I woke in a relatively comfortable bed and, looking around, deducted that I
was in the Captain's cabin. My wound was dressed and my corset lacing was
loosened considerably, which allowed me enough room to breathe. I slowly
got out of bed, looking around the room a bit bewildered. Approaching the
window, I looked out but only saw darkness and ocean.
"Good to see ye up, luv," greeted a voice. I whirled around and saw Captain Jack Sparrow sitting in the shadows. I wasn't sure how to properly react to this situation, so said the first thing that came to mind.
"I demand you return me to Port Royale at once!" I said. He rose from his seat and entered the dim lamplight.
"We'll be in Tortuga by tomorrow night, luv. I've no intention 'o' turnin' back," he stated, "Ye're not a guest aboard me ship. Ye're a prisoner. Ye should be grateful I didn' tie ye up like most normal pirates would. Especially a feisty woman as yerself."
"My father will be certain that you are caught, Captain Sparrow!" I said defiantly, "And locked away for life, for all of your offenses!" I fumed, quivering. Jack shook his head.
"Yer father'll be goin' after the wrong ship at first... he probably thinks ye were taken by the Sacrilege... but lemme tell ye, he's in fer a nasty surprise. Then he'll be lookin' for ye for a while and we kin bring the ship along safer grounds for us. That way, he kin find ye and we kin fix our price, and trade ye up!" He answered. I slapped him, hard. He paused and then stared at me darkly. I quivered, backing away, realizing too late I probably should not have acted that way. He approached me as I backed towards the wall. "Be careful, luv. I doubt ye'd be wantin' to stay in with the cargo...and all them rats." His expression was dark and warning, and his voice was low. I shrunk against the wall, enveloped in the shadows. He then left, locking the door. I wept in the shadows, feeling all else collapse about me.
Why would I so stupidly wish for adventure? Garden parties were much nicer than being kidnapped by pirates!
After I had recovered partially, I wandered the cabin and then heard voices above. I strained my ears to hear the conversation.
"Ye're too soft on the girl! What ye need ta do is lock 'er away! Least till she learns 'er lesson!" A gruff voice was saying.
"Hartford, she's rich! She innit used to any 'o' the conditions, that's torture enough. What's more, if the Colonel gets the fleet on us, 'e's gonna want 'er back in a neat condition," replied Jack modestly. I was again enraged. There was absolutely no chance that I was staying: I was leaving. Walking towards the cabin windows, I thrust them open and looked down into the swelling water. I realized it would be impossible to jump, so an idea then occurred to me.
I grabbed a bucket and a sheet, and rigged up a dummy. Then I paused, looking at my dress. It would get in the way. I opened the desk and came across a knife. Using the knife, I carefully slit the seams of my dress and sheathed the knife. I tucked the sheath into my corset and looked about for anything else I would be needing. There was a compass on the desk, so I pocketed that as well, figuring I would be needing some sense of direction. I decided that was all I was going to need. This trip would be short. The ship couldn't have gotten that far from Port Royale... could it have?
Without further ado, I got a running start and flung the dummy out into the water, causing a tremendous splash.
The commotion on deck began. Someone shouted, "Man overboard!" I ran and hid to the side of the door. It was soon flung open and Jack Sparrow rushed through to the open windows, leaning out and looking down into the water. I slipped out and ran furtively on deck, somehow staying out of sight. When I reached the front of the ship, I whipped out the knife again and sliced the ropes on one of the rowboats. It feel straight down into the water and I flung myself over the guardrail, landing soundly within. I sheathed the knife again and picked up the oars. In a flourish, I began rowing in the direction of the Black Pearl's wake, figuring that would put me on the right path.
"She's gone!" The men were yelling, "The bratt's escaped!" I looked back and saw Captain Jack Sparrow watching me row away from the windows of his cabin. He vanished and I turned desperately back to the rowing, trying to get away as quickly as possible.
"'Old on, lads," said Jack. I glanced back to see him standing and shedding his heavier garments before he dove off the ship. He started swimming steadily after the rowboat. I tried to row faster, but it was no use. I didn't have the upper body strength to.
In several minutes, he grabbed a hold of the boat. Hastily, I tried to hit him with the oar, and he ducked with a gasp; obviously not expecting such a blow. He recovered quickly and flipped himself over the edge into the boat. He took a deep, gasping breath and then tackled me, wrestling me to the floor of the boat by the wrists. I screeched trying to writh away, but he pulled me into a headlock.
"I see ye've got me knife. I'll be takin' that back now, luv." He reached into my corset and pulled out the knife, hooking it on his belt.
"Mr. Sparrow!" I began, outraged.
"Now, now, luv. Settle down. They're turnin' the ship around now," he said, placing the oars inside the boat.
"I swear! I'll jump!" I declared. Captain Sparrow stared at me half in disbelief and half in amusement. He shook his head, allowing me to sit across from him. He still, however, gripped my hands.
"Okay luv. While I do admire yer passion for escape, ye're makin' me job quite difficult. Now if ye would just cooperate..." He began. I spat at him. He raised a brow, wiping his face. "Tell me, Isabelle," he said, "How much do ye really hate pirates?"
"Infinitely," I replied, my eyes burning at him. He grinned and let go of me, sitting back in the boat.
"Infinitely," he repeated, "Well, luv, don' know what ta tell ye...to me, ye aren't actin' like a lady."
"Should I be? Should a lady act like a lady when she's being kidnapped!?" I exclaimed angrily. He closed his eyes, a smug expression on his face. The Black Pearl was approaching.
"My main point is that, ye're actin' like a pirate, Miss Brant," he stated.
"How dare you insult me thus!" I cried, crossing my arms and sitting properly, "I am a noble lady!" Jack snorted and cracked an eye at me.
"Aye, a noble lady. And I'm sure that's 'ow ye'll be treated at Tortuga," he smirked at this, as if he were proud of himself. "It's never right to think ye're better than another. Every man has his flaw."
"Oh, and I suppose you are just Mister Perfect!" I said sarcastically. Jack laughed.
"Well coincidentally, Mister and Miss Perfect are in the same boat right now, aren't they?" He laughed again. The Black Pearl pulled up alongside us. "Ye're payin' for me ropes," said Jack as they lowered some other ropes down, "Ye know, the ones you so kindly sliced in yer near mad escape." I growled at him, but there was nothing else I could do.
Soon, I was back aboard the Pearl, though Jack seemed to think that keeping me on deck at the wheel with him was the better idea this time. I don't know why. I thought it somehow gave me move freedom in a way. But I was going nowhere. He whistled a pirate's tune as he steered the ship.
"I'll be takin' me compass back as well, luv," he finally said. I shot him a look at which he grinned, "It wouldn' do ye no good anyhow, luv. It's broken." He laughed slightly. I took out the compass and thrust it into his hands, stalking off to the guardrail to look at the stars. I heard Jack chuckle to himself. "Ye know, I wasn't talkin' about givin' me money for me ropes," he called over to me. I didn't respond, not wanting to know what he wanted instead. He was silent for a minute.
"What do you want?" I finally asked, weariness in my voice. He clapped his hands. I could tell he was grinning without even looking at him. He walked over to me and placed his hands gently on my shoulders. I stared straight ahead at the stars, not blinking. There were tears in my eyes.
"Jus' relax, luv. This innit all so bad, ye know," he said quietly, his breath soft and warm upon my neck. He gripped my neck, forcing my nerves to relax and the tension to leave. I breathed, closing my eyes as his fingers worked themselves into my neck.
"Get off me," I whispered weakly, but I didn't mean it. For some odd reason, I liked the way he was touching me. It was gentle; a contrast to what I had believed his personality to be.
"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me..." He sang softly, his fingers trailing down my spine and brushing my lower back. I gasped softly as he gripped me by the waist and pulled me in against him. But I wasn't resisting, which I could not understand. I closed my eyes, leaning into him. "I wouldn't ask ye for anything vile, luv. Just a bit 'o' company, little bit 'o' respect, seein' as how ye give me none, and, maybe a kiss...or two...or three...Savvy?" He explained mildly, turning me to face him. I opened my eyes and stared into his dark ones.
"Jack..." I whispered.
"Shh..." he said, putting a finger to my lips, "Listen to the sea." I listened intently but heard nothing peculiar, so I was wondering why he would request for me to do such a thing. Then suddenly, he caught my lips deftly in his. It was so off-guard that the kiss was terse in nature, and a bit rushed. I pulled away.
"Jack!" I cried, trying to pull away. He sighed.
"Relax, luv," he said, grabbing my hands. I forced a deep breath and calmed myself down.
"Why did you do that, Jack?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"I was tryin' to make it romantic," he said a little shyly. I felt bad then for having squirmed.
"I'm sorry. You just...you caught me off-guard, is all," I explained.
"It's all right, luv," he said. His eyes sparkled like coals as he stared into my eyes. Then he leaned forward slowly, and kissed me tenderly. Having been ready this time, I can say that it was a very nice kiss. In fact, it was better than nice. I felt sinful to be admitting that I actually wanted another one. Not being able to deny my instincts, I kissed him back, forcing it to be deeper. He took advantage and gripped me closer, kissing more intensely than I'd ever been kissed before. His hands wandered however, and he touched my injured shoulder. I let out a cry, interrupting the kiss and jerked away defensively.
"Ow," I wept sorely, sitting on the deck and clutching my arm.
"Sorry, luv!" Said Jack, embarrassed. He reached for me but didn't touch. "Are ye all right? I'm really sorry. Truly, I am..." He sat next to me. I was crying.
"I'm sorry, Jack. I don't want to be here," I said through my tears, finally looking at him. He looked at me with an expression of hurt, and then got up and returned to the wheel. He paused, looking out over the water.
"I've got to make me living, and I'm not sacrificing me men," he finally stated, "This is all on me, luv. Ye're gonna have to wait till yer father and the Colonel come to rescue ye." He stared straight ahead, not looking at me. I buried my face in my knees and cried. I felt like such a sinner for liking those kisses... and I also felt so lost and alone, because technically speaking, I was.
"Good to see ye up, luv," greeted a voice. I whirled around and saw Captain Jack Sparrow sitting in the shadows. I wasn't sure how to properly react to this situation, so said the first thing that came to mind.
"I demand you return me to Port Royale at once!" I said. He rose from his seat and entered the dim lamplight.
"We'll be in Tortuga by tomorrow night, luv. I've no intention 'o' turnin' back," he stated, "Ye're not a guest aboard me ship. Ye're a prisoner. Ye should be grateful I didn' tie ye up like most normal pirates would. Especially a feisty woman as yerself."
"My father will be certain that you are caught, Captain Sparrow!" I said defiantly, "And locked away for life, for all of your offenses!" I fumed, quivering. Jack shook his head.
"Yer father'll be goin' after the wrong ship at first... he probably thinks ye were taken by the Sacrilege... but lemme tell ye, he's in fer a nasty surprise. Then he'll be lookin' for ye for a while and we kin bring the ship along safer grounds for us. That way, he kin find ye and we kin fix our price, and trade ye up!" He answered. I slapped him, hard. He paused and then stared at me darkly. I quivered, backing away, realizing too late I probably should not have acted that way. He approached me as I backed towards the wall. "Be careful, luv. I doubt ye'd be wantin' to stay in with the cargo...and all them rats." His expression was dark and warning, and his voice was low. I shrunk against the wall, enveloped in the shadows. He then left, locking the door. I wept in the shadows, feeling all else collapse about me.
Why would I so stupidly wish for adventure? Garden parties were much nicer than being kidnapped by pirates!
After I had recovered partially, I wandered the cabin and then heard voices above. I strained my ears to hear the conversation.
"Ye're too soft on the girl! What ye need ta do is lock 'er away! Least till she learns 'er lesson!" A gruff voice was saying.
"Hartford, she's rich! She innit used to any 'o' the conditions, that's torture enough. What's more, if the Colonel gets the fleet on us, 'e's gonna want 'er back in a neat condition," replied Jack modestly. I was again enraged. There was absolutely no chance that I was staying: I was leaving. Walking towards the cabin windows, I thrust them open and looked down into the swelling water. I realized it would be impossible to jump, so an idea then occurred to me.
I grabbed a bucket and a sheet, and rigged up a dummy. Then I paused, looking at my dress. It would get in the way. I opened the desk and came across a knife. Using the knife, I carefully slit the seams of my dress and sheathed the knife. I tucked the sheath into my corset and looked about for anything else I would be needing. There was a compass on the desk, so I pocketed that as well, figuring I would be needing some sense of direction. I decided that was all I was going to need. This trip would be short. The ship couldn't have gotten that far from Port Royale... could it have?
Without further ado, I got a running start and flung the dummy out into the water, causing a tremendous splash.
The commotion on deck began. Someone shouted, "Man overboard!" I ran and hid to the side of the door. It was soon flung open and Jack Sparrow rushed through to the open windows, leaning out and looking down into the water. I slipped out and ran furtively on deck, somehow staying out of sight. When I reached the front of the ship, I whipped out the knife again and sliced the ropes on one of the rowboats. It feel straight down into the water and I flung myself over the guardrail, landing soundly within. I sheathed the knife again and picked up the oars. In a flourish, I began rowing in the direction of the Black Pearl's wake, figuring that would put me on the right path.
"She's gone!" The men were yelling, "The bratt's escaped!" I looked back and saw Captain Jack Sparrow watching me row away from the windows of his cabin. He vanished and I turned desperately back to the rowing, trying to get away as quickly as possible.
"'Old on, lads," said Jack. I glanced back to see him standing and shedding his heavier garments before he dove off the ship. He started swimming steadily after the rowboat. I tried to row faster, but it was no use. I didn't have the upper body strength to.
In several minutes, he grabbed a hold of the boat. Hastily, I tried to hit him with the oar, and he ducked with a gasp; obviously not expecting such a blow. He recovered quickly and flipped himself over the edge into the boat. He took a deep, gasping breath and then tackled me, wrestling me to the floor of the boat by the wrists. I screeched trying to writh away, but he pulled me into a headlock.
"I see ye've got me knife. I'll be takin' that back now, luv." He reached into my corset and pulled out the knife, hooking it on his belt.
"Mr. Sparrow!" I began, outraged.
"Now, now, luv. Settle down. They're turnin' the ship around now," he said, placing the oars inside the boat.
"I swear! I'll jump!" I declared. Captain Sparrow stared at me half in disbelief and half in amusement. He shook his head, allowing me to sit across from him. He still, however, gripped my hands.
"Okay luv. While I do admire yer passion for escape, ye're makin' me job quite difficult. Now if ye would just cooperate..." He began. I spat at him. He raised a brow, wiping his face. "Tell me, Isabelle," he said, "How much do ye really hate pirates?"
"Infinitely," I replied, my eyes burning at him. He grinned and let go of me, sitting back in the boat.
"Infinitely," he repeated, "Well, luv, don' know what ta tell ye...to me, ye aren't actin' like a lady."
"Should I be? Should a lady act like a lady when she's being kidnapped!?" I exclaimed angrily. He closed his eyes, a smug expression on his face. The Black Pearl was approaching.
"My main point is that, ye're actin' like a pirate, Miss Brant," he stated.
"How dare you insult me thus!" I cried, crossing my arms and sitting properly, "I am a noble lady!" Jack snorted and cracked an eye at me.
"Aye, a noble lady. And I'm sure that's 'ow ye'll be treated at Tortuga," he smirked at this, as if he were proud of himself. "It's never right to think ye're better than another. Every man has his flaw."
"Oh, and I suppose you are just Mister Perfect!" I said sarcastically. Jack laughed.
"Well coincidentally, Mister and Miss Perfect are in the same boat right now, aren't they?" He laughed again. The Black Pearl pulled up alongside us. "Ye're payin' for me ropes," said Jack as they lowered some other ropes down, "Ye know, the ones you so kindly sliced in yer near mad escape." I growled at him, but there was nothing else I could do.
Soon, I was back aboard the Pearl, though Jack seemed to think that keeping me on deck at the wheel with him was the better idea this time. I don't know why. I thought it somehow gave me move freedom in a way. But I was going nowhere. He whistled a pirate's tune as he steered the ship.
"I'll be takin' me compass back as well, luv," he finally said. I shot him a look at which he grinned, "It wouldn' do ye no good anyhow, luv. It's broken." He laughed slightly. I took out the compass and thrust it into his hands, stalking off to the guardrail to look at the stars. I heard Jack chuckle to himself. "Ye know, I wasn't talkin' about givin' me money for me ropes," he called over to me. I didn't respond, not wanting to know what he wanted instead. He was silent for a minute.
"What do you want?" I finally asked, weariness in my voice. He clapped his hands. I could tell he was grinning without even looking at him. He walked over to me and placed his hands gently on my shoulders. I stared straight ahead at the stars, not blinking. There were tears in my eyes.
"Jus' relax, luv. This innit all so bad, ye know," he said quietly, his breath soft and warm upon my neck. He gripped my neck, forcing my nerves to relax and the tension to leave. I breathed, closing my eyes as his fingers worked themselves into my neck.
"Get off me," I whispered weakly, but I didn't mean it. For some odd reason, I liked the way he was touching me. It was gentle; a contrast to what I had believed his personality to be.
"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me..." He sang softly, his fingers trailing down my spine and brushing my lower back. I gasped softly as he gripped me by the waist and pulled me in against him. But I wasn't resisting, which I could not understand. I closed my eyes, leaning into him. "I wouldn't ask ye for anything vile, luv. Just a bit 'o' company, little bit 'o' respect, seein' as how ye give me none, and, maybe a kiss...or two...or three...Savvy?" He explained mildly, turning me to face him. I opened my eyes and stared into his dark ones.
"Jack..." I whispered.
"Shh..." he said, putting a finger to my lips, "Listen to the sea." I listened intently but heard nothing peculiar, so I was wondering why he would request for me to do such a thing. Then suddenly, he caught my lips deftly in his. It was so off-guard that the kiss was terse in nature, and a bit rushed. I pulled away.
"Jack!" I cried, trying to pull away. He sighed.
"Relax, luv," he said, grabbing my hands. I forced a deep breath and calmed myself down.
"Why did you do that, Jack?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"I was tryin' to make it romantic," he said a little shyly. I felt bad then for having squirmed.
"I'm sorry. You just...you caught me off-guard, is all," I explained.
"It's all right, luv," he said. His eyes sparkled like coals as he stared into my eyes. Then he leaned forward slowly, and kissed me tenderly. Having been ready this time, I can say that it was a very nice kiss. In fact, it was better than nice. I felt sinful to be admitting that I actually wanted another one. Not being able to deny my instincts, I kissed him back, forcing it to be deeper. He took advantage and gripped me closer, kissing more intensely than I'd ever been kissed before. His hands wandered however, and he touched my injured shoulder. I let out a cry, interrupting the kiss and jerked away defensively.
"Ow," I wept sorely, sitting on the deck and clutching my arm.
"Sorry, luv!" Said Jack, embarrassed. He reached for me but didn't touch. "Are ye all right? I'm really sorry. Truly, I am..." He sat next to me. I was crying.
"I'm sorry, Jack. I don't want to be here," I said through my tears, finally looking at him. He looked at me with an expression of hurt, and then got up and returned to the wheel. He paused, looking out over the water.
"I've got to make me living, and I'm not sacrificing me men," he finally stated, "This is all on me, luv. Ye're gonna have to wait till yer father and the Colonel come to rescue ye." He stared straight ahead, not looking at me. I buried my face in my knees and cried. I felt like such a sinner for liking those kisses... and I also felt so lost and alone, because technically speaking, I was.