Page 16 of Voyage of Death and Desire

“I don’t want to live forever.”

“Surrender yourself, or everyone aboard this vessel will die.”

Thorne moves closer to the man. “You’ll have to go through me first.”

“I like that idea,” he responds.

“No. I won’t allow you to die for me.” I turn back toward the creature. “If I go with you, do I have your word that you will spare the rest of the ship?”

“Yes,” his voice slurs.

“Elsbeth, you can’t possibly be considering this. He’s not a threat. My men will take him.”

“Your naivety is amusing.” He turns toward the oncoming ship. “That ship contains many of my kind. You won’t win. We will slaughter every soul on board, starting with you and her family.” He licks his lips, turning toward me. “They’re below, aren’t they?” He lifts his head to the sky. “I can smell them from here.”

Thorne raises his sword high, charging at the creature. The man moves seconds before Thorne makes contact with him, sending the captain into the railing. He turns quickly, finding the creature on the other side of him. “How do you move so quickly?”

A deep laugh echoes off the sea below. “It’s simply what I do, boy.” He turns back toward me. “Come now, Elsbeth. Is his death worth it? Aretheirdeaths worth it?” He motions to the crowd gathered around, swords held at their chest.

“Elsbeth?” a familiar voice says from behind me. Iturn, finding Charles standing in the doorway to the stateroom hall. “What’s going on?”

“Go back to the room now!” I demand.

The creature lifts his nose high in the air once more and smiles. “Your brother is calling you, Elsbeth. Heisyour brother, isn’t he? I smell the family bond.”

“Elsie?” Charles continues.

“Charles, go inside.”

“Yes, Charles, go inside,” the creature mimics my words.

“Captain, the ship is close!” a man yells from the lookout.

“Oh, look. They’re here.” He turns back toward me. “Come, Elsbeth.”

Thorne raises his sword high. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”

“Are you going to let him make decisions for you? I thought you were stronger than that.”

“I’m not going with you.”

I blink, and the creature is gone. Fear fills me. I turn, finding my worst fear coming true. Charles’s eyes are huge as the monster stands behind him with long fingernails pressed against his throat.

“No!” I scream. “Leave him alone.”

Charles closes his eyes, hoping to hide the tear that just escaped. “Take me instead,” he whispers.

“How sweet. The relationship between siblings isn’t always so loving.”

The creature’s mouth contorts, and the fangs fromearlier grow even larger. He bites into Charles’s neck. Seconds later, his lifeless body lands with a sickening thud on the deck.

“Vampire,” Smith whispers from the helm.

The creature turns toward the first mate and bows dramatically. “One of the many names my kind are called.”

“Charles,” I cry toward the lifeless body of my brother. Blood surrounds his remains. Memories of my father’s body, lying in a similar pool of blood, flood into my mind.

“Come, Elsbeth,” the creature says, reaching his hand toward me.

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