All story characters, locations etc. belong to Justin Somper.
Cheng-li, Connor and Grace cleared a desk on the other side of their room, and layered it with mapping paper and pencils and compasses.
"OK," Grace nodded, "I don't know where on the island they are, but we need to find out before we go."
"Well," Cheng-li interrupted, "If Mollucco Wrathe is still on his shipping line, he should be passing there tomorrow. I could contact Cate and Bart; they'd survey the island for us."
Grace looked at Cheng-li, impressed; she was actually considering this.
"OK," Grace smiled, "Thanks."
"Even if they do find it, how the hell are we going to get into a prison and come back out with an entire crew of vampires without getting killed in the process?" Connor shrugged, "Three can't pull that off."
"To rescue a crew, we're going to need a crew as well," Grace stated simply, "But who can we take?"
"Well, this is a Pirate Academy, Grace," Cheng-li sighed, "I'm sure we can find some well-able bodies here."
"Jacoby and Jasmine," Connor said immediately, "Especially Jacoby. That Greg guy is pretty OK as well…" He mumbled off into a discussion of his own.
"Well, OK, Connor picks the crew," Grace rolled her eyes, "But we need to get into this prison and out without creating much of a…" Grace trailed off; suddenly realising she was having a brainwave.
Cheng-li saw this and smiled; clearly those battle strategy lessons were coming into use.
"A distraction!" Grace smiled, "We make a distraction with our crew outside, and a small group of about…I don't know, but let's say five, goes in and gets the crew."
"I love it," Cheng-li smiled, but Connor was still mumbling away to himself, "What about this team of five?"
"The Vampirates are going to need someone they recognise to trust, and I suppose that would be me," Grace said slowly, "Then, I'd say, Connor, Bart, Cate and that Jacoby guy."
Cheng-li smiled and nodded, "You see, where would you be without those strategy lessons?"
"Lost," Grace admitted.
"Well, you know, it sounds like a foolproof plan." Cheng-li said, "I think we just might go through with this. You get Connor out of his daydream and I'll contact The Diablo."
Grace and Connor sat anxiously outside Commodore Kuo's office.
Cheng-li had entered the office over two hours ago and still she had not come out. Grace could not imagine if this was a good or bad thing, and nor could Connor.
"How do you know that this thing is real, Grace?" Connor whispered, shattering the silence, "It was only a dream."
"It wasn't a dream, Connor," Grace whispered back, "It was a vision."
"But what if this vision is lying to you, it could be a trap." Connor replied softly, "And I don't want you risking your life for the sake of a dream. Nor do I want you to risk our friends'."
Grace looked Connor sternly in the eye, "There is no trap. You've got to believe me."
"I do, but -"
Before Connor could protest, Cheng-li opened the door and came storming out, her face red and puffy with frustration.
"Connor, Grace, follow me." Cheng-li snapped angrily.
"Not Connor," The Commodore stepped out from his office, his face was equally red and puffy, "You're not going to brainwash one of my finest students with that fanatical plan of yours."
"Fine, Grace, follow me." Cheng-li took her firmly by the arm and dragged her along with her. Connor tried to follow them, but the Commodore wouldn't let him.
"Cheng-li!" Grace stammered, "Ouch! That hurts…please stop!"
Cheng-li was too angry to realise she'd seized Grace's bruised arm. However, she let go without looking back at her and stormed through the peaceful lush gardens of the Academy like a tyrant. Not one student dared to stop her in her path.
They eventually ended up at the docks for the small boats. From there, Cheng-li pointed out to sea where the actual harbour was.
"You see that, Grace?" She stuttered.
"Y-yes," Grace muttered through gritted teeth as she clutched her now swollen wrist.
Cheng-li was pointing to a ship, a sloop, to be precise, anchored in the harbour.
"That, Grace, is La Nuvolletta. That is my ship." She sounded a little calmer as she said it.
NOTE: that is not the real name of her ship; I'm just naming it for the story. As far as I know her ship is nameless.
"Oh," Grace nodded, unsure of what she was supposed to say.
"Grace," Cheng-li turned to her, "If you want to save the vampires, you have to go now. With me, right now."
Grace turned wide eyed, "But Connor doesn't know. I can't just leave him -"
"Write a note," Cheng-li frowned, "But hurry, we don't have time. Go back to your room and pack the things you will need."
Grace didn't want to leave without telling Connor face to face, but as she thought of Lorcan and Darcy imprisoned, she realised she had no choice. If she had to go now, she was going to, regardless of the risks.
"OK." Grace said, "I'll be back in fifteen minutes."
And with that, she turned hot on her heels and ran as fast as she could back to her room.
Through the winding paths that led through the magnificent gardens of fig trees and flowers she fled, passing other students so quickly that barely noticed she was there.
She burst into the room. No signs of Connor.
She let out a sigh of despair as she turned over one of the maps that she, Connor and Cheng-li had looked at the previous day. Then she grabbed a pencil and began to write in her spidery scrawl.
Dear Connor,
I'm sorry to leave in such a hurry, but I don't have a choice.
I have to save Lorcan and Darcy, and I hope you understand. I'm not going to risk your life for the sake of my choice. Good luck for whatever you may need it for,
Your loving sister,
Grace
After writing her letter to Connor, Grace used a compass as a paperweight and rushed off to her bedroom to gather a few things.
She didn't need much, just spare clothes, as her two most precious possessions suspended from her neck on a golden chain: Lorcan's ring and Connor's locket.
She stuffed some clothes into her backpack, and one of her favourite books, The Secret Garden, then ran out of the room and headed back for the docks.
When she arrived at the place she had left Cheng-li, she was no where to be found. Grace figured that she too went to collect a few things, but then she noticed a card strung to a boat that she hadn't noticed before. She went over to it and read it.
GRACE, IF I AM NOT HERE WHEN YOU RETURN, TAKE THIS BOAT AND ROW OUT TO LA NUVOLLETTA. I WILL BE RIGHT BEHIND YOU. DO NOT WAIT FOR ME.
CHENG-LI
After Grace read the print, she instinctively looked around.
No Cheng-li.
Grace slung her bag into the boat, then stepped in, figuring that she had better do as she were told due to the mood Cheng-li was in.
Just as she sat down, Grace realised something: she couldn't row. Her wrist was still swollen from when Cheng-li had yanked on it.
But I can't wait, She thought to herself as she read the card again.
She debated with herself for a moment, and then decided she'd give it a go, and if it was too painful, she'd have to wait.
Grace unmoored the small row boat, and then sat down next to the paddles. They were heavy, dark, teak wooden paddles, matching the boat. Just lifting them made her arm jump back with pain.
She figured she'd have to wait, and floated around in the water of the dock as she did.
Sure enough, Cheng-li came running toward the docks, with a small leather skin jumping about in time with her pace.
Cheng-li's eyes widened in horror as she saw Grace sitting in the boat.
"Grace, paddle!" She cried desperately.
"I can't," Grace replied as Cheng-li jumped from the dock to the boat and landed in the centre of it with precision.
"My wrist's hurt, remember. Why are you in such a hurry?" She inquired as she took over and began paddling furiously.
"There's a gun…" She began, sweat pouring off her face, "There's a gun in my back holster. Take it out. Use it if you have to."
Grace looked at Cheng-li in repulsion, "I am not going to take out your gun, Cheng-li. A sword is one thing but a gun -"
"Do it, Grace!" She yelled as the heavy booming of gunfire exploded the peaceful quiet of the Academy gardens.
Seeing a gleaming metal bullet drive into the water beside them, missing their boat by a metre or so, Grace did as she was told. However, she didn't know how to use a gun, nor did she want to. She gazed back at the docks in complete wonder as the sound of the guns got nearer.
Who would be firing at Cheng-li?
Suddenly, no other than Commodore Kuo and a handful of other teachers burst into view, guns smoking.
Grace's heart missed a beat as the Commodore let out open fire randomly without even looking at his target.
Grace closed her eyes and held her head between her knees, praying that she wouldn't get hit, or Cheng-li.
Time seemed to slow at the moment of gunfire, and Grace feared every sound made, even the faint splosh of the water lapping against the side of the boat.
Suddenly the firing ceased, and for a moment, Grace thought they were reloading, but the sound of a familiar voice relieved her.
"NO! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? THAT'S MY SISTER YOU'RE FIRING AT!" Connor screamed at the top of his lungs.
Grace peeked over the side of the boat, squinting through the smoke.
The familiar figure of Connor waved a large white thing at her, and it took her a moment to realise it was the map she'd written on.
"Good luck, Grace!" Connor called.
"Bye, Connor!" Grace waved back, utterly relieved that he'd come to save the day.
Grace looked forward to Cheng-li, who was still rowing like a madwoman.
"Cheng-li, it's OK, they've stopped firing," Grace reassured her.
"Yes, I know," Cheng-li panted, "I just have to get to my ship."
Grace was baffled at the way she was acting, "Uh, why were they firing at you?"
"Forget it, Grace, you're going to have enough to worry about."
But Grace knew she wasn't going to forget it, how could she? She'd never been fired at before, nor held a gun.
Grace and Cheng-li had made their way to her sloop, La Nuvolletta.
"Cheng-li, what does La Nuvolletta mean?" Grace asked, leaning over the safety rails to get a better picture of the engraving on the side of the ship.
"La Nuvolletta means 'Little Cloud'." Cheng-li smiled.
Grace smiled back. The name was sweet and peaceful, which was kind of ironic because of the fact it was a pirate ship.
"Where are we going?" Grace asked another time.
"We are going to catch up with Captain Wrathe and Cate and Bart," Cheng-li sighed, "Hopefully Bart and Cate will have had a look at the island before we get there."
"You mean we're really going through with this?" Grace asked, smiling, "It's OK if you'd rather not, I could find a way myself."
"Yes we're going through with it," Cheng-li looked at Grace, "And I honestly don't believe you could go in and rescue the entire crew yourself."
Grace shrugged, "I'd try."
They went in silence as they dropped off their things below beck, then they made their way around the top deck, untying and retying things that needed to be.
After about half an hour, the moon was up and the stars were out, shimmering on the waves and drenching the decks in a fine, milky glow.
"It's late," Cheng-li stated, "Perhaps we should sleep."
"No," Grace shook her head as she walked up to the railings, "If we are going to rescue the Vampirates then we are going to have to do it at night. We may as well get in the swing of it."
Cheng-li laughed from behind, "I'm going to sleep now, good night, Grace!"
What she found so funny, Grace didn't know, but she didn't care either.
She stood alone by the railings, looking out to the sea, or a patchwork of time, as Lorcan had once implied.
Grace's heart felt heavy as she thought of Lorcan; he used to stand next to her on beautiful nights like this, and then wrap her up in his grey army coat with him when she got cold. She missed him, she wanted him to come and talk with her now, so she could return his ring too.
As she thought of the ring, she touched it. It was warming her skin, as it always was, generating heat. She never understood it, but she liked it.
As she touched the ring she realised there was smooth, glassy skin under the ring and locket. It was right over her thorax, as Mosh Zu had said it was.
Grace sighed and placed a whole slideshow in front of her mind's eye, of everything that had happened to her, from her father singing to her and Connor in the lighthouse, and till now. She remembered the day when her and Lorcan and first met, his eyes as blue as the sky and her incomprehensible babbling.
It wasn't a coincidence that you ended up on a vampirate ship and Connor ended up on a pirate ship.
The words rung in her head and she fingered Lorcan's ring again.
No, she thought, He isn't going to come out of no where. If I want to talk to him again, I have to go and find him.
Then, as her inspiring thoughts faded into the darkness, she felt alone, as she had for three years.