Free Vampirates 6: Immortal War by Justin Somper Page A

don’t know.”
    Jasmine’s volley of responses was further proof to Cheng Li of the conflict raging within her deputy’s mind and heart. She smiled reassuringly. “Why don’t you give it some thought? There’s no rush.”
    “I will,” Jasmine said with a nod.
    “I’ll leave you to your work, Deputy Peacock,” said Cheng Li.
    Jasmine collected her things and headed for the door. Cheng Li strode forward to open it for her. “Remember,” she said, “it’s always easier to fight the demons out there than the ones in here.” She tapped the crown of her own head.
    “I don’t have any demons,” Jasmine said.
    “Yes, you do,” Cheng Li replied. “We all do. And the more we try to deny them, the bigger and more dangerous they grow.” Her voice became more businesslike. “Keep me posted on any changes to
The Diablo
’s position.”
    Jasmine nodded. “I will, Captain.”
    Looking over Jasmine’s shoulder, Cheng Li could see that Connor was already making his way along the corridor toward them—ready for his own meeting with the captain. Cheng Li turned around discreetly and stepped back inside her cabin. She hovered just inside the doorway, listening carefully to the exchange between her two deputies.
    “Hi,” said Jasmine.
    “Hey,” answered Connor. “How are you?”
    “Okay,” she said, her voice seeming to suggest the veryopposite. Then, “Connor, I really need to talk to you. We spend all day racing around this ship, but we never get the chance to talk to each other—not properly.”
    There was a pause, then a sigh. “I know,” he said. “I feel the same. Let’s try to make some time tonight, okay?”
    “Yes,” she said, more brightly. “I won’t keep you from your meeting. See you later!”
    Their words were prosaic enough, but Cheng Li knew that the two of them were embroiled in a close and often challenging relationship. She suspected that had Jacoby Blunt still been around, Jasmine would have broken up with her long-term boyfriend and declared her true feelings for Connor. As it was, with Jacoby’s situation still a mystery, his presence lingered like a restless ghost.
    Cheng Li walked soundlessly back across her cabin and sat down once more at her conference table, ready to greet Connor.
    Between sips of mango juice, Connor confidently led Cheng Li through all his areas of responsibility. Since Jacoby’s disappearance, Cheng Li had made yet another daring decision in appointing Connor as her joint deputy. He lacked the formal training from which she, Jasmine, and Jacoby had benefited at the academy. Nonetheless, Connor possessed a rare instinctive gift for piracy, which was all the more startling given how new he was to this world. It was less than twelve months since Cheng Li herself had rescued him from certain death in the ocean.Now he was utterly changed; the transformation from shipwrecked orphan to full-fledged pirate was complete.
    He was, she reflected as she listened to him now, something of a throwback to the old days of piracy. Another Molucco? The thought crossed her mind.
No
, she thought.
No, we’ve caught him in time to prevent that
.
    One of Connor’s greatest gifts was the goodwill he inspired in almost all those around him. This had first struck Cheng Li through the strong bonds he had formed with his crewmates. Lately, she had found a new way to harness this gift of Connor’s. Since the beginning of war, Cheng Li was no longer merely captain of one ship but overseer of a further twelve. And it was Connor who acted as the chief point of liaison with the other twelve captains.
    “Captain Gresham’s crew was particularly badly hit in the last battle,” Connor told her now. “Over thirty of them are still in recovery in the field hospital at Pirate Academy. I’ve talked direct to Nurse Carmichael and she says she won’t release them for at least another week.” He smiled. “Actually, I negotiated her down from ten days.”
    Cheng Li returned his smile.