OhWouldn'tItBeLovely: Aw, you're a lovely person yourself! I love meeting such nice people on this website! I'm not too keen on Will as a character either. This will probably sound bad, but he just seems a bit...boring to me. Do you feel the same way about him? I would love for Norrington and Beckett to come back! Isn't there supposed to be a Pirates of the Caribbean 5? I agree with you about Lizzie; let's hope that she can use her head and find a way to convince Barbossa to let her stay the night! Hope you like this chapter!
Saints-Fan-12: I think that you're right, that's a very good point! Hope you like this chapter! :)
Eccentricity97: You remember this next chapter? xD I guess that I must've scarred everyone for life with it, haha. xD I'm glad that you took inspiration from it though. Hopefully, you liked the chapter?
weepingbutterflies: Stalkers are definitely a pain, yeah! Why are there so many creeps out there? *shakes head sadly* But anyway, I'm glad to hear that you liked the chapter! Thank you! Ugh, I hate it when routers act up. Do you think that you'll have to get a new one? I hope that yours starts acting normally soon!
LuluCalliope: The days are starting to blur for me; I forgot that tomorrow is a Saturday. *facepalms* So how's school going for you so far this year? It must be really tiresome.
Johnny2b: Hm, I might have to try and see them sometime when I get more time. Johnny Depp is always a great actor.
Villains' Bad Girl: No, I haven't seen that video. That's a shame that it's not going to last though. I suppose that's what fanfics are for though, huh? I imagine that Jaime must've felt something for her since he went out of his way to keep her from being raped.
Frustration: Good point there, I have absolutely no idea how I'd try and describe the US. I guess that one of my question is whether or not it's really warm there? It gets really cold and snowy here in the winters. Also, have you seen the Great Barrier Reef before? It's always the first thing that I think of when I hear about Australia. Yup, I did say that I moved out. It's good and bad, you know? Overall, I'm happier though. So you want to study history? Do you have a uni in mind that you want to go to? I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying the rewrite! I hope that you like this next chapter. :)
Ms. Nevermind: I just love Barbossa too! *fangirl squeals* What's not to love about him, right? I'm so sorry to hear about your colleague. I can understand how the extra money is nice though! That's nice of you to take over her shift for her. And wow, that's awesome about your one-shot! I bet that you did a great job on it! *high fives you*
OnePirateWolf96: I'm so happy to hear that you thought that the last chapter was exciting! There will be a lot of added bits in the next few chapters, so I really hope that you like them! Same thoughts here about Elizabeth actually. She does pretty much just act like a damsel in distress during the first film. At least she grows more independent later on though. Barbossa is one of my favorite characters as well! *high fives you* Thank you kindly for your review!
Chapter XI
I stare up at Barbossa in sudden alarm. He can't honestly mean to throw me into the hands of the crew! They will without a doubt force themselves upon me, shred my dress, and rip me inside and out. My breathing turns hysterical as I realize what is about to happen to me. I search the yellow-tinged cerulean pools of Barbossa's eyes and hope to find something within them that will tell me that he's only teasing me like he's done so many times tonight. However, as I look him straight in the eye, I see nothing but dead seriousness within Barbossa's eyes.
"You want me to leave?" I ask in a meek voice, my heart thudding rapidly against my ribcage as I huddle even more closely to the wall, refusing to get up until I'm absolutely certain that the Captain won't let me stay here. Perhaps he's just not thinking straight and will now recognize the atrocity of what he's just asked me to do.
Barbossa turns his eyes up toward the ceiling and sighs loudly in irritation, pointing out, "Yer makin' me repeat an awful lot of things tonight, Miss Turner. I don't take kindly ta havin' to repeat myself. I told ya to leave twice now. Don't ask me to tell it to ye again."
"But..." the single word of protest leaves my mouth sounding weak and helpless. Why oh why did I try and stab Barbossa earlier? Without his protection, I will be slaughtered by the crew before dawn, but knowing the vicious men, they will take their time ravishing me and will make my death slow and painful. I hate to have to beg, so I try one more time, "I don't think that you understand. The crew will see me as soon as I leave this room."
"Indeed they will," Barbossa replies in a dangerously calm voice, sounding almost bored with our conversation. His earlier role of protecting me is no longer at play in the game that will result in my survival or my imminent death.
"Captain Barbossa, pirate or not, you are an intelligent man! You know what they will do to me!" I point out, my voice reaching a new level of fear.
"Aye, I know," Barbossa gives one more irritatingly calm nod. He leans on one of the wooden chairs at the intricately carved wooden table and says nothing more.
Seeing that the Captain is going to do nothing about this unless I somehow come up with a way to change his mind, I grasp about myself for any final strings that might keep me alive until morning. I try not to make my voice sound too desperate as I point out anxiously, "Did you not say only earlier that there would be no sense in killing me? Don't you need my blood to end your curse? If you toss me to your men, they will take what they want from me and then leave me for dead as you certainly know."
"I did say there would be no sense in killin' ya and that yer death would not be by my hand, yet I never said anything regarding the actions of me crew. Yer blood is blood whether yer dead or alive when its taken," Barbossa replies, looking from me to the door in a subtle way of hinting that he wants me out of his cabin. Now.
Any hope of surviving the night shrivels up within me. Barbossa is indifferent to all of my arguments and he is growing restless. As he pointed out, this is my own fault for attacking him earlier. I feel foolish now for my actions earlier tonight. It made no sense to attempt to murder the only man on this entire ship of savage miscreants who protected me earlier.
That's why there's no sense to be killin' ya...yet.
The Captain's words from earlier come flooding back to me. Now I can tell that Barbossa only meant to scare me. It's clear that he doesn't want to kill me tonight, yet, he won't stop his crew from murdering me right outside of his cabin door. I have nothing left to do but beg him to let me stay within his quarters tonight. It is the only way for me to survive. I loathe begging, but I've already mostly lost my dignity tonight. What would I prefer losing? My life or my dignity? My obvious answer is clear.
I rise unsteadily to my feet and lean against the wall behind me as I plead, "Do not make me go out there, I beg you!"
"Ye should have thought of that earlier, Miss Turner," Barbossa replies, drumming his fingertips on top of the chair that he is leaning against. I listen to the tap of his sharp, curled nails on the wood and feel my heartbeat match their rapid pace.
Seeing that there is no hope left for me, I take a deep breath and square my shoulders. Attempting to suppress the fear bubbling up inside of me, I take the several steps forward to my doom, brushing by Barbossa in the process. I give him a cold look as I pass, which only causes him to smirk at me. As I reach out for the brass handle of the door, I decide to make one last plea. The worst that the Captain will do is yell at me. One last attempt to save my life could make all of the difference.
"There's nothing that I can do to change your mind about this?" I press, glancing over my shoulder and praying for a miracle.
"Hm..." Barbossa muses, tapping his chin thoughtfully. He straightens up from where he has been leaning on the chair in front of him and counters, "Well, when ya put it that way, I suppose that we could make a bargain, but you'll be agreeing to my terms this time."
I spin around and release the door handle, hope flooding through me once again. I knew that the Captain wouldn't go through with this. Taking a step forward, I ask, "What do you propose we do to settle this?"
"If I let ya stay here tonight, it's by the goodness of my heart and nothin' more. Ye can't just get something and not expect to give something in return though. 'Tis only fair that ye repay me for my kindness," Barbossa points out, taking a few long strides toward me so that I can see the gleam of his eyes in the candlelight.
A sudden chill washes over me as I realize that Barbossa isn't going to let me stay in the cabin without doing something for him first. I'm not certain what he wants. I point out the obvious and reply, "I have no more gold if that's what you're referring to."
"Gold? Nay, I'm not referring to gold, Miss Turner. Silver and gold aren't the only means of payment out here in the Caribbean," Barbossa murmurs, his words sliding out of his mouth as if he knew exactly what I was going to say before I actually said it. He takes another step forward so that we're only a foot apart. If the Captain notices my confusion, he doesn't let onto it.
"Then what do you want from...oh," I suddenly gasp in surprise as I realize exactly what it is that Barbossa wants. He wants me. My expression contorts in horror and I stumble backward, shaking my head frantically, my curls from earlier now wild and loose around my shoulders as I protest, "No! That's vile!"
"It be yer choice," Barbossa shrugs nonchalantly from where he stands before me, his shadow looming over me. "If this be yer decision, then go. You've wasted enough of me time as it is."
I take a few indignant steps toward the door before I realize that I'm not thinking once again. If Barbossa takes me, it will only be once and he will let me live until morning. If the crew has their way with me, I will be taken over and over again, ripped and shredded to pieces before my very eyes until my blood has been spilled and my heart has been stilled. Despite the sinful nature of Barbossa's offer, it is still better than spending a night with the vicious, undead pirate crew. Hesitating, I turn around and find myself face-to-face with Barbossa.
"It will either be with me or me crew. The decision is yers, but ye must make it now. I will point out that if ya choose ta spend the night here, ye can be assured that I will treat ye kindly. As fer my men...I cannot speak for 'em," the Captain informs me quietly, his hand reaching forward and making contact with my flesh for the first time. He cups my chin firmly, but gently.
Tears sting the corners of my eyes, but I know that I have no choice anymore. My only chance of survival is to spend the night with Barbossa and that's exactly what I'm going to do. It will be a vile and dastardly act, but perhaps it won't be so horrible if I can distract myself and force my mind to a distant place.
Deciding to challenge myself not to fall to pieces before my captor, I nod stiffly and finally state in a toneless voice, "Very well, Captain. I will spend the night here and allow you to corrupt me since you insist on my corruption either by your hand or by the hands of your crew."
Barbossa chuckles softly, eyes glittering in amusement as he replies, "Corruption? Is that how it's thought of where ye come from? My plans are not to 'corrupt' ya. I merely mean to take advantage of the situation fer yer sake and for my own. Come. We won't do this here."
As Barbossa turns and strides toward my right, I have no choice but to turn and follow him, anticipation and dread consuming me. It's only ten seconds later that I manage to interrupt the meaning of the Captain's last sentence. My nose wrinkles as I snap indignantly, "You can't honestly propose that I might enjoy this!"
Barbossa brushes a tapestry hanging from the ceiling back to reveal a small portion of the room that I wasn't aware of before. A large bed covered with ornately patterned quilts greets my eyes. My feet come to a halt and a lump forms in my throat as Barbossa replies, "Can't I? I believe that I know more about the pleasures of this world than ya do. Yer young and innocent, are ya not? Ye know nothin' when it comes to desire."
I cannot speak properly as I stand between Barbossa and the bed, unable to make my feet move another inch. All I manage to say is, "This is wrong..."
"Ye be livin' with pirates now. We don't think of right or wrong here and neither should ye. I've already given ya my word not to hurt ye. There's nothin' to be frightened of," Barbossa murmurs, motioning me forward. "Waste not the night."
I know deep inside that if I don't obey his wishes, the Captain could throw me out of the door and into the hands of the crew, but my feet are stuck to the floor and I can't move anything, not my lips, not my feet, or any part of my body whatsoever. Fear has turned me into a statue. I never expected to do anything like this except for on my wedding night when it is expected for me to give myself up to my husband.
Barbossa sighs heavily and crosses over to me, rolling his eyes as he asks, "Need a little convincin', do ya now?"
Fingertips reach toward me, and this time, I do not jerk away. The loose strands of hair are brushed lightly away from my forehead and light, knowing fingertips sweep across my collarbone. Barbossa's touch leaves a strange tingle flickering just beneath my skin. When he leans down and captures my lips, I make no effort to pull away from him. I expected the pirate captain to kiss me wildly, viciously even, but the feel of his mouth upon mine is not entirely unpleasant. When his strong hands encircle me and draw me against the warmth of his chest, I seem to forget that I'm being forced into this.
After a moment longer, my lips are released and the Captain murmurs, "That wasn't so bad now, was it, Miss Turner?"
Voice still absent, all I can do is shake my head once, already having lost myself trying to figure out why I'm not running for the door anymore. Barbossa sends me a sly smile before sweeping me off of my feet. Crossing the remaining distance to the bed in only two strides, Barbossa reminds me, "I'm not a cruel man by nature. If I told ye how I turned pirate, ya might be surprised. Now then, all I can say to ya now is ta try an' relax."
I'm lowered onto the surprisingly soft mattress and feel icy fingertips close around my heart once more. Barbossa says that he won't hurt me, but how can I trust a pirate? Why didn't I hate it when he kissed me? My body should be responding differently to this, but instead it is just lying still on the bed. Too many questions with too many possible answers spin around in my mind as I wait to see how the night will proceed.
Hm, how do you think that Lizzie's night aboard the Black Pearl will go? :P Review please? :)