Another Chapter! Yay! Within a week! Also I changed the summary...this one sounds better than the last one. What do you think?

Disclaimer - I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean :)


Chapter VII.

Betrayal.

Grace was frozen. Her green eyes wide and her full lips hanging open. She was trying to comprehend what she just heard. Ellen had told Jack about the suggestion. Ellen had told Jack that he should take Grace away with him. What was the meaning of such a thing? What possessed her to be so stupid and tell her that? Just why did she do that? Why?

She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. She needed to remind herself to breath, otherwise she'd end up fainting.

In. Out. In. Out.

Looking at Ellen she could see she was waiting for her to snap. Her face was braced ready for the wrath that she knew was coming. And she wasn't about to go and calm down. She couldn't. This was too serious for her.

Taking in a sharp breath, she closed her eyes and tried to soothe the rising anger. However, it didn't seem to be working. Her eyes suddenly snapped open and beyond the green of her eyes was raging anger.

'You... you what?' She exclaimed pulling free of Ellen's hold, her hands clenching into anger.

Grace crossed her arms over her chest and breathed in deeply through her nose.

'He asked me and I didn't tell him at first,' she defended, but then she heaved a sigh when she realised what she had to say next. 'But then he got it out of me-'

'You could've lied! Just because Captain Jack Sparrow asked you doesn't mean you need to tell him! Tell him to stuff it! I mean, I really… I can't… oh!' Grace squealed and stalked off planning on heading back to the whorehouse.

'Grace! Please, wait.' Ellen called after her, but knew that it was no good.

When Grace heard footsteps following her she turned sharply around and came face to face with Ellen. Her eyes narrowed into slits, and she raised a finger to point at her.

'Do not follow me. I mean it Ellen. Do not follow me.' Grace said darkly before she turned around and walked away, pleased when she didn't hear footsteps following her this time.


Grace walked around Tortuga for some time. Her anger not ebbing. Quite the contrary. It seemed to be growing. The more she thought about it, the more angrier she got.

Who gave Ellen the right to tell Captain Sparrow about Grace's problem? It was Grace's problem to deal with, not Ellen's. So what made her think that telling Jack what Grace was thinking about asking was a good thing? And why did she think it should involve her? Now she could never look at Captain Sparrow again. She stopped dead at that thought, why did she want to see him again, anyway?

Shaking her head, she ran her fingers through her black hair, and realised that she had reached the brothel.

It was pitch black now, and there was no light from the moon. You couldn't see the run down building, the girls were either out working, or sleeping, seeing as there were no light coming from it. Grace stood outside and looked at it, heaving a sigh as she looked at her "home". It seemed like only yesterday she was doing the same thing for the first time.

The sky, which was normally a bright blue, had turned black. The woman didn't seem to notice this change though as she kept walking through the streets of this hellish island, not knowing where she was going. She had been on this hell for a few days now. She hadn't eaten since she got off the ship that had brought her here. Her stomach was groaning at the lack of food, she had began to feel light-headed and faint; her head throbbing, her feet feeling heavy as she walked, and her eyesight constantly went in and out of focus. She had started thinking about stealing something. She hated the idea, but what else was she to do? Starve? She didn't really like that idea too much, so shoving away her pride and propriety, she started thinking about where, when, what and how she would steal something edible.

However, in the end, she just couldn't bring herself to do such a thing and so, she walked around the streets of - Tortuga, wasn't it? - instead. No one seemed to be concerned about seeing her walk the streets at night, it obviously wasn't out of the ordinary, and she was quite surprised that no one had attacked her. Everywhere seemed to be full to the brim at this time at night… or was it at this time in the morning? She had lost track of time. There only seemed to be one place that wasn't bursting at the seams at this time, but it didn't look that good a place to go. She had seen it a few times in the days that she had been there, and she went back there every night trying to pluck up the courage to go in and see if they would help her.

Tonight she went back there. Her hunger was unbearable, her throat tight with dehydration and the lack of sleep made her put aside any fear and walk in.

Slowly opening the door she saw it was plain white. There was nothing of great interest and it looked as if no one was in. She still didn't know what kind of place this was and she didn't want to walk in too far to someone else's property.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming from the staircase and she turned her head sharply to look at the oncoming person. Her eyes wide in alarm, she prayed to God that this person wasn't going to react violently when she saw her.

However, she visibly relaxed when she saw the approaching person was a woman. She looked like she was in her late-twenties, and her skin was tanned; she had been on this Caribbean island for some time. Her blonde hair was short, and complimented her facial structure as it curled in around her face. Her brown gaze locked with the younger woman's green eyes, and her eyebrows rose under her blonde fringe.

'Can I help you?' The older woman asked, taking a hesitant step forward. She looked defenceless, but this woman had learned not to trust first impressions.

'I'm… I'm not sure.'

'Tell me your name love.' She asked and tightened her robe around her waist, before crossing her arms over her chest, tucking her hands under her armpits.

'Grace… Grace Byrne.'

'Nice name.' The blonde answered with a kind smile, as she took a few more steps forward; she was standing directly in front of her now. 'I'm Ellen Welsh. So, what can I do for you?'

'Can - can you tell me what kind of place this is?'

'It's a brothel, hon. I hope you are not planning on joining, you don't look like the type.'

Grace smiled slightly… should she take that as a compliment? Either way, she was going to.

'I don't have anywhere else to go. Nor any money to do anything. I have been wandering this island for days with no food, or water, or sleep. I would do anything for some warm food in my stomach, and a soft mattress under my back.'

Ellen sighed deeply, it wasn't the first time she had heard that reasoning. Her herself had used it before.

'Well,' she started off slowly, not wanting to tell her to do it, but not wanting to turn her away. 'If you are sure. You'll have to see the madam, Catherin. She's upstairs, I will go and see if she wants to speak to you.'

With that Ellen took her leave and went back upstairs leaving Grace to contemplate what she just done. If the madam takes her on she's going to have to be a whore. That was a rather disturbing idea, especially for someone who thought stealing was a horrible crime, but she would rather do something as disgusting as this and live, than die within another few days because of her lack of food and water. And at least this would be somewhat honest, it would be a job, she would be paying for her food, not stealing it.

Grace wrapped her arms around her chest and hugged herself trying to heat herself up, and calm herself down. She began looking around herself once again taking in her surroundings.

But before she could really get her bearings, footsteps were heard on the stairs again and she turned her head to look once more. Ellen was back and looking at her with a grim expression. No one was behind her, and Grace was about to ask what the madam had said when Ellen spoke again.

'The madam will see you now,' she informed, before raising her hands up the stairs. 'Straight up the stairs and it's the last room on the left.'

Grace was taken aback that she was accepted, but nodded anyway and went up the stairs, not missing the soft "I'm sorry" from Ellen. She walked along the landing until she arrived at the last door on the left. Raising her fist she knocked on the door. Two seconds later the door opened and she came face to face with a woman. She also had blonde hair but unlike Ellen she had shoulder length hair, that hung in perfect, tight curls. Her eyes were blue and intimidating, and held a cold and calculating look. Looking her in the eye, Grace suddenly felt like she had shrunk down to the size of a doll.

'I take it you are the girl that Ellen was talking about?' She asked, but before Grace could answer in the positive, she spoke again, 'Hmm, come in.' She stepped away from the door, moving back to the vanity table she had been sitting at previously. She picked up her brush and resumed brushing her hair. As Grace entered the room, watching as she stroked her hair, she realised that her room was just like it was downstairs. White. Boring. Plain. Grace closed the door behind her, and then the mistress spoke again.

'So what is your name?' She asked, turning her head slightly so she could see her.

'Grace Byrne, ma'am.' She replied, deciding that being polite and getting off on the right foot with this woman was a good idea.

'Hmm. Where are you from?'

'London. My fiancé died and his family threw me out and I had no where else to-'

'I don't want to hear about your life story girl!' The madam exclaimed, slamming her brush back down on the vanity table, before standing and walking over to her.

'Sorry, ma'am.' Grace replied softly looking down at her feet, cowering slightly when she felt her move in front of her.

'Now. Why do you want to work for me?'

'I have nothing to my name. No money and I haven't had food for days. I would do anything for shelter and food. And warmth.'

'Yes.' Cahterin acknowledged, though Grace knew she didn't really care. What she did care about showed in the next question. 'Are you a virgin?'

Grace's face turned bright red at this question, back in London it was not proper for women to talk of such things but Tortuga - a pirate port - would of course be different.

'Yes ma'am.' She said, not able to look her in the eye. She wasn't ashamed of that fact, she was just ashamed to be talking about it to a stranger. She was raised to never talk about sex, that was between herself and her future husband.

'Hmm.' The madam replied before raising her hand up, and grasping her chin in her hand. Grace gasped but remained still as the woman inspected her like a show pup. She looked her in the eye, and squinted as if she was trying to find something beneath them. She looked at her lips, before she released her and looked her up and down.

'Turn.' She ordered, and Grace obliged turning around so she could give the woman a better view, despite the fact she felt humiliated doing it.

'Yes, I suppose you will do. Go back down to Ellen, tell her to give you some food, and then to show you to the spare room. You will retire there and tomorrow you start your new job. I'll try and find someone who will go soft on you for your first time.' She said with a grin on her face, before she turned and headed back to her vanity, picking up her brush again.

Grace was sure her face was bright red by now, and after swallowing hard, she replied, 'Yes, ma'am.'

'Oh and one more thing…' Catherin called, just as Grace had opened the door to leave. 'Go to my trunk and pull out a nightgown to sleep in. Burn those clothes, no one will be able to repair them.'

Grace nodded, and walked over to the trunk and pulled out a nightgown.

'Goodbye ma'am.' She said before she turned and left, heading downstairs to Ellen.

Tomorrow she would start her new life, but a new life didn't necessarily mean a better life.

As Grace ran through the memory of her going to the whorehouse, she couldn't say she regretted doing so.

Sure, if she didn't do it she would still have her virginity and she would be able to give herself for the first time to someone she loved… but that's about it. If she didn't go there, she would never have met Ellen and she would never have seen the next day. If she didn't go she would never have survived, she was sure of that. So, what was one downside to so many upsides?

Yes, maybe her and Ellen were having an argument, and yes maybe they had fallen out right now but what relationship is perfect? Not even the closet friendships are perfect.

Sighing, she decided she would love to go back to the brothel and go to her room, however Catherin would not be happy if she knew Grace had missed yet another days work.

Shaking her head she started walking back to the 'Faithful Bride', knowing she'll have to do some work.

As she walked, she started thinking about Ellen, where could she be? Grace knew that she told her not to follow her, but she couldn't help but worry. She hoped that she also went back to the tavern, that way she could apologise for the way she had acted.

Then, she started thinking about Jack. Ellen had told him that Grace was thinking about asking him to take her away with him. She realised that Ellen never said how he reacted, but she didn't give her the chance to. Yet, he still helped her find Grace even after that shocking revelation. He had locked eyes with her and Grace saw something in those dark eyes, almost like he was thinking about what he had heard.

She groaned and ran her hand through her hair, trying to banish these thoughts from her mind. It was just too confusing. It was too stressful.

Finally, she reached the tavern and walked inside, looking for someone she knew. Whether it be Ellen or Captain Sparrow, she didn't even know. Pushing her way through the crowd, she thought she heard someone calling her name but she took no notice. Suddenly, she was shoved with so much force she lost her balance and fell.

However, a strong pair of hands clasped around her waist and prevented her from hitting the ground.

'Watch it!' A familiar voice growled near her, obviously to the person who had sent her flying.

Looking at the hands around her waist, she saw they were tanned and adorned with many rings. They looked familiar.

Looking up she saw the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, with his famous golden grin.


So Jack knows and now they are talking...what's going happen? I wonder.

Also you got another insight to what Grace's life was before and how everything came about. :)

Please leave a review to let me know what you think. :)

Authors Note - Hey! I have written the next chapter and it is quite short, don't be too disappointed I just needed to end it where I did because I didn't want it to be too long. So yes, don't worry the one after that - Chapter 9 - should be longer :)

Charlotte xxx