Conner looked down at the map spread across Cheng Li's desk. Even as his captain spoke about their mission, he was only half listening. Part of his felt sick at the thought that they were going after his biological father. Another part of him was telling him that Sidorio deserved it and needed to be stopped. The rest of him was trying to pay attention.
"Conner!" Busted.
He blinked and his eyes focused on Cheng Li's annoyed face. "Uh, sorry," he said, embarrassed.
"As I was saying," she said. "He's been spotted here, here and here." She indicated the points on the map. "They're heading north, towards the peninsula. If we can beat him there, we have the element of surprise."
Conner watched as Jasmine and Jacoby both nodded. Jasmine Peacock. Beautiful. Dangerous. Amazing. And still Jacoby's. She hadn't had the heart to tell him yet about their trip to Lantao Island.
"Conner!" He shook his head. Uh oh. Cheng Li looked even more annoyed than lately. "Are you with this now?"
"Yes, sorry."
Cheng Li frowned. "Conner, this mission is incredibly dangerous. You could get killed if you aren't completely focused one-hundred percent."
"I know," he said. "I'm sorry."
"Hm. Well, you are dismissed. Jacoby, I would like a word with you."
Conner turned and exited Cheng Li's cabin with Jasmine right behind him. He started to walk away but his plan to escape failed.
"Conner, what's wrong?" He held back a grimace and looked back as Jasmine. She was looking at him with concern filling her sharp green eyes.
"Nothing, just distracted is all," he told her, hoping she wouldn't push it.
She walked up to him. "Conner, I know you. Come on, you can tell me anything."
"It's nothing," he said. "Just… missing Grace."
Her concern evaporated, replaced with sympathy. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close. He reluctantly hugged her back. Even though he was missing Grace, that wasn't why he was distracted. He was still trying to convince himself that going after Sidorio was the right thing to do.
When Jasmine finally released him, he stepped back. It was a good thing too because Jacoby was walking towards them looking like Cheng Li had just given him a good scolding. Conner didn't stick around to see what had happened. He just wanted to get out of there.
He quickly walked up to the deck. Ever since he had found out about his parentage, he felt distant from the rest of the crew. He was separating himself from them, he knew that, but he felt he had to. His vampire side was already starting to show. He was having trouble sleeping at night and he could barely stay awake, or focused, during the day. When he had held Jasmine, when she was so close he could smell her coconut-scent shampoo, it wasn't the shampoo that made his mouth water.
He gripped the guardrail and stared out over the ocean. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. Even though there were others on the deck, they stuck to the other side. He didn't know why, but he was grateful for it nonetheless.
He took slow, deep breaths. He had been getting these sensations when the back of his throat had burned and he couldn't focus on anything except the smell of the people around him. Lately, they had been getting closer together and stronger. He could only guess that these… episodes were bloodlust. That very thought both made him feel sick to his stomach and appealed to some kind of primal instinct of his. Yeah, thanks for that dad, he thought sarcastically.
"Conner Temptest! Conner Temptest!" Conner opened his eyes and turned his head to see Bo Yin running towards him, Sebastien balanced precariously on her shoulders.
His eyes widened and he put out his hands just in time to stop the girl, forcing her to a stop just before she hit him. "Whoa. Where are you going in such a hurry?" he asked. No matter how what going on with him, Bo Yin, excitable and optimistic as she was, always managed to bring a smile to his face.
"To you! Captain Li told me to tell you that you will be at the lead of the group that is a part of the attack on the Vampirates!"
Conner sighed inwardly. Another person to thank for all the great things going on in his life. He had always known he'd be part of the attack but at the lead? Was she trying to torture him?! Then again, not even a week ago he had gone on a rant about how committed he was to the mission and that Sidorio had to be stopped.
"Alright, thank you Bo Yin."
She nodded happily and hurried off the way she came. He looked back out to the ocean before letting out a small yawn. Maybe he could get in a nap since he had done all his chores, though one could hardly call them that. He looked around to make sure no one was looking for him before making his way below deck. He didn't come across anyone and he made it to his room without a fuss.
Closing the door behind him, he felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over him. He stumbled over to his bed and sat down on the edge. He kicked off his shoes before lying down. No more than a minute had passed before he was fast asleep. But, his dreams were anything but calm. He tossed and turned in his sleep. He kept seeing Sidorio whichever way he turned. He saw himself growing up and turning into his father. He woke up in a cold sweat to the sound of one of the crew members banging on his door telling him that supper would be served in half an hour and that Cheng Li needed to talk to him before then. Great. Just great.