The Marana Lark Series: Book Four
To Love a Sparrow
Chapter One: An New Friend
For Marana Sparrow, it was all over. It began with a brand on her forearm and ended with a pair of shackles on her wrists. In tears, she walked between the two redcoats, towards Port Royal prison. Her right arm was burning with pain, and it only felt worse when she touched it. She had also been tattooed. Her red tattoo depicted a lark and a sparrow holding a rose between them.
When they got to the prison, the redcoats pushed her into a cell. She shouted after them as they began to walk away, "But I didn't do anything wrong!" The younger of the soldiers replied to her, "Tell that to Lord Beckett, miss. I'm just doing my job." There a slight sympathy in his voice. They left silently. In her agony and despair, Marana had not seen Jack. She stared at him in disbelief. Then she kneeled on the dusty floor and leaned on the bars that separated their cells. Jack touched her face. "I'm so glad you're safe, Marana."
"I could say the same for you, Jacky." Then she stuck out her arm. She removed the bandage that covered it and revealed the brand and tattoo to her husband. Jack looked as if he might be sick. Her arm was bright red and covered with open blisters. On the brand itself, the skin had come off, and it was sticky with blood. When the branding iron had touched her arm, she had screamed so loud that a soldier had to clamp his hand over her mouth to keep her quiet. In shame, she covered it back up and sighed. "Oh Jack, if only the world wasn't so evil." He reached through the bars and stroked her hair. She leaned forward and kissed him. Her tears touched his face. Then they heard something.
Marana quickly let go of Jack and stood up. Someone was coming down the stairs. She hastily wiped away her tears. She didn't want to look pathetic; she wanted to keep her sanity at all cost.
Beckett emerged from the stairs. But something was different about him: he was holding the hand of a young and beautiful woman. She had wavy blond hair that was tied up into a ponytail, and blue eyes. Marana spoke, "Well, Beckett, we meet again." He smirked. "Well, now you are on the losing end. For you are my prisoners now, and let me say, you look downright weak right now. I suppose you would like to kill me for branding you like that, but I could say that it was rather enjoyable." Marana was fighting back tears, as well as the urge to reach out and strangle him. Jack came to her rescue. "I'll have you know, Beckett, that we still have hope. I was busted out of here at least a dozen times already, and it'll happen again." The young woman's eyes met Marana's. She came over and said to Beckett, "I would like a word alone with these two, Cutler. I'll see you outside." He left stubbornly, and then she spoke, "I want to get you two out of here."
Jack looked surprised. "Where does your allegiance lie?"
She undid her hair and replied, "My name is Celeise Beckett. And my allegiance lies with anyone who desires freedom from my husband's cruelty. I was forced to marry him, and you two look quite desperate. By the way, what are your names?" Jack smiled slightly. "Captain Jack Sparrow and this is my wife Marana." Celeise grinned. "Well, Jack and Marana, I promise you that I will free you from this prison before my husband can harm you, and I will turn my knife to my heart if I break my promise." She turned and ran from the prison. Jack was surprised. "Marana, love, do you really think that little lady will get us out of here?"
Marana had been thinking the same question. She shrugged and sat on the bench of her cell. Looking up at the high window, she noticed that the sun was setting. She leaned back against the wall and fell asleep.
She slept restlessly, waking up often and peering at Jack. He was sound asleep. Then her cell door opened suddenly. Celeise was shoved in, and the door shut. As the guard went away, Marana inquired, "And how are you supposed to get us out of here if you're locked up, too?" Celeise was excited. "This is all part of my plan. Listen to this: We wait for complete darkness, and then I unlock the door with the keys that I obtained from a guard, and we just leave. It's pretty simple." Marana was still unconvinced. "And how did you get said keys?"
Celeise lifted the key ring and whispered, "When the guard was bringing me down here, we started arguing, and then I just reached into his pocket and took the keys. So do you want me to get you out or not?" Marana nodded vigorously. Celeise looked at the window. It was completely dark out. She stuck the ring through the bars and inserted the key into the lock. When it clicked she pushed open the door. Then she unlocked Jack's cell. Together, Jack and Marana holding hands, they snuck through the streets of Port Royal. They caught their breath under a bridge. But then they heard voices. Jack pulled Celeise and pulled her behind a large palm tree. He kept his hand over her mouth. Marana hid nearby. A voice reached their ears.
"They escaped the prison. The doors are open."
"Was my wife with them?" came Beckett's cold, drawling voice. "She went missing herself a few hours ago."
"We don't know yet, sir. But we will watch out for them."
"Alright, gather every redcoat in Port Royal and have them split up and search for them."
"Right away, sir."
Jack released his grip on Celeise. Marana came out. Celeise whined, "Oh no, my husband's after me!" Marana put a protective arm around her shoulder. "It's alright Celeise. You've gotten Jack and me out of prison. We won't let Beckett harm you." Jack separated them and said, "We have to get out of here, now." He took their hands and pulled then to the edge of the bridge. They could hear the soldiers marching over them. "Now, we would do well to stay out of sight. We should get out to the docks and take one of the ships."
Celeise grinned evilly. "May I suggest the Divider? That's my husband's ship. She's very fast, and she has many cannons." Jack was surprised. "That would be alright. Now which one is it?" Celeise pointed, and Jack smiled.
Soon after that, they were on board. The crew was gone, so the ship was empty. Jack and Marana went to raise the anchor. Marana shouted to Celeise, "We'll take care of the sailing. Just sit back and relax. By the way, how can we thank you for getting us out?"
"Just consider me a friend!" And Marana was proud to.