Chapter 11: Stowaway
Krystal stood on the port side of the Cruel Mistress, watching the tide roll over itself. She always liked standing on the port side. She felt that there was more to see to the left than to the right. It was also because she that she favored the right side too much. She was right handed and did everything beginning with the right, so standing on the port side of her ship gave her balance…something she needed now more than ever.
She gazed at the setting sun and awed at the colors above the horizon of ocean. The pinks and turquoises mixing together as the sun slowly disappeared. She sighed in contentment as the ship glided across the ocean headed for Isla de la Maldecido: The Island of the Cursed.
"Captain?" John called, walking up next to her and she smiled up to him.
"Ah, Mr. Stewart," she smiled. "Come and watch the sunset with me." She looked back at the horizon. "Isn't it beautiful?"
"Yes," John smirked, but he wasn't looking at the sunset…he was staring at Krystal. "The view is beautiful."
Krystal glanced at John then frowned at him.
"Is something wrong, John?" she wondered but he shook his head slowly, still staring at her.
Krystal stared back at him in evaluation, trying to figure out what he was thinking. There was something in his eyes that was different than usual. The loyalty was there but there was something else. It suddenly hit her like a bolt of lightening. The look in his eyes was more loving than loyal.
She straightened and turned a stern face to the horizon. John crossed his arms, still staring at her and leaning on the railing as he sighed. They stood in silence for several moments, her not knowing what to say and him not wanting to say anything.
"How far until we reach our lost island?" Krystal wondered, breaking the silence and not daring to look at him.
"Oh, that won't be for another day or so, ma'am," John replied inching a bit closer to her.
This can't be happening! Krystal screamed to herself. He knows full well that I love Jack! Why would he get his hopes up, only to have them crushed?!
"Ma'am," John continued. "I found something in the trunk sitting in your cabin. I looked through it when I first boarded to see what we could salvage and what we could get rid of."
"So what is it you found?" Krystal wondered.
"I didn't know how you felt about this category of particular items," John replied. "I saved it anyway. It's in your cabin. I just put it there."
Krystal frowned at him in confusion then turned and walked toward her quarters with John following behind. She pushed the doors open and peeked inside. To her total and utter surprise she saw a familiar face examining a purple taffeta gown with black lace lining the neck and sleeves.
"You know, love, this would look very pretty on you," Jack said, holding the dress in front of him as he faced her.
"What the devil is this?!" Krystal shrieked as she turned to stare at her first mate angrily. "You think this funny?! I didn't want him here!"
"I didn't bring him here!" John shot back defensively, staring at the scene in disbelief. "I was talking about the dress!"
She turned her glare back to Jack and demanded, "How did you get on my boat?!"
"After I woke up, I told Mr. Gibbs to stay with the Pearl at Tortuga while I came with you," Jack explained, lowering the dress. "I recalled that you were so kind as to divulge the name of your vessel, hopped on board once I found it, and now I'm here. Now where do you keep the rum, deary?"
He placed the dress on the desk and began looking around the cabin as Krystal glared at him for a moment before throwing her arm up in exasperation.
"Why does this always happen to me?!" she growled as she turned to shove past John to get out on deck, ordering, "Show him where the rum is and make sure he doesn't break anything on my ship, Mr. Stewart!"
"A-Aye, Captain," John sputtered as she walked away. "But…where are you going?!"
"The brig!" Krystal shouted, still walking.
"Why?!" John called.
"She wants to be alone, lad," Jack replied, sitting on the desk as John turned a glare to him. "Best let her have her peace. Now…where's the rum cache?"
John stomped toward him, still enraged.
"Captain doesn't want you here," he growled, stopping a foot from Jack. "She told you that! Why are you here?!"
"You should know, lad," Jack replied, tolerating John's insubordinance. "It's the same reason you're here."
John stared at Jack in wide-eyed confusion.
"I see it in your eyes, son," Jack continued. "You have a spot in your heart for your dear captain."
John straightened and became very serious.
"Whether I do or not is none of your concern," he replied through clenched teeth and Jack shoved off the desk to stare John in the eye.
"Believe me, it's my concern as much as it is God's," Jack shot back in a low tone.
"I know of your feelings for her," John retorted in the same low tone. "Mark me, when the time comes, I will fight you for her affections, if I must."
"Now, lad, you and I both know who will win that fight," Jack smirked as he walked past John to head out on deck and toward the lower decks. He slowly headed down the steps leading to the brig and saw Krystal sitting on a bench in one of the cells, her head in her hands.
"What now, Jack?" Krystal asked irritably, not looking up at him. "You're not happy leaving me to my own adventures, now you have to bug me while I'm trying to figure out whether or not to throw you overboard?!"
"You're not going to throw me overboard, love," Jack scoffed and crossed his arms as he leaned on the cell door, standing in the threshold. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again, stating, "You know that blue-eyed, mop-top is in love with you?"
"Jealous much, Jack?" Krystal smirked as she swung her legs up onto the bench and leaned back on the cell bars behind her, crossing her arms and sighed, "Yes, I know. Don't ask me why. Even I don't know the answer to that."
"You know why, love," Jack retorted. "You're just too modest to admit it. You are an extraordinary person—"
"Oh, please, Jack," Krystal interrupted in exasperation. "Don't try to justify his feelings. He's giving himself false hope that he and I can ever become attached." She noticed Jack flash a small triumphant smirk then straighten when he realized she was watching him. "I know that makes you happy, Jack, but try not to flaunt it in his face. Savvy?"
"Why would I do that, love?" he smirked.
"Because you can't help but gloat about something you've won—"
Krystal gasped softly, realizing she had worded the statement in the worst way imaginable.
"I've won?" Jack wondered if he heard right, staring at her with wide eyes and a smirk. Krystal stared back at him, her heart pounding in terror. "What exactly have I won? You wouldn't be meaning you, would you, love?"
Krystal said nothing, only stared at Jack then swallowed in fear.
"Did—?!" she finally choked, then cleared her throat and tried again, "Did Mr. Stewart show you where the rum is?"
Jack scoffed at her avoidance of his question before replying, "No, not yet. Would you do me the honor, love?"
Krystal sighed, rolling her eyes with a smirk and relaxing a bit at the fact that he wasn't going to pressure her for an answer to his question.
"Fine," she replied, standing from the bench and walking toward Jack. "But just don't drink me out of ship and home, alright?"
Jack smirked again and kissed her cheek softly as she nearly walked past him.
"Wouldn't dream of it, love," he whispered.
"Oh, yes you would," Krystal smiled, her heart pounding in her chest as she stepped around him and toward the exit, Jack following. "You think of nothing but rum. So try not to drink my stash all at once."
"So, love, what's this island you're looking for, eh?" Jack finally asked.
"The Isla de la Maldecido," Krystal replied, climbing up the steps to the deck.
"In English, love," Jack requested, climbing after her.
"Island of the Cursed, you silly git," Krystal laughed, walking toward her cabin. "You were always speaking of your travels to Spain."
"Singapore, love," Jack corrected as they stepped into the cabin and Krystal laughed as she walked to a box under the window.
"This is the good stuff," she said, taking two bottles out of the box and stepping toward Jack to hand him a bottle. "We leave the more worthless grog to the crew. Only on special occasions do I bring this out."
"And what's the special occasion, love?" Jack wondered, taking the bottle from her as she sat in her chair and swung her legs onto the desk between them.
"Dear Captain Sparrow, we are celebrating!" she grinned.
"What are we celebrating, Captain Robyn?" he asked again.
They both took drinks from their bottles and Krystal grinned her strangely white teeth at Jack.
"We are celebrating my decision to not throw you overboard!"
"I'll drink to that, love!"
They raised their bottles and drank again. Jack sat in front of Krystal on the desk and leaned over to smile at her.
"So," Jack hic-cupped. "What we going to do at this Cursed Island, love?"
"I told you, we're going to lift my curse," she replied before taking a drink.
"But how, love? Did the bilge rat, pervert give you any hint as to the cure?"
"No, but that's why we are going to the island. We're going to find the git and torture him till he gives up the cure."
Jack winced as if she were speaking of his own fate, saying, "That's cruel, love."
"Well then I'll match my ship. You're on board the Cruel Mistress now, mate. Best get comfortable with her malice. She's not one to forgive and forget."
"Poetic, love. But her captain isn't like that, is she?"
Krystal looked to him before flashing a small smirk and taking a swig of rum.
"More than you know, Jack," she murmured. "Conrad found that out easily enough."
"What'll you do for him to lift the curse, love?" Jack wondered, taking another drink of rum and choosing to ignore her statement.
"Anything, Jack," Krystal replied, solemnly. "Anything."
A/N: Anything, eh? We'll see about that. She should have thrown him overboard anyway! That'll teach him to stow away on her boat! John would have been happy to do it personally! I had this odd feeling that making John fall in love with her was too predicatible, what do all you think? Reviews, if you please?