Read Online Vampirates 3: Blood Captain by Justin Somper - Free Book Online
Authors: Justin Somper
Tags: General, Children's Books, Action & Adventure, Juvenile Fiction, Action & Adventure - General, Fantasy & Magic, Ages 9-12 Fiction, Children: Grades 4-6, Ghost Stories, Horror & Ghost Stories, Healers, Pirates, Juvenile Horror, Seafaring life, Action & Adventure - Pirates
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to settle an argument so much as to start one.”
“What do you mean?” Connor said.
“I’m not sure,” Bart said. “I’ve just got a funny feeling. We’ll just have to keep our eyes and ears open and see what goes down.”
By now they had reached the ship and began making their way up the gangplank.
“Man, I’m going to sleep well tonight,” Gonzalez said as he jumped onto the deck. He yawned and stretched out his arms. “Are you boys coming to crash or hanging out on deck awhile?”
Bart looked at him with a grin. “I think someone’s forgotten we’re all on the night watch. You’d better get some espresso down or you’re going to be as much use as a custard cutlass!”
“No, no,” Gonzalez said, shaking his head. “I forgot, is all. Hold the espresso, I’ll be fine!”
“What’s that noise?” Connor asked, five minutes later.
“Check out Sleeping Beauty!” Bart pointed up to the crow’s nest.
Above them, Gonzalez was slumped against the edge of the barrel in an unpromising contortion, one arm dangling limply over the side. Now Connor realized the strange whinnying noises were his mate’s snores.
“How can he possibly sleep up there? Standing up?”
Bart shook his head. “I wouldn’t exactly call that standing. Thing about Gonzalez is he can sleep pretty much anywhere, anyhow,” he said. “Fat lot of use he is. Let’s just hope the waves are kind to us tonight. Wouldn’t want to wake our little baby!”
Connor was tired himself, but pleasantly energized by the events of the day. Days that began with conquering his fear and ended with dancing in the arms of Sugar Pie had much to recommend them. And then there was the arrival of Barbarro and his strange family. Whatever they were here for, it was intriguing to get to see the rest of Molucco’s family firsthand.
He walked back up the deck toward the prow, looking beyond the ship’s edge out in the direction of the horizon. It was a starry night, and as was his habit, he began searching for the constellations. There was Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer. Connor smiled to himself at the name, thinking of the two captains Wrathe with the snakes in their hair. Perhaps in millennia to come, they’d name constellations after Molucco and Barbarro. But for now, there was Ophiuchus. He remembered how he’d struggled to see it as a kid, and how his dad had reassured him. “Don’t worry, Con. Most of the stars in this one are quite dim — just look for the shape of a teapot.” Ever since, he’d always thought of this constellation as the Giant Celestial Teapot.
Looking out at the night sky, he thought, of course, of Grace. Where was she now? Was she gazing at the same stars? Maybe she was thinking about him? He missed her. He knew she had her own journey to make but he hated her not being around. He hoped she’d be back again soon. He was tired of saying goodbye to the people who mattered most to him — his dad, Jez, Grace . . .
“Penny for ’em.”
Connor looked up and found Bart at his side.
“I was just checking in with Ophiuchus,” Connor said with a smile.
“Oh you was, was ya?” Bart said, nodding. “Okay, I have to confess I have zero idea what you’re talking about.”
Connor grinned and pointed into the sky. “Otherwise known as the Great Celestial Teapot!”
Bart looked out into the sky, then back toward Connor. “You know what, Tempest? Sometimes I forget what a strange fruit you are!”
“Strange!” Connor exclaimed. “Who are you calling strange?” He squared up to Bart, tensing his body.
“Oh you want some, do you?” Bart said, amused.
Suddenly Connor shook his head. His eyes were wide and he was shaking uncontrollably.
“What is it, buddy? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
Connor took advantage of Bart’s momentary distraction to hurl himself at him.
“Oh, you dirty . . .” Bart regained his composure immediately, standing up to his full height, with Connor clinging to
“What do you mean?” Connor said.
“I’m not sure,” Bart said. “I’ve just got a funny feeling. We’ll just have to keep our eyes and ears open and see what goes down.”
By now they had reached the ship and began making their way up the gangplank.
“Man, I’m going to sleep well tonight,” Gonzalez said as he jumped onto the deck. He yawned and stretched out his arms. “Are you boys coming to crash or hanging out on deck awhile?”
Bart looked at him with a grin. “I think someone’s forgotten we’re all on the night watch. You’d better get some espresso down or you’re going to be as much use as a custard cutlass!”
“No, no,” Gonzalez said, shaking his head. “I forgot, is all. Hold the espresso, I’ll be fine!”
“What’s that noise?” Connor asked, five minutes later.
“Check out Sleeping Beauty!” Bart pointed up to the crow’s nest.
Above them, Gonzalez was slumped against the edge of the barrel in an unpromising contortion, one arm dangling limply over the side. Now Connor realized the strange whinnying noises were his mate’s snores.
“How can he possibly sleep up there? Standing up?”
Bart shook his head. “I wouldn’t exactly call that standing. Thing about Gonzalez is he can sleep pretty much anywhere, anyhow,” he said. “Fat lot of use he is. Let’s just hope the waves are kind to us tonight. Wouldn’t want to wake our little baby!”
Connor was tired himself, but pleasantly energized by the events of the day. Days that began with conquering his fear and ended with dancing in the arms of Sugar Pie had much to recommend them. And then there was the arrival of Barbarro and his strange family. Whatever they were here for, it was intriguing to get to see the rest of Molucco’s family firsthand.
He walked back up the deck toward the prow, looking beyond the ship’s edge out in the direction of the horizon. It was a starry night, and as was his habit, he began searching for the constellations. There was Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer. Connor smiled to himself at the name, thinking of the two captains Wrathe with the snakes in their hair. Perhaps in millennia to come, they’d name constellations after Molucco and Barbarro. But for now, there was Ophiuchus. He remembered how he’d struggled to see it as a kid, and how his dad had reassured him. “Don’t worry, Con. Most of the stars in this one are quite dim — just look for the shape of a teapot.” Ever since, he’d always thought of this constellation as the Giant Celestial Teapot.
Looking out at the night sky, he thought, of course, of Grace. Where was she now? Was she gazing at the same stars? Maybe she was thinking about him? He missed her. He knew she had her own journey to make but he hated her not being around. He hoped she’d be back again soon. He was tired of saying goodbye to the people who mattered most to him — his dad, Jez, Grace . . .
“Penny for ’em.”
Connor looked up and found Bart at his side.
“I was just checking in with Ophiuchus,” Connor said with a smile.
“Oh you was, was ya?” Bart said, nodding. “Okay, I have to confess I have zero idea what you’re talking about.”
Connor grinned and pointed into the sky. “Otherwise known as the Great Celestial Teapot!”
Bart looked out into the sky, then back toward Connor. “You know what, Tempest? Sometimes I forget what a strange fruit you are!”
“Strange!” Connor exclaimed. “Who are you calling strange?” He squared up to Bart, tensing his body.
“Oh you want some, do you?” Bart said, amused.
Suddenly Connor shook his head. His eyes were wide and he was shaking uncontrollably.
“What is it, buddy? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
Connor took advantage of Bart’s momentary distraction to hurl himself at him.
“Oh, you dirty . . .” Bart regained his composure immediately, standing up to his full height, with Connor clinging to
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