DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl or any of the characters included in the package. I do like to play with them and often end up giving them back worse for the wear. (Especially Captain Jack Sparrow!) ;
CLAIMER: I do, however, own the plot of this story and all my OC therein. Some stay around, some don't. That's life, ne?
Part 9: A Change in the Tides
The pure exhaustion and a rare vulnerability that resided just underneath the carefully placed guards in Jack's eyes were visible. Will took in a sharp breath and concern appeared on his features.
"Not a word lad. Ana's been givin' me an earful fer th' last hour."
Will abruptly tried to hide his worry, but the pirate's intense stare seemed to cut through all of the blacksmith's defenses.
"Dismissed."
Will sprung from his chair, suddenly filled with a fearful anxiety the likes of which he had never felt before. Jack watched in exhausted amusement as the young blacksmith stumbled hastily from the cabin. On the plus side, the lad still had his wits about him; a quiet 'Thank you Captain Sparrow' carried from the doorway as Will made his way back out on deck. Jack grinned lazily, but the grin disappeared as Ana took Will's seat and the door closed with an ominous creak.
"Ana-"
Before Jack could continue, Ana set food out on the table with a threatening glint in her eyes. Meekly, Jack reached for an apple and took a hesitant bite. The gush of sweet juice seemed to fuse instantly with his blood and he took another bite quickly, hungering for the fruit's delicious nourishment.
Finally realizing that Ana was watching him with a triumphant smirk, he paused before finishing the piece in his mouth. He placed the half-finished apple core on the tabletop and leaned forward on his elbows, staring Ana straight in the face.
"Ye disappointed me Ana."
Ana's eyebrow rose in silent question and the tension in the room seemed to double. "Tha' so?"
Jack nodded, the ghost of a grin playing across his lips. "Ye set out from port wit'out my order an' ye let a stowaway remain on board."
"Not my fault ye fell asleep."
Jack grinned outright, thinking her caught. "Ah, but it is. Ye see luv, if t'weren't fer yer little 'bargain', I would 'ave been standin' at th' helm all along and I could've taken care o' everything, savvy?"
"But how long would that've lasted? Ye hadn't had enough rest. Who's t' say ye'd've lasted more'n five minutes?"
Jack sensed the challenge in her voice and he inwardly leapt at the dare, but was careful not to let his excitement show. "I'm t' say." Ana's face darkened further, but Jack was quick to speak. "And, as fer our agreement, s'more like guidelines. I've eaten now."
Ana's anger finally broke free. She bolted to her feet with a dark scowl and, pausing only to consider slapping him, she disappeared from the cabin, slamming the door in her wake.
"She'll be fine," Jack whispered to himself with a lazy grin and propped his feet back up on the table, allowing his eyes to drift shut beneath the brim of his trusty hat.
Jack found himself in an eerily familiar fog-encompassed clearing. His gaze was everywhere at once, determined not to fall into her hands again. As he swung around, the charm he had received from his last encounter with the mysterious woman thumped lightly against his muscular chest before shaking free of his shirt. Starting in surprise, Jack faltered back before realizing the cause of the sensation. He grasped the amulet tightly in a fist and continued scanning the fog for any sign of the woman.
He found none.
"Pharaoh."
Jack shied at the sudden voice before internally chiding himself for being so jumpy. He had defeated this strange woman once before and he knew he could beat her again if need be.
"Pharaoh, I bring no threat." A feminine figure stepped from the swirling fog and when Jack turned to face her, he was stunned to find a woman very different from the one he thought he would find.
"Wait…ye called me 'pharaoh'. Wha' does 'at mean?"
"You, my pharaoh, are the sole ruler of Egypt."
"Egypt…" Jack's memories of the talk at the tavern returned in a rush and he recalled Dozell speaking of some 'Egyptian Treasure'. He could only assume the two were connected somehow. "Ye've got th' wrong man, lass."
The woman shook her delicate head and her raven locks seemed to swirl about her person, a stark contrast to the off-white of her robes.
"I've ne'er e'en seen this place! How can I rule it?!"
"Return. Your homeland needs you."
"Last I checked, th' Caribbean was fine." Jack crossed his arms, slipping the amulet back beneath his shirt and quickly putting up a façade of indifference.
"Go back to your Egypt, pharaoh."
"I'm not goin' anywhere jus' because ye tol' me to!"
"Go."
Jack toppled from his chair with a yelp of surprise as the Pearl suddenly spun around. Both he and the chair landed soundly on the hard wooden planks and he grasped madly for his hat as the ship righted itself, evidently facing the opposite direction. With a growl, Jack dragged himself to his feet, staggered, then stormed out onto the deck. He immediately turned angry eyes up on the helmsman who, much to his surprise, was lying dumbfounded on the deck.
"Wha' was tha'!?" Jack demanded, his eyes burning angrily.
"I swear 't wasn't me, sir!"
Deciding to go with his better judgment, Jack turned away from the helm and consulted a compass that really did point north. "S'not bloody possible…"
"Captain Sparrow! What was that?!"
Jack glanced over his shoulder and saw Dozell, Will, and Chelsea dashing onto the main deck, but quickly turned his attention back to the compass in his hand. The creak of the rigging shifting didn't register until Ana appeared at his side with an angry, yet curious, expression. She looked over his shoulder at the compass and took in a sharp breath. With an irritated glance at Ana, Jack snapped the compass shut and reentered his cabin with a measured gait. After all, when dealing with pirates, one can never show a weakness of any kind nor can one be caught off-guard.
As Jack kicked off his boots, tossed off his hat, and set to pouring over the maps they had of the area, he didn't notice the silent entrance of one of the hairier members of the crew. Padding across the cabin floor on soundless feet, the intruder was careful not to announce his presence. Slinking under the table to rest for a moment, the soundless stalker set his eyes on his prize.
Fast as lightning, he lunged forward.
Crashing sounds, curses, and the thuds of a chase resonated from Jack's cabin, drawing curious stares from everyone on deck. Moments later, Kona burst from the cabin with something clenched between his jaws and Jack stumbled after, his boots and hat missing.
"Give it back, ye bloody beast!" Jack yelled, shaking a fist as the dog thundered up the quarterdeck stairs. "Chelsea!!"
Chelsea stepped forward, trying her hardest to keep a straight face. "Yes Captain?"
"Would ye kindly lock yer mutts up so they don' steal anythin' more?" From his tone, it was obvious that Jack was trying to contain his vexation.
"Would you like me to get back what he stole first, Captain Sparrow?"
Jack nodded, his expression slightly strained. Chelsea allowed herself to laugh a bit before whistling. The sound easily drew the massive dog down from the quarterdeck and he trotted triumphantly over to plop himself at Chelsea's feet.
"Good boy," Chelsea praised, patting the dog on the head and easily taking the battered, slime-covered leather hat from between the animal's teeth. She presented it to Jack with an embarrassed, but amused, grin and watched silently as Jack took it, his lip curling up in disgust.
"Thank…ye…" he muttered, wiping the slime off on Kona's back, much to the dog's delight. With a small yip of joy, Kona was pinning Jack to the deck and covering the pirate captain's face with sloppy kisses. Chelsea stepped in quickly, yanking Kona away by his collar and holding him in place while Jack stood and wiped his face on his shirtsleeves multiple times. "Very much," Jack finished with a growl and a glare at the large dog, who whined. "Now lock 'im in yer cabin."
Chelsea quietly did as she was told, dragging Kona below with her.
Jack sighed, wiped a hand down his face, and then went to lean on the ship's railing. His warm amber eyes listlessly hovered over the waves lapping at the Pearl's hull and he allowed himself to be drawn momentarily into the sea's lull as his mistress pulled all the exhaustion from him with her gentle spray. It was awhile before he noticed Ana's presence at his side. He instantly stiffened and the sea's calming, revitalizing spell broke.
"Daft pirate," Ana muttered lovingly, putting a gentle hand on his arm.
Jack refused to look at her, choosing the beauty of the sea instead, but his inquiry was directed at her. "Why now, luv?"
"Jus' because someone comes near, d'you really have t' withdraw? If so I'll leave." She dropped her hand and slowly turned away from the sea, waiting for his reaction.
She was not disappointed.
Jack's hand snaked out and gently wrapped around her arm but he did not speak a word. Ana turned back to the rail and leaned forward on it, letting her shoulder rest lightly against his, taking comfort in the contact.
"Jack, will ye tell me wha's wrong?" She observed him from the corner of her eye and was slightly concerned when he continued to stare blankly at the gently rolling blanket of water. There was some unknown emotion deep in his eyes that was becoming ever more apparent as he gazed longingly at the sea. "There's somethin' wrong…"
Finally, Jack drew his intent look away from the soothingly undulating waves and looked at her with the hint of a smile meant to assure. "It seems she has spoken."
Ana's brow pinched and she turned her head to look Jack straight in the eye, internal defenses suddenly taking their places. "Who? If it's her again, then I'll kill 'er."
"No, her," Jack corrected, jerking his head towards the sea. "It seems as though we're going after Dozell's treasure after all."
Review Thanks:
JackFan2: -zips lips where the voice is concerned- Can't say fer sure mate, just keep reading, savvy? XD I'm glad you think the flashback thingies are working, I was worried they wouldn't. So many questions, so few words, aye? LOL. Well, those questions will eventually be answered…eventually…
bittersweet46: Me? Do something to Jack? You must be mistaken…it's HER fault! -points at muse who growls- See? Vicious thing. LOL. Thanks for the review!
Lykosdracos: Yes, apologies, it was a semblance of a cliffy…oops? Well, it is a good question of Jack's sanity I suppose…-sigh- Well, thanks very much for reviewing! I really like your stories too!
[a/n: Please review, I really appreciate seeing the readers' comments!]