Page 60 of Voyage of Death and Desire

“Will you take me to the others?” David’s eyes open wide with fear. I move closer still, locking my eyes with his. “I won’t harm them. I am here to help you. You can trust me.”

His pupils dilate with my compulsion. “Follow me,” he whispers.

He leads me off the main deck into the familiar hallway that leads to the room I lived in for many years. The closer we get, the stronger the odor of death becomes. We enter, and I resist the urge to cover my nose.

The four people in front of me are nothing more than children. Their bodies are covered in wounds, and most are barely conscious.

“Oh, my God,” I whisper. “How can I help you?”

“We’re here to serve you,” a young girl says, sliding herself backward against the hull. “Are you hungry, miss?” Her voice weaker than moments before.

“Can you walk?” I ask.

She struggles to stand, finally making it with the help of David. “Yes, ma’am,” she answers.

“Take her to the captain’s quarters,” I demand. “I’ll bring the others.”

David’s eyes take on a look of fear I’d recognize anywhere. “Maddie was the only one allowed in his quarters, and she disappeared.”

“It’s all right,” I reassure him. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

I watch as the duo slowly makes their way out of the room toward the quarters, while I gather the other three up and follow behind. I don’t care what Kragen says, I will not allow anyone else to suffer as I did.

I move in front of David, opening the door for them. “Are you sure it’s all right, miss? The captain is going to be angry.”

“I don’t care if he is. I will not allow him to harm you.” I know that’s a promise I can’t keep if it comes down to it, but I will die trying. I set the three unconscious girls down carefully and watch as David does the same.

“There’s water in there.” I point at the bathtub. Get them something to drink, and I’ll find food.

“We usually eat rats,” David says, following my directions. His words bring back memories of my life in the same room. A life where rats kept me alive after the transformation.

“Aye, I remember,” I answer, wishing the ghosts of memories away.

On a ship full of vampires, there is no food anywhere to be found. If I leave to search the inlet and Kragen discovers what I’ve done, I have no doubt he won’t hesitate to kill every one of them.

“Thank you, ma’am,” David says, bringing water to the weak group of humans.

“Don’t thank me yet. We haven’t gotten you out of here yet.”

The smell of sulfur hits me before the sensation of Kragen approaching does. Shit. “Get under the table, now,” I whisper.

“Ma’am?” David looks confused.

“Hide, now!” I demand.

David drags one of the unconscious girls under thelarge table, and I follow behind with the others. Just as I stand, the door to the quarters opens, revealing the source of my nightmares.

“Hello, my dear.” I cross my arms in front of my chest without responding. He lifts his nose into the air, sniffing the unmistakable smell of death, and smiles with recognition. “You wouldn’t happen to know what happened to the crew’s dinner, would you?”

The sound of whimpering whispers from the hiding place. “It seems they’ve disappeared,” he continues, stalking closer toward the table. “I wonder where they are?” He bends down, closer to the humans. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

“Stop!” I demand. Moving vampire speed, I stand between him and the terrified children. “They are nothing more than babies. You can’t force them to be here.”

Kragen stands. “Force? Who said anything about forcing? Did I force anyone?” he asks the group hiding.

The whimpers intensify. “See,” he continues. “No one said anything about being forced. They’re free to go anytime they wish.”

“Then they choose to leave now,” I interrupt.

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