What happened?" Katherine inquired while spitting in Jack's face as she
spoke, a putrid stench wafting from her throat.
"Aye, darling," sighed he, wiping off his cheek with a smirk, "You remember that night, don't yeh?" Jack smirked and studied her with an evocative glare. His eyes darted to the tiny alleyway behind where the slobbering girl stood. The men that once lingered in the disgusting little lane now were vanished, only their smell hung in the air. With a nudge he pushed her back into the shadows.
"Mr. Smith!" she slurred, pointing her finger towards him while smiling through her giggles, "You are a pirate, a dangerous man" she swallowed, trying to recollect her thoughts, "I summoned Christian into my quarters to discuss the matters of piracy and the likes of you Knowing Jack Sparrow!"
"Love," Jack smiled, taking a hold of her hand, still extended towards his chest, "I told you I'd aid in the capture of ol' Sparrow, remember, darling?"
"Oh," she breathed quietly, "Well Ye Yes But-"
From out of the noisy town's drunken party came a loud crash from inside the pub and a few screams erupted into the town, music and revelry ceasing immediately. A greasy man came flying out the doorway and into the muddy street, blood covering his face as he hobbled off, away from the pub as fast as his intoxicated body could flee. The tavern became eerily quiet and Jack became somewhat curious at the happenings within. Only trouble could come from the quieting of a pub so quickly, so he pushed Katherine back a bit, and stepped onto a barrel, trying to see what was going on inside the tavern. There he saw them, six or seven agents of the Royal Navy, dressed in shabby red uniforms, looking as if they'd been across the seven seas and back. Out of the disheveled men stepped a well-tamed Commodore, one who'd been expected to turn up again. He spoke roughly to the crowd, demanding Jack, no doubt.
Having a look around the night, Jack spotted the girl leaning over a barrel of her own, looking as if to be sick. He knew that if he didn't find a way off the island, he'd be taken back to Port Royal and hanged at Gallows Point. Quickly, he grabbed her by the arm, dragging her away from the tavern and towards the western docks. The moon shone vibrantly through a few scattered grey clouds, lighting the way down the muddy roads.
"Where are you going?" she demanded, ripping her arm away from him, slipping away and tumbling backwards into the brown mud.
"HUSH!" he pleaded, helping her to her feet, while covering her mouth, "Come on," he whispered, letting his hand slip away and take a hold of her hand once more, leading her away from the dirt road and onto a cobblestone path near the bay.
"Where are we going?" she asked in a whisper.
"We're not staying here," he explained briefly as he looked around the docking area.
"Then where is it we are going?" she continued to inquire, giggling and swaying to and fro as Jack led her down to the wooden docks.
"A small bay off the Isla Mar," he continued to say, still searching for a ship.
"And what is in this bay?" she asked through a smirk, being ever so persistent.
"My ship!" he growled, growing weary of her questions.
"You're Pirate Ship?" she giggled, throwing her arms into the air, howling screams of laughter into the night.
"SHHH," he whispered, dragging her to a small merchant schooner moored at the very end of the docks. Seeing a man sleeping next to the gangplank, he couldn't help but smirk. Jack Sparrow was back.
As the small two-masted vessel made way out of the docks of St. James Bay, Jack called back to the once-sleeping man who hopped around, tied to his chair and a bit of cloth stuffed into his mouth. The man tumbled off the docks and came to a thunderous splash in the water. He surfaced and bobbed around, struggling to stop himself from floating out to sea.
"Tell the Commodore, if ye can! That Jack Sparrow cannot be caught!" he laughed and turned back to the helm of the schooner. Asleep at his feet was Katherine, literally hugging his heels and snoring as if she hadn't slept in years. Her brown hair fanned about on the deck, a bit of her stocking- covered leg peaked through the scarlet-colored dress she wore.
Taking a bit of looped rope, he tied it to a notch in the wheel and eyed the waters ahead of him. Carefully he bent down to the girl, taking her by the arms and pulling her to her feet. With a swift swoop of his arm, he had her in a soft embrace, her hands wrapped around his neck and feet dangled by his side. As he carried her down into the small Captain's Cabin, she groaned lightly, shifting slightly in his arms. Jack placed her down gingerly in the bed, letting its softness envelope her as she drifted back into a deep slumber. He couldn't help but just having a quick look at her, admiring and staring at her innocent beauty. With heavy sigh, he pulled a pure white sheet over her body, and brushed a wild strand of hair from her face. His fingers slowly slipped off her cheek, feeling its softness, feeling its warmth and perfect shape. Letting her sleep, Jack made his way back to the ship's deck, pulling out his compass and steering his way to the Pearl's berthing point.
Morning came quickly, the orange sun peaking through the morning mists. A weary Jack remained at the ship's helm, steering his way west. The air was damp and cool, droplets of dew sprinkled on his face and arms. He loved the feeling of being at the head of a ship, small and lonely perhaps, but he'd not trade the helm or hat of a captain for anything else in the world. The sun's rays began to beat upon his back, he could feel the coolness of night slipping away. Gazing down at his compass, he estimated three or four more days time and they would arrive at his Island; The Isla Mar.
Out of the sea's calm silence, he heard the shifting of cloth and flesh from below decks. He knew that she'd be slightly surprised that her last memory was not one of a ship; therefore shock and bewilderment would consumer her temporarily. Secondly he knew that she'd be well into a morning sickness, for the amount of alcohol she consumed was terribly nauseating in itself.
Out of the stairway popped a messy head of curls, followed by a disheveled- looking girl, her emerald eyes burning through Jack with the utmost disgust. She approached Jack slowly, swaying to and fro on deck, a small, thin smirk creeped over the Pirate's face.
"Haven't found yer sea legs yet, love?" he snickered as she hobbled over to him, leanied against the railings and gazed down at the water.
"Oh Lord," she sighed, rubbing her head and turning back to Jack, "We're not on the Neptune." her voice squeaked in despair.
Jack chuckled and sighed, still not fully meeting her eyes, "I figured you wouldn't remember."
"Remember... What?" she groaned.
"Last night, love. You were pissed out of yer bleedin' mind." he explained further, still focusing on the sea in front of him.
"And why are we here? Wherever it is we are?" she sighed, sliding down the railings to sit on the clean wooden deck.
"Eastern Sea, darling. Nearly two-hundred leagues from the coast of Hispaniola, as far as I can see." his voice trailed off, realizing that the girl was no longer listening.
"And you just dragged me aboard?" she pipped up, glancing up at him, the sun beginning to grow bright in the sky, her eyes squinting.
"Dragged? No, not dragged. You came along just fine." he laughed.
"I was intoxicated!" her voice squeaked, as she argued, "I... I can't remember a thing..."
"No, that's not likely," he chuckled, "Sure, you don't even remember taking off on this here merchant sloop, don't remember the marines storming through the tavern- Hell, I bet you don't even remember anything you did with Christian!" his voice cracking, anger showing through his usually calm demeanor.
She stood up quickly, and came at him, raising her hand in front of his face, pointing at his nose, "My affairs with others do not concern you! Ugh!" she screamed, letting her hand fall to her side, "If you were no use to me I'd toss you over and sail this ship myself!"
A long silence stretched between the two, Jack leaning in close to her, his breath sweeping over her face, "The feeling," he began, "Is mutual."
"Mister Smith!" she shouted, reproaching him, "Do you have any idea how... How... Intolerable you are? You have no respect for others, no respect for your own bloody self and no respect for me!"
"That's where you're wrong, darling. I have complete respect... For myself," he began, while she cringed at the smile on his face.
"I've had..." she began, clenching her teeth together, "I've had just about enough of you, Mister Smith!"
"Do us a favor, love," he cooed eerily, sending cold chills up Katherine's spine, his gaze still on the horizon, "Leave if you wish. I'm sure that you can find someone else who knows where Jack Sparrow is."
"Would if I could," she replied cooly, returning to her place near the railings to sit.
"Well, go on then! No one is stopping you!" he laughed, turning to her, but she only glared back at him.
"And how do you propose I leave, hmm?" she sighed, rubbing at her throbbing head.
"Ahh..." he laughed, turning back to face the waters ahead of them, "Like I said, only two-hundred leagues from Hispaniola."
"The humor is just, uncanny." she said sarcastically, letting her head fall back.
"Come on, darling!" he shouted with a smirk, "There's work that needs to be done!"
"Aye," she groaned, standing and gazing at the small vessel, "I just don't want to know." she said to him and walked down to the main deck. He just smiled.
Mid-day broke, the sun reaching it's peak in the sky. It beat down upon them with full-force, sweat seeping out of every pore in their bodies. Katherine had removed the dress she wore to the party the night before and changed into the former captain's trousers and over-sized blouse. From the looks of it, he was a big man. She fastened the blood-red trousers to her hips with an even larger belt, hugging snugly at her waist. Her hair was tied back, but didn't stay that way long. Strands of wild hair hung in her face, sweat dripped into her eyes and the sun painted her face a glossy tint of red.
Her hands were blistered and torn to pieces from the pulling and tugging at rigging and climbing up the ropes themselves. At long last, Jack called her to his side. She approached, pushing hair behind her ears.
"I've been looking over these maps, found them in the captain's quarters," he smiled, jesting towards the cabin she slept in, "I figure we should be upon the Isle by day after tomorrow, pray the weather holds up."
"The Isle? What Isle? Where are we headed?" she asked, just then realizing that she'd not asked yet.
"The Pearl, The Black Pearl... We're off to it's secret berthing point, love." he said cheerfully, still watching the sea.
"The Black Pearl?!" she suddenly perked up and jumped closer to him, latching onto his arm without hesitation, "Jack Sparrow's Ship?"
"Aye," he shook his head, picking her hands off his arm, taking a moment to rub the smooth flesh between his fingers, "Jack Sparrow's Ship."
Katherine tied the last bit of rigging up as Jack had instructed her to do. The moon now shone in place of the sun, and a cool night's breeze swept over their sweaty bodies. She studied her bloody hands carefully, cursing Jack for kidnapping her and forcing her to work. She really did despise the man, and even made a little vow within that she would kill him before their journey was over, just because he irritated her. She approached the weary man, his eyes still transfixed on the sea ahead of them, his hands resting on the helm.
"Hmm?" he asked as she approached, rubbing at her hands, "How was your first day, then?" he laughed, picking his head up a bit, rolling it around.
"Awful." she sneered, leaning against the railings.
"Well, now go rest, love. You've earned that, at least." he smiled at her sleepily.
"Colin..." she said quietly, realizing that he was far-more tired than she, calculating that he'd not slept in at least three days, "Perhaps you should take the rest, and I could sail?"
"You?" he laughed, looking her over, "No, darling. This bit's my job."
She didn't argue, she didn't want to argue. Her eyes drifted from his face to the sea behind him. She quickly caught glance of a faint light behind them, billowing sails around a distant figure of a ship.
"Hmm..." she thought aloud, studying the ship.
"What's that darling?" Jack asked, not bothering to turn around.
"A ship, in the distance." she said quietly, this causing Jack to spin around on his heel quite quickly, "A naval ship?" she asked as Jack pulled out a spyglass from under his belt; he didn't respond.
As Jack peered through the spyglass, something about the ship caught his eye, her flag was raised, and it was not Saint George's red and white Cross. He turned to his only ship mate and ordered her to blow out all light's aboard the ship. Katherine simply blinked at him, as if wondering why he was so worried.
"I said blow out all lights!" his voice boomed, Katherine slightly jumping at his words, running about deck, putting out the candles which lit their way; only the moon gave them light now.
"Not a naval ship, I presume?" she asked sarcastically, stepping back up to join him at the helm, as he continued to study the ship through his spyglass.
"Have a look at her colors." he ordered, handing her the telescope.
She placed her eye over the glass carefully, searching for the ship in its view. She caught sight of her blood red flag, a black skull painted messily on the tattered cloth, and two bones under the human skeleton. She gasped softly and the spy glass slipped from her fingers and crashed down upon the deck in a deafening thud. The sound snapped her back to her senses and she fell to the floor apologetically.
"I'm sorry," she breathed out, her hands shakily picking up the telescope. Jack reached down to her, she put her hand in his, and he helped her to stand, "What shall we do? Are they looking for us?" her voice became as shaky as her hands as she sputtered out her words.
"Shhh." Jack sighed, putting his hand to her mouth, and walked to the helm, taking a looped bit of rope and attaching it to a notch in the wheel. He walked down to the main deck and checked the hull of the ship, "Damn it." he hissed and retreated below decks.
"What are you doing?" she pleaded, running after him as he entered the galley, where sacks of flour, gunpowder, and other assorted goods lined the walls, a pile of wheat sat spewed across the floor. He searched through the room to pull out a musket, handing it to her, "I've got a pistol." she explained, pulling out from the back of her trousers a black pistol, lined in silver, the pattern that of a Spanish monastery.
"Keep the musket with you anyway. You might need it." he explained and journeyed back on deck.
Katherine looked at the musket with weary eye and put it back on the ground, following Jack back up the stairs. He tugged at the rigging, in an attempt to inflate the masts a bit more, to make the ship move faster.
"Bugger it!" he shouted, tugging even harder at the ropes.
"Oh..." breathed Katherine, running to his side, stepping in front of him, wrapping her already worn hands around the rigging, and pulling at it in a hypnotic rhythm. She leant her body into his as they pulled, each time raising the top of the mast a bit higher, letting it catch more air.
"Once more!" Jack groaned, giving the rope a final tug. Katherine joined the tug, pulling with her whole strength, her body pressed tightly against Jack's, his sweat rubbing deeply into her already soaking wet back. He wrapped the back of the rope to a notch on the side of the deck near the railings and collapsed onto his knees, trying desperately to catch his breath. Katherine fell to his side, looking over to him, a golden smile meeting her gaze, "When they catch up to us... Do us a favor, eh? Don't tell them your name or mine, savvy?"
"Of... Of Course..." she said quietly, looking down at his hands, a few dabbles of blood in areas where calluses had not formed, "Looks like I'm in worse shape that you..." she smiled, extending her hands, blood-soaked and blistered. Slowly, he took her hands into his and rubbed at the bloody palms, she flinched and squeezed close her eyes, turning her head away.
"It'll heal, love." he cooed softly, with a smile, "And callous over if yeh keep with sailing." he winked at her and looked at her face, red and blotchy from the sun and work, "You should, yeh know." he nodded his head, "You aren't half bad, as far as following orders goes and doing yer share."
She felt herself blush and pulled her hands away, looking at the deck, then back to Jack. His eyes looked on at her with a softness she had yet to see in him, it was real, it was him. She let a small breath escape her lips as she focused on him, seeing into his soul for, even if a brief few seconds, a moment. Before she knew what she was doing, she leant into him, placing a bloody hand on his cheek and kissing him, softly at first, then leading into a passionate embrace. This he accepted graciously and returned the kiss, pushing her back until he found himself laying atop her body, his hands playing in her hair and upon her face and neck, every inch of her body writhing in passion. His hips thrust into her own as they danced about on the floor in a primal-sort of ritual. His hands found their way to her blouse, rubbing at the exposed flesh around her clavicle and a single exposed shoulder. He broke the kiss to let his lips wander down her neck, as she let a soft sigh escape.
"C... Colin..." she breathed, looking down at the man, his face popping up to meet her eyes, "What about the pirates?" her chest rose and fell in waves of exhaustion and sexual craze.
"They are some miles off, love... They will catch up... But not tonight." a small smirk spread across his face and he kissed her softly on the lips, her hands wrapping themselves around his neck, pushing his mouth onto hers harder, his hands caressing her ears and traveling down to her shoulders, tugging the large blouse off to her unexposed breasts. Her hands fell from his neck and untucked his shirt from his trousers. His lips journeyed down her neck to her lower chest once again, suckling at the salty sweat upon her skin, breath seeping from her own lips in a soft moan. He suddenly stopped and looked at her, her face frowning in question, "Come on darling," he whispered, scooping her into his arms, "Let's find somewhere more comfortable."
She giggled madly, wrapping her arms around him, kissing him as he stumbled down the stairs to below decks. Not being able to see where he was going, they tumbled into the galley, landing on a soft bed of raw wheat, the bags torn open and spilt over the floor in a pattern-like display. They laughed for a few moments, their eyes finally landing on one-another's and smiles dropping from their faces. Jack leaned into her body once more, kissing her wildly. They were ready to have one another, at least Katherine was, anyway, for Jack had been more than ready since the moment he had met her. Still, he knew she was looking to kill him, but this was too good an opportunity to pass up. She wasn't even drunk or anything, he kept telling himself. But when the moment came, Jack was unaware of what she had done, and was consumed by her healthy passion and didn't even have time to think before he began caressing her with his touch and fervent embrace. This was his first opportunity to make love to her and his last before they were captured and his true identity would surely be revealed.
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 7
"Aye, darling," sighed he, wiping off his cheek with a smirk, "You remember that night, don't yeh?" Jack smirked and studied her with an evocative glare. His eyes darted to the tiny alleyway behind where the slobbering girl stood. The men that once lingered in the disgusting little lane now were vanished, only their smell hung in the air. With a nudge he pushed her back into the shadows.
"Mr. Smith!" she slurred, pointing her finger towards him while smiling through her giggles, "You are a pirate, a dangerous man" she swallowed, trying to recollect her thoughts, "I summoned Christian into my quarters to discuss the matters of piracy and the likes of you Knowing Jack Sparrow!"
"Love," Jack smiled, taking a hold of her hand, still extended towards his chest, "I told you I'd aid in the capture of ol' Sparrow, remember, darling?"
"Oh," she breathed quietly, "Well Ye Yes But-"
From out of the noisy town's drunken party came a loud crash from inside the pub and a few screams erupted into the town, music and revelry ceasing immediately. A greasy man came flying out the doorway and into the muddy street, blood covering his face as he hobbled off, away from the pub as fast as his intoxicated body could flee. The tavern became eerily quiet and Jack became somewhat curious at the happenings within. Only trouble could come from the quieting of a pub so quickly, so he pushed Katherine back a bit, and stepped onto a barrel, trying to see what was going on inside the tavern. There he saw them, six or seven agents of the Royal Navy, dressed in shabby red uniforms, looking as if they'd been across the seven seas and back. Out of the disheveled men stepped a well-tamed Commodore, one who'd been expected to turn up again. He spoke roughly to the crowd, demanding Jack, no doubt.
Having a look around the night, Jack spotted the girl leaning over a barrel of her own, looking as if to be sick. He knew that if he didn't find a way off the island, he'd be taken back to Port Royal and hanged at Gallows Point. Quickly, he grabbed her by the arm, dragging her away from the tavern and towards the western docks. The moon shone vibrantly through a few scattered grey clouds, lighting the way down the muddy roads.
"Where are you going?" she demanded, ripping her arm away from him, slipping away and tumbling backwards into the brown mud.
"HUSH!" he pleaded, helping her to her feet, while covering her mouth, "Come on," he whispered, letting his hand slip away and take a hold of her hand once more, leading her away from the dirt road and onto a cobblestone path near the bay.
"Where are we going?" she asked in a whisper.
"We're not staying here," he explained briefly as he looked around the docking area.
"Then where is it we are going?" she continued to inquire, giggling and swaying to and fro as Jack led her down to the wooden docks.
"A small bay off the Isla Mar," he continued to say, still searching for a ship.
"And what is in this bay?" she asked through a smirk, being ever so persistent.
"My ship!" he growled, growing weary of her questions.
"You're Pirate Ship?" she giggled, throwing her arms into the air, howling screams of laughter into the night.
"SHHH," he whispered, dragging her to a small merchant schooner moored at the very end of the docks. Seeing a man sleeping next to the gangplank, he couldn't help but smirk. Jack Sparrow was back.
As the small two-masted vessel made way out of the docks of St. James Bay, Jack called back to the once-sleeping man who hopped around, tied to his chair and a bit of cloth stuffed into his mouth. The man tumbled off the docks and came to a thunderous splash in the water. He surfaced and bobbed around, struggling to stop himself from floating out to sea.
"Tell the Commodore, if ye can! That Jack Sparrow cannot be caught!" he laughed and turned back to the helm of the schooner. Asleep at his feet was Katherine, literally hugging his heels and snoring as if she hadn't slept in years. Her brown hair fanned about on the deck, a bit of her stocking- covered leg peaked through the scarlet-colored dress she wore.
Taking a bit of looped rope, he tied it to a notch in the wheel and eyed the waters ahead of him. Carefully he bent down to the girl, taking her by the arms and pulling her to her feet. With a swift swoop of his arm, he had her in a soft embrace, her hands wrapped around his neck and feet dangled by his side. As he carried her down into the small Captain's Cabin, she groaned lightly, shifting slightly in his arms. Jack placed her down gingerly in the bed, letting its softness envelope her as she drifted back into a deep slumber. He couldn't help but just having a quick look at her, admiring and staring at her innocent beauty. With heavy sigh, he pulled a pure white sheet over her body, and brushed a wild strand of hair from her face. His fingers slowly slipped off her cheek, feeling its softness, feeling its warmth and perfect shape. Letting her sleep, Jack made his way back to the ship's deck, pulling out his compass and steering his way to the Pearl's berthing point.
Morning came quickly, the orange sun peaking through the morning mists. A weary Jack remained at the ship's helm, steering his way west. The air was damp and cool, droplets of dew sprinkled on his face and arms. He loved the feeling of being at the head of a ship, small and lonely perhaps, but he'd not trade the helm or hat of a captain for anything else in the world. The sun's rays began to beat upon his back, he could feel the coolness of night slipping away. Gazing down at his compass, he estimated three or four more days time and they would arrive at his Island; The Isla Mar.
Out of the sea's calm silence, he heard the shifting of cloth and flesh from below decks. He knew that she'd be slightly surprised that her last memory was not one of a ship; therefore shock and bewilderment would consumer her temporarily. Secondly he knew that she'd be well into a morning sickness, for the amount of alcohol she consumed was terribly nauseating in itself.
Out of the stairway popped a messy head of curls, followed by a disheveled- looking girl, her emerald eyes burning through Jack with the utmost disgust. She approached Jack slowly, swaying to and fro on deck, a small, thin smirk creeped over the Pirate's face.
"Haven't found yer sea legs yet, love?" he snickered as she hobbled over to him, leanied against the railings and gazed down at the water.
"Oh Lord," she sighed, rubbing her head and turning back to Jack, "We're not on the Neptune." her voice squeaked in despair.
Jack chuckled and sighed, still not fully meeting her eyes, "I figured you wouldn't remember."
"Remember... What?" she groaned.
"Last night, love. You were pissed out of yer bleedin' mind." he explained further, still focusing on the sea in front of him.
"And why are we here? Wherever it is we are?" she sighed, sliding down the railings to sit on the clean wooden deck.
"Eastern Sea, darling. Nearly two-hundred leagues from the coast of Hispaniola, as far as I can see." his voice trailed off, realizing that the girl was no longer listening.
"And you just dragged me aboard?" she pipped up, glancing up at him, the sun beginning to grow bright in the sky, her eyes squinting.
"Dragged? No, not dragged. You came along just fine." he laughed.
"I was intoxicated!" her voice squeaked, as she argued, "I... I can't remember a thing..."
"No, that's not likely," he chuckled, "Sure, you don't even remember taking off on this here merchant sloop, don't remember the marines storming through the tavern- Hell, I bet you don't even remember anything you did with Christian!" his voice cracking, anger showing through his usually calm demeanor.
She stood up quickly, and came at him, raising her hand in front of his face, pointing at his nose, "My affairs with others do not concern you! Ugh!" she screamed, letting her hand fall to her side, "If you were no use to me I'd toss you over and sail this ship myself!"
A long silence stretched between the two, Jack leaning in close to her, his breath sweeping over her face, "The feeling," he began, "Is mutual."
"Mister Smith!" she shouted, reproaching him, "Do you have any idea how... How... Intolerable you are? You have no respect for others, no respect for your own bloody self and no respect for me!"
"That's where you're wrong, darling. I have complete respect... For myself," he began, while she cringed at the smile on his face.
"I've had..." she began, clenching her teeth together, "I've had just about enough of you, Mister Smith!"
"Do us a favor, love," he cooed eerily, sending cold chills up Katherine's spine, his gaze still on the horizon, "Leave if you wish. I'm sure that you can find someone else who knows where Jack Sparrow is."
"Would if I could," she replied cooly, returning to her place near the railings to sit.
"Well, go on then! No one is stopping you!" he laughed, turning to her, but she only glared back at him.
"And how do you propose I leave, hmm?" she sighed, rubbing at her throbbing head.
"Ahh..." he laughed, turning back to face the waters ahead of them, "Like I said, only two-hundred leagues from Hispaniola."
"The humor is just, uncanny." she said sarcastically, letting her head fall back.
"Come on, darling!" he shouted with a smirk, "There's work that needs to be done!"
"Aye," she groaned, standing and gazing at the small vessel, "I just don't want to know." she said to him and walked down to the main deck. He just smiled.
Mid-day broke, the sun reaching it's peak in the sky. It beat down upon them with full-force, sweat seeping out of every pore in their bodies. Katherine had removed the dress she wore to the party the night before and changed into the former captain's trousers and over-sized blouse. From the looks of it, he was a big man. She fastened the blood-red trousers to her hips with an even larger belt, hugging snugly at her waist. Her hair was tied back, but didn't stay that way long. Strands of wild hair hung in her face, sweat dripped into her eyes and the sun painted her face a glossy tint of red.
Her hands were blistered and torn to pieces from the pulling and tugging at rigging and climbing up the ropes themselves. At long last, Jack called her to his side. She approached, pushing hair behind her ears.
"I've been looking over these maps, found them in the captain's quarters," he smiled, jesting towards the cabin she slept in, "I figure we should be upon the Isle by day after tomorrow, pray the weather holds up."
"The Isle? What Isle? Where are we headed?" she asked, just then realizing that she'd not asked yet.
"The Pearl, The Black Pearl... We're off to it's secret berthing point, love." he said cheerfully, still watching the sea.
"The Black Pearl?!" she suddenly perked up and jumped closer to him, latching onto his arm without hesitation, "Jack Sparrow's Ship?"
"Aye," he shook his head, picking her hands off his arm, taking a moment to rub the smooth flesh between his fingers, "Jack Sparrow's Ship."
Katherine tied the last bit of rigging up as Jack had instructed her to do. The moon now shone in place of the sun, and a cool night's breeze swept over their sweaty bodies. She studied her bloody hands carefully, cursing Jack for kidnapping her and forcing her to work. She really did despise the man, and even made a little vow within that she would kill him before their journey was over, just because he irritated her. She approached the weary man, his eyes still transfixed on the sea ahead of them, his hands resting on the helm.
"Hmm?" he asked as she approached, rubbing at her hands, "How was your first day, then?" he laughed, picking his head up a bit, rolling it around.
"Awful." she sneered, leaning against the railings.
"Well, now go rest, love. You've earned that, at least." he smiled at her sleepily.
"Colin..." she said quietly, realizing that he was far-more tired than she, calculating that he'd not slept in at least three days, "Perhaps you should take the rest, and I could sail?"
"You?" he laughed, looking her over, "No, darling. This bit's my job."
She didn't argue, she didn't want to argue. Her eyes drifted from his face to the sea behind him. She quickly caught glance of a faint light behind them, billowing sails around a distant figure of a ship.
"Hmm..." she thought aloud, studying the ship.
"What's that darling?" Jack asked, not bothering to turn around.
"A ship, in the distance." she said quietly, this causing Jack to spin around on his heel quite quickly, "A naval ship?" she asked as Jack pulled out a spyglass from under his belt; he didn't respond.
As Jack peered through the spyglass, something about the ship caught his eye, her flag was raised, and it was not Saint George's red and white Cross. He turned to his only ship mate and ordered her to blow out all light's aboard the ship. Katherine simply blinked at him, as if wondering why he was so worried.
"I said blow out all lights!" his voice boomed, Katherine slightly jumping at his words, running about deck, putting out the candles which lit their way; only the moon gave them light now.
"Not a naval ship, I presume?" she asked sarcastically, stepping back up to join him at the helm, as he continued to study the ship through his spyglass.
"Have a look at her colors." he ordered, handing her the telescope.
She placed her eye over the glass carefully, searching for the ship in its view. She caught sight of her blood red flag, a black skull painted messily on the tattered cloth, and two bones under the human skeleton. She gasped softly and the spy glass slipped from her fingers and crashed down upon the deck in a deafening thud. The sound snapped her back to her senses and she fell to the floor apologetically.
"I'm sorry," she breathed out, her hands shakily picking up the telescope. Jack reached down to her, she put her hand in his, and he helped her to stand, "What shall we do? Are they looking for us?" her voice became as shaky as her hands as she sputtered out her words.
"Shhh." Jack sighed, putting his hand to her mouth, and walked to the helm, taking a looped bit of rope and attaching it to a notch in the wheel. He walked down to the main deck and checked the hull of the ship, "Damn it." he hissed and retreated below decks.
"What are you doing?" she pleaded, running after him as he entered the galley, where sacks of flour, gunpowder, and other assorted goods lined the walls, a pile of wheat sat spewed across the floor. He searched through the room to pull out a musket, handing it to her, "I've got a pistol." she explained, pulling out from the back of her trousers a black pistol, lined in silver, the pattern that of a Spanish monastery.
"Keep the musket with you anyway. You might need it." he explained and journeyed back on deck.
Katherine looked at the musket with weary eye and put it back on the ground, following Jack back up the stairs. He tugged at the rigging, in an attempt to inflate the masts a bit more, to make the ship move faster.
"Bugger it!" he shouted, tugging even harder at the ropes.
"Oh..." breathed Katherine, running to his side, stepping in front of him, wrapping her already worn hands around the rigging, and pulling at it in a hypnotic rhythm. She leant her body into his as they pulled, each time raising the top of the mast a bit higher, letting it catch more air.
"Once more!" Jack groaned, giving the rope a final tug. Katherine joined the tug, pulling with her whole strength, her body pressed tightly against Jack's, his sweat rubbing deeply into her already soaking wet back. He wrapped the back of the rope to a notch on the side of the deck near the railings and collapsed onto his knees, trying desperately to catch his breath. Katherine fell to his side, looking over to him, a golden smile meeting her gaze, "When they catch up to us... Do us a favor, eh? Don't tell them your name or mine, savvy?"
"Of... Of Course..." she said quietly, looking down at his hands, a few dabbles of blood in areas where calluses had not formed, "Looks like I'm in worse shape that you..." she smiled, extending her hands, blood-soaked and blistered. Slowly, he took her hands into his and rubbed at the bloody palms, she flinched and squeezed close her eyes, turning her head away.
"It'll heal, love." he cooed softly, with a smile, "And callous over if yeh keep with sailing." he winked at her and looked at her face, red and blotchy from the sun and work, "You should, yeh know." he nodded his head, "You aren't half bad, as far as following orders goes and doing yer share."
She felt herself blush and pulled her hands away, looking at the deck, then back to Jack. His eyes looked on at her with a softness she had yet to see in him, it was real, it was him. She let a small breath escape her lips as she focused on him, seeing into his soul for, even if a brief few seconds, a moment. Before she knew what she was doing, she leant into him, placing a bloody hand on his cheek and kissing him, softly at first, then leading into a passionate embrace. This he accepted graciously and returned the kiss, pushing her back until he found himself laying atop her body, his hands playing in her hair and upon her face and neck, every inch of her body writhing in passion. His hips thrust into her own as they danced about on the floor in a primal-sort of ritual. His hands found their way to her blouse, rubbing at the exposed flesh around her clavicle and a single exposed shoulder. He broke the kiss to let his lips wander down her neck, as she let a soft sigh escape.
"C... Colin..." she breathed, looking down at the man, his face popping up to meet her eyes, "What about the pirates?" her chest rose and fell in waves of exhaustion and sexual craze.
"They are some miles off, love... They will catch up... But not tonight." a small smirk spread across his face and he kissed her softly on the lips, her hands wrapping themselves around his neck, pushing his mouth onto hers harder, his hands caressing her ears and traveling down to her shoulders, tugging the large blouse off to her unexposed breasts. Her hands fell from his neck and untucked his shirt from his trousers. His lips journeyed down her neck to her lower chest once again, suckling at the salty sweat upon her skin, breath seeping from her own lips in a soft moan. He suddenly stopped and looked at her, her face frowning in question, "Come on darling," he whispered, scooping her into his arms, "Let's find somewhere more comfortable."
She giggled madly, wrapping her arms around him, kissing him as he stumbled down the stairs to below decks. Not being able to see where he was going, they tumbled into the galley, landing on a soft bed of raw wheat, the bags torn open and spilt over the floor in a pattern-like display. They laughed for a few moments, their eyes finally landing on one-another's and smiles dropping from their faces. Jack leaned into her body once more, kissing her wildly. They were ready to have one another, at least Katherine was, anyway, for Jack had been more than ready since the moment he had met her. Still, he knew she was looking to kill him, but this was too good an opportunity to pass up. She wasn't even drunk or anything, he kept telling himself. But when the moment came, Jack was unaware of what she had done, and was consumed by her healthy passion and didn't even have time to think before he began caressing her with his touch and fervent embrace. This was his first opportunity to make love to her and his last before they were captured and his true identity would surely be revealed.
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 7