AN: sighs Sadly, this installment of the Sui Generis saga is almost over. I'm sad to say that there are only two or three chapters left until it's completed. I thank all of my loyal reviewers and all of my new ones that have given their thoughts and praise. I hope you all continue to read this story and then the next story after this one. As for the contest, all of you who are still deciding to enter, I will wait one week after this one is finished until I choose a winner. So I hope more of you enter soon! Hope you enjoy!
"For a second, I wish the tide would swallow every inch of this city as you gasp for air tonight/ I'd scream this song right in your face if you were here/ I swear I won't miss a beat because I never have before."
Story of the Year; Anthem of our Dying Day
Silver and Gold
Chapter Sixteen: Plans Portrayed
The gunshot rang out in the crowd, neatly severing the rope as it fell. A figure flew through the onlookers, a blur of red and white and with a flash of steel. This would be a day no one would forget. A day when one would escape, but they would gain another unexpected prisoner.
-----------------
Hours earlier . . .
The little wooden door slid open with a thud, the small screen still separating them. The priest glanced through the small screen at the young woman kneeling in the other chamber, her head bowed. Her head lifted slightly, giving the priest a glimpse of flashing gold eyes.
Her eyes held his for a moment, his breath catching in his throat. There was something about this woman, something dangerous. And, God forgive him, something unnatural.
"Forgive me Father for I have sinned," she began, her voice low. "It has been twenty-five years since my last confession."
The priest's eyes widened. Twenty-five years? No normal patron of the church would go that long without confessing. Who was this woman?
"I have had thoughts of revenge, of murder. I have been wronged and I have been hunted. I have been killed and I have survived. I have loved and it has been taken away from me. I want it back.
"He accused me and I won't have that. I cannot allow that."
"Accused of what, my child?"
The woman's eyes flashed again. "Piracy."
The priest drew away quickly. "P-piracy? And were his accusations correct?"
A smirk crossed her face. "Yes. I am a pirate. As God is my witness, I will get my revenge. He has taken my life, my love and I will have it returned to me."
Before he could respond, the woman was gone, the curtain rustling behind her. The priest pushed aside his own curtain quickly, attempting to catch a glimpse of the woman. A flash of red hair met his eyes. The woman was walking away, the skirt of her simple shift twirling around her feet.
-----------------
A few minutes ago . . .
Lor stood silently at the edge of the crowd, her gold eyes narrowed against the mid-day sun. The crowd muttered around her, talking about how lucky it was that this pirate had been caught. She fingered the sword hilt at her waist, her other hand touching the pistol at her chest. He wouldn't hang. Not if she could help it.
"Lor, please do not do this."
Her eyes didn't flicker and for a moment she didn't reply. "Go home Tyler. You don't need to be here."
"Neither do you. It is a death sentence if you do this."
"Only if I get caught."
Tyler sighed. "Which you will. Look around you. There are naval officers everywhere, as well as that Captain Mason that you dislike so much. You will be caught and executed."
"Go home Tyler. I don't want you here."
"No, Lor. I have to talk you . . ."
Lor's pistol was pointed in his face before he could blink. She turned to him slowly, her gold eyes flashing. Tyler drew back quickly away from her eyes. They bore hatred and anger. Eyes so cold they could freeze someone with terror.
"Go away Tyler," she said through clenched teeth. "I don't want you here nor do I need you here. Go away or by God I will shoot you myself."
Tyler opened his mouth to reply, but shut it quickly. Her arm was unwavering, the pistol hovering right between his eyes. He sighed, knowing he would never win this battle of wills. "Be careful, then," he whispered and then, with one last look into her eyes, turned away from her and walked slowly away.
Lor watched him walk away for a moment and then turned back to the crowd in front of her, her arm falling to her side. She blinked, her eyes watching the two men standing behind Jack, one man reading the list of his crimes, the other the black hooded executioner.
"May God have mercy on your soul," the man called out, stepping back slightly.
Lor lifted her right arm again, aiming for the thin rope connected to Jack's neck. The second the door beneath his feet opened, she fired, the bullet severing the rope cleanly. The crowd screamed and ducked and moved aside as Lor bolted past them, a blur of red hair and white shift, and a flash of steel as she withdrew her blade.
Sparks flew as her sword connected with the sword of the first soldier to intercept her. She blocked his swing and struck out at him with her free hand, punching him squarely in the jaw. The second soldier that came at her she took out with a simple kick to the groin. She ducked a third, bringing her sword up to slice him across the chest.
Jack struggled against the roped that bound his hands. He looked up at her as she stepped up, her sword raised. He nodded, holding his hands out. Lor slashed her sword quickly, severing the ropes at his wrists.
"Go. Go to yer ship," Lor said, her eyes staring into his. "I'll meet ya there."
"I ain't leavin' ya love."
"Don't argue with me Jack!" she cried. "Just do what I say! Get out of here! I'm not risking my life to save you just so you can get caught again."
Jack looked at her, shaking his head. "I'm not . . ."
Lor grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him to her, capturing his lips in a short but rough kiss. Seconds later she pushed him away, pointing over his shoulder.
"Run, Jack. Get away from here. Before they catch us, go."
"Lor . . ."
Lor shoved his shoulder roughly, causing him to stumble slightly. "Go Jack!" she yelled, her eyes flashing.
"I . . ."
Lor swung at him. Jack ducked before her punch hit him, jumping away from her. "Go!" she screamed.
Jack stared at her for a moment, his eyes taking in the picture she presented. Her red hair hung in tangles about her face, her eyes narrowed in anger mixed with sadness. The shift she wore was bloodied and dirty, her feet were bare. He didn't deserve a woman like this. Not one who would risk her own life to protect his.
"I'll be back, love," he said, turning away from her. "I'll see ya tonight."
And he ran, his heart rending.
Lor turned back around, her sword raised in front of her. Six soldiers stood before her, rifles raised. She tilted her head, taking in the dozen or more that surrounded her. She could hear more soldiers running after Jack. She smirked. They wouldn't find him. He was much too clever.
"I knew that you would show your true colors sooner or later," a voice said. "All I had to do was wait."
Lor bristled in anger. "So I suppose you think you got what you wanted."
"Oh, quite. You see, now, I'll finally get to see you swing. Surrender now. Drop your weapons and surrender."
Lor looked around her at the dozens of soldiers surrounding her, and then at the crowd in back on them. She could easily take out a few of the soldiers, but it wouldn't be enough. There were too many.
Lor's eyes narrowed as she lowered her arm. The sword fell from her hand, clattering on the stone ground. Four soldiers jumped on her immediately, pulling her arms behind her back and tightening shackles around her wrists.
Mason stepped up to her, a smirk on his face. "Take her to the brig, gentlemen. By this time tomorrow, her pretty little neck will stretch."
Lor smirked up at him and then threw her head forward, slamming her forehead into Mason's face. He fell back, one hand going to cover his nose, blood streaming through his fingers. One of the soldiers behind her slammed his fist into the back of her head, effectively stopping her from putting up any more resistance.
As the soldiers dragged her away, Lor turned her head to glance behind her, catching a glimpse of Mason glaring at her, his hand still covering half of his face. Lor smirked; it had just become a better day.
-----------------
Footsteps echoed down the stone steps. Lor looked up from her spot on the ground, lifting her chin off of her folded arms. When she noticed her grandfather standing in front of her cell, she looked back down.
"They should not hold you in such a place," he said.
Lor rolled her eyes. "This is where they hold pirates. Just be thankful they didn't take me to the Tower."
Neither one spoke for a moment, Jeremy staring down at Lor while she continued to stare at the floor.
"I'm sorry if I disappointed you," Lor said, breaking the silence.
"Disappointed me? Why would you think that?"
"Because I proved to be a pirate and not a lady, like you hoped."
Jeremy shook his head slowly, a small smile crossing his face. "No, my dear, you proved to be yourself. And you proved to be so much like you father."
"Oh? How so? Because I'm a pirate?"
"No, because you have followed in your father's footsteps," he paused. "You have risked your life, and your future, for the one you love."
Lor's head jerked up. "What are you talking about?"
Jeremy sighed, his hand going to his coat pocket and removing a worn letter from it. He opened it slowly, carefully, his eyes scanning the faded words. "This was the letter your father left me when he left all those years ago. The one letter explaining why he did what he did and why he left.
"You see, it did not happen the way you would imagine. He did not dislike his way of life. No. He left for love. You see, he met Aeryn in a tavern and they fell in love. It nearly killed him when she was arrested. Risking his own life, he broke her free and ran away with her, giving up his life to become a pirate."
"I don't understand."
Jeremy smiled again. "Don't you see my dear? Your mother was a pirate. She enticed Timothy's curiosity about the carefree life of a pirate. He knew that the only way they could be together would be if they ran away, leaving England behind.
"I see your mother in you. Your eyes and face. Your voice. And yet you have the spirit of your father."
"You knew my mother?"
"I met her once, yes. Spirited woman, she was. Very striking. The moment I saw her I knew why she had drawn Timothy's attention. She had a fire in her eyes, much like you do."
"Lord Adams? It is time to go," a soldier interrupted, coming up behind him.
"Yes, of course," Jeremy replied, turning to him slightly. "One more moment, please."
He turned back to Lor, holding his hand through the bars. "Come here my dear," he said.
Lor looked at his hand for a moment and then stood up, brushing the dust off of her shift. She walked to him, taking his hand in her own. "You are a beautiful woman, my dear," he whispered. "And you will not hang."
Lor's eyes narrowed in confusion. "What?"
Jeremy smiled sweetly and kissed her forehead. "Take care, Lor. I will see you soon."
And then he left with the soldier, leaving a confused Lor standing in her cell.
-----------------
DON'T FORGET!!! The contest for the preview to the first chapter of the third story in the Sui Generis series is still going on! The submitted articles should be a poem or scene that includes Jack and Lor as the main characters. You should submit them via e-mail to PirateGyrl at The contest will continue until the end of Silver and Gold. The winner of this contest will receive the chapter via e-mail when SaG is complete. In the subject space, type "Lor/Jack contest" so I know what the e-mail is about. Remember, it's no fun if no one enters the contest! I hope you all participate!
Next: Chapter 17: Rescues and Fights.
Dawnie-7: Yes, the dream was creepy, but I wanted it to be that way. I'm glad you like the moment between them, I thought it was pretty cute too.
DaydreamBeliever14: Thank you very much!
Goth Princess: I'm glad you like it! Well, I hope you liked how Lor saved him. I've been planning this since, like, the beginning of the story. I hope I updated quick enough for you! ; P