Chapter Fifteen: Hangover
When Reanna woke the next morning, she felt unbelievably ill. The moment she tried to sit up it felt as though a spike was driven through her head. Gods above, she asked herself, what the bloody hell did I do last night?
The memory returned in a flood. She had been chased by six hulking giants...and then she had...she had...killed one of them. She had killed a man heartlessly, without a thought. What about the other five men, though? Ah, yes...them she had only knocked senseless. She seemed to remember that after the fight, she had been met by...by whom? She could remember what he had looked like, but what was his name? Damn, damn, and damn again! she cursed to herself.
He had bought her rum, and in order to rid herself of the oddly hollow feeling she had from killing that man, she had drained the mug dry in spite of the horrid taste of the cheap liquor. The second mug had gone down easier, and the third one easier still. She had had several more mugs full of the stuff and had bee floating in a gloriously fuzzy world in which she understood little, but then she couldn't remember any more.
How had she gotten back to her ship, anyway? For this was her cabin, she knew it by the smell even though she held her eyes tightly closed in fear of another lance of pain through her head should she open them again. She must have passed out, she decided. But how had she gotten here...? Perhaps the man she had been drinking with had brought her back...she would have to thank him.
But what was the man's thrice-damned name?! How in bloody hell could she thank him when she couldn't even remember his name? Frustrated tears leaked from the corners of her eyes and slowly trickled down into her ears. She hated that feeling, and braved the danger of sitting up if only to get rid of the tickling wetness.
The pain was still intense, but it had lessened somewhat. Bloody fool, she called herself. Last night had been her first real experience with drinking, and what had she done? Downed approximately a gallon. She had a horrid taste in her mouth, and as she ran her tongue over her teeth they felt decidedly fuzzy.
She cracked open her eyes and made her way over to a cabinet to find one of the mint sticks she had stocked up on to avoid morning breath. Someone had mercifully placed dark curtains over her windows, for which she wished whomever had done so many thousands of thanks. When she staggered over to the cabinet--the ship rocking gently beneath her feet caused her endless amounts of trouble--she noticed that her little clock said that it was ten. She knew right away that it was ten in the morning, she had a good sense for things like that.
Fumbling, she got the wretched drawer open and pulled out one of the sticks, rubbing it over her teeth and discarding it. She grabbed another one and popped it into her mouth to chew on as she made her shaky way back to bed.
She cringed when her door opened, letting rays of dreadful sunlight enter her dark haven. I must have made some noise, she thought miserably. When she finally dared to crack her eyes open again, she saw Ana Maria standing beside her bed.
"Captain, I see you're awake," she said, smiling widely.
Reanna scowled up at her.
Anamaria's grin stretched wider. "So you went out to enjoy the wonders of Tortuga, and then drank too much, eh?" the woman asked softly, much to Reanna's relief.
"No," Reanna squawked in reply, and stopped talking abruptly at the sound of her voice.
"Here," Ana Maria said, holding a flask to her lips.
"It's not rum, is it?"
"No, fresh water. Drink it."
Reanna took a sip, and discovered that she was ravenously thirsty. She drained the sizable flask. "No, I didn't go out to enjoy Tortuga, Ana Maria. I was searching for the bastard that killed my father."
Ana Maria raised a brow in disbelief. "Then why is it that when we found you on the dock you were passed out, reeking of rum?"
Reanna would have growled, but she could not quite find the energy now that her thirst was slaked. Instead, she simply explained. "After I brought Mr. Gibbs back, I went out to get to know the streets of the town better. Well, I thought I saw the bloody bastard that killed Da, and so I followed him, but he disappeared into an alley. I had followed him into the alley--which, to my utter disgust, was completely empty save for myself--and then these six gigantic men blocked my way out."
As Reanna talked, she found that the memory came back clearer and was able to give Ana Maria more details of her surroundings. As she progressed, she saw Ana Maria nodding thoughtfully. At the part where Reanna had killed one of the brutes, the older woman gave her a look of sympathy.
"And then this man appeared out of nowhere, offering to buy me a drink," Reanna finished.
She must have had a slightly lovestruck expression, because Ana Maria slyly asked, "And what did this man look like?"
"Well, he was about a head taller than me, he had long, dark brown hair--it was braided and fell nearly halfway down his back. His eyes were amazing, they were just a couple shades darker brown than my father's. He was lean, well-toned, he's got to be the most gorgeous man I've ever met. He said he wanted to buy me a drink for my bravery."
When she looked back at Ana Maria, the woman was staring intently at her.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"And, perchance, did he tell you his name?" she asked dully.
"Yes, but I can't remember! It's so damned frustrating! But he was very charming."
"Devon," Ana Maria said, spitting the name as though it had a foul taste to it.
"Yes, that's it! That's his name!" Reanna exclaimed. "But...why did you say it like that?"
"He's a bloody bounty hunter, Captain," Ana Maria replied dismally. "Men--and occasionally women--pay him to catch people that they fancy have done them wrong. He's very good at his job, and when he's not working he's smiling ever-so-handsomely at any lady that comes across his path, though he never offered them drinks in my memory. He's only been a bounty hunter for five years, but when he was a little boy he knew everything about everyone in Tortuga and people would pay well for that knowledge--or to keep that knowledge quiet. Usually the highest bidder won."
A bounty hunter? No, that can't be! He was so kind, and he seemed to like me...
"Yes, Captain, I'm telling you the truth. And if he bought enough rum to knock you out cold only to leave you on the dock by our ship, then he must have some hidden agenda. I don't know why he brought you back, but you can be sure that he'd be a good one to avoid. He captains the Lady Pandora."
"The Lady Pandora? She's the only ship in these waters that can catch the Black Pearl if she sets out in enough time!" Reanna exclaimed. "Damn, we have to leave here now, perhaps we could shelter at the Isla de Muerta for a while."
After Ana Maria had left her to get dressed and to tell the crew to make ready for imminent departure, Reanna whispered, "I'm sorry, Da, it looks like your last wish will have to remain unfulfilled."
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It's getting harder and harder to separate myself from Reanna's character so I can leave you guys these brilliant author's notes! Anyway, that's two chapters in one day, maybe I should lay off a little and give you guys some time to catch up, eh? Or maybe not, who knows! I love you all so very much! Thank you!