English Rose

Chapter Four

By: Kimmy-Sama

It had only been a few hours since Rosalyn had fallen asleep when she awoke with a start, her mind playing tricks on her. In her dreams she saw a figure of a shark lurking in a dark corner and a single man protecting her from it. She swore it was Davy she had seen, before he vanished and left her alone again in her dreams.

Her eyes moved to the wrist of her right arm which was positioned under her other. There, around her wrist was a bandage. Very new and water was still slowly dripping down her arm from the cold compress of it. She sat up and looked it over in awe that the cloth was one she hadn't seen before. It was pure white and very soft, reminding her of her mother's handkerchief she had been carrying around.

Instantly she realized she had dropped it when she got changed last night and she hurried to her feet to find it. Sure enough it lay underneath her old lavender dress. Quickly she tucked it into the clean navy blue garment she now wore, making sure it was close to her heart.

Loud breathing made her head turn in the direction of the organ. Davy sat there, as he did every night, asleep leaned over his precious instrument. Staring at him, Rosalyn found it hard to stay angry with him. He confused her, his personality so kind and then harsh almost immediately after. Why was he keeping her here, in the safety of his cabin, but locking her away like a prisoner?

Prison is what it felt like. Never to leave. It had only been a week or so, although it felt like months locked away in this small room. Quietly, tip toeing on the balls of her feet, she made her way towards the door. Fear took her, causing her to freeze in her tracks. Terrified of what waited out there, her feet like glue on the rough floor, not letting her take another step.

She shook her head and brought her hands to her face. She hatted feeling like this. Never in her life had she been so afraid to just open a door. Ever since she was a little girl, she had always faced her fears head on. Her father would have never allowed such behavior, to be frightened and not stand up against it. He would have hit her before she would have a chance to argue.

The sudden thought of her father made her recall the shipwreck. Was he at the bottom of the sea now? Food for the bottom dwellers and sharks? Good riddance. His foul being was probably making them all gag. Closing her eyes, she resisted the urge to let a tear fall for such a man.

Rosalyn made a choice then. Never to be afraid. This fear was causing her to back away from what she wanted. The fresh ocean air, the warming rays of the sun. A way out and off this ship she had no reason to be on. She had no need to stay now, right?

A flash of Davy's face came across her mind, perhaps he was the only reason. To stay near him? Her eyes opened and looked again towards the sleeping Captain. Was it pity she felt for him? She noticed that every night he would play himself to sleep with his mournful song. Or was there something else?

Ignoring her thoughts, she turned again to the door. Was it even locked? She didn't remember him locking it behind him when he entered, he was to preoccupied with the changing maiden in his quarters. With a shaky hand, Rosalyn took a hold of the door handle and pulled slowly. It stuck slightly in the frame but it was unlocked. On her tip toes, she took a step closer and pulled harder. It gave a few inches. She peered out of the doorway, seeing at first nothing but the dark night.

Bootstrap Bill Turner was making the most of his downtime, admiring the sea. He didn't really sleep and this was the only time he could find time to be alone wandering around the ship. At the moment he was leaning against the railing on the lower deck, watching the water hit the ship silently below. He had always enjoyed watching the sea, no matter the circumstance. It made him feel at ease, away from the world around him.

He heard a soft sound, like a door closing. Turning away from the sea, he looked towards the Captain's quarters, expecting to see his Captain ready to give orders. Instead, in the light of the dark night, he saw a feminine figure. He could only guess it was the same woman that they had taken captive some nights ago.

He didn't get a look at her then and so his curiosity got the best of him now. He was far enough away that she didn't notice him and he kept it that way, remaining still. Her slender form was defiantly something of a teenager. Bill remembered his past wordlessly and the woman he once loved.

Her feet were bare, roughened by the harsh wood this ship was made from. She stood on the balls of them, her balance unwavering. Her hair was wavy and slightly matted from the lack of brushing. The face of an angel, he noted. Something you only see with rich families. It was so strange to see such a girl looking so brave and alert. It almost made him laugh.

She made her way closer to the ladder that would take her down below. Loud and boisterous voices were coming from there and he could only guess that she was interested in what was going on. She moved like an alert kitten, curious yet watchful. Kneeling down, which made Bill's smile grow wider, she moved slowly down the steps in a sort of crab-like walk . How a woman could do that in a dress and remain so proper with her movements, was completely beyond him.

When she had moved low enough to be out of his view, he followed silently behind her, careful not to make himself known.

Rosalyn was amazed by everything. The look of the sails, the feeling of the rails, the salt in the air. It was as if the ship had been laying at the bottom of the sea for years. The scents and the sights were so extreme she could only want more. Her feet hurt from the lack of shoes, some of the wood being coral like and sharp.

A loud clatter came from down below, so she continued down to see what had caused it. Gone was the fear she once felt and now she was inquisitive as to what these crew members did to pass the time. If at all worse came to be, she could call out to the Captain. He would save her, wouldn't he?

The crew was all around, working on many different things. Knotting rope, sleeping, talking. She stayed as quiet as she could, turning her gaze over them all until she came to where the noise was coming from. In a small huddle, a group of men were calling out different bets.

"I wager.. Seven years."

Another paused. "I match."

The other just nodded.

Rosalyn watched in amazement. Why were they betting years? Years of what? What was underneath those cups they held? They started to talk about three fives or was it five threes? What was this game they were playing?

"Lairs dice."

The voice next to Rosalyn's ear made her jump and let out a loud gasp. Well, more of a loud yelp. Many of the crew turned in her direction, surprised and amazed at her presence. Bill Turner stood behind her, looking about at the rest of the crew. Rosalyn put one hand to her chest as if to slow down the heart that refused to calm.

Many of the crew simply ignored her and went back to what they were doing; a few others stood and walked over towards Rosalyn, a look of cruel interest in their eyes.

"What are you doing here?" One said loudly. Rosalyn didn't recognize this one, and by the look of him she didn't care too.

"I..." She tried to come up with an excuse.

"She's here with me." Bill said, walking between her and the few who gathered.

"With you?" The man looked Bill up and down as if he was thinking of how easily he could crush him like a bug.

"Aye. Captain's orders. Told me to let her stretch her legs."

The man grew silent and glared at Rosalyn. "Keep her close, don't trust her."

Then they turned and walked away to return to what they had been doing before. Rosalyn almost felt her legs give way at the thought of being alone with one of those men. As Bill turned towards her, she felt a little relieved to see someone who was a little less sea and a bit more man.

"You were doing fine, until I startled you. I'm sorry."

Rosalyn took a deep breath and tried to smile. "Its alright... I'm just thankful you helped."

Bill nodded and looked again to the game that was once again underway. "You looked confused."

"Yes.." She wrapped her arms around her waist and followed his gaze. "Liar's dice? How do you play?"

A half an hour later, Rosalyn still held a look of puzzlement. Bill had explained the game of Lair's dice to her and the whole game seemed rather complicated. Although he kept telling her it wasn't that hard. He offered to play a game of it with her, but she shook her head in refusal. It flattered her that he was being so nice to her, but in a strange way she felt as if she was bothering him. Bill walked with her above deck after a few more minutes, the night sky had cleared of the cloud cover it held when she first snuck out of the room. She seemed less worried and more eager to observe more.

"Why did everyone down there not attack when they saw me?" She asked out of the blue, grabbing a hold of a nearby railing and leaning against it.

"Because they know not too. You're the Captain's..." He trailed off, looking out to the sea as he had been doing sometime ago.

"Captain's? You mean they think I... belong to him?"

Bill nodded quietly and looked back at her. "You mean he hasn't...?"

She looked offended. "Never." her expression instantly upset and she turned her gaze towards the cabin door she was so afraid of hours ago. "I mean... he hasn't once even showed any inkling of that."

Bill stared at her intently. "Never? Not even once?"

Rosalyn huffed and stood straight once more. "No. I am very surprised that you all think such a thing. He's really been very kind to me." She waited for a remark from Bill but he just stood there still. He looked almost... disbelieving.

"Its true. Is he really so bad to you?"

Bill nodded and said nothing more.

"Well... I think I'm going back now. Thank you for your help... I hope... to see you again soon. So far, you're my first real friend."

The older man looked amazed by this and nodded lightly. "Of course."

"And you can call me Rose if you would like. I won't tell the Captain about this, so don't worry."

With that, she turned and walked slowly back to the cabin door. Hurriedly she entered the room, closing the door as silently as she could behind her. It made her feel at ease, to know that she could overcome such a fear. Her head turned towards the sleeping form of the Captain, still in the same place she had left him. Her curiosity got the best of her and even though the light cuts on her feet hurt now when she walked, she made her way over to him.

Could what Bill said really be true? Was this man really so harsh to his crew? He had shown his anger towards her, true. That anger was easily dismissed when he took a seat at his organ and began to play the heavyhearted melodies.

Within moments she stood next to his bench. When she first saw Davy Jones on that sinking ship and the fear grabbed her tightly, she didn't take in the beauty behind his face. The eyes are what struck her most when she had the moment to really take them in. They were crystal ice blue and with a hue of the shallow ocean waters in the Caribbean. There was more in that face that could easily be observed his this state of sleep.

His skin was slick and it seemed as though it would be wet to the touch. In the silence of the room and his heavily slumbering form, Rosalyn found the courage to lift her hand. It took seconds to reach his cheek and even longer for her hands to stop shaking so that she could touch him with her fingertips.

Surprisingly, she found his skin not wet at all. Instead it was soft, smooth under her fingers and warmer then she would have believed. She had to bend forward a bit to get closer to him, watching his face twitch with the touch of her fingers.

Before she knew it, she had placed her lips where her fingers once touched, her eyes now closed as she gave a sweet kiss on his cheek. Only then did she notice that the room was so quiet she could hear the waves outside. It was entirely too quiet.

Moving inches away, she opened her eyes and saw crystal blue starring back at her.

To Be Continued!