Disclaimer: No, unfortunately I do not own POtC. Nor do I own any of the characters that you recognize. They all belong to Disney.
AN: PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE READING THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER! Okay. Before I let any of you read this chapter, I have to inform you of one thing. I know that the words that are italicized throughout this chapter look like a bunch of gobbledygook, but they aren't. They are words from the Aztec language, Nahuatl. I searched and searched for a translator and this is the best I could do, so if anyone understands what these words mean, please let me know. I have italicized them to show when another language is spoken, and the translation is in parenthesis right next to it. Keep in mind, though, that I am not fluent in this language, nor do I know how to pronounce most of the words, and that I have probably killed the way it was spoken, but the language is important to the plot of this story. Please, be kind. I am not even pretending that I know everything about the language, nor am I pretending to be able to speak it; I am merely borrowing it to help with my story. Thank you.
Pirate Gyrl
Light Among Shadows
Chapter 6: Identity Crisis
Jack wandered down the long wooden stairs. The sound of odd singing floated up to him, causing him to lift an eyebrow. He walked into the large bar that joined to the inn. The bar was dark, having closed several hours ago, one of the only taverns in Tortuga to be closed during the night. A single candle lit the large room, illuminating the gyrating figure of a girl on the stage where the night's entertainers normally danced.
Jack's lips quirked up into a smirk as he noticed who the figure was. He shook his head slowly as the odd song once again reached his ears. His smirk widened as he realized that the girl was singing.
"If God is a DJ, then life is a dance floor, love is a rhythm and you are the music. If God is a DJ, then life is a dance floor, you get what you're given, it's all how you use it," she sang softly, her body moving in ways that he had never seen a person dance before.
The girl twisted around the stage, her dark hair flying around her face. The dark colors highlighted in her hair glowing in the candlelight. The braids that she had placed in her hair flipped in the air as she did the intricate dance steps to the song that she sung softly. Her hands swirled above her head, her fingers pushing up the thick tresses. Jack's head tilted to the side slightly as he watched her strands fall around her shoulders. He thought for a moment about what those strands of black hair would feel like falling through his own fingers. After a few moments, he shook his head; this girl was unfamiliar to him, someone he wasn't sure about. He shouldn't be thinking thoughts like that.
Anneliese moved quickly about the stage, her feet skimming the floor so fast that Jack could hardly keep track of what she did. He had seen sword fights move as fast as she was, but never a dancer and he had seen many a number of dancers in his time. He watched as she twisted and turned, her body moving in ways he had never seen before. With one last turn on the stage, Anneliese stopped her movements, ending at the edge of the stage.
Anneliese's chest rose and fell quickly, her breathing quickening after her workout. Jack smirked again and then clapped his hands. Anneliese jumped slightly at the sound, her eyes scanning the empty bar room. Jack stepped out into the candlelight, his hands resting lightly on his hips. Her eyes narrowed as she stared down at him.
"What are you doing here? How long have you been there?" she asked angrily.
"Long enough."
"So is spying something you do often, Jack Sparrow?"
"I wasn't spyin' on you lass. I heard a noise, I came to investigate."
"Right," she replied, kneeling down at the edge of the stage. She jumped down quickly, pulling her wild hair behind her shoulders and tying it in a small knot. She walked over to him, her grey eyes angered. "I'm so sure that you just happened to hear a noise and just happened to come down to look around."
Jack held up his hands in a defensive gesture, his eyes widening. "Tortuga's a bad place, lass, you can never be sure what could happen."
"I'm very capable of taking care of myself, thank you," Anneliese replied tersely.
Jack merely grinned. "Aye, lass, I know," he shrugged. "Still, helps ta be wary."
"Whatever," Anneliese replied quietly, staring up into Jack's brown eyes.
"I also decided to be more wary after what happened earlier tonight. Ye may've been able ta beat two of 'em, but imagine if they 'ad more wit' 'em."
Anneliese didn't reply at first, merely gazing up into his eyes. She shook her head slowly. "I'm sure I could've handled it," she said softly, her eyes meeting his again.
Jack's eyes narrowed slightly. Why was she staring at him like that? "Still helps ta be cautious, love."
Anneliese narrowed her eyes as well, screwing up her face in thought. Before she knew what was happening, a huge yawn hit her. Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth, her cheeks blushing slightly. Jack laughed, throwing his head back.
"Guess I'm more tired than I thought," Anneliese replied when she finished her yawn.
"Go ta bed, lass. Ye shouldn't be up at this time o' night anyway, 'specially not here."
"Mmmmm," she mumbled. "'K."
Anneliese turned around slowly, stretching her arms above her head and walking away from him, making her way up the stairs to her room. Jack watched her leave, his eyes trailing over her back, watching her movements. He shook his head again, once more reminding himself that the girl was strange to him, that he didn't know who, or what, she really was.
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The door opening softly drew Jack from a light sleep. He opened his eyes slightly, staring at the small figure that had just opened the door. The lone candle flickered in the darkness, casting shadows over the figure. His eyes widened slightly as he noticed who the figure was. Anneliese? He thought.
Jack sat up quickly, the sheets falling down to his waist. The girl was merely standing in front of the door, her face in shadows. She wore only the long white shirt that she had borrowed from him, the fabric running down to her knees. The shirt was un-laced, trailing down to mid-chest, hanging partly off of one shoulder. Jack's eyes trailed down her pale skin, and then back up to her shadowed face.
"Lass?" he called out.
Anneliese said nothing; instead, she started walking toward him. She stopped as she reached his bed, her face still in shadows. She leaned down slowly, her hand reaching out and brushing his cheek. Her hand was cold against his skin. She leaned into him slightly, brushing her lips against his. "Amo. Aco Anneliese," (No. No longer Anneliese,) she whispered in his ear, speaking words that he didn't understand. Anneliese placed her knee on the edge of his bed and lifted herself up onto the mattress.
She pressed against him, straddling his legs, pushing him back down onto the mattress. "Nicmati ca teh. Neh mixpehpena teh. Tinechixotiz," (I know it is you. I have chosen you. You will take care of me.)She continued to whisper. She kissed his cheek softly, trailing kisses down his face. She sat up slowly, her hands tracing the lines of his face. Jack attempted to sit up, but found that he couldn't. His body lay frozen to the bed, his muscles unresponsive to his commands. Anneliese stared down at him, her dark eyes glowing in the darkness. "Ticah ce mahuizticlacatl."(You are a great man.)
A sudden flash of lightning lit up the room, illuminating her face. Jack's eyes widened. The girls face had changed. No longer was she the pale, irritating girl. No, now she was a tanned skinned woman, her face ripe with maturity, her eyes as black as the shadows surrounding them. The woman leaned over, kissing his shoulder softly, her hands playing over his chest. Jack felt a groan rise into his throat and stick there, his mouth being unable to move. She smiled at him, pushing herself up, sitting lightly on his legs. Anneliese turned her head quickly, staring straight at the blank wall next to his bed, her eyes narrowing. She leaned down into him again, kissing his ear lightly. "Nihualmocuepaz," (I will return) she whispered, and then leaned back up.
Anneliese's eyes stared sightlessly down at him, her grey eyes staring down into his. Jack's muscles twitched slightly, letting him know he was able to move. He bolted up, bringing himself close to her, his hands found her shoulders, her skin growing pale in the moonlight. He shook her slightly, trying to bring her out of her daze. "Lass? Anneliese? Snap out of it girl!"
Anneliese's eyes closed as she shook her head slowly. She opened them slowly, as if the lightning caused her eyes pain. She jerked back as his face came into focus. "What the hell?" she muttered.
"You all right lass?"
"How did I get here? What is going on?" she whispered, looking around the room and then settling her eyes on Jack again. "What are you doing to me?" she spat out.
"What am I doing to you? Yer the one who came into my room and started ta come on ta me lass," he spat back.
Anneliese's mouth opened slightly and then shut. Her eyes widened and he could see something in them. Something akin to fear.
"I don't remember it," she whispered. "I don't remember any of it."
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Jack sat in the wooden chair next to his bed, his head resting in his hand. His eyes were open, gazing down at the young girl sleeping in his bed. Her fingers were clenched around the pillowcase, as if she were afraid to let go. Her legs were curled up to her chest in a fetal position, her eyes clenched tighter than most normally sleeping people.
Jack reached out and brushed a strand of hair off of her cheek lightly, his fingers playing with the black strands. What on earth had happened? How could Anneliese have come into his room and try to seduce him, and then not remember a single moment of it? He wouldn't be forgetting this occurrence anytime soon, that was for sure.
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Next: Chapter 6: Identity Crisis.