Read Vampirates 1.5:Dead Deep for Free Online

world above the sea. The boys watched as Kally turned and immediately began wheeling her chair toward them.
    “Good morning, pirates!” she beamed. “Howare you all doing?”
    “Excellent!” said Bart, beaming at her and reaching out his hand to hers. She took it and gave it a squeeze. Connor thought then that they looked like a couple who had been together a long time, not one who had met just the night before. Kally was great. Seeing her again, listening to her lively chatter, Connor was instantly brought around to Bart’s way ofthinking. Once he discounted the fish tail itself, Kally was just a regular girl. Well, a very beautiful, intelligent, funny, regular girl. It was going to be hard to leave The Lorelei when the time came—especially for Bart—but not because the fishtails wouldn’t let them. They were a cool group of people, and it was a great boat. Connor decided he was going to quit worrying and make the most ofevery last minute of his time aboard.
    “Hey, guys,” cried João, joining them. “Come and get some breakfast!”
    The day slipped easily away on board The Lorelei . After breakfast, the fishtails took another dip in the ocean. The young pirates joined them in the water. This time, as Connor swam beside them, it seemed second nature that his new friends hadluminous fins and could talk underwater.
    Back on deck, as Connor toweled himself dry, he asked when they would reach Hell Bay.
    João smiled at him. “You’re just itching to dive, aren’t you? Don’t worry, we’ll get there soon enough. In the meantime, there are plenty of ways to entertain yourself.…”
    Connor grinned. In contrast to his timeon The Diablo , a day on The Lorelei was blissfully free of chores. He was free to while away the hours perfecting his bluejack technique, working on his tan, grazing on delicious snacks, and chatting about everything and nothing with Jez, Lika, and João.
    Bart didn’t join them. He spent the whole day with Kally. Whenever Connor caught a glimpse of them, they were talkingor laughing together, like old friends. Or more than friends. Connor wondered how they had so much to say to each other, but he supposed it was nothing more profound than the chitchat he was exchanging with the others.
    Flynn sailed the boat smoothly across the ocean—so smoothly that, most of the time, Connor was hardly aware it was even moving. And yet, at last the sun gave wayto dusk, and the dusk to star-pierced darkness. Everyone gathered for dinner, and afterward, João strummed his guitar and Lika, Teahan, and Diani sang shanties for their pirate guests. Connor watched as Bart took Kally’s hand and held it in his own. When the song was over, the pirates clapped.
    Jez and Connor went over to congratulate João.
    “Nice playing, man,”said Jez.
    João smiled at them. “Hey, do either of you play? No? I can teach you a few chords, if you like.”
    A short while later, Bart and Kally came over to join them. Bart put his hands on Connor’s and Jez’s shoulders.
    “Guys,” he said, “there’s something I need to talk to you both about.”
    “We’ll let you three have a private chat,”Kally said, indicating to João that he should follow her. Reluctantly, he put down his guitar, and the two of them wheeled away, leaving the Three Buccaneers alone.

Chapter Seven
Rift
    “What is it?” asked Connor.
    “It’s pretty simple, really,” said Bart. “I’m thinking that when you guys hook up with The Diablo tomorrow, I’m gonna stay here on The Lorelei .”
    Jez’s jaw dropped. “You’re what ?”
    Connor frowned. He could understand the temptation to remain on the dive-boat—especially given Bart’s obvious bond with Kally—but even so…
    “This is so sudden,” he said. “I mean, all your life you wanted to be a pirate. That’s what you told me, remember? My first night on The Diablo ?”
    Bart nodded. “I remember, buddy. Of course I do. But thingschange. People change. I’m not the kind of