floor, unconscious.
She stared at him for a moment, his words ringing in her head.
Wasn’t there? Well, she’d be the judge of that.
“Take a look around you!” Sidorio commanded Obsidian. His neck bore the wounds Obsidian had lately inflicted on him, but the cuts were already beginning to heal. “See your pitiable crew falling to the deck around you. You couldn’t ask for a more perfect symbol of your dwindling power. Your time is over,
“No.” Obsidian shook his head. He had sustained lacerations, but these too were closing up as the enemies circled each other once more.
Sidorio laughed mercilessly. “There’s no sense in denying it when it’s clear as night. I came here with a mission to decimate your crew and I’ve already exceeded that ambition. They’re falling like autumn leaves.” He smiled. “It won’t be long before I’ve sent you and every last member of your crew to oblivion and taken
“Is that what this is about?” Obsidian asked. “Is that what’s behind this war? Your petty need for revenge because I exiled you from this ship?”
Sidorio smiled and shook his head. “No,” he said. “This war is about so much more than that.” He had a sudden vision of Lola and their twin boys as he lifted his sword again. “This war is about who controls the oceans.”
“I never set out to control anything but this ship,” Obsidian said as their swords met. “I tried to provide a refuge for vampires who—”
“Spare me the sermon!” Sidorio cried, his sword clashing against Obsidian’s. “I’ve heard it all before. How you wanted to create a refuge for
“No!” Obsidian shook his head. “It’s true. Whether
“You created a prison ship for lost Vampirates,” Sidorio cried, stalking Obsidian with his sword, pushing him backward. “You and Mosh Zu Kamal intended to keep us in your thrall, to build your own power base and make the rest of us bend to your ridiculous rules. Whoever heard of vampires who don’t drink blood? It’s perverse!”
Obsidian shook his head. “We never cared for power,” he said. “We wanted Vampirates to have a choice—to be able to rise above their base appetites and find ways to make meaningful use of their immortality.”
Sidorio’s mouth twisted into a snarl once more. “You think that hiding yourself away on a ghost ship and restricting yourself to one furtive drink of blood each week is meaningful?” His eyes widened. “You really do think that, don’t you?”
“Tell me,” Obsidian said, his face up close to that of his rival. “What’s
“This!” Sidorio exclaimed. “Claiming new ships, establishing supremacy over the oceans, throwing over this tyranny of pirates we’ve all been living under for as long as we can remember and bringing the oceans under
Obsidian’s eyes met those of his arch foe. They were filled not just with hatred but with a certain sadness, too. “How can you find meaning in so much destruction?” he asked.
Sidorio shrugged, his eyes flashing fire. “Guess we’ll have to agree to disagree, eh? I’ve never been given to lengthy conversations, like you and your kind. Why don’t we just settle this once and for all? And not like wannabe pirates, but like true Vampirates.” So saying, he threw his sword up into the air and leaped at Obsidian, fangs extended.
Lorcan watched in horror as Obsidian was thrown against the deck. He was already lying there himself, the tip of Stukeley’s sword pricking his own neck. Stukeley’s boot bore down on Lorcan’s arm. In his hand, he still gripped his own sword, but it was useless as he found himself unable to counter Stukeley’s greater strength.
His enemy’s sword felt cold against his neck. But there was a deeper coldness flooding Lorcan’s heart and bones. Around him, he could see the potent signs of defeat. And now he could feel the pitiful truth of it spreading within him.
Lorcan felt Stukeley’s boot pressing down again. The pressure was sufficient that, at last, he let go of his sword. Looking up, he saw Stukeley smiling with satisfaction. Lorcan couldn’t bear to look at him. He turned his head and saw Sidorio pinning Obsidian down upon the deck and bearing down, fangs directed at his rival’s neck. How had it come to this? Lorcan’s thoughts turned to Grace. He thought of the moment her blood had flowed into his. He thought, once more, of their fleeting kiss. He had feared that kiss might be their last; it seemed now that it was.
Doubtless, Johnny had found her. Lorcan could only hope that somehow Grace might awaken within herself the power that he and Obsidian had lacked, but he was suddenly filled with doubt. It appeared that they had completely underestimated the powers of their enemy. Maybe it was simply the wheel of fate turning, but, if so, it was a brutal new order that was poised to be ushered in.
He felt a fresh stab of pain in his shoulder and realized that Stukeley was reopening the wound. “Just in case you start repairing yourself,” Stukeley said coldly.
Lorcan stared up at Stukeley’s face. He caught a glimpse of his rival’s brutal sneer, then the Vampirate’s features began to grow distant. It was as if a mist now separated them. Feeling the deepening pain in his shoulder, Lorcan had no doubt as to what now lay ahead. Still he felt a terrible sadness flow through him as the fog thickened around him. He wanted to cry out, for everything he had lost—everything they had all lost—but it seemed that even this form of release would be denied him as the fog of oblivion drew him more completely into its stifling embrace.
38
THE FOUR CARDINALS
Lorcan’s eyes were closed and, for a time, everything was still and silent and peaceful. If this was his final journey, then perhaps it was not nearly as bad as he had feared. Summoning up the courage to open his eyes, he found that he was still encircled in mist, but it was not as thick as before. He could make out the red-stained deck boards around him. Could it be that he was still on the deck of
Glancing up, Lorcan saw something even more curious. Stukeley was still standing above him, but he was
