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.