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  Molucco didn't miss a beat. "If Black Heart herself has

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  not been eliminated then, de facto , Operation Black Heart was zero percent successful."

  He smirked at Cheng Li's obvious discomfort, but suddenly an unlikely voice came to Cheng Li's rescue. Barbarro Wrathe boomed from across the table. "Let Captain Li have her say, brother!"

  Cheng Li nodded toward Barbarro. "The fact is, the Vampirates have certain capabilities that we are only just beginning to understand. I might add that in the past weeks and months, my crew and I have gotten further than any Federation inquiry has previously managed. Our knowledge and experience now outstrips the secret collection in room eight, compiled by countless Federation officers over many years. And I should like to acknowledge here Cate Morgan, who was nothing less than brilliant in devising a revolutionary attack strategy with which to fight this new enemy."

  "Hear, hear!" came the voices of several of the captains.

  Cheng Li paused before continuing, her eyes taking in all of her comrades. "We have to face facts. The Vampirates are no regular adversary. It was unwise of us to think we could simply swing in and defeat them in one fell swoop. In short, we need to stop thinking about one decisive battle and prepare instead for a period of prolonged war."

  "I don't like the sound of that," said Wilfred Avery.

  "Nor I," said Shivaji Singh. "Wars are expensive."

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  "Hear, hear!" added Floris van Amstel.

  "None of us likes this," piped up Captain Larsen. "But we turned a blind eye to the threat from the Vampirates over a number of years, which led to this state of affairs."

  "That's not quite right," Lisabeth Quivers intervened. "The Vampirates posed no obvious threat until recently."

  "Yes," agreed Francisco Moscardo. "Unless you are suggesting we eliminated the threat before it happened, I don't see what we were supposed to have done."

  "That doesn't make sense!" objected Apostolos Solomos.

  "My point precisely!" countered Moscardo.

  "Cheng Li is right," said Pavel Platonov. "We need to step up to the new order of things."

  "Agreed." Ahab Black spoke with calm authority, drawing the captains back to order. "Captain Li, you spoke before of bad news and good. Presumably, your revelation that Lockwood is alive is the bad news?"

  Cheng Li nodded.

  "That being the case, shall we move on to the good?"

  Connor watched Cheng Li take center stage once more. "I said before that the Vampirates are a different kind of enemy. They have certain capabilities that we have underestimated. For instance, in Lockwood's case, her ability to repair herself after decapitation. However , we also know now that this enemy exhibits key weaknesses. Chief among them being, if I may be so blunt, stupidity."

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  There was an uproar of voices following Cheng Li's remarks. Black raised his palm to silence the room once more. "Stupidity?" he said. "Please explain."

  "The Vampirates are quite gullible," Cheng Li said. "Susceptible to stories a mortal enemy would see through in an instant. For instance, you mentioned Sidorio before, self-styled King of the renegade Vampirates. Well, we have managed to convince him that Connor is his son."

  Connor was shocked to his core. She couldn't be saying this. He must have dozed off and was dreaming.

  "I'm not joking," Cheng Li continued. "We have convinced Sidorio that he has two children--Connor and his sister, Grace. I can fill you in further on the details later." Her eyes swept across the captains' faces. "We'll also need to discuss some key staffing issues. For instance, I'm going to need Cate Morgan and Bart Pearce back on my crew on a more permanent basis." As Molucco opened his mouth to object, Cheng Li powered on. "The important thing for you all to understand is that Sidorio completely believes our cover story and has invited Connor and Grace to stay with him and Lola Lockwood. This, I'm sure you'll agree, gives us an incredible opportunity to send a spy into the very heart of the enemy camp."

  "Wouldn't that be sending Connor into terrible danger?" asked Lisabeth Quivers.

  "Connor has proven his courage on more than one occasion," Cheng Li plowed on. "And as long as Sidorio is convinced that Connor is indeed his son, he will be in no

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  danger at all." She reached into her satchel and withdrew an envelope.

  Connor couldn't believe it. He didn't remember giving the invitation to her, though it was possible. His mind and emotions had been all over the place earlier in the day.

  "Exhibit A," announced Cheng Li, opening the letter and tossing it triumphantly on the table. "Read it. I think you'll agree it changes everything."

  Molucco shook his head. "It doesn't change the fact that Operation Black Heart failed. You're not having Cate and Bart back again. They belong to me."

  "Oh, hush!" Trofie snapped at her brother-in-law, darting out her golden hand and snatching up Sidorio's letter. "This is indeed a remarkable opportunity to spy on the Vampirates and gather more intelligence from which to plan their final destruction." She turned to Cheng Li. "This is yet more excellent, innovative work, Captain Li."

  "I agree," Black said. "You have snatched a greater victory from the jaws of an understandable defeat. The Federation will give you the team you request and whatever else you need to proceed. The way forward is clear. Connor accepts Sidorio's invitation and finds out every last thing he can about how their operation works."

  Connor could feel the eyes of the captains upon him. He couldn't believe the position Cheng Li had placed him in. He was eager to see how she justified this move. But,

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  as he turned to her questioningly, he heard her earlier words once more.

  "Make no mistake, if you are on my side in this mission, then I expect you to do everything I ask of you."

  He shook his head. He really should have seen this one coming.

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  14 NEWS OF THE CAPTAIN

  Grace lay on her bed, turning the envelope containing Sidorio and Lola's invitation over and over in her hands. Her head was a jumble of thoughts and feelings in reaction to the invitation and all it represented, which, combined with the surprise visits from Johnny and Lola Lockwood, had meant a sleepless night and day. As if she didn't already have enough on her mind after what had happened on the night of the Feast!

  Grace still hadn't had the chance to talk properly to Lorcan about her spontaneous decision to join him in Oskar's cabin, nor her equally abrupt exit. She realized that she also needed to talk to Mosh Zu about her growing hunger. So much had happened in such a short space of time, it was hard to know where to start.

  There was a knock on the door. "Come in!" Grace cried,

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  slipping the envelope between the pages of her notebook and reaching for a pen, as Darcy pushed open the door and stepped inside.

  "Hello, Grace," Darcy said, buzzing with nervous energy. "Oh, I'm sorry! I hope I'm not interrupting your writing."

  Grace shook her head, feeling a little guilty at her charade. She closed the notebook and placed it and the pen back on her nightstand.

  Darcy closed the door behind her and swept into the room with characteristic drama. "I've been sorting through some of my old jewelry boxes--you know what a magpie I am--and I found these." She extended her right arm toward Grace's face, her hand clenched in an upturned fist. As she opened her fingers, Grace gasped. Lying there in Darcy's doll-like palm was the most stunning pair of aquamarine drop earrings. They seemed to contain an infinite depth and variety of blues and greens, as if they had been distilled from the ocean waters themselves.

  "They're a little too classic for me," Darcy said. "But the minute I saw them, Grace, I thought of you. Now, lift up your hair and let's see how they look!"

  "They're beautiful!" Grace exclaimed, obediently lifting her hair. She realized she had let it grow quite long of late. Darcy fastened the earrings for her, and Grace let her hair fall down again behind her ears.


  "Perfection!" proclaimed Darcy with a smile. "Stand up and have a look in the mirror!"

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  Grace approached the mirror. She felt a momentary jolt. It was as if her mother was looking back at her. She had never looked so grown-up before. Behind her, Darcy smiled and lifted a hand to Grace's shoulder. "The earrings are pretty, Grace, but you are beautiful," she said. "No wonder Lorcan has fallen so hard for you."

  Grace couldn't hold back the solitary tear that slid across her cheek.

  "Grace, darling. Why are you crying?" Darcy asked, busily searching for a handkerchief.

  "I'm sorry," Grace said as fresh tears coursed down her cheeks. "I'm trying really hard not to get emotional, but there's an awful lot going on at the moment."

  "There, there!" Darcy dabbed away the remnants of Grace's tears. "Why don't you sit down and tell Auntie Darcy all about it?"

  "Auntie?" Grace said, laughing through her tears and lying back down on the bed. "You're a bit young to be my auntie! I mean you look too young. Oh, you know what I mean...."

  "I'm laying it on a bit thick, aren't I?" Darcy said, lying down beside Grace. "I'll level with you, pal. I know something's going on with you. The earrings were..."

  "A pretext?" Grace asked, amused.

  "A Trojan horse, if you like," Darcy said. "I just wanted to make sure everything was okay, and jewelry seemed a good way in."

  "Oh, Darcy," Grace said. "You didn't need jewelry,

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  though I do love the earrings, so don't even think about taking them back! But you're my friend. In fact, you're more like the sister I never had."

  "Oh, Grace!" Darcy said, raising the hankie to her own eyes. "That's the nicest thing... just the nicest thing."

  Grace smiled. Darcy's arrival was a blessing. She could talk things through with her and get a better idea of how to approach both Lorcan and Mosh Zu. Darcy had proved an excellent sounding board in the past.

  "Well?" Darcy said, her chocolate-brown eyes wide open and her bow-shaped mouth pursed. "I think it's about time I heard what's on your mind, don't you?"

  Grace opened her mouth to speak, but she was silenced by another knock on the door. Before she could say anything further, Lorcan strode into the cabin.

  "Aha!" he said with a smile. "Two for the price of one!"

  "Lorcan," Grace said. "Come on in. Darcy and I were just having a chat."

  "That's right," Darcy mumbled, sitting up straight and unruffling her hair. "Just a little chat. Nothing important. Nothing that can't wait until later." She began tapping her fingers on the bedspread, in a display of feigned, or indeed strained, patience.

  "I'm sorry to interrupt you, ladies," Lorcan said. "But I need you both to come with me. Mosh Zu wishes to see all three of us at once."

  "What for?" Grace asked, sliding off the bed.

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  Lorcan looked them both in the eye and spoke in measured tones. "I don't know any details except that it concerns the captain."

  "The captain!" Grace's heart missed a beat. Her first thought at hearing his name was excitement. But then she felt fear. It had been some time since Mosh Zu had shared any news about the captain. Her mind was racing now, and she saw that Darcy was trembling. Grace reached out her hand once more to her friend.

  "Now, Darcy, don't look so worried," Lorcan said. "You too, Grace. It could very well be good news."

  Darcy's voice was strained. "Mosh Zu wants to see the three of us--the last three people who saw the captain at Sanctuary." She shook her head. "Oh, don't you see? It can't be good news. It just can't..."

  "Darcy!" Grace pressed her friend's hand tightly. "Keep calm. Please. Mosh Zu needs us to be strong. The captain does, too." She drew Darcy into a hug, wrapping her arms around her. "Oh, Darcy, I know how much the captain means to you. He means so much to us all. But we have to go on together--no matter what Mosh Zu has to tell us."

  Lorcan nodded. "She's right, Darcy. We're in this together, and we'll get through it together." He turned to Grace. "I think we should go now. We'll only fill our heads with needless fears if we drag our heels here."

  Grace nodded. In spite of the brave face she was showing to the others, cold shivers ran up and down her spine. She was unable to tell whether it was this new worry

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  about the captain or a fresh manifestation of the state of flux within her. As she followed the others out of the room, she glanced over her shoulder at the painting of her parents. As she did so, she heard her dad's voice. "Trust the tide!"

  She nodded, feeling a current of calm cut through her rising panic. Turning, she followed the others out into the corridor.

  Hand in hand, the three of them approached Mosh Zu's cabin--the suite of interlocking rooms that had formerly been inhabited by the nameless captain of The Nocturne . Grace thought back to the first time she had come to this door and sought out the captain, determined to find out just how much danger she was in aboard the ship. It seemed so long ago now--a world away. She had been surprisingly brave then, under the circumstances. If only she felt half as brave now, coming as she was to learn the captain's fate. It would be such a terrible blow to lose him, she reflected. To lose him and never to have even known his name. With these thoughts rushing around her head, Grace wasn't even conscious of Lorcan knocking on the door or Mosh Zu calling for them to enter. Before she knew it, she was inside the cabin, still holding tightly onto the hands of her friends. Mosh Zu stood up to greet his guests.

  "It's good to see you all," he said. His expression was, as usual, impossible to read. "Perhaps you'd like to sit down?"

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  "Well, now we know!" Darcy cried. "It can't be good news. That's what people always say when they have something bad to tell you. Sit down. Have a cup of sweet tea! As if it will somehow cushion the blow!"

  Grace saw her own fear reflected back through Darcy. Turning to Mosh Zu, she saw him smile softly and shake his head. "I just thought you'd like to be comfortable," he said. "We have much to discuss."

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  15 A COUNCIL OF WAR

  "Thank you for coming so swiftly," Mosh Zu said. He remained standing as Grace and Darcy sat down, side by side, on a long couch. Lorcan settled himself in the adjacent chair as Mosh Zu continued. "I can see in your faces how concerned you are for our dear friend, the captain. I know how much he means to you all. So I am very happy to bring you news of him."

  With these words, Grace's fears subsided. Lorcan was glowing with relief. Grace glanced at Darcy, seeing that she too was alert and poised for Mosh Zu to continue.

  "The captain is in the final stages of his recovery," Mosh Zu said. "Very soon, he will begin his journey back to us."

  "Where is he now?" Grace asked, but Mosh Zu raised the palm of his hand to still this and further questions. "The captain and I have been in regular communication

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  these past few nights, and we are agreed that things are coming to a severe pass. We need to take decisive action, and that's why I have gathered the three of you here tonight, our most loyal and trusted crew members."

  Grace felt a deep sense of pride at his words. Tears pricked her eyes once more, this time from relief, but she fought them back and steadied herself. She needed to focus. Clearly, Mosh Zu had important information to share.

  "The world of the Vampirates is changing," Mosh Zu said. "In former times, we kept to ourselves and our presence went generally unnoticed by the mortal world. We created a sea shanty to strike fear into the hearts of mortals and persuade them to keep their distance. But, at the same time, we never sought to harm them."

  Grace thought of the shanty her dad had sung to her and Connor throughout their childhood.

  You'd better be good, child,

  Good as gold,

  As good as good can be.

  Else I'll turn you into the Vampirates

  And wave you out to sea!

  Yes, you'd better be good, child,

  Good as gold,

 
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  Because--look, can you see?

  There's a dark ship in the harbor tonight

  And there's room in the hold for thee.

  Plenty of room for thee!

  So the familiar shanty had been penned by the Vampirates themselves! Grace's head was filled with the comical image of Mosh Zu at the piano, working away at the tune while the captain scribbled down lyrics. She smiled to think of it, then dismissed this highly inappropriate thought as Mosh Zu resumed speaking.

  " The Nocturne provided a refuge for vampire outsiders--those who did not fit in with conventional vampire society, based as it is on a mania for blood. In the beginning, there were other ships besides The Nocturne . This is a subject for another time. For now, my point is this. These ships sailed through eternity, providing safe harbor at last to those vampires oppressed, persecuted, and experiencing the very worst of times since crossing over from mortality into the vampire realm."

  Lorcan nodded in recognition at this.

  "The same was true at Sanctuary, where I have worked for many centuries now, helping vampires to understand their appetites and, if not control them, then at least break through the feeling that they are being controlled by them. I have prepared crew members there, both Vam

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  pirates and donors, prior to them joining these ships." Mosh Zu's eyes ranged across the three members of his audience. "But now things are changing--and fast."

  "Sidorio," Grace said. "And his new empire. The empire of night."

  Lorcan glanced curiously at her. She wasn't ready to meet his eyes and turned back to Mosh Zu, who nodded. "It all began to change when Sidorio rebelled against the captain and went into exile. We hoped that would be the end of him, but it wasn't. We underestimated him. In his time of exile, he has only grown stronger."