Black Heart

by Justin Somper

  Connor could tell from Captain Grammont’s expression that this was an unforeseen development, but ever the diplomat, Grammont only smiled and murmured, “Of course.” He smiled at Cheng Li and Connor. “I might pop down to the ship later,” he said. “Perhaps we can have tea?”

  Cheng Li nodded. “I’d like that.”

  Then Captain Grammont and Commodore Black exchanged salutes, and Grammont exited the study. Ahab Black, who in Connor’s opinion seemed even less well versed in the basics of human interaction than Cheng Li, turned again and walked back toward the window.

  “Shall we sit down?” Cheng Li asked, raising her eyes in exasperation. Connor tried not to laugh.

  “Sit or stand,” Commodore Black said. “This won’t take long.”

  “Very well,” said Cheng Li, sitting down in one of the pair of leather armchairs that faced Commodore Kuo’s old desk and gesturing for Connor to take the other.

  “Times are changing. And changing fast,” announced Ahab Black in his increasingly grating monotone.

  “Evidently,” agreed Cheng Li.

  Suddenly, Ahab Black spun around, his one visible eye fixing them both. “The Federation has a mission for you,” he said. “For some time now, we have been aware of the existence of a ship of vampire pirates, or Vampirates. I believe you are both also aware of this phenomenon?”

  “Yes,” Connor answered.

  “I’ve heard tell of it,” Cheng Li answered, hedging her bets. Connor vividly remembered her telling him in no uncertain terms that the ship could not possibly exist. It was a credit to her that she could shift position so effortlessly.

  “On the whole, the Vampirates have caused us very little trouble in recent times,” continued Ahab Black. “The occasional incident, perhaps, but nothing that has proved difficult to contain. For our part, we have adopted a policy of quiet tolerance. We have, to coin a phrase, turned a blind eye.”

  Perhaps an unfortunate expression to use when you were sporting an eye patch, reflected Connor.

  “Everything has changed!” Ahab Black’s good eye blazed, and his voice dripped with vitriol. “The attack on Commodore Kuo and his young crew was a direct affront to the authority of the Pirate Federation.”

  “And you think that the Vampirates were responsible?” Cheng Li asked.

  “Affirmative,” said Black. “It was a direct attack sent to wound us at a high level. Well, we got the message, and we’re gonna send a reply.”

  The commodore had seized Cheng Li’s and Connor’s full attention. “The time of quiet tolerance is over,” he said. “From here on in, the Federation will pursue a policy of direct aggression toward the Vampirates. We will excise this scourge from our seas and eliminate the threat to this and future pirate generations.” He brought both his fists down hard on the desk. “We will purify the oceans.”

  “What is our role in this to be?” Cheng Li asked.

  “You’ll be at the forefront of delivering this policy,” Black said. “The Tiger will be the first ship of dedicated Vampirate assassins. And your first mission is to eliminate the murderer of John Kuo and the students.”

  “I have a question,” Connor said.

  “So do I.” Cheng Li spoke over him. Already her eyes were bright with excitement. “What level of support do we get for this initiative?”

  “Top level,” Black announced. “Whatever you need, you get. You already have an elite crew. If you want to add personnel, no problem.”

  “Budget?” inquired Cheng Li.

  “Open,” answered Black. “Whatever it takes to get the job done.”

  “We’ll need new swords,” Cheng Li said.

  Connor thought of the boxes of swords they had just recently brought back from Master Yin’s workshop. So far, the weapons had been used only for combat practice.

  “We’re fighting Vampirates now,” Cheng Li said, as if reading his thoughts. “We’ll need new weaponry, and we’ll need to research weapons and attack strategy.”

  “Agreed,” nodded Black. “Our thoughts are as one, Captain Li. I can see you are indeed the right captain for this job.” He smiled at last. “You mentioned research just now. We can help you there.” He moved to the other side of the desk. Opening a drawer, he took out a mosaic octagon and passed it across to Cheng Li.

  “This puzzle is the key to a hidden cache that contains several secret files containing our research to date on the Vampirates. I think you, in particular, will find it quite enlightening,” he said, grinning at Cheng Li. “It’s hidden beneath the floor of the Rotunda.”

  Cheng Li nodded, turning the strange mosaic octagon over in her fingers. “To think the cache was here under our noses all this time!” She looked up at Ahab Black. “So the Federation has been keeping tabs on the Vampirates over a number of years?” she asked, her interest clear.

  “Affirmative. As I said, we’ve had them in our sights for a good while now. And we’ve all jogged along just fine. But now they’ve crossed a line. It’s time to remind them who rules the ocean.”

  Connor felt sick. He had to say something. “Wait!” he began. It came out stronger than he had intended and succeeded in capturing both officers’ attention.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful to either of you. But I’ve had some contact with the Vampirates.”

  “Yes,” said Black. “That’s why I called you in. You led the attack before. Quite the hero, according to my sources. You burned their ship and took them out.”

  “It wasn’t as simple as that,” Connor said. “We destroyed some of them. But not all. The main one, Sidorio, survived.”

  “That’s okay,” Black said. “Call it a teething problem. A learning parabola. But we’re expecting a one hundred percent hit rate from this point on.”

  “Even if we are able to find ways—” Connor began.

  “You’ll find ways,” Black said. “I have no doubt about that.”

  “Even so,” Connor persisted, “not all the Vampirates are so brutal. There’s a breakaway crew, yes. But they’re the exception to the rule. The others, well, you said it yourself, you’ve shared the seas with them for a good while.” He was sweating, all too aware of how high the stakes were. He thought of Grace, not knowing exactly where she was but certain she was with the Vampirates. And he thought of the Vampirate captain, of their meeting that time at Ma Kettle’s, when he had told Connor to attack the rebel Vampirates with fire. It had worked. Perhaps not a hundred percent, but it had worked. And he remembered something else. The strange sensation he’d had when shaking the captain’s hand: that somehow he had held that hand before; that on some level he, too, had a connection to the Vampirates.

  Ahab Black’s voice pulled him back into the present. “I hear what you’re saying, Tempest, but as I told you before, we’ve changed our policy. The Federation has decided.”

  “Here’s the thing,” Connor tried one last time. “Not all Vampirates are bad Vampirates.” The words surprised him. So Grace had gotten through to him. He could hardly believe it, but now he knew she had been right. Not that the Pirate Federation was likely to agree with either of them.

  “You’d better keep those kinds of thoughts to yourself, my friend,” snarled Black. “In fact, you had better eradicate those very thoughts from your mind. You’re a young pirate who’s been handed an important mission. And while you’re in the pay of the Pirate Federation, as far as you’re concerned the only good Vampirate is a dead Vampirate. They must all be eliminated, starting with the guy at the top of the pack, the one who assassinated John Kuo and the students, your fellow students, here at the academy.”

  Connor could have argued that he had never really been a student at the academy, but he could see there was no point in doing so. As Black had noted, he was a young pirate who had already, against all odds, been released from one captain’s command. Now here he was at the beginning of a fresh employment—one that he had vigorously sought—being given a mission from the Pirate Federation it
self. He ought to be filled with pride and excitement. Instead, he felt sick to the core. There must be a way through this, he thought. What if he helped Cheng Li implement the Federation’s mission and got rid of the rebel Vampirates? That would buy him more time—and the influence to persuade the Federation that there were good Vampirates, like the captain and Lorcan Furey. Yes, and it would also give him time to persuade Grace that she had to make a break with the Vampirates once and for all. He could make this work. All he needed was time.

  “I have a question for you,” Commodore Black said. He was looking at Connor now, not at Cheng Li. “Do you know which Vampirate killed John and the students, here at the Pirate Academy?”

  “I think so,” Connor answered. “I’d say Sidorio. None of the others—well, I’m sure it was Sidorio.”

  “Good,” said Black. “Then you have your first target. Take out this Sidorio guy, and we’ll proceed from there.”

  “We won’t let you down,” Cheng Li said, keen to reassert her own role in the mission.

  “I should think not, Captain Li. Let us know what you need, and we’ll get it to you.”

  “And I’ll contact you here or at Federation HQ?”

  Black cracked another grin. “We’ll stay in regular touch, Captain Li. Have no fear on that score. This is too important to the Federation to play things any other way. Succeed in this mission, and your meteoric rise is guaranteed. Fail and—well, failure isn’t really an option.”

  “Failure isn’t a word in my vocabulary,” said Cheng Li with a smile.

  Saying nothing, Ahab Black walked over to the window, once more turning his back and broad shoulders on them. Connor and Cheng Li stayed seated in their chairs, unsure what to do next. At last, Black looked back at them over his shoulder and scratched his goatee with mild irritation. “What are you two still doing here?” he inquired. “This meeting is over.”

  23

  LADY LOLA’S BLOODBATH

  It was a matter of routine that the guard changed on the hour aboard the Vagabond, and so it was that, at twelve o’clock sharp, Marianne and Angelika emerged onto the upper deck to assume their watch. They exchanged only the merest of pleasantries with Jessamy and Camille before the other two, relieved of their lanterns and their duties, went back below.

  “Port or starboard?” Marianne asked her crewmate.

  Angelika pondered for a moment. “You take port, I’ll take starboard.”

  Marianne nodded and began moving to the left of the vessel. Meanwhile, Angelika walked to the right. Their lanterns swayed in the breeze like fireflies.

  “Angelika!” Her comrade’s sudden, piercing cry made Angelika turn instantly and retrace her steps. She was just in time to see a large, well-built man propel himself up and over the guardrail of the ship. He landed on the deck with a thud. Though he must surely have come out of the water, his clothes and close-cropped hair were bone-dry.

  “Halt, stranger!” cried Marianne. Her lantern illuminated the man’s broad grin and twin gold incisors. “Who are you? Where have you come from?”

  “Cut the performance,” he said. “You know very well I’m Sidorio, king of the Vampirates. Now take me to your captain.”

  Marianne and Angelika exchanged a look, then turned back to the intruder.

  “You can’t see the captain now,” Marianne said. “She’s otherwise engaged.”

  Sidorio shrugged. “I’ll wait,” he said.

  Angelika frowned. “She gave us very clear instructions. She’s not expecting you, is she?”

  Sidorio grinned. “Just because she isn’t expecting me doesn’t mean she won’t want to see me,” he said.

  “It’s a little early for social calls,” said Marianne politely but firmly. “Perhaps you’d care to leave a calling card, and we’ll pass on your message.”

  Deciding not to waste any more time, Sidorio simply pushed past them and strode toward the stairs.

  “Outrageous!” complained Marianne.

  “Come back!” cried Angelika.

  But Sidorio did not heed their words. Instead, he descended belowdecks and proceeded along the corridor, pushing open doors and eliciting shocked and anxious cries from within. Members of Lady Lockwood’s crew pushed their heads out into the hallway inquiringly.

  “What’s going on?” cried one.

  “Who is he?” shouted another. As a rule, men were forbidden aboard the Vagabond.

  “His name’s Sidorio,” Marianne shouted as she ran after him.

  “Says he’s here to see the captain,” added Angelika.

  At this, a loud voice as sharp as crystal rang through the air. “Who says he’s here to see me?”

  Marianne and Angelika opened their mouths simultaneously, but it was a deeper voice that sang through the air in response.

  “Sidorio, king of the Vampirates!”

  At last he stopped walking, coming to a halt before a pair of gilded doors at the end of the corridor.

  From behind the doors came a loud laugh. “What a lovely surprise! Welcome to the Vagabond, Sidorio! Just one moment. I’m a little unprepared.”

  The voice kept Sidorio rooted to the spot, giving Marianne and Angelika the chance to finally catch up to him. After a minute or so had passed, the double doors opened.

  “Come in!” called Lady Lockwood from inside.

  Sidorio stepped into the dark cabin, his nose wrinkling at the heady scent within. There was no lamplight inside, only candles—hundreds of candles. They smelled like flowers. It wasn’t a smell he was accustomed to or particularly cared for.

  “I’m so sorry, Captain,” said Angelika, following in Sidorio’s wake.

  “We tried to detain him,” Marianne added. “But he was very insistent.”

  “It’s quite all right,” Lady Lockwood said, stepping out from the darkness. “I’ll take it from here.” She smiled at her deputies, then directed her focus solely toward the stranger. “Sidorio,” she said, lifting her hand. “You lived up to your word. We meet again!”

  “Yes,” he said. “I came to thank you for your little gifts. I take it you are the Black Heart Winery?”

  “One and the same,” Lady Lockwood said. “Won’t you come inside? Its a little chilly out there in the corridor.”

  It was then that Sidorio noticed that Lady Lockwood was dressed only in a silk robe. Sensing his unease, she smiled. “You must forgive my déshabillé, sir. I wasn’t expecting company, and you arrived at my bathing hour.”

  She gestured to the tub in the corner of the room. It was filled with rose-colored water—or surely not water. Once more, Sidorio wrinkled his nose. A familiar scent cut through the floral aroma of the burning candles.

  “Yes.” Lady Lockwood nodded. “It’s blood. I bathe in it every night. How else do you think I’ve kept such a rosy complexion all this time?” She placed a hand on his arm. “But for heaven’s sake, don’t tell anyone. A girl has to have one or two secrets up her sleeve!”

  Sidorio smiled awkwardly. “The, um, wine, was very tasty,” he said, a little flummoxed now.

  “That’s right! I sent you a few bottles of our recent vintages, didn’t I? I thought you might enjoy them after our little run-in.” She smiled once more. “Well, let’s not stand on ceremony. Won’t you sit down?”

  She reached out her hand and led him to a pair of silver chairs rather like thrones. As he sat down, she took a crystal decanter and poured from it into two crystal goblets. She set one on the table in front of Sidorio, then took the other in her own delicate hand.

  “We should make a toast, don’t you think?” she said.

  Sidorio shrugged, sniffing the liquid she had given him.

  “Don’t worry, sir. This is one of our better blends. Young and fruity. Now, what shall we toast to? To friendship? No, that’s a little bland under the circumstances. To greatness? No, I think that we already have that covered, don’t you? Oh, I know!” She lifted her goblet until it met his. “To eternity!”

  She took a sip from her glas
s.

  “To eternity,” Sidorio mumbled. He took the goblet and drained its contents. He licked his lips.

  “My, my,” smiled Lady Lockwood. “Thirsty boy! Well, there’s more where that came from, but you might want to savor the taste a little longer this time.” She took the decanter and refilled his glass.

  “Would you care for a sweetmeat?” She presented Sidorio with a platter of what looked like small globs of dark red jelly, dusted with sugar crystals.

  “I’m a vampire,” he said, somewhat unnecessarily under the circumstances. “I have no need for food.”

  “It’s not a question of need, sir. These are just treats. And we all need a treat every now and then. Try one. I assure you they are quite delicious.”

  Rather gingerly, Sidorio took one of the jellies in his fingers and dropped it into his mouth.

  “You like?” asked Lady Lockwood, arching an eyebrow.

  He nodded, already reaching out for a second.

  “Yes, do have another,” she said. “In my experience, one blood jelly is never enough.” She giggled, then added almost casually, “Have you heard the latest news on the grapevine? The slaughter of the headmaster and his little pirates at Pirate Academy? A terrible business.”

  Realization dawned as Sidorio reached for another jelly. “You killed them, didn’t you?”

  Lady Lola laughed and raised her palms. “Guilty as charged. What can I tell you? I was a little bored. Frankly, I’m a danger to myself when I’m bored—and to everyone else around me.” She smiled brightly at Sidorio. “But now the Pirate Federation is all hot under the collar, and I fear they’re fingering you as the villain. Rumor has it they’re building an elite force of bounty hunters to come and seek you out.”

  “Let them try!”

  “That’s the spirit!” Lady Lockwood said. “Well, I’m delighted to hear that you’re taking this in your stride. It’s very sporting of you, I must say.”

  “Sporting?” Sidorio looked puzzled.