Yes! Another chapter is up! Wahooie! Wahooie! I hope you enjoy it!
This chapter is a bit depressing, but I digress! Read on, loyal awesome
fans!
Chapter 4: Sorrow, Worries, and Problems
I'm so sorry, Celeste." Audra told her.
"There was nothin' you coulda done." Angelina said. "Quit blamin' yourself."
"But.. I could've! I could've saved him!" Celeste cried, tears streaming down her face. They were on the deck of the Black Pearl. The cold night air rushed about them. "It's my fault!"
"Oh, it is not!" Audra comforted.
"It is!" Celeste cried. She made her way to the end of the ship and they followed. Her eyes looked empty -- drained and unfocused as though she were looking at something that didn't really exist. She slumped down on deck. "I won't accept this. This isn't how it's supposed to end..." she took out one of her swords.
"Celeste, don't!" Audra cried, running towards her.
"Don' do it, mate!" Angelina yelled, running towards her as well.
"I have no choice..." Celeste sighed. "And don't you two come any closer!" They froze. She raised her sword to her wrist. "I'm coming, Jack." she said, and sliced her wrist open. Blood spilled over her arms and legs. And for a fleeting moment, she saw Jack's lifeless body sprawled out on the ground, blood leaking from his eyes.
"AHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Celeste screamed at the top of her lungs. She thrashed around under her warm blanket. "AHHHHH!!!!" she continued screaming.
She went limp, realizing she was alive. She sat bolt upright and felt her wrist. Nothing. She was alright. It was only a dream. Her heart beat quickly and her eyes were watering. She folded her arms around her knees. Deeply disturbed by the dream, she started sobbing into them.
Suddenly, Jack burst in.
"What is it? Wha's wrong?!" he exclaimed, looking around. Apparently, he had just hopped out of bed because he was clad in less than his usual many layers of clothing; he didn't have his boots on, nor his shirt. "Are you alrigh', love?" he hurried to her. She threw her arms around his neck and continued sobbing. "What is it?"
"I'm -- not -- going to let you -- die, Jack!" she whimpered, sobbing.
"Die?" he asked gently, confused, and putting one arm around her and patting the back of her head with the other hand. "Who said I was goin' to die?"
"In-in my dream, you --" she choked on her words and continued sobbing.
"Ah, it's jus' a nightmare, love, it's not real." he comforted. "Now, jus' don' think about it anymore. I'm not goin' anywhere, I'm righ' 'ere. You couldn' get rid o' me even if you wanted to. You've got me 'eart an' I can't very well go anywhere without that, now, can I?" He felt her smile and her crying faded.
"I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bothered you." Celeste dismissed. "Go back to bed. Don't worry about me."
"You'll be alrigh', then?" Jack asked. "I can stay 'till you fall asleep if you want."
"No. No, I'll be fine." she assured. "Go back to bed. I'm sorry I-- "
"'s alrigh'. No trouble at all, my love." he said. He kissed her head and made his way to the door. He turned to look at her. "Now, don' yell at me tomorrow for comin' into a lady's room." he joked. "I thought you were dyin' or somethin'."
"No. No, I won't." Celeste replied distantly as she lied down in her bed.
"I'm only jokin', love." Jack said.
"Uh, huh..." she trailed off, and turned over onto her side, away from him.
Suddenly, Jack gasped. Celeste turned over to see what he'd gasped at and she gasped as well. The two scars on his chest were leaking blood.
"Oh!" Celeste cried. "Stay here! Sit down, I'll go get something -- bandages or something!" She dashed out and ran down to the cargo hold. She tore through boxes and crates and finally found what she was looking for. She ran back upstairs to Jack, carrying bandages.
"Okay, here, er, we'll just -- patch that up, I suppose..." she hesitated. She wrapped the bandage around his chest with a panicked look on her face. "Okay -- okay..." she stuttered breathlessly. "You should be fine... How-how long were these... 'effects' supposed to last?"
"I don' know." Jack replied as she finished bandaging. "Spike didn' say."
"I hope not long..." she said, tears welling in her eyes.
"Oh, darling, wha's wrong?" he asked.
"I-I just--"
"Not thinkin' 'bout that nightmare again, are you?" he asked. "I'm not goin' to die. Not now, anyway. We all got to go someday, but..." tears rolled down her cheeks as he spoke. "Celeste, darling, don' cry." he told her, taking her hand. "I won' leave you for anythin'."
"I-I suppose not."
"I promise you, love." he said, tilting her chin so that she looked straight into his deep, brown eyes. "Does this look like a face that would lie?"
"Yes." she replied, smiling.
"Well, you're right." he said jokingly. "But I'm not lyin' now, savvy? Really, 'ave I ever given you reason not to trust me?"
"Do you really want me to answer that truthfully?" they laughed. "But, no. No, I trust you." He rested his head on her chest and she put her arms around him. "You're the only one I trust."
"The only one?" he asked. "Surely you must trust others than me."
"Not really." she replied. "I know people only too well. They so easily betray you... But you won't. You're right. I trust you."
"Alrigh'. Then trust that I won' leave. An' don' cry anymore. Not over me, anyway." Jack told her. "I told you I don' want me girl cryin' over me." As usual, Jack's voice was somewhat rough sounding, like his vocal chords were worn out from giving loud orders all day everyday. Yet, his voice was somewhat softened when he spoke to her, especially in a quieter tone. It was not the volume that softened his voice, but the emotion behind his words; this also made it clear that he meant what he said. He stood up.
She sighed and hugged him, never wanting to move or leave his embrace ever again. She shut her eyes tightly, wishing she'd never have to move from where she was. Her heart wrenched at the thought of being anywhere else.
She sighed. "Do you know how much it means, Jack?"
"'ow much what means, darling?" he asked, stroking her hair.
"I've just... never really been loved, I mean, really loved by anyone before. My family's love ran out swiftly, not that I care..." she sighed. "And, well... it just feels nice to know that someone cares. It's comforting to know that someone's there... That someone would miss me if something happened... Knowing that there's one person in the world that won't laugh when I trip... they'll help me up." She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat for a moment. "I guess we are a really unlikely pair, you and I."
"Why do you say that?" he asked curiously.
"It's obvious." she stated. "You're a pirate," ('nuff said), "and I'm a..."
"Good little girl?" he suggested.
"I suppose." she agreed. "But I just think it's so strange that of all the sailors on all the boats in all the ports... I would fall for you. I mean, I'm from a rich and proper family -- and you know how they are... And then you. Why you fell for me is a mystery." Jack laughed quietly. "I don't know what you liked about me, but--"
"Everything." Jack said. "Just... everything. You captivate me, love." He kissed her.
Suddenly, Will burst into the room, shortly followed by Elizabeth, Audra, and Angelina.
"Oh!" Celeste cried, flinging herself away from Jack and nearly falling over backwards. She turned the reddest red you could imagine. And then she realized that she (obviously) was in her nightclothes which consisted of a long, red, low-cut gown. Her eyes widened and she quickly covered herself as best she could by holding her arms up to her chest.
"Er, yes, everything's fine now!" Celeste rushed, embarrassed.
"Apparently." Angelina said sarcastically; the others bottled their laughter. Celeste shot Angelina a look that could've made a palm tree wilt.
"What happened?" Will asked. And, as though it had just dawned on them, they all got very shocked looks on their faces.
"Oh, no, no, no!" Celeste cried. "Nothing like that! I-I just -- had had a nightmare... By the way... what took you all so long to get here? I screamed quite a few minutes ago."
"Well, I ran to see if it was Elizabeth," Will explained, "and when I found out that it wasn't, I went to get dressed. I didn't want to go gallivanting around the ship not fully dressed."
"Oh, thanks for your concern, Mr. Turner." Celeste muttered sarcastically, folding her arms across her stomach, then quickly snapping them back up, remembering her attire.
"Well," Audra began, "Elizabeth came and told us to get dressed, and she ran off to do the same..."
"Well, I'm fine, we're fine, everyone's fine!" Celeste rushed. "Thanks for your concern, but if you please..." she gestured for them to leave.
"Oh, Jack," Audra gasped, spotting the bandages, "what happened?"
"Oh, er, those 'side-effects' Spike spoke of -- they seem to be kickin' in..." Jack said. "But I'm alrigh'."
"Yes, we're all fine here. Now, if you would be so kind as to let me return to... er..." she expected them to pipe up and say, 'okay, okay,' but they did not; they seemed to be wanting to know what it was she was going to return to, "to... to... to what I was doing..." They turned to leave, but Elizabeth stayed.
"Don't you think it proper that Jack lease as well?" Elizabeth added staunchly. "he is in a lady's room and all."
"Yes, he can leave when he's finished." Celeste replied quickly.
"Finished with what?" Elizabeth asked suspiciously.
"When I'm finished with him!" Celeste snapped, irritated. Elizabeth caught the implication and her lip curled disapprovingly.
"How indecent." Elizabeth muttered on the way out. Everyone else had gone.
Celeste went back to Jack and put her arms around his neck.
"You scare me a little sometimes, darling." Jack told her jokingly. She laughed and kissed him.
"Well, you'd better get back to bed." she told him.
"Any chance o' you comin' with me?" he asked, smirking. She let go of him, pouting, and slapped him hard in the face.
"How dare you?" she turned her back.
"Aye, I didn' think so..." he said, disappointed.
She got back into her bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. He turned to leave and she noticed something.
"Jack!" she gasped. He turned back to her. She jumped out of bed, grabbed Jack's arm and turned him around. "Your back! Oh, Jack, what happened?" There was one long scar across his right shoulder and at least five others on his upper back.
Jack sighed. "Adventures, fights, I'm a pirate, remember?"
"Oh, Jack!" she exclaimed and threw her arms around him, resting her head on his back. "I'm so sorry!"
"Why?" he asked bitterly. "Why does it bother you? Is it jus' too ugly to look at? Can you jus' not stand a flaw on your man?"
Her brow furrowed. "No. Not at all, Jack." she said sincerely, sounding hurt. "I jus' mean that... it hurt." she explained gently. "It looks like it hurt a lot... I don't want you to hurt... Why would you say I would think that? Do you really think I'm that kind of person?"
"No... No, I don'." he replied. "It's jus'... another sensitive subject, you know..." She released him and he turned to her.
"You wouldn't say it if you hadn't thought it at one time."
"No, I didn' mean it." he assured wearily. "Sensitive subject an' all..."
"Are there any others I should know about so I can avoid you yelling at me or being rude?" she asked angrily.
"Oh, darling, don' do that..."
"So, are you just going to say that you're sorry and you didn't mean it?" she asked angrily. "Like before?"
"I told you, it's a sensitive subject an' I am sorry." he said wearily.
"Well, don't take it out on me!" she scolded.
"Oh, quit bein' immature."
"Oh, make me!"
"Keep provin' me point, darling." he said.
"Jerk!" she cried.
"Baby!"
"Scalawag!"
"Pest!"
"Ruffian!"
"Nuisance!"
"Rascal!" she yelled.
"Burden!" he yelled. Just then, Will and Elizabeth appeared in the doorway to see what the racket was.
"Pig!" she cried and they stepped closer to each other threateningly.
"Brat!" he yelled. They glared angrily at each other for a moment and then, surprisingly, they wrapped their arms around each other and started kissing.
Will raised an eyebrow and Elizabeth looked disgusted.
"What an insane relationship." Elizabeth whispered, disgusted. "It's sick."
"Well, they're both rather... eccentric... you know." Will whispered back. "I guess they're perfect for each other..." Elizabeth scoffed and left the doorway; Will followed.
Celeste and Jack stepped away from each other.
"Er, sorry..." Celeste mumbled, blushing. "I, er, I don't know where that came from..."
"Aye, I, er..." Jack mumbled, glancing around the room awkwardly.
After a moment of awkward silence, Jack looked at Celeste.
"Where's the blue one?" he asked.
"What?"
"The blue one." he replied, smirking, and gestured to her nightgown.
"Ohh--" she sighed angrily. "Why do I love this man? Why do I love this man?" she mumbled as she turned from him and got back into bed.
"Ah, it's alrigh', I like this red one too." he smirked.
"How improper." Celeste said.
"Nigh', darling." he bid, laughing quietly.
"Yeah, yeah." she grumbled, and he left her room.
The next two days, they continued sailing to Ruby Falls. As they approached the city, Celeste began to worry.
"I really don't feel like setting foot on that island again..." she said. She was dressed in a pretty white dress. "Hey, Angelina, Audra, why don't you go for me? Please? You could ask... the governor or someone who owns the gem."
"Well..." Angelina contemplated.
"Sure we can." Audra agreed.
"Oh, thanks so much!" Celeste thanked them. "We can stay here. I don't think my family is trying to hunt me down anymore."
It was settled. Audra and Angelina set out to find who had the gem. They went to the governor and he did know who owned it. To their dismay, it was Celeste's family.
They decided to see if they could make a deal with the Wyndham's to get it. So, they made their way to the Wyndham Manor.
"Good day." the butler greeted as he answered the door.
"Good day." Audra greeted, "we are here to see Mr. Wyndham."
"Ah, please come in." he told them. They did. "If you will wait here for a moment, I will get him."
"Of course." Audra said.
A few minutes later, Mr. Wyndham walked in.
"Good day, Mr. Wyndham, how are you?" Audra greeted, shaking his hand. "Audra Giles. Do you remember me?"
"Of course, Miss Giles," he recalled, "how is your father?"
"He is well, thank you." Audra replied.
"Well, Celeste is not here. She no longer lives here, actually."
"Oh, is that so?" Audra asked. "Well, I am not here to see Celeste anyway. I am here... on my father's behalf." she lied. "He has recently acquired two Gems of Roslynn. We found out that you own the other, am I correct?"
"Yes, you are." he replied.
"Would you be interested in selling it?" Audra asked. "I would gladly pay you any amount you name within reasonable range."
"Well--"
"Henry?" called a voice from the next room. And in walked Marie, Celeste's stepmother. "Who is it?" she stood at Mr. Wyndham's side.
"Audra Giles and... oh, I forget your name..."
"Angelina... Price..." she replied. She knew that Celeste's family was never very fond of her since she was dirt poor.
"Yes, yes." Mr. Wyndham said. "Miss Giles says that her father is collecting the Gems of Roslynn. She is inquiring about ours."
"Oh, yes." Marie recalled in a fake-sweet voice. "Well, it really means a lot to us. And it is also very rare."
"Yes, but we are willing to pay a good price." Audra replied.
"You... wouldn't happen to have come in on that big black ship in the harbor, did you?" Marie asked.
"Why, yes..." Audra replied uneasily. "We did."
"Is Celeste with you?" Marie asked strictly. "I know she's been on that ship."
"What-what would make you think that?" Audra stuttered.
"We need to speak with her." Marie stated. "If you bring her here, we will give you the gem. That is the only way we will give it to you."
Audra and Angelina left the Wyndham manor and headed back to the Pearl.
"So, did you get it?" Celeste asked eagerly when they got back to the ship.
"Well... no." Audra hesitated. "You see, the owners of the gem are... your family." Celeste's heart sank.
"And... did you see them?" Celeste asked. "Did you ask them about the gem?"
"Yes." Audra replied.
"And... they won't sell it to you?" Celeste asked.
"Well... no." Audra said. "You see, the only way they'll give us the gem is if... we bring you to them."
"Why did you tell them I was with you?!" Celeste scolded.
"We didn't!" Audra retorted. "Marie... she guessed..."
Celeste sighed. "Fine. Fine, I'll go."
"I'm comin' with you, darling." Jack said. "I don' trust that man or that woman."
"No, Jack, just stay here." Celeste insisted. "My father is really a nice man as long as Marie isn't around."
"Well, I think I should come with you anyway."
"Look, the last time we were here, she told me to leave because I disgrace the family name." Celeste said. "She... may think... that we're pirates or--"
"Oh, well, I am definitely comin' with you, then." Jack pressed.
"Oh, fine." Celeste sighed. "Well, let's go, then... Audra, Angelina, please tell Mr. Gibbs to prepare to set sail immediately on our return. We'll be back in a hurry." They agreed and went off to find Gibbs.
After they'd done so, Jack, Celeste, Audra, and Angelina made their way to the Wyndham manor. The butler let them in and they tensely waited for what felt like impending doom.
"Good day." Marie simpered as she walked in with the green gem. "Thank you, Miss Giles, Miss... what was it?"
"Price. Angelina Price." Angelina said, rather frustrated.
"Yeah, whatever, anyway, here you are." Marie continued, not caring one bit about Angelina or bothering to apologize. She handed Audra the green gem. "You may be on your way."
"Like they need your permission." Celeste grumbled.
Audra hesitantly glanced at Celeste, who gave her a nod of reassurance to leave. Audra and Angelina left the manor, worried about what was going to happen.
"Well, well, Celeste." Marie sneered. "How are you?"
"I was doing fine." Celeste mumbled angrily.
"What was that?" Marie asked in a fake-polite voice.
"Er, why don't we talk in the garden?" Celeste suggested. "It's much more... pleasant there."
"Alright." Marie agreed. They made their way into the garden. Celeste edged towards the end of it, and Jack followed.
The garden was a large, open area, landscaped with green shrubs and colorful flowers. There was a low, waist-high fence on the three sides that weren't connected to the house to enclose the garden.
"You wanted to speak with me, Marie?" Celeste asked.
"Yes." Marie confirmed strictly. "This is quite a sorrowful subject. You see, I have reason to believe that you are a... pirate." she said with disgust.
"A pirate?" Celeste laughed. "What makes you think that?"
"That man." Marie said, pointing to Jack, but keeping her distance as if he was diseased. "He is Jack Sparrow. I know he is." Celeste glanced at Jack whose mouth twitched from hearing his name without the 'Captain' in front of it, but he had the brains to know not to correct her.
"Jack Sparrow?" Celeste chuckled. Jack twitched again. "Not a chance. Jack Sparrow is an ugly pirate, filthy. Not in the least bit charming."
"And you seem to have described this man here." Marie stated rudely.
"Marie, if you insult him one more time, I'll rip your tongue out." Celeste threatened, faking calm. Marie raised her eyebrows, but didn't speak. "Anyway, Jack Sparrow is a eunuch. This man is not."
"How would you know, you little slut?!" Marie asked angrily.
"Shut your mouth!" Celeste ordered. "How dare you! I know because he can't sing worth a darn."
'Yeah, she won't give me the chance to let her find out any other way...' Jack thought.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Marie commanded.
"I'm an adult, and I'll say what I want, you insolent wench!" Celeste yelled, Jack put an arm around her.
"Take your hands off her!" Marie ordered.
"Don't tell him what to do!" Celeste yelled. "Besides, when did you start caring what happens to me, anyway?"
"I don't! I just don't wan to see this filthy man hanging all over you!"
"He is not filthy and he is not 'hanging all over' me!" Celeste yelled. "Besides, I happen to love him. Something you obviously don't know anything about!"
"How dare you!" Marie exclaimed. "He's probably just paying you for night service!"
"Why do you all of a sudden figure I've gone and sold myself? I am not a slut!" Celeste retorted.
"Because I've always thought you were that kind of girl! Innocent on the outside, but--"
"What did I ever do to give you that--" she stopped and took a deep breath. "You know what, I really don't care. I didn't come here to insult. Even though I am rather enjoying it."
"Well, I know what you are, you pirate."
"Good for you, you whore." Celeste said bitterly. Jack raise his eyebrows at the language she was using -- and so much hate.
"GUARDS!" Marie yelled. And with that, three guards emerged from the house and into the garden.
"Okay..." Celeste said thoughtfully. "Er, time to run!" And she and Jack took off at top speed, hurtled over the fence, and ran off. The guards followed.
Jack and Celeste ran off over to the ledge of a large wall. They were at the top, and it was about a ten to twelve foot drop. There was a rope descending from a scaffolding a few feet away from them. Jack grabbed onto it and slid down. Just before he landed, though, the wooden bar that the rope was tied to snapped and broke.
"Oh, no!" Celeste cried, looking down at Jack. "What do I do?" The guards were approaching fast.
"Jump!" Jack yelled.
"What!?" Celeste exclaimed.
"Jump! I'll catch you!" Jack yelled. Celeste shut her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened them again and jumped.
"Ahhh!" she screamed as she struggled to keep her dress from flying up. She landed in Jack's arms and he started running.
He smirked. "Wasn' a bad view from where I was standin'."
"Oh, I would slap you if we weren't fleeing for our lives!" Celeste scolded. "I owe you one!" He laughed and glanced back: the guards had taken another route.
"There were stairs?!" Celeste exclaimed, looking back. "I risked my life for nothing!"
"You didn' risk your life," Jack said, still running, and not daring to stop even for a moment to put her down, "I wouldn' 'ave let you fall." She smiled, but then looked back and a panicked look appeared on her face.
Suddenly, Jack stopped. Celeste looked over and saw that they were on a ledge that dropped into the water.
"Oh, no." Celeste panicked. "What do we do now?"
"Jus'... er..." Jack hesitated. "Swim!"
"What--" but just as she started to object, he tossed her into the water; he jumped in as Well. They swam at top speed (Celeste was lagging behind -- she wasn't as fast a swimmer as Jack, and she was clad in a big dress).
Finally, they came to a low ledge where they hoisted themselves out of the water. They ran, sopping wet, through the streets. They could hear guards running far behind them. Finally, they came to the dock and dashed onto the Pearl.
"Go! Set sail! Hurry!" Celeste yelled while Jack pulled the gangplank aboard with the help of Gibbs and Mr. Cotton.
The guards caught up, raised their guns, and shot at the ship.
The sails went up and the Pearl set sail out of Ruby Falls.
Hooray! Another chapter has been completed! Yessss, Precious! I mean, hooray... Not talking to meself... never... heh heh... Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! I shall be posting more soon! Review, me hearties!
Chapter 4: Sorrow, Worries, and Problems
I'm so sorry, Celeste." Audra told her.
"There was nothin' you coulda done." Angelina said. "Quit blamin' yourself."
"But.. I could've! I could've saved him!" Celeste cried, tears streaming down her face. They were on the deck of the Black Pearl. The cold night air rushed about them. "It's my fault!"
"Oh, it is not!" Audra comforted.
"It is!" Celeste cried. She made her way to the end of the ship and they followed. Her eyes looked empty -- drained and unfocused as though she were looking at something that didn't really exist. She slumped down on deck. "I won't accept this. This isn't how it's supposed to end..." she took out one of her swords.
"Celeste, don't!" Audra cried, running towards her.
"Don' do it, mate!" Angelina yelled, running towards her as well.
"I have no choice..." Celeste sighed. "And don't you two come any closer!" They froze. She raised her sword to her wrist. "I'm coming, Jack." she said, and sliced her wrist open. Blood spilled over her arms and legs. And for a fleeting moment, she saw Jack's lifeless body sprawled out on the ground, blood leaking from his eyes.
"AHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Celeste screamed at the top of her lungs. She thrashed around under her warm blanket. "AHHHHH!!!!" she continued screaming.
She went limp, realizing she was alive. She sat bolt upright and felt her wrist. Nothing. She was alright. It was only a dream. Her heart beat quickly and her eyes were watering. She folded her arms around her knees. Deeply disturbed by the dream, she started sobbing into them.
Suddenly, Jack burst in.
"What is it? Wha's wrong?!" he exclaimed, looking around. Apparently, he had just hopped out of bed because he was clad in less than his usual many layers of clothing; he didn't have his boots on, nor his shirt. "Are you alrigh', love?" he hurried to her. She threw her arms around his neck and continued sobbing. "What is it?"
"I'm -- not -- going to let you -- die, Jack!" she whimpered, sobbing.
"Die?" he asked gently, confused, and putting one arm around her and patting the back of her head with the other hand. "Who said I was goin' to die?"
"In-in my dream, you --" she choked on her words and continued sobbing.
"Ah, it's jus' a nightmare, love, it's not real." he comforted. "Now, jus' don' think about it anymore. I'm not goin' anywhere, I'm righ' 'ere. You couldn' get rid o' me even if you wanted to. You've got me 'eart an' I can't very well go anywhere without that, now, can I?" He felt her smile and her crying faded.
"I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bothered you." Celeste dismissed. "Go back to bed. Don't worry about me."
"You'll be alrigh', then?" Jack asked. "I can stay 'till you fall asleep if you want."
"No. No, I'll be fine." she assured. "Go back to bed. I'm sorry I-- "
"'s alrigh'. No trouble at all, my love." he said. He kissed her head and made his way to the door. He turned to look at her. "Now, don' yell at me tomorrow for comin' into a lady's room." he joked. "I thought you were dyin' or somethin'."
"No. No, I won't." Celeste replied distantly as she lied down in her bed.
"I'm only jokin', love." Jack said.
"Uh, huh..." she trailed off, and turned over onto her side, away from him.
Suddenly, Jack gasped. Celeste turned over to see what he'd gasped at and she gasped as well. The two scars on his chest were leaking blood.
"Oh!" Celeste cried. "Stay here! Sit down, I'll go get something -- bandages or something!" She dashed out and ran down to the cargo hold. She tore through boxes and crates and finally found what she was looking for. She ran back upstairs to Jack, carrying bandages.
"Okay, here, er, we'll just -- patch that up, I suppose..." she hesitated. She wrapped the bandage around his chest with a panicked look on her face. "Okay -- okay..." she stuttered breathlessly. "You should be fine... How-how long were these... 'effects' supposed to last?"
"I don' know." Jack replied as she finished bandaging. "Spike didn' say."
"I hope not long..." she said, tears welling in her eyes.
"Oh, darling, wha's wrong?" he asked.
"I-I just--"
"Not thinkin' 'bout that nightmare again, are you?" he asked. "I'm not goin' to die. Not now, anyway. We all got to go someday, but..." tears rolled down her cheeks as he spoke. "Celeste, darling, don' cry." he told her, taking her hand. "I won' leave you for anythin'."
"I-I suppose not."
"I promise you, love." he said, tilting her chin so that she looked straight into his deep, brown eyes. "Does this look like a face that would lie?"
"Yes." she replied, smiling.
"Well, you're right." he said jokingly. "But I'm not lyin' now, savvy? Really, 'ave I ever given you reason not to trust me?"
"Do you really want me to answer that truthfully?" they laughed. "But, no. No, I trust you." He rested his head on her chest and she put her arms around him. "You're the only one I trust."
"The only one?" he asked. "Surely you must trust others than me."
"Not really." she replied. "I know people only too well. They so easily betray you... But you won't. You're right. I trust you."
"Alrigh'. Then trust that I won' leave. An' don' cry anymore. Not over me, anyway." Jack told her. "I told you I don' want me girl cryin' over me." As usual, Jack's voice was somewhat rough sounding, like his vocal chords were worn out from giving loud orders all day everyday. Yet, his voice was somewhat softened when he spoke to her, especially in a quieter tone. It was not the volume that softened his voice, but the emotion behind his words; this also made it clear that he meant what he said. He stood up.
She sighed and hugged him, never wanting to move or leave his embrace ever again. She shut her eyes tightly, wishing she'd never have to move from where she was. Her heart wrenched at the thought of being anywhere else.
She sighed. "Do you know how much it means, Jack?"
"'ow much what means, darling?" he asked, stroking her hair.
"I've just... never really been loved, I mean, really loved by anyone before. My family's love ran out swiftly, not that I care..." she sighed. "And, well... it just feels nice to know that someone cares. It's comforting to know that someone's there... That someone would miss me if something happened... Knowing that there's one person in the world that won't laugh when I trip... they'll help me up." She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat for a moment. "I guess we are a really unlikely pair, you and I."
"Why do you say that?" he asked curiously.
"It's obvious." she stated. "You're a pirate," ('nuff said), "and I'm a..."
"Good little girl?" he suggested.
"I suppose." she agreed. "But I just think it's so strange that of all the sailors on all the boats in all the ports... I would fall for you. I mean, I'm from a rich and proper family -- and you know how they are... And then you. Why you fell for me is a mystery." Jack laughed quietly. "I don't know what you liked about me, but--"
"Everything." Jack said. "Just... everything. You captivate me, love." He kissed her.
Suddenly, Will burst into the room, shortly followed by Elizabeth, Audra, and Angelina.
"Oh!" Celeste cried, flinging herself away from Jack and nearly falling over backwards. She turned the reddest red you could imagine. And then she realized that she (obviously) was in her nightclothes which consisted of a long, red, low-cut gown. Her eyes widened and she quickly covered herself as best she could by holding her arms up to her chest.
"Er, yes, everything's fine now!" Celeste rushed, embarrassed.
"Apparently." Angelina said sarcastically; the others bottled their laughter. Celeste shot Angelina a look that could've made a palm tree wilt.
"What happened?" Will asked. And, as though it had just dawned on them, they all got very shocked looks on their faces.
"Oh, no, no, no!" Celeste cried. "Nothing like that! I-I just -- had had a nightmare... By the way... what took you all so long to get here? I screamed quite a few minutes ago."
"Well, I ran to see if it was Elizabeth," Will explained, "and when I found out that it wasn't, I went to get dressed. I didn't want to go gallivanting around the ship not fully dressed."
"Oh, thanks for your concern, Mr. Turner." Celeste muttered sarcastically, folding her arms across her stomach, then quickly snapping them back up, remembering her attire.
"Well," Audra began, "Elizabeth came and told us to get dressed, and she ran off to do the same..."
"Well, I'm fine, we're fine, everyone's fine!" Celeste rushed. "Thanks for your concern, but if you please..." she gestured for them to leave.
"Oh, Jack," Audra gasped, spotting the bandages, "what happened?"
"Oh, er, those 'side-effects' Spike spoke of -- they seem to be kickin' in..." Jack said. "But I'm alrigh'."
"Yes, we're all fine here. Now, if you would be so kind as to let me return to... er..." she expected them to pipe up and say, 'okay, okay,' but they did not; they seemed to be wanting to know what it was she was going to return to, "to... to... to what I was doing..." They turned to leave, but Elizabeth stayed.
"Don't you think it proper that Jack lease as well?" Elizabeth added staunchly. "he is in a lady's room and all."
"Yes, he can leave when he's finished." Celeste replied quickly.
"Finished with what?" Elizabeth asked suspiciously.
"When I'm finished with him!" Celeste snapped, irritated. Elizabeth caught the implication and her lip curled disapprovingly.
"How indecent." Elizabeth muttered on the way out. Everyone else had gone.
Celeste went back to Jack and put her arms around his neck.
"You scare me a little sometimes, darling." Jack told her jokingly. She laughed and kissed him.
"Well, you'd better get back to bed." she told him.
"Any chance o' you comin' with me?" he asked, smirking. She let go of him, pouting, and slapped him hard in the face.
"How dare you?" she turned her back.
"Aye, I didn' think so..." he said, disappointed.
She got back into her bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. He turned to leave and she noticed something.
"Jack!" she gasped. He turned back to her. She jumped out of bed, grabbed Jack's arm and turned him around. "Your back! Oh, Jack, what happened?" There was one long scar across his right shoulder and at least five others on his upper back.
Jack sighed. "Adventures, fights, I'm a pirate, remember?"
"Oh, Jack!" she exclaimed and threw her arms around him, resting her head on his back. "I'm so sorry!"
"Why?" he asked bitterly. "Why does it bother you? Is it jus' too ugly to look at? Can you jus' not stand a flaw on your man?"
Her brow furrowed. "No. Not at all, Jack." she said sincerely, sounding hurt. "I jus' mean that... it hurt." she explained gently. "It looks like it hurt a lot... I don't want you to hurt... Why would you say I would think that? Do you really think I'm that kind of person?"
"No... No, I don'." he replied. "It's jus'... another sensitive subject, you know..." She released him and he turned to her.
"You wouldn't say it if you hadn't thought it at one time."
"No, I didn' mean it." he assured wearily. "Sensitive subject an' all..."
"Are there any others I should know about so I can avoid you yelling at me or being rude?" she asked angrily.
"Oh, darling, don' do that..."
"So, are you just going to say that you're sorry and you didn't mean it?" she asked angrily. "Like before?"
"I told you, it's a sensitive subject an' I am sorry." he said wearily.
"Well, don't take it out on me!" she scolded.
"Oh, quit bein' immature."
"Oh, make me!"
"Keep provin' me point, darling." he said.
"Jerk!" she cried.
"Baby!"
"Scalawag!"
"Pest!"
"Ruffian!"
"Nuisance!"
"Rascal!" she yelled.
"Burden!" he yelled. Just then, Will and Elizabeth appeared in the doorway to see what the racket was.
"Pig!" she cried and they stepped closer to each other threateningly.
"Brat!" he yelled. They glared angrily at each other for a moment and then, surprisingly, they wrapped their arms around each other and started kissing.
Will raised an eyebrow and Elizabeth looked disgusted.
"What an insane relationship." Elizabeth whispered, disgusted. "It's sick."
"Well, they're both rather... eccentric... you know." Will whispered back. "I guess they're perfect for each other..." Elizabeth scoffed and left the doorway; Will followed.
Celeste and Jack stepped away from each other.
"Er, sorry..." Celeste mumbled, blushing. "I, er, I don't know where that came from..."
"Aye, I, er..." Jack mumbled, glancing around the room awkwardly.
After a moment of awkward silence, Jack looked at Celeste.
"Where's the blue one?" he asked.
"What?"
"The blue one." he replied, smirking, and gestured to her nightgown.
"Ohh--" she sighed angrily. "Why do I love this man? Why do I love this man?" she mumbled as she turned from him and got back into bed.
"Ah, it's alrigh', I like this red one too." he smirked.
"How improper." Celeste said.
"Nigh', darling." he bid, laughing quietly.
"Yeah, yeah." she grumbled, and he left her room.
The next two days, they continued sailing to Ruby Falls. As they approached the city, Celeste began to worry.
"I really don't feel like setting foot on that island again..." she said. She was dressed in a pretty white dress. "Hey, Angelina, Audra, why don't you go for me? Please? You could ask... the governor or someone who owns the gem."
"Well..." Angelina contemplated.
"Sure we can." Audra agreed.
"Oh, thanks so much!" Celeste thanked them. "We can stay here. I don't think my family is trying to hunt me down anymore."
It was settled. Audra and Angelina set out to find who had the gem. They went to the governor and he did know who owned it. To their dismay, it was Celeste's family.
They decided to see if they could make a deal with the Wyndham's to get it. So, they made their way to the Wyndham Manor.
"Good day." the butler greeted as he answered the door.
"Good day." Audra greeted, "we are here to see Mr. Wyndham."
"Ah, please come in." he told them. They did. "If you will wait here for a moment, I will get him."
"Of course." Audra said.
A few minutes later, Mr. Wyndham walked in.
"Good day, Mr. Wyndham, how are you?" Audra greeted, shaking his hand. "Audra Giles. Do you remember me?"
"Of course, Miss Giles," he recalled, "how is your father?"
"He is well, thank you." Audra replied.
"Well, Celeste is not here. She no longer lives here, actually."
"Oh, is that so?" Audra asked. "Well, I am not here to see Celeste anyway. I am here... on my father's behalf." she lied. "He has recently acquired two Gems of Roslynn. We found out that you own the other, am I correct?"
"Yes, you are." he replied.
"Would you be interested in selling it?" Audra asked. "I would gladly pay you any amount you name within reasonable range."
"Well--"
"Henry?" called a voice from the next room. And in walked Marie, Celeste's stepmother. "Who is it?" she stood at Mr. Wyndham's side.
"Audra Giles and... oh, I forget your name..."
"Angelina... Price..." she replied. She knew that Celeste's family was never very fond of her since she was dirt poor.
"Yes, yes." Mr. Wyndham said. "Miss Giles says that her father is collecting the Gems of Roslynn. She is inquiring about ours."
"Oh, yes." Marie recalled in a fake-sweet voice. "Well, it really means a lot to us. And it is also very rare."
"Yes, but we are willing to pay a good price." Audra replied.
"You... wouldn't happen to have come in on that big black ship in the harbor, did you?" Marie asked.
"Why, yes..." Audra replied uneasily. "We did."
"Is Celeste with you?" Marie asked strictly. "I know she's been on that ship."
"What-what would make you think that?" Audra stuttered.
"We need to speak with her." Marie stated. "If you bring her here, we will give you the gem. That is the only way we will give it to you."
Audra and Angelina left the Wyndham manor and headed back to the Pearl.
"So, did you get it?" Celeste asked eagerly when they got back to the ship.
"Well... no." Audra hesitated. "You see, the owners of the gem are... your family." Celeste's heart sank.
"And... did you see them?" Celeste asked. "Did you ask them about the gem?"
"Yes." Audra replied.
"And... they won't sell it to you?" Celeste asked.
"Well... no." Audra said. "You see, the only way they'll give us the gem is if... we bring you to them."
"Why did you tell them I was with you?!" Celeste scolded.
"We didn't!" Audra retorted. "Marie... she guessed..."
Celeste sighed. "Fine. Fine, I'll go."
"I'm comin' with you, darling." Jack said. "I don' trust that man or that woman."
"No, Jack, just stay here." Celeste insisted. "My father is really a nice man as long as Marie isn't around."
"Well, I think I should come with you anyway."
"Look, the last time we were here, she told me to leave because I disgrace the family name." Celeste said. "She... may think... that we're pirates or--"
"Oh, well, I am definitely comin' with you, then." Jack pressed.
"Oh, fine." Celeste sighed. "Well, let's go, then... Audra, Angelina, please tell Mr. Gibbs to prepare to set sail immediately on our return. We'll be back in a hurry." They agreed and went off to find Gibbs.
After they'd done so, Jack, Celeste, Audra, and Angelina made their way to the Wyndham manor. The butler let them in and they tensely waited for what felt like impending doom.
"Good day." Marie simpered as she walked in with the green gem. "Thank you, Miss Giles, Miss... what was it?"
"Price. Angelina Price." Angelina said, rather frustrated.
"Yeah, whatever, anyway, here you are." Marie continued, not caring one bit about Angelina or bothering to apologize. She handed Audra the green gem. "You may be on your way."
"Like they need your permission." Celeste grumbled.
Audra hesitantly glanced at Celeste, who gave her a nod of reassurance to leave. Audra and Angelina left the manor, worried about what was going to happen.
"Well, well, Celeste." Marie sneered. "How are you?"
"I was doing fine." Celeste mumbled angrily.
"What was that?" Marie asked in a fake-polite voice.
"Er, why don't we talk in the garden?" Celeste suggested. "It's much more... pleasant there."
"Alright." Marie agreed. They made their way into the garden. Celeste edged towards the end of it, and Jack followed.
The garden was a large, open area, landscaped with green shrubs and colorful flowers. There was a low, waist-high fence on the three sides that weren't connected to the house to enclose the garden.
"You wanted to speak with me, Marie?" Celeste asked.
"Yes." Marie confirmed strictly. "This is quite a sorrowful subject. You see, I have reason to believe that you are a... pirate." she said with disgust.
"A pirate?" Celeste laughed. "What makes you think that?"
"That man." Marie said, pointing to Jack, but keeping her distance as if he was diseased. "He is Jack Sparrow. I know he is." Celeste glanced at Jack whose mouth twitched from hearing his name without the 'Captain' in front of it, but he had the brains to know not to correct her.
"Jack Sparrow?" Celeste chuckled. Jack twitched again. "Not a chance. Jack Sparrow is an ugly pirate, filthy. Not in the least bit charming."
"And you seem to have described this man here." Marie stated rudely.
"Marie, if you insult him one more time, I'll rip your tongue out." Celeste threatened, faking calm. Marie raised her eyebrows, but didn't speak. "Anyway, Jack Sparrow is a eunuch. This man is not."
"How would you know, you little slut?!" Marie asked angrily.
"Shut your mouth!" Celeste ordered. "How dare you! I know because he can't sing worth a darn."
'Yeah, she won't give me the chance to let her find out any other way...' Jack thought.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Marie commanded.
"I'm an adult, and I'll say what I want, you insolent wench!" Celeste yelled, Jack put an arm around her.
"Take your hands off her!" Marie ordered.
"Don't tell him what to do!" Celeste yelled. "Besides, when did you start caring what happens to me, anyway?"
"I don't! I just don't wan to see this filthy man hanging all over you!"
"He is not filthy and he is not 'hanging all over' me!" Celeste yelled. "Besides, I happen to love him. Something you obviously don't know anything about!"
"How dare you!" Marie exclaimed. "He's probably just paying you for night service!"
"Why do you all of a sudden figure I've gone and sold myself? I am not a slut!" Celeste retorted.
"Because I've always thought you were that kind of girl! Innocent on the outside, but--"
"What did I ever do to give you that--" she stopped and took a deep breath. "You know what, I really don't care. I didn't come here to insult. Even though I am rather enjoying it."
"Well, I know what you are, you pirate."
"Good for you, you whore." Celeste said bitterly. Jack raise his eyebrows at the language she was using -- and so much hate.
"GUARDS!" Marie yelled. And with that, three guards emerged from the house and into the garden.
"Okay..." Celeste said thoughtfully. "Er, time to run!" And she and Jack took off at top speed, hurtled over the fence, and ran off. The guards followed.
Jack and Celeste ran off over to the ledge of a large wall. They were at the top, and it was about a ten to twelve foot drop. There was a rope descending from a scaffolding a few feet away from them. Jack grabbed onto it and slid down. Just before he landed, though, the wooden bar that the rope was tied to snapped and broke.
"Oh, no!" Celeste cried, looking down at Jack. "What do I do?" The guards were approaching fast.
"Jump!" Jack yelled.
"What!?" Celeste exclaimed.
"Jump! I'll catch you!" Jack yelled. Celeste shut her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened them again and jumped.
"Ahhh!" she screamed as she struggled to keep her dress from flying up. She landed in Jack's arms and he started running.
He smirked. "Wasn' a bad view from where I was standin'."
"Oh, I would slap you if we weren't fleeing for our lives!" Celeste scolded. "I owe you one!" He laughed and glanced back: the guards had taken another route.
"There were stairs?!" Celeste exclaimed, looking back. "I risked my life for nothing!"
"You didn' risk your life," Jack said, still running, and not daring to stop even for a moment to put her down, "I wouldn' 'ave let you fall." She smiled, but then looked back and a panicked look appeared on her face.
Suddenly, Jack stopped. Celeste looked over and saw that they were on a ledge that dropped into the water.
"Oh, no." Celeste panicked. "What do we do now?"
"Jus'... er..." Jack hesitated. "Swim!"
"What--" but just as she started to object, he tossed her into the water; he jumped in as Well. They swam at top speed (Celeste was lagging behind -- she wasn't as fast a swimmer as Jack, and she was clad in a big dress).
Finally, they came to a low ledge where they hoisted themselves out of the water. They ran, sopping wet, through the streets. They could hear guards running far behind them. Finally, they came to the dock and dashed onto the Pearl.
"Go! Set sail! Hurry!" Celeste yelled while Jack pulled the gangplank aboard with the help of Gibbs and Mr. Cotton.
The guards caught up, raised their guns, and shot at the ship.
The sails went up and the Pearl set sail out of Ruby Falls.
Hooray! Another chapter has been completed! Yessss, Precious! I mean, hooray... Not talking to meself... never... heh heh... Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! I shall be posting more soon! Review, me hearties!