AN: Sorry it took so long guys! I've been trying to write a story (or rather, trying to make a story that could become a book) and I've had such terrible writers block with all of my other stories. Although I do have the next two chapters of Light Among Shadows written, but I can't post them until I either go over to my friends house to get wireless internet, or if I buy a portable floppy drive! Either way, it'll be up soon!
AN 2: P.S. If anyone reads my Ashes to Ashes story, I seem to need a little bit of help. I cannot seem to figure out how to get to the end. I know how to end it, but I can't figure out how to get Jack to find Templeton! Help me!
"Oh, you know I have seen/ A sky without sun/ A man with no nation/ Saints, captive in chains/ A song with no name/ For lack of imagination/ Ya he . . ./ And I have seen/ Darker than ebony/ Ya he . . ./ And now it seems that I/ Without your eyes could never be."
Shakira; Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Asi)
Silver and Gold
Chapter Fourteen: Mistakes
"You're a pirate!"
Lor took a step toward her, one hand held out in a complacent gesture. "Sarah . . ." she began.
Sarah recoiled quickly, stepping backwards. "Do not touch me!" she cried, and turned on her heel, heading back towards the house.
"No, Sarah!" Lor called.
Jack bolted past her, catching up with Sarah easily. One arm snaked around her waist, his other hand covering her mouth before she could scream. "Hush, lass," he growled. "Jus' listen to 'er."
Sarah struggled against him, her arms and legs flailing around them. Her elbow slammed into his side, causing Jack to grunt in pain. Sarah reached up quickly, her fingers finding purchase in his hair. Jack dragged her farther and then dropped her unceremoniously at Lor's feet. "Let go o' me bloody hair!" he cried, pulling Sarah's fingers out of his hair. "I am never 'elping you again," he muttered to Lor.
Lor smiled over at him apologetically and then looked down at the frightened girl sitting at her feet. "Sarah, I'm sorry you had to find out about me like this. Do you understand what they would do to me it I were caught?"
"What every pirate deserves," Sarah replied. "Hung for your crimes."
"We are not as bad as you might think, Miss Clarke," Lor said, offering Sarah her hand. "Now, you should get up or else you will stain your dress."
Sarah looked up at her hand disdainfully. Suddenly a voice echoed through the gardens. "Miss Clarke? Miss Clarke are you out here?"
Just as Tyler appeared, Sarah smacked Lor's hand away and clambered to her feet. She ran into Tyler's arms, burying her face in his chest. "Mr. Adams! Hurry! We must summon Captain Mason! I know he is here, I saw him earlier this evening. Please, hurry!"
Tyler wrapped his arms around her protectively. "What do you mean Miss Clarke? What is it?"
Sarah looked up at him, her eyes full of fear. She pointed at Lor and Jack, her hand shaking. "They . . . they are pirates!"
Tyler looked up quickly, seeing Lor and Jack for the first time. His eyes studied Jack for a moment, almost not recognizing him. "Captain Sparrow? What on earth are you doing here? Do you not realize how dangerous this is?" he paused, his brow furrowing. "How did you get in here?"
Jack smirked. "I have me ways, kid."
"Well, use your ways Captain Sparrow and leave before someone else is drawn here by the arguing. If someone else were to see you . . ." he said, letting his words trail off and the threat to sink in.
"He's right Jack," Lor said quietly, her eyes never leaving Sarah. "Tyler, keep Sarah there, I need to talk to her," she answered and then turned to Jack. "Jack, you have to go. Mason already knows yer in England. He'll be looking for you. He will see you hung if he catches you. Go before he decides to come back."
Jack said nothing, merely pulled her to him, placing another heart stopping kiss on her lips. Lor withdrew slightly, breathing hard. "I'll meet ya again," she whispered.
"When?"
Jack's roving hands caused her to gasp. He smirked down at her, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "Tomorrow night," she gasped out.
Jack kissed her again and then turned away, disappearing into the night. Lor stared after him for a moment, attempting to catch her breath. God that man could cause hundreds of thoughts and emotions to course through her. If nobody had been out there with them, she would have jumped him then and there and taken him with all of her pent up frustration.
A throat cleared behind her, withdrawing her from her thoughts. Lor turned around, switching her attention back to her cousin. Sarah had pushed away from him, her scared gaze drifting from Lor to Tyler and back again.
"What do you plan to do to me?" she asked.
"Nothing, Miss Clarke," Tyler replied, stepping towards her. "We just need to talk to you."
"No!" Sarah cried. "Leave me . . ."
"Sarah, sit down," Lor said roughly, the tone of a captain entering her voice. "I'm tired. I'm tired of people believing me to be something I'm not. Now sit down and shut up or by God I will gag and chain you to that bench."
Sarah swallowed hard and sat down, her eyes, if possible, grew wider.
"First, yes, I am a pirate," Lor began. "I was raised by my father on his ship in the Caribbean."
Sarah stared up at Lor as she began her tale, frightened, but willing to listen.
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"You have to understand, Miss Clarke," Lor finished, "that my being a pirate must be kept a secret. Mason already knows who I am and if anyone else were to find out, Mason would take it as a reason to arrest me."
Sarah looked down at her hands. Lor had been a good friend to her for the last week. She had understood her feelings for Tyler, understood why Sarah thought that she and Tyler could never be together. And for some odd, reason, Lor still seemed to believe that they could be together.
Yet, Sarah could not seem to trust her as much as she once did. How could she trust a pirate? How could she ever trust her the same way? Lor was a pirate, a criminal, someone who was hunted and killed for their crimes.
"I . . . I am not sure what to think," she started. "By law I must turn you over to the authorities. Both of you."
Lor and Tyler looked at each other, concern written on their faces. Tyler opened his mouth to reply when Sarah stopped him, raising one hand slightly.
"But," she paused, taking a deep breath. "I can understand your wish for revenge, Miss Adams. And I can understand your wish to be loyal to your family, Mr. Adams," she paused again. "I do not believe I can trust you as much. I hesitate to think if we can still be friends. After all, you are a criminal, Miss Adams, and you her accomplice, Mr. Adams."
Sarah stood up slowly, smoothing out her dress. She began to walk between them, her gaze lowered, almost afraid that Lor or Tyler would try and stop her. She halted in her tracks as she reached the glass double doors that provided escape from the dark garden.
"I cannot, however, deny my emotions," she stated, not turning around. "Therefore, I will not reveal who you are for fear that it would break my heart."
With that, she left the garden, leaving a slightly smiling Lor and a confused Tyler to ponder her words.
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Lor lay awake that night, her mind considering Sarah's words. The young woman showed a sense of maturity that she had not seen in one so young before. Sarah had told the truth without denying her own heart, without revealing what she really felt. She would have made a great pirate.
Lor smiled at the thought, and then, as a shudder ran through her body, she frowned. If Mason were to find out that Sarah knew, he would arrest her as well and use her as a way to get to Lor. She couldn't allow that to happen. She would have to think of some way to prevent that from happening. She would do anything to prevent that, anything to protect her, no matter what the cost.
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The next day went by slowly. Lor stayed in her room mostly, refusing to talk to anyone, simply stating that she felt unwell. She contemplated ways to protect Sarah without exposing herself or her family. Most of the ways, though, ended with her killing Mason. But, she couldn't do that. Not until later, at least.
Lor had finally decided on keeping away from Sarah until she could find a way to completely protect her when dusk hit. Thoughts of Sarah and Mason flew from her mind as she remembered her hurried promise to Jack. She smiled. She could almost feel the way his hands touched her, almost feel his lips on hers.
Lor tightened the last knot on the makeshift rope that she had forged out of sheets. She figured it would be easier to leave through the window than to go out the front door and have to answer hundreds of questions from her grandfather and uncle. She had changed into her breeches and white blouse, knowing she would be able to climb and run faster without the dress.
Taking a quick glance out of the large window, she threw the cloth rope over the window sill and then climbed out of the window. Lor skimmed down the wall and then moments later, her feet touched the soft, grassy ground. With one last glance up at her window, she turned away from the house and ran across the grounds, making her way to Jack once again.
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Lor threw open the door to The Red Barrel, and then stopped short. Tables were upturned, chairs thrown about the room. Wolfe and Coil were trying to straighten the place, but weren't having much luck. The staircase that led up to the rooms was damaged, parts of the railing having been knocked down. Her eyes widened slightly.
Wolfe looked up at her as she entered, blood trickling down one of his arms. "Ah, lass," he whispered.
"What happened?" she said gruffly, although some part of her already knew.
"They came lass," he replied. "They left about half-an-hour ago. They took 'im. But 'e didn't go wit'out a fight."
"Jack?" Lor whispered, her eyes narrowing. "Who was it?"
"Man introduced 'imself as Capt'n Mason. Didn't say much of anythin' else, jus' came in wit' a dozen men an' took 'im."
Lor's eyes narrowed further, her gold eyes growing darker. Mason would pay for this. She would make him pay.
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DON'T FORGET!!! The contest for the preview to the first chapter of the third story in the Sui Generis series is still going on! The submitted articles should be a poem or scene that includes Jack and Lor as the main characters. You should submit them via e-mail to PirateGyrl at aol.com. The contest will continue until the end of Silver and Gold. The winner of this contest will receive the chapter via e-mail when SaG is complete. In the subject space, type "Lor/Jack contest" so I know what the e-mail is about. Remember, it's no fun if no one enters the contest! I hope you all participate!
Next: Chapter 15: Visitation. What will Lor do? Will she find a way to save him? Will Jack even let her? Read next time to find out!
Dawnie-7: I don't know. I liked Jack being all dressed up. It was pretty cool. Like he's a big paper doll and I get to control what he wears! Bwahahahaha!
PED-sarah: Thank you! Yeah, poor Lor. She tries so hard to hide who she is, but it never seems to work out like it's supposed to!
DaydreamBeliever14: Thank you!
NazgulGirl: What is the last decimal of pi? I don't think I've ever gotten to the end of it.
PineAppleLint: Oh, yes. I liked the fact of him dressing up to go to a party! And of course, he would probably never admit it, but, yeah, he'd never want to lose Lor.
Kate: Ooh, a new reader! Thank you very much. I guess I depict him so well because I've seen the movie so many times! I hope you continue to like my story!