Chapter 7: Misery
As the sun set over the Caribbean waters, Arabella sat on the window sill of her cabin and watched the waves do the same old dance they've been doing since the beginning of time. Then she heard a knock on her door. It opened to reveal an older woman who appeared to be a maid. She wore the maid's uniform and had a stern look on her face as she started at Arabella with cold dark eyes, "Admiral Dalton has requested that you change into something more…suitable." She said sternly in a voice as cold as her eyes.
"Demanded is more appropriate." She thought before turning back to the old woman, "Alright" she said and stood up.
The woman walked toward the old wardrobe and pulled out a corset, petty coat, and under dress as well as a light blue gown with fringes and lace. Arabella hated such things, but Fitz would kill Isabella if she didn't cooperate so she sucked it up and pulled on the horrible garments. She held in her breath as the corset was pulled tightly on her body and pulled the dress over her head before the maid fastened the back tightly. When she was finished she looked her over with a cruel eye, "The Admiral is waiting for you on deck." She said as she left the room grabbing Arabella old dress on her way out. Arabella had a feeling she was going to burn it or something like that, but she didn't press the matter as the old woman walked down the hall.
With a sigh, Arabella looked around the cabin before heading up to the deck. Fitz stood by the gangplank with a smile on his smug face while offering her his arm. When she hesitated to take it, he mouthed the word 'Isabella' with a threatening glare. Arabella slightly hung her head while letting the monster before her escort her to his carriage which to her looked more like a slave cart. He gently helped her inside before climbing in and sitting beside her. The smug smile never left his cruel face as he took her hand in his, "I am glad we can finally be together, Arabella. I have waited a long…"
"Fitz" Arabella interrupted while staring out the carriage window, "I'll do whatever it takes only to keep my daughter safe and nothing more." she said calmly.
"Now Arabella, let's not picture it like that." Fitz said as he took her hand in his, "Just look at this as an opportunity to start over."
Arabella pulled her hand away, not even looking at the man beside her, "I didn't need to start over." She then turned to look at him with pleading eyes, "Can't I at least bring my daughter with me? She needs me."
Fitz groaned, "She's Jack's responsibility now. Besides I can't have a blind child wondering around the place needing to be watched over twenty-four hours a day."
Arabella sneered at the snob before her, "You will not insult me child. Just because she's blind doesn't mean she has no feelings. She's just like any other little girl. She just can't see is all."
Fitz's face showed no emotion whatsoever, "The girl stays with Jack and that's final."
Arabella turned away from the jerk and saw out the window a large brick mansion on a hill right in front of them. A large iron fence surrounded the property and the gardens were huge and well kept. The house itself put the governor's house to shame with it's expensive windows and large size. Arabella stared at it with mixed feelings. She was in wonder at the house's beauty and size, but she also wished she had never laid eyes on it. Now this large and wonderful place was her prison. The place that would hold her captive for who knows how long.
The carriage soon stopped right in front of the door to the large house and the driver opened the door and offered his hand to Arabella. She felt Fitz knock her ankle with his foot so she nodded and took the man's hand. When she was out of the carriage and standing in front of the mansion, her heart began to fall to pieces. She thought of Isabella sitting in the basement cold, lonely, and scared. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of Isabella's scared face. "Jack, please find my baby." She prayed in her head.
Fitz took Arabella by the arm and practically dragged her inside. The inside of the main room was huge and open with blue and white tile floors and a large staircase. The walls were dark blue with silver candle fixtures here and there. Paintings and portraits lined the walls as well. Under different circumstances, Arabella would've thought this place was beautiful, but since she was to be trapped her, kept away from her child and the man she loved for all eternity, then she saw it only as a prison and nothing more.
Fitz then led her up the stairs, down a wide hallway, and stopped at a door, "This will be your room for the time being." He said with a smug look on his face. Arabella had heard the meaning behind his words and it made her cringe. This was to be her room until…their wedding night. He opened the door to reveal a large bedroom with a huge glass door leading out to a small balcony overlooking the gardens. A large four-poster bed with gold satin sheets took up most of the south wall and a small mahogany nightstand that matched stood beside it. A white wardrobe with black vines painted on it stood across from the bed and a changing curtain with the same designs stood in the corner.
"A servant will help you change into something more suitable for dinner after you've bathed." He then lifted her hand to his mouth and placed a kiss on it, "I shall be waiting for you at the bottom of the staircase so please don't keep me waiting." He said while grinning seductively at her.
Arabella pulled her hand out of his grasp and closed the door on his face. After she heard his footsteps going down the hall, she leaned against the door and fell to the floor sobbing, "Please… let her be okay. Please let my baby be alright." She said in between sobs. Her heart ached as she remembered her child's scared face as she placed her on the basement floor. "Jack, please find her." She begged as she hung her head and stood up to endure the pain Fitz was inflicting upon her.
Three days after the tragic accident, Isabella still hadn't woken up and Jack refused to leave her side. The crew was rather grim at the thought of not seeing the sweet young girl that would sit on a barrel near her father and just listen to the sounds of the ship and the ocean around her. She may have not been able to see it, but she still enjoyed it.
When the ship finally made port in the small inlet a few miles from Port Royal, Gibbs entered the captain's cabin. He found Jack sitting beside his bunk holding Isabella's small hand in his large slender ones. The man looked like he hadn't slept in years or even eaten for that matter, but he just refused to leave his daughter's side. With sigh, the first mate approached the captain and cleared his throat, "Sir, we've landed."
Jack just nodded in reply and stood up, "Tell the crew to stay with the ship for now. Turner and I will go ashore and come back when we need you." He said glumly.
"Aye, aye sir" Gibbs then looked at the small child's face as she slept. The poor thing had been through more in her young life than more than a lot of people have in their long ones. It was a sad sight to see even for the old pirate. He sighed and left to do as he was ordered.
Jack gently wrapped Isabella up in blankets and lifted her unto his arms making sure she was warm for it was going to be a slightly long walk to the Turner's house. A minute later Will came in with a sad look on his own face, "I assume you're ready?" he asked. Jack just nodded in reply and followed him out the door. The crew all watched with glum looks on their faces as Jack carried the small girl down the gangplank and through the forest.
Not much was said as the two men trudged through the vegetation toward Will's house. Will just kept looking over his shoulder and saw Jack holding Isabella close to his chest as if someone was just waiting in the shadows to snatch her away. Will sighed with relief when he bushed away some tree branches that shielded the view from his house. "We're here." He said as he continued to walk. Jack looked down at his daughter's pale face and shifted her in his arms before following Will to the back door.
Will rushed up the steps and knocked on the door as he stepped into the house, "Elisabeth" he called as he walked into the kitchen.
"What?" a voice asked from the den. Elisabeth then stepped into the main room and saw Jack standing there with an unconscious child in his arms. "Jack? Why…who…what's going on here?" she asked in complete confusion.
Will turned back into the room and proceeded to explain everything to his wife. Elisabeth stood there in horror when he was finished telling the story of how Isabella hurt her head. "Well, why are you just standing there? Take her upstairs and fetch a doctor!" she said before running into the kitchen to grab some things.
Will nodded in reply and motioned for Jack to follow him upstairs. He led him to the small guest bedroom that held only a small nightstand and bed, but that was all the needed at the moment. Jack gently placed Isabella on the bed just as Elisabeth rushed into the room with a fresh bandage and warm water. "Will, please run into town and get the doctor." She pleaded as she unwrapped the bandage on the little girl's head.
"Yes dear" he said before heading out the door.
Elisabeth turned to Jack who had sat down on the other side of the bed, "Jack, I'm so sorry this happened."
"It's not your fault my wife's in danger and my child's unconscious." He mumbled as he watched Isabella's face for any signs of her waking up. Nothing changed.
A few hours later Jack, Will, and Elisabeth were sitting in the den waiting for the doctor to finish. Jack just sat in a chair staring at the floor while Elisabeth and Will watched their six-month-old son, William the III play on the floor.
Finally they heard the creaking of steps coming down the staircase. Jack shot up out of the chair so fast you'd think he'd have gotten whip-lash. The doctor stood in the doorway with a slightly worried look on his face, "Well, I checked her injury and it's not infected, but she did hit it pretty hard. But the good news is this isn't fatal. She should wake up in maybe a few hours or so. Maybe tomorrow even, but no later than that." He then turned to Jack who had a relived look on his face, "You said the child has been blind since birth, am I correct?"
"Aye" Jack replied glumly. He'd accepted that Isabella would never get to see anything through her eyes, but it still hurt him when he thought about it too much. He would do anything just to give his child the chance to see the world around her.
"Well, when she wakes up I'd like to make sure everything is alright with her eyes. Send for me as soon as she does, if you would." He said while grabbing his black bag.
"Thank you, Doctor" Elisabeth said while leading him to the door.
Jack started to head back upstairs, but Will grabbed his arm, "Jack, you need to rest and possibly eat something. You haven't left her side for more than five minutes in three days."
Jack sighed and pulled out of his grasp, "Fine" he mumbled before he followed Will into the kitchen.
"I'll check on Isabella after I put Willie down for nap." Elisabeth said as she picked up her son and headed upstairs.
A shooting pain shot through her head as the blackness began to fade away. The numbness was leaving her body rather quickly and she felt warmth all around her. Then Isabella heard the music that had always calmed her since she was a tiny baby. But when she turned her head toward the sound of the music something strange took place. When she opened her eyes, she didn't see darkness. Instead she saw a blurry room and then after a minute everything became clear. Isabella opened her eyes wide as she saw the world for the first time in her life.
Author's notes: What do you think? Was that a bad idea? Giving Izzy her sight? Please tell me. Sorry about the cliffhanger, but I've got other thing that I gotta do and I haven't update in a while so I thought I'd should stop keeping you waiting.
Anyway, reviews would be nice. I would love to hear from you guys and it encourages me to write more. Please tell me what you think.
