Well, first of all: I'm so sorry about the long spaces between updates! I can't apologise enough!!! And the only consolation I can give you is to try and write a lot more (and better stuff) so I shall try to do that as best I can!

Secondly, thank you SO much for the reviews! You guys are so awesome! Your practically the only reason I haven't stopped writing. THANK YOU!

And last of all, I know a lot of people are really confused about what's happening in this story, I'll try to some it up as best I can: Basically, there are a bunch of subplots which are all going to intertwine later on. In the subplots you've got:
* The Blood Captain (basically Sidorio and crew causing havoc the only think you really need to understand with that is they are attacking the pirates who originally tried to kill Sidorio & Jez in Tide of Terror - this will usually be Jez's POV). The Salamander was one of the ships attacked.
* The Diablo (this is all going to be from Cate's POV. At the moment she's trying to convince Molucco that Sidorio is going to go after them and the only way to survive is to team up with the Federation).
* The Tetua (Cheng Li has now been put in charge of hunting down Vampires with Jacoby Blunt and Jasmine Peacock as her deputies. Connor isn't as high ranking in the crew but because of his experience with vampires Cheng Li is almost treating him like a deputy too. Connor wants to stop the vampires but he doesn't want to betray or hurt Grace and he deffienlty does not want to tell them about Sally.- Most of these chapters will be told from Connor or Cheng Li's POV).
* Sanctuary (These are all from Grace's POV who has now replaced Oliver as Mosh Zu's second in command. She is trying to learn a number of healing / magical skills. She's also developed a friendship with Marie and is just starting to get to know some of the healers. But she is still struggling to cope with Lorcan's "betrayal" as well as the return and sudden disappearance of her mother…this is having a lot of emotional, physical and psychological effects on her).
* Grace's Dreams (Because she is constantly questioning Sally and Lorcan relationship, Grace's thoughts and worries have caused her to have visions of her mother's past. Every time she falls asleep she learns more but every time she gets close to the answer the vision fades and is replaced by a much more sinister image…which will find out a lot more about later).
* There will also be chapters later on taking place on The Nocturne (Lorcan, Darcy and Grace's POV) and Ma Kettle's (Many, many different POV's).

If you have anyway questions please don't hesitate to ask me! And for anyone who doesn't know: POV stands for "Point of View".
And as always Vampirates (plus all replated concepts, characters and places) belong to Justin Somper.

Anyway, on with the story…

The Diablo

"Captain," Cate nodded formally as Molucco Wrathe approached the table where she, Bart and a few of the other pirates sat eating their dinner after a hard days work.

"Catherine," he said without a hint of a smile, "a word please"

"Of course," she kept her expression neutral but inside she could feel the worry settling in, Captain Wrathe's temper was legendary, and while she didn't exactly fear for her life she usually tried to avoid her Captain's anger when she could. But it couldn't be avoided this time she realised, talking about the vampires attacks was unavoidable and he knew that too, she realised, she could see he knew from the scowl on his lips and the callous glint in his eye, but the biggest clue, of course, was the way he'd said her name. 'Catherine' was never a good way to start a conversation, it was a name used only in her childhood to indicate anger or news of death. Or both, as it may be in this case, she added warily.

Molucco was already leaving the mess hall as Cate stood up as she did she felt a warm hand grasp hers, she looked down.

"Good luck," Bart whispered before giving her a hand a light squeeze and letting go. She nodded her thanks before turning and following Molucco out of the hall.

Molucco's cabin was as splendid as ever, but the riches seemed duller somehow, as if they were hiding from the conversation about to follow.

"You heard about the latest attack," Cate said as Captain Wrathe slumped into his chair. It wasn't a question but a statement.

"Aye, I heard" he said quietly after a moment, "Abraham Shaltiel, Captain of the Salamander, killed in the most monstrous way along with a hundred of his crew."

Cate bowed her head. She'd already heard the news of course, but that didn't take away any of the horror she still felt from hearing it all again.

"They helped us avenge by brothers death" he said quietly, as if speaking to himself. His voice was hollow, it wasn't full of the anger Cate had expected, not yet anyway.

"It could be us next, Captain" she said just as quietly as he had, "Next time it could be our crew attacked, our crew dead."

He nodded sadly, but when he spoke next his voice was once again filled with familiar authority, "Tell the pirates to ready their swords, to keep their weapons on them at all times. We'll double the number of pirates on watch duty at night, let them give it their best shot, The Diablo, isn't going down without a fight"

"We don't stand a chance,"

He seemed surprised at her words, but it quickly wore off, replaced by obstinacy, "Explain,"

"We'll be slaughtered, these creatures aren't deterred by swords. Last time we had several hundred pirates at out disposal, to destroy five of them, this time there are hundreds."

"Then what do you suggest, Mistress Morgan"

"We team up with the federation"

He glared at her, Ah yes, here was the anger she'd expected.

"No,"

"Then we'll die,"

"Do you hold so little faith in your comrades, in your friends, in your Captain? We can't even be sure we are being targeted, it could just be coincidence, have you thought about that?"

Of course I have! Cate thought with a flash of uncharacteristic anger, but when her crew, her friends, were in danger she wasn't going to just stand there and do nothing about it. "Captain, three were twelve ships involved in the attack, three of them have now been destroyed, that leaves nine left and were one of those nine. I don't like those odd, I don't like them one bit" She hadn't meant to sound quite so rude, but it was to lzate to be regretful now, besides, she'd already tried polite before and it hadn't worked, it was time to try a new tactic.

"What would you have me due, Catherine? If your so full of bright ideas tell me what it is I should be doing,"

She inhaled sharply. The question was surely rhetorical, but she would forge on regardless, "The federation-" she began.

"I will not cower behind the Federation!"

"I'm not suggesting that. But the federation are involved whether we like it or not, they've already appointed Cheng Li to lead the attack"

"Cheng Li" He repeated his former deputies name like it was a bad word. She hesitated, even before they'd known Cheng Li was a spy just saying her name could ruin his mood and now…well, mentioning her involvement was a big risk. "Yes, Cheng Li," she confirmed softly, "In one week's time, she will be giving a presentation to inform the other federation pirates exactly what they are dealing with and from that they will come to a decision on what to do next. Go there, hold you own; tell them what you know. We don't have to cower behind them. We can help them."

He opened his mouth to respond but she spoke first, "I know you don't like them. But we can't do this on our own and…and…" she struggled desperately to think of something to convince him, "and if you can't do it for your crew. Do it for your bother; think of this as the only way that we'll ever a able to truly rid ourselves of those monsters"

He nodded, but it was harder to read his emotions now and when he spoke his tone was level, "I'll think carefully about what you've said, Cate, I'll even speak to Barbarro too and ask him what he would have me do. But for now, I'd like to be alone."

She nodded once again, taking her leave, and as she shut the cabin door behind her she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The Captain was stubborn, yes, but he wasn't stupid, he would consider all she's said and Barbarro would help to, she knew he had been sorry not to be around to settle the score on his brother's murder, he would want vengeance and the federation would help. She strode over to the deck rail, leaning on it for support, and sighed again. Mercifully, no one was around to see her at her weakest, she needed to be strong, for all their sakes.

After a while she heard footsteps approach and then a arm around her shoulders. She knows she should just shake it off but she doesn't want to, she feels happier this way, happier and safer, but she can't just leave it either so instead she says, "That's highly inappropriate"

Bart looked at her with a small smile, "Really? I didn't think it was that inappropriate, you look kind of down"

"That's not what I meant" She was deputy captain, he was just a sailor. It would never work. But she still didn't push him away.

"How did the meeting go?" He asked, changing the subject, "Did he agree to speak to the federation?"

"He said he'd think about it, and talk to Barbarro too."

"It's a start"

"I know but I can't help but think…If he doesn't agree…" She broke off clearly frustrated.

"Hey don't worry about it," He pulled her just a little bit closer, "Your only human. We can't expect miracles. And you never know, maybe he will agree and maybe he and Cheng Li will become best of friends and you'll finally declare how much you love me"

She rolled her eyes at his clowning but she was smiling now, too, "Yeah, and maybe we'll honeymoon on Pluto too."

He grinned, "Maybe, we will"