"Lydia!"
I pulled my head back into the carriage but still looking languidly out at the sea. I closed my eyes feeling the ocean breeze stir the tiny tendrils of hair that had escaped from my bun.
"Lydia!"
I opened my eyes slowly, turning to look at my mother, sister to the current governer at Port Royale.
"Close the window." She commanded tersely, fluttering her fan wildly. I of course ignored her request. There was a pleasant breath of air already, why did she need her bloody fan?
"Lydia..." She said warningly.
I gave a very subtle roll of my eyes as I rolled down the screen. Mother gave an aggravated sigh, her fan, if possibly, moving faster than ever before. "And Lydia, why did you wear that gown when I specifically told you to burn it? It's a dreadful color, any well respected gentlemen would never come near you in that dress."
"If they were any well respected gentlemen I wouldn't want them near me." I muttered darkly.
"I'll pretend I didn't just hear that." She said angrily snapping shut her fan.
"Hear it!" I snapped, "even if I have to say it everyday, you will hear it. I would rather die than to be courted by those arrogant, conceited, stuck up men with their Prima Donna tendencies!"
"You will be courted by them whether you like it or not. You are a woman. You have no value except that of a bride or a mother. That is your fate, Lydia, and you are bound to it. Shackled and imprisoned to it. Get used to it, my dear. It's all you'll ever know." And once again she was back to her fanning.
I leaned my head up against the interior of the carriage, pressing my face close to the opening of the covered window, to catch the smell of the wood from the boat docks. I belonged out there, on a ship, the swell of the waves and spray of the sea called to me. What was I doing here with her?
Sitting straight again, I thought back to my earliest years. Ever since I could remember I have lived for the sea. At seven years of age and ever since I have sneaked out to swim in it at night. But lately, my mother had become smarter either that or someone has tipped her off to my escapades. I have never wanted to be a lady of breeding, I would rather be a bar maid at the port or even at the fabled Pirate City, Turtuga. I didn't want to be confined to a dimly lit sitting room, embroidering. I wanted freedom. And I certainly wasn't getting any sitting in this carriage waiting to go to a ball at the govener's Palace in this gown.
Strangely, it was the only gown I liked, or could tolerate. It was a deep crimsom, almost blood red in appearance. The color is looked down upon, it's wearers too daring for civilized society. The dress was quite a displaying piece as well. A lock of the finest silver hung from my neck, it had belonged to my father's mother. My father, the man himself, had left my mother when I was three. He left for the freedom I so desperately desired. Mother gave it to me when I was seven, having destroyed all of his other possessions years before. But he'd left it for me; inside cut into the silver were these words, "For the Little Treasure Seeker." I could only guess that my grandmother had also enjoyed the adventurous tales of pirates and knowing this her father inscribed the message.
I have always known I was never like my mother. I have her dark red hair, her fair complexion, her full lips, and her hour glass figure (although, truth be told, I had a sweet tooth and had at the moment of the thought, a little more than her figure Thank god for these corsets) The only things of mine she had not claimed are my eyes ( I had father's hazel eyes, mother made a point of never looking at them) and his spirit, which I had claimed as my own. Mother had called him a scoundrel at every opportune moment in her life. I have called him my salvation, the only reason why I don't die of boredom is his spirit whispering me to do little forbidden things like learning the sword (having done so since I was eight)
And right now his spirit was whispering my escape. Mother had fallen asleep in the humid heat of the carriage, what could she possibly do to stop me from jumping out of the carriage and escaping her once and for all? What was to stop me from going back home to Ireland?
Nothing. Nothing at all. I gathered my skirts and made to open the door when the carriage jerked to a violent stop. Mother awoke with a start and a very unladylike snort.
"Damn Hell and Hades!" I cursed silently. Nothing, eh?
"My, are we there already?" Mother asked softly. I heard noise outside, something was not right.
"No, I don't think we're there," I whispered low, my eyes narrowing as I listened to the commotion outside, "I think someone's stopped us."
It became silent as the grave. I leaned forward to roll up the screen.
"Lydia.." Mother whispered terrified, "Lydia, what....what are you doing?"
My hand inched nearer to the screen, I had hardly touched it when it rolled up with a snap, and I found myself face to face...with a pirate.
" 'Ello, love." He smiled slyly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
My first thought was, "His eyes seem like they could see right through me," which was followed by the blood rushing to my cheeks. His eyes were a dark brown, almost black. They were outlined in coal, making them seem shrewd and mysterious. He had a finely chisled face, with high cheek bones. His complexion was that of a gypsy, olive skinned and tan. He had long black hair, matted from the salt of the seawater and tangled from the winds. Coins and small bones and beads were tied to the long black tendrils. A red scarf ( which looked like it had seen better days) was wrapped around his head, with a triune hat on top of that. He smiled at my shock, a smile which showed his teeth, some of them gold. Oh he was a pirate alright, a real one.
"Excuse me, love." He said pointing a revolver at my head.
"Lydia, what is it?" Mother was practically trembling with fear, but she couldn't see the pirate yet as I was blocking her view.
"If you wouldn't mind, my dear, would you open the door?" He asked giving another cunning little smile.
"He has a gun to my head," I said slowly, "Should I let him in, Oh mother dear?"
She must not have understood for she all but shrieked, "Good God no, Lydia don't open it!"
"Could we please get a move on here?" The man asked annoyed with the delay, "I do have more people to steal from today and you're making me late for me next appointment."
"Who are you?" I all but growled deeply in my throat.
"Introductions later, now if you please..."
I glared at him as my hand reached for the knob.
"That's it, sweet." He said, again giving another toothy grin.
"Lydia, don't!" Mother exclaimed.
I threw open the door knocking the Pirate to the ground. In the next instant I had pulled my small dagger out of my bodice. Even when being threatened by a pirate, Mother began to scold me.
"Now really, Lydia! I asked you never to wear that horrid thing again!"
"Be grateful this once that I did!"
Ungracefully, our attacker got to his feet, swaying as if on the deck of a ship.
"Now that wasn't very nice..." he mumbled slurring his words as he straightened his hat. When he turned around he met with my dagger at his throat.
"And neither is that..." He said his eyes widening and then narrowing in almost a comic way. He clicked his tounge between his teeth, wagging his finger scoldingly, "To rash, love. Far too rash."
I gave a sharp gasp as his hand closed around the blade, jerking it out of my hand while cutting his own, admitting to no pain what so ever. I now had no defense against him, I slowly raised my hands and backed away, back into the carriage.
"Ladies!" He exclaimed stepping in, "The names Captain Jack Sparrow, I will be stealing all of your jewels, anything of value, today. So empty your purses and fill my bag." He exclaimed waving the pistol at Mother and my dagger dangerously close to my throat. Mother fainted. Typical.
"Ah..yes....that would pose a problem. Lydia, it is Lydia isn't it?"
"It's Miss Swann for the likes of you, Sparrow!" I hissed angrily.
"And it's Captain, CAPTAIN, Jack Sparrow for the likes of you Miss..." His eyes widened, waving the knife and bringing his face alarmingly close to mine, "..Swann..was it?"
I didn't like his proximity, it was making me feel very queer indeed.
"Any relation to a Miss Elizabeth Swann, by any chance?" He asked swaggering back drunkenly.
I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing him seriously, "She goes by the name Elizabeth Turner, now."
"Oh! So the boy did get 'imself a girl!? Bravo lad!"
"How do you know my cousin?!" I demanded of him.
"Well..it 'ad something to do with a deserted island and quite o' lot of rum."
"And that would make you...?" I ventured.
"A friend of the family?"
"Hardly," I ground out through my teeth.
"Well I'm not sure how long I will be after I steal from ye lass."
"What?!" I exclaimed, "You're still going to take our things?!"
"Uh, yeah. 'Ello love....," He waved his arms down beside his as if he were displaying his finer assets, if he had any to speak of, "...pirate?"
I was taken aback.
"Enough chatter. Now, love.."
If looks could kill he would have been in the dark depths of Davy Jone's Locker.
"...Excuse me, Miss Swann," he annunciated waving his hands hither and thither, "Now if you will remove all of her jewelry," he said waving the pistol at mother's still form, "and just slip it in me bag, which is in me belt." His cocky grin widened.
"And you want me to get it for you?"
"Yes, that's 'bout right." He said nodding gaily.
"That's really sweet of you, CAPTAIN, but I'd really rather not."
"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice, love." He said cocking the gun and putting it lightly on my forehead. "Now get to it. Oh and you'll have to reach around back to get at the bag." Another cocky little grin, his eyes narrowing from suppressed laughter. I was coming to despise that smile.
Leaning forward to reach behind him to the bag, the gun still at my head, I growled at him as I had to press myself up against him to do as he asked, "You're depraved!"
His voice murmured thickly and warm in my ear, "Of course I am, love..." I believe he smelled my hair there. I felt fire fill my veins as I became very dizzy, "...after all I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
My breathing had become shallow and quick. Blast these ridiculous corsets!
"Besides..you seem to be enjoying it." He added smugly.
I tugged at the bag sharply, sending him staggering down on top of me. Oh god! I had an annoying, sexy as the deepest pit of Hell, pirate on top of me. His face was pressed into the crock of my neck, his lips touching them briefly as he raised his head he inhaled the scent of my hair again. Oh gods and demons!
"Did you do that on purpose, love?" He asked, I could feel him smile against my hair. "I knew you were enjoying yourself."
I pushed him off of me, more than a little ruffled and replied angrily, "Oh I know you are! You...you...HAIR SNIFFER!"
On his feet again, he swayed and clutched at his chest as if my comment had hit his heart, "I'm hurt love."
"Not enough, but I'll soon fix that, mark my words!" I snapped, removing the pearl and diamond chocker off my mother's neck and dropping it carelessly into the burlap sack. I couldn't believe how many jewels I finally realized my mother wore: rings, bracelets, necklaces, it all just went on and on. When I had stripped her of all jewelry, I began to hand the bag back to him but he shook his head, "Where you forgetting yourself, pet?"
Sighing, I removed the silver bracelet off of my wrist and slipped the ruby ring off of my middle finger. I really didn't care for them, mother having chosen them for me. I also dropped them in the bag.
"Those are lovely combs," he hinted none too subtly, eyeing the silver and ruby jeweled combs in my deep red, almost black hair. Glaring at him, I slowly took them out, my hair falling in soft waves past my shoulders, framing my face. He watched, his head cocked to one side, his eyes darting like mad over it seemed every hair.
Still gazing at him, the combs clinked together as I clenched them in my hand and let them fall into the bag. He nodded in satisfaction and put the revolver in his belt taking the sack as I handed it to him.
"Thank you for your business, love." He said bowing, sweeping his hat off in gentlemanly acknowledgement.
"I'm glad to be of assistance." I breathed out sarcastically.
He seemed about to smile when he stopped suddenly, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of something on my person.
"Methinks I spy a pretty little trinket," he said softly taking slow steps toward me, leaning over me, my dagger alarmingly close to the area above my breasts, "her ladyship overlooked." And saying this the dagger swooped down and brought up the silver chain from the bowels of the corset of my dress. My heart skipped several beats as my father's locket hung from the end of the dagger before my eyes. Slowly, he let it slide off and taking out the burlap bag he held it in front of me.
"If you wouldn't mind.." He began.
"Oh but you see my dear Captain, I do mind and you'll have to kill me before you try and take it away from me because that is the only way you'll possibly get it." I was completely dead serious and he seemed to sense this because his eyes lost their jovial light and he looked on me differently.
"Why does it mean so much to ya, lass?"
His voice had become calm and soft, almost deceivingly understanding and I found myself against my better judgment telling him what he wanted to know.
"It belonged to my father," I said shortly, not able to look at him, "It's all I have left. I don't expect you to understand the simple sentiment of such a thing or what it means to me." I finished bitterly.
"Don't be so sure, lass." He said in a voice that made me jerk my eyes up to his, "You don't know everything." There was pain in his voice, or some kind of emotion no pirate should show openly and I felt myself wanting him to tell me exactly what he meant by it.
"Maybe you're right." I muttered somewhat grudgingly.
"I'm always right, love. Do you know why?"
I shook my head slightly.
"Because...I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." He paused, eyeing the locket, "and saying that, I understand, no I really do," he said sarcastically, "but I can't make any allowances, so take it off and drop it in me open bag."
"No." I shook my head in defiance, "You'll have to kill me." I repeated bravely, my chin in the pose of a queen not to be questioned.
"Oh I'm sure it won't have to come to that. There are other ways of getting what you want." He informed me, smiling wickedly. His left arm reached behind my head to cradle my neck in his hand and began to unclasp my necklace. I tried to push him away again as before but I found the dagger at my heart. Strangely, I was surprised, I hadn't thought he would really use it on me. My shocked showed through my eyes. Again I tried to push him back but found the knife pressed slightly deeper just enough to draw blood.
"But," he continued, his gotee tickling against my cheek as he worked at the complicated clasp, "if you feel the dire need to die, go ahead and die for a simple piece of jewelry. My dagger is waiting."
"It's my dagger and I've decided I'd rather take it back and see you dead in my place." I snarled at him.
"That's harsh, love." He replied in mock hurt as the chain finally slipped free of my neck and he caught it nimbly in his hand.
"You're a pirate," I sassed back at him, "I thought you'd be used to such comments by now."
"Always, darling." He responded dropping the necklace in the bag.
"Do you intend to take my dagger as well? There are pirates on the roads and you wouldn't deprive a lady of any protection, now would you?"
"If I see one, I'll let you know." He said, "And you won't need any protection when you have me with your dagger to do the protecting."
"Ah," I sighed, "but what if it's from you that I need the protection?"
"Then I best remove myself from your presence so you won't need said protection from me protecting you." With that he jumped from the carriage. I hurried to the door as he shut it in front of me, turning, he addressed me, "Try not to miss me too much, love," he said placing his hands on the bottom of the window.
"I'll count the minuets we're apart." I said rolling my eyes dramatically.
He grimaced as though in pain, "I know it hurts, love, but try to forget me. It's for the best, trust me."
"Trust you?" I questioned, a bitter bark of laughter escaped me, "A pirate?"
"Let me put it this way, love, who else are you going to trust? I'm the only one here who hasn't lied about what they are."
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"You're about as much as a lady as I'm a Duke. Whatever you are, love, it wasn't meant to be in this carriage and trapped," his eyes moved down the length of my body, "in that confining dress."
He was right. He knew it. I knew it. He knew, I knew it.
"Well," I said coughing, "You best be on your way then. You know, places to be, people to steal from, all that rot and a bottle of rum.'
"Quite right, love," but he still didnt' leave. "And speaking of rum...I spotted a fine looking bottle in there..."
I looked over my shoulder. I had forgotten we had gotten it for the Govenor as a present of thanks for inviting us to the ball, which we were now officially late for.
"It's for the Govenor."
"I'm sure he won't mind," he replied as he gestured for me to bring him the bottle.
"I'm very sure he would." I muttered, getting him the drink anyway. Bringing it back to the window, I held it just out of his reach making him come closer in his desire for it.
"I think it only fair to inform you, Sparrow, that I'm going to get that locket back from you as well as the dagger after I slit your throat with it." I said handing him the bottle but not taking my hand from it, as he placed his own hand on mine to take it from me.
"Terribly fair." He whispered close, "Is that a threat, love?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Leaning even closed I whispered back close to his lips, "It's a promise, Captain."
We were so close I could feel his warm breath as he laughed softly.
"So," I said warning him, "Hold onto the locket and don't you dare lose it. I'll be taking it back from you in forty eight hours."
"Dare to dream, love?" He asked, still chuckling.
"No, Captain," I replied, "dare to do." And with that I let go of the bottle, our fingers touching briefly at it's departure.
Stepping back and bending low in another sweeping bow he said, "Thank you, Milady."
I laughed, incredulous, "Thank you?! Milady?! Perhaps you are a Duke after all! I suppose now you'll want to kiss me goodbye?!"
His eyes sparkled dangerously with a dark electricity, "Well only because you've been such a good sport."
Before I could comprehend his words his lips were pressed firmly against my own. I gasped into the kiss, his lips silencing the sound, as I was thrilled with the sensations and reaction he was awakening in me. I felt a moment of that blissful freedom I longed for, of the wind, of the salt of the waves, the grainy sand, and the smell of burning wood on a cold November night. His hand slipped behind my neck, pulling me closer, leaving me breathless and unable to get away even if I wanted to, which I didn't. He pulled away, slowly, making the moment linger, and pulling close to my ear he murmured hotly, "Ta, darling."
And with that he was gone. Bringing my hand unconsciously to my lips as if in rememberance I thought, "Forty eight hours, hmnnn? I don't think I'll be able to wait that long."
I don't own Jack Sparrow..
Jack: Are we forgetting something, love?
Ok I don't own the sexiest pirate alive, Jack Sparrow..
Jack: CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN! Wait just one moment...did you call me...
Yes, I did.
Jack: Oh well then continue, say whatever you like.
All I have to say is I don't own CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow. But I do own Lydia and the plot and anyother character you haven't hear of.
Jack: I wouldn't mind owning Lydia, myself ( wicked grin)
I'll see what I can work out for you.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Any one who does review this will be transported to an deserted island full of rum with Captain Jack Sparrow. P.S. I'm not kidding.
Jack: Yes you are, you scurvy dog!
Ok, ok so I am, but he will perform some Caberet numbers and some from Chicago if you do.
Jack: Now hold on one bleeding second, I never said I'd...!!!!!
I pulled my head back into the carriage but still looking languidly out at the sea. I closed my eyes feeling the ocean breeze stir the tiny tendrils of hair that had escaped from my bun.
"Lydia!"
I opened my eyes slowly, turning to look at my mother, sister to the current governer at Port Royale.
"Close the window." She commanded tersely, fluttering her fan wildly. I of course ignored her request. There was a pleasant breath of air already, why did she need her bloody fan?
"Lydia..." She said warningly.
I gave a very subtle roll of my eyes as I rolled down the screen. Mother gave an aggravated sigh, her fan, if possibly, moving faster than ever before. "And Lydia, why did you wear that gown when I specifically told you to burn it? It's a dreadful color, any well respected gentlemen would never come near you in that dress."
"If they were any well respected gentlemen I wouldn't want them near me." I muttered darkly.
"I'll pretend I didn't just hear that." She said angrily snapping shut her fan.
"Hear it!" I snapped, "even if I have to say it everyday, you will hear it. I would rather die than to be courted by those arrogant, conceited, stuck up men with their Prima Donna tendencies!"
"You will be courted by them whether you like it or not. You are a woman. You have no value except that of a bride or a mother. That is your fate, Lydia, and you are bound to it. Shackled and imprisoned to it. Get used to it, my dear. It's all you'll ever know." And once again she was back to her fanning.
I leaned my head up against the interior of the carriage, pressing my face close to the opening of the covered window, to catch the smell of the wood from the boat docks. I belonged out there, on a ship, the swell of the waves and spray of the sea called to me. What was I doing here with her?
Sitting straight again, I thought back to my earliest years. Ever since I could remember I have lived for the sea. At seven years of age and ever since I have sneaked out to swim in it at night. But lately, my mother had become smarter either that or someone has tipped her off to my escapades. I have never wanted to be a lady of breeding, I would rather be a bar maid at the port or even at the fabled Pirate City, Turtuga. I didn't want to be confined to a dimly lit sitting room, embroidering. I wanted freedom. And I certainly wasn't getting any sitting in this carriage waiting to go to a ball at the govener's Palace in this gown.
Strangely, it was the only gown I liked, or could tolerate. It was a deep crimsom, almost blood red in appearance. The color is looked down upon, it's wearers too daring for civilized society. The dress was quite a displaying piece as well. A lock of the finest silver hung from my neck, it had belonged to my father's mother. My father, the man himself, had left my mother when I was three. He left for the freedom I so desperately desired. Mother gave it to me when I was seven, having destroyed all of his other possessions years before. But he'd left it for me; inside cut into the silver were these words, "For the Little Treasure Seeker." I could only guess that my grandmother had also enjoyed the adventurous tales of pirates and knowing this her father inscribed the message.
I have always known I was never like my mother. I have her dark red hair, her fair complexion, her full lips, and her hour glass figure (although, truth be told, I had a sweet tooth and had at the moment of the thought, a little more than her figure Thank god for these corsets) The only things of mine she had not claimed are my eyes ( I had father's hazel eyes, mother made a point of never looking at them) and his spirit, which I had claimed as my own. Mother had called him a scoundrel at every opportune moment in her life. I have called him my salvation, the only reason why I don't die of boredom is his spirit whispering me to do little forbidden things like learning the sword (having done so since I was eight)
And right now his spirit was whispering my escape. Mother had fallen asleep in the humid heat of the carriage, what could she possibly do to stop me from jumping out of the carriage and escaping her once and for all? What was to stop me from going back home to Ireland?
Nothing. Nothing at all. I gathered my skirts and made to open the door when the carriage jerked to a violent stop. Mother awoke with a start and a very unladylike snort.
"Damn Hell and Hades!" I cursed silently. Nothing, eh?
"My, are we there already?" Mother asked softly. I heard noise outside, something was not right.
"No, I don't think we're there," I whispered low, my eyes narrowing as I listened to the commotion outside, "I think someone's stopped us."
It became silent as the grave. I leaned forward to roll up the screen.
"Lydia.." Mother whispered terrified, "Lydia, what....what are you doing?"
My hand inched nearer to the screen, I had hardly touched it when it rolled up with a snap, and I found myself face to face...with a pirate.
" 'Ello, love." He smiled slyly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
My first thought was, "His eyes seem like they could see right through me," which was followed by the blood rushing to my cheeks. His eyes were a dark brown, almost black. They were outlined in coal, making them seem shrewd and mysterious. He had a finely chisled face, with high cheek bones. His complexion was that of a gypsy, olive skinned and tan. He had long black hair, matted from the salt of the seawater and tangled from the winds. Coins and small bones and beads were tied to the long black tendrils. A red scarf ( which looked like it had seen better days) was wrapped around his head, with a triune hat on top of that. He smiled at my shock, a smile which showed his teeth, some of them gold. Oh he was a pirate alright, a real one.
"Excuse me, love." He said pointing a revolver at my head.
"Lydia, what is it?" Mother was practically trembling with fear, but she couldn't see the pirate yet as I was blocking her view.
"If you wouldn't mind, my dear, would you open the door?" He asked giving another cunning little smile.
"He has a gun to my head," I said slowly, "Should I let him in, Oh mother dear?"
She must not have understood for she all but shrieked, "Good God no, Lydia don't open it!"
"Could we please get a move on here?" The man asked annoyed with the delay, "I do have more people to steal from today and you're making me late for me next appointment."
"Who are you?" I all but growled deeply in my throat.
"Introductions later, now if you please..."
I glared at him as my hand reached for the knob.
"That's it, sweet." He said, again giving another toothy grin.
"Lydia, don't!" Mother exclaimed.
I threw open the door knocking the Pirate to the ground. In the next instant I had pulled my small dagger out of my bodice. Even when being threatened by a pirate, Mother began to scold me.
"Now really, Lydia! I asked you never to wear that horrid thing again!"
"Be grateful this once that I did!"
Ungracefully, our attacker got to his feet, swaying as if on the deck of a ship.
"Now that wasn't very nice..." he mumbled slurring his words as he straightened his hat. When he turned around he met with my dagger at his throat.
"And neither is that..." He said his eyes widening and then narrowing in almost a comic way. He clicked his tounge between his teeth, wagging his finger scoldingly, "To rash, love. Far too rash."
I gave a sharp gasp as his hand closed around the blade, jerking it out of my hand while cutting his own, admitting to no pain what so ever. I now had no defense against him, I slowly raised my hands and backed away, back into the carriage.
"Ladies!" He exclaimed stepping in, "The names Captain Jack Sparrow, I will be stealing all of your jewels, anything of value, today. So empty your purses and fill my bag." He exclaimed waving the pistol at Mother and my dagger dangerously close to my throat. Mother fainted. Typical.
"Ah..yes....that would pose a problem. Lydia, it is Lydia isn't it?"
"It's Miss Swann for the likes of you, Sparrow!" I hissed angrily.
"And it's Captain, CAPTAIN, Jack Sparrow for the likes of you Miss..." His eyes widened, waving the knife and bringing his face alarmingly close to mine, "..Swann..was it?"
I didn't like his proximity, it was making me feel very queer indeed.
"Any relation to a Miss Elizabeth Swann, by any chance?" He asked swaggering back drunkenly.
I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing him seriously, "She goes by the name Elizabeth Turner, now."
"Oh! So the boy did get 'imself a girl!? Bravo lad!"
"How do you know my cousin?!" I demanded of him.
"Well..it 'ad something to do with a deserted island and quite o' lot of rum."
"And that would make you...?" I ventured.
"A friend of the family?"
"Hardly," I ground out through my teeth.
"Well I'm not sure how long I will be after I steal from ye lass."
"What?!" I exclaimed, "You're still going to take our things?!"
"Uh, yeah. 'Ello love....," He waved his arms down beside his as if he were displaying his finer assets, if he had any to speak of, "...pirate?"
I was taken aback.
"Enough chatter. Now, love.."
If looks could kill he would have been in the dark depths of Davy Jone's Locker.
"...Excuse me, Miss Swann," he annunciated waving his hands hither and thither, "Now if you will remove all of her jewelry," he said waving the pistol at mother's still form, "and just slip it in me bag, which is in me belt." His cocky grin widened.
"And you want me to get it for you?"
"Yes, that's 'bout right." He said nodding gaily.
"That's really sweet of you, CAPTAIN, but I'd really rather not."
"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice, love." He said cocking the gun and putting it lightly on my forehead. "Now get to it. Oh and you'll have to reach around back to get at the bag." Another cocky little grin, his eyes narrowing from suppressed laughter. I was coming to despise that smile.
Leaning forward to reach behind him to the bag, the gun still at my head, I growled at him as I had to press myself up against him to do as he asked, "You're depraved!"
His voice murmured thickly and warm in my ear, "Of course I am, love..." I believe he smelled my hair there. I felt fire fill my veins as I became very dizzy, "...after all I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
My breathing had become shallow and quick. Blast these ridiculous corsets!
"Besides..you seem to be enjoying it." He added smugly.
I tugged at the bag sharply, sending him staggering down on top of me. Oh god! I had an annoying, sexy as the deepest pit of Hell, pirate on top of me. His face was pressed into the crock of my neck, his lips touching them briefly as he raised his head he inhaled the scent of my hair again. Oh gods and demons!
"Did you do that on purpose, love?" He asked, I could feel him smile against my hair. "I knew you were enjoying yourself."
I pushed him off of me, more than a little ruffled and replied angrily, "Oh I know you are! You...you...HAIR SNIFFER!"
On his feet again, he swayed and clutched at his chest as if my comment had hit his heart, "I'm hurt love."
"Not enough, but I'll soon fix that, mark my words!" I snapped, removing the pearl and diamond chocker off my mother's neck and dropping it carelessly into the burlap sack. I couldn't believe how many jewels I finally realized my mother wore: rings, bracelets, necklaces, it all just went on and on. When I had stripped her of all jewelry, I began to hand the bag back to him but he shook his head, "Where you forgetting yourself, pet?"
Sighing, I removed the silver bracelet off of my wrist and slipped the ruby ring off of my middle finger. I really didn't care for them, mother having chosen them for me. I also dropped them in the bag.
"Those are lovely combs," he hinted none too subtly, eyeing the silver and ruby jeweled combs in my deep red, almost black hair. Glaring at him, I slowly took them out, my hair falling in soft waves past my shoulders, framing my face. He watched, his head cocked to one side, his eyes darting like mad over it seemed every hair.
Still gazing at him, the combs clinked together as I clenched them in my hand and let them fall into the bag. He nodded in satisfaction and put the revolver in his belt taking the sack as I handed it to him.
"Thank you for your business, love." He said bowing, sweeping his hat off in gentlemanly acknowledgement.
"I'm glad to be of assistance." I breathed out sarcastically.
He seemed about to smile when he stopped suddenly, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of something on my person.
"Methinks I spy a pretty little trinket," he said softly taking slow steps toward me, leaning over me, my dagger alarmingly close to the area above my breasts, "her ladyship overlooked." And saying this the dagger swooped down and brought up the silver chain from the bowels of the corset of my dress. My heart skipped several beats as my father's locket hung from the end of the dagger before my eyes. Slowly, he let it slide off and taking out the burlap bag he held it in front of me.
"If you wouldn't mind.." He began.
"Oh but you see my dear Captain, I do mind and you'll have to kill me before you try and take it away from me because that is the only way you'll possibly get it." I was completely dead serious and he seemed to sense this because his eyes lost their jovial light and he looked on me differently.
"Why does it mean so much to ya, lass?"
His voice had become calm and soft, almost deceivingly understanding and I found myself against my better judgment telling him what he wanted to know.
"It belonged to my father," I said shortly, not able to look at him, "It's all I have left. I don't expect you to understand the simple sentiment of such a thing or what it means to me." I finished bitterly.
"Don't be so sure, lass." He said in a voice that made me jerk my eyes up to his, "You don't know everything." There was pain in his voice, or some kind of emotion no pirate should show openly and I felt myself wanting him to tell me exactly what he meant by it.
"Maybe you're right." I muttered somewhat grudgingly.
"I'm always right, love. Do you know why?"
I shook my head slightly.
"Because...I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." He paused, eyeing the locket, "and saying that, I understand, no I really do," he said sarcastically, "but I can't make any allowances, so take it off and drop it in me open bag."
"No." I shook my head in defiance, "You'll have to kill me." I repeated bravely, my chin in the pose of a queen not to be questioned.
"Oh I'm sure it won't have to come to that. There are other ways of getting what you want." He informed me, smiling wickedly. His left arm reached behind my head to cradle my neck in his hand and began to unclasp my necklace. I tried to push him away again as before but I found the dagger at my heart. Strangely, I was surprised, I hadn't thought he would really use it on me. My shocked showed through my eyes. Again I tried to push him back but found the knife pressed slightly deeper just enough to draw blood.
"But," he continued, his gotee tickling against my cheek as he worked at the complicated clasp, "if you feel the dire need to die, go ahead and die for a simple piece of jewelry. My dagger is waiting."
"It's my dagger and I've decided I'd rather take it back and see you dead in my place." I snarled at him.
"That's harsh, love." He replied in mock hurt as the chain finally slipped free of my neck and he caught it nimbly in his hand.
"You're a pirate," I sassed back at him, "I thought you'd be used to such comments by now."
"Always, darling." He responded dropping the necklace in the bag.
"Do you intend to take my dagger as well? There are pirates on the roads and you wouldn't deprive a lady of any protection, now would you?"
"If I see one, I'll let you know." He said, "And you won't need any protection when you have me with your dagger to do the protecting."
"Ah," I sighed, "but what if it's from you that I need the protection?"
"Then I best remove myself from your presence so you won't need said protection from me protecting you." With that he jumped from the carriage. I hurried to the door as he shut it in front of me, turning, he addressed me, "Try not to miss me too much, love," he said placing his hands on the bottom of the window.
"I'll count the minuets we're apart." I said rolling my eyes dramatically.
He grimaced as though in pain, "I know it hurts, love, but try to forget me. It's for the best, trust me."
"Trust you?" I questioned, a bitter bark of laughter escaped me, "A pirate?"
"Let me put it this way, love, who else are you going to trust? I'm the only one here who hasn't lied about what they are."
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"You're about as much as a lady as I'm a Duke. Whatever you are, love, it wasn't meant to be in this carriage and trapped," his eyes moved down the length of my body, "in that confining dress."
He was right. He knew it. I knew it. He knew, I knew it.
"Well," I said coughing, "You best be on your way then. You know, places to be, people to steal from, all that rot and a bottle of rum.'
"Quite right, love," but he still didnt' leave. "And speaking of rum...I spotted a fine looking bottle in there..."
I looked over my shoulder. I had forgotten we had gotten it for the Govenor as a present of thanks for inviting us to the ball, which we were now officially late for.
"It's for the Govenor."
"I'm sure he won't mind," he replied as he gestured for me to bring him the bottle.
"I'm very sure he would." I muttered, getting him the drink anyway. Bringing it back to the window, I held it just out of his reach making him come closer in his desire for it.
"I think it only fair to inform you, Sparrow, that I'm going to get that locket back from you as well as the dagger after I slit your throat with it." I said handing him the bottle but not taking my hand from it, as he placed his own hand on mine to take it from me.
"Terribly fair." He whispered close, "Is that a threat, love?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Leaning even closed I whispered back close to his lips, "It's a promise, Captain."
We were so close I could feel his warm breath as he laughed softly.
"So," I said warning him, "Hold onto the locket and don't you dare lose it. I'll be taking it back from you in forty eight hours."
"Dare to dream, love?" He asked, still chuckling.
"No, Captain," I replied, "dare to do." And with that I let go of the bottle, our fingers touching briefly at it's departure.
Stepping back and bending low in another sweeping bow he said, "Thank you, Milady."
I laughed, incredulous, "Thank you?! Milady?! Perhaps you are a Duke after all! I suppose now you'll want to kiss me goodbye?!"
His eyes sparkled dangerously with a dark electricity, "Well only because you've been such a good sport."
Before I could comprehend his words his lips were pressed firmly against my own. I gasped into the kiss, his lips silencing the sound, as I was thrilled with the sensations and reaction he was awakening in me. I felt a moment of that blissful freedom I longed for, of the wind, of the salt of the waves, the grainy sand, and the smell of burning wood on a cold November night. His hand slipped behind my neck, pulling me closer, leaving me breathless and unable to get away even if I wanted to, which I didn't. He pulled away, slowly, making the moment linger, and pulling close to my ear he murmured hotly, "Ta, darling."
And with that he was gone. Bringing my hand unconsciously to my lips as if in rememberance I thought, "Forty eight hours, hmnnn? I don't think I'll be able to wait that long."
I don't own Jack Sparrow..
Jack: Are we forgetting something, love?
Ok I don't own the sexiest pirate alive, Jack Sparrow..
Jack: CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN! Wait just one moment...did you call me...
Yes, I did.
Jack: Oh well then continue, say whatever you like.
All I have to say is I don't own CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow. But I do own Lydia and the plot and anyother character you haven't hear of.
Jack: I wouldn't mind owning Lydia, myself ( wicked grin)
I'll see what I can work out for you.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Any one who does review this will be transported to an deserted island full of rum with Captain Jack Sparrow. P.S. I'm not kidding.
Jack: Yes you are, you scurvy dog!
Ok, ok so I am, but he will perform some Caberet numbers and some from Chicago if you do.
Jack: Now hold on one bleeding second, I never said I'd...!!!!!