I think I'm gonna change the title for this story. Where I came up with it in the first place I can't remember, but it's a terrible title, plus it really doesn't have anything to do with the story. If you guys have ANY suggestions, they would be welcomed with open arms, I assure you.
Secrets of the Caribbean
Written By: Riley Barton
[Chapter Nine]
Less than two days to Tortuga. This one thought continued to run through the mind of Garret Ansgar as he stood firmly at the helm of his ship, gripping it tightly in his strong, calloused hands. A smirk played at his chapped lips, and his black eyes glinted with unveiled malice. His hands tightened their hold on the helm, the face of a woman appearing in his minds eye. She was the cause of his heartache, and with that thought, the face of the woman faded into a younger face, one of a girl with soft brown hair and hazel eyes; she could have been no more than eight.
"I promise, Abigail," Ansgar whispered into the afternoon air. "I'll get revenge for your death. That blasted woman and her captain will suffer. I'll hit 'em where it hurts and give them a slow, painful death." He shook in anger and anticipation. "They'll pay, Abby. I promise, they'll pay." He looked out across the ocean in the far distance. Two more days, he thought. Less than two days to Tortuga.
Scarlett's condition had considerably improved by the following afternoon, and by nightfall she could sit up in bed and eat. Her right arm had been put into a sling, and since her writing hand was currently disabled, she was having difficulty using eating utensils with her left hand. No matter how many times Elizabeth offered to help her, she would give the young woman a glare before stating that she could do it herself and that she didn't need help from anybody. Knowing the stubbornness the older woman possessed, Elizabeth hadn't pressed.
The doctor checked on his patient often, stopping by every two hours. Scarlett's success in healing within a much shorter time span than he had originally thought had surprised him thoroughly. How she had pulled through a virus such as the one she had had within two days had been a miracle. Or so Doctor Lakewood had told them. He still insisted, however, that she was not to be moved until he was certain the virus would not come back and that she was fully healed. He suggested it would take a maximum of another three days.
Elizabeth, who had taken full responsibility of Scarlett, was reading a book Doctor Lakewood had loaned her when she heard the knocker downstairs at the front door sound. She looked up, already knowing who would be trooping through the guestroom door any minute. She hadn't seen Jack since yesterday morning when she had returned to relieve him of his shift. He had seemed very distracted and had simply muttered something about having to hide the Black Pearl from prying eyes before walking out the door. He hadn't even given her so much as a smile. What could have made the ruthless, frivolous, life-adoring captain so unnerved and irritated? From what she could tell Scarlett had slept the entire time he had been there, so the two couldn't have argued. She had made a mental note to ask Jack about it when he returned later that night, but Jack hadn't returned, leaving Elizabeth with no other choice than to stay at the Lakewood residence for the night and watch over their friend who continued to slip in and out of wakefulness.
The sound of voices in the hall, one indefinitely belonging to the rowdy captain, brought Elizabeth to her feet. Moving to open the door, she heard a groan from the bed and looked in Scarlett's direction. The older woman had cracked her eyes open, which were glaring at the door. "If he puts even one foot in this room," Scarlett grumbled, "I'll hurt him."
Elizabeth knew whom her friend was referring to, but the door opened before she could comment. Jack stumbled into the room, casting a quick glare at the doctor standing behind him. "No need to shove," Jack said.
Doctor Lakewood stepped inside and gave Elizabeth a withering look. "Is he really necessary?" he asked, glancing in Jack's direction. "He was sneaking into the house again."
"Jack!"
Jack shrugged. "They take too long in openin' the door."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Sorry, Doctor Lakewood, it won't happen again, I assure you."
The doctor grunted. "I'll take you up on that promise if the time comes." He cast Jack one last look before closing the door.
"Jack, honestly," Elizabeth reprimanded. "You know you don't just walk into someone's house uninvited."
Jack raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Really? We pirates do it all th' time when we're on a gold binge."
"Put a cork in it, Sparrow," Scarlett groaned from her position on the bed, using her left arm to push herself into a sitting position and wincing at the exertion. "I'm not in the mood to listen to you."
"I see Miss Morning Sunshine is awake," Jack said dryly.
"Don't taunt me, Jack. I'm not as helpless as I may seem."
"I'm certain you aren't," Elizabeth cut in, stepping forward to the bed, "but if we're going to get out of this wretched port any faster you need to stay still and not move so much."
"How long have we been here?" Scarlett asked, watching as Elizabeth went about fluffing the pillows behind her back and neck.
"Almost three days," Elizabeth replied. She reached for a glass of water and passed it to Scarlett. "Drink this."
Scarlett brushed the hand holding the glass of water away so she could see Jack more closely; her eyebrows were drawn in a straight line across her forehead. "Where's the Black Pearl?" she asked him.
Jack was leaning back against the wall with his hat cocked jauntily over his eyes so the hat's brim cast a shadow over his face in the dimming sunlight. "She's safe and sound, love. Already moved 'er."
"Moved the Black Pearl where?" Elizabeth questioned, forcing the water glass into Scarlett's left hand.
"To an inlet I found some years back," Jack replied. "Fer a ship t' be in Tortuga longer than two days raises questions we don't wanna answer."
Elizabeth nodded slowly. "I guess that would make sense. Are you certain this inlet is safe enough?"
Scarlett nodded in between small sips of the water. "No one was able to find her in the past," she commented, failing to notice the raised eyebrow look Elizabeth cast Scarlett and Jack.
Elizabeth knew her two pirate friends had a past history and that they had once been co-captains of the Black Pearl, but that was to the extent of her knowledge. She had pieced some puzzle pieces together but they were too small and insignificant to create a clue. Sighing to herself, she shook her head and took the empty glass from Scarlett's hands. "Suppose I'll be leaving then," she said, looking to Jack. "Will should be waiting at the inn we've been staying in."
Comprehension flashed through Scarlett's green eyes. "You aren't leaving me here alone with this bastard are you?" she demanded to know.
Elizabeth stared at Scarlett head-on, the glare she was receiving not seeming to faze her. "I need a break," she replied. "Besides, Jack watched over you before and you're still alive. It's not like he's going to kill you."
Scarlett scoffed. "Ha! As if he hasn't tried in the past," she retorted. She paused. "What do you mean he's watched over me before?"
Elizabeth smiled and went to an armchair by the fireplace to gather her few belongings, leaving the book where she had left it for Doctor Lakewood to collect later. "I'll return in the morning."
"You aren't going anywhere," Scarlett said through gritted teeth. She was about to pull back the covers and stop the young governor's daughter herself by force, but quickly decided against it, remembering that she was wearing indecent clothing; the nightgown she wore was rather see-through, though a woven pattern conveniently covered the chest area.
"Think clearly here, Scarlett." Elizabeth looked over her shoulder to her friend. "I haven't had much rest at all since yesterday morning, and I can't function without sleep."
Jack snorted. "Are you certain you'll be sleeping when you get back to that inn?"
Elizabeth sent him a murderous glare, her cheeks growing a bit warmer. "Keep your nose out of places it's not wanted, Mr. Sparrow." Her voice held a dangerous edge, surprising Scarlett enough to stop short in her argument.
"Back to Mr. Sparrow, are we?" Jack asked.
"Yes, now get out of my way, sir." Elizabeth brushed past him to open the door and yanked it open. The echoing of the door slamming shut had to have wakened the sleeping child in the bedroom down the hall.
Jack didn't move from his position against the wall by the door, and Scarlett continued to glare at the closed door. The room was cold, and a cool ocean breeze was coming in through the open window. Scarlett, who was nearest to it, had goosebumps rising on her barren arms, and she resisted the shiver that wanted to run up her spine. She looked to the window and then to Jack, hinting for him to close it. He just stared at her with raised eyebrows, his eyes as cold as the breeze. She frowned. What had gotten into him? "Fine," she grumbled through her slightly chattering teeth. "I'll do it myself." Pushing aside the covers, she set her bare feet onto the wooden floor and stood, swaying to the right from lightheadedness. She placed a hand against the wall steadying herself and grabbed the robe hanging on the back of a nearby wooden chair. Wrapping it around herself she stepped up to the window and reached out to close the glass windows with her one hand. Her blonde hair blew about her shoulders, the strands whipping about her face and blocking her vision. She frustratingly tucked the strands behind her ears, only to have them come free again.
Knowing it was hopeless, Scarlett turned around and faced Jack, or should I say the two Jack's standing across the room? Her vision was going blurry and she was seeing double of everything. She could feel herself swaying on the spot, but she couldn't help it. She felt too disoriented. She felt herself falling to the right, fully expecting the sharp jolt as she slammed into the wooden floor, but it didn't come. Grasping the strong pair of arms holding her up she managed to stumble to her feet again, her free hand going up to her hot forehead.
"Ye aren't well enough to be walking around," Jack said, helping her back to the bed.
"Maybe if you would stop being a stubborn jackass and help once in a while." Scarlett dropped onto the bed and sat there, glaring at the fireplace on the wall opposite the bed as what she had just said sunk in. She blinked.
Jack gave her a weird look. "Ye've never wanted help before," he said slowly, "so I didn' offer."
"Never mind," Scarlett grumbled, running a hand through her blonde hair. "Forget I said anything."
Jack stood there for a few minutes watching her, though what he was waiting for Scarlett could only guess at. After what seemed an eternity he turned and dropped into one of the chairs by the fire, reaching to pick up the book Elizabeth had left there. He gazed at the front cover, flipped it open and began reading the first few lines. His eyebrows rose and his lips curled up in disgust; he tossed the book into the fireplace. "Rubbish," he stated matter-of-factly. "Pure filth."
"I'm amazed you still remember how to read," Scarlett commented. Her head was throbbing and her breathing was coming at an uneven rate. Black spots appeared before her eyes, but she quickly blinked and took a deep, staggering breath to keep conscious.
Jack gave her a look. "We both know my education was less than outstanding."
"I know." She rubbed her forehead, her fingertips tingling at the heat she could feel there. "All that money your poor mother spent, all gone to waste."
Jack glared at her. "Don't start with me, love. I've heard that line more than enough in th' past."
"I'm sure you have." Scarlett's voice came as a whisper, and her head dropped back against the headboard. Her head felt so heavy. She closed her eyes, hoping that doing so would stop the buzzing in her head, but instead it grew worse. Now, not only was her head buzzing but also there was a steady rhythm of banging, like a fist on wood.
Hang on a minute.
Scarlett cracked her eyes opened again and watched as Jack, his brow furrowed, staggered to his feet and went to the door. He pulled the door open and looked out just as the doctor did the same from his bedroom door further down the hall.
"I'll take care of it, mate," Jack said, nodding at the glaring doctor. He ducked back inside the room. "I'll be only a minute, love," he said to Scarlett before disappearing out the door. He descended the carpeted staircase to the main floor and to the front door. A fist was beating on the door with such violence Jack knew it could only be a pirate. No decent man like the 'good doctor' would be so anxious. Unless, of course, someone was in desperate need of a doctor, but if that was the case then he would just leave the crying noisemaker to his own devices.
He unlatched the door before twisting the doorknob open and peering out. He was bombarded by Gibbs, who came rushing in with a wild look on his aging face. "Jack, I'm so glad ye're here," Gibbs gasped.
Jacks placed his hands on the shorter mans shoulders and looked him in the eye. "What's all the raucous for, mate?"
"Some pirate, a captain, is lookin' fer yeh," Gibbs said. "I don't recognize 'im, but he obviously knows you. 'E asked old Barlow whether he had seen ye and Miss Scarlett 'round."
Jack's face darkened. "And Barlow said?"
"Of course 'e said he had, and this pirate captain fellow grinned. He kept askin' questions that I knew would lead ta' no good. I came as fast as I could. I had to slip out the back so I was not to be noticed."
Jack's grip on Gibbs shoulders tightened. "What was this captain's name, Gibbs?"
Gibbs hesitated. "I didn't get 'is proper name, but some crew member of his called him Cap'n Ansgar."
"And you said he was looking for me and Scarlett?"
Gibbs nodded, the anxiousness he heard in Jack's voice confirming his suspicions. Jack and Scarlett had some hidden past with this newly arrived captain.
"Gibbs, listen to me. Find Will and Elizabeth, and get th' rest o' the crew to the Black Pearl. Stay hidden, don't let anyone see you or where you are going."
Again, Gibbs nodded. "Sure thing, Captain. Will you be getting Miss Scarlett?"
Jack nodded, looking up the staircase to the second floor. "Aye, now get! We'll meet ya at the Pearl."
The two men parted, Gibbs running out the front door and into the shadows, and Jack sprinting up the staircase two steps at a time.
Scarlett frowned in confusion as Jack burst into the room, a wild look in his dark eyes. "What is it?" she whispered, swaying from her position on the bed. She reached out her left hand to steady herself against the nightstand.
"Ansgar," Jack replied simply. "He's back."
A/N: Well. There's the next chapter, and it's longer than the others, too! So sorry about the wait, guys! School started and I had so much going on that this story got put upon a shelf collecting dust until I had the time. This Labour Day weekend gave me that chance. Please leave a review when you finish! I've desperately missed them, and hearing from you guys would be great. Reviews are what I thrive on.