saying this, she took a playing card from the pocket of her skirt, brought it to her own lips, then crouched down and slipped it between Stukeley’s fingers.

  Camille giggled and helped Jessamy back onto her feet. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s get back to the Vagabond and report to the captain.”

  Johnny awoke first. He let out a yawn, then glanced around, taking a few moments to realize where he was. He raised himself into a sitting position. As he did so, something fluttered away from his chest. At first, he thought it was a moth, but glancing down he saw that it was a small card—a playing card—that now lay facedown on the sand. He reached out and turned it over, lifting it up to the moonlight. It was like no playing card he had ever seen. It was the jack of hearts, but the hearts were black. And so, too, was the lipstick mark that covered the design. Where had the card come from? What did it mean?

  Stukeley was stirring beside him. Johnny could see another playing card in his hand. What had happened to them both? Why couldn’t he remember? Lately, their bouts of blood-taking seemed to be inducing some kind of amnesia.

  “Hola,” he said as Stukeley sat up beside him.

  “All right, mate,” Stukeley said. “I just had the best sleep ever. Really deep and peaceful.”

  “Me, too,” Johnny said.

  “Why are you frowning, then?” Stukeley asked.

  Johnny pointed. “What’s that in your hand, hermano?”

  “In my hand?” Stukeley glanced down curiously. “Some kind of playing card.” He lifted it up close. “The king of hearts. But it’s black. I was never much for cards, but hearts aren’t supposed to be black, are they?”

  Johnny shook his head slowly. “Hearts are not supposed to be black,” he said.

  “Where did we get these?” Stukeley asked him.

  Johnny shrugged. “I don’t know. The last thing I remember was you and me, setting off across this beach. How about you?”

  “The same,” Stukeley nodded.

  Suddenly, the air was filled with a deafening noise.

  “The ship’s siren!” Stukeley exclaimed, jumping to his feet.

  “It can’t be shipping out already!” Johnny said. “Not without us.”

  “Come on,” Stukeley said. “Something’s wrong here. We need to get back onto the Blood Captain now!”

  The Vagabond was a much smaller ship than the Blood Captain, which gave it certain advantages. One was speed. Another was the ability to hide itself in the shadows of an inlet. All the same, Lady Lockwood had conjured a veil of mist to ensure the ship was screened from prying eyes. Fortunately, this would not prevent her from looking out. She stood in her cabin, her telescope trained out to sea.

  There was a knock on the door. “Enter!” called the captain, standing up and rearranging her full skirt.

  Marianne and Angelika entered, followed by Jessamy and Camille. Between them, the four women were carrying four wine bottles and five glasses.

  “We thought you might like to taste some of the latest harvest,” Marianne said.

  “Absolutely!” Lady Lockwood said. “Would you be an angel, my dear, and pour?” Marianne nodded. Assisted by Angelika, she poured a small measure of liquid from the first bottle into each of the glasses.

  Jessamy and Camille stepped forward.

  “Another successful night?” Lady Lockwood asked them.

  Jessamy nodded. “It’s almost too easy,” she said.

  Lady Lockwood smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry, my dear. I have plans to up the stakes very soon.” She reached out and accepted the glass offered by Marianne. “So tell me,” she said, swirling the glass to unleash the scent. “Where is the Blood Captainheaded next?”

  “Well,” said Camille. “According to our sources…”

  The siren sounded a second and last time as Johnny and Stukeley jumped down onto the main dec
k. They both knew the implications of this. They were supposed to be the ones who sounded the ship’s siren, calling the straggling Vampirates back to the ship, bringing the night’s feasting to a close. They were not meant to be the last ones to return.

  All around them were their crewmates. They seemed restless, almost feverish. This was not their usual state after feasting. Typically, at this point, the men were slumped around the deck or down in their cabins.

  “Something’s wrong,” Stukeley said to Johnny again.

  “Where’s the captain?” Johnny asked.

  Stukeley looked around. “I don’t know—but let’s just hope he hasn’t noticed we’re late.”

  But he had. At that very moment, the captain was observing his two lieutenants from high up in the crow’s nest. Now he decided to make his presence felt. He climbed out of the platform and somersaulted down onto the deck, landing right in front of them.

  “Good of you to join us,” Sidorio said, his voice full of darkness.

  “Hello, Captain,” said Stukeley nervously.

  “And where have you two been?” Sidorio asked. “You’re late. Again.”

  “We were on the beach,” Stukeley said. “We went to feast, just like everyone else.”

  “I see,” Sidorio said, staring deep into Stukeley’s eyes. “So tell me, did you find anything to feast upon?”

  His lieutenants were silent.

  “Well?” Sidorio’s voice boomed out across the deck.

  “I think so,” Johnny said.

  Sidorio raised an eyebrow. “You think so, Stetson. What do you mean, you think so?”

  Johnny trembled. “It’s just that—”

  Stukeley took over. “I’m really sorry, Captain, but the truth is we’re having trouble remembering. Maybe we took too much blood or something…”

  Sidorio gazed from one lieutenant to the other, his eyes blazing. “I’m getting mighty tired of you two rolling in hours after everyone else, with a dazed look on your faces. You’re supposed to be my deputies, remember?”