Author's Note : This chapter is fairly long…*_* Reviews? Please? Pleeeeassse? *gives out cookies to everyone*
Chapter Three – "Betrayers and Mutineers"
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It was later that evening as Anamaria sat in her chambers, pouring over scrolls. All of them were mostly the same – scrolls about treasure, or pirates; plus, a few about past Aztec Kingdoms. The problem, however, was in the fact that she didn't know just what she was looking for. All she knew was that the island she was in search of apparently couldn't be found. But it couldn't be true…like she'd heard Jack say before, "If there are no survivors, where do the stories come from?"
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, causing her to hurriedly stash away all of the scrolls. Before she could even invite the knocker in, however, Jack Sparrow burst in; naturally, in his usual drunken manner.
"It's your watch…need me to cover?" He was overly eager, and it was quite obvious that he loved the Captain's duties much more than his own. Anamaria, however, let out a slight sigh before answering. "No. Barbossa'll do it."
"Barbossa?!"
"Aye. Ye'r too obnoxious."
"Sticks and stones, luv…" he went about with helping himself to a flask of rum. "Wot's this, now…?" He picked up one of the scrolls with the hand that wasn't holding rum. "Aztec gold, eh?"
"Aye. And ye'll keep yer filthy paws off that scroll if ye even want to come near the gold."
"A bit harsh…" He set the scroll back down and reached for the rum bottle once more, much to Anamaria's irritation.
"Why are you still here?!" She arched an eyebrow at him and narrowed her eyes, wanting to get back to her studies, if you could call them that.
"Rum, luv." He took a swig from the flask once more and grinned, showing his many gold teeth.
"An' don't call me luv. Ye shouldn' be pilferin' my words…"
"Ah ah, not pilfering! Just borrowin', luv!" He grinned wickedly, taunting her. "Savvy?"
"Don't you have duties?! Or do I need to promote Barbossa to first mate instead?" Her eyes narrowed a bit more.
"That's quite alright, luv…" He started out, then paused, turning to face her yet again. "Though…I should mention…"
She studied him carefully a moment before speaking. "Aye?"
"Ye should be watchin' yer back, Cap'n." He took a seat on a nearby stool, sipping his rum casually.
She arched a skeptical eyebrow once more. "Watchin' me back?"
"Aye." He nodded, rather seriously. "There's talk among the crew of these being dangerous waters… all of the most feared pirates patrol these parts." Another sip from his flask. "Sir Rillian Blue…Edward Teach… and even Bootstrap Bill Turner."
She curiously surveyed him over. "Bootstrap Bill…?"
"Aye. I know ye've heard of 'im…" He gave her a look that clearly said 'My God, wench…if you haven't heard of Bootstrap…THEN WHATS WRONG WITH YOU?'
"Aye. I have. But I thought he was farther north…"
Jack glanced around, almost nervously, before lowering his tone to speak. "Barbossa and a few of the stragglers who'd have sooner skipped this trip than sail under a lady Cap'n are planning a sort of mutiny, if you will. Barbossa and Rillian are old pals, apparently…"
Anamaria's eyes narrowed. "What do ye mean they'd rather not sailed under a lady Cap'n?!"
"Er…well…they says its bad luck t'have a woman on board, lass."
A wry smile crept across her lips. "I'm not just a woman, Jack Sparrow. I'm a captain, and a pirate- and a damn good one at that."
"As ye say, Ana." He laughs, rising.
"Jack…"
He glanced up at her, almost surprised, as she usually just referred to him as 'Sparrow'. "Aye, Cap'n?"
"Ye'll keep me informed of any of Barbossa's…plans, aye?"
He flashed her a toothy grin, typical of himself. "Aye, Cap'n."
"And Jack…?" He arched an eyebrow, as Anamaria smiled wryly.
"I s'pose ye can call me Ana. But you dare call me a thing but Cap'n on deck, and I'll 'ave to toss the rum overboard…"
His eyes went wide and he chuckled nervously. "Aye, Ana…" He laughed once more, still somewhat nervously, before slipping out, leaving Anamaria to her research.