SO SO SO SORRY for the lack of update! I promise that I WILL update, hopefully, weekly from now on! I truly am sorry! I have also added names for every chapter. I don't know why. I just did. *shrugs*
On with the Chapter. Enjoy!
Once Again. SO. SO. Sorry!
Disclaimer - I do not own Pirate of the Caribbean - Sadly
Chapter IV.
I Miss You.
Finally finished with the book she was reading, Grace stood up and placed it back on her vanity.
Shaking her head slightly, she slipped on her shoes and left the room. She smiled to a few of her friends as she passed them, and when she arrived at the door to leave the brothel, she turned around to look up the stairs.
'I'm going out for a walk. See you in a few.' She shouted to the other girls, before heading onto the streets of Tortuga.
She couldn't believe she had been there for two years. She tried not to think about it; she hated this island, but it was the only place left for her to go.
Sighing softly she continued walking the familiar streets.
Her feet seemed to walk about the streets, as her mind was extremely far away from Tortuga.
She was always slightly suspicious about Erik's death. They never brought his body home; they said they could not find it. That he was washed overboard. He was a captain, a well respected man in the Royal Navy; they surely wouldn't allow him to fall overboard.
She had finally arrived at the docks.
The sea would always calm her down, no matter what her problem was. When she was a little girl, her mother and father would take her to the seaside. She loved swimming; nowadays she normally just took her shoes off, and dip her feet in the water.
Her mother and father had long ago died.
Her father, Edward Byrne, was also in the Navy, maybe that was why she was so attracted to Erik. Her mother had always said that was the reason. Edward died at sea, a sudden illness caught him. He was too old and frail to fight it off.
Her mother, Corvette Byrne née Wilson, the daughter of a governor, didn't take the news well. She never re-married, and a year later, she died as well. Grace always said she died of a broken heart, no matter if no one believed her, that was the truth in her eyes.
Sitting down at the end of the docks, she took her shoes off, and placed her feet in the water, just like she always did.
It was a hot Caribbean day, so the water wasn't as cold as it could have been. Leaning back, and supporting herself on her hands, she scanned the docks for familiar ships. A few she did recognise, such as the Beloved Diamond and Daring Darling, but a few she didn't.
One in particular that caught her eye was a ship with black sails. The wood was black as well, and almost looked charred. At the bow of the ship, there was a woman. Her dress was falling loose, and with one hand she held it up, but with the other she held on to a bird.
Grace believed it was a dove.
The ship truly was amazing. Beautiful, and even though it was a pirate ship, it was almost elegant. Grace couldn't help but think that this ship was Captain Sparrow's ship.
What did he call it again, the Pearl?
She had heard stories of it.
The Black Pearl. Supposedly it was the fastest ship in the Caribbean, but Grace hadn't a clue. These were only stories.
Sighing, she turned her head back to the horizon, moving her feet in circles, causing ripples in the water. It was then she realised that it was dark, the sun had set not that long ago. It was things like this that made the sea a good place for Grace to be. It made her relax, and forget about time.
'Tortuga's not a safe place for a young lass at nigh' all by hersel'.' A voice said to her; it wasn't that far away only a few feet behind her. Grace's head snapped around to see the owner, and sighed with relief when she saw it was only Joe.
Jonathan Hewitt was his real name, but no one on this entire island called him Jonathan. He hated it.
'You know Joe, it is not nice to scare young women.' Grace called, turning her head back to the sea.
He chuckled, and came down to sit beside her.
'Yeah, well I knew ye could protect yersel' cause I know ye keep a dagger strapped te yer thigh. Am I righ'?' He said, wiggling his eyebrows.
'You only know that because I threatened you with it when I first arrived on this island.'
'Yeah, an' also because I sha-'
'Don't be so vulgar, Joe.'
He chuckled, he loved joking with her. 'Don't tell me ye didn't like it.'
Grace turned to him, her eyes narrowed. 'To be honest, Joe, it was only a job. I don't enjoy that anymore. I've also had far better clients. Don't take it personal.'
Joe realised then that he had went too far. He knew she hated the job, but he didn't know just how much. Especially if it had put her off of that.
Joe shuddered at the thought; he knew nothing could put him off of that. Then again, he didn't have to sell himself in order to survive.
He didn't get it, she was trying her hardest to survive, but the life she was fighting for was, quite frankly, shit.
'Sorry Gray.' He said softly, using the nickname he made up for her. Truth be told he only used it when he wanted something off her, or if they fell out and he wanted forgiveness.
Normally it would work, and it seemed like today would be no different.
She turned and smiled at him. 'Sorry, Joe. It's just you know how much I hate this life. How much I hate this job.'
'Answer me something Gray, why are ye still here then? If ye hate this life so much, why?'
'Where am I supposed to go? I have no money. No family. Nothing. Tortuga is the only free dock. My father used to say "Where you want to go. Go." Good thing he can't see me now. He probably wouldn't know who I am anymore.'
A traitorous tear fell down her cheek. Joe never knew what to do with crying women, just as he was about to place a hand on her shoulder, she shot up.
Wiping the tear away, she put her shoes back.
'I really need to go, Joe. I'll see you soon.' Grace said softly, before she turned and walked away back to the whorehouse.
She shut the door once inside, and leaned against it. Giving yet another sigh, she walked back up to her room. She kicked off her shoes, and began to unlace her dress.
She let it fall in a pool of fabric around her ankles. She stepped out of it, and only in her undergarments she walked over to her wardrobe. She pulled out a nightdress, and put it on.
Blowing out the candle beside her bed, she climbed into bed and fell asleep quickly.
When Grace awoke, it was still dark out. She couldn't understand why she was awake so early, but then she heard it.
Voices.
They were coming from outside her door. They weren't trying to be quiet, and only a few she could recognise. Ellen was there, as was Catherin, and for some strange reason, she could hear Jack Sparrow's voice.
'Why would I steal from you?' Ellen shouted, causing Grace's brow to furrow.
Stealing? Ellen stealing from Cathy? Why would she do that?
'Because you are jealous!' Catherin replied, and Grace scoffed.
Of what?
'Of what?' Ellen shrieked, apparently reading Grace's mind.
After grinning at how similar they were, she got out of her bed, and walked to the door. Opening it, the sight was something Grace never thought she would see. Jack was holding back Ellen, who was thrashing in his hold, and Catherin was flinching as Ellen tried to attack her. They heard the door creak open and stopped to look at Grace.
Her eyes were half lidded, and her hair fell carelessly over her shoulders.
'What in God's name is going on?'
No one answered her.
'Well then, if it doesn't matter, would you mind keeping it down so I can get some sleep? Huh? Good.' She turned to leave but Ellen's voice stopped her.
'Grace, she is accusing me of stealing her pearl necklace.'
Grace whirled around and faced them, thankful that she had an opportunity to put Cathy in her rightful place.
'Answer me something Catherin, why would she steal from you? Huh? Obviously, she wouldn't. She makes enough money to buy her own pearl necklace, I don't think she would steal yours. Stop seeking attention in a pathetic way. Also, if you must know, you said Helena could borrow it for tonight.'
Catherin's mouth, and eyes were wide open. She could no longer think of a witty comment to fire back at Grace, so with a squeal and a stomp of her foot, she turned away, and stormed back to her room. After a second, they heard her door slam.
Jack released Ellen, who walked over to Grace, and embraced her. Both of them laughing.
'Thank you, Grace.' Ellen said between laughs.
'Don't worry about it. You are like my sister. I won't have her accusing you of stealing from you. Nor will I have her waking me up, especially when I was seeing a good dream.'
'Of Erik?' Ellen questioned, lowering her voice so Jack couldn't hear.
'Surprisingly not.' Grace said softly, her eyes darting towards Jack, before looking away, back to Ellen.
'Who-?' Ellen started, but she noticed Grace's eyes darting back towards Jack, and she needed no more answers.
'Ah.' She said, realisation dawning on her. Ellen quickly kissed Grace's cheek and with after bidding Jack and Grace goodnight, she walked away.
Grace's eyes settled back on Jack, and she smiled softly at him.
'That was smooth, luv.' He said with a grin.
'Like I said, I don't like people talking to my sisters like that.'
Grace couldn't help but smile at the thought.
Sure, most of them weren't blood her sisters by blood, but they cared for her, and always made her smile when she was down.
'I saw your ship today.' She said after a moment, recalling the black wooded ship she saw at the docks.
'The Black Pearl?' Jack asked, taken aback by what she said.
'Yes. I have to be honest she was a beauty. However, I do recall you saying you had get her ready to make sail. Shouldn't you be away by now?'
'She is ready. I came back here because I ... I ...'
'Let me guess, you needed some womanly company?' Grace said, finishing his sentence for him.
He nodded in response, expecting some harsh comment from her, but she simply giggled.
'Can't say I am not surprised. My father used to spend all day and night with my mother, before he set sail on a voyage.'
'So you understand? That's surprising, I was expecting a rather rude comment.'
'Yes, well I didn't say I approve. You should be able to control yourself. And when I say "you" I mean "men".' She replied, as she folded her arms across her chest, and refrained herself from rolling her eyes.
'Love, I could refrain meself, if I wanted to. But I don't, so that's why I come here before every voyage.'
Grace scoffed. 'Have you ever thought about getting yourself a wife, who could go with you on the ship, and you wouldn't have to pay?'
'Wife? Don't you know the men like me at all, love? Marriage is simply a test to see who will fall out of love first.'
'You truly believe that?' Grace asked, shocked by what she was hearing.
'That I do. 'Tis the truth. Besides, at least when you pay you can get it whenever you want, and get the good treatment such as-'
'Okay! This is where I take my leave, and go back to sleep! Goodnight, Jack.' Grace said quickly, not wanting to hear any of the "good treatment".
'Night love.' Jack said with a chuckle, as he gave her a wink.
She gave a chuckle, and shut the door once again. She walked over to her bed and slid into it. She gave one last glance to the door, before she closed her eyes, and fell into another deep sleep.
I know it is not that long. I really am sorry about the wait! I had such a writer's block. I didn't know how to continue this story, but I finally figured it out. Expect updates nearly once a week. I will try my hardest to meet that deadline!
Did you love it? Hate it? Once again, I'm sorry it's not that long, but I will try and make them longer :D Review? Please. I'll give you cookies...or rum...or Jack. ;)
Charlotte.x