Usual disclaimers... but then you should be used to that by now!
Thank you to those good people that reviewed so far, especially to Spazzz316 – welcome!
In answer to BlueTrinity who I thought had gotten lost – no James the Donkey in this tale, but plenty of cat! And yes, James the Donkey got his harem and went and lived happily ever after surrounded by lady donkeys – happy now?
Okay... on with chapter 2 and more of our favourite pirate!
###
Chapter 2 - A Hand In The Dark
Jack eased the stiff blue door open, the moonlight lighting the young woman's face as she lay asleep. He grinned, realising how deeply she slept, soft breaths coming from her slightly open mouth, white blonde hair splayed across her face. Quietly he rummaged around the hut, the moonlight giving him ample light to see, but he found nothing and he quickly realised there was no where she could hide anything in the ramshackle building. He had been hoping the map would be easy to find but he quickly realised it was not there - she must have hidden it somewhere else.
He turned to the young woman, frowning as she whimpered in her sleep. He had been hoping to get the map without disturbing her, but needs be as needs must - and he needed the map. Leaning across her sleeping body, his hand reached to cover her mouth.
Bessie's eyes flickered open, staring up at the looming shadow that filled her vision, the terror of her dream becoming reality. She started to scream, but her cries were quickly muffled by a calloused hand. "Where is it?" Jack demanded. "Where's th' bloody map?"
She struggled wildly before remembering she was naked beneath the blanket, pulling back from the man that held her. She shook her head, grey eyes wide with fright.
"If I move m' hand yer word yer'll not scream?" the dark man said.
She nodded desperately, relieved when he moved his dirty hand from her mouth, but he did not move back. His presence still loomed over her, his braided, beaded hair dangling before her face. "Please Sir," she begged. "I don't know what you are talking about..." She prayed he would believe her - her wide eyes had fooled the last pirate on Barbados.
"The map!" Jack cursed her for playing the innocent. No child of that pirate could possibly be innocent, let alone so naïve to think he would believe such an act. "Horace Masters' bloody map! Where is it?" he demanded.
"I don't know what you mean!" she pleaded, backing away from him in fright. Clearly this pirate was not as gullible as she had hoped.
"Yer are Bessie Masters! Don't deny it!" he slurred, his grip tightening on her wrist. "Now where is the map?"
"Please," she cried, absolutely terrified. "I don't know where any map is... honestly Sir!" She looked up at him, trembling. "Don't hurt me..." she whispered. "Please..."
Jack felt a little ashamed at the terror he was inflicting on the girl. "Come now Bessie, just tell me an' I'll be on m' way," Jack tempted, his voice softening. "An' yer'll forget I was ever 'ere like... savvy?" He grinned on seeing that the blanket had slipped, revealing her body. His hand cupped her right breast, his thumb playing with her nipple. "D' yer always sleep naked Bessie?" he asked, a predatory grin on his face.
With a start she bolted, wrenching her wrist from his grasp as she dashed from the bed, running for the door. "Dammit!" Jack cursed. "Come back Missy!" He threw himself after her, easily wrestling her to the ground and pinning her beneath him. This was not going how he had planned.
She looked up at him, aware of her nakedness and crying with fright. "Please..." she sobbed. "I don't know about the map..."
He glanced down at her, catching her eyes. He realised she was absolutely terrified, shaking with fear at the thought she would be raped. He released one of her hands, tracing the outline of her cheek with his finger, feeling his body respond to their intimate position. "Are yer a maiden Bessie..." he groaned, "do I frighten yer that much..." The moonlight lit her tear-stained face as she stared up at him, her eyes wide with terror. He leaned down to kiss her but paused, his lips on hers as he heard heavy booted feet marching along the path. Damn, the watch were early! "Later Missy," he whispered, scrambling to his feet. He left her there on the ground and flew out of the door, disappearing into the shadows before he could be seen for it would do his plan little good to be caught by them.
He paused briefly, glancing back and smiling to see her pale form in the moonlight struggling to shut the door. Obviously she did not want the watch asking questions either. He would remain and see what she did. If she fled the island then she would probably take the map with her and then he would have it and her! Perhaps some good could still come out of the night's debacle. He melted into the night, heading towards the docks. He needed a whore and a rum and he was not fussed what order they came in, as long as he got them quickly and he got them both!
###
Bessie looked about warily as she walked to work the next day along the narrow path. Her hair was tidy, her face was clean and her dress dry from the night before, but she had slept little though and dark rings lined her grey eyes.
Before she had always been able to flee from the pirates, but now she could not for she had no money and therefore no way of leaving this island. Always they wanted the map, her cursed father's map - but she did not have it nor did she have any clue as to where it might be. Her mother had wanted nothing to do with piracy and when she had discovered Horace's true profession had fled with her young daughter. She had never seen her father again for he had been killed a few months after they left, hanged by the authorities at Port Royal, but still pirates pursued her in the belief that she would have the map as they sought his legendary treasure.
She trudged wearily through the town and up to the great house where she worked, entering via the servants' door to the rear of the imposing property. Mildred Bessel the cook smiled at her, spooning a bowl of breakfast from a large pot bubbling on the range. "You're late," she warned. "Thomas has been looking for you." Bessie nodded, quickly saying Grace before eating eagerly She knew it would be the only food she would get until dark that night. Mildred frowned, looking at Bessie carefully. "Are you alright child, you look tired?"
"I just didn't sleep much last night," she explained, flinching as she heard her name shouted from across the corridor.
"Bessie! Bessie! The lobby floor needs scrubbing! Where are you, you slovenly wench?" Thomas Watts shouted, striding into the kitchen. "Get your bucket," he ordered "and get to work!"
With a frightened squeak Bessie jumped up, leaving half her breakfast despite her hunger. She dashed to get her bucket before he could come anywhere near her, having had enough bruises from the previous day. She was grateful to hear Mildred stop Thomas and ask him questions about the menu for the day, glad of her delaying tactics. But she knew she would feel his anger later that day and trembled at the thought. Filling her bucket with soapy water she struggled to the lobby and started to scrub the stone floor, trying to make herself as small as possible in the hope he would not notice her.
She kept her head down when she heard footsteps approaching. It was him - she knew his ponderous tread anywhere. "My office when you've done - and no slacking!"
"Yes Thomas," she whispered, shaking. His attentions were the last thing she needed with her present state of nerves, but she took a deep breath and carried on scrubbing until the lobby floor was spotless, emptying her bucket before knocking on his office door.
"Come!" he ordered, smiling when he saw it was her. "Close the door behind you!" He waited for her to obey his orders. "You were late this morning!" he accused. "Why?"
"I am sorry Thomas, I did not sleep well last night..." she evaded. There was absolutely no way she could tell him the truth that she had spent the night crouched in the corner of her hut fearful of the pirate returning for that would get her in even more trouble than simply being late.
"I see," he glowered, reaching for his switch. "Bend over the desk!"
"Please Thomas..." she begged, tears welling in her eyes.
He lifted her skirt up, revealing her legs to mid-thigh level. She prayed he would go no further for she could not even afford undergarments. "You could give yourself to me," he suggested, his podgy hand stroking her bare leg before bringing the switch down sharply across the backs of her thighs. "Things would be so much easier for you then..."
"I have given you my answer," she cried, gasping in pain. "It is wrong!"
"Well that is a pity," he sighed. "Your God won't keep you warm at night - but I could..." He let his suggestion linger, snarling when she did not answer. "But you were ten minutes late and that is one switch for every minute..." He brought the switch down again, harder this time. "For each leg. Perhaps that will teach you to hurry along a little quicker tomorrow?"
"Yes Thomas," she sobbed as he brought the switch down again and again on her legs, red welts rising on her pale flesh. She shuddered when he finished, grateful when he smoothed her skirt down, his hand resting suggestively on her bottom.
"You may go," he ordered. "I want the ballroom floor scrubbed before you leave tonight, however late that is and you will report to me before you leave. Is that clear?"
"Yes Thomas," she whispered, her legs shaking.
"Go!" he ordered.
She fled his office, refilling her bucket and setting to cleaning the floor of the ballroom. The room was vast and it would be very late before she would finish.
###
Right... that's it! I need more reviews – and hopefully the site will be working properly for a while!
Thank you to those good people that reviewed so far, especially to Spazzz316 – welcome!
In answer to BlueTrinity who I thought had gotten lost – no James the Donkey in this tale, but plenty of cat! And yes, James the Donkey got his harem and went and lived happily ever after surrounded by lady donkeys – happy now?
Okay... on with chapter 2 and more of our favourite pirate!
###
Chapter 2 - A Hand In The Dark
Jack eased the stiff blue door open, the moonlight lighting the young woman's face as she lay asleep. He grinned, realising how deeply she slept, soft breaths coming from her slightly open mouth, white blonde hair splayed across her face. Quietly he rummaged around the hut, the moonlight giving him ample light to see, but he found nothing and he quickly realised there was no where she could hide anything in the ramshackle building. He had been hoping the map would be easy to find but he quickly realised it was not there - she must have hidden it somewhere else.
He turned to the young woman, frowning as she whimpered in her sleep. He had been hoping to get the map without disturbing her, but needs be as needs must - and he needed the map. Leaning across her sleeping body, his hand reached to cover her mouth.
Bessie's eyes flickered open, staring up at the looming shadow that filled her vision, the terror of her dream becoming reality. She started to scream, but her cries were quickly muffled by a calloused hand. "Where is it?" Jack demanded. "Where's th' bloody map?"
She struggled wildly before remembering she was naked beneath the blanket, pulling back from the man that held her. She shook her head, grey eyes wide with fright.
"If I move m' hand yer word yer'll not scream?" the dark man said.
She nodded desperately, relieved when he moved his dirty hand from her mouth, but he did not move back. His presence still loomed over her, his braided, beaded hair dangling before her face. "Please Sir," she begged. "I don't know what you are talking about..." She prayed he would believe her - her wide eyes had fooled the last pirate on Barbados.
"The map!" Jack cursed her for playing the innocent. No child of that pirate could possibly be innocent, let alone so naïve to think he would believe such an act. "Horace Masters' bloody map! Where is it?" he demanded.
"I don't know what you mean!" she pleaded, backing away from him in fright. Clearly this pirate was not as gullible as she had hoped.
"Yer are Bessie Masters! Don't deny it!" he slurred, his grip tightening on her wrist. "Now where is the map?"
"Please," she cried, absolutely terrified. "I don't know where any map is... honestly Sir!" She looked up at him, trembling. "Don't hurt me..." she whispered. "Please..."
Jack felt a little ashamed at the terror he was inflicting on the girl. "Come now Bessie, just tell me an' I'll be on m' way," Jack tempted, his voice softening. "An' yer'll forget I was ever 'ere like... savvy?" He grinned on seeing that the blanket had slipped, revealing her body. His hand cupped her right breast, his thumb playing with her nipple. "D' yer always sleep naked Bessie?" he asked, a predatory grin on his face.
With a start she bolted, wrenching her wrist from his grasp as she dashed from the bed, running for the door. "Dammit!" Jack cursed. "Come back Missy!" He threw himself after her, easily wrestling her to the ground and pinning her beneath him. This was not going how he had planned.
She looked up at him, aware of her nakedness and crying with fright. "Please..." she sobbed. "I don't know about the map..."
He glanced down at her, catching her eyes. He realised she was absolutely terrified, shaking with fear at the thought she would be raped. He released one of her hands, tracing the outline of her cheek with his finger, feeling his body respond to their intimate position. "Are yer a maiden Bessie..." he groaned, "do I frighten yer that much..." The moonlight lit her tear-stained face as she stared up at him, her eyes wide with terror. He leaned down to kiss her but paused, his lips on hers as he heard heavy booted feet marching along the path. Damn, the watch were early! "Later Missy," he whispered, scrambling to his feet. He left her there on the ground and flew out of the door, disappearing into the shadows before he could be seen for it would do his plan little good to be caught by them.
He paused briefly, glancing back and smiling to see her pale form in the moonlight struggling to shut the door. Obviously she did not want the watch asking questions either. He would remain and see what she did. If she fled the island then she would probably take the map with her and then he would have it and her! Perhaps some good could still come out of the night's debacle. He melted into the night, heading towards the docks. He needed a whore and a rum and he was not fussed what order they came in, as long as he got them quickly and he got them both!
###
Bessie looked about warily as she walked to work the next day along the narrow path. Her hair was tidy, her face was clean and her dress dry from the night before, but she had slept little though and dark rings lined her grey eyes.
Before she had always been able to flee from the pirates, but now she could not for she had no money and therefore no way of leaving this island. Always they wanted the map, her cursed father's map - but she did not have it nor did she have any clue as to where it might be. Her mother had wanted nothing to do with piracy and when she had discovered Horace's true profession had fled with her young daughter. She had never seen her father again for he had been killed a few months after they left, hanged by the authorities at Port Royal, but still pirates pursued her in the belief that she would have the map as they sought his legendary treasure.
She trudged wearily through the town and up to the great house where she worked, entering via the servants' door to the rear of the imposing property. Mildred Bessel the cook smiled at her, spooning a bowl of breakfast from a large pot bubbling on the range. "You're late," she warned. "Thomas has been looking for you." Bessie nodded, quickly saying Grace before eating eagerly She knew it would be the only food she would get until dark that night. Mildred frowned, looking at Bessie carefully. "Are you alright child, you look tired?"
"I just didn't sleep much last night," she explained, flinching as she heard her name shouted from across the corridor.
"Bessie! Bessie! The lobby floor needs scrubbing! Where are you, you slovenly wench?" Thomas Watts shouted, striding into the kitchen. "Get your bucket," he ordered "and get to work!"
With a frightened squeak Bessie jumped up, leaving half her breakfast despite her hunger. She dashed to get her bucket before he could come anywhere near her, having had enough bruises from the previous day. She was grateful to hear Mildred stop Thomas and ask him questions about the menu for the day, glad of her delaying tactics. But she knew she would feel his anger later that day and trembled at the thought. Filling her bucket with soapy water she struggled to the lobby and started to scrub the stone floor, trying to make herself as small as possible in the hope he would not notice her.
She kept her head down when she heard footsteps approaching. It was him - she knew his ponderous tread anywhere. "My office when you've done - and no slacking!"
"Yes Thomas," she whispered, shaking. His attentions were the last thing she needed with her present state of nerves, but she took a deep breath and carried on scrubbing until the lobby floor was spotless, emptying her bucket before knocking on his office door.
"Come!" he ordered, smiling when he saw it was her. "Close the door behind you!" He waited for her to obey his orders. "You were late this morning!" he accused. "Why?"
"I am sorry Thomas, I did not sleep well last night..." she evaded. There was absolutely no way she could tell him the truth that she had spent the night crouched in the corner of her hut fearful of the pirate returning for that would get her in even more trouble than simply being late.
"I see," he glowered, reaching for his switch. "Bend over the desk!"
"Please Thomas..." she begged, tears welling in her eyes.
He lifted her skirt up, revealing her legs to mid-thigh level. She prayed he would go no further for she could not even afford undergarments. "You could give yourself to me," he suggested, his podgy hand stroking her bare leg before bringing the switch down sharply across the backs of her thighs. "Things would be so much easier for you then..."
"I have given you my answer," she cried, gasping in pain. "It is wrong!"
"Well that is a pity," he sighed. "Your God won't keep you warm at night - but I could..." He let his suggestion linger, snarling when she did not answer. "But you were ten minutes late and that is one switch for every minute..." He brought the switch down again, harder this time. "For each leg. Perhaps that will teach you to hurry along a little quicker tomorrow?"
"Yes Thomas," she sobbed as he brought the switch down again and again on her legs, red welts rising on her pale flesh. She shuddered when he finished, grateful when he smoothed her skirt down, his hand resting suggestively on her bottom.
"You may go," he ordered. "I want the ballroom floor scrubbed before you leave tonight, however late that is and you will report to me before you leave. Is that clear?"
"Yes Thomas," she whispered, her legs shaking.
"Go!" he ordered.
She fled his office, refilling her bucket and setting to cleaning the floor of the ballroom. The room was vast and it would be very late before she would finish.
###
Right... that's it! I need more reviews – and hopefully the site will be working properly for a while!