"The one we've been tracking?"
Jupiter shook his head. "Can't say yet. Without her colors. But the stench of voodoo is in the air."
"Raise the French flag until we're closer, in case you're wrong. When we're alongside strike our colors, but not before she's disabled. Issue the
weapons to the men. One pouch of salt and two axes to each man. None to survive. Have you determined if it's Zoliel?"
"She's riding low in the water, heavy with cargo it looks like. We're lighter and faster, Captain. We've more guns by the look of her. We've sixteen
to her twelve. We should overtake her quickly."
Donté stepped away from the door. "Then do it. Issue the orders. Are the gunners prepared?" The Night Stalker was fitted with more than
enough guns to take down a zombie ship.
"Aye, Cap'n. All's in readiness. We'll be prepared to board her and make swift work of the monsters." Jupiter saluted and left the cabin.
Donté spun away, traded his white shirt for black and tucked it into his breeches. He strapped on a belt, then yanked on his boots. He grabbed for
his cutlass and ax, and slipped an ivory handled knife into his belt.
Khan growled and Donté walked over to the big cat and knelt down. He cupped his chin and looked deep into the tiger's eyes, connecting with him
on a deeper, primal level.
"Settle down, Khan. We'll prevail as always. Easy." Once the big cat calmed, he rose and turned to face Skye who had risen and stood motionless
on the other side of the room, still looking a bit shattered by what had just occurred. Too bad they'd been interrupted.
The blast of cannons shook the ship.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The battle had already begun. Pistols were no good against a ship full of zombies. But the cannons could at least disable a ship until they could
come alongside, run lines, and board her. The scourge of the seas for both merchants and vampires were the zombie crews. The very monsters he
hunted night after night.
Donté looked at Skye. "I don't want you in the middle of this. Until I can gauge your usefulness, and your loyalties, I want you to stay below. Stay
here with Liam. He's not strong enough to join the fight."
"Who are we fighting? A merchant ship? More spoils? More deaths?"
The smile Donté gave him was cold, just like his dead heart. "Aye, it's a merchant ship all right. And we're about to scuttle her if the night is with
us. Do as I order and you'll be safe enough."
Leaving the cabin, Donté headed for the main deck. Smoke filled the air. Crewmen raced back and forth, hauling sails, preparing for battle.
He made his way to the upper deck to get a better idea of their position. He found Jupiter there and he grabbed the telescope from him and eyed
their prey. They were close, so close. They'd be alongside sooner than he'd expected. And then his gaze lifted to the upper deck of their prey. Just
as he espied someone, there was a loud blast, and then a roar of broken wood, loud as a felled house, as the main mast toppled across the deck.
"Are the men ready?" Donté shouted without taking his attention off the French ship. His men scented the blood of victory as they heaved
grappling irons across the sea to dig into the wood. Mixed with the smoke was the sulfurous stink of grenades and bombs tossed to the other
ship. He heard the triumphant yell of his men.
"Aye, we're ready, Cap'n," shouted Jupiter over the rising roar of the men. "We've fought enough of them to take heed."
"Make certain they know none will be turned. If any of them fall, they will not suffer."
"They know that, Cap'n, there's no need to remind them. They know you'll care for them right and proper."
"Make ready to board then," Donté yelled, pulling his sword from its sheath and raising it about his head. "They're sluggish and mindless. They
only follow the orders of their puppet master. Move swiftly and with determination. Take no chances."
He turned to Jupiter. "Watch for Zoliel. He's the one we want even more than the zombies he manipulates. Find the puppeteer."
"Aye-aye, Cap'n."
"Make sure men guard the boarding planks and watch the ropes. We want no zombies crossing to the Night Stalker. "
"Orders already given, Cap'n."
Donté watched as the ropes were heaved across to the other ship, and planks spanned the distance between the two ships. His men, axes raised,
knives clutched between their teeth, charged toward the French ship eager to destroy the enemy.
Donté went down the steps and crossed the deck of the Night Stalker, reaching down to grab a second ax before he launched himself onto the
other ship. There would be no survivors.
One fleeting thought went to the delectable blue-eyed boy he'd left in his cabin and then his attention turned fully on the throng of undead