Chapter Two: An Unexpected Happening
I smiled as the spray of the sea landed on my face. I'd missed these waters and the warm Caribbean breeze. I left steering the ship for a moment to walk to the bow of my ship so I could get a better view of the sun setting in the sky. I'd been sailing for hours, and still wasn't tired. It was quiet, besides the relaxing sound of the waves lapping up against the boat. It was then that I heard a call.
"Ahoy!" it called. I whisked around, surprised that I hadn't noticed the ship quickly approaching mine. When it came closer, I noticed the man from earlier at the wheel and his crew running about on the deck.
"What are you doing here?" I exclaimed.
"You've intrigued me, luv. I'm 'ere to give you some company," I saw him smirk. I narrowed my eyes at him, then sighed, realizing it would be no use to try to out run him.
"Bring your ship about, Sparrow, and then you and your crew can board my ship for a late meal," I called out. He tipped his hat and proceeded to steer his ship beside mine.
A few moments later, Jack Sparrow stood in front of me and was introducing me to his crew.
"Gents! This be... What's your name luv? Never did tell me," he smiled, showing off gold capped teeth.
"If you must know, it's Arabella. Arabella Fletcher," I said, nodding to the crew in acknowledgment.
"Arabella Fletcher," Jack repeated, finishing the introduction with a smile. The crew all nodded and a few members smiled. I smiled in return.
"So, Mr. Sparrow..."
"Captain."
"Captain," I said with a roll of my eyes, "why have you decided to rob me of my peace and quiet?"
"Pirate," he said as if that explained everything.
"Pirate? Well then, my suspicions have been confirmed. Surrounded by the people I've been so desperately trying to avoid. I've long ago folded the colors and stowed them away and I do not intend to bring them out now," I said sternly.
"So you were a pirate, were you? Have we heard of you before? Have you another name?" Jack asked. I sighed. The questions just kept on coming.
"Yes, I was a pirate. I went by the name, Red Cutlass."
"Red Cutlass? Really?" one crew member with a wooden eye asked with a shocked tone.
"Yes," I said with a raised brow.
"You're the one who cut out that Baron's eye and stole all his maps and treasure!" his friend said, stepping up.
"Yes, I did," I smirked.
"You don't seem the pirate type," another crew member said. He had a beard and black hair with streaks of gray in it.
"No? Well, allow me to prove otherwise, though it makes me weary. All right, who would like to have a go?" I asked.
"You mean, fight you?" the wooden eyed one asked nervously. I nodded.
"No one?" I asked after a moment of silence.
"All right luv, I'll spar with ya," Sparrow said.
"Very well, take your stance," I commanded. He obliged, then I took mine.
There was a silent agreement that his would be the first move. He lunged at me and I easily dodged it, then returned to my original stance. I aimed my sword at his shoulder and he sloppily blocked it. Then the real fight began. Step after step, lunge after lunge, we fought. Finally, we faced each other, both panting.
"Apparently we are equally matched in skill luv," Jack said and lunged again. I brought by sword down hard on his and it dropped with a clatter onto the deck. The crew "oohed."
"Apparently not," I smirked. He accepted his defeat by taking off his hat and bowing lowly.
"So," Jack said, shoving his sword back in its sheath, "what say you to a little adventure?"
"An adventure? Like I said before, Captain Sparrow, I've put my pirate colors away for good. I'm sailing now to the Americas once more where I intend to begin a new life," I said.
"Once a pirate, always a pirate luv. There's no going back."
"Perhaps not for you, but I am different."
"I thought you said you had no destination."
"I don't, but I have a purpose. That purpose is to start anew," I said as I straightened my clothes.
"All right, suit yourself. But, I was wondering...," Jack trailed off.
"Yes?" I raised an eyebrow.
"I've heard you have in your possession, the key to the Aqua de Vida," he said with a slow smile. I narrowed my eyes at him. He had a gleam in his eye that let me know he was up to something, and I wasn't sure if I'd like the result.
"Mayhap I do, mayhap I don't," I said.
"Me thinks you do," Jack smirked.
I thought a moment. I knew pirates, I was one, and pirates always had an end game. What was his?
"Tell you what, Captain, I'll make a deal with you. I will give you the key to the Aqua de Vida, if you let me have some of the treasure that lies there. I need some money for my new life anyway. It seems my supply is nearly gone. And I'll need to come along on this trip. Pirates are never trustworthy," I said.
"I could be different," Jack said.
"No. You're not. Now, Mr. Sparrow, do we have an accord?" I asked, holding out a hand.
"We have an accord," he said and shook my hand with a smile plastered on his face. "Now, 'ow 'bout that meal you promised us?"