AN (1/7-12): I really hate homework. I'm so tired. Maybe I shouldn't work on my story until after my homework, instead of visa versa. I'm terribly sorry it has taken me so long. School has been a nightmare, as school usually is at the end of a term. A BIG shout out to everyone in my Neopets guild, pirates. Talking to you helps keep me crazy enough to keep writing. Everyone reading this now gets a cookie for listening to me babble.
Moving on to other news, have you ever noticed how similar the first Indiana Jones(can't remember its name) and Pirates of the Caribbean are? There's an evil monkey in both, they both have a heroine with medallions, both said females have a pretty dress the bad guy makes them wear, both females smuggle a knife to kill a bad guy....
AN (1/10): Please re-read the end of the last chapter-I fixed it-thanks for the tips Sida and ChaosLightening13.
AN(1/12):Sorry this one's shorter than most the other chapters, but I didn't want to go into more detail....it's not something that is discussed in polite society and I don't like reading trash so there's no point in writing it.
Chapter 6- Strumpets
Jack slowly made his way to the tavern after swimming to shore. He was exhausted, but that wasn't why he was moving so cautiously. Soldiers were headed towards the cliff, having heard Jodi scream. Jack didn't want to be seen when he was supposed to be dead. The walk normally took roughly half an hour, but Jack moved so cautiously he reached Mulrogg's Grog in a painstaking hour.
Jack was faintly relieved when he walked into the tavern. The place was so crowded that he felt fairly safe no one would pick him out specifically. He walked up to the harried barkeep, trying not to bump into the numerous strumpets and their companions for the night. He ordered the usual rum and quickly walked to the only available table left. He walked as a normal man, not wanting the usual attention he received.
The table was underneath the tavern's dilapidated stairs. Jack new every single step. He was a usual customer to the brothel up there since the age of fifteen. His first trip had been the day after his mother had been killed. Those stupid steps reminded him of the first time, and Jack couldn't keep himself from remembering the experience.
Jacob wavered a bit as he headed towards the door of the Mulrogg's Grog at about three o'clock in the afternoon the day after Rosalyn had died... He was absolutely wasted, having consumed more alcohol tonight than he had ever consumed before. It was a necessary step, in his mind. The absolute horrors of his mother's death needed to be drowned out as quickly as possible. Alcohol was the perfect tool. He had never been inside the tavern before today, but the funeral for Rosalyn was tomorrow and Jack was in no mood to feel normal. His whole body had numbed the moment he had finished the task of cleaning the body.
Other drunks sat in the tavern, anxiously awaiting the arrival of some mysterious persons. The barkeep had indirectly mentioned them when Jacob had paid for the rum he had drunk. Jacob was a bit curious as to what the commotion would be like, but knew he had to go back to the mansion in order to allay his sister's suspicions.
Jacob was nearly to the door when it opened by itself. Inside the doorframe stood the loveliest girls Jacob had ever seen, at least it seemed so in his drunken stupor. A vivacious blonde stepped up to him.
"'Ello, luv. Lookin' for a good time? Me name's Ainsley. If'n the price is right, y' can 'ave the pleasure o' me company tonight." Ainsley grinned mischievously, sizing the teenager up.
Jacob felt a bit uneasy around the strumpet, but masked it quite successfully. "That'd be lovely luv." Jacob's words were horribly slurred and his breath was laden with a strong smell of alcohol. He stood there, waiting for the strumpet to make the first move.
Ainsley sighed and scanned around the tavern. All the other men were taken and she was left with this inebriated teenager as her only plausible option. He'd seemed so much more mature when she first spotted him. "Alright, luv. It'll cost fifteen sovereigns." She didn't expect Jacob to be able to produce that much money, assuming that he'd spent it all on rum.
Jacob pulled out a small coin purse and took out fifteen sovereigns. He laughed when he noticed the expression of disbelief on Ainsley's face. "Since this'll be me first time, I'll pay y' an extra two sovereigns." Jack quickly pulled another two coins out and placed the seventeen into Ainsley's hand.
Ainsley smiled and put the coins into her bodice. Her red chiffon dress shimmered in the sunlight filtering through the door behind her. "Firs' time, eh? I'll be gentle. Follow me, sir." Jacob smiled as he followed the girl up the creaky stairs to the rooms built above the tavern for this very purpose.
The experience that ensued was very memorable to Jacob. It helped him forget, for a brief moment in time, all the troubles and misery he was carrying on his shoulders. Ainsley taught him all the tricks she knew other women enjoyed. He was able to handle the funeral the next day quite successfully, although he had a wicked hangover.
Jacob frequented the tavern after that first experience. He always paid the strumpets more than they asked and soon learned each one intimately, although he could only ever remember their names after mental strain.
Jack brushed his memories aside. One of the other blonde strumpets began boldly approaching him. He sat mumbling, trying various names out and finally settled on one.
"Chaylese, luv, wha' do y' want?" Jack thought for a moment and decided not to say what he was going to say. "I mean, 'ave a sit down on me lap." Jack patted his lap invitingly, deciding that he had plenty of time for a sit down.
Chaylese walked over and sat down on Jack's lap. Her heavy velvet blue dress draped over his legs. He looked down, trying to avoid the sight of large cleavage that greeted him. He didn't want to spend the night with her, seeing as he wanted to know the minute Bootstrap walked in.
Jack flirted mindlessly with the blonde, staring aimlessly into her hazel eyes. Chaylese seemed a bit huffed by the response she was receiving. She was generally leading Jack to the top rooms within a few minutes. Chaylese didn't mind, however, because she charged by the hour.
Jack was drunk by the time Bootstrap finally showed up at nearly midnight. It had been a trick, keeping Chaylese occupied enough. He kept slipping her precious sovereigns, which he was going to need; however, Jack was desperate to have company to make himself less conspicuous. Everyone else was talking to either a strumpet or another patron of the bar.
Jack looked up as the door opened. He was slightly shocked to see a haggard Bootstrap slowly walked into the tavern.
"Sorry, luv. I've been waitin' for tha' man all night long. I'll have t' leave y' now." Jack slipped Chaylese another sovereign. She stood and slapped him. Jack had a look of disbelief on his face. He anxiously turned his gaze on the furious Chaylese. Her hazel eyes shone with indignation.
"Sir, I ain' ne're been as insulted in me whole life. How could y' spend the whole night wi' me on your lap an' not want to go all the way?" She slapped Jack again. Jack looked around as he rubbed his cheek, noting all the patrons who began looking over at him. He slightly rolled his liquid brown eyes before masking his face with compassion.
"No, no, luv. It isn' an insult. I jus' have to do somethin' else." Jack attempted to mollify the bereaved prostitute.
"You think I'm fat! I know it." Chaylese began tearing. "Ever'one thinks I'm fat." She glared at Jack with utter contempt showing in her hazel eyes.
"You aren't fat, luv. I jus' have some business t' attend to." Jack spoke in a low tone. "Please don' make a scene." Jack tried to slip her another sovereign.
"Thanks fer nothin, sir." Chaylese grabbed the coin and started walking away. Jack smiled one of his odd half smiles, relieved that Chaylese had walked away. Chaylese turned and looked back at Jack, misinterpreting the grin to mean he was ecstatic she was leaving. She walked up to him and slapped him again. Chaylese hastily retreated to lick her wounded pride and avoid retribution from Jack.
Bootstrap chuckled and walked over to Jack. He grinned mischievously, candlelight reflecting little glints of gold. "You certainly 'ave a way wi' the women, boy." Bootstrap laughed as Jack rubbed his cheek, now red from the blows he'd received.
"Well, I admit, William, you are a finer eunuch than I." Jack smiled as Bootstrap tried to figure out what a eunuch was. Jack motioned Bootstrap to sit down with his eccentric hand gestures. Bootstrap sat on the proffered chair, across from Jack's shadowy figure. The old chair squeaked as Bootstrap sat down on it.
Bootstrap signaled the barkeep and was soon gulping down a pint of ale. Jack stared at him, anxious to hear what happened. Bootstrap deliberately drank slower, enjoying the various arrays of looks Jack kept giving him. He groaned pleasurably and set the wood mug on the table. "Tha' really hit the spot, boy." He wiped his shirt on his clean-shaven face.
"Well, wha' happened? Did Jodi an' me dad fall for it?" Jack leaned across the small table. He stared into Bootstrap's light brown eyes, allowing some of his anxieties to show through.
Bootstrap smiled. "Aye, they think you're dead, boy. For a moment, e'en I thought you dead." He grinned nervously.
"How'd me dad take it?" Jack attempted to look nonchalant, but Bootstrap could see a hint of intense curiosity in the teen's liquid brown eyes.
Bootstrap's voice lost any hint of teasing. "He was stunned an' kept askin' 'ow it happened. Jodi took it be'er than 'e did. Couldn' seem t' process the information. 'E kept lookin' in your room an' askin' the servants where you'd gone." Bootstrap noted the surprised look in Jack's eyes. "I think he really misses y' boy. Your death drove 'im mad."
Jack yawned. "'Eh, I don' care. 'E was a horrible father, William. 'E used t' whip me jus' for bein' different." Jack tried to feign indifference in his voice, but Bootstrap heard it waver slightly.
Bootstrap was constantly watching Jack closely. He wanted to figure out the eccentric teen's personality and quirks the moment he'd first laid eyes on the boy three days previously. Bootstrap was trying to figure out why Jack had changed his name.
"Ah, so that's why y' changed your name, eh? You don' want people to make the connection between you an' your dad." Bootstrap smiled. "I see 'ow it is now."
Jack smiled sadistically. "You could say that, William. It was a ness'sry step, believe me." He reached for his mug, his long fingers wrapping around the dark wooden mug. He lifted the mug and sighed in disgust. "Me rum's gone, William, an' I don' 'ave enough money for more, due to tha' fine strumpet." Jack rubbed his cheek at the memory.
"An' y' think I'll buy you another drink, boy?" Bootstrap laughed. "Fat chance o' that."
Jack looked at Bootstrap with indignation in his eyes. "I was gonna suggest tha' we go back to the Pearl. I bet cap'n Calico Jack is wonderin' where we be." Jack smiled and changed his expression back to contentment.
"Sorry, lad. I misint'rpreted your intentions. It's been a lon' day." Bootstrap stood and grabbed his mug. "Shall we leave then?" Be reached his hand out to Jack.
"Aye. I 'as jus' kiddin' about the money. Le' me pay fer you as well, mate." Jack took Bootstrap's proffered hand and stood, pulling heavily on Bootstrap's rough hands. The pair walked over to the barkeep and Jack paid for the alcohol they'd consumed.
Jack and Bootstrap turned to leave when they caught sight of Chaylese again. Chaylese was happily flirting with a soldier. She looked up as Jack passed and gave him a look that made ice seem hot in comparison. He merely grinned in response and quickly walked to the door of the tavern, anxious to get back on his beloved Black Pearl. Jack and Bootstrap opened the noisy door and walked out into the pale moonlight.
Sida-Thanks for the tip, luv. And thank you very much for reviewing all the time. You get a cookie of your choice.
ChaosLightning13- Thanks for pointing that out. I actually called him Jacob a few times when I shouldn't have as well. Go read it again, if you haven't already. It's the "extended" edition. You also get a cookie. I like it when people tell me I messed up. It's less embarrassing than when I find the problems while reading my story out loud. It's fun to read it out loud to my brother because I make it sound more dramatic than it really is.
Kira Doom-Thank you! I hope to update again on Friday, if you're interested.
Otherhawk- It is pretty typical of Jack, isn't it? He is not the best at escapes, although he does have numerous ones.