self-defense is not a crime here. Deliberate unprovoked violence, however, is punishable by permanent expulsion. Stealing from any of us will also have you expelled. As for contributing to our community, normally you would take your turn at night duty, though it seems that Saira already has you occupied with other things. Other than this, you will take part in whatever missions or expeditions we undertake.” He turned his eyes toward me.
I nodded.
“Sounds simple enough.” I looked back out toward the ocean. “What are they?” I couldn’t keep myself from asking, seeing the silhouettes of dozens of islands in the distance.
“Our neighbors,” he said with a grimace. “All pirates. This whole area is notorious. That’s why we can never afford to be lax on security.”
“Do you have many attacks?”
“Oh, yes. Sometimes on a weekly basis. There are often new pirates passing through these waters who are willing to try their hand at stealing some unearned goods.” He pointed downward. The remains of seven bodies hung skewered on pikes—apparently ogres. “That’s what we do to those who try to plunder us.”
There was an uncomfortable pause as I watched the skeletons swaying in the wind.
“Well, if that’s all, captain, I think I’ll head off.”
“Good luck,” he said, grinning.
I turned away and rushed down the mountain. I continued my tour around the island, occasionally passing a thick snake slithering in the undergrowth, or a deer-like animal with twisted horns I couldn’t quite put a name to.
As each hour passed, I felt worse and worse about my assignment. I didn’t know how I would be able to spring from where I’d left off with Mona into having her accept me as a friend. My ego twinged at the thought of apologizing for my behavior, even though I did regret the way I had handled the situation.
I hated the idea of chasing after her. I wasn’t used to jumping through hoops. Not for anyone, other than my father.
Worst of all, I still didn’t have control over my blackouts. If she aggravated me again, I felt nervous as to how I might react. I had managed to contain myself back on the ship, but it had been a struggle I had no desire to repeat.
Eventually as the sky began to lighten, a warm orange glow appearing along the horizon, I returned to my room in the tunnels. Sitting down on the old mattress, I leaned my back against the wall and stretched out my legs.
I didn’t leave my room for the entire day. I just sat there, looking at the dirt walls and steeling myself for what was to come. Complaining and protesting were pointless. This was the first task that Saira had given me and—as much as I detested the control she had over me—if I didn’t complete it, she would have me thrown off of the island. I would be cast adrift and would surely perish in the ocean.
Maybe I would find an alternative place to stay in the coming weeks, but I had nothing of the sort yet.
My best course of action was to swallow my pride and get this madness over with as soon as possible. After that, Saira would assign me to guard the island like the rest of the vampires. The job I should have had to start with.
A knocking at my door broke through my thoughts.
“Enter,” I called.
A large ogre swung the door open. On seeing me, he smiled and held out an oversized hand. I stood up and shook it.
“I’m Brett,” he said, his mustard-yellow eyes lighting up. “I’m doing some roasting up on the hill nearby. There will be blood, too. Since you’re new, I thought you might welcome the chance to meet some of us.”
I had no desire to meet anybody. But, realizing that I was in need of blood, I nodded and followed him out of the tunnels. He led me to the top of a high grassy hill nearby where a bonfire had been lit. A crowd of vampires and werewolves—none of whom I recognized—sat around it, drinking and talking.
Brett grabbed a jug of blood from near the fire and poured some into a clay cup. I sniffed
I nodded.
“Sounds simple enough.” I looked back out toward the ocean. “What are they?” I couldn’t keep myself from asking, seeing the silhouettes of dozens of islands in the distance.
“Our neighbors,” he said with a grimace. “All pirates. This whole area is notorious. That’s why we can never afford to be lax on security.”
“Do you have many attacks?”
“Oh, yes. Sometimes on a weekly basis. There are often new pirates passing through these waters who are willing to try their hand at stealing some unearned goods.” He pointed downward. The remains of seven bodies hung skewered on pikes—apparently ogres. “That’s what we do to those who try to plunder us.”
There was an uncomfortable pause as I watched the skeletons swaying in the wind.
“Well, if that’s all, captain, I think I’ll head off.”
“Good luck,” he said, grinning.
I turned away and rushed down the mountain. I continued my tour around the island, occasionally passing a thick snake slithering in the undergrowth, or a deer-like animal with twisted horns I couldn’t quite put a name to.
As each hour passed, I felt worse and worse about my assignment. I didn’t know how I would be able to spring from where I’d left off with Mona into having her accept me as a friend. My ego twinged at the thought of apologizing for my behavior, even though I did regret the way I had handled the situation.
I hated the idea of chasing after her. I wasn’t used to jumping through hoops. Not for anyone, other than my father.
Worst of all, I still didn’t have control over my blackouts. If she aggravated me again, I felt nervous as to how I might react. I had managed to contain myself back on the ship, but it had been a struggle I had no desire to repeat.
Eventually as the sky began to lighten, a warm orange glow appearing along the horizon, I returned to my room in the tunnels. Sitting down on the old mattress, I leaned my back against the wall and stretched out my legs.
I didn’t leave my room for the entire day. I just sat there, looking at the dirt walls and steeling myself for what was to come. Complaining and protesting were pointless. This was the first task that Saira had given me and—as much as I detested the control she had over me—if I didn’t complete it, she would have me thrown off of the island. I would be cast adrift and would surely perish in the ocean.
Maybe I would find an alternative place to stay in the coming weeks, but I had nothing of the sort yet.
My best course of action was to swallow my pride and get this madness over with as soon as possible. After that, Saira would assign me to guard the island like the rest of the vampires. The job I should have had to start with.
A knocking at my door broke through my thoughts.
“Enter,” I called.
A large ogre swung the door open. On seeing me, he smiled and held out an oversized hand. I stood up and shook it.
“I’m Brett,” he said, his mustard-yellow eyes lighting up. “I’m doing some roasting up on the hill nearby. There will be blood, too. Since you’re new, I thought you might welcome the chance to meet some of us.”
I had no desire to meet anybody. But, realizing that I was in need of blood, I nodded and followed him out of the tunnels. He led me to the top of a high grassy hill nearby where a bonfire had been lit. A crowd of vampires and werewolves—none of whom I recognized—sat around it, drinking and talking.
Brett grabbed a jug of blood from near the fire and poured some into a clay cup. I sniffed
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