Vampirates 4: Black Heart Read Free Page A

in her brother's voice. "Come on," she said, reaching out her hand for his.
    Grace felt her own heart beginning to race. She was every bit as anxious as Connor at the thought of what lay ahead.

    3THE QUEEN OF HEARTS

    "So, what does it take to get a drink around here?" Lady Lola Lockwood asked, her amber eyes skimming from Moonshine to Barbarro to Trofie Wrathe.
    The three Wrathes were rendered speechless by the sight before them. Lady Lockwood and her two companions, Marianne and Angelika, were all smiling, revealing three pairs of exceedingly long canine teeth that seemed to get longer and sharper the more you stared at them.
    Moonshine, who had been awed initially by the trio's beauty, found his feelings toward them rapidly changing.
    "We're thirsty," said Marianne, stepping toward him.
    "Um, what ... about ... some ... whiskey?" he faltered, reaching out for the decanter. But Marianne caught his arm and shook her head. "Can't drink whiskey. Doesn't suit my constitution." With that, she snaked her other arm around Moonshine and clutched him tightly to her, her mouth perilously close to his ear.
    "Set him free!" commanded Barbarro. But Marianne seemed not to hear him. Barbarro turned to Lady Lockwood. "You, madam. You're their leader. Tell her to release my son."
    Lady Lockwood smiled and shook her head. "She's just thirsty. And surely it's only courteous to offer a stranger a drink of welcome on a chill night such as this?"
    "A drink of welcome?" Barbarro snarled. "Or a drink of blood?"
    "Now you're talking!" said Angelika, stepping forward and snaking herself around the captain. He raised his arms and sword to defend himself, but he was taken by surprise at her strength. In her clutches, he was frozen, though whether by his own fear or some magic, it was hard to tell. Trofie watched in wonder as Angelika removed the sword from Barbarro's fist as easily as a splinter, and tossed it away out of reach.
    She looked from side to side, to where her son and her husband stood helpless in the clutches of these women, these demons. What should she do? All normal rules of attack and defense seemed to be obsolete. Or were they? Trofie turned to Lady Lockwood. "Perhaps we can make a deal," she began.
    At first, she thought Lady Lockwood might be too caught up in her own blood lust to answer her, but then she spoke. "A deal? What kind of deal?"
    "Whatever it takes," said Trofie. "If it's blood you're after, then I can easily find some crew members for you."
    Lady Lockwood smiled at that. "It's a charming offer, my dear, but blood is rather like wine. When you've supped on superior vintages, you lose your taste for cheap plonk."
    "So," said Trofie, "is that why you came here tonight? To claim the blood of the captain and his family?"
    "My, I'm impressed," said Lady Lockwood. "There aren't many who could voice such a thought without plummeting into hysteria, yet you remain as cool as a glacier. It's clear to see who wears the trousers on this ship."
    "Thank you for the compliment," said Trofie, "but if you simply came with the intent to maim us, then let's not draw this out any longer."
    On either side, Marianne and Angelika nodded at the thought, their grip on their two captives tightening. The fear currently being experienced by Barbarro and Moonshine was all too evident on the faces of both father and son.
    "Wait!" commanded Lady Lockwood. Like well-trained dogs, her two comrades turned at their leader's voice. She held their gaze, then focused once more on Trofie. "You're as beautiful as they say," she said, running a finger over the curve of Trofie's cheekbone. Trofie remained as still as a waxwork at Lady Lockwood's ominous touch.
    "I will make you a deal," Lady Lockwood announced. "I told you before that I like to acquire pretty things. Rare and valuable things."
    As she spoke, her eyes never left Trofie's for a moment. "As thirstFy as I am -- as thirsty as we all are -- I'm sure we could be distracted by a little treasure. What