Scars

One of the few things that Edward hated about the Caribbean was the unbearable heat. Every day the sun rays would hit the mortals below them without mercy and in comparison with the wet streets of England the deck of the Jackdaw would often become hotter than hell.

He absolutely despised the feeling of hairs and clothes sticking on his skin because of the sweat or the feeling of being light headed after spending too many hours under the hot sun.

The worst part was most times there would always be some tiring chore that had to be done during hot days like this.

And this was one of those days.

The Jackdaw and her crew had just taken over a fort that was located on remote island miles away from any city.

The best part of the whole situation was that the fort was filled with things like food, medicine, wood and iron which they desperately needed. The worst was that they had to move all these from the storage, through the beach with the scorching sand and in the end to their ship.

It was a tedious work that took hours and the heat didn't make it any easier.

However he had to admit that seeing Eva without a shirt for the first time was quite a plus to the whole ordeal. Not being able to handle the heat every crewmember, including her, had gotten rid of the additional clothing that was laid on the sand. So, she was working while she wore only her trousers and breast binding.

One hour after they had started moving the things Edward had already finished his task to move half a dozen of filled crates from the fort's master's quarters to the shore from where they would be taken on the ship by Jack and John.

The thought of letting the others do the rest crossed his mind, but he dismissed it as quickly as it came. He had served once a cruel and lazy captain and he knew first hand that ordering anyone else to do your job was not really appreciated by the rest of the sailors.

Needless to say that this captain hadn't lived for long.

So, he headed towards the edge of the end of the beach where the sand was slowly replaced by more solid ground on top of which started the vast jungle.

That was where Eva stood with some boxes of her own that she had move from the fort;s storage.

She didn't hear him when he move closer to her, she thought that she was alone n the beach, so when she bent to pick one of the boxes she didn't make sure to keep her long ebony hair in place. As a result her black curls slipped over her shoulders and revealed her back to him.

As a pirate he had come across many gruesome sights, but what he saw that day really made his stomach twist.

She probably heard his sharp intake of breath, because the next moment she was back on her feet with her eyes locked in his.

Her face carried a hunted expression of mixed emotions. Her eyes betrayed anticipation and uneasiness, but also fear and a hint of panic. For a moment she reminded him of a wild animal that had been caught by its hunter.

She knew he had seen them.

"Turn around" He said calmly, but the tone of his voice made it sound more like an order. It was an order anyway, so she obeyed and slowly turned her back to him. He moved closer so he was right behind her.

As slowly as he could he raised his hand and pulled her hair over her right shoulder.

Never before had he touched her so gently, with so much care, but that didn't stop her body from going stiff. Because she knew the reason behind all these.

"How did you get those?"

"Leather whip with seven stripes, thirty times, you do the math." Her voice was cold almost indifferent, but he knew better. He saw her hand, they were shaking.

"When?"

"About a year before we met. Four years we've been living on the same ship and you just noticed them now?" She said sarcastically.

"You did a very good job at hiding them." He snapped.

Of course, how did he not see it before? Every time she wore something that left her shoulders bare her long hair would always be left loose in order to cover her entire back. Her purpose was not to preserve her decency, but to cover those.

"Obviously not good enough"

He grasped her forearm and turned her around so as he could see her face.

Her eyes showed cold fear, his only burning anger.

"Which son of a bitch did them?"

"Son of a beach" she gave a forced laugh "Do you remember what I told you when you claimed that a woman had no place in the fight of a pirate? At love and war and war women can be more brutal than men."

"What do you mean?"

"A woman did these to me Edward and when I meet her again I'm planning to do to her exactly what she did to me."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

That specific memory along with the questions that came with it plagued his mind for the first exactly one year later.

That night she was lying fast asleep next to him when she had unconsciously turned her back to him unaware of the fact that he still laid wide awake on the other side of the bed.

The white sheet that covered both of them had slipped from her shoulder to the carve of her hips and this time there was no breast binding to cover a part of the damage.

Under the faint light of the candles and the one of the moon that came through the open window of his cabin all the scars that were spread along her back seemed almost inhuman.

He could only see the long pink and white lines that would mark her for the rest of her life.

He lifted his hand and traced them with his fingers.

Of course they didn't take not even a small part of her beauty. Through his eyes and the eyes of many others she was one of the most beautiful, but still the question remained.

Were those a reminder of her pained past or a badge of honor? Perhaps, they were her proof that she had survived things that would break any other, but what were those things exactly?

Those questions infuriated and saddened him.

"They belong to the past Edward along with the pain that clmes with them. Let it go."

Her voice broke the silence. Now awake she turned to face him. He frowned.

"I'm not leaving anything behind, not until I kill the one who did them."

"She will pay; you have my word, isn't that enough for you?"

"Who is she?" He knew what kind of answer she would give him, but he had to ask nonetheless.

"Someone you can't reach. For now there is no reason to chase ghost my love."

"Ghosts?! As long as I am concerned those marks on your back are very much real and for now so must be the one who did them."

She looked down and stayed silent unsure of what to say. So, he took her hand and spoke again.

"It angers me to no end that the person who hurt you like this is still walking alive in this world, but it's not only that. I know nothing of your life before you ended up on this ship. It's unheard of a pirate to ask someone's trust, but with you it's different. After all these that have happened between us why don't you trust me enough to share your past with me?"

She looked him in the eyes again and gave him one of her sweetest and saddest smiles.

Damn how this woman made him feel.

"The reason I stay silent is because there is nothing to tell. My life started with you."

"I understand that. Don't forget that my real life started when I became a pirate, but you know everything about what happened to me before that. Don't I deserve to know the same? Trust me I only want t share your burden and ease the pain that hasn't yet passed."

She gave a sigh of defeat.

"You are right I will tell you everything, but not now. We are both tired and it's a long story."

He leaned over and kissed her lips softly.

"I will wait."