Chapter One
Old Friends Come to Call
Dark clouds bellowed in the usually sapphire Caribbean sky as a lone figure fought through the dense foliage of the small island. She glanced up, indigo eyes taking in the charcoal sky, before sighing and retreating, occasionally stopping to gather a few leaves or other bits of fauna as she went. As she approached the small port town, she sheathed the dagger she had used on the plants and straightened up, her back popping in several places.
The few people who hadn't taken shelter in for the impending storm glared at her, backing away and hissing; she paid them no mind. About halfway down the street, a smelly glob of what must have been a mango at one point splattered against the side of her face, oozing into her ear, mouth and nostrils. Pausing, the young woman turned to the boy who had thrown it, carefully wiping the rotten fruit from her eye and fixing her gaze upon him. He visibly shrank under the cobalt stare, and was transfixed as she approached him. A hand went to the back of her belt, and he cowered, closing his eyes and fearing something awful.
"Here." The smooth voice coaxed a rebellious eye open, and he was startled to see a gleaming silver piece before him. The woman's gentle smile reassured him, and he gingerly took it, staring in disbelief.
"Next time, buy yourself a fresh one to eat, instead of wasting a rotten one on me." Without another word, she stood and walked away, globs of sour fruit still dripping in her wake. A small smile crept to her lips as she heard a soft 'Thank you' behind her.
It was that small token that allowed her to pass through the rest of the village, unhindered by the scathing words of the townsfolk. The hisses of 'witch,' 'Satan's spawn' and 'devil's whore' failed to phase her as she basked in the small happiness of the boy, a feeling which lasted until she reached her small cottage on the far end of the isle.
The sky opened up just as she reached the edge of her garden, bringing welcome relief to both her and her plants. She let her head fall back, her battered hat slipping from her as rain poured down. Gathering a handful of drops, she wiped the remains of the mango and its juice from her face and hair. Once done, she brushed her hands on her worn leather britches, swooping down to gather her hat before going inside her small hut.
The smell of herbs and potions greeted her as she shut the door, shivering slightly as the cool water made its way through her thin linen shirt. Moving towards the small straw bed in one corner, she hung the hat on a large nail protruding from the wall and peeling the soaking garment from her body, drying her arms and bound chest with a fairly clean rag before unbinding her breasts and leaving both the bindings and shirt before the empty fire grate. Slipping the less soiled of her two remaining shirts over her head, she gathered kindling and tinder, lighting them in the small cooking pit adjacent the bed.
As the fire roared to life, the illumination of a tall figure reclining in her only chair failed to surprise her, as did the deep voice that spoke soon after.
"'ello, Jenny." Gold teeth gleamed in the dim light as the man pushed himself up, the two airborne legs of the chair landing on the dirt floor with a thud. She smiled behind a curtain of dark hair, silently laughing at the use of the pet name.
"It's been a while, hasn't it Jack?" She turned to face him as he stood, grinning before enveloping her in a hug.
"Too long, dearie," the pirate responded as they pulled back, only to be jerked to a stop. They glanced down to see one of Jack's hair trinkets caught on a pearl pendant around Jenny's neck. Jack smiled, detangling the beads and the necklace, his fingers lingering on the latter; it was fairly small, an inch tall at best, and featured a graceful bird with blue diamond eyes, its wings cradling a large back pearl.
"I see you've kept it safe, luv," he said, looking back at her face but keeping a gentle hold on the pendant.
"Always." Seriousness was etched on her features, before a spark of humor found its way. "After all, I wouldn't want the 'great Captain Jack Sparrow' comin' after me hide, now would I?" she asked, teasingly imitating his accent.
"My dear Jenny, do I detect mockery in your voice?" The captain's eyes glinted with the answer. She pulled away, shooting him a sly smile as she walked to her small cupboard.
"Perhaps," was her only response. Turning her back on him, she removed everything from the dusty shelves, namely a stale hunk of bread and some hard cheese, along with two dirty pewter cups.
Turning back, she placed these on the table, taking two coconuts from her basket as well as a nail and a large stone. Aiming carefully, she drove the nail through the husk of the fruit before removing it and placing it hole-down on one of the cups.
"Would you care to join me for supper, Captain?" Jack frowned at the meager meal, feeling a curl of anger in his stomach. She deserved better then this…
"Jack?" A worried voice accompanied by equally worried eyes shook him from his thoughts.
"Wha-? Oh! Aye, luv. I would be honored." He gave a slight bow, succeeding in wiping the worry from her face. "Don' suppose you 'ave any rum stashed about, eh?"
A secretive smile danced across her lips, as she said "Check the bottom cupboard." Jack eyed the woman wearily before opening the door indicated and stopping in shock.
There, filling the small space, were several large bottles of high-quality rum as well as what looked like steaming meat pies. Shutting his jaw with an audible click, he turned to the woman now sitting on a small stool at the table, hacking away at the hard bread with a dull knife.
Upon seeing his reaction, she smiled. "I figured you'd be hungry, seeing as you're still a captain without a ship." Jack's features softened at this; it was so like her to do this. He stood, taking several of the pies, as well as a few bottles of rum, and set them on the table, pushing a few of the pies to her.
"Eat." Her face fell at his command.
"Jack, you know I can't do that. I can't use my magic for or on myself. Potions, yes, but not magic, nor things made from magic."
He frowned at her statement for a moment before a wicked grin spread across his face. "Aye, but you didn't make these for yeself, did you? So if I force you to eat one of my pies, then you ain't breaking the rules, now are you?"
There was a moment of silence before Jenny burst out laughing, widening the captain's grin. "Oh, you are incorrigible!" she cried between laughs.
"Pirate," was the only response as he dropped into the chair opposite her.
The remainder of the meal was spent in quiet banter as the two friends caught up with each other. After they finished, Jenny stood, taking the pewter flatware and putting it in a tub beside the door.
"You never said why you were here, Jack," she remarked, stoking the fire and adding more wood. The pirate stiffened slightly.
"Can't a bloke come t'see an old friend o' his?" he asked sheepishly. The woman before him smiled.
"If that 'bloke' is you, then it is possible, but highly unlikely."
"Ye caught me, luv. I intend sail my rickety dingy to Tourtuga, or the closest port there to, commandeer meself a proper ship, pick up a crew, then raid, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer me weasely black guts out." At this, Jack struck a pose, arms fisted on his hips, chest puffed out.
Jen stared at him for a moment before beginning to laugh, causing him to slump and his arms to fall.
"Oi, what d'you find so funny, lass?" Jack asked, his bruised pride evident in his voice.
She slowed, catching her breath before responding. "It's funny because I know you would do it."
He made a face akin to a pout before it melted into a cheeky grin.
"You know me too well Jenny."
Still smiling, she playfully jabbed him in the stomach and asked what his little plan had to do with her.
"Why I want you t'be me first mate, 'o course," he responded, grinning.
Jenny's smile evaporated and she stared at him in shock.
"You want me to be your first mate?" The captain nodded, hair trinkets tinkling. "Are you sure that's good idea, Jack?"
"'O course it is! You are, without a doubt, the best candidate for the job this pirate 'as ever seen. Yer smart, yer brave, you 'ave a nasty right hook in ya," he tenderly rubbed where she had struck him, earning a smile from the woman, "and, most importantly, I trust you more then I've ever trusted anyone in my entire life."
She looked away, not believing him, and he gently grasped her chin, forcing her to face him. With utter seriousness, he said, "I trust you with me life, Jenny."
"And yet I nearly cost you yours last time we were together." Her words were barely a breath, as if she feared that should she raise her voice, the trials which they had faced would come back to claim them.
"That, was not your fault, love." The pirate's voice was stern as he caught her eyes and held them. "Don't you ever forget that. You were an irreplaceable part of me crew, and I aim to keep you there in this, me latest endeavor."
She broke his grasp on her chin and turned from him, clutching the pearl pendant that hung from her neck.
"I-I need time to think, Jack."
He sighed, understanding. "You take all the time ye need, love," he replied before taking a seat, leaning the chair against the wall and pushing his hat over his eyes. The captain was asleep in moments.
Jenny silently exited the small cabin, coming to rest in the cool dampness of the night as it savored the last few drops of rain. Her gaze traveled up, searching for answers in the heavens, to find that there was a small parting in the clouds, through which peeked the Northern Star.
Tortuga was to the north.
"Is this truly what you wish of me?" she asked the star. Thunder rumbled in confirmation. Sighing, she sat on a flagstone that made the path.
"Then I guess I'm going to be a pirate again."