DEATH AND DOMINATION EPISODE SEVENTEEN

In the predawn blackness snow falls on Mystic Canyon. Sipping hot honey and tea I pound out another thrilling chapter of Captain Sharky’s latest adventure. The sun rises and soon the powder will melt. I snap a pic quick before it’s gone. I love this time of year.

I’m also looking forward to our Blood Moon Social Club reunion. This will be the first time I’ve seen some of you in so many years. I’ve missed you all. Don’t forget Jan. 16^th at the old Kool Kollectables in Commercial Center. 953 E. Sahara av. 9-B.

CHAPTER THIRTYFOUR ROG’AN OF NEXUKHAN

By the time Andre had the Cutlass secured to the dock everyone had disembarked and were looking around for any sign of life. The fog had reduce visibility to but mere feet. Even werewolf eyes had difficulty but Norris could hear and smell humans all around them.

“We are not alone in fact there is quite a crowd gathering.”

“I sense them too.” Barron said. “Thirty or forty at least but I don’t detect any hostile thoughts.”

Sharky was in no mood for hide and seek.

“Hello! I’m pretty hungry and I could really use a drink about now.” She shook a pouch and the jingle of gold was loud and clear.

“Captain Sharky, the creatures of the sea sing of your exploits. I have been breathlessly awaiting your arrival. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Rog’an of Nexukhan.”

She looked up toward a large flickering lamp where she heard the voice and saw a dark figure standing amidst swirling tendrils of gray mist. He seemed impossibly tall. Perhaps it was because he was standing on an elevated deck looking down or maybe her expectations had been hyped by all the stories. His shoulders seemed broader than a normal man but then his black and silver armor could account for that. The shoulder guards looked as if they came from thick polished shells. A brace of brightly colored scarves hung from the wide scaly leather belt synched around his narrow waist. His breeches were made from the same finely crafted skin layered with shimmering scales. She couldn’t determine if it was reptilian or some kind of fish. It reminded her of a beautiful dragon she had once seen in a fantasy art book. He took a step forward disturbing the fog. Even in the low light reflective glints sparked off the buckles of his knee high boots. His face was long and angular but his eyes were hidden behind a black lace scarf tied around his head.

He pulled on a silver chain where a strange key hung and just below that an even stranger looking object. He pressed a knob causing the face to flip open and he glanced at it.

“Ah! You are perfect in your timing. You and your officers have just enough time to freshen up then we will have a lovely meal prepared for you.”

Suddenly, without warning a troop of young humans appeared. Three females and three males. All were topless and they all wore a colorful sash wrapped around their hips. They seemed well fed and none bore slave tags or bit marks. None carried any weapons either but each held a goblet filled with a dark red liquid.

Norris took the goblet from a pretty young girl and as did everyone else; suspiciously sniffed the offered beverage.

“It smells like wine.” He took a sip. “It is wine.”

The girl serving Bedelia smiled and pushed the goblet into her hand.

“It came from me,” she said proudly.

Bedelia took a sip.

“This is fine wine but not from fruit.” She took another drink. “Thank you this is perfect.”

Bret and Barron both discovered they too were offered fresh blood from the young men.

Andre had wine like Norris and nodded approvingly.

Sharky took a sniff then a taste and was surprised.

“This is wonderful it’s like a blend of berries from my juice bar. How did you know?” She looked up to where their host stood only to discover he had vanished.

Each of the servers took their charge and led them to a small room with a lamp illuminating a simple bed and a basin with fresh water and wash cloth.

Sharky noticed a comb made of carved wood and a scarf like the others wore.

“What’s your name?” she asked the handsome lad who appeared to be in his early twenties.

“Paky-ju.”

“Is that for me to wear?”

He smiled. “Yes it will be very comfortable in all this fog.”

The humidity was oppressive but she wasn’t’ going topless.

“Where is the top to it?”

He was perplexed then smiled at her.

“Here.” He opened a small door and hanging in the little closet were several garments.

She finished her juice and handed him the goblet.

“Thanks Paky-ju. I’ll be a few minutes then you can take me to dinner.”

***

Bret’s guide seated him at a long rectangular table near the end.

Bedelia was across from him and as the rest of their party arrived they too were seated along the sides.

The ends were left open and eventually Rog’an entered and took his place at the head of the table. He had shed his armor and was sporting a purple shirt with wide sleeves and open collar.

“We are simple folk but I think you will find our board of fair pleasing at least for those of you that eat food.”

Your hospitality is a far cry from what we are used to good sir we thank you,” Barron said.

At that moment Paky-ju entered followed by Sharky. She was wearing a long scarlet shirt with puffy sleeves and her knife belt snug around her waist. The shirt fell to her naked thighs and she still had her boots on. She had combed her hair out for the first time in a long while her dark locks cascaded down over her shoulders. She looked around and saw no one had dressed for dinner they all wore their usual garb.

Bedelia was the first to compliment her new look.

“No matter what you put on you make it look stunning.”

“Sit here.” Paky-ju said as he pulled the end chair out for her. She was seated directly across from the intriguing Rog’an.

“Bedelia is quite right you burn away the fog by you brilliant presence.” Rog’an chimed.

Sharky looked expectantly at Bret but he was quiet on the subject.

“Thank you Rog’an you are very kind and I do feel better after cleaning up it was a long voyage to find your place. I’ve heard many exciting things about you.”

He roared with laughter as did all the servers who were bringing in platters of fresh fruit and baked fish. There was also roasted foul and steamed shell fish. For the vampires, endless refills of their goblets.”

Sharky was confused.

“I’m sorry did I say something wrong?”

“On the contrary you are most amusing but you needn’t hedge words here. We are well aware of what people say about us. In fact we encourage the tales of horror. Such nonsense keeps our enemies at bay.”

“How do you know we’re not here for mischief? While we’re at it how the hell do you know our names and what we drink? Are you some kind of mind reader?”

He laughed again as did his choir of servers.

“Mind reader? No, not I. I have no special powers I am just a poor farmer and merchant. We built this place from the wrecks left behind from many storms. Now please try the food everyone eat, drink, enjoy.”

In spite of her suspicions Sharky was starving. She had eaten very little in the last few days and that was either miserable fish stew or a frozen pizza. Here in front of her was a bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables. She dove on the goose like a lioness over a fresh kill. She ate like a long haul trucker until sated.

Even Norris who was not particular about table manners watched her with some measure bemusement.

“Were you going to leave any of that bird for the rest of us, Captain Sharky, or should we fight over the bones?”

Low chuckles made their way around the room.

She quickly wiped her face with a linen napkin.

“Sorry didn’t mean to make a pig of myself.”

“Nonsense!” Rog’an leaned forward with a carving knife in his left hand. “Paky-ju bring her another one I’d love to see that again.”

“No!” she cried. “I’ve had plenty, thank you.”

Rog’an clinked his wine glass with the knife.

“A toast to the incomparable Captain Sharky may all her foes fall before her as that goose just did.”

Glasses were raise to a chorus of “To Captain Sharky”. This only embarrassed her more.

“Please tell us of your next adventure,” Rog’an begged. “I’m starving for a little preview of your next move now that you are so popular with the mighty Lord Admiral.?”

Sharky was suddenly struck at how the crafty Rog’an was interrogating her.

“Right now my crew are as hungry as I was and I would like to buy food for them. We came to you for supplies. We need a lot and are willing to pay with gold.”

“Rainhaven’s gold has little value here. We are a quaint little fishing village our people hunt birds and boar. We gather wild yams and tropical fruit. What use do we have for gold we make everything we need from the sea?”

“The pleasantries were over and she saw clearly she was dealing with clever man. Bret had warned her Rog’an was slippery.

 “You said you were a merchant therefore I assume you do have a price for whatever we wish to buy from you?”

He stared at her with his lace covered eyes which was disconcerting. He toyed with his long sharp knife before answering which also annoyed her. She felt as if she were a cornered cat being poked by a bully with a sharp stick. She was patient for she was sure at some point she would seize an opening and claw that mask off and expose his true face.

“My dear Captain Sharky you are a breath of clear cool sea breeze and I deduce that you and I may have similar interests. Paky-ju is head of the village council. Tomorrow he will call a meeting of the elders and they will decide if they want to open our market place to strangers. Your officers can negotiate with them. This will involve much discussion over local cuisine and will take most of the day.

As for myself I will negotiate directly with you as to what I need in return for my services as… how should I phrase it in terms you will appreciate? Ah yes, think of me as a broker. I will send for you just after dawn and we will engage in a lively sparing of words while I guide you on a tour of our humble little hamlet on the water. Sadly, it is late and we are but simple working folk who rise early. We must retire but you and your crew may have use of this room for as long as you like. Eat, drink, enjoy.” Without another word he rose and left. Like ducks in a row all six severs followed him out.

Everyone but Bret was staring at her waiting for a comment. Bret was nonchalantly sipping from his glass. She knew from the smirk on his face he was insufferably amused.

“You find this hysterically funny don’t you?”

“I warned you he was slippery.”

“Not as slippery as you I suspect.”

“Oh you haven’t seen him at his best. But like our gracious host I am a simple working man and must rise early. The council will want to see all of us. Norris you have something these people have never seen and that may be worth more than gold around here.”

“Really and what might that be?”

“The Catalina Cutlass. Imagine a group of natives seeing a blue ray movie on a wide screen TV for the first time ever. Or hearing rock music in wrap around stereo. I know it was amazing my first time.”

“What about me? Rog’an want’s me to spend the day with him. I don’t trust him at all. His spies are probably listening to us right now!”

“Actually I detect no one within hearing range and I doubt they have any electronic bugging devices,” Barron said.

“What about all that poor farmer crap? A plantation owner is more like it. How many blood slaves did it take to keep your glasses full tonight? Did you see the silly expressions on their faces? They bow to him like a king. I know he has some kind of power over them.”

“I’ll stay with you. If he gets out of hand I’ll rip his throat out,” Bedelia offered.

“That won’t get us what we need,” Bret cautioned. “He will just dance around wasting our time until he gets what he wants anyway.”

“So you want me to be alone with him?”

“What I’m saying is you have made yourself into this legend and now you must act the part. Besides after the way you threw down on Rainhaven this should be no challenge at all. Even after he nearly crushed your rib cage you flashed him that come hither smile. I think when next we meet the Admiral may want to spend some alone time with you too.”  He rose and casually strolled out the door.

There was an uncomfortable silence from which Barron, Norris and Andre excused themselves and exited.

Bedelia waited watching Sharky’s face. After a moment of study she spoke.

“I’ll bet right now if I offered to turn you into a vampire you would do it.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I can tell by the dark look in your eyes, at this moment you would love to rip out Bret’s throat,” there was a lilt of glee in her voice.

A twisted sneer crossed Sharky’s lips.

“I would drain the son of a bastard dry!”

CHAPTER THIRTYFIVE BEHIND THE MASK

In a world ruled by creatures that could crush bone into dust, door locks had little use. Still it was irritating to Sharky that she could not rest comfortably in her small room with no lock. Her knife never left her hand. The next morning she rose and rummaged through the closet. Her own clothes were soiled and she had left her wardrobe pilfered from the Duke of Orleans on the ship. All she had to wear was the scarlet pirate shirt and some native garb. This was mostly wraparound scarves of fishnet fabric made from supple fibers and were quite colorful. She had gotten drunk at Mardi Gras once and flashed her boobs but running around topless all day was just a little too much. On the floor next to her bed she found sandals made from something resembling eel skin. She laid everything out and went to work creating something she could own.

***

Norris had chosen to stay the night on the cutlass and that’s where everyone gathered for a short meeting before engaging the locals. Everyone was there except Sharky.

“Shall I go check on her?” Bedelia asked.

Bret shook his head. “No I heard her cursing and grumbling when I walked past a few minutes ago. She will be along when she’s ready. Trust me when she is trying to put it all together in the morning you don’t want to rush her. However when you hear the drum and horn signal it means the elders are gathering and it would be rude to not be ready. Just remember the thing with the locals is flattery. Like everything, tell them how impressed you are with their creations and let the old men do most of the talking. They like to think they don’t need what you have but these people love to bargain. Once we get an agreement Andre can ferry Quartermaster Megan up here to shop for the galley she will know best what we need and after that we can bring the crew up a few at a time to spend their loot. A little shore leave will boost morale.”

In the distance they heard the drum thumping and a horn blast.

***

  Sharky didn’t need to hear Bret’s instructions to know the signal meant something important was happening. She strolled along towards the sound and took in her surroundings. There were potted fruit plants in abundance. She stole a beautiful flower from one and wove the stem into her hair. As Bret had described, the flotilla was a jigsaw puzzle of many old boats and raft-like vessels roped together. Many were painted brightly and floral décor was popular. They were connected by a system of gang planks and wobbly rope bridges. Between many of the boats were pools lined with netting inside she saw schools of fish.

“Fish farmers. Very resourceful,” she muttered aloud. Then she heard the signal again.

She stopped and asked a local boy of twelve where the elders met and he was happy to show her. When she arrived at a large round raft made of millions of thick woven reeds she saw a large pavilion with a few dozen folks gather around a feast. Bret and the crew were already seated on floor mats.

Before they parted she asked the boy a question.

“Who is your master?”

He acted as if he didn’t understand and shrugged, then trotted off to play with friends.

She entered the pavilion and was greeted by smiles from the locals and surprised looks from her gathered officers. She had taken the fishnet scarves and tied them together into a sarong of sorts. Then borrowing Bret’s wrapping technique and with a little creativity of her own she managed to cover up the critical areas. The rest of her exquisite body was exposed. Her ever ready blade hung loosely at her hip and her long lustrous hair was tied to the side in the fashion of the girls who served them the night before. The short hem of her skirt hung at a sexy angle and she had fashioned a crossover top accentuating her tiny waist. She did feel a little exposed for underneath the nit arraignment she was totally nude.

Bedelia came to her.

“You never show up without causing a stir do you? Where did you get that beautiful flower?”

“Thanks, I just found it somewhere.”

“Come on over they have prepared food for everyone. I learned that they draw blood like you do and serve it in containers.”

“Okay but I’m not hungry after last night.”

“Have you forgotten about me?”

Sharky had not forgotten his distinctive voice it was deep and strong like a radio disk jockey she loved to listen to back in Vegas. She turned and saw him just outside the pavilion. Behind him stood a young man and a girl each held a basket laden with food and beverages.

“What’s all that for?”

“I just thought it might be a good idea to pack a lunch. A woman with your apatite needs provisions.”

She laughed. Which was made easy by his casual appearance. He wore white shorts to his knees and a loose white shirt. He had changed his lacy mask from black to white and sported a huge sombrero thatched from palm leaves. Not at all what she expected.

“You look like a beach bum.”

“I’m not familiar with that term but I can change if you desire it.”

“No, it’s perfect.”

“Very good, now we will let your crew do their work and as I promised you a tour we should start over here. I think you will find this interesting.” He strolled off with his basket bearers in tow.

Sharky turned back to see what Bret was doing. His attention seemed to be on a topless native girl filling his goblet.

“Surly you know what he’s after?” Bedelia said.

“Oh I know exactly what he wants,” Sharky responded, her angry stare glued to Bret.

“Not him, love. I mean tall dark and mysterious.”

Sharky forced her eyes to follow Rog’an.

“Him too, they all want the same thing. But don’t worry I can handle the Island King.” They hugged and Sharky caught up with her guide.

For hours they walked around the entire flotilla as Rog’an explained how they found storm blown boats or recovered ships that had run aground on the reefs. Then he launched into a lecture on their amazing agricultural accomplishments. The tour finally came to a long rope bridge that led to a house boat made of thatched roof and walls. They entered and the servers laid out their baskets on a wooden table lit oil lamps and then quietly disappeared.

“You must be famished by now try this melon I think you’ll find it very sweet?”

Sharky stood near the door watching his preparations.

“I take it this is your place?”

“Yes it’s humble but keeps the rain off.”

“Were did your little helpers run off too?”

“Oh they have families to attend to.” He was busy pouring juice into her glass.

“Did you really think this would work?”

He stopped pouring and watched her face through white lace.

“First you take me on this long zig zag tour that ends up way out here in your bachelor bungalow. Did you think I would get confused and not remember the way back? Then what? You’ll promise me anything I want if I just spend the night with you? Really? My first boyfriend had a better plan than that and he was only sixteen.”

Rog’an continued filling her glass. He was smiling.

“I’m sure you have seen all the lovely young eager to please girls about. I find their company pleasurable when the need arises. But my luring you here has little to with sex. Well, let’s not rule it out altogether but in truth I find you fascinating for another reason. That is not to say that you’re unattractive. On the contrary in that outfit it’s difficult not to picture us together.” He pulled out a chair for her then seated himself opposite her. “However, I want to talk to you about this place you call Earth. I came to this realm three hundred and sixty two years ago. I use to hear stories from the new arrivals but that all stopped a little over a century ago and no new arrivals have brought me news. Then I learned that something had changed and now you are here. So let’s eat and you can tell me all about your world. Did that telephone invention ever work out?”

Sharky was surprised and yet she wasn’t sure if the shock was from this incredible revelation or the fact that he was indeed planning to seduce her and made no bones about it.

“Before I tell you anything I think you need to elaborate on what you just said.”

“Try this flat bread it’s made from a sweet potato flower. It’s quite tasty with this fruit compote.” He spread the bread for her.

“You said you came to this world but not from Earth?”

He stirred the jam with his knife while watching her.

“Okay now you’re doing the knife thing it really bugs me.”

He smiled and laid it down.

“Yes I know it’s a rather annoying habit. It’s just that virtually no one knows my history and I’ve had to be careful with whom I share it with. You have been wondering if all these people are my slaves. Well the answer is no. In fact most of them have never known that horror.”

“How is that even possible every human was brought here as food for the vampires?”

“Yes that is true and you probably know most of the story of how Da Gamma found this realm. What you may not know is that he was human when he found it. Yes he was. He had four ships with him and he left two behind when he returned to Earth. The plan was to bring the news of this new realm to the scholars of higher learning. Accolades and riches would be lavished upon him or so he thought.

Then he met a vampire and that change the course of history. This vampire turned him and they returned with a cargo hold full of captives. You see when this undead creature learned of an open uninhabited realm he came up with the idea of a vampire world. Some of the captives were brought here to this remote archipelagos and set free. The idea was to keep this place as a hunting preserve for the sport of it. Later they turned the original crew and they became immortal lords too. They built towns and they also came up with the war games. That required more ships and more lords and more humans for the expanding empire. Well you’ve seen how it has been going.”

When I came along I discovered this little Garden of Eden populated with the children of Eve. They were wild and fearful of strangers. I convinced them I did not want to eat them and we became friends and built our own sanctuary. I use fear and intimidation to keep the vampire hunters away from here. Now tell me of your home. Has much changed in the last hundred years?”

She unclipped her phone from her short skirt.

The old telephone you heard about was really big and used wires to talk. She showed him hers and tapped the screen she then selected a song to play. This is wireless and can perform a thousand functions. Just not interdimensional travel.”

He held it as if it were a holy relic. 

She did not eat with the same gusto as the night before. For she was engrossed with his tale and wanted to hear more.

“So where did you come from? If you don’t mind me asking again?”

“You are most persistent. I try not to give that away but I trust you will keep what I’m about to tell a secret between just us?”

“A little over a year ago I never knew anything about vampires or werewolves. Then one night I learned the truth. Trust me that is a big secret to have to keep back home.”

“Yes but you have friends you share it with. This you must tell no one not even Bret. I know that the two of you are intimate.”

She popped a large berry into her mouth and crushed it.

“Don’t worry that sneaky son of a bastard has more secrets than you and I put together. Every time he speaks I learn something he’s been holding back. And now I find out from you that Rainhaven may not be the most powerful vampire around.”

“Very well, I will trust you with this bit of truth. There are many such realms as this one and they are all separated from Earth by an interdimensional wall. With the right tools you can slip through cracks in the wall like you did.” He pulled on his watch fob and the shiny round device appeared.”

“So that’s not really one of those old time pocket watches is it?”

“No, nor does it work like Rainhaven’s astrolabe that allows the user to seek out a brief opening in the wall. This actually creates a portal. Unfortunately, after I came here it lost some of its power and I can’t get it to open the portal. It has other functions that allow me to see things from far away.”

“Ha! I knew it you were watching us that’s how you knew so much about us.” She picked up a mango and threw it at him. He deftly caught it just before hitting his face. “You sick peeping Tom you’ve been spying on me, watching me in the bedroom that’s how you know about me and Bret.”

He sliced off a wedge of the fruit and took a bite.

“I apologize if you feel your privacy was violated but I assure you it was not as invasive as you think.” He pushed the button and the lid flipped open. Inside were a system of little dials and gears. As they turned a spectrum of light waves appeared and fluctuated. “You see the waves detect movements in the energy stream. I can interpret these movements.”

“That’s all you can see?” she was skeptical.

“Well to the trained eye this tells me quite a lot. Like when you are near Bret or Bedelia I see a rise in certain energy waves. Armed with that information all I need do is ask the creatures of the sea and they tell me the rest.”

She studied his demeanor for deception for his eyes were cloaked.

“You don’t mean fish or sea birds that’s not who you talk to. You mean sailors they come here to trade and you get your news from them.”

He smiled slyly. 

“Now you know why I brought you here. I knew you were different.” He rose and took her hand in his. “Come I want you to see why I chose this spot to make my… what was it you called it?”

“Bachelor bungalow,” she replied.

He led her to the back out onto an open deck. The horizon was a deep red and purple.

There are only a few places in all of Oceanus where you will see this. It is a rare sight and you are fortunate to be here at this time. Perhaps it is a good omen if you take such things to heart.” As they stood watching she was aware that he still had her hand in his. She was about pull free when it happened.

“There it comes. Watch closely,” he became excited.

The thick fog had rolled away and the moon was rising from the sea. Then from out of the dense clouds the sun slowly sank. The transition took several minutes and when the two heavenly orbs were about even a glowing arc of light briefly joined the two.

When it was over the sun had set and the moon had vanished into the dark clouds above. He turned to face her.

“The natives tell me that the goddess of the sun and the god of the moon meet in secret and at that moment they make love. They believe it to be a blessing to this world.

“It was beautiful. I’ve never seen anything as special as that. Thank you for sharing it with me.” She pulled free from him. “I think we should get back to business what do you want from me for your service as a broker. I need supplies for three ships and apparently you don’t need gold.”

“You already know what I want.”

“Yeah, I figured as much but you already know I’m with Bret.”

“You are incorrect in your assumption. I asked you to spend the day with me not the night. I want to talk to you.”

“So you are satisfied with just that, nothing else? I can go now and tomorrow we can resupply?”

“There is one thing I should tell you before you go. I’ve come this far and you may as well know the whole truth. The reason I came here so long ago was to escape a particularly gruesome fate. It is called a Deathalon Quirt and in the hands of an expert the punishment will be horrific.”

“Oh shit! I knew it, you’re an outlaw.”

“I’m afraid it is much worse than that. Where I come from I’m wanted for the highest order of crimes. My realm is called Nexukhan. There we have a Tribunal of the Twelve. They are the judges over all Nexukhan affairs. Each one is entrusted with one of these.” He dangled the device from its chain.” This key activates the portal function, or at least it did. Every time I use this it sends out signals and it can be traced.

I stole this from one of the judges. That was bad enough. But they all agreed that if I gave it back I would be spared the Deathalon Quirt. At the time I was deeply in love and had a reason to live. She was a wondrous woman and I agreed to surrender. We met in secret and made love. When I awoke she was gone and so was this. I arose and caught her before she could escape. I was further betrayed when her lover attacked me. They had planned to steal this and collect the reward. I was enraged and attacked. In the fight he was killed she mortally wounded. As she lay dying in my arms she told me everything including how the tribunal never intended to honor the deal.

He reached up and undid the mask.

“You must not be frightened when you see this.” As he removed the lace his eyes were radiant with emerald lights.

“Oh my God green eyes!” She gasped.

“The glow is a side effect of using the device. I keep them covered because it frightens most people and if a Nexukhanian Tracker hears of a man with lights in his eyes. Well you see my dilemma.”

“They’re beautiful, I’m not frightened.” Sharky was trying hard not to show it but she was overcome by his story. In a moment of weakness she let her guard down. Rog’an slid his arms around her and pulled her close.

“No! You said you wouldn’t do this.” She was forcing herself to think about a blueberry power crunch smoothy but her body was leaning hard into his.

He spoke softly into her ear.

“I am but a humble villain in search of a wicked woman.

She will be like a good sword; elegant and sharp.

Always at my side ready to slash my enemies.

If I respect her she will serve me faithful.

If I mistreat her she will cut me hard and deep.

I bear many a scare as reminders of such lessons.

I will clad her in fine leather and stroke her in delicate silk.

She will never judge my transgressions. Nay!

She will, intimidate those who do with her gleaming smile.

I will know her when our eyes meet.

In that moment sparks of clashing blades will flash between us.

Woe unto the world when that day comes!”

She resisted him but his hold was too strong and her legendary willpower was failing her. In desperation she reached for her dagger.

“Don’t make me cut you,” her words came in a breathless whisper.

“Ah yes, Sharky’s fang. I wondered when I would see it. Please, plunge that blade deep into my heart. I’ll not feel any greater pain than what I feel every time I gaze upon your scintillating lips and long to kiss them just once before I die.”

“Just once? You’re a liar, a thief and a murderer. How can I believe you would let me go?” His lips hovered so close to hers she felt his hot breath against her face.

“Just one kiss is all I ask. If ever I would break my word to you it will be now and then you will know you can never trust me for anything I say. Marilena my love will you kiss me just once?”

She closed her eyes and parted her lips. Something low and raspy resembling a “yes”, came out of her. He hesitated then slowly took her with gentleness at first then with electric force. A quivering current ran from her lips and down her spine. She held her breath so long her lungs began to burn or was she on fire? She suddenly pushed him back drawing in cool humid air to quell the flame inside her.

“Stop! You promised. I’m going now.” She took a step back and he released her.

She was free of his arms but his intense gaze still held her.

“I will treasure this moment forever,” he said softly. “Now you must go I will honor our deal but you may not see me again. I could not bear to say goodbye to you.” His hand motioned toward the door. “Please go.”

She half turned to exit. Then in a blind rush she threw herself in to his arms once more. There was no hesitation no tender teasing. This time it was a kiss of raw animal hunger. She tore open his shirt and dug her nails into his chest.

He took this as license to explore her craving body and his hands easily slid under the delicate fabric covering her breasts. The fire in her lungs had ignited her whole body. She was seconds away from complete surrender when Bret intruded and she ripped herself from Rog’an’s embrace.

“Bret!” She blinked her eyes and realized it was just a flash of him in her mind. A memory of him holding her hand when she was near death. “No! Stop!” The command was to herself rather than Rog’an. “I’m sorry I should never have done that.” She bolted for the door, then halted and looked back to see if he was following.

“Go. I understand now. I’m a lire, thief and a murderer but I will not destroy true love.” He closed his eyes and turned away.

***

Tears flooding her eyes and chaotic thoughts clouding her mind Sharky somehow found her way back to the cabanas near the dock. She halted outside her room then cursed herself low under her breath.

“What the hell have I done? Sweet Jesus why didn’t my mother make me go to church more often?” She changed her mind and slipped quietly into Bedelia’s room. Her resting friend appeared to be dead. Vampires did not sleep but rather they lay in a coma like rest. Sharky knelt beside her and whispered.

“I know you can’t hear me but I have to tell you this. I did something stupid. I let Rog’an kiss me if he promised it would just be once. You know men never stop at one, I know they never stop at one and like a fool I agreed.

Oh God it was wonderful! Then he stopped and let me go after just on kiss. Who does that? I was weak and stupid and now I’m cursed with the memory of how much I liked it. I keep telling myself it will never happen again but when he held me it was like I was burning alive.

I know you will hate this part but only one thought stopped me. It was like Bret was there protecting me from myself.” She kissed Bedelia on the cheek then rose, there was no sign of her waking. Sharky left as quietly as she entered. Her cathartic confession gave her no absolution.

DEATH AND DOMINATION EPISODE SIXTEEN

At long last the Blood Moon Social Club Reunion will happen. Here are some details. Watch for more on Face Book.

Event: kool kollectables and blood moon social club reunion.

Location: 953 E. Sahara av # 9-B

Entry fee: Free

Date & Time: Sat. 1-16-16 12 noon to 6pm.

Company sponsor: Karl Clay Vetter Studios, Publishers of the Sci-Fi series Crossbreeds.

Featured guests: Critical Care Comics.

Cause: Comic book collection drive.

Rating: Family friendly.

Theme: Super Villain Rog’an of Nexukhan an interdimensional pirate. ‘Cosplayed by Karl Clay Vetter” is serving out a community service on earth. He must give away his treasured comics to the CCC super heroes to give to children in Vegas hospitals. Guests are asked to bring in contributions to help with this drive.

Activities: Author Karl Clay Vetter book singing. 100s of Photos for reminiscing the glory days. Free loot bags for dedicated supporters.  Others yet to be announced.

For your reading pleasure here are two new chapters. Sharky enters the domain of Markos Rainhaven and blood is spilled.

BLOOD MOON SOCIAL CLUB

DEATH AND DOMINATION EPISODE SIXTEEN

BY KARL CLAY VETTER

© 2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

PUBLISHED BY KARL CLAY VETTER STUDIOS

MISTIC CANYON, NEW MEXICO.

CHAPTER THIRTYTWO MARKOS RAINHAVEN

         Andre had watched from the wheelhouse of the Catalina Cutlass as Barron and Norris surveyed the new ship Sharky had captured. He felt the usual anxiety he always felt when his master went off without him. It was a side effect of his addiction to Barron’s blood. The big man looked thirty-five but was much older. He had started out tasting a few drops of Barron’s blood over forty years earlier. As time went on his strength increased as did his resistance to injury. He still aged but at a much slower rate. The price for this benefit was undying loyalty. A price he had never questioned. There had been other perks to being Barron’s bodyguard and enforcer. The clothing, the cars, the gambling allowance and the women.  However, since arriving in this new world Barron had been preoccupied and he had not wanted to bother him for his ration of blood. So from time to time he had helped himself to a shot glass from some of Sharky’s special blends. He held one in his hand and sniffed its heady aroma.  As the long endless foggy days and nights faded together he had developed a taste for these potent substitutes for the only vampire blood he had ever consumed. Thus the separation anxiety he felt when Barron left his side was much less than it had ever been.

For the first time in all the years of working for Barron a nagging notion plagued his mind. Andre, was beginning to wonder if maybe he wasn’t just a blood slave like all the other humans in this strange world. Oh yes well cared for and having a high rank but a blood slave nonetheless. No he did not have an ownership tag nor was he tapped for blood like a walking wine keg. He did on occasion feed Barron when they were in situations where Miss Costa’s special blends were unavailable. True he had been given a choice and entered into the arrangement freely. Barron had also been his friend and trusted him with all his dark secrets. But the addiction prevented him from ever making a different choice.

Some of the rebellious thoughts in his head revolved around the beautiful Miss Costa. He had always kept a respectful distance in their business dealings. But he was in love with her all the same as any other man who knew her. He saw Norris casting a lustful eye her way and even Barron seemed to admire her. Not just the men but Oleander and Bedelia too, both had girl crushes on her. How could they not love her? She was extraordinary, as well as beautiful. Like one of those legendary half mortal daughters of a sea god from one of Barron’s old books.

She of course was obsessed with Bret and there was no competing with that. So he was content to be a secret admirer. At least until his new guilty thoughts had begun to form in his mind. Captain Sharky, after all was the great liberator. As he watched the freed slaves rush about doing their work for her; doing it for their freedom. He sensed that they loved her too. What else could it be for? She held no power over them; no spells no addiction, not even gold. She had already given the booty to them with the choice of running or staying. All she had to offer was the quest for freedom and that was never guaranteed if they were killed or captured.

Handy had been a slave his whole life and now he was second in command of the Pelican. Andre was a quiet man who spent a lot of time observing and reflecting. Recent events had set him to thinking about a change. Only one person seemed to be the instrument of change. He was determined to speak with her when the chaos settled down just a bit. 

***

Sharky’s foot touched the wooden dock and hesitated before stepping off the long boat. She glanced back at her three vessels waiting for her return. She left them in Handy’s care and now she felt pangs of guilt. Much like a mother going back to work after having a baby.

Bret gave her a gentle nudge.

“Fear not Captain.” He said softly. “They will be there when you return. Rainhaven’s galleon is in no shape to give chase, at least not for a few days. Besides she is his only defense should his enemies return. You were smart to have them wait further out. They would have been caught in your own trap had you stayed in close to the port.”

“You better take the lead, I’ll just hang back and blend in. Maybe Admiral Rainhaven won’t notice me,” She replied. “Oh here, before I forget. I brought you some lunch bags. She handed a blood pack to each of the vampires.

Bret gave a dry chuckle. Then looked at Barron, Norris and Bedelia.

“Listen to me and do not doubt my words. We are about to enter the domain of the most powerful vampire in all of Oceanus. There is no blending in or going unnoticed. He can smell your fear, he can hear your heart beat through a stone wall. When you are called on keep your answers clipped short but do not lie he can read your thoughts like an open book.” His eye came back to Sharky.

“Not like Bedelia or Barron either, if he wants to poke around inside your head nothing can stop him. Another thing…” He paused looking at the high walls of the fortress. “I know you think I’m pretty fast and strong but don’t count on that getting us out of trouble with the Admiral. His powers are incredible and I am a child compared to him.” He slid the blood pack in his coin pouch. “If this goes well maybe we will have a pick-nick on the beach.”

***

Komotogon was a vibrant bustling metropolis. As soon as the battle ended the people hurried about cleaning up the mess. Shops and taverns were open for business and slaves cleared the battle debris. Their masters were seen rolling about in strange steam powered vehicles. The day was overcast but calm and small hot air balloons carried baskets aloft. The occupants were vampiric Lords and Ladies garbed in fine Victorian attire. They used spy glasses to search the horizon for enemy vessels but none presented.

It was as if a hurricane had blown through and just missed wiping out the village. This prompted a celebratory mood. Before Sharky and her party reached the castle-fortress musicians were playing lively tunes and street performers were dancing. A pair of jugglers on stilts tossed torches back and forth. It was all very festive and momentarily Sharky relaxed and set aside her apprehensions. The feeling did not last once they entered the front gate. There was no celebration nor music inside the foreboding walls. Only a growing sense of impending doom.

The fortress was massive and soldiers were everywhere. Heavily armed troops rushed to secure the damage areas and remove the dead. Many of the bloody corpses were human. Was this a different level of blood slave she wondered? If you shed your blood in battle you didn’t have to give it up for food? Oddly none seemed to notice them as they followed Bret through the winding passageways. Only once were they approached by an officer who appeared to be of high rank.

“Greetings Master Bretton, his Lordship the Admiral Supreme is expecting you.

“Bret responded with a sharp salute.

“Thank you Colonel. I got here as soon as I could.”

“Your help is appreciated but we had it well in hand.”

Bret nodded. “Most assuredly it was obvious they couldn’t last much longer under your skilled bombardments.”

Sharky struggled to hold her tongue still. It was apparent to her that buffing the brass was a common practice in every military. Bret seemed to know what he was doing and they proceeded. After climbing many flights of stairs they came to a vast open hall with no window. A few retainers scurried in and out with messages to a large block of a man seated on a great marble throne.

Sharky’s eyes had remained downward as instructed but she had heard so much of this mythic man. Was he everything she had been told? Was he really the legendary explorer Vasco Da Gamma? Was he now the god-like vampire Markos Rainhaven? She had to look and stole a furtive peek.

Bret halted them twenty feet back and he walked up to a flat slab of grey stone resting on a huge base. He sat the box he carried down and removed the astrolabe and sat it in view of the man. He said nothing but waited until spoken to.

The Admiral was garbed in a black and red uniform trimmed in gold braids. His silver grey hair and mustache were long and tangled. He appeared rather disheveled and not very god-like.  Clearly he had not rested for some time. His city had suffered from the night before and damage reports were still coming in. He was listening to a vampire officer rattle off a list of details as Bret waited his turn.

“Munitions are low and aerial scouts have not reported sighting any supply ships. Romanger’s pirates may have cut them off? For now however his attackers have fled but they could just be regrouping beyond our visual range.”

The Admiral agreed. “Double the scouts and send out long range air patrols.” He then turned his attention to Bret. “So you finally decided to pay us a visit young navigator. Did you enjoy your vacation in the old world? I’m sure you did and when I have time you must regale me with all the wonders of human endeavors. For now however, I’m just a little preoccupied with fighting for my very existence.”

“My deepest apologies Lord Admiral Most High. I kept a detailed log of the hunt for the thief who stole your property. My treacherous assistant Isaac McGuire, met with a gruesome demise and never revealed the existence of this world to anyone.”

“No doubt a fascinating read, perhaps I’ll have time for it while I’m in exile? Assuming Romanger allows me to keep my head. His reform rhetoric is resonating with my infantry flock. He has promised if they defect to him he will allow them to choose their own mates from his females. Can you imagen such a thing? At any moment my own slave army may come through that door with an unquenchable thirst for my blood. But enough of my paltry troubles I see you have brought me recruits and I hear you have commandeered a new modern vessel from the old world for me. They say it is remarkable.

“Well Sir, they are not so much recruits as they are paid specialists. I could not have completed my task without their invaluable assistance.”

“Mercenaries! I see. Then what great skills am I paying for?”

  Bret seemed nervous and this worried Sharky, she had never seen him falter with anyone before.

“Allow me Sir to introduce Barron a prominent Lord from the old world. He rules over a vast city and aided me in finally securing your device. This other gentleman is Captain Norris a mighty warrior. We met with many fierce enemies along the way. His prowess in battle saved the mission. Behind me is my personal retainer and Bedelia here you may already know? She is a survivor of the attack on the Smoking Pelican by Sky Pirates. She has been assisting me ever since I was almost taken by the pirates. You see my efforts were somewhat hampered by your rather large bounty on my head.” Bret kept the conversation going where he wanted it while slipping past Sharky and any bothersome details.

“Ah, yes the bounty. Well when you did not return for many months I grew to believe that perhaps you were in league with Romanger.” He paused and gazed without saying a word at a large side door. Moments later in response to a mental summons a retainer rushed to the large stone table and laid a scroll on it then quickly retreated. “There is your full pardon and revocation of that rather large bounty.”

“Thank you my Lord I am grateful for your generosity.”

“As for your high priced specialists what do they expect for their services?”

“Very little from you my Lord Admiral, supplies mainly. Then an opportunity to track down an island reputed to hold a vast treasure trove. We of course would share it with you in large part. From what you’ve told me, an infusion of gold right about now could turn the war in your favor.”

Rainhaven rose and descended the marble steps to the table.  

“So all you want is my blessing to run off in the middle of a war to go treasure hunting. And I’m to believe it’s all for my salvation. I think you have another plan.” He glanced at the large side door and issued another mental command. Promptly a squad of soldiers marched in with the crew from the Smoking Pelican and El Tibur’on. At the head of the line of prisoners was Suki followed by Handy and Megan. All appeared to have put up a fight and were looking terrified. They all knew what horrors lay before them as runaway slaves. The most diabolical tortures were reserved just for them.

I think you take me for a gullible fool. Romanger attacks my supply line drawing most of the fleet away then he attacks the fortress. Good plan but here is the best part. You show up and chase them away so I will owe you a great debt. Now I must show my appreciation and give you everything you need to finish me off. A grand scheme I’ll give you that. However, I am no fool and you will not win the war with your little slave rebellion.

“I can explain everything your Lordship.” Bret began.

“No need to explain. The whole story is clear to me and there is only one reward for such treachery. The Admiral began to change and his disheveled uniform fell away as he transformed into a monstrous demonic beast looming over Bret. In a flash he snatched Suki from the prisoner line. She shrieked in terror as he tore open her tender throat with his fangs and sucked her dry like a red ripe persimmon.

Norris howled a war cry of hate and anguish as he too transformed. The raging werewolf leaped over the stone table and landed on Rainhaven, claws and teeth ripping. Suki’s drained body fell to the floor as the two struggled. Rainhaven lifted Norris high over his head and slammed him down on the massive stone table then hurled him across the chamber where he crashed into a marble wall.

The snapping of bones amid the shattering of marble sent a chill through Sharky. Norris was still alive but unable to rise and poor Suki lay lifeless. Then she saw Rainhaven turning toward Handy.

“Stop! Enough of this!” she cried out. “I’m the one you deal with. Harm another of my crew and you’ll be sorry for it.”

The horrendous creature hesitated and gave her a snarl.

“So it is true, you are the one they call Captain Sharky.”

“Yes and if you want your precious gadget to work you need the lenses.”

“Sharky! What have you done?” Bret shouted as he looked at the astrolabe. Inside the box the lens case was empty.

“I knew from everything you told me that the mighty Lord Admiral would never pay for anything he could just take. So I removed the lenses without your knowing.”

Rainhaven bellowed his outrage and vanished, an instant later he crashed into Bret. His massive fists pounded three blows to every one Bret threw back. The fight was a blur then Bret collapsed in a broken bloody heap.

Barron realized this was going to be a disaster and he knew he was no match for the thing that just crushed Bret. He had to try something regardless, so he focused all his will and marshaled his most powerful mental command.

Rainhaven bellowed a low growling laugh and ripped into Barron’s mind. The clash of their mental weapons was like two chainsaws chewing each other to pieces. In the end Barron lost the contest and fell backward blood streaming from his eyes.

“Give me the lenses or watch me feast on your crew.”

Sharky reached into her pocket and removed her smart phone.

“You ever see one of these? No I can tell by that stupid look on your face you never have. You’ve been stashed away here in your own little world where you control everything. You even stopped raiding my world years ago. I suspect you didn’t like all the new technology you saw coming about. Well a lot has changed. I don’t need super powers to talk to my man Andre far from here. That’s right you got everyone but Andre. She tapped the screen and Andre appeared.

“Are you okay Andre?”

“Yes Captain Sharky.”

“Good and you still have the lenses?”

“Yes Captain Sharky.” He held out his hand and in his palm lay the lenses.

“Good now do as I ordered if we all don’t find you in time crush them and drop them in the ocean.”

“Yes Captain Sharky.”

She tapped the screen and he vanished.

Rainhaven jumped over the table and landed in front of Sharky. Bedelia screamed and threw herself his path. With a devastating sweep of his right hand he sent her flying across the stone floor. He grabbed Sharky and lifted her to eye level.

“Tell me… open your mind to me.”

She was limp for struggle was futile and she needed all her strength to withstand his attempts to open her mind.

“Your head is like a tight little clam but I will pry it open and eat your brain.”

“You are wasting time. I didn’t tell him which way to go, maybe he went north or south who knows? Even if I could tell you he is in the speed boat we brought with us. It is a hundred times faster than anything you have. You could never catch him before he destroys your shit. Now let us go and I’ll make a deal with you.”

He roared and shook her violently.

“Tell me now!” His probing into her mind was like a blow torch melting away steel plates, layer after layer. Still she refused to give up Andre.

“Two weeks with the FBI interrogators and I never ratted out my scumbag boyfriend. You can’t make me talk fuck-head. What will they say when it gets around that a mortal woman beat the great and powerful Lord Rainhaven at his own game. Your time is running out either make a deal with me or kill us all and I still win.” She began to laugh hysterically. “You’ll have our blood but I still win the game!”

***

Bret was trying to repair his body but the energy he expended in the fight left him too weak to regenerate. His left arm was broken and his right hand pulverized. Slowly he made his left hand crawl to the coin pouch. He managed to inch the blood bag out and worked it up to his mouth. As he tried to bite it open he saw Sharky being squeezed in Rainhaven’s vice-like bear hug. Her lungs could not take in breath and she was turning blue. He drained the bag and instantly his body began to heal.

Rainhaven had expended a tremendous amount of energy also and was weakened. Even so he was slowly crushing her to death. As Bret regained his footing he went to Bedelia, unconscious but she would revive. He found her bag and drained it too. He was reaching full strength and challenged his master.

“Let her go! She’s never going to tell you. Her resistance to mind control is mystifying and she is insufferably stubborn. Whatever deal she makes with you I’ll back it up. Now let her go.”

Maintaining his powerful beast form was exhausting for Rainhaven and he finally dropped her.

Bret scooped her up in his arms and listened for her lungs to inhale. There was a terrible long silence then she gave a deep gasp.

Rainhaven growled as he returned to his former self.

“What is your deal woman?”

***

Sharky nudged Bret to let her down. For a moment she was unsteady on her feet. Her astonished crew were watching her every move. For their sake she knew the next few minutes meant life or death for everyone. She gathered what strength she had left and stood defiant before Rainhaven.

“Bret, get the others on their feet. Lord Admiral, may I request your guards release my crew we need to move quickly? I have no interest in losing those lenses any more than you.”

With a wave of his hand the obedient guards complied.

She looked at her phone, a timer app was counting the seconds away. She barked orders at Handy.

“Get them in line behind you and don’t forget Suki we take our own with us when we leave.”

Rainhaven glared at her expectantly.

“My word is true as spoken Admiral. Here is my deal, first I will hunt down this Romanger character and disrupt his attacks on you. With a little luck I may even put him out of business for you. For that I expect no reward other than what booty I take off his ships. I will take his slaves too and add them to my crew. You have read the minds of my people and already know what I can do. This of course is the greatest fear of every vampire in Oceanus. Imagine, a slave rebellion. Such a disaster was bound to happen and now it has. The unexpected part is me. You don’t know me. You have been playing this silly war game with the other lords for centuries. You know their every move you even turned Bret so as to add spice to their strategies. But you always had the last word, you always approved his tactics. You even set into motion McGuire didn’t you? You told Bret no on his risky plan to steal the astrolabe. But in reality you longed for a real challenge and you set it up so McGuire stole the astrolabe anyway, didn’t you?

“You are a very clever kitty aren’t you?” he growled.

“It has been ages since anyone offered you a surprise you did not expect. Well here I am. I will surprise the hell out of you. I will do something you have never been able to do. I will unite every lord behind you. Yours will be the largest armada ever assembled since you made this world. They will flock to you to try and stop me. I suggest… No! I insist that you make the bounty on Captain Sharky’s head the biggest ever. Send out wanted posters everywhere that Captain Sharky is the leader of the slave rebellion. This will be great fun won’t it? I promise you a challenge like you’ve never had.”

Bret had revived Barron and Bedelia, Norris was still mending and had to be carried. Handy had the crew ready to march.

“Oh fear not for the astrolabe I think we can just catch up with Andre using my own little gadget to track him. I’ll take it with me for now and my navigator Bret.” She put the astrolabe back in its box and retrieved the scroll. “You won’t mind if I use it a little longer will you? When your mighty fleet catches me you’ll get it back. She started for the door. “You shouldn’t have much trouble putting down my rebellion after all I’m just a female right?”

“I don’t like this deal what makes you think I will let you get out of here alive?”

“Two things Most High and Mighty Lord Admiral. One, I still have the lenses and you know you can’t find them faster than I can. Second, I know you have been longing for this day. I felt it when you held me in your arms. I felt your exhilaration, you quaked with excitement.”

A grim sneer lifted his right eyebrow.

“You dare to tempt me you wanton harlot?”

Her seductive smile flashed briefly.

“You can’t wait to see what I’ll do next. So be patient oh Great and Powerful One. I’m going to thrill you.” She strutted to the head of the line and marched her weary band right out the door. Bret was at her side silent but alert to the possibility of an attack.

From behind them the Admiral shouted to her.

“Go, I give you a head start but I’m coming for you, with everything I have with every ship afloat, with every airship. Catching you will be no challenge for me, you prissy little puss.”

Sharky shouted back.

“That’s the spirit! Until we meet again you evil son of a bastard.”

CHAPTER THIRTYTHREE THE REBELION GAME

“You gambled with all our lives and left the table with most of the pot. Even you must realize that kind of luck is a very rare thing.” Barron stood next to Sharky and Bret on the bow of El Tibur’on.

Sharky’s eyes were glued to her binoculars.

“You don’t have to lecture me Barron I know I fucked up. Suki would be alive now if I had moved the ships further out. You’re right I gambled and she’s dead.”

Norris heard her as he limped his way along from behind them. His left leg was still repairing itself. Even with accelerated healing werewolves took longer to regenerate than vampires.

“As much as I might want to join you in kicking yourself I just spoke with some of the crew. They were captured by a force of soldiers that dropped out of the sky from a dirigible. They used a thick fog bank as cover. Even if you had moved further out the result would have been the same. Rainhaven is just too paranoid to trust anyone even his savors who rescued him from Romanger’s attack. I’m curious, how did you know he had set up this McGuire fellow to steal the gadget in the first place?”

“It was obvious from the beginning when Bret told me this was all a never ending war game. The Admiral likes to control everything even the tactics his opponents use. He has to be the winner all the time and I’ll tell you something else. The treasure island is his reserve stash, he can find it any time he wants. Remember, he created this world. Who else would have hidden a hoard of loot on a remote island? He has to move his operation around all the time but his bank says safe and secure where only he knows its location.”

Barron smiled grimly. “You are correct. While in his mind I saw images of his bank as you call it. I think I can guide us to it. Assuming we survive long enough.”

Bret had long since given up scolding her for her reckless schemes but he was concerned.

“I was a fool not to have seen all that. I thought I knew him well. I get why you challenged him the way you did. It defiantly got us out of there. I just don’t get why you had to taunt the bull with insisting on the highest bounty and wanted posters. Why goad him?”

“He would have done it anyway and now we get free advertising. Slaves everywhere will hear of the rebellion and that will work to our advantage. I know you are all worried he will eventually surround us with a massive fleet but don’t forget we have the gadget. We can still escape back to Vegas where he can’t go.”

“Yes but that is yet another very risky play.” Barron reminded her.

“What can I say I was born in Las Vegas I play the long shots.”

“Any sign of Andre yet?” Norris asked.

“No,” she said.

“Bret was curious and pulled her phone from her pocket.

“I realize I know very little of your modern technology but I thought this thing was useless in this world?”

Barron smiled. “The phone won’t work without cell towers and Wi-Fi. But it’s not entirely useless. As long as the battery was charged by the generator on the cutlass. Some functions still work like the video camera. That conversation with Andre was nothing but a recording of him saying, “yes Captain Sharky” several times.”

“I just talked to the recording. Andre is headed east and we have to catch him before he crushes the lenses,” Sharky added.

“But you said you didn’t know which way he went?” Bret quizzed.

She laughed. “I didn’t but he said he would leave a clue for me where I could find it on my new ship.” She pointed at a mark made with a knife on the rail. “He cut an E in the wood. By the time we were all aboard and underway I had found it.” 

Bret rubbed his throbbing temple near the patch.

“So you stole the lenses and had all this planned out without any of us knowing?”

She sighed. “Don’t be mad lover. I had to do it that way. You told me how powerful the Admiral was. He would have read your minds and learned everything.”

“But how the hell did you resist his mind probe, even Barron was no match for him?”

“It’s simple really I don’t resist. All I do is think of something that helps me block whoever is probing. All he got from me was a recipe for my favorite blueberry power crunch smoothy. Oh, I love them so much and really miss them.”

“I wondered what a smoothy was. When I tried to read your mind all I saw was thick purple yuk. But I suspect there is more to it than thought blocking that usually fails with a powerful deep probe.”

Sharky lowed her glasses and grinned at Bedelia.

“Are you all better now sweetie?”

“Yes I just finished one of your blood bag smoothies. I guess I’m not as tough as I thought. He really busted me up.”

“Boat to starboard!” yelled a female lookout in the crow’s nest.

Sharky scanned the water and saw the speed boat.

“Handy! Quick hoist the colors to let him know who we are,” Sharky ordered.

He ran up a black flag with a full red moon over crossed blades a black skull face glared from inside the moon.

“There she be Captain. Megan did a right pretty job on her.”

***

Andre’s reunification with the crew was a joyous but a short lived occasion. Norris had been making special burial at sea arrangements for Suki and everyone soon gathered on the deck of the Cutlass. Her body was wrapped in the silk dragon tapestry she died in, it served her now as a burial shroud.

“Suki was our friend and crewmate, she was kind and generous and did not deserve her fate.” Sharky bowed her head and laid a hand on the shroud. “I pray she finds peace for she knew so little of it.”

Norris wiped away a stream of tears and drew his knife. With a smooth cut he stripped off a long swath of the shimmering shroud. He then tied it around his waist.

“This is a reminder of the oath I swear to now. As long as I breathe I will never rest until Markos Rainhaven pays in blood.”

Sharky clenched her fists.

“Oh he will pay in blood alright and everything else we can take from him.”

***

Sharky’s little fleet had traveled to the north for two days without rest putting as much water between them and Komotogon as possible. However, an old problem was getting worse.

“Sorry to bother you Captain Sharky, but we never had a chance to restock our food supplies before we were captured. We’ve been catching some fish but even that is barely feeding the crew. Without fruit and vegetables we run the risk of scurvy,” Megan reported.

“Thank you Megan I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime ask Captain Norris if he will let you microwave some of his frozen dinners.”

Megan grinned. “Yes mam, I’ve been dying to see how that thing works.”

“Oh it’s wonder. You might soften the old sea dog up with a good meal first and don’t forget to fill his mug with whisky.”

Megan glanced around the deck. Seeing no one close she lowered her voice.

“I mean no disrespect Captain but I never saw a woman that had more tricks up her sleeve than you. You have every man on three boats saluting you and the way you handled that demon vampire Lord Rainhaven… well I’ve said enough.”

“Yes you have Quartermaster Megan and I’ll thank you not to be spreading gossip about me.” Sharky said firmly, then gave her a parting wink.

Bret was in the wheelhouse of El Tibur’on hunched over his charts when Sharky came in. At the wheel was Donovan with the big black mustachio.

“How goes it gentlemen?”

“Steady and smooth, Captain,” Donovan reported.

Bret was dire as usual.

“We are approaching the Hootooku Archipelagos. This is a very dangerous place, hundreds of small Islands and shoals all clustered together. Pirates love it in there because the waters are shallow with reefs and deep draft war galleons never venture in. Even light fast sloops have to take care. Then you have every scallywag with a price on his head ready to jump you. But I’m sure you already know this and have a plan don’t you?”

“My plan for now is finding food. We are desperately low. So what do your charts say?”

He gave them another long look. Then he turned back with a grim smirk on his craggy face.

“The nearest place to restock supplies is Rog’an’s Flotilla.”

Donavon spun around eyes wide nostrils flaring his big mustachio looking like walrus tusks.

“Rogan’s Flotilla! I heard tales to peel the skin off your face about that terrible place. They say Rogan is a devil in a man’s body.”

Bret rubbed his throbbing head.

“They say the same of me but food and fresh water can be had for a price. And he won’t appreciate you mispronouncing his name... its Rog’an.”

“I take it Donavon has only heard of this place what about you Bret?”

“Oh I was there once some years back.”

“Who is this character and is he a friend of Admiral Rainhaven?”

“Rog’an is a mystery, no one knows who he really is nor where he came from. He is nether vampire nor werewolf. As for devil that is up for debate. He has no alliance with the Admiral there we are in good company. Those two avoid each other. I’m not really sure why but the Admiral’s fleet can’t get in where he is the water is too dangerous. Oddly there is no bounty on his head not that anyone is brave enough to try and collect it. I know the narrow pass to reach the flotilla and we just maybe can get our vessels in close. The cutlass for sure can dock.

“Can we trust him not to attack us for the bounty on our heads?”

“Like I said he and Rainhaven avoid each other and he won’t attack us. Be forewarned he is slippery as they come. You will find him most fascinating Captain Sharky… most fascinating.”

A course change and two hours later and they spotted the first sign of their destination. The skeleton of a ship lay half submerged in the water.

“The waters will be shallow and the pass between the reefs are tight. We should tie up El Tibur’on here and go on.” Bret advised.  The Pelican is much smaller and can make it a little further.”

Sharky gave instructions to Donovan and the crew to wait with guns primed and ready. Then she boarded the Pelican and they ventured on. Going was made all the more slow and difficult for the gray fog was heavy. Soon the hull of the Pelican was scraping jagged reef and they halted.

“Well Handy it looks like you and Megan will be in charge until I return. Keep your weapons close and use the long boat to send messages back and forth to the other ship. I don’t want you to feel isolated. We will take the speed boat with us. When we get supplies I’ll send them back and then you can relay food to El Tibur’on. It will be slow and tedious but under the circumstances I see no other way to resupply.”

“No worries Captain Sharky we’ll manage.” Handy replied with confidence.

The next leg of the journey was even more precarious. The pontoons hit reef and bounced around making a frightful noise. Norris managed to keep the Cutlass from running aground but they moved at a turtles pace.

Sharky stood on the bow with Bret while the others were scattered along the sides watching for danger. Occasionally Bedelia or Barron would call out a warning. Andre would run over with a long push pole and heave the boat away from a sharp ledge.

Sharky was nervous and placed her hand in his and leaned in close seeking comfort.

“I never felt claustrophobic before now, it’s really scary.”

“We’re almost there,” he said softly.

“I’m still not up on all the nautical jargon. What exactly is a flotilla?”

“In simple terms it’s a large group of vessels all sailing together.”

“So this Rog’an has a fleet in here?”

“Well, in this case flotilla maybe is misleading. Over the years he has collected a mishmash of boats, barges and cannibalized ship wrecks. His people have tied them all together to build an artificial Island of sorts. They trade with anyone that can find their way in. They even grow food on some of the little Islands that cluster around them. I suspect that they have a network of agents that venture out and do a little raiding from time to time so we don’t want to linger here.”

“Look!” She pointed at a light not far ahead. It grew in brightness and soon they saw more lights. Should we announce ourselves? I don’t want them to think we’re sneaking up on them.”

Bret gave her sly grin.

“Sure why don’t you do that? Go toot the horn three times just to let them now we are friendly.”

Sharky ran past Bedelia as she was coming forward.

“Why did you tell her to do that? They knew we were coming back at the first stop. I sensed their scouts lurking in the fog.”

“You keep quiet this should be quite amusing.”

She studied his face for a moment.

“If devils were dogs you would be the leader of the pack. What the woman sees in you I’ll never fathom?”

“I thank you for the compliment.” He shot back as the horn sounded three times.