Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Pirates, just the ones that I've cooked up. No profit is being made from this; sadly.
Author's note. I know; it's been forever since I've updated this story. I haven't given up on it. You must know that. I missed you guys and this story so when I got a review from KatieGurl09 demanding an update, I started writing again. This chapter was very hard to write, and the next one also, and I am still not pleased with how it turned out, but I think you - faithful readers - deserve an update after so long a wait. If you are still out there, that is… I promise you won't have to wait this long for the next chapter.
I'd like to thank the following readers for adding me and/or this story to their fav's list since the last update (that was over a year ago)
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Wow, that's a lot of names! Thank you all again for adding me to your fav's, it really means a lot to me. In case I forgot anyone, please accept my apologies! I've had a computer crash a while back so I've lost a lot of data. That's also part of the reason for the delay…
Now, without further ado, Chapter 45. I hope it will be worth the wait.
And happy holidays to all of you!
CHAPTER 45
No quarter given
As relaxed and smoothly as the morning had passed, all the more dramatic was the change in weather and circumstances that afternoon. Dark ominous clouds had gathered above and around them and the winds had picked up. The most dramatic though, was the fact that sails had been spotted on the horizon and a surge of anxiety and thirst for action swivelled across the decks of the two pirate ships. It weren't sails of a prospect prey, but the sails of a predator. Crisp white sails of a predator that was after their blood.
Drakes fear had become a reality, when the sails had been identified and Devon was the first one to get that thrown in her face when she stretched herself on deck after taking inventory down below.
"I've told you Sparrow is bad luck! He's brought this on!" Drake shouted pushing his finger in her face. Isaac Drake was angered, although the pirate Captain knew his accusation couldn't be based on anything. The Navy was not solely after the Black Pearl; he didn't try to fool himself. The Hazard was on their priority list also and he figured once word had gotten out that Captain Sparrow of the Black Pearl and Captain Drake of The Hazard had become allies there was all the more reason to look out for both ships.
"That's a load of hogwash Drake and ye know it! It was only a matter of time before we'd run in to them." Devon countered, shoving her Captain's finger away as she took Drake's spyglass from his belt. The look Drake gave her made her hand it back to him, but she handed it over in a casual manner, as if he had handed her the spyglass personally.
The Captain shoved his spyglass back inside the holster on his belt and clenched his teeth, "Well I suppose you're right."
"We'll beat them lobster sissies, we've got two magnificent ships, two very able crews, two experienced Captains….." Devon quipped, counting on her fingers. Drake did not like the look in her eyes one bit. He'd seen that glint may times before and it had always made him smile and feel assured that she'd do whatever it would take to reach their goal, but it did not comfort him this time. Drake was worried, to put things mildly. Did he really need remind her she was with child? He would order her to hide herself if needed - force her to stay put if he had to; he told himself. No doubt the Navy hadn't forgotten the way the devious Devon Duville had escaped the noose in Port Royal, or the way Captain Jack Sparrow had come to her rescue. They had both not only slapped in the King's face - but spat at the man and his whole reign - and made the Royal Navy look like fools. He frowned looking at his first mate and for the first time he regretted that she had come back to them. She should have stayed in Tortuga, Isaac Drake mused; she would have been safer there...
"Gents, we'll try to outrun them for as long as we can!" Drake bellowed across the deck. When the crewmates started protesting and a few men accused Drake of being a coward, he gave them a stern look that silenced them. Hoggins, being one of the senior crewmembers, however knew what the reason for their Captain's sudden passiveness was; it was Devon. He knew that Isaac Drake would never forgive himself if anything were to happen to his First Mate. Devon wasn't the type to avoid a fight even in her current condition; they all needed to protect her and the little one she was carrying. It was a precarious situation, because their charge did not care much for their protection. In fact she detested it.
"Signal The Black Pearl!", Came Drake's order.
"Will do Sir!", Monroe saluted, before he dashed off to the rail to signal Captain Sparrow or whoever was nearest on the ship that sailed besides them.
Drake shook his wigged head again as he watched Devon from his perch on the forecastle of the ship. Sure enough, she was on the helm, taking the wheel. He cursed inwardly. He had promised Jack to keep her safe, to watch out for her so long as she was on The Hazard, but he knew there was no way a woman like Devon would hide herself when it came to a fight – let alone let anyone keep her out of harm's way. Not when harm's way, meant a possible fight or an adventure. He knew his first mate far too well for that. And Isaac hoped Jack knew her that well too. A woman like Devon would never change; her zest for adventure and her cockiness were inexorable. The sparkle that had lit her eyes when she'd told him they would be fine was the tell-tale sign that her pregnancy hadn't mellowed her. She was a fighter same as all his men, a true pirate and her fearlessness was to be envied. Even if perhaps it was part charade, she was very convincing an actress.
"We'll never be able to control her, Captain." Came a voice from behind him. "I am truly afraid we might have to lock her in if the worst should happen..."
Drake looked over his shoulder, stared at Martin Cooper's face and sighed. "If the worst comes to the worst, we might need her, Mr. Cooper. But I don't want to put her in harm's way…"
The older man shook his greyed head "I'm afraid you won't have a choice, she will certainly not stay put willingly..."
The Captain rubbed his temples and sighed: "I know Martin, believe me I know…."
"Oh bugger!" Jack swore when he saw clouds gather closer together above them then when he called Ana up in the crow's-nest and she signed him with her hands. "I just bloody knew things were going too smoothly!" he grumbled. They were sailing between Navy and storm, between the proverbial rock and the hard place and neither of them was where Jack desired to be close to. What he did want to be close to was his bed and the woman currently steering the ship besides them. No such luck though.
On the ship on their starboard side black manes shook fervently as heavy raindrops splattered down on them, triggering the unruly hair to curl. "Damn, jus' what we needed, a nice little storm..." In weather like this she realised Jack's hat – or any hat for that matter– could come in handy. Tresses of her hair clung to her face and she whished she could push them out of her eyes.
Isaac Drake had instructed his female – and very pregnant – First Mate, to remain in her quarters, or his for that matter, but she would have nothing of it. She had been assigned the helm-shift and she was taking it. Neither storm nor pursuing Navy could keep her from it. Her Captain had caved, knowing Devon's persistence, but also knowing his ship – and crew - was in good hands.
She held on to the wheel as she looked over her shoulder; smiling. The Pearl was coming up alongside.
"Ye think ye can 'old 'er?" Hoggins shouted from below her.
" Poseidon's daughter remember!." She shouted back, grinning widely so the gem in her tooth sparkled. Her eyes glistened and she grabbed the pegs even tighter.
Jack looked at The Hazard and spotted Devon behind the wheel. The wind was tugging at her black locks she looked so in her place; she belonged there. He mused this for a few moments as the wind picked up even more and the trinkets in his hair whipped around his face.
The Hazard gained more and more speed after Jameson, Monroe and a few more easy climbing mates had adjusted the sails as Devon had instructed.
Devon knew the Navy most likely wouldn't pursue them in a fierce storm like this one, or at least that was what she hoped. So best they could do is outrun them for as long they could and if Jack would follow her example they could shake them off. So long as the wind was in their favour anyways…
"Duville! Are you trying to get us killed?" She heard Isaac Drake's roaring voice from her left.
"Nay Sir, I'm tryin' the opposite quite frankly.', she quipped. "If ye'd rather 'ave me weigh anchor 'n drop canvas so's them lobsters can turn yer lovely ship inta smithereens, jus' say the word.."
Drake braced himself against the rail of the helm as a huge wave swept upon deck, shaking his head when she looked at him, demanding an answer. "Everybody secured?" Devon roared as she lashed herself to the helm.
She could make out several "Ayes" around her as she navigated trough the massive blue surrounding them.
"Devon, we really should lower canvas!" Drake shouted, grabbing hold of the rail tighter.
Devon grinned wickedly, deciding not to hear her Captain. She loved the power of the storm and felt completely at ease behind the wheel.
"Capt'n ye deem it wise to follow her? Why doesn't Captain Drake take over?" Gibbs shouted, getting more and more worried, since they were gaining more and more speed and the masts cracked portentously at the force of the wind.
"We trust 'er," Jack retorted flatly, his eyes never losing track of the sails in front of them. "Besides we don't really have an option, it's either followin' 'er or go inta battle with the King's Navy. Now for as long as we can avoid the Navy capturing the mother of me offspring, we'll try 'n loose them, savvy?" He said cursing himself over and over for bringing her back from Tortuga. "Brace yerselves Gents, this'll be a rough one!"
"Aye." Gibbs muttered, looking across to the other ship where Devon was busy crashing The Hazard into a wall of water.
"She's bound at kill 'em all!" Gibbs muttered, but secretly he really did admire her. For a woman she was a fair enough sailor, and she really did have the balls to go with it.
Another firm tug of the wind, made the sails crack ominously and Devon roared "DROP CANVAS NOW!"
Part of her wanted to benefit longer from the strong winds, but she knew that would jeopardize lives. Not only their own, but her little one's as well, she thought as she watched several mates nimbly climb the mast and rigging to lower the sails immediately. Her heart swelled with pride when she saw her crewmates fight the elements to drop the sails.
"Yer doin' good boys!" she bellowed. "Signal the Eye, I want location of that Navy ship!"
"Aye!"
Devon felt the ship rock on the waves of the tropical storm and when she glanced over her shoulder she spotted the dark ship at portside. It was barely visible due to the hard rain and the winds, but it was there sure enough.
Knowing Jack was right here by her side, sailing on his ship reassured her. Whatever may come, however dark the situation she knew she could best it together with him. Of course she had tremendous faith in Drake, Drake's ship and her crewmates, but her heart was with Jack on that other ship and she needed that reassurance to keep going.
Marty gave Jack the location of the Navy vessel and to his shock it was still pursuing. Part of him thought they'd given up in the storm, trying to save their precious ship, but they hadn't.
In fact, there were now not one but two Vessels nearby, both flying his Majesties colours. He cursed, knowing a battle couldn't be avoided anymore.
He bit his lip scolding himself for taking Devon back with him. She should have stayed in Tortuga. She'd have been safe in Tortuga…
When the first cannons fired - and it weren't The Pearls' or the Hazards - Devon bellowed for someone to take over, since her hands tinged to get to work. She ran as fast as her feet could carry her - and that wasn't as fast a she'd like to admit - down the stairs into the armoury and shouted out orders. Her mind and heart were racing with adrenaline.
"Aim just above the waterline and on the masts, we want them down to meet Davy Jones as soon as bleedin'possible. FIRE!" She shouted and all cannons answered in suit.
There was no time to think of the Pearl, there was no time to think of Jack, Devon's mind was filled with tactics, strategies and instructions. She bellowed out her orders and hoped she had trained her men well. DaCosta worked harder than she'd ever seen him work and for a few proud moments his teacher was stunned with how much of her teaching had actually come across. Then she ordered the men to reload and fire and she inspected the angle of the barrel closest to her before ordering to reload again. The ship rocked and a blow made her fall backwards, into Jenkins's arms. She stood upright within moments, pushing herself away from the man's chest, as she scanned the hold for damages.
"McKee! We're going to make water, fetch the carpenter, assemble two men and try to patch her up as best as you can, I've got a feeling this won't be over soon!" Then her head snapped to her left "DaCosta, you're in charge here! I'm goin' up. - Reload!"
She examined her crew and managed to bellow another "FIRE!", before she climbed the stairs.
There was an absolute mayhem on deck. A mixture of blacks greys and an unnerving amount of reds danced on deck. But it wasn't a friendly waltz though, this was battle. And one of the most fierce battles she'd witnessed in years. This wasn't just a nice raid, this was serious. Her eyes searched the decks for Jack and when she found him on her left hand side, clearly searching for something or rather someone. Her hand reached for her gun, but her fingers found an empty baldric. Where is my flint?, she cursed. Quickly her hands grabbed the other side, but she knew her sword would be useless.
The self-centred piratess forgot all selfishness and forgot about her baby, when she saw the gun pointed at Jack, who was too distracted at the moment to notice he was about to be shot. Devon jumped from the rail on poopdeck and shoved Jack out of the range of the gun. Almost simultaneously a shot was fired.
The sound of the gunshot reverberated across deck and then for a few moments the ship was bathed in complete eerie silence.
The bullet pierced the skin of Devon's side, ripping apart the flesh and drilling its way into the various layers of tissue. Blood oozed from the wound in Devon's side and Jack looked at her in shock. One flash moment, their eyes met and his concern met her reassurance. Although her reassurance wasn't quite convincing. That shot should have killed him; Jack realised that instantly. The bullet Devon had caught in her side; was meant to send him to an early grave at sea. Not even a trial or the gallows this time, the Navy was serious. The wanted to get them, and dead would be just as fine as alive…
It was only in that moment, Devon realised she had put her child in jeopardy. Her life was constantly on the line, but her child, Jack's child…. It hurt breathing and she could feel the wound was big. Her vision became blurry and she tried to ignore the hellish pain that surged in her torso. Her instincts took over and Devon rolled way from the scène as fast as she could, and Jack quickly fired a shot. It hit target on the officer's pistol. Devon reached inside her vest, looking for her throwing stars, but to no avail, they weren't there. They were in the leather vest that didn't fit her anymore. She cursed herself for letting herself get this fat and tried to get back on her feet. She was no help to Jack or her crew now.
Devon had saved him; taken his bullet. From the corner of his eye, he saw her struggling to get up, a trail of blood smeared out across the deck and his instincts were torn between aiding her and keeping himself alive. She'll live, Jack, keep believing that. Now Fight! But he couldn't stop worrying. She was hurt…. And then realisation hit the Pirate Captain like a slap in the face… their babe… their babe and its mother had been in danger in order to save his life.
He parried and dodged and thrust and blocked several thrusts to get close to her, to help her get back on her feet and out of harms way. He had to use his sword, since there was no time to reload his gun. Another hard thrust and his current opponent was down. Just a few more feet and he'd be at her side.
When he saw her pulling herself up by the rail from the corner of his eye, he decided getting himself killed would do neither of them any good, so he attacked, dodged and fought the best he could, blocking everyone who got close to Devon with a rage and bloodlust that would chill him to the bone if he had the time to think about it. He fought and gave no quarter. It took only a few seconds before the Hazard's and Pearl's crews joined in, but to Jack it seemed like centuries had passed since Devon had been shot.
"Foolish girl!" Martin Cooper scoffed, when he saw Devon drag herself away from the scene. His heart leapt in his throat when he saw the blood. So much blood. Devon was pale, a thin sheen of sweat covered her brow, but still she wouldn't let him support her.
"Help them! Cooper help them fight!" Devon urged grinding her teeth in pain, trying to steady her hands enough, so she would be able to yank Cooper's flintlock from out of his hands.
"They'll manage… you on the other hand are in need of my attention." he said gravely, shaking his head after seeing her blood drenched blouse.
Devon's lips trembled. She had acted without thinking; impulsively she'd jumped in front of Jack in order to save him, but by doing that she had put their child's life in grave danger...
Cooper grabbed hold of her upper arm and led her inside of Drake's quarters forcefully. "Do not move an inch!" he hissed, "I'll be back shortly."
Devon nodded and concentrated on pressing down on her wound, all that was usable and close enough to reach was one of Drake's shirts. She tried to look at the mayhem on deck but when she moved her torso a little to the right; her vision became blurry as the white hot pain surged through her. Warm blood trailed down her fingers, quickly staining the shirt she was pressing down on her wound. Part of her brain registered the bleakness of the situation she found herself in, the blood was drenching the shirt too quickly; the wound was perhaps bigger than she had anticipated. She tried to remember what kind of gun that redcoat had used to discern the damage of the bullet, but she couldn't focus her mind enough due to the pain . A shot was fired and went straight through the wall of the cabin, whizzing mere inches away from Devon's ear. Instinctively, she reached for her gun but the sudden movement made her nauseous and nearly made her scream out in pain as it raged through her even more forcefully. She got light-headed looking at her bloodied hand, her body quivered as another surge of pain flashed through her.
Martin Cooper came back with his bag and looked at her "Did you move?"
She shook her head as she bit her lips to conceal her pain from the ship's physician. The old man wasn't fooled though; he saw blood dripping down her bottom lip. He handed her a piece of thick rope "Here, love, bite down really hard, it will help you deal with the pain." Devon wanted to lash out at him, telling him that she could handle the pain just as well as any other sailor, but took the piece of rope instead, she was starting to feel dizzy and the pain was almost unbearable.
"We'll just pray that the babe's safe." Martin Cooper stammered, mostly to himself as he took a gin bottle out of the Captain's liquor cabinet. When he was almost near Devon another shot whizzed through the cabin and in shock Cooper dropped the bottle he was holding. Moments later, Jack Sparrow came through the door and barricaded it from the inside. Devon was about to curse him for being a coward, but swallowed down her words as she saw him open the bay windows and climb out of them. He didn't even look at her! That fact was perhaps even more painful than the bullet embedded in her flesh.
He had seen her, from the corner of his eyes. He had seen the pain twisting her sheet pale face, her teeth biting in the piece of rope she had in her mouth and he had seen the blood and the blood drenched rag or whatever it was that lay on the floor. So much blood… He shook his head firmly as he climbed upwards. Thinking about all he could loose wasn't going to save either of them. Or the babe…. The babe… he had fathered a child and perhaps he wouldn't even get to see it. When he swung over the rail, there was only one thing on his mind, ending this fight.
Jack Sparrow wasn't one to kill out of bloodlust, but the anger that currently overtook every fibre of his body, made him buzz with red hot and cold blooded rage. His heart pounded and he could hear his blood pulsate through his veins. If Devon died because of the bullet that had had his name on it, he wouldn't be able to live with himself. When he saw a red uniform on his right, he held his sword firmly between his hands and plunged it forward, putting his whole weight into the tip of his sword. The silver blade sliced trough fabric, flesh and intestines and when Jack was certain it he had pushed it through to the other side, the hilt pushing on the golden buttons of his opponents vest, he laughed maliciously. Satisfied he withdrew his blade from the lifeless form and let it fall heavily back on the deck.
From behind him Joshamee Gibbs watched Jack while he himself fought off and attacker. He had never seen Jack this way. There was pure hatred oozing out of his Captain's every pore and it gave Gibbs the shivers. He wondered what could cause Jack's bloodlust. This wasn't just a fight to end the fight. Somehow it seemed that Jack Sparrow was determined to personally slaughter every redcoat that came in sight.
Pearls of sweat formed from Martin Cooper's brow, he had enough on his hands with Steven's who still occupied the sickbay and now there was Devon. The only woman aboard the ship and his heart bled for her. He cared for her, although she was impossible at times. He wished and prayed she'd pull trough, but he knew the odds were bleak. He had been able to clean the wound using whatever strong liquor he could find, but he couldn't take the bullet out. Not by himself and with all that was going on on deck, he didn't know if there'd be anyone left to help him save Devon.
There was a loud thunder outside and the whole ship shuddered beneath him. Bottles rattled on the shelves and glasses shattered onto the floor. Devon tried to get up despite her agony, her right hand clutching the hilt of her sword as hard as he could.
Martin Cooper pushed her back down "Let it be, Devon. You are in no condition to fight battles now. Lie still and try to keep yourself together. Breathe calmly, I'll go and find help. Press down on this." Martin said, taking her hand away from the cutlass and pressing it down on a fresh cloth he'd placed on the wound.
She tried to keep her breathing regular, tried to focus on keeping herself and her baby alive, but when she heard a presence in the room a while later, if it were seconds or minutes or hours, she didn't know, but when she heard someone enter the room again, it wasn't Martin Cooper, or Jack…
She didn't even struggle or fight when four arms dragged her off the table and across the deck.
To be continued…
Posted 21-12-2010
P.S. Please leave a review, if only to let me know you're still out there :)
17-01-2011: I've posted this chapter 45 several times before but it keeps disappearing. I hope it stays posted this time! Sorry for the inconvenience.
