Due to changed circumstances, chapters will take longer to come up. They will come up, mind you, but don't be surprised if I could weeks without putting up a chapter. Sorry guys.

Lorcan passed restlessly up and down the corridor. He looked at the Captain's door when he passed it. He, Kat and her vampires had arrived back at the Nocturne not long ago, and not long after Mosh Zu. Since then, the Captain, Mosh Zu and Kat had been in the Captain's cabin, probably discussing tactics about how to rescue Grace.

"Lorcan." He stopped his pacing and turned, watching as Darcy walked briskly towards him. She looked curious but also worried. "What's going on?" Of course. She probably would have just heard that he'd returned. Some of the crew had found out only a short time ago but it had spread like wild fire after that.

"The Captain and Mosh Zu are talking with the vampires I was sent to retrieve." Most of the Kat's group had been sticking to one side of the deck while the Vampirate crew watched them as if they'd never seen land-living vampires. "I haven't heard anything yet."

The two fell silent as the door to the cabin suddenly opened and Kat walked out, muttering under her breath. She didn't even acknowledge Lorcan and Darcy, just storming out towards the deck. May God have mercy on the soul that got in her way.

Next, Mosh Zu stepped out, glancing in the direction Kat had gone before looking at the two. "I can see why she left the Nocturne," he said simply.

Lorcan raised an eyebrow.

"Her ideas are very… violent."

He wasn't surprised. She did seem like the kind to just go into battle and start swinging at anything and everything. "So, what is the plan?"

"We will be sending four people onto the Blood Captain to retrieve Grace. If they are captured as well, we will have no choice but to go into all out battle," Mosh Zu told them. He must have been upset about this, but his expression gave nothing away.

"Who are the four?" Lorcan asked, truly hoping he was one.

"You, Leon, Kat and a man from her crew called Bones."

Lorcan knew Leon, though not personally. He seemed like an alright guy. What he had trouble with was the fourth member of their group. Bones? He shivered just thinking about what kind of man he could be with a name like that.

"We set out tonight for the Blood Captain and should intercept it tomorrow night," Mosh Zu went on.

Lorcan and Darcy both nodded. There was no way around it then.

XXX

Lorcan stared up at the clear, dark sky. It looked like a black blanket dotted with snow. But, the darkness was fading and only a few of the crew remained outside their rooms. Kat's group was split among several cabins with three or four in a room. He didn't know if Kat was sharing a room or if she would find somewhere else to sleep, but he didn't care. All he cared about was resucing Grace.

"You really care about her, don't you?" He jumped and spun around to see Kat standing right behind him. She was watching him intently, either not noticing or not caring how much she had startled him.

He hesitated before nodding. "I do. I… I love her."

"Did you ever tell her?"

Lorcan frowned before looking away. "It's true what they say. You never know what you have until it's gone."

Kat stepped up beside him, leaning against the railing and looking out over the ocean. "She's a lucky girl then, to have someone that cares so strongly for her." He thought he could hear a bit of wistfulness in her voice but he didn't mention it.

"I guess."

"You guess, I know," she said. "I know she is one lucky girl and you are one lucky guy, Lorcan Fuery."

He looked over at her, confused. "How so?"

"To have someone to love."

She didn't say anymore, not that they really had the time for it. At that moment, Darcy sounded the nightfall bell. Kat quickly made her way inside and Lorcan followed, though more slowly. Did Kat ever love someone? Is that what she was trying to say? Or that she wished she had someone to love? Well, no matter what, he would worry about that after they got Grace back.

Short chapter. I know. Sorry guys. I hope to have another chapter written and up soon but no promises. Til then.