A/N: Hello, my lovelies! Welcome to another story from me.

Okay, this is completely different from my previous one but I hope you like it all the same. It is AU and a Jack/OC story. Due to the fact that I have four other stories to finish, the updates on this one will be slower. If I see that you like the prologue though, I might be convinced to give you the next chapter fairly quickly. This is just the prologue by the way, not the start of the story.

Okay, here we go! Review if you can, please. No flames though because I simply laugh at them. If you don't like, don't read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean.

*Dedicated to all those who inspire me.*

~The Cruelest of Lies~

Prologue

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave,

When first we practice to deceive."

~Sir Walter Scott

1749, Kingston, Jamaica

The dark glimmering eyes of the man perused the grand ballroom with single-minded intent. He twirled the high glass of his expensive red wine before he took a small, elegant sip. As he did so, his chocolate gaze scanned the room until he found the man he was looking for. His eyes narrowed as he locked eyes with him and he gave small, almost invisible nod of his head before he motioned with it to the left.

The other man, who was clearly older than the one giving the order, nodded back and headed towards the large back entrance door, slowly and secretly taking his leave.

The dark haired man, the one who had given the order for the other to leave, looked down at his impeccably clean hands and neat appearance, fighting the urge to grimace in sheer distaste. It had taken him hours to get back into looking like this and he hated it. But he'd do anything to get her. He'd do anything to see her up-close again; freely and for the last time before he did what he had to do. Even if all she had to give him was her fury.

The man with the unfathomably dark eyes pushed away from the wall he had been leaning against when his eye caught something in the centre of the room. Among the dancers there was she.

The woman was in the arms of the officer; Benjamin Walter. His build was strong and he was tall with bright blond hair and a small moustache. On her finger a large diamond ring was glimmering in the candlelight of the ballroom, causing the man watching them from afar to frown deeply, his tanned brow furrowing. The woman was not smiling but she was not sad either. There was an air of indifference in the way she carried herself; as if she did not care where she was or what she was doing. Her eyes were looking past the shoulder of the man she was dancing with and they were empty, lifeless. Her heart shaped face was framed by silky curls that fell down her shoulders and back in dark elegant waves until they reached her lower back.

The man watching them gritted his teeth and his hand tightened almost impossibly hard around the glass he was holding. His chest rose and fell with deep, heavy and uneven breaths before he downed his wine in a single gulp, not caring who was watching.

He slapped the glass on the tray of a servant girl that passed by him, causing the girl to give a startled gasp before she hurried away.

The man's hand went to his belt but he found it empty and without his sword. He set his lips into a thin line and then slipped his hand into the pocket of his expensive coat, his hand brushing over the gun. The damn coat felt heavy and hot on his sweaty skin and he wished for nothing more but the breeze of the ocean to hit his skin; to cool it.

Calm down, mate. The Pearl's not going anywhere. That bird though will if you don't hurry. He thought slyly to himself before he set his shoulders straight and headed for the dance floor.

He passed through the various couples, the sound of the violin prominent in his ears, until he came to stand behind the woman. The man dancing with her noticed him first and paused.

He frowned, "May I help you, sir?" he asked.

The man grinned, showing off his golden teeth and before he replied he placed a hand on the woman's waist. She jumped and then stood completely still.

"May I steal the lady for a moment? Forgive me, sir, but she looks too ravishing for only one man to enjoy her tonight." He said in a deep smooth voice and a British accent that he had practiced all too well for the last two years.

The officer actually laughed and stepped back, "Of course. Sweetheart, I'll be by the buffet." He said to the woman before he walked away.

The woman remained turned away from him until the man placed a hand on her hip and turned her sharply towards him. She gasped and her eyes widened.

"You." She breathed as her honey colored eyes scanned his features with blatant shock.

"'Ello, love. Missed me?" he murmured with a smirk as he crushed her to him and started swaying with the music.

She blinked rapidly and then she frowned, her eyes shining with anger.

"How dare you come back here? Aren't you afraid?" she spat as she started squirming in his grasp, her movements subtle but demanding all the same.

He held her fast as he leaned down, their noses brushing, "I heard of your engagement." He told her and she placed her hands against his chest, ready to push him off.

"Get your hands off of me. I won't hesitate to make a scene and have you arrested." She warned and when he didn't move she continued, "I am not the gullible girl you met that day. I will scream if I have to, Jack. Or should I say Nicholas?" she hissed and he grinned, undeterred.

"For the sake of my safety, Nicholas will do." He replied smugly but his eyes were dark and unfathomable; unreadable.

"What do you want?" she asked as she looked fearfully around.

"There are a lot of things I want, love. One of them is right in me arms." He murmured in his natural accent and she grimaced.

"My father is almost bankrupt. The only thing he has, and all because of your schemes, is my dowry money." She spat at him as she stepped onto his foot and pushed him away.

He didn't even wince.

"I know that, Cassandra. Which is why I am here." He smiled as he stepped closer while she walked backwards.

"What are you talking about?" she murmured as she gulped, her elegant neck bobbing with the movement.

Jack licked his lips as he stared at her, his expression torn between anger, satisfaction and desire.

"Have you ever wondered how much your lovely fiancé loves you? Hmm? I hear he's about to become the new admiral…They are paid well. And he's a nobleman to boot." Jack quirked an eyebrow and all color left Cassandra's face.

"You wouldn't dare." She whispered as she bumped against a dancing couple and quickly apologized. Abruptly she turned and headed for the buffet. An arm snaked around her waist from behind and pulled her back.

"Now, now, darlin'. Surely you haven't forgotten how good I can be. Especially to you." Jack murmured into her ear as he pressed a small pistol against her lower back, "I can be just as bad if you don't do as I say. I can be just as cruel as your father and his fellow officers were to me in that slimy little cell he threw me into to rot." He hissed and Cassandra heaved a dry sob.

"Jack, please. You once said you loved me." She whimpered as she clutched the sleeve of the arm that was wrapped around her waist in a death grip.

Jack snarled and closed his eyes at her words. He remained silent for a moment but when she made to escape again, he growled and held her fast.

"Now, now, Cassie. Not so fast." He murmured as he lifted her off her feet and turned them towards the back entrance door, "We are going for a trip." He grinned as she kicked her legs out, trying to escape his grasp. She kicked him in the shin and he yelped.

"Oi, love! People are watching. Now, hush." His quick legs carried them out of the ballroom while she thrashed and squirmed in his arms. A few people looked at them funnily but no one stepped up to ask what was happening.

Jack smirked bitterly at that, "See, darlin'? Each one for himself. That's human nature and you need to finally understand it." He breathed into her ear while she shook in his arms.

"Jack, please." She whispered pleadingly as he walked up to an awaiting carriage and threw her unceremoniously in, "I had no idea what he'd do to you. But you betrayed me too. You lied to me. You crushed my hopes like they were nothing more but dirt on your boots." She whispered as tears stained her porcelain cheeks, "I am not the vain, rich girl you seduced. I do not dream any more because of you. But please, let me go."

He rolled his eyes and then pointed the pistol at her with a lopsided grin, "Cease your pleadings, lass. From now on, Jack Sparrow is deaf to any kinds of begging from those who wronged him. From now on, I am no longer the man you knew. I am a pirate, lass. And a pirate I shall remain. And I vow at the pain of death that you shall be begging for me to seduce you again before the month's out. But hear this," he leaned close to her until their noses were touching and their breaths were mingling, "I'd rather cut off my own hands than touch you again." He hissed and her wide eyes glazed over with tears.

"I hate you." She whispered and he smirked despite the twisting he felt in his gut. He shrugged it off with another grin.

"Good. Now be a good girl and shut it. Ta!" he shut the carriage door and locked it before he paid the driver and ordered him to go. He got into the driver's seat and tugged on the reins. The two black horses whined before they took off towards the docks.

By the time her fiancé realized her absence, the two of them were aboard the Black Pearl and already sailing towards Tortuga.

End of Prologue

Author's note: So, yeah…Ahem, this is the prologue and obviously a lot of things have happened before it. Don't worry, everything will be explained while the story unfolds.

So, if you liked it and want to read more, please drop me a review. I really want to know your thoughts. Like I said, this story will be updated less often…Probably twice a month until some of my other stories are finished.

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Xxx Lina :o)