"And then he aimed the gun directly at me! Oh I have never been so
terrified in my life!" My mother exclaimed, a hand fluttering to her
heart. Something always had to be fluttering with her, if it wasn't her
fan it was something else. The crowd around her gasped in horror at her
tale. I snorted into the wine glass that I had just took a sip from. She
was really blowing the whole thing out of proportion.
"The next thing I knew everything went black! When I came to, oh you wouldn't believe this," she continued in an outraged voice, "the scoundrel stole my jewels! All of them! And," she added in a hauty whisper, "I wouldn't be at all surprised if he had DONE something while I was unconscious." There were many cries of disapproval, the women clucked pathetically like deranged hens, while the men swore they would find the cad who had done it and tear him limb from limb...after they had another drink.
And someone in the room laughed insanely. Can we all guess who that was? I couldn't believe it! She was the one unconscious and I was the one accosted, not that I hadn't minded it one bit.
"If you turn it into a cough now, you might just get away with it." Turning around I saw Elizabeth at my back.
"Too late for that I expect." I replied coughing, choking on my wine.
"Well we always have the option of baracading ourselves in the Room of Concealment until the party's over."
"Lead the way." I said urgently, placing the glass back on the table.
She giggled as she led me up to her room. Closing the door behind her she opened her wardrobe, pushed aside the many colorful dresses, and pulled out the hidden door in the back. Taking my hand, she led me in, nearly stumbling into her as we went into the pitch black room.
"It's been over a year since this room has been used, let's see if I remember where I put those matches..." she said.
"Weren't they hidden under the red velvet pillow?" I asked.
"Yes, I do believe they were..wait just one moment...AHA!"
I head the strike of a match, as the warm glow revealed her gentle face and chased some of the shadows from the small but cozy room.
"Now where is that damned lamp?!" She muttered, the match burning low to her fingers, too low perhaps.
"Uh, Lizzie, dear, it's right.." Just then the light flicked out as it burned her fingers. She let out a string of curses as she hit her head on the lamp that was hanging above her.
"...above you." I finished wincing.
"Thanks Liddy," She moaned, I imagined she was clutching her head. "Here." She said pushing the small box of matches into my hands, taking a while to find them as we were in complete black. "You were always better at handling fire then I was."
I laughed, "Excuse me?! You do recall when I set fire to David Colligon's dress coat, don't you?!" I struck another match.
"What? The one who tried to court you? I thought that was just and accident?"
I lit the lamp, hovering over us. Turning back to her, I gave her a mischievious grin.
"Liddy? I thought it was only an accident?!"
Blowing out the match, I said slyly, "You thought wrong, sweet cousin of mine."
"Obviously. You are no lady, Lydia Swann!" She declared playfully.
For a moment the comment froze me. She was the second person today to have said that to me.
"Well, Liz I can't really say you are much of one yourself...since when did you know how to outcurse a sailor?" I continued, plopping down into the red velvet pillows. Taking suit, she sat down a bit more gracefully and smiled at me.
"Since about a year ago." She replied, "Since I married Will."
"Ah, yes, dear Will. I was wondering when he would come to his senses and marry you."
"It took a kidnapping from cursed pirates to make him come to it." She muttered.
I had layed my head back, but hearing her my head snapped upright nearly giving me whiplash, "What?"
"It's a long story."
"And there is no place better for telling a long story than in the Room of Concealment." I said, "Now..tell all."
Slowly she began her tale. Indeed the Room of Concealment was the ideal place to tell stories. It always had been. Ever since I was eight I have come to Port Royale to visit Elizabeth. She was the one who had found the room, while we were playing pirates. It had been out secret place. To tell everything in. It was in this room that she had comforted many times when I would voice my worries about never knowing my father. The reason for it's title is that everything in the room was concealed. Everything had it's own hiding place. The panels could be removed and behind them were a sort of cubby hole which could hide chocolates, to dolls, to books, to daggers.
"-And of course Jack being Jack, fell off the cliff!"
I had not been paying as much attention as I should have. Serves me right for dwelling in the past when I should be planted firmly in the present.
"You haven't heard a single word I've said have you?!" She asked indignantly, glaring at me.
Best to tell the truth, "No." I said apologetically shrugging my shoulders.
"And what had you do distracted that you missed a story of horror on the high seas? Nothing could stop you from listening to stories like that when you were younger!"
"Maybe I've just out grown them, I am nineteen years of age, you know?" I said softly.
"From what I hear you've had your own little run in with a pirate , so you can't have out grown them that much!"
"It's not our fault that they are so drawn to us Swann women!" I laughed at her. She joined in but we both silenced our giggles as we heard the outer door open into the room. Heavy footsteps sounded on the creaking floorboards.
"What are you doing here?! Don't you know the Commodore has been searching for you this past year?! If he finds you in Port Royale again, you will be hung before you can say-."
"Where's the rum?"
"Exactly!"
"Yes! So where is it, mate?"
"Where is what? Oh, the rum?"
"No, the scantily clad whore on the bed..YES, THE RUM!"
"Oh. Well, I have to keep it hidden of course..Elizabeth would gully me if she ever found out.."
Elizabeth whispered softly to me, "I've been trying for a year now to find where he's been hiding it all."
"It all, what?" I murmured distractedly, there was something about one of those voices that sounded eriely familiar. "Oh, you mean the rum?"
"No," she snapped, "the scantily clad whore on the bed. Of course the rum!"
And before I sensed it she sprung from the closet. Pandimonium broke out.
"The CLOCK! Will, you've been HIDING it in the GRANDFATHER CLOCK?! It's an ANTIQUE!" I heard Elizabeth shout. I wasn't quite sure if I was meant to be an audience, so I stayed put.
"Well it makes it worth even more with a good bottle of year.." the other man began. The voice danced on the edge of my memory, where had I heard it?! "Blood of the Bleeding Christ!" The man cursed, "Will, where did ye get a hold of this fine piece of treasure?!"
"That's what I'd like to know!" Elizabeth yelled.
"Well...you see the fact of the matter is...JACK, put the bottle back and keep those twitchy fingers of yours away from my rum!"
"...but really Will, why in the clock?" Elizabeth asked, sounding exasperated.
"Cause' it wouldn't 'ave fit with ye in the closet." Came the slurred, and somewhat drunken reply from the other man.
"Shut up, Sparrow!" Elizabeth commanded, while Will exclaimed loudly, "DAMN you JACK! I said leave my rum alone!"
"What?! (hic) I'm a bloody pirate, after all! What did you expect?!"
Now I know where I had heard the voice. Indeed, I had spent the better part of the afternoon having him whisper uncalled for thing in my ear..not that I minded it.
"Well, if ye don't mind (hic)," I could now identify him as Jack Sparrow, "I'll just (hic) take meself and this..and go and 'ide it in the closet, now that Elizabeth is out, by my onesies, savvy?"
I heard the footsteps approaching and for the second time that day I found myself facing the sexiest pirate of the Caribean. He was also the drunkest at the moment.
" 'Ello love." He said, his eyes widening in surprise and then narrowing in confusion. "Am I supposed to be seeing to of ye, lass?"
"Not yet." I said smiling sickeningly sweet, "but you will soon."
"And why is that, love?"
"Hmn why?" I sighed pretending to ponder the thought, "I wonder why?"
The next second Jack Sparrow fell to the floor. Now he was the sexiest, drunkest pirate of the Caribean to favor a black eye.
"That's why."
Jack moaned from on the floor. Gathering my skirts I stepped out.
"He probably deserved that." Will said.
Elizabeth's hand was rubbing her head in a look of tired embarrassment for the immobile Captain, "Jack, Lydia. Lydia, Jack."
"How do you do." I responded ever so politely to his still form.
"Darling, I think they've already met."
"Indeed we have Mr. Turner, so observant of you to notice." I replied sarcastically.
"Well, it's hard to miss." He quipped back, just as sarcastically.
"Is it? Perhaps I should make it more apparent then..." I kicked at the form of the pirate.
"OW! Blackbeard's Bollicks, that hurt!" He yelped.
"I'm convinced." Will said.
"Wait." Elizabeth interrupted coming forward to me while Will helped Jack to his feet, "How do you know Jack?"
"I only met him this after noon, on the way here." I turned to look Sparrow straight in the eye, "Isn't that so, Mr. Sparrow?" He tried to show he wanted my silence by putting a finger to his lips, shaking his head slightly, "In fact we met in my carriage, didn't we?"
"What on earth are you talking...about.." Elizabeth began, but then her eyes widened in understanding. "You mean..the story your mother was telling.."
Will turned on Jack, and Jack turned to look longingly at the door, his only escape.
"..about the pirate who stole all of your possessions and threatened you.."
Will grabbed Jack by the collar roughly. "That was HER?!" He exclaimed just as Elizabeth shouted, "That was HIM?!"
Jack and I both nodded.
Will released him. "Why didn't you mention that you threatened my own cousin in-law?!"
"Must 'ave slipped me mind." Jack said, giving a grin like that of a tricky fox.
Will smacked him over the head, none too lightly.
"Now I remember why. BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO DO THAT!!"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Will gave him another sharp smack. Jack ducked and started to cower.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth and I had our own conversation going on. "But Lizzy how do you know him? And please don't tell me it had something to do with being stranded on a island overflowing with rum." I asked.
"If you had been listening to the story, all of your questions would need no answers!"
Needless to say with all the commotion, jack somehow managed to slip out unnoticed by us.
Again all hell broke loose.
"That is just like Sparrow!" Elizabeth claimed angrily.
"Feel pity for me, my dear! I didn't even get to hurt him!" I raged.
This extracted stares from all around.
"Well," I shifted guiltily from foot to foot, "Not as much as I wanted to, that is. And blast it all, I didn't get back my locket!"
"Locket?" Will asked.
"The one he stole today, along with everything else."
"I'm going to go hit him again." He exclaimed making for the door. I figured if he was going after Jack, this was my chance to dole out some justice of my own. Going back into the Room of Concealment I pushed in the third panel to my left. Dolls. No. Fifth to my right. Books. No. Damn these compartments, everything was too damned hidden. Someone burst into the room.
"That makes things easier for me," I heard Will say, "I didn't even need to go after you."
"I don't think I need to tell YOU why I came back," I heard a drunken voice slur. Poking my head out I saw the Captain had graced us once again with his presence. "Lock the door, Will. That's a good lad."
Will did so, "Why?" he asked.
A second later he leapt back as someone slammed against the other side.
"Open up this door, this instant!" Came the muffled yell, as the door buckled yet another time as the person threw themselves at it.
"Oh..that's why." Will replied.
"My god..." Elizabeth whispered and hand to her lips, "It's the Commodore."
I took this to mean this was very, very bad.
"Jack hide!" Will whispered furiously.
"Where? The rums already taken the clock." I could hardly understand him, his words running together.
Elizabeth dragged his drunken self over to the closet and threw him in.
"Lizzy, no!" I gasped in horror, "Let me out at least!" I pleaded.
Jack Sparrow joined in with some objections of his own. "Why do I 'ave to be in 'ere with her?!"
"Better her than Norrington." She replied and then looking at me apologetically, "I'm sorry, Liddy, I really am."
"So am I." I growled.
"..try to keep him quiet, please, Liddy."
"And how do you expect me to do that?!" I asked as she closed the door in my face, shutting me in the overwhelming dark with a very drunk Sparrow.
"I can think of a few ways, love." A husky voice murmured in my ear. I took one of the pillows and hit him in the face with it following him to the floor.
"That wasn't one of them!" Came his muffled answer from beneath the pillow. If I smothered him now, my mind reasoned, it wouldn't really be a crime, now would it?
"For once in your life, Sparrow, be silent!' I hissed, deciding I didn't want a murder on my hands, I took the pillow away from his face.
"I will if ye will, pet." He replied. I didn't like his tone. I slapped a hand over his mouth to keep him quiet as I listened to what was going on outside. There was a shot like that from a rifle, I heard Elizabeth scream, and someone barged inot the room with quick strides.
"What is the meaning of this, Commodore?!" I heard Elizabeth protest angrily.
"Search the room!" The intruder commanded, without any explanation.
"Commodore Norrington, my wife just asked you a question and I would like an answer to it as well." Will sounded calm but impatient.
I sat up as I removed my hand from Sparrow's mouth. He did the same. We hardly dared to breathe as we could hear perhaps a roomful of people checking every square inch of the surroundings.
"Forgive me....Mrs. Turner, but I caught Jack Sparrow on the grounds, he gave chase coming up here. I have seared all of the other rooms and this was the only one that was locked. Naturally, I assumed the villain would be protected by his old associate." The man's voice was cold and hard, leaving no room for any argument. "Now Turner, get out of my way so I can search for the scoundrel."
"And what makes you even suspect he's here?" Elizabeth asked, sounding like she was very put out, although I could hear the faint tremor in her voice.
"The door was locked, Elizabeth!" I heard the man shout, "Do you think me a stupid guard?! Why else would the door be locked other than to hide the criminal?!"
"There is something called," Will commented rather nastily, "married life, Commodore."
Silence greeted his words.
"Gillette, have you found anything yet?" The stranger's voice was more subdued now, and oddly strained.
"No sir, nothing." Came another voice alarmingly close to the closet in which Sparrow and I were hidden behind the false wall.
I jumped a bit as a warm arm slipped around my waist. I tried vainly to pry it off but to my great discomfort it only made him pull me tighter to him.
"Did you check the closet?" The Commodore's voice asked.
"No, sir."
"Do so." He ordered.
I wanted nothing more then to scream at Sparrow to "get the blazin' hell off me!" but I couldn't risk having us caught. I now understood his earlier comment. If I made no noise, neither would he. That tricky son of a ....
"Nothing is here, sir." Came the close reply, "The room is empty."
"Very well." The Commodore sighed. "I still have some questions for you Turner.."
"Can't we ajorn this meeting down to the sitting room, gentlemen?" Elizabeth asked.
There was a pause, "Yes, of course...Mrs. Turner. Men, let's take a little trip downstairs, shall we?"
"We'll show you the way." Will said.
The sound of many feet was heard as all persons exited the room.
"This way, gentlemen." I heard Elizabeth say softly, her voice becoming steadily fainter as she and Will led the men out.
"Gillette," The Commodore whispered, "....I will follow....do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
Then there was silence as the last men left, the door clicking gently behind them. I waited for no more than a few seconds to make sure they were really gone before I exploded.
"Let go of me this instant!" I yelled smacking at Sparrow's hand. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
"Do ye really want to know, love?" he asked close to my ear. I still couldn't see him at all in this darkness.
"NO!" I responded savagely, pushing him off me, "Are you always like this," I asked, "or is it just because you're so bloody drunk?!"
"Well, I'm always drunk, love, so I'm always like this. Yeh."
I gave a disgusted snort, "Eight minuets in a closet with you is far more than I would ever like to experience again!" I commented, feeling the walls looking for the handle.
"Disapointed it wasn't longer?"
"Devestated. Now get out of the way....I think you're leaning against the door." I said trying to shove him over but he stayed.
"And what if I am?" He asked, his voice sounding clearer as if the liquor had worn off, "What makes ye think I'll open it for ye?"
"You won't, so I'll make do myself." I said surging forward, trying to get around him to the handle, but once again he remained firmly in place.
"Because quite frankly," he continued seemingly to pay me no heed, "ye've been uncivil since the moment we met."
"Oh! Forgive me for being uncivil while you were robbing us blind and while you tried to force yourself upon my person!" I snapped back at him. I was starting to become frantic, the walls seemed to be closing in on me and yet I knew they weren't. I couldn't seem to catch my breath either and it was scaring me.
He laughed, a deep rich sound, "Force?! Trust me lass, ye would know if I was trying to force meself on ye. For example....."
A warm hand pressed into the small of my back, pressing me close. I nearly choked on what little air I was breathing."
"Really Sparrow, this is not funny...." I began.
"Captain, love, Captain Sparrow."
"Unhand me, CAPTAIN, now!' I replied struggling against him. I felt flustered and feverish. His hand burned though the soft material of my gown, scalding the skin beneath. My heart was hammering in my throat and an unbearable fire was filling my middle.
"See the difference?" He asked.
I tried to swallow the dead wheight in my throat, "Not really, no." I answered as calm as I could muster myself to sound.
He sighed, "I'll make ye a deal then." He lightly began to trace shapes or perhaps words into my back with his fingers. "I will move out of ye way if..."
I took a ragged breath of scorching air into my lungs, to try to steady my rapid pulse and the feeling that I would lose my balance, "If?" I questioned anxiously.
"If.." he paused, his hand inching up to my neck, stroking it with callosed fingers. "If ye give me a kiss."
"Are you foxed?!" I demanded, annoyed.
"Usually, but not now. I'm serious, love, dead serious."
"Is this the only possible way to keep you quiet and out of my way?!"
"Yes." I could hear the smile in that one word. The self assurance in it was more than evident.
"Very well then." I managed succinctly. Leaning forward our lips brushed fleetingly, searing me with their gentle heat.
"There!" I snapped, trying to remain calm even though I knew I was going insane. I could sense everything, how flushed my face was (thank god he couldn't see me, oh how he would have gloated!) how I could feel the pulse in his hand which was still wrapped around my neck. "You have your damned kiss!"
"I don't think so, love." He said, pulling me back sharply, "Ye didn't think ye'de get off that easy, now did ye?"
Our lips melded together roughly, our breathing fast and eratic. Another arm snaked around my waist as the hand that had been on my neck nestled itself deep into my hair, winding it between his fingers, tangling it. Sometime during this the tides changed. All that I was left me and went to him, and all that was him transferred to me. Then came the hot sweep of his tongue. I jerked back, the touch shocking me in it's intimacy. The world came back to me and I realized what I had done. I had been kissed by a pirate....and enjoyed it. Damn him!
"That's more like it." He purred, satisfied.
I felt completely humiliated. Oh I hated him for making me feel everything I was! But how to repay him the same kindness?
"Now.." I said low, "give me a kiss in return."
"But of course, it's only fair." He whispered, his breath tickling my lips. I shivered unconsciously.
"Not the lips, Sparrow..something else."
I felt him lean forward, as I pulled back, off of the door.
"And what would that be, love?" He asked. I could hear the boiling excitement rise in his throat.
"That would be telling." I replied with the smokiest voice I muster, reaching my hand behind him to the knob of the door, while pressing myself closer, backing him up against it.
I turned the knob then and the door opened out. Jack fell out, falling over backwards and landed harshly on the ground.
"Kiss polished floorboards, Captain!" I spat out, beginning to exit the closet behind him, albeit more gracefully when another voice spoke.
"Along with the tip of my blade!'
I screamed to discover a well dressed man, pointing his sword at Jack. He was quite handsome to be quite truthful. Tall, an imposing figure with blue eyes. He wore a white wig and I imagined his hair was truly black as he was too young to have real silver tresses. I noticed his dress, too. A military man? Not a guard or a captain but someone of higher authority. A Commodore.
My face burned as I realized he must have heard everything that had happened in the secret room.
"Are you alright?!" He asked me, his eyes never leaving Sparrow's form, as he stood slowly to his feet, "Did he harm you?!"
"No," I murmured, "Not much."
"Then it is too much by half." He growled, glaring at Sparrow. "After a year, Sparrow," The Commodore spoke in a low triumphant yet threatening voice, "I have you at last and your friends can do nothing to help you now."
Jack bit his lip as if in deep agitation and flinging out his arm, I found myself once again in the clutches of a certain Captain, although not as comfortable as before. He wrapped his left arm about my neck nearly choking me. Both my hands went up to pry it away by any means necessary.
"My dear Commodore Norrington," Sparrow said taking out his pistol and putting it to my temple, "I don't need my friends. All I need....is a delicious little innocent (that would be ye, love.) to pave my way to freedom.. After a year, Commodore, you should have learned by now that ye can't catch Captain....Jack...."
"BLOODY SPARROW!" I finished angrily for him, "We KNOW! Enough with the titles, they're driving me mad!" And I continued my assaults, trying to get free.
"Little Hellcat, isn't she?" Jack chuckled lightly, "Not too innocent maybe, but she'll do at the moment."
Norrington's eyes flickered with concern but the grip on his sword never wavered.
"Now, this is how it works, in case ye've forgotten. I, with the sweet lady in tow, make my way to the window, which convieniantly is already open." He dragged me to the window. "This is where it gets exciting. Ye sheathe ye sword...."
"Do you think me a fool, Sparrow?"
"Yes."
"Allow me then to prove you wrong."
"Just a minuet, I'm making my escape. Then ye sheathe ye sword and I throw her to ye and I make my get-a-way. See that way we're all happy. I get to live another day. Ye get to save a beautiful maiden, and she has a very exciting evening. All's well that ends well, eh?"
"She's facing me, Sparrow. She's smart enough not to throw herself on my blade. I believe that leaves me free to kill you."
"Huh...ye right, mate." Spinning me around quickly he said, "There, all settled then. And here comes the time when I bid you both a very fond farewell. It's been wonderful but I've really got to fly. Commodore, ye really should put that thing away before I push her into ye." I heard no sound of steel sliding into wood to show that he complied and I began to fear for my life.
"You bastard!" I hissed venomously at Sparrow.
He gave an arrogant smirk, "Sticks and stones, love. Just like ye cousin." He then looked over my shoulder, back at Norrington, nodding his head in farewell, "Commodore." Looking at me, now, "Miss Swann, always a pleasure."
"I wish I could say the..." I bit out before interrupted with his lips crushing against mine, mercilessly. I heard a blade sliding into something and footsteps fast approaching, above the dull roar of blood flowing too quickly to my head. He pushed me suddenly backward, harshly. I staggered back, stumbling into the Commodore's arms, nearly sending us both down. He steadied me before rushing at Sparrow, but he was a moment too late if not more. Sparrow was gone out the window and probably down four streets by now. The Commodore's frame was still and ridged, as a fisted hand rested on the sill. I joined him, looking down the streets to see if there was anything at all to see. Nothing, only the dark of the night penetrated by the few street lamps. I only faintly realized I was grinding my teeth together in a smoldering menace.
"Damn him!" I spat.
"Damn him!" The Commodore muttered darkly.
We smiled faintly at each other.
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To all of my reviewers: I hope this satisfies you for some more steamy romance that I'm sure you all have been craving. Thank you so much for giving me sooooo many reviews! You like me, you really really really really like me! Now I'm having some writers block for the next few chapters and if anyone has some ideas I would be really grateful to hear them. We'll make a contest out of it. Whoever's Idea I use, they will get a part in the story as a background character that shows up once in a while with maybe a little interaction from a Sparrowy fiend! So when you send in your idea's, also give me a description of how you would like your character to look if you are chosen. Thank you guys so much, again. And keep reviewing!
"The next thing I knew everything went black! When I came to, oh you wouldn't believe this," she continued in an outraged voice, "the scoundrel stole my jewels! All of them! And," she added in a hauty whisper, "I wouldn't be at all surprised if he had DONE something while I was unconscious." There were many cries of disapproval, the women clucked pathetically like deranged hens, while the men swore they would find the cad who had done it and tear him limb from limb...after they had another drink.
And someone in the room laughed insanely. Can we all guess who that was? I couldn't believe it! She was the one unconscious and I was the one accosted, not that I hadn't minded it one bit.
"If you turn it into a cough now, you might just get away with it." Turning around I saw Elizabeth at my back.
"Too late for that I expect." I replied coughing, choking on my wine.
"Well we always have the option of baracading ourselves in the Room of Concealment until the party's over."
"Lead the way." I said urgently, placing the glass back on the table.
She giggled as she led me up to her room. Closing the door behind her she opened her wardrobe, pushed aside the many colorful dresses, and pulled out the hidden door in the back. Taking my hand, she led me in, nearly stumbling into her as we went into the pitch black room.
"It's been over a year since this room has been used, let's see if I remember where I put those matches..." she said.
"Weren't they hidden under the red velvet pillow?" I asked.
"Yes, I do believe they were..wait just one moment...AHA!"
I head the strike of a match, as the warm glow revealed her gentle face and chased some of the shadows from the small but cozy room.
"Now where is that damned lamp?!" She muttered, the match burning low to her fingers, too low perhaps.
"Uh, Lizzie, dear, it's right.." Just then the light flicked out as it burned her fingers. She let out a string of curses as she hit her head on the lamp that was hanging above her.
"...above you." I finished wincing.
"Thanks Liddy," She moaned, I imagined she was clutching her head. "Here." She said pushing the small box of matches into my hands, taking a while to find them as we were in complete black. "You were always better at handling fire then I was."
I laughed, "Excuse me?! You do recall when I set fire to David Colligon's dress coat, don't you?!" I struck another match.
"What? The one who tried to court you? I thought that was just and accident?"
I lit the lamp, hovering over us. Turning back to her, I gave her a mischievious grin.
"Liddy? I thought it was only an accident?!"
Blowing out the match, I said slyly, "You thought wrong, sweet cousin of mine."
"Obviously. You are no lady, Lydia Swann!" She declared playfully.
For a moment the comment froze me. She was the second person today to have said that to me.
"Well, Liz I can't really say you are much of one yourself...since when did you know how to outcurse a sailor?" I continued, plopping down into the red velvet pillows. Taking suit, she sat down a bit more gracefully and smiled at me.
"Since about a year ago." She replied, "Since I married Will."
"Ah, yes, dear Will. I was wondering when he would come to his senses and marry you."
"It took a kidnapping from cursed pirates to make him come to it." She muttered.
I had layed my head back, but hearing her my head snapped upright nearly giving me whiplash, "What?"
"It's a long story."
"And there is no place better for telling a long story than in the Room of Concealment." I said, "Now..tell all."
Slowly she began her tale. Indeed the Room of Concealment was the ideal place to tell stories. It always had been. Ever since I was eight I have come to Port Royale to visit Elizabeth. She was the one who had found the room, while we were playing pirates. It had been out secret place. To tell everything in. It was in this room that she had comforted many times when I would voice my worries about never knowing my father. The reason for it's title is that everything in the room was concealed. Everything had it's own hiding place. The panels could be removed and behind them were a sort of cubby hole which could hide chocolates, to dolls, to books, to daggers.
"-And of course Jack being Jack, fell off the cliff!"
I had not been paying as much attention as I should have. Serves me right for dwelling in the past when I should be planted firmly in the present.
"You haven't heard a single word I've said have you?!" She asked indignantly, glaring at me.
Best to tell the truth, "No." I said apologetically shrugging my shoulders.
"And what had you do distracted that you missed a story of horror on the high seas? Nothing could stop you from listening to stories like that when you were younger!"
"Maybe I've just out grown them, I am nineteen years of age, you know?" I said softly.
"From what I hear you've had your own little run in with a pirate , so you can't have out grown them that much!"
"It's not our fault that they are so drawn to us Swann women!" I laughed at her. She joined in but we both silenced our giggles as we heard the outer door open into the room. Heavy footsteps sounded on the creaking floorboards.
"What are you doing here?! Don't you know the Commodore has been searching for you this past year?! If he finds you in Port Royale again, you will be hung before you can say-."
"Where's the rum?"
"Exactly!"
"Yes! So where is it, mate?"
"Where is what? Oh, the rum?"
"No, the scantily clad whore on the bed..YES, THE RUM!"
"Oh. Well, I have to keep it hidden of course..Elizabeth would gully me if she ever found out.."
Elizabeth whispered softly to me, "I've been trying for a year now to find where he's been hiding it all."
"It all, what?" I murmured distractedly, there was something about one of those voices that sounded eriely familiar. "Oh, you mean the rum?"
"No," she snapped, "the scantily clad whore on the bed. Of course the rum!"
And before I sensed it she sprung from the closet. Pandimonium broke out.
"The CLOCK! Will, you've been HIDING it in the GRANDFATHER CLOCK?! It's an ANTIQUE!" I heard Elizabeth shout. I wasn't quite sure if I was meant to be an audience, so I stayed put.
"Well it makes it worth even more with a good bottle of year.." the other man began. The voice danced on the edge of my memory, where had I heard it?! "Blood of the Bleeding Christ!" The man cursed, "Will, where did ye get a hold of this fine piece of treasure?!"
"That's what I'd like to know!" Elizabeth yelled.
"Well...you see the fact of the matter is...JACK, put the bottle back and keep those twitchy fingers of yours away from my rum!"
"...but really Will, why in the clock?" Elizabeth asked, sounding exasperated.
"Cause' it wouldn't 'ave fit with ye in the closet." Came the slurred, and somewhat drunken reply from the other man.
"Shut up, Sparrow!" Elizabeth commanded, while Will exclaimed loudly, "DAMN you JACK! I said leave my rum alone!"
"What?! (hic) I'm a bloody pirate, after all! What did you expect?!"
Now I know where I had heard the voice. Indeed, I had spent the better part of the afternoon having him whisper uncalled for thing in my ear..not that I minded it.
"Well, if ye don't mind (hic)," I could now identify him as Jack Sparrow, "I'll just (hic) take meself and this..and go and 'ide it in the closet, now that Elizabeth is out, by my onesies, savvy?"
I heard the footsteps approaching and for the second time that day I found myself facing the sexiest pirate of the Caribean. He was also the drunkest at the moment.
" 'Ello love." He said, his eyes widening in surprise and then narrowing in confusion. "Am I supposed to be seeing to of ye, lass?"
"Not yet." I said smiling sickeningly sweet, "but you will soon."
"And why is that, love?"
"Hmn why?" I sighed pretending to ponder the thought, "I wonder why?"
The next second Jack Sparrow fell to the floor. Now he was the sexiest, drunkest pirate of the Caribean to favor a black eye.
"That's why."
Jack moaned from on the floor. Gathering my skirts I stepped out.
"He probably deserved that." Will said.
Elizabeth's hand was rubbing her head in a look of tired embarrassment for the immobile Captain, "Jack, Lydia. Lydia, Jack."
"How do you do." I responded ever so politely to his still form.
"Darling, I think they've already met."
"Indeed we have Mr. Turner, so observant of you to notice." I replied sarcastically.
"Well, it's hard to miss." He quipped back, just as sarcastically.
"Is it? Perhaps I should make it more apparent then..." I kicked at the form of the pirate.
"OW! Blackbeard's Bollicks, that hurt!" He yelped.
"I'm convinced." Will said.
"Wait." Elizabeth interrupted coming forward to me while Will helped Jack to his feet, "How do you know Jack?"
"I only met him this after noon, on the way here." I turned to look Sparrow straight in the eye, "Isn't that so, Mr. Sparrow?" He tried to show he wanted my silence by putting a finger to his lips, shaking his head slightly, "In fact we met in my carriage, didn't we?"
"What on earth are you talking...about.." Elizabeth began, but then her eyes widened in understanding. "You mean..the story your mother was telling.."
Will turned on Jack, and Jack turned to look longingly at the door, his only escape.
"..about the pirate who stole all of your possessions and threatened you.."
Will grabbed Jack by the collar roughly. "That was HER?!" He exclaimed just as Elizabeth shouted, "That was HIM?!"
Jack and I both nodded.
Will released him. "Why didn't you mention that you threatened my own cousin in-law?!"
"Must 'ave slipped me mind." Jack said, giving a grin like that of a tricky fox.
Will smacked him over the head, none too lightly.
"Now I remember why. BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO DO THAT!!"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Will gave him another sharp smack. Jack ducked and started to cower.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth and I had our own conversation going on. "But Lizzy how do you know him? And please don't tell me it had something to do with being stranded on a island overflowing with rum." I asked.
"If you had been listening to the story, all of your questions would need no answers!"
Needless to say with all the commotion, jack somehow managed to slip out unnoticed by us.
Again all hell broke loose.
"That is just like Sparrow!" Elizabeth claimed angrily.
"Feel pity for me, my dear! I didn't even get to hurt him!" I raged.
This extracted stares from all around.
"Well," I shifted guiltily from foot to foot, "Not as much as I wanted to, that is. And blast it all, I didn't get back my locket!"
"Locket?" Will asked.
"The one he stole today, along with everything else."
"I'm going to go hit him again." He exclaimed making for the door. I figured if he was going after Jack, this was my chance to dole out some justice of my own. Going back into the Room of Concealment I pushed in the third panel to my left. Dolls. No. Fifth to my right. Books. No. Damn these compartments, everything was too damned hidden. Someone burst into the room.
"That makes things easier for me," I heard Will say, "I didn't even need to go after you."
"I don't think I need to tell YOU why I came back," I heard a drunken voice slur. Poking my head out I saw the Captain had graced us once again with his presence. "Lock the door, Will. That's a good lad."
Will did so, "Why?" he asked.
A second later he leapt back as someone slammed against the other side.
"Open up this door, this instant!" Came the muffled yell, as the door buckled yet another time as the person threw themselves at it.
"Oh..that's why." Will replied.
"My god..." Elizabeth whispered and hand to her lips, "It's the Commodore."
I took this to mean this was very, very bad.
"Jack hide!" Will whispered furiously.
"Where? The rums already taken the clock." I could hardly understand him, his words running together.
Elizabeth dragged his drunken self over to the closet and threw him in.
"Lizzy, no!" I gasped in horror, "Let me out at least!" I pleaded.
Jack Sparrow joined in with some objections of his own. "Why do I 'ave to be in 'ere with her?!"
"Better her than Norrington." She replied and then looking at me apologetically, "I'm sorry, Liddy, I really am."
"So am I." I growled.
"..try to keep him quiet, please, Liddy."
"And how do you expect me to do that?!" I asked as she closed the door in my face, shutting me in the overwhelming dark with a very drunk Sparrow.
"I can think of a few ways, love." A husky voice murmured in my ear. I took one of the pillows and hit him in the face with it following him to the floor.
"That wasn't one of them!" Came his muffled answer from beneath the pillow. If I smothered him now, my mind reasoned, it wouldn't really be a crime, now would it?
"For once in your life, Sparrow, be silent!' I hissed, deciding I didn't want a murder on my hands, I took the pillow away from his face.
"I will if ye will, pet." He replied. I didn't like his tone. I slapped a hand over his mouth to keep him quiet as I listened to what was going on outside. There was a shot like that from a rifle, I heard Elizabeth scream, and someone barged inot the room with quick strides.
"What is the meaning of this, Commodore?!" I heard Elizabeth protest angrily.
"Search the room!" The intruder commanded, without any explanation.
"Commodore Norrington, my wife just asked you a question and I would like an answer to it as well." Will sounded calm but impatient.
I sat up as I removed my hand from Sparrow's mouth. He did the same. We hardly dared to breathe as we could hear perhaps a roomful of people checking every square inch of the surroundings.
"Forgive me....Mrs. Turner, but I caught Jack Sparrow on the grounds, he gave chase coming up here. I have seared all of the other rooms and this was the only one that was locked. Naturally, I assumed the villain would be protected by his old associate." The man's voice was cold and hard, leaving no room for any argument. "Now Turner, get out of my way so I can search for the scoundrel."
"And what makes you even suspect he's here?" Elizabeth asked, sounding like she was very put out, although I could hear the faint tremor in her voice.
"The door was locked, Elizabeth!" I heard the man shout, "Do you think me a stupid guard?! Why else would the door be locked other than to hide the criminal?!"
"There is something called," Will commented rather nastily, "married life, Commodore."
Silence greeted his words.
"Gillette, have you found anything yet?" The stranger's voice was more subdued now, and oddly strained.
"No sir, nothing." Came another voice alarmingly close to the closet in which Sparrow and I were hidden behind the false wall.
I jumped a bit as a warm arm slipped around my waist. I tried vainly to pry it off but to my great discomfort it only made him pull me tighter to him.
"Did you check the closet?" The Commodore's voice asked.
"No, sir."
"Do so." He ordered.
I wanted nothing more then to scream at Sparrow to "get the blazin' hell off me!" but I couldn't risk having us caught. I now understood his earlier comment. If I made no noise, neither would he. That tricky son of a ....
"Nothing is here, sir." Came the close reply, "The room is empty."
"Very well." The Commodore sighed. "I still have some questions for you Turner.."
"Can't we ajorn this meeting down to the sitting room, gentlemen?" Elizabeth asked.
There was a pause, "Yes, of course...Mrs. Turner. Men, let's take a little trip downstairs, shall we?"
"We'll show you the way." Will said.
The sound of many feet was heard as all persons exited the room.
"This way, gentlemen." I heard Elizabeth say softly, her voice becoming steadily fainter as she and Will led the men out.
"Gillette," The Commodore whispered, "....I will follow....do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
Then there was silence as the last men left, the door clicking gently behind them. I waited for no more than a few seconds to make sure they were really gone before I exploded.
"Let go of me this instant!" I yelled smacking at Sparrow's hand. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
"Do ye really want to know, love?" he asked close to my ear. I still couldn't see him at all in this darkness.
"NO!" I responded savagely, pushing him off me, "Are you always like this," I asked, "or is it just because you're so bloody drunk?!"
"Well, I'm always drunk, love, so I'm always like this. Yeh."
I gave a disgusted snort, "Eight minuets in a closet with you is far more than I would ever like to experience again!" I commented, feeling the walls looking for the handle.
"Disapointed it wasn't longer?"
"Devestated. Now get out of the way....I think you're leaning against the door." I said trying to shove him over but he stayed.
"And what if I am?" He asked, his voice sounding clearer as if the liquor had worn off, "What makes ye think I'll open it for ye?"
"You won't, so I'll make do myself." I said surging forward, trying to get around him to the handle, but once again he remained firmly in place.
"Because quite frankly," he continued seemingly to pay me no heed, "ye've been uncivil since the moment we met."
"Oh! Forgive me for being uncivil while you were robbing us blind and while you tried to force yourself upon my person!" I snapped back at him. I was starting to become frantic, the walls seemed to be closing in on me and yet I knew they weren't. I couldn't seem to catch my breath either and it was scaring me.
He laughed, a deep rich sound, "Force?! Trust me lass, ye would know if I was trying to force meself on ye. For example....."
A warm hand pressed into the small of my back, pressing me close. I nearly choked on what little air I was breathing."
"Really Sparrow, this is not funny...." I began.
"Captain, love, Captain Sparrow."
"Unhand me, CAPTAIN, now!' I replied struggling against him. I felt flustered and feverish. His hand burned though the soft material of my gown, scalding the skin beneath. My heart was hammering in my throat and an unbearable fire was filling my middle.
"See the difference?" He asked.
I tried to swallow the dead wheight in my throat, "Not really, no." I answered as calm as I could muster myself to sound.
He sighed, "I'll make ye a deal then." He lightly began to trace shapes or perhaps words into my back with his fingers. "I will move out of ye way if..."
I took a ragged breath of scorching air into my lungs, to try to steady my rapid pulse and the feeling that I would lose my balance, "If?" I questioned anxiously.
"If.." he paused, his hand inching up to my neck, stroking it with callosed fingers. "If ye give me a kiss."
"Are you foxed?!" I demanded, annoyed.
"Usually, but not now. I'm serious, love, dead serious."
"Is this the only possible way to keep you quiet and out of my way?!"
"Yes." I could hear the smile in that one word. The self assurance in it was more than evident.
"Very well then." I managed succinctly. Leaning forward our lips brushed fleetingly, searing me with their gentle heat.
"There!" I snapped, trying to remain calm even though I knew I was going insane. I could sense everything, how flushed my face was (thank god he couldn't see me, oh how he would have gloated!) how I could feel the pulse in his hand which was still wrapped around my neck. "You have your damned kiss!"
"I don't think so, love." He said, pulling me back sharply, "Ye didn't think ye'de get off that easy, now did ye?"
Our lips melded together roughly, our breathing fast and eratic. Another arm snaked around my waist as the hand that had been on my neck nestled itself deep into my hair, winding it between his fingers, tangling it. Sometime during this the tides changed. All that I was left me and went to him, and all that was him transferred to me. Then came the hot sweep of his tongue. I jerked back, the touch shocking me in it's intimacy. The world came back to me and I realized what I had done. I had been kissed by a pirate....and enjoyed it. Damn him!
"That's more like it." He purred, satisfied.
I felt completely humiliated. Oh I hated him for making me feel everything I was! But how to repay him the same kindness?
"Now.." I said low, "give me a kiss in return."
"But of course, it's only fair." He whispered, his breath tickling my lips. I shivered unconsciously.
"Not the lips, Sparrow..something else."
I felt him lean forward, as I pulled back, off of the door.
"And what would that be, love?" He asked. I could hear the boiling excitement rise in his throat.
"That would be telling." I replied with the smokiest voice I muster, reaching my hand behind him to the knob of the door, while pressing myself closer, backing him up against it.
I turned the knob then and the door opened out. Jack fell out, falling over backwards and landed harshly on the ground.
"Kiss polished floorboards, Captain!" I spat out, beginning to exit the closet behind him, albeit more gracefully when another voice spoke.
"Along with the tip of my blade!'
I screamed to discover a well dressed man, pointing his sword at Jack. He was quite handsome to be quite truthful. Tall, an imposing figure with blue eyes. He wore a white wig and I imagined his hair was truly black as he was too young to have real silver tresses. I noticed his dress, too. A military man? Not a guard or a captain but someone of higher authority. A Commodore.
My face burned as I realized he must have heard everything that had happened in the secret room.
"Are you alright?!" He asked me, his eyes never leaving Sparrow's form, as he stood slowly to his feet, "Did he harm you?!"
"No," I murmured, "Not much."
"Then it is too much by half." He growled, glaring at Sparrow. "After a year, Sparrow," The Commodore spoke in a low triumphant yet threatening voice, "I have you at last and your friends can do nothing to help you now."
Jack bit his lip as if in deep agitation and flinging out his arm, I found myself once again in the clutches of a certain Captain, although not as comfortable as before. He wrapped his left arm about my neck nearly choking me. Both my hands went up to pry it away by any means necessary.
"My dear Commodore Norrington," Sparrow said taking out his pistol and putting it to my temple, "I don't need my friends. All I need....is a delicious little innocent (that would be ye, love.) to pave my way to freedom.. After a year, Commodore, you should have learned by now that ye can't catch Captain....Jack...."
"BLOODY SPARROW!" I finished angrily for him, "We KNOW! Enough with the titles, they're driving me mad!" And I continued my assaults, trying to get free.
"Little Hellcat, isn't she?" Jack chuckled lightly, "Not too innocent maybe, but she'll do at the moment."
Norrington's eyes flickered with concern but the grip on his sword never wavered.
"Now, this is how it works, in case ye've forgotten. I, with the sweet lady in tow, make my way to the window, which convieniantly is already open." He dragged me to the window. "This is where it gets exciting. Ye sheathe ye sword...."
"Do you think me a fool, Sparrow?"
"Yes."
"Allow me then to prove you wrong."
"Just a minuet, I'm making my escape. Then ye sheathe ye sword and I throw her to ye and I make my get-a-way. See that way we're all happy. I get to live another day. Ye get to save a beautiful maiden, and she has a very exciting evening. All's well that ends well, eh?"
"She's facing me, Sparrow. She's smart enough not to throw herself on my blade. I believe that leaves me free to kill you."
"Huh...ye right, mate." Spinning me around quickly he said, "There, all settled then. And here comes the time when I bid you both a very fond farewell. It's been wonderful but I've really got to fly. Commodore, ye really should put that thing away before I push her into ye." I heard no sound of steel sliding into wood to show that he complied and I began to fear for my life.
"You bastard!" I hissed venomously at Sparrow.
He gave an arrogant smirk, "Sticks and stones, love. Just like ye cousin." He then looked over my shoulder, back at Norrington, nodding his head in farewell, "Commodore." Looking at me, now, "Miss Swann, always a pleasure."
"I wish I could say the..." I bit out before interrupted with his lips crushing against mine, mercilessly. I heard a blade sliding into something and footsteps fast approaching, above the dull roar of blood flowing too quickly to my head. He pushed me suddenly backward, harshly. I staggered back, stumbling into the Commodore's arms, nearly sending us both down. He steadied me before rushing at Sparrow, but he was a moment too late if not more. Sparrow was gone out the window and probably down four streets by now. The Commodore's frame was still and ridged, as a fisted hand rested on the sill. I joined him, looking down the streets to see if there was anything at all to see. Nothing, only the dark of the night penetrated by the few street lamps. I only faintly realized I was grinding my teeth together in a smoldering menace.
"Damn him!" I spat.
"Damn him!" The Commodore muttered darkly.
We smiled faintly at each other.
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To all of my reviewers: I hope this satisfies you for some more steamy romance that I'm sure you all have been craving. Thank you so much for giving me sooooo many reviews! You like me, you really really really really like me! Now I'm having some writers block for the next few chapters and if anyone has some ideas I would be really grateful to hear them. We'll make a contest out of it. Whoever's Idea I use, they will get a part in the story as a background character that shows up once in a while with maybe a little interaction from a Sparrowy fiend! So when you send in your idea's, also give me a description of how you would like your character to look if you are chosen. Thank you guys so much, again. And keep reviewing!