ADeppGirl
Spadesjade To All you guys, thanks for putting up with the HUGE wait for this chapter.
Jaddedreamz I'm really sorry. Please dont abandon me! I love you all...Thaknk you thank
WingedSeraphyou,
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"Jack!" A sharp kick in the ribs. "Jack! Get your rum saturated ass up man, and move off the stairwell."
Jack groaned and tried in vain to blot out Mr Gibbs from his ears.
"Five minutes." he slurred heavily.
"Can't get passed you, move!" another kick to the ribs.
"Bloody hell!" making a vague attempt to drag himself into a standing position Jack battled with stars that swam before his eyes. Behind him Mr Gibbs chuckled.
"Good night though, wasn't it?"
"Aye, if I could remember the other half might have been even better." rubbing a hand across his eyes he peered blearily across at his first mate. "Is it morning?"
"Aye Captain!" the cheer in the older mans voice was enough to make Jack cringe.
"You see to yourself Jack old boy, I'll set the bearings." he pushed passed Jack and began thumping heavily up the stairwell to the deck.
"Debrine." Jack called after him.
"What?"
"Debrine, set a course for Debrine, it's only a day or two sailing."
"But it's only been three weeks." Gibbs protested. Jack only grunted his annoyance and began staggering down the passage to the galley.
He was well aware that it had only been three weeks since he'd packed Amber off onto the Gulliver but it had been on bad terms. Neither had mention Elizabeth, something that Jack realised now that made him look guilty. He should have explained to her what had happened; instead he had pointed out her boat and waved her on her way. He was a bastered, not so much as a friendly smile.
It had taken him all of two days to make the decision to see her again, make a few explanations; if he was brave he may even say the 'sorry' word. He had nearly got something few pirates ever did and he'd be damned if he was going to throw it away without an attempt a fixing it.
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Debrine peaked into view only two days later. The glistening bay and tiny waterside fishing town, it was quite pretty. Seeing that it was so small Jack insisted in sailing the Pearl straight into the docks, with little connection to the outside world he doubted that they would know who he was, and if they did? There wasn't a redcoat or any other enforcer of the law to be seen.
Grinning he pulled up his breaches and leapt off the ship as Gibbs was securing her down. Well aware of the stares and whisperings he was getting he walked briskly towards what looked like a tiny market, someone was bound to know of Ambers where abouts there.
With little more than ten stalls there wasn't a great deal of choice as he had seen in other towns like this one but never the less he pocketed a few apples, an orange a couple of handfuls of brazil nuts and two cream ribbons. What harm would an offering be?
As he walked a face caught his attention, an older woman wearing a thick orange shawl and carrying a wicker basket filled with fruits and bread.
Rosemary.
Jack approached her somewhat too enthusiastically; the woman cried out and staggered back at the sight of the roughish man that confronted her. Quickly holding up his hands to show her he meant no harm he gave he a devilish grin.
"Rosemary." he said quickly waiting to see reconisation in her face. Still shocked and nervous she put a hand to her heart.
"Dear dear, you gave me an awful fright," she peered at him curiously, "how'd you know my name?"
Jack offered her another charming smile and immediately the older woman's mouth fell open.
"You!" she shook her head, "What happened to you?" she glanced down at his tattered clothing and mane of hair. "You used to be so well kept."
Jack frowned, had Amber not mentioned to Rose what had gone on during her journey?
"It's my work clothes." he said with a half shrug, "Is Amber about?"
Rosemary gave him a fond pat on the hand.
"Smitten she was with you." the old woman began to walk away from the hustle and bustle, leading him through the quieter streets, "I told her you were a good man, didn't realise it would take you so long to come back."
Jack frowned again, he wondered briefly if Amber had told Rosemary anything about him.
"So where is she?" he asked with a little more urgency.
"She's in Jamaica son, she went over there aa month or soback, she's not back yet."
Jack stopped in his tracks, an instant cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"She has to be back." Rosemary glanced over her shoulder with a frown.
"Not yet lad, although she is expected." she watched with growing concern as Jack rubbed a hand over his face and closed his eyes as if thinking.
"Jack? Is something the matter." Rose reached out and gave his arm a shake. "Is it something to do with Amber?"
"She should be here Rose, I put her on a ship three weeks ago, it doesn't take three weeks to sail from Port Royal to Debrine." Rose frowned.
"Its wouldn't take more than a few days."
"We need to talk love," he grabbed the old woman by the elbow and began marching her through the streets in search of a tavern.
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"So you just left her on a ship that you knew nothing about." Rose said slowly causing Jack to grimace.
"I spoke to the Captain, Seemed nice enough."
"Oh, he SEEMED nice enough." Jack sensed that Rose was biting back the urge to throttle the living daylights out of him.
"I'm generally a good judge of character." he defended wincing again as Rose closed her eyes to mask the anger.
"You have no idea how important that girl is to her country." she put a weathered finger to her temple to rub an ache. "You can't just trust people with her."
"Who is she?" Jack narrowed his eyes on Rose, he knew there was something she was holding back on.
"Listen," she waved a finger under his nose. "I need to sent word to England, we need to get the fleet out here, you have to disappear. They can't know she's been flouncing about with pirates."
"I would hardly call it flouncing." Jack replied gruffly.
"Then what would you call it? You kidnapped her. Is that what you want to call it?" Rose paused to absorb to pirate, the tiredness in his eyes, "Or was it something more? Would you call it a relationship Captain Sparrow?" Jack glanced up and met her eyes for the briefest of moments.
"No, no relationship. I was just looking out for her."
Rose snorted.
"Not very well," she paused to sip her brandy, "We have to find her."
"Who would have kidnapped her Rose?" Jack eyes bore into the older woman as she squirmed under the hot look.
"We need to get the fleet out here." she murmered.
"You know. You better tell me love." his voice grew low and angry and Rose looked away.
"I've got the fastest ship in the Carribbean, tell me who I'm looking for and I'll go. Now, I'll go find her now." he waited for an answer, "It'll take the fleet weeks to get here, we don't have that."
"Dorian."
Jack nodded solemnly.
"Tell me, spill it love."
Rose closed her eyes to try and clear the mess in her head.
"He's tried this before. Before she came over here. He tried to kidnap her." he sniffed back a tear as the loss of Amber began to sink in. "A few weeks before their wedding Dorian arranged to take Amber to Ireland for a week. They did that a lot," she waved a hand in the air, "always away in Scotland or Ireland. Anyway the night before they were meant to be leaving one of the cooks burned the fruit loaves, he opening the cellar window to let out the smoke. The pantry is directly below Dorian's drawing room balcony. He had guests that night, the cooks could here them on the balcony talking. Talking about money, large amounts of money." she paused again to lift her brandy with a shaking hand, finishing the rest in one go Jack quickly waved at the bar tender to bring fresh drinks.
"They didn't think anything of it at first but Amber's name was mentioned and Felix began to get suspicious, thinking maybe Dorian was after Amber's inheritance. He heard Dorian discussing plans to ship Amber to the Middle East, he'd already made plans to sell her to a collector."
Jack looked down at his hands, he'd heard a lot about the trades in the Middle East. Wealthy Arabs that bought woman, particular woman. Princesses, queens, daughters of great shamans, witches and mediums. Anything that they could add to their collections.
"Why would Amber be of importance to them, she's only a cousin. That not much in their eyes." he narrowed his eyes on Rose as she shrugged nervously.
"Who knows?" she said leaning back, "Anyway Felix went straight to the Navy and Dorian fled, nobody ever seen him again." she shrugged again. "It's him that's taken her, I just know it."
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"Dorian we've been anchored here for weeks, you need to start making decisions."
Dorian glanced up at his first mate and nodded.
"I've been thinking," he said swilling his whiskey around its crystal glass. "We've got a few choices."
"We need to deliver the girl before someone finds out its us."
"You remember the Devils Eye I told you about Joe?" he glanced up as Joe sighed and took a place next to him at the table.
"Aye sir but-"
"What if we could get it? What if we get the Devils Eye and then ship Amber off?"
Joe sat back with a sceptical frown.
"How do you propose to do that? Amber is the only one who can get near that thing. And I'm just guessing but I'd say she's hardly unlikely to steal from her own family."
Dorian nodded and swallowed a mouthful of his drink.
"What if she doesn't know it's her family? What if she can't remember who she is? What if she's one of us?" Dorian leant back and smirked at Joe, he tipped his empty glass at the first mate. "It's within our grasp."
"How?" Joe cocked his head to the side and lifted his palm up to show he didn't understand.
"We take her to see Myrym." he grinned as Joe's face began to show signs of understanding, "We can have her on our side, with not an ounce of memory. She can get the jewel, we break the curse, we sell her on." He stood up laughing. "We'll be rich men Joe, We'll be filthy rich."
