Author's Note: Its been a while, but I got the fourth chapter up! I hope you enjoy, to whomever may actually be reading this (hah.) Enjoy fellow readers!
"Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy." -F. Scott Fitzgerald
Chapter Four
The Faithful Bride
Loud, boisterous music resonated throughout the tavern. Pirates, thieves, sailors- men and women- moved with lively leaps and prances. Furious playing of beat-up strings and guitars conducted the dancers' feet, filling the air with a jubilant energy.
I danced shamelessly; drunken and careless. I moved along to the sway of the crowd. We twirled, clapped, and jumped with oversized smiles plastered upon our faces. It felt as if I wasn't even on earth; that I was in a hidden and far-off place undiscovered by the map. Constant twirling, clapping, jumping, and smiling. It was as if I was laughing in the face of reality for I, Elizabeth Swann, truly felt invincible. The fear and troublesome I felt before had dissipated away in thin air. Not even the most conquering feelings of doubt intruded my mind.
The evening whirled along, and once the crowd and the dancing rendered all too exhausting, I made my way, sweaty and panting, towards an unoccupied table off to the side of the tavern. I sat down, instantly relieved to be off my feet. My heart was beating; blood pulsing rapidly as lingering adrenaline electrified my veins. I wiped the sweat from my forehead, and observed for the first time the wild, intoxicated crowd that still roared as the night proceeded. I grinned. Things were being thrown, people were swinging from the chandeliers, and tripping over their own feet. The air was dense with the scent of liquors, sweat, and unhygienic beings. One could become drunk by simply breathing in the tavern's odors. I wrinkled my nose, remotely unappealed, and tilted my head back for a swig from my cup.
My eyes skimmed through rambunctious crowd, trying to locate Jack who was probably smoldering some other lady with his woeful wonders of prose. I rolled my eyes. Typical.
"Why hello there, pretty lady."
Startled, I looked up to source of the slurred words, and before me stood a tall, attractive young man. He was dashingly dressed in handsome attire; a black, long coat topped with a wide brimmed hat over his dark hair. His steely, strikingly blue eyes menacingly stared down into mine with a smirk charming his defined facial features.
"Do I know you?'' I answered, swallowing the nervous lump that swelled within my throat.
The man chuckled and took the seat across from me. "Perhaps not. I've never seen such a lovely face before, especially here in Tortuga."
I felt my body go tense with uneasiness. I abruptly devoted my attention to my empty glass, not wanting to maintain eye contact with him.
He must have sensed my unease, for he stumbled to gain my comfort. "My apologies, madame, I should have properly introduced myself. Here, I'll start over. The name's Charles O'Malley." He reached out a greeting hand before me.
"Elizabeth Swann." I responded tersely, reaching out my hand in return. To my surprise, he took it and planted a soft kiss upon my knuckles. His tender lips felt ice cold upon my hand, sending a severe chill down my spine.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Swann." He said as he flashed a white, toothy grin.
I returned a meek smile, and settled back further into my chair, hoping to gain a few more centimeters away from the man. He seemed oblivious of my efforts.
"So tell me," he spoke as he lounged back. "What business does a lovely lady like yourself have to do in a nasty place like Tortuga?"
"For the life of it." I spoke concisely. "My own was basically taken away by the war."
Charles's eyebrows raised with interest, admiration glittering within his eyes. "Is that so," He spoke in an interested, drawling voice. "Where are you from?"
I nonchalantly swirled the ice in my glass, pursing my lips in annoyance at the man's presence. "That doesn't matter." I said bluntly, turning my attention back towards the crowd, agitatedly looking for Jack. An overshadowing feeling of fear and worry was creeping into my mind, and I wanted nothing more than to have Jack by my side in the moment.
"If you'll excuse," I abruptly stood up, and picking up my skirts I weaved myself through the crowds towards the front doors, hoping to get away from the stranger.
I heard the man quickly push back his chair. "Wait!"
I looked back and saw him pursuing after me, however, to my luck, he was barricaded by the ever-growing sea of people. I heightened my pace, and swiftly made my way towards the front wooden doors.
The night air was cool against my cheek, with the moon and stars glowing proudly in the dark plume of sky. I hastily turned down the alley of which Jack and I came from, hoping to settle back in the safety of the Black Pearl until Jack returns from the tavern.
Suddenly, something strong and stone-cold grabbed my wrist from behind. "Sweetheart," it drawled.
I quickly turned on my heel, and came face to face with my unfriendly dark-haired, blue eyed encounter from before. Charles O'Malley. "Was it something I said?" He spoke, his breath was fogged with the stench of rum.
"You spiteful rat," I clenched my teeth, yanking my wrist from his grasp. His strength was far from what mine could muster against. "Let go of me!"
"Why would I want to do that?" He said, a grin smearing across his face as he tightened his grip. "You are such a pretty lady. . . and I have a way with pretty ladies."
I spat in his face in disgust, but he kept a measured composure with an unyielding hold of my wrist. A menacing look came over him, and I felt his large hand seizing around my chin as it wrenched my head towards his face. He slowly inched closer into me. His foul breath stung my nose.
"You didn't think I'd let you get away so easily, did you?" He chuckled, staring unwaveringly into my eyes- lust, hunger, determination glimmered within his gaze. He looked as if he were a vexing wolf prowling upon his prey- of which being me.
I struggled to spit words, but not a sound escaped my mouth. Instead fear overcasted me as his hand felt like cold steel chained around my neck and chin, seemingly tightening as time slowly passed. How could I bring myself to fight against this overbearing creature as he towered over me? I continued to struggle against his hold.
Suddenly I felt his gelid hand reach over my bosom, and effortlessly teared off the front seam of my dress. I screamed as he dipped his mouth towards mine, his hand grasping at my breasts.
I tried with all my might to push him away, screaming and crying with mad and utter fear. My mind blurred as I turned away from his pervading mouth. He forced me against the cinder wall of a building, groping at my chest, his tongue burning with venom inside my mouth. It felt like ages I was lock within his unbending strength. I persisted in attempt to push him away, but all effort was to no avail. I nearly surrendered under his weight and strength, until I caught a glimpse of a dark figure creeping up behind him. Instantaneously, I felt his mass ease off of me. I stumbled backwards, heaving as my fingers fumbled to fix the open flap of my dress that revealed my corset. I looked up and saw Jack standing before Charles, sword threateningly pointed at his throat as he muttered words I could not hear beyond the rushing blood in my ears. From a distance I saw Charles' adam's apple rise and fall as he heavily gulped, and hesitantly nodded to Jack's words.
Jack withdrew his sword, and without hesitation threw a closed fist into Charles' jaw- knocking him cold and limp on the ground. He stared down at the unconscious man before him, laying powerless and impotent upon the desert dirt road. He quickly approached to where I was heaving against the wall, grasping at the open folds of my dress for dear life.
"Did he hurt you?" He asked, his deeply concerned eyes sailed over my quaking body.
"Jack," I choked with relief, falling into his broad chest. Salty tears stung at my eyes as my entire body trembled in freight.
"Here," he soothed, quickly shrugging off his brown leather coat and placing it protectively over my shoulders. "Let's hurry back to the ship. I am so sorry Elizabeth, this is all my fault. I should have known better- I should have never left your side."
His voice was filled with anger and disgust. Then he turned to look back at me with severe eyes. "Are you sure you're alright?"
I tersely nodded my head. "Yes." Tears were still streaming down my face, and my chest was quickly rising and falling to my rapid breathing. I suddenly became aware of my disclosed bosom, and tugged his coat tighter around me embarrassedly.
"We have no time to waste, God help us if anyone finds us next to an unconscious Captain O'Malley. Let's hurry along," he said as he placed a guiding hand on the small of my back. We made our way down the dark alleys dimly lit by the glowing street lamps.
Time passed with unspoken words when I began to wonder what thoughts were travelling through Jack's mind. His face wore a blank expression, with his lips pulled into a thin, straight line. However, his hand placed at the small of my back gave away the tense, rigidness of his entire body. Suddenly the image of Charles O'Malley's large body lying helplessly on the ground circled through my mind.
"You didn't kill him." I whispered, my voice still trembling.
"No," answered Jack. "And as much as I want to, it would be too risky to kill a man with so many hostile allies. Stabbing his heart would have put you and I in more trouble than we need to mind in. Have no worry, darling, for I won't allow anyone to lay a finger upon you."
His words left me more shocked than comforted. For Jack had never truly viewed me as a delicate thing who needed protection. I felt he had always believed that I was capable of looking after myself- that I was strong both physically and mentally. And surely that hadn't quite changed, had it? Perhaps it did. Afterall, I was thinner than I once was, and the constant worrying for Will has left me in a slight daze since he left. The string of events from the last few months of my life were utterly devastating, heartbreaking, and absolute peril. I am sure that is enough to change a person. But did Jack genuinely view me differently, as in being weak? The thought was upsetting.
We continued to walk through the allies that were dimly lit by the dying glow of street lamps. It was not long before the relieving sight of the Black Pearl rocking side to side upon the gentle waves came into vicinity. Instantly, the strangest and utmost feeling of safety came over me. I could not fathom together why, but the sight of the Black Pearl swaying upon the water had a certain and almost promising security to it; a homish haven of which I was in such desperate need for.
A flutter flared within my chest as we neared the dock. And for the second time that night, I felt invincible.
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