Chapter 10:
The crew of the Pearl erupted in loud cheers as Jack and Valentina stepped on deck. The young woman looked extremely tired. She had already dozed off several times during their short boat ride. Her eyes had reduced to tiny slits and she looked like she would drop on the floor any second. Despite her exhaustion Valentina managed to a satisfied smile. They had made it in one piece, not to mention that they now were the proud owners of two ships, plus they had gotten rid off the rumrunners once and for all. It was highly unlikely that anybody would pass by the island in order to safe them any time soon. Nobody but the crew of the Pearl knew where it was located.
Valentina swayed a bit. She gripped the railing for support. "Jack," she managed tiredly, but the pirate didn't hear her as he was surrounded by his crew who clapped him on the shoulders and congratulated him.
"Jack!" she tried again, the world around her was already spinning. She stumbled. Luckily Jack was at her side before she could fall.
"What be t' matter, love?" he asked preoccupied. He studied her face closely waiting for an answer that was never to come. She had fallen asleep.
"Excuse us, gents, 'ave t' get the lass t' bed," some obscene remarks could be heard in response, at which he flashed a wide and toothy grin. Jack swept the young woman up in his arms and carried her towards her quarters which she shared with Ana Maria.
"Where ' we going?" she mumbled in his chest and snuggled closer to him.
Her sleepy innocence caused him to smile and a warm feeling spread in his body, "Ya'd be going to bed," Jack answered her in a soft voice.
"Jack?" her voice sounded death serious, "try to keep away from the green pixies they are poisonous," she told him, obviously dreaming.
He chuckled and shook his head, while he carefully placed her on her bed. "Oh, them! I'll remember when I meet them afterwards, " a cheerful grin spread on his face, tonight they would celebrate and enormous amounts of alcohol of all sorts would be involved. "'Night, love," Jack said softly before he closed the door behind him.
~
Valentina groaned and turned around in her bed once more. She felt like a herd of cattle had trampled over her repeatedly. The midday sun shone on her face and she blinked lazily.
"Mornin' sleepy head," a female voice said softly.
"Ana Maria?" the response came muffled from under the pillows.
"Aye, who'd ya 'ave expected, sweetie? Ya'd be alright? I was worried 'bout ya," Ana Maria admitted.
"I'm very far from being alright momentarily, but I'll live. Stiffness and soreness never killed anybody," she managed a grim smile. Valentina slowly sat up in her bed and regretted it immediately. Her head hurt like hell, a fact which contributed to her over all gruffness.
"Where's, Sparrow?" she asked, massaging her temples with her fingers. Judging from the way she pronounced his name, nothing good would happen if she ever found him.
"In 'is quarters I assume. What yer going t' do? Kiss 'im t' death?" the other woman replied with a smirk.
"How do you know?" Valentina asked in bafflement.
"Why else would a lass go after 'im, without wastin' a second thought 'bout the consequences?"
"Point taken," Valentina said sheepishly, "but it won't happen again. Ever!" she announced darkly.
"An' why that be?" Ana Maria cocked her head interestedly.
"Because he's a manipulative, cold hearted bastard! I think he just used me for his plan. I was just convenient."
Ana Maria frowned her forehead. "Do ya really think.....," she began.
"Yes, I do," the young thief interrupted her. "Besides he gave me all reason to doubt him. Would you endanger a person you l.... ..like?" she quickly caught herself.
"I'm not trying to be a spoilsport, but he had me swimming around waiting for the Pearl for hours. Hours! I could have drowned easily," she thundered and regretted it immediately as her headache came alive again. She grimaced. Valentina lowered her voice when she continued, "Then he expects me to go and rescue him. Me against 20 men! I mean, for God sakes, he is your captain after all he is supposed to know whether you will go and safe him or not."
"Aye, but ya didn't get 'urt," Ana Maria interjected.
"Yes, but he simply expected me to do all those things for him and afterwards he's the one who gets all the praise," she said in a sulky tone. "I haven't even heard a thank you."
"Yes, I did agree to his crazy plan, but when he first told me about it he failed to mention some important details."
"Maybe ya'd be better talking t' him," Ana Maria suggested.
"That I will. That I will."
*
The huge door to Jack's quarters clattered open with prophetic bang. It was the kind of noise that made clear that whoever or whatever was to come through that door was not at all in a particularly good mood. Jack groaned and pulled his covers over his aching head, but not even there he was safe from the insolent intruder. The white sheet was ripped away mercilessly and his bloodshot eyes were suddenly prone to the merciless onslaught of the soft light that fell through his window. He blinked repeatedly, as he only was able to see the outlines of the person standing above him.
"You owe me an explanation," Valentina announced simply, unimpressed by the pitiful sight he made thanks to a long night of drinks and merriment. He had slept in his clothes; his hair was disheveled and tangled, dark circles added to the miserable impression his whole appearance made.
His trade mark cockiness resurfaced immediately; despite the circumstances "Why don't ya lay down fer a while an' I'll explain," he scooted over and motioned at the free space beside him in bed.
The young woman wrinkled her nose in displeasure. "I'm serious."
He sighed, but then sat up in bed, folded his hands in his lap and looked at her expectantly.
"I had a lot of spare time on my hands yesterday. You know, swimming in the ocean for *hours*, rowing over to the island.....Well, and somehow I have the slight, yet unshakable suspicion that you only used me to get what you wanted or else you wouldn't have endangered me like that," she paced up and down in front of his bed as she talked. Her anger was giving her courage and made her forget the fact that she had needed a lot of convincing ere she had been ready to step a foot into Jack's quarters. In fact Valentina had stood outside for minutes silently arguing with herself whether she should enter or not.
Jack cocked his head and squinted his eyes together, scrutinizing her as closely as if he wanted to take a peak at her soul. Had he missed something? He had thought that things between them were fine. Why did those bloody women always make a fuss about nothing? What was he supposed to answer to that? That he was sorry? How could he be sorry for something he enjoyed so thoroughly?
His thirst for adventure was almost as unquenchable as his thirst for rum. Danger was like an expensive rush. True - some people had to pay with their lives to enjoy it, but he had always managed to get away with nothing but a few affectionate scratches. Fortuna was a woman and Jack had his way with the ladies.
The sound of Valentina clearing her throat brought him back to the presence. Obviously she was expecting an answer, as her gaze bore into him like two pointy daggers.
"Well, I really don't see yer problem. First yer all excited about the plan an' then ya blame me fer a few bumps on the road nobody could 'ave foreseen?" he shrugged his shoulders dismissively.
"You could have at least wasted a thought on the possibility of those things going wrong," she pointed out, while barely suppressed anger sparkled in her eyes.
"Ya survived, everything worked out fine, except for the part where ya wake me from slumber early in the mornin' barging into me quarters like a fury," the fact that he was still joking meant that he wasn't taking their conversation serious, which only added to Valentina's wrath.
"Oh, you think so?" the angry expression on her face clearly told him that that had been the wrong answer,"Let me tell you a little something. The fact that you didn't waste a thought about it means you don't care for me. And that's what I would call 'not working out fine at all'."
"Since you don't seem to comprehend what being in love with somebody means let me explain it to you.....," she took a deep breath, automatically inserting a dramatic pause "You stop being selfish for once and start thinking about others. That's why I rowed over to this bloody island, because I didn't care whether I was going to live or to die. All that matter was your safety, your well being."
"Would you have done the same for me? When you went after me it was not because you were doing something selfless, but because you wanted to get rid off your problem and make some money in the process. I was only convenient - a little extra enticement along the way."
Her voice softened when she continued. Valentina wondered if she had said too much. "I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong about this........." she shook her head as if to rid herself of those thoughts she had just uttered and which were now in the open were they could cause serious damage. The point was that she didn't want to be right at all.
Time seemed to stretch out a painful eternity before he decided to speak and the beat of her heart loudly counted every second that went by. "Yer not wrong at all. I did infact use ya," he admitted after a few moments. He could have lied to her easily, but somehow he wasn't able to. Maybe it was that searing headach that tormented him or the fact that she looked so lost......he couldn't tell.
"You used me?" she repeated softly, not able to believe what she had just heard. Somehow those words didn't make any sense, though they were so simple and yet so monumental. Realization hit her like a hammer crashing down forcefully on an ambos hammering the meaning of his answer deep into her consciences.
For a moment everything seemed to freeze to a standstill. Odd details of the room suddenly struck her with an almost painful intensity. The way the dust danced in the golden rays of light that shone through the windows, the soft rocking of the ship, the way the air seemed to chill her to the bone when she sucked it into her lungs, even though it was warm.
Something inside of her broke. It didn't break with a loud cracking noise, but the effects of the damage it did were all the more devastating. Valentina couldn't stand this room anymore, this ship, its crew and most importantly of all Jack. All she wanted was to get away and put as much distance between them as possible.
She hurt, more than she had ever in her whole young life. It was only now that she realized how deep her feelings for him ran and what could have become of them if they only had had the possibility to grow. She would not cry in front of him, Valentina silently swore to herself. Like a lifeline the reminder of an old but useful habit resurfaced from a pool of chaotic emotions and smoothed its surface with a protective layer of ice. All emotions disappeared from her face that became cold and hard like a mask made of porcelain.
Her voice was distant almost mechanical, when it broke the tense silence of the room. "A lot of damage has been done to the ship when the 'Fulmine' attacked us a few days ago. I assume we will be heading to the nearest port for repairs." She didn't look Jack in the eyes while she spoke, her gaze was stubbornly fixed on a point behind him.
"Port Royal," Jack heard himself say, but his voice sounded foreign to his own ears. What had he done? Suddenly he felt like somebody was choking him. A painfully blood-chilling feeling which he couldn't identify correctly spread inside of him.
"That's where you'll be dropping me off then," she informed him briefly.
The crew of the Pearl erupted in loud cheers as Jack and Valentina stepped on deck. The young woman looked extremely tired. She had already dozed off several times during their short boat ride. Her eyes had reduced to tiny slits and she looked like she would drop on the floor any second. Despite her exhaustion Valentina managed to a satisfied smile. They had made it in one piece, not to mention that they now were the proud owners of two ships, plus they had gotten rid off the rumrunners once and for all. It was highly unlikely that anybody would pass by the island in order to safe them any time soon. Nobody but the crew of the Pearl knew where it was located.
Valentina swayed a bit. She gripped the railing for support. "Jack," she managed tiredly, but the pirate didn't hear her as he was surrounded by his crew who clapped him on the shoulders and congratulated him.
"Jack!" she tried again, the world around her was already spinning. She stumbled. Luckily Jack was at her side before she could fall.
"What be t' matter, love?" he asked preoccupied. He studied her face closely waiting for an answer that was never to come. She had fallen asleep.
"Excuse us, gents, 'ave t' get the lass t' bed," some obscene remarks could be heard in response, at which he flashed a wide and toothy grin. Jack swept the young woman up in his arms and carried her towards her quarters which she shared with Ana Maria.
"Where ' we going?" she mumbled in his chest and snuggled closer to him.
Her sleepy innocence caused him to smile and a warm feeling spread in his body, "Ya'd be going to bed," Jack answered her in a soft voice.
"Jack?" her voice sounded death serious, "try to keep away from the green pixies they are poisonous," she told him, obviously dreaming.
He chuckled and shook his head, while he carefully placed her on her bed. "Oh, them! I'll remember when I meet them afterwards, " a cheerful grin spread on his face, tonight they would celebrate and enormous amounts of alcohol of all sorts would be involved. "'Night, love," Jack said softly before he closed the door behind him.
~
Valentina groaned and turned around in her bed once more. She felt like a herd of cattle had trampled over her repeatedly. The midday sun shone on her face and she blinked lazily.
"Mornin' sleepy head," a female voice said softly.
"Ana Maria?" the response came muffled from under the pillows.
"Aye, who'd ya 'ave expected, sweetie? Ya'd be alright? I was worried 'bout ya," Ana Maria admitted.
"I'm very far from being alright momentarily, but I'll live. Stiffness and soreness never killed anybody," she managed a grim smile. Valentina slowly sat up in her bed and regretted it immediately. Her head hurt like hell, a fact which contributed to her over all gruffness.
"Where's, Sparrow?" she asked, massaging her temples with her fingers. Judging from the way she pronounced his name, nothing good would happen if she ever found him.
"In 'is quarters I assume. What yer going t' do? Kiss 'im t' death?" the other woman replied with a smirk.
"How do you know?" Valentina asked in bafflement.
"Why else would a lass go after 'im, without wastin' a second thought 'bout the consequences?"
"Point taken," Valentina said sheepishly, "but it won't happen again. Ever!" she announced darkly.
"An' why that be?" Ana Maria cocked her head interestedly.
"Because he's a manipulative, cold hearted bastard! I think he just used me for his plan. I was just convenient."
Ana Maria frowned her forehead. "Do ya really think.....," she began.
"Yes, I do," the young thief interrupted her. "Besides he gave me all reason to doubt him. Would you endanger a person you l.... ..like?" she quickly caught herself.
"I'm not trying to be a spoilsport, but he had me swimming around waiting for the Pearl for hours. Hours! I could have drowned easily," she thundered and regretted it immediately as her headache came alive again. She grimaced. Valentina lowered her voice when she continued, "Then he expects me to go and rescue him. Me against 20 men! I mean, for God sakes, he is your captain after all he is supposed to know whether you will go and safe him or not."
"Aye, but ya didn't get 'urt," Ana Maria interjected.
"Yes, but he simply expected me to do all those things for him and afterwards he's the one who gets all the praise," she said in a sulky tone. "I haven't even heard a thank you."
"Yes, I did agree to his crazy plan, but when he first told me about it he failed to mention some important details."
"Maybe ya'd be better talking t' him," Ana Maria suggested.
"That I will. That I will."
*
The huge door to Jack's quarters clattered open with prophetic bang. It was the kind of noise that made clear that whoever or whatever was to come through that door was not at all in a particularly good mood. Jack groaned and pulled his covers over his aching head, but not even there he was safe from the insolent intruder. The white sheet was ripped away mercilessly and his bloodshot eyes were suddenly prone to the merciless onslaught of the soft light that fell through his window. He blinked repeatedly, as he only was able to see the outlines of the person standing above him.
"You owe me an explanation," Valentina announced simply, unimpressed by the pitiful sight he made thanks to a long night of drinks and merriment. He had slept in his clothes; his hair was disheveled and tangled, dark circles added to the miserable impression his whole appearance made.
His trade mark cockiness resurfaced immediately; despite the circumstances "Why don't ya lay down fer a while an' I'll explain," he scooted over and motioned at the free space beside him in bed.
The young woman wrinkled her nose in displeasure. "I'm serious."
He sighed, but then sat up in bed, folded his hands in his lap and looked at her expectantly.
"I had a lot of spare time on my hands yesterday. You know, swimming in the ocean for *hours*, rowing over to the island.....Well, and somehow I have the slight, yet unshakable suspicion that you only used me to get what you wanted or else you wouldn't have endangered me like that," she paced up and down in front of his bed as she talked. Her anger was giving her courage and made her forget the fact that she had needed a lot of convincing ere she had been ready to step a foot into Jack's quarters. In fact Valentina had stood outside for minutes silently arguing with herself whether she should enter or not.
Jack cocked his head and squinted his eyes together, scrutinizing her as closely as if he wanted to take a peak at her soul. Had he missed something? He had thought that things between them were fine. Why did those bloody women always make a fuss about nothing? What was he supposed to answer to that? That he was sorry? How could he be sorry for something he enjoyed so thoroughly?
His thirst for adventure was almost as unquenchable as his thirst for rum. Danger was like an expensive rush. True - some people had to pay with their lives to enjoy it, but he had always managed to get away with nothing but a few affectionate scratches. Fortuna was a woman and Jack had his way with the ladies.
The sound of Valentina clearing her throat brought him back to the presence. Obviously she was expecting an answer, as her gaze bore into him like two pointy daggers.
"Well, I really don't see yer problem. First yer all excited about the plan an' then ya blame me fer a few bumps on the road nobody could 'ave foreseen?" he shrugged his shoulders dismissively.
"You could have at least wasted a thought on the possibility of those things going wrong," she pointed out, while barely suppressed anger sparkled in her eyes.
"Ya survived, everything worked out fine, except for the part where ya wake me from slumber early in the mornin' barging into me quarters like a fury," the fact that he was still joking meant that he wasn't taking their conversation serious, which only added to Valentina's wrath.
"Oh, you think so?" the angry expression on her face clearly told him that that had been the wrong answer,"Let me tell you a little something. The fact that you didn't waste a thought about it means you don't care for me. And that's what I would call 'not working out fine at all'."
"Since you don't seem to comprehend what being in love with somebody means let me explain it to you.....," she took a deep breath, automatically inserting a dramatic pause "You stop being selfish for once and start thinking about others. That's why I rowed over to this bloody island, because I didn't care whether I was going to live or to die. All that matter was your safety, your well being."
"Would you have done the same for me? When you went after me it was not because you were doing something selfless, but because you wanted to get rid off your problem and make some money in the process. I was only convenient - a little extra enticement along the way."
Her voice softened when she continued. Valentina wondered if she had said too much. "I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong about this........." she shook her head as if to rid herself of those thoughts she had just uttered and which were now in the open were they could cause serious damage. The point was that she didn't want to be right at all.
Time seemed to stretch out a painful eternity before he decided to speak and the beat of her heart loudly counted every second that went by. "Yer not wrong at all. I did infact use ya," he admitted after a few moments. He could have lied to her easily, but somehow he wasn't able to. Maybe it was that searing headach that tormented him or the fact that she looked so lost......he couldn't tell.
"You used me?" she repeated softly, not able to believe what she had just heard. Somehow those words didn't make any sense, though they were so simple and yet so monumental. Realization hit her like a hammer crashing down forcefully on an ambos hammering the meaning of his answer deep into her consciences.
For a moment everything seemed to freeze to a standstill. Odd details of the room suddenly struck her with an almost painful intensity. The way the dust danced in the golden rays of light that shone through the windows, the soft rocking of the ship, the way the air seemed to chill her to the bone when she sucked it into her lungs, even though it was warm.
Something inside of her broke. It didn't break with a loud cracking noise, but the effects of the damage it did were all the more devastating. Valentina couldn't stand this room anymore, this ship, its crew and most importantly of all Jack. All she wanted was to get away and put as much distance between them as possible.
She hurt, more than she had ever in her whole young life. It was only now that she realized how deep her feelings for him ran and what could have become of them if they only had had the possibility to grow. She would not cry in front of him, Valentina silently swore to herself. Like a lifeline the reminder of an old but useful habit resurfaced from a pool of chaotic emotions and smoothed its surface with a protective layer of ice. All emotions disappeared from her face that became cold and hard like a mask made of porcelain.
Her voice was distant almost mechanical, when it broke the tense silence of the room. "A lot of damage has been done to the ship when the 'Fulmine' attacked us a few days ago. I assume we will be heading to the nearest port for repairs." She didn't look Jack in the eyes while she spoke, her gaze was stubbornly fixed on a point behind him.
"Port Royal," Jack heard himself say, but his voice sounded foreign to his own ears. What had he done? Suddenly he felt like somebody was choking him. A painfully blood-chilling feeling which he couldn't identify correctly spread inside of him.
"That's where you'll be dropping me off then," she informed him briefly.