Vampirates 4: Black Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

more. "I'm Jessamy," said the hat-wearer.
    "And I'm Camille."
    "Beautiful names for beautiful ladies," Stukeley said. "Now why don't you take off your sunglasses and show us your beautiful eyes?"
    The women faced each other. Then, in perfect synchrony, they lifted and removed their sunglasses. Turning back toward the men, they revealed faces that were far more beautiful than Stukeley and Johnny could have ever imagined. Their eyes were as bright as jewels, and around each of their right eyes was a tattoo of a black heart.
    Stukeley gasped. This was too perfect. His hunger was so strong now. He could sense it was the same for Johnny. He could see the fire burning in the depths of his eyes. As he shifted his gaze back to the women, Stukeley caught his breath. For the very same fire was burning in their eyes, too.
    Seeing his confusion, Jessamy smiled, opening her mouth a little wider than before, revealing a pair of oversize, razor-sharp incisors. Now Camille's incisors flashed white in the moonlight, too.
    "You mentioned a party before," said Jessamy. "I think we're all looking for the same kind of fun, don't you?" She extended her hand toward Stukeley. Like a mirror image, Camille reached out her hand to Johnny. "Come on," she said hungrily. "Let's go and feast."

    Stukeley awoke on the sand feeling a deep sense of peace and relaxation, accompanied by a sense of disorientation. It took him a moment or two to recognize where he was. He turned and saw Johnny snoozing away, his Stetson rising and falling on his chest. A broad smile was painted on Johnny's lips. There were a few spatters of blood between his lips and his chin.
    Blood. It brought back a flash of memory. They had been feasting. For some reason, Stukeley could not summon up the full memory of it. But this was not unusual. It was often a blur on waking. Sometimes it took a good while for the details of the feasting to return.
    Stukeley watched as, at last, Johnny opened his eyes. He frowned. "Where am I?"
    Stukeley chuckled. "You're on a beach, mate."
    "I see that," his friend said. "But where -- and why?"
    "Well," Stukeley said, "judging by that little trail of blood above your chin, I'd guess that we've been feasting."
    Johnny blinked at the word. "That's funny. I can't remember." He brought himself up into a sitting position. "I feel kind of dizzy," he said.
    "Me, too," said Stukeley. "But it's a nice kind of dizzy." He climbed up onto his feet. His body felt like jelly. His limbs splayed out in each direction, and he crashed back onto the sand, laughing.
    Johnny laughed, too. "That's the funniest thing I've seen in ages!"
    "All right, smarty-pants," said Stukeley. "Let's see you walk the walk."
    Johnny accepted the challenge and clambered up onto his feet. "There!" he announced, standing perfectly upright for a moment. "Nothing to it!" As he finished speaking, his legs gave way, and he tumbled back down onto the sand.
    "Very impressive!" cried Stukeley, cracking up.
    "Man!" exclaimed Johnny. "We must have taken a lot of blood tonight, don't you think?"
    "Oh, yes," Stukeley nodded. "I reckon we had one heck of a party. It's just a shame we can't remember a thing about it."

    Lady Lockwood was waiting in her cabin for Jessamy and Camille to return. She was playing a form of solitaire with a stack of unusual playing cards -- unusual in that the only suit was hearts and every card was black.
    At the first knock on her cabin door, the captain called out, "Enter!"
    Jessamy and Camille, wearing their cocktail dresses and finery, strode into the room. Both were smiling.
    "Well?" said the captain. "You look like you had fun!"
    "Oh, yes," said Jessamy, removing her hat and shaking out her long red hair. It clashed marvelously with her ruby necklace.
    "Great fun, Captain!" agreed Camille.
    "And did everything go according to plan?" Lady Lockwood asked.
    "Of course," Jessamy purred, with a smile. "They were putty in our hands!"
    Lady Lockwood nodded in approval. "This calls