Chapter IV
Evelyn groaned and opened her eyes. She groaned further upon noticing her splitting headache resulting in Smee's attack. As she recalled the events of the previous day, Evelyn felt Hook was lying to her. Surely her mother was not a Pirate. Evelyn reached up to rub her head. She sighed for her hands were tied, but she was tied in a different position this time. Tied against her bed pole, and tied tightly to that extent. She looked up and around, thinking she could perhaps flip her way out, but her legs were bound and her feet were tied tighter than before. She tried to wriggle her ankles free, but it pained her to do so. Evelyn sighed and hung her head. The door opened and in toddled Smee, Hook striding in soon after.
"I bet you find this rather amusing". She snarled, glaring from Smee to Hook, letting her gaze linger longer upon the tall man before her. "I hate to disappoint you. I am terrible at pole dancing".
"I would have forced you to do so if I desired such an action from you". Hook nodded to Smee, who produced a dagger and a rolled up piece of yellowed parchment. "You are the heir of Athena Townsend and you will join my crew, or you will suffer the fate of your mother".
"If you killed my mother, why are you so desperate for me to be a part of your god forsaken crew?" Evelyn asked, pained.
"The answer is rather complicated. Smee, cut her down".
Smee stepped forward and used the dagger to free Evelyn's bonds. She fell forward a little, rubbing her pained wrists.
"If you do not answer me, then you will kill me. For I will not join your crew". Evelyn rose to full height as she finished her sentence which made Hook pale a little.
"Leave us, Smee".
"Yes, Cap'n". Smee left the articles upon the bed and left without another word. When the door shut with a click, Hook sat, gesturing for Evelyn to sit as well. She refused to do so.
"Must you make this difficult?" He asked her.
Sighing, she gave in and sat beside him.
"Firstly, I will explain the significance of the barrier to you. A long time ago I met a witch, who gave me this powerful curse that will protect anything I desire upon my death – or my saying so. In repayment I had to give her the one thing in which I desired". Hook shook his head, unable to think that he was talking so emotionally. "Your mother was once the Captain of this very ship. And I desired to hold that position, perhaps a year or so after she rescued me from certain death. During the time I was plotting for her demise, she gave birth to you". The man sighed, noticing the look Evelyn gave him. "I am not your father". He continued when Evelyn looked a little more releaved. "I desired to be her. To hold her rank, to have the respect the men gave her". He paused, to look at Evelyn, whose eyes were downcast and staring at the floor. "In return for the protection curse, I had to kill your mother and give the old witch her soul".
A tear fell from Evelyn's eye and it hit the dusty floor. She held her anger back.
"Time was growing short. To kill Athena was a task all others before me had failed. She was stronger than I, more skilled. But I had no choice. I seduced her, forcing her to bed with me after she birthed you. I had no knowing of your existance and your mother's return to her sister's, giving you into her care". Hook took the time to think of his next words. "But, I knew I would have to kill her in her sleep. As she slept, I dropped the poison the old witch gave me which would trap her soul in the same flask once the poison was free, upon her tongue. She died, instantly, for a few seconds after the flask was filled with a warming glow that I later returned to the old witch. She destroyed your mother's soul, sending it to hell for eternity".
"No!" Evelyn screamed, starting to bash at Hook's shoulders. "You bastard… how could you…"
Hook, overcome with anger, slapped Evelyn hard and she fell heavily onto the bed, sobbing from his blow. "Listen to me!" He snarled. Evelyn's sobs grew softer as she curled into a ball. "The curse was to protect the Jolly Roger from anyone whom wished to Captain the ship if I were to die. After Pan brought my ship back to Neverland, I applied the curse upon the shore. My crew was reinstated, and the effect was to show the last battle fought on my ship, bringing great sorrow and pain to those who come near, unless they had a purpose. Pan never had a purpose except to steal and play make-believe. But, I know you have a purpose. And that purpose is to follow in your mother's footsteps".
Evelyn at that moment rose from her sobbing position to glance at Hook. Her eyes were stained red, tears still squeezing out. "You're guilty".
"Of course not, how could you suggest something like that". Hook spluttered. "I just… assume… that is what your mother wanted of you".
"To join your crew, to be treated like a slave, to be spat upon and eventually killed if I do not please you? Do your really think that a woman you admired so much would want that of her daughter?" Evelyn's chest heaved with unexpressed emotion. "I do not believe you for one second to say that you are not guilty for what you did to my mother".
Hook simply glared at her. His face was emotionless, his eyes showed nothing but anger. As if the expression never changed.
"You have twelve hours to decide. If you have not come to a decision by the time I see you next, I will kill you". He rose.
"Wait…" Evelyn said, grabbing onto his wrist. He turned his head, and glanced down at her as if she were an animal. "I'll join your crew".
"Good". Hook glanced at the items Smee left behind. "I will return later this evening to finalise the contract. In the meantime, I suggest you read it". He shrugged off her hand in a smooth movement, reached over for the contract, and flung it into Evelyn's lap. They shared a heated stare, Evelyn's expression of confused admiration, Hook's void. He left her alone, a dark emotion flooding Evelyn's thoughts as she unravelled the contract.
1: Every man has a vote in affairs of the moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and use of them at pleasure, unless a scarcity make it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.
2: Every man shall obey civil command; the captain shall have one full share and a half in all prizes. the quartermaster, carpenter, boatswain, and gunner shall have one share and quarter.
3: If any man shall offer to run away, or keep any secret from the company, he shall be marroon'd with one bottle of powder, one bottle of water, one small arm, and shot.
4: If any man shall steal any thing in the company, or game, to the value of a piece of eight, he shall be marroon'd or shot.
5: If at any time we should meet with another marrooner (that is, pirate) that man shall sign his articles without consent of our company, shall suffer such punishment as the captain and company shall think fit.
6: That man that shall strike another, whilst these articles are in force, shall receive Moses's Law (that is 40 Stripes lacking one) on the bare back.
7: That man that shall snap his arms, or smoke tobacco in the hold, without cap to his pipe, or carry a candle lighted without lantern, shall suffer the same punishment as in the former article.
8: That man that shall not keep his arms clean, fit for an engagement, or neglect his business, shall be cut off from his share, and suffer such other punishment as the captain and company shall think fit.
9: If any man shall lose a joint in time of engagement, he shall have 400 pieces of eight: if a limb, 800.
10: If at any time you meet with a prudent woman, that man that offers to meddle with her, without her consent, shall suffer Death.
11. The penalty for bringing a woman aboard in disguise is death.
12. Gambling with cards and money is forbidden.
13. No one may leave the crew until each man has made 1,100 pounds.
(For those of you that didn't know, the Pirate's Code is from the movie The Pirates of the Caribbean)
She closed her eyes, letting the last of her tears fall. Opening her eyes once more, she was unsure if this was the right thing to do. Would her mother really wanted this to happen to her daughter? Of course Hook was guilty of what he did. The man was so bitter because her mother was dead. Evelyn sighed and opened her eyes, to see Smee before her, waving a dagger under her nose dangerously.
"What do you want, Satan's little helper?" Snarled Evelyn.
"I hope you've read it all, anyone who does not abide by the code shall be punished". Smee cackled, putting the dagger aside and dashing to a tray that he recently bought down. "Muscat?"
"Please… I need one". Evelyn put the contract aside, Smee handing her a goblet. Evelyn put it to her lips and took a sip, smiling at the sensation it gave her. "It is late afternoon… no reason why one cannot get drunk now".
"Now you're talking!" Smee lifted his own goblet. "To piracy".
Evelyn's eyes glazed over and smiled a small smile, as she raised her own goblet. "To piracy". And the two sipped together.
Night fell, but Evelyn was not in her cabin. She, Smee and several other Pirates were on the main deck. All were drunk to the core, Evelyn dancing around and singing 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend' at the top of her lungs, performing somewhat explicit dance moves around poles and the pirates. She didn't have that bad a voice when drunk even, she could have easily been confused as a bar singer. She spun on her toes and fell into the arms of one Pirate as he dipped her, and she sung out loud "Cause that's when those louses, go back to their spouses, Diamonds…" He flung her into the arms of another Pirate. "…are a…" and another. "…Girl's… best…" And a final one which dipped her, and she whispered "…friend…" Evelyn gasped as she looked up into his eyes. The Pirate was Hook. He dropped her and marched off, the other Pirates stepping away to make room.
"Who encouraged her to drink?" He demanded, glaring at everyone in turn. Evelyn was giggling on her back now. "Who!" Hook declared, raising his hook menacingly.
Timidly, Smee stepped forward, drunk himself. "Twas me, Cap'n".
Hook turned at the voice, keeping a stern expression but soon smirked. "Oh Smee, trust you to do such a thing".
"Captain Hook…" Evelyn called, now fully risen and grinning from ear to ear. "Such a fine, upstanding man like yourself shouldn't be so aggravated by a wee little drink".
Hook now turned back to face Evelyn. She truly was drunk. Her voice slurred with a bad attempt at seductiveness and humour. All eyes were upon him now, as if they were wanting him to shoot her then and there. "Jukes, take her to her cabin". Hook uttered, almost as if he were to choke.
Bill Jukes stepped forward and took Evelyn by the arm. "Come on, girlie. You heard the Cap'n". He was a little more sober than the others.
"Oh but you see, I don't want to go back to my cabin. I just love the fresh air!" Evelyn threw her arms in the air as Jukes let go, and she marched forward to Hook. "Don't you? It makes one so… dashing".
"I highly doubt dashing is the word for it. Leave the deck before I throw you off it". Hook snarled at her, not moving an inch.
"No". Evelyn smirked. "I want to dance…"
Frustrated, Hook pushed Evelyn off him hard as she tried to drape her arms around his neck. She landed heavily on the deck, blacking out on the second bounce. "Jukes, now you will take her back to her cabin".
"Yes, Cap'n". Jukes dragged Evelyn by her hair.
"And Smee, I want a word with you in mine".
Hook left the deck in fury, not making any eye contact with any of his crewmen as he marched past. Smee shuffled behind him like a shadow.
"Not again". Moaned Evelyn as she awoke, rubbing her head. "Argh!" She shouted, covering her eyes from the bright sunlight that poured through her window. "Hangover…" She shut the pillow over her head. This time, she was not tied up on the pole of her bedpost. But on her bed, unbound.
"Nasty things, aren't they?" Came an all too familiar voice, Evelyn bolting upright, clutching the pillow against her chest.
"What happened last night…?" She asked, rubbing her forehead to try and remove the fuzziness from her eyesight.
Hook rose from his seat some distance away from Evelyn's bed. He calmly handed her a goblet. "Drink this. It helps".
Evelyn took the goblet and sniffed it. "Urgh, what is it?"
"A mixture of ingredients too unpleasant to mention. But it will not kill you".
Evelyn blocked her nose with her fingers and swallowed the drink whole. She spluttered, nearly vomiting on the floor. Somehow she kept it down. "That's disgusting, you could kill someone without the need for poison with that drink".
Hook looked offended. "A pirate's best friend, my dear". He smirked at her.
"But, it does work". Evelyn smiled, then frowned. "Why are you here?"
"The contract requires to be signed. Now. Usually if someone reads the code and does not sign it, they die after twenty four hours".
"Rough business, hey". Evelyn shrugged. "All right. Let me sign the damn thing. I surely do not want you carving my name on my tombstone".
"Who informed you I was going to allow a tombstone?" Hook glanced at her, Evelyn returning it with a scowl.
"Shut up and give me a pen".
"A what?"
"A pen. You write with it".
You see, Hook had only ever used quills in his lifetime. He had no idea what a pen was. But when Evelyn informed him that you wrote with it, he shook his head. "We sign the contract in blood".
"You lot really do like to adore the sight of blood, don't you?"
Hook did not reply. He unravelled the contract, and drew up the knife that came with it. "I am going to make you my Quartermaster, and my second". He added. "If I am to die in battle, you shall take up my sword and finish it on behalf of me".
Evelyn swallowed. "Why?" She asked.
"For they were the positions your mother gave me".
Evelyn outstretched her hand and looked away, closing her eyes. Cool fingers touched hers and there was a small spark waiting to be intensified deep within her heart upon that moment of interaction. She swallowed as a cut was made on her index finger, and she looked around, to sign her name. The dagger was not used at all. But she noticed something odd after her signature. Her name was there, as was her rank. But… The Black Rose?
"Twas my mother's name". Hook answered for her. But there were no further conversation about it. She briefly wondered what her mother's nickname was. She lifted her finger quickly off the parchment and sucked the wound, as Hook rolled up the parchment with a satisfied smile.
"Welcome aboard. Perhaps you could aid me in finding Peter Pan's hideout?" He touched Evelyn's warm cheek with the back of his hand and left her alone, in complete and utter amazement. The Black Rose. A name which James Hook's mother was known by. But the dagger was left behind, and Evelyn took the opportunity to remove the unseen stitches from her temple at last.
Spring time had come and Peter's promise was that Wendy would return to Neverland in order to aid with Spring cleaning. But, when Peter let it slip that Evelyn was in Neverland, Wendy was eager to know where her favourite cousin was.
"I don't know". Replied Peter, disheartened. He lowered his head and frowned. "She went for a bath about a month ago and since hadn't returned".
Wendy, who had just turned Eighteen last month, eyed Peter in surprise. "Do you think Hook has her?"
Peter shrugged. "I don't know. There are rumours of a new Pirate on board, called the Black Rose".
"The Black Rose? What kind of name is that? It sounds like a ship to me". Wendy gave Peter a comforting look. "I'm sure she's all right".
"Evelyn wouldn't become a Pirate, would she? After rescuing her from down there…"
"No, Peter. Evelyn isn't that type. She wouldn't go behind your back like that". Wendy noticed Peter was looking slightly upset. She still felt for Peter deeply, but she had a love for another which was why Peter returned to Neverland.
Peter nodded firmly. "You're right, perhaps she returned home and didn't let me know…" He shrugged, again. "Wendy, do me a favour".
"What's that, Peter?" Wendy asked softly.
"If Evelyn has joined Hook's ranks, do not kill her. We will kidnap her, and try to turn her back to our side". Peter began to hover off the ground. "I'm going to see what I can find out from the Mermaids". And with that, Peter left.
A new presence was in Neverland. Unknown to he as to how he got there, he still continued to walk as if he were still in Tortuga. Drunk and smelling of fresh ale, this man was not one to be meddled with. He stumbled and rose to his full height, sniffing the fresh air and grinning. Now he knew where he was. His body turned to face the ocean to his right, and eyed the Jolly Roger to the north-west. He made haste to get there quickly.
Night had fallen and Evelyn's 'coronation' as Quartermaster took place within the Galley. Very quickly she realised that she had been the first woman in History to receive such a rank. There were, however a few famous female Captains that even she knew about.
She sat at Hook's right hand, a well recognisable position as no one dared to sit at his right hand unless invited. And even that was a rare occasion. She laughed openly at a joke Bill Jukes made, her smile alone seeming to bring warmth to those present.
"No vulgarity in the presence of women, Bill. Even you should know that". Said Hook, raising a goblet to his lips.
"Oh Captain, I don't mind. Really". Evelyn said with a slur. Perhaps she had drunk one rum too many. "The things they said in Germany…" She tilted her head to the side. "That's odd. I don't remember why I was in Germany".
All fell silent upon the mention of those words. The men at the table stared at Evelyn, as her facial expression turned blank.
"We all suffer from slight memory loss, Rose. Nothing to worry about". Hook confirmed, and it brought a little ease to everyone's minds as the drinking continued.
"Captain!" Shouted a voice from the entrance to the Galley. "Captain, some fool just stumbled aboard our ship!"
Hook's eyes shot up to the owner of that voice who happened to be a Pirate that joined before Evelyn. "Well? Have you killed him?"
The Pirate shook his head, and was soon greeted by a bullet through his chest. Hook lowered his still smoking pistol and rose.
"Rose, you will come with me. Smee, dispose of the mess".
Evelyn quickly jumped from her seat, stumbling a little, and kept a firm grip on her pistol as she slowly ventured up to the deck a few inches behind Hook. Then, she saw him. A dark shadow leaning against the main mast, sipping on a stolen bottle of rum.
"You…!" Declared Hook. "Barbossa informed me you were Marooned!"
"Yes. Was. But as you can see, I am perfectly fine. And I still have that one shot". As the figure ventured or rather stumbled forward, he turned out to be slightly shorter than Hook and wore rather old and out-dated Pirate's attire. He had black dreadlocks with beads placed throughout, and had a small beard and moustache like Hook. "Mind if I stay a while, until I figure out where the hell I am?"
Hook's gaze fell upon Evelyn who was admiring this man's form, then it returned to the man before him.
"After so many attempts of me trying to end your life, Jack, do you really think I'd have you aboard my ship?" Hook snarled. "Oh all right. You can have his cabin". A finger pointed to the body Smee was dumping overboard.
"Charmed…" Jack took another swig from the bottle, then noticed Evelyn. "So this is the Black Rose then?"
"Got it in one". Declared Evelyn from over Hook's shoulder.
"And to think I thought she was as ugly as your backside, brother". Jack smirked.
Hook's nostrils flared. "Get out of my sight. And don't touch anything that isn't yours. With the exception of the cabin. Smee! Show Mr Sparrow his cabin!"
"Jack… Sparrow?" Asked Evelyn with her eyebrow raised.
"My constantly drunk half-brother". Answered Hook, and without another word disappeared into the Galley.
"Sorry to trouble you, miss… Rose is it? Hi, Jack Sparrow. Captain". He shot out his grimy hand and Evelyn quickly took it, then proceeded to wipe her hand on Smee's shirt.
"Hook tried to kill you?" Evelyn asked. "Why?"
Jack shrugged his shoulders, then whispered into her ear "Do you have any more rum?"
Evelyn rolled her eyes then led the drunken pirate into the Galley below.
Peter Pan hovered around the outskirts of the Jolly Roger, hoping to find anything that seemed unusual. He heard the splash of yet another one of Hook's downfalls entering the water, and the various sea-beasts devouring its meal. Not too unusual. Peter sighed and rolled onto his stomach in the air, resting his chin on his palm. Tinker Bell finally decided to make her appearance and made slight happy jingle noises in his ear.
"So Evelyn didn't return to London?" Repeated Peter in a placid tone. "Are you sure you checked everywhere where Wendy told you?"
The tiny Fairy nodded.
"Even the hospitals?"
Once again, Tink nodded.
"It only leaves one option. Evelyn is aboard Hook's ship. And I wouldn't be surprised if he had killed her by now…" Peter quickly returned to his hide-out to tell Wendy his brief theory.
A while later...
Rose had retired early one evening, much to the Captain's distaste. But she didn't care, she needed the rest. Slowly she was beginning to forget, and slowly her name was more commonly known as Rose, or Black Rose. Evelyn was just a thorn in everyone's side, and had since been removed and thrown overboard. She didn't mind, of course. Pan was history, and she already had a plan well sought out in order to succeed in his capture. She would tell the Captain, and she would be rewarded. Perhaps in a good way. Rose unbuckled her weapons belt that contained her sheathed sword and holstered pistol, which she proceeded to gently lay it on the seat nearest to her bed. It had been a month since she entered Neverland, perhaps more, who knows. And she really couldn't care less what happened to her own country, let alone a pathetic little boy who caused her Captain so much pain. Rose unravelled her long locks, black curls tumbling over her slender shoulders that had firmed over the last few weeks from daily exercise routines involving sword techniques. A shirt hung off her shoulders, exposing her bare, now tanned skin. But the minute she felt a hand brush over it, Rose quickly exposed her dagger and spun around, holding it dangerously close to the intruder's throat.
Which happened to belong to Captain Hook.
"I… err… sorry…" Rose said shortly, as she placed her dagger back on the dressing table.
"You obviously didn't read rule number ten properly. If I dare say proceeded to touch you further without your permission, you had the right to kill me then and there". He tilted his head to the side, but then noticed the startled look upon his Second's face.
"I couldn't kill you. Never. Even if I did, I would have to end my own life as a result". Rose replied.
"But judging your recent performance, I'd say you were quite capable of performing such a task. Is there a reason why you retired early?" Asked Hook, noting that Rose's shoulder had since healed nicely and all that remained were the stiches that had to be removed otherwise would cause infection.
Rose shrugged her shoulders, as she picked up a nearby brush and proceeded to brush her hair. "Not really the party type". She felt an odd tingling sensation filling her shoulder, and then a yank of pain. "Why'd you do that for?" She growled, rubbing the source of pain and noticed a stich was missing.
"Just hold still. It will be over in a minute". Hook tenderly touched Rose's shoulder, his fingers gently pressing against the tiny spots of blood that were forming upon the removal of the stiches. The minute he touched the tiny wounds, the blood vanished.
Rose grit her teeth as each stitch was removed, all six of them, tears streaming out of her tightly clenched eyes. That pain was nothing compared to what she had been through. But when your stitches were being yanked out, it bloody well hurt.
"There. Now you'll have a scar you can boast about". Hook said with a smirk.
"I already have quite a few, thanks". Rose sniffed, finished brushing her hair and sat on her bed. "Why are you here? Really?"
He sat beside her, his own dark curls brushing against her shoulder, sending unwanted shivers of excitement down her spine. "I was concerned. About you". Then, in a low voice, almost as if he was trying to be seductive, he spoke again. "And I wish to know the whereabouts of Peter Pan".
"I was just about to get to that". Replied Rose, and as their eyes met, she grinned, darkly. "Pan still believes that I am alive. I know he does. I have seen him floating around here. I can make him trust me, and then, when the time is right, you can strike".
Hook's smirk widened to that of a venomous smile. "There is more. I can feel it".
"Yes. There is. I have heard that Wendy Darling has returned to do the usual 'Spring Cleaning'. I can lure Wendy into a trap, making Peter believe that she summoned you to his capture, and I had nothing to do with it". Rose began to chuckle at her own idea. "He will get the shock of his life when he sees me standing by your side, and Wendy's throat cut by my blade".
Hook simply stared at Rose. She had changed in the last month. More so than he imagined. And hoped. It was more like she was his twin, only in the form of a woman. His eyes narrowed in a midst of amazement and wonder, at how briefly long it took Rose to think of that magnificent plan. Of course, she will have the pleasure of killing Wendy. But it would be he would have the undying lust to rid the world of Pan. Hook nodded to himself in approval, then finally spoke, his words causing Rose's mind to ease with satisfaction.
"Take this…" Said Hook, as he removed something from around his neck. It was a golden medallion, bearing the infamous skull and crossbones of the Pirates. When Rose took it, it was warm from being so close to Hook's flesh, she gripped it tenderly in her hand as if not wanting to loose his heat. "Hold it in your hand like you are doing now, and will for me to come. And I will feel you in my mind".
Rose glanced at the medallion briefly in her hand, then her gaze drifted back up to the man before her. "What is it?"
"All Captains are presented with one upon promotion. The Captain himself is pierced slightly in the heart by the Quartermaster of his new ship, and his blood is poured upon this medallion. The blood seeps into the eyes of the skull, which proceed to glow for a few seconds. If anyone else is given the Captain's medallion, he or in this case she will be connected to the Captain's mind. In other words, I am linked to your soul".
Rose gulped. He could now read her mind, share her feelings, and she couldn't be able to do anything of the sort to him. "I suppose I should stop thinking dirty thoughts regarding you… I mean… my god I can't believe I said that". She hung her head, and felt Hook's hand caress her own, causing the medallion to enter his palm. He then draped it around her neck.
"There is one disadvantage. If you will for me to leave you, I will. But each time you do, it will be very difficult for me to return. And our connection will grow smaller. And if our connection fails, my life ends unless the medallion is brought back to me".
Rose bit her lower lip, eyes falling upon the dangling medallion that had been placed around her neck. "Will Pan recognise this?" She asked him, reminding herself strongly not to break their connection at any cost.
"No". Hook replied, sternly. "Even if the boy did see it, he would not understand what it meant. You could easily tell him it was something you found on the shoreline, and decided to take it".
"The skull and crossbones let off a large hint you do realise that, don't you?" Rose retorted as her eyes once again met Hook's.
"The boy is so stupid he wouldn't see a hint like that if it smacked him in the face and performed the Can-Can".
Rose chuckled at the very thought. There was a brief interlude of lusting silence that was soon broken by an unwanted violent knock at the door.
"Cap'n, are you in there, Cap'n!" Came the nasally voice that belonged to Smee.
Rose looked away and rose from the bed, as she proceeded to gather her nightdress from the wardrobe.
There was a soft click of the door that indicated Hook had left, and her heart sank. She would leave for Pan's hideout in the morning.