Title: The Odyssey

Rating: PG-13, though language is mild. Just keeping all my proverbial bases covered for further developments.

Summary: Captain Jack Sparrow's ransoming of young siren Leila Shipman leads him to not one but *two* of the greatest adventures of his life. Reviews are greatly appreciated, be they flames, criticism, or compliments.

Author's Note: The inspiration for Leila came from listening to Lara Fabian's "Leïla." Sample it at http://www.lara-fabian.com! (Discography, Carpe Diem, Track #3)

CHAPTER TWO: THE PIRATE

Leila had become wrought with anger as she was blindfolded and shoved into a small boat, on her way to her temporary prison. The heavy accents of her captors lazed upon her ears, talking of all the plans they had for the ransom money they would soon receive from her father. The din of uneducated voices irritated the young woman to the point that she might have done something a little bit rash...that is, if she could move or speak. She attempted a few colorful words, but they only came out as muffled cries.

After a surprisingly quick few minutes, the hunters and their quarry reached the Black Pearl. Her blindfold was removed with no amount of ceremony as she was forced to climb up the side of the boat. It was much more than difficult considering what she was wearing, and the splintered wood ate at her skin and tore her dress. There was many a time she thought she may fall and sick straight to the bottom, but the constant shoves, many in rather inappropriate places, -eventually- got her to the top and (ungracefully) into the ship. Two of the crewmembers, Cotton and Anna Maria, quickly pulled her to her feet and 'escorted' her to a small cabin below deck. As she was being led away, she heard a handful of orders barked out by whom she assumed to be the Captain. She turned her head curiously, a look of simmering anger all primed and ready for the pirate Captain, but her two escorts pulled her uncomfortably back. From what she could still hear, though, they were pulling anchor and moving away from The Queen's Island.

The young woman had yet to hear any gun or cannon fire from land. That could only mean one thing.

They did not yet know she was gone.

*******

Captain Shipman was beaming like any proud father. His daughter had deftly attracted the attention of the local governor, displaying "great potential," as he had put it, as a match for his son. In fact, John Hope planned on proprosing to Leila that evening after her performance. He was pacing nervously beside his father, Governor Gerald Hope, his blonde hair in slight disarray, his blue eyes radiating his nervousness.

"Ah, my good boy, there is nothing to be nervous about. My daughter is a model of perfect manners and kindness. Now...let us take you to see her." The Captain smiled warmly toward Governor Hope and led his son down the side steps toward the wings.

"Leila," he called out their approach, just in case she was unprepared to greet them. After a few moments, however, when he received no response, he entered the wings anyhow.

He gasped and stepped back, noticing immediately the bound handmaiden and guards. "Get them," he heatedly instructed the young man at his side, who in turn freed the guards from their makeshift bonds. Captian Shipman released the handmaiden, who immediately began talking hurriedly.

"They took 'er," she spoke in a thick cockney accent. "The Captain, he left me with a note ta give ya," she dug into the hidden depths of her bodice, blushing shamefully at the memory of the pirate placing the note in a "safe" place. She thrust the crumpled piece of paper toward the Captain. His gray eyes stared hard at the scrawl for a few moments before he turned his head upward toward the guards and young Master Hope.

"It's a ransom," he echoed hollowly, making his way out of the wings as if he had just seen his daughter's gravestone. He motioned to the guards and to the Governor, giving him the note for his own consideration. After the elder Mister Hope had read it, he turned his full attention to the Captain.

"Jack Sparrow." He was silent for a moment. "Come. We must ready your vessel."

*******

Leila grumbled several phrases she had learned from her father when he wasn't paying attention to her presence. How dare the so-called Captain of this shoddy vessel take her captive? Her ivory hands clenched and unclenched rhythmically as she recounted the events of that evening.

Interrupting her thoughts, however, was the turn of a key and the opening of the door to her room...well, cell as she thought of it. She saw an older man, though younger than her father, enter with an almost drunken sway. His hair hung about his shoulders in messy thickets of coal, his eyes dark and his mouth quirked upward in a hint of a grin. She noticed a knife in his right hand and immediately tensed, her eyes darting around the room for any sign of escape. He noticed this display of fear immediately and let out a short laugh.

"I'm not gonna hurt you," he promised, leaning toward her as he spoke. He squinted his eyes a moment, "What is your name, girl?" he drawled.

Her eyes suddenly became alive with anger, but she spoke with perfectly civility...even if it was a bit strained. "Leila Jane Shipman," she answered simply.

"Captain Jack Sparrow," he bowed dramatically, a bit of a swagger in his step. He looked over the raven-haired young woman, his teeth glinting in the reflection of his knife. "Leila," he repeated in that heavy, lower class English accent. "Not a good Englishwoman's name, is it?"

Leila's bright green eyes bore holes in the pirate, and if looks could kill he'd be smouldering ash by now. "Father liked to travel. He picked it up in Arabia, if it is any of your business."

"Ah, a traveller!" he exclaimed, as if some information in a great plot had been revealed to him. "So, I would venture a guess that you're the product of some ill-fated union with a desert princess, hmm?" He grinned triumphantly as her eyes darkened with anger. He almost didn't want to give this woman back. She could provide him with hours upon hours of entertainment.

"My mother is a proper Englishwoman, of untarnished descent. I would not, if I were you, go around and make speculations upon the heritage of others when your own is deftly in question," she spat, her eyes glowing a furious green.

All Jack could do was grin, his hands up defensively. "Fine, fine. Perfectly savvy, Miss Leila. I am sure your dear mother is the bleedin' picture of propriety." Man, he could watch her face squinch up in that angry way all night and day. It was all he could do to keep from laughing out loud. Though, he did have to give her a few marks for bravery. She was, obviously, in no condition to speak to him as she was.

"A curse upon this ship!" she practically screamed, her cheeks flushed.

"Ah," Captain Sparrow held up his index finger. "But Miss Leila, that's already been done." He grinned disarmingly.

Noticing her verbal sparring repetoire currently spent when she sighed defeatedly, Jack decided to leave the young Miss Shipman to her own devices. "Well," he began, putting his hands together and nodding a half bow, "it was truly a pleasure, m'lady. But for now, I must be takin' my leave of you. Wouldn't want it to get around that you spent a few hours in a bedchamber with a pirate now, would I?" He quirked a brow, skipping a step toward the door and opening it with no lack of dramatic flair. He turned back toward her, giving her a wink. "It was a pleasure, Miss Leila."

He whistled as he locked the door, grinning inwardly. 'Quite the pleasure,' he thought, heading toward deck.