Vampirates 5: Empire of Night by Justin Somper
Authors: Justin Somper
Tags: Fiction, General, Action & Adventure, Horror, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Brothers and sisters, Twins, Vampires, Horror & Ghost Stories, Pirates, Seafaring life
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include attempted murder."
"Let's not beat around the bush," Stukeley said. "What is your price?"
Lola refilled her glass, drawing out the moment. "It's very simple," she said at last. "Like I say, my husband doesn't know what you arranged for me, and I have no intention of telling him. Just as long as you do exactly what I say."
Johnny finally mustered the courage to speak. "Exactly as you say?"
"Yes, Johnny, dear," Lola said. "Oh, don't look so worried! I'm not going to command you to set fire to yourself or anything extreme like that." She shook her head. "I just have a few bits and pieces--a few matters of ship's business--with which I could use a helping hand from two talented young Vampirates such as your good selves."
69
"You have plenty of crew already," Stukeley said. "Why do you need us? Ask what's-her-name... Zofia."
"I need you two boys for a special mission," Lola said. Safe in the knowledge that she had their full attention, she rose and walked across the room to a small bureau. On it was a silver platter, and on this were two envelopes. She picked up the envelopes and passed the first to Johnny and the second to Stukeley.
The lieutenants glanced down at Sidorio's distinctive handwriting.
"Grace," Johnny read.
"Connor," read Stukeley.
"Invitations," Lola said. "Your first job will be to deliver them by hand." She sipped her drink. "Your second job is to ensure that both invitations are accepted."
"We can't force them to come with us," Johnny said.
"Now, Johnny," said Lola, smiling broadly. "I've heard you can be very persuasive. You too, Stukeley."
"So we go to their ships, give them their invitations, and bring them back with us?" Stukeley said.
"Quick on the draw as ever," said Lola, miming the trigger release of a gun with her fingers.
"I don't know about this," Johnny said.
"Don't you see, Johnny," Stukeley answered, turning the envelope over in his hands. "We don't have a choice. She's outsmarted us."
Lola reached out her hand and laid it on Stukeley's shoulder. "Now, now," she said. "There's always a choice.
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Just like there's always a price. You just have to weigh up your odds."
"You mean if Sidorio finds out we tried to kill you."
"If Sidorio finds out you plotted to spoil the happiest night of his life and take away from him the very thing he holds most dear." Her eyes sparkled. "Me!" Laughing, she snatched up their glasses. "I think that's enough Tiffin for one night, boys." She set the glasses on the tray and began pushing them toward the door. "What's that old saying? Fish and visitors stink after three days. In your case, I'm afraid the stink has come a little sooner. Good night!" With that, she pushed them out into the corridor and closed the door firmly behind her.
Hearing their receding footsteps, she returned to the center of the room, lifted the decanter, and refilled her glass. She had earned another drink, and there was nothing better to soothe her frazzled nerves than a nice glass of Commodore Kuo. What a shame this was the last bottle of that rare and pungent vintage.
It was high time she restocked the cellars.
71
7 WORSE THAN DEAD
"We are gathered here tonight to bid farewell to two members of our crew." Cheng Li's eyes sparkled in the candlelight as she gazed across the dim tavern at the subjects of her speech. They stood arm in arm beside the bar, surrounded by crewmates who had quickly become good friends. "Cate, Bart, we are all exceedingly grateful for your crucial input into Operation Black Heart. It was a complete success, and our work has been recognized by the Pirate Federation as one of the single most important missions in Federation history."
At her words, there was an enthusiastic burst of applause from the roomful of pirates.
Cheng Li nodded, waiting for the noise to subside before continuing. "Speaking personally, it has been wonderful to have you both as colleagues once again. I
72
only wish your stay aboard The Tiger could have been longer."
"Let's not beat around the bush," Stukeley said. "What is your price?"
Lola refilled her glass, drawing out the moment. "It's very simple," she said at last. "Like I say, my husband doesn't know what you arranged for me, and I have no intention of telling him. Just as long as you do exactly what I say."
Johnny finally mustered the courage to speak. "Exactly as you say?"
"Yes, Johnny, dear," Lola said. "Oh, don't look so worried! I'm not going to command you to set fire to yourself or anything extreme like that." She shook her head. "I just have a few bits and pieces--a few matters of ship's business--with which I could use a helping hand from two talented young Vampirates such as your good selves."
69
"You have plenty of crew already," Stukeley said. "Why do you need us? Ask what's-her-name... Zofia."
"I need you two boys for a special mission," Lola said. Safe in the knowledge that she had their full attention, she rose and walked across the room to a small bureau. On it was a silver platter, and on this were two envelopes. She picked up the envelopes and passed the first to Johnny and the second to Stukeley.
The lieutenants glanced down at Sidorio's distinctive handwriting.
"Grace," Johnny read.
"Connor," read Stukeley.
"Invitations," Lola said. "Your first job will be to deliver them by hand." She sipped her drink. "Your second job is to ensure that both invitations are accepted."
"We can't force them to come with us," Johnny said.
"Now, Johnny," said Lola, smiling broadly. "I've heard you can be very persuasive. You too, Stukeley."
"So we go to their ships, give them their invitations, and bring them back with us?" Stukeley said.
"Quick on the draw as ever," said Lola, miming the trigger release of a gun with her fingers.
"I don't know about this," Johnny said.
"Don't you see, Johnny," Stukeley answered, turning the envelope over in his hands. "We don't have a choice. She's outsmarted us."
Lola reached out her hand and laid it on Stukeley's shoulder. "Now, now," she said. "There's always a choice.
70
Just like there's always a price. You just have to weigh up your odds."
"You mean if Sidorio finds out we tried to kill you."
"If Sidorio finds out you plotted to spoil the happiest night of his life and take away from him the very thing he holds most dear." Her eyes sparkled. "Me!" Laughing, she snatched up their glasses. "I think that's enough Tiffin for one night, boys." She set the glasses on the tray and began pushing them toward the door. "What's that old saying? Fish and visitors stink after three days. In your case, I'm afraid the stink has come a little sooner. Good night!" With that, she pushed them out into the corridor and closed the door firmly behind her.
Hearing their receding footsteps, she returned to the center of the room, lifted the decanter, and refilled her glass. She had earned another drink, and there was nothing better to soothe her frazzled nerves than a nice glass of Commodore Kuo. What a shame this was the last bottle of that rare and pungent vintage.
It was high time she restocked the cellars.
71
7 WORSE THAN DEAD
"We are gathered here tonight to bid farewell to two members of our crew." Cheng Li's eyes sparkled in the candlelight as she gazed across the dim tavern at the subjects of her speech. They stood arm in arm beside the bar, surrounded by crewmates who had quickly become good friends. "Cate, Bart, we are all exceedingly grateful for your crucial input into Operation Black Heart. It was a complete success, and our work has been recognized by the Pirate Federation as one of the single most important missions in Federation history."
At her words, there was an enthusiastic burst of applause from the roomful of pirates.
Cheng Li nodded, waiting for the noise to subside before continuing. "Speaking personally, it has been wonderful to have you both as colleagues once again. I
72
only wish your stay aboard The Tiger could have been longer."
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