Chapter 8...
Katrice!" Katrice glanced around, her gaze finally resting on a man, taller than herself, with a handsome smile.
"Jason!" She shouted, gleefully, running to him. As she got to him, he wrapped her in his arms, looking deep in to her eyes. Then he pointed to a bright star.
"That's our star…" He whispered. Katrice smiled, burying her head in his chest.
"Do you have to go?" She asked, holding onto him, tightly.
"I'm sorry, Katrice, I'm a pirate, it's what I do. But promise me something." He said, stroking her hair.
"Anything."
"If the sun comes up and I'm not home, be strong. If I'm not beside you do your best to carry on." He said, holding onto Katrice tightly. Katrice nodded, tears dripping off her cheeks.
"I will." She whispered.
…888…
Jack came to the fork in the road. He could go left and back to the ship or right and to a tavern, rum and whores. He smirked to himself, what a hard decision. Slowly, he began sauntering down towards the tavern but was stopped by a petit blonde.
"Hey, Jacky." Jack grinned, opening his arms in greeting.
"Giselle!" He said, happily. Giselle smiled, batting her long lashes.
"How's business?" Jack asked. Giselle shrugged, putting a hand on his chest. Suddenly, Giselle remembered the girl from earlier. She crossed her small arms over her chest, much to Jack's disappointment. Then she put a finger on her chin, tapping lightly, as if in thought.
"Well, there was this thing earlier…but you wouldn't be interested." She said, dismissing it. Jack cocked his head to one side.
"Well let's see. What happened?"
"Well, earlier there was this girl…" She paused but Jack motioned for her to continue.
"Well she was a right pretty little thing but she looked as though she'd been beat up. Said her name was…uh…what was it? Something pretty unusual if I remember right…" Jack frowned, hoping his conclusion wasn't the right one.
"Katrice?" He asked. Giselle nodded.
"That was the one. Katrice, poor thing." Giselle said, dismissively waving a hand. Her grin then returned.
"So how about some fun, Jacky?" She asked. Jack frowned more.
"I can't, love, err, prior engagement." He said, turning on his heel back up the road. Giselle huffed but Jack ignored her. His thoughts were on Katrice. He walked for miles, he didn't even head for the ship, he just walked. The sound of a flowing river caught him in his tracks and he turned, listening carefully, he heard a sob. And as far as Captain Sparrow knew, rivers did not sob unless he very drunk. Considering this and the one bottle of rum, Jack decided to follow the sobs, leading him to an old bridge. He sauntered closer, noticing the moonlight illuminating something. A person. Jack cautiously continued, squelching through mud towards the figure. Finally he reached them and knelt down.
"Leave me alone…" Jack frowned. He knew that voice; well actually, he knew it to be strong and playful, not like it was.
"Katrice, love." Katrice looked up at Jack, wiping her eyes.
"Leave me alone, Jack. I want nothing more to do with you." She said, stifling a sob. Jack shook his head gently putting his arms around her. He lifted her easily, although she beat at his chest feebly.
"Please, Jack, leave me…" Katrice sobbed. Jack, however, did not leave her.
"Shhh, love, I got ye." He soothed, letting her cry into his chest. Gradually, she became drowsy, clinging to Jack, she fell asleep. As quickly as he could, Jack walked back to the ship. It was empty as far as Jack could see, meaning the men were in Tortuga. Jack sighed, carrying the sleeping girl down to his cabin. Softly, he placed her down under his covers. As much as he hated to admit it, she really did look a state.
"I'll be right back." He reassured her, although she was sound asleep. He slipped from the room, retuning later with a bowl of water, a bottle of rum, some cloths and a bandage. Taking the opportunity of her being asleep, Jack poured some rum on a cloth and dabbed it on her wounds. He expected her to wake up, he knew that pouring rum on an open wound hurt like hell, but she didn't. Jack smirked, slightly, but after cleaning her arm, he bandaged it, tightly enough to stop anymore bleeding. Then with another cloth, he dipped it in the bowl of water and washed her face. Also, considering the fact that in the morning Katrice most probably wouldn't allow him near her, Jack took the time to study her. She had long dark hair which was plastered to her face, contrasting with her pale, but not ghostly white, skin. Her rose petal lips were slightly parted as if she was about to speak and Jack, being a pirate and totally indecent, was tempted to run a finger along them. Still he resisted, though with much difficulty. He couldn't resist, however, taking a strand of her hair between his fingers. It was wet and the moisture had caused small ringlets and waves. Jack was startled when Katrice rolled over and jumped back, knocking the bowl of water over the bowl of water and causing it to rattle to a noisy stop. Jack held his breath, waiting for Katrice to wake up and start screaming at him. Katrice, however, just murmured and rolled over again, much to Jack's amusement. It briefly crossed his mind what else he could do when she was sleeping but he banished the thought immediately, well, almost immediately. Katrice shuffled around, eventually settling with her arms and legs splayed across the whole bed. Jack sighed. His bed was comfy…but then again she had given her his bed more than once, he thought with a smirk. Jack, with a final look at Katrice, grabbed himself some blankets and arranged them as a makeshift bed on the wooden floor. Blowing out the candle, he listened to Katrice's shaky breathing. It comforted him somewhat, although, he wasn't sure why. Every now and then she would mumble and roll around and Jack felt the urge to check on her, just in case. In case of what? he had asked himself.
"Well just in case."
Hmmm, another chapter! Review my lovelies!
Love ye .x.
