Vampirates 5: Empire of Night by Justin Somper Page A
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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A wry smile played on her lips. "I don't suppose if I stand another round of drinks, you might reconsider?"
Over the ripple of laughter, Cate called back. "As much as I like it here, if you want to extend our contract, you'll have to speak to Molucco!"
Cheng Li's nose wrinkled, as if assaulted by a particularly noxious smell, at the mention of her fellow captain's name. "Yes, well," she pushed on, somewhat flustered, "that's all I had to say... except to wish you both well. Oh, yes! And also..." She paused, gaining her composure once more. "To raise a toast to the rest of you." She lifted her tankard. "To the crew of The Tiger --the most kick-ass bunch of pirates on the ocean!"
As the crew roared its approval with shouts, whoops, stomps, and fresh applause, Bart leaned closer to Cate. "Did she actually say kick-ass?"
Cate nodded, smiling. "I fear Jacoby's patois is rubbing off on her."
Cheng Li waved at the pair and began moving briskly through the crowd.
"Thank you both for everything," she said, arriving at their side. "I truly wish I could persuade you to stay on a more permanent basis. We may have successfully eliminated Lady Lockwood, but our larger mission regarding the Vampirates is only just beginning."
Bart nodded. "I think I speak for us both when I say that we've enjoyed working with you again. You were
73
born to be a captain, Cheng Li. But like Cate said before, the terms of our loan were for a specific mission--Operation Black Heart. If you want to discuss extending our contract, you'll have to go back to..."
"Molucco!" Cheng Li said sharply, as if keen to get the name out of the way as quickly as possible. "Yes, well, perhaps I shall."
Cate reached out her hand to Cheng Li's shoulder. She smiled softly at the Federation's youngest and most ambitious captain. "Thanks for bringing us in on this mission, Cheng Li. I must say, I found the challenge of developing combat techniques against a new kind of adversary quite intriguing." Cate's eyes twinkled. "I'd certainly be open to taking that a stage further, if something could be worked out."
Cheng Li nodded. "I'm delighted to hear that." Her eyes darted across the tavern. "Look, there's Jasmine and Bo Yin, wanting to talk to you. Let's go over, if you can bear to leave your boyfriend for five minutes."
Cate and Bart exchanged a glance. He released her from his embrace.
Cheng Li looped her own arm through Cate's. "You're such an important role model to the next generation of young women pirates, you know. Well, I suppose we both are!"
Before Cheng Li and Cate could move, Jacoby and Connor appeared, their arms laden with foaming mugs. Distributing fresh drinks among the group, Jacoby turned to
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Cheng Li. "Hot diggity, Captain, what is this place? The Full Moon Saloon! Deeply ironic, given the lack of lighting in here. When you said you were taking us out to celebrate, I felt sure we'd be heading back to Ma Kettle's Tavern."
Cheng Li raised her eyes exasperatedly. "Why does everyone act like Ma Kettle's is the only tavern around? Can't we broaden our horizons and try somewhere different for a change?"
Jacoby was unconvinced. "But Captain, Ma Kettle's has such a rich piratical history!"
" Precisely! " Cheng Li said. "It's more like a museum than an inn these days. It's where the old fossils go. It's impossible to have a conversation there without turning around and finding one Wrathe brother or another sticking his beak into your business." She turned to Cate. "No offense."
"None taken," said Cate, stifling a laugh.
Cheng Li had one further pearl of wisdom for her deputy. "We're the new wave of pirates, Jacoby. We don't follow tradition. We make our own way!"
With that, she propelled Cate forward toward Jasmine and Bo Yin.
Once the women were out of earshot, Bart grinned at Jacoby. "Face it, buddy, the only reason you're angling for Ma's is because you're hoping for a sight of the delicious Sugar Pie."
Connor grinned at the mention of Ma
Over the ripple of laughter, Cate called back. "As much as I like it here, if you want to extend our contract, you'll have to speak to Molucco!"
Cheng Li's nose wrinkled, as if assaulted by a particularly noxious smell, at the mention of her fellow captain's name. "Yes, well," she pushed on, somewhat flustered, "that's all I had to say... except to wish you both well. Oh, yes! And also..." She paused, gaining her composure once more. "To raise a toast to the rest of you." She lifted her tankard. "To the crew of The Tiger --the most kick-ass bunch of pirates on the ocean!"
As the crew roared its approval with shouts, whoops, stomps, and fresh applause, Bart leaned closer to Cate. "Did she actually say kick-ass?"
Cate nodded, smiling. "I fear Jacoby's patois is rubbing off on her."
Cheng Li waved at the pair and began moving briskly through the crowd.
"Thank you both for everything," she said, arriving at their side. "I truly wish I could persuade you to stay on a more permanent basis. We may have successfully eliminated Lady Lockwood, but our larger mission regarding the Vampirates is only just beginning."
Bart nodded. "I think I speak for us both when I say that we've enjoyed working with you again. You were
73
born to be a captain, Cheng Li. But like Cate said before, the terms of our loan were for a specific mission--Operation Black Heart. If you want to discuss extending our contract, you'll have to go back to..."
"Molucco!" Cheng Li said sharply, as if keen to get the name out of the way as quickly as possible. "Yes, well, perhaps I shall."
Cate reached out her hand to Cheng Li's shoulder. She smiled softly at the Federation's youngest and most ambitious captain. "Thanks for bringing us in on this mission, Cheng Li. I must say, I found the challenge of developing combat techniques against a new kind of adversary quite intriguing." Cate's eyes twinkled. "I'd certainly be open to taking that a stage further, if something could be worked out."
Cheng Li nodded. "I'm delighted to hear that." Her eyes darted across the tavern. "Look, there's Jasmine and Bo Yin, wanting to talk to you. Let's go over, if you can bear to leave your boyfriend for five minutes."
Cate and Bart exchanged a glance. He released her from his embrace.
Cheng Li looped her own arm through Cate's. "You're such an important role model to the next generation of young women pirates, you know. Well, I suppose we both are!"
Before Cheng Li and Cate could move, Jacoby and Connor appeared, their arms laden with foaming mugs. Distributing fresh drinks among the group, Jacoby turned to
74
Cheng Li. "Hot diggity, Captain, what is this place? The Full Moon Saloon! Deeply ironic, given the lack of lighting in here. When you said you were taking us out to celebrate, I felt sure we'd be heading back to Ma Kettle's Tavern."
Cheng Li raised her eyes exasperatedly. "Why does everyone act like Ma Kettle's is the only tavern around? Can't we broaden our horizons and try somewhere different for a change?"
Jacoby was unconvinced. "But Captain, Ma Kettle's has such a rich piratical history!"
" Precisely! " Cheng Li said. "It's more like a museum than an inn these days. It's where the old fossils go. It's impossible to have a conversation there without turning around and finding one Wrathe brother or another sticking his beak into your business." She turned to Cate. "No offense."
"None taken," said Cate, stifling a laugh.
Cheng Li had one further pearl of wisdom for her deputy. "We're the new wave of pirates, Jacoby. We don't follow tradition. We make our own way!"
With that, she propelled Cate forward toward Jasmine and Bo Yin.
Once the women were out of earshot, Bart grinned at Jacoby. "Face it, buddy, the only reason you're angling for Ma's is because you're hoping for a sight of the delicious Sugar Pie."
Connor grinned at the mention of Ma
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