Page 63 of Voyage of Death and Desire

“Yes,” she answers. “I called his phone, didn’t I? I’m his damn girlfriend. Or a friend with benefits, or…hell, I don’t know what I am. Where is he?”

Looking at the body below me. “He…he let me borrow his phone. I’ve been kidnapped.”

“What?”

“I’ve been kidnapped. Jimmy found me, but he’s hurt, and I have his phone.”

“Oh, my God. Where is he?”

“I don’t know where we are.” I soften my voice, hoping to sound like the scared woman I should be. “We need help.”

“Elsbeth?” the woman asks. “Are you the same Elsbeth that I drove around the Banks the other day?”

“Brittney?”

“It’s me, girl. Oh!” She goes quiet for a minute and the sound of papers shuffling echoes through the phone. “That man you were with called looking for you earlier.”

“Thorne? What did you tell him?”

“The truth. I ain’t seen hide nor hair of you. He left his number.”

“Call him! Tell him I’m not far from the bar and with Kragen.” Brittney’s quiet on the other end. “Brittney?”

“I’m here, just writin’ it down. Tell Jimmy I’m coming.”

“No, Brittney. You can’t come here.”

She sighs deeply. “We’ll see about that.” She hangs up the phone, and for the first time, I have a bit of hope.

Picking up Jimmy’s body, I drag it outside, laying it in the sun. With the few vampires that I’ve seen die over the years, their bodies will usually disappear quickly. I’m not sure why Jimmy is still here. I place his head next to the body, stopping myself from kicking it off the side.

Looking around the room, I search for anything that will help me in a fight. I can hold my own, but against eight other vampires and my maker, I don’t stand a chance. Shit! Where’s a silver chain when you need it?

The door to the quarters opens without warning,and Kragen bursts through. He’s dressed in what has become the traditional pirate costume of modern times. Fringed pants, a puffy shirt, and a long sword complete his outfit. “Good, you’re dressed, my love. We have company.”

Two men enter behind him. Both are vampires and dressed in the finest fashions from the height of piracy. Where Kragen looks like a dollar store version, these men are fashionable and gorgeous.

“She’s just as lovely as you said,” the taller of them announces as they enter. “She’ll do splendidly.” His thick French accent makes it difficult to understand his words.

Do for what? Instead of asking, I smile, not sure what’s expected of me. “Hello, gentlemen.” I curtsy.

“Where’s the treasure?” the shorter of the two asks. His accent isn’t as pronounced as the first.

Kragen smiles. “All in due time, gentlemen. All in due time.” He motions toward two open chairs at the table. “Please, sit down, and we will discuss the games.”

The games? What the hell is he talking about?

“Excuse us, my dear. We need to talk in privacy,” Kragen smiles a fake smile toward me.

“She stays,” the taller man interjects. “It’s rare to see a woman so well dressed in today’s society.”

“Very well,” Kragen answers with a smile, pulling out a chair for me. I sit, facing the two strangers.

He clears his throat before continuing. “The gamesare scheduled for tomorrow. The treasure has been safely secured. As per our agreement, your full payment is required before the games begin.”

The French vampires share a look. “Half before and half after,” the taller one answers.

Kragen closes his eyes, clearly frustrated with the negotiations. “Very well.”

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