Title: Love's Blood
Author: Kali T'hara
Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance
Rating: R
Summary: Set after the movie…Jack finds a woman…but she not what she seems…and her friendship with Will jeopardizes his relationship with Elizabeth (boo-hoo)…how will things turn out? J/OC, W/E (beginning) maybe some of W/OC too. Vampire fic! (yeah!)
Disclaimer: Disney owns 'em…damn that mouse…I own Kira, but I wouldn't mind owning Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom…grrrrr…
AN: This one is long to make up for me not posting any this past weekend. Enjoy!
CH 7…
Will and Elizabeth sat in the tavern early the next morning, hoping to find Jack before he disappeared for the rest of the day. They wanted to ask when they would finally be setting sail again. The crew had grown tired of the land and wanted the fresh sea air in their faces again. But they did understand that Jack was in the beginnings of something very important, all except for Elizabeth, that is. When the mutual thought of Kira joining the crew came up one day, they all agreed it would be best for their captain, leaving Elizabeth as the only one who didn't. Will had even mentioned it to Jack, who was thrilled to know that the crew liked her and wanted her to join as well. He just had to wait until the opportune moment.
Will glanced out the window at the risen sun; Jack should be up soon. He then turned his gaze back onto his wife. Her eyes were wandering around the tavern, mentally criticizing most of its inhabitants. Will studied her for a moment. She was still beautiful; becoming a pirate hadn't changed that. And he was pretty sure he still loved her, but not certain. It seemed to him that they were growing apart. His heart was with the Pearl, like any good pirate's was. Hers was still in Port Royal. He knew this by the way she perceived other pirates and how she wasn't living up to the potential she promised when they joined the crew.
Will's thoughts were broken when Jack entered. His captain pulled up a chair next to him and settled down with a grin, "Mornin'" he greeted.
Elizabeth smiled back as she nodded at him. Will handed him the bottle of rum that was sitting on the far end of the table as he patted his back.
"Thank you, mate," Jack said with a nudge of his elbow. The two men began to converse about the Pearl, Tortuga, and various other subjects.
Elizabeth's eyes flew to the entrance that Jack emerged from earlier, much to her dismay; Kira was there, walking towards their table. She turned to Will, "I think we should get going. We have some work to do on the ship," she said quickly.
"It's still morning. We'll have more than enough time to fix that sail," Will assured, and then continued talking to Jack.
Elizabeth huffed to herself and watched as Kira drew up a chair as well. Great… she thought, keeping her eyes on the girl.
Kira could feel Elizabeth's gaze on her every move, and she couldn't figure out why. She had never offended her in any way, and the rest of the crew liked her. Then it hit her; maybe she knew her secret. Could she tell what she was? Would she tell Jack? All she knew was that Jack couldn't know, because it would ruin their entire relationship. What if she did tell him? She had to get out before then. She didn't want to hurt Jack, but it would be better for her to leave on good terms then with him knowing what she was.
Will was watching Elizabeth out of the corner of his eye. He saw how she was studying Kira with a look of disdain on her face. He hoped Jack wouldn't notice, so he continued to converse with him.
Kira was beginning to get annoyed now. Having Elizabeth stare at her the entire day was not her idea of fun. She wanted very much to leave, but she had to talk to Jack. If she was to get out of this relationship without too much heartbreak, it was better to do it as early as possible.
About two hours of talking and drinking had gone by, both of which involved Elizabeth staring at Kira. To Will's relief, Jack had not noticed at all.
"Well, we'd better go tackle that sail" Will voiced as he stood.
Thank goodness. Elizabeth thought as she also stood.
Will lightly punched Jack in the shoulder, "Good luck," he mumbled.
Jack and Kira nodded their goodbyes. Finally, they were alone, and there was so much to be said.
Jack turned to Kira with a smile on his face, "What say ya?" he asked, "Join me and my crew? Be a part of the greatest pirate threat in the Caribbean?"
Kira looked at him with uncertainty, "I don't know Jack…"
"Oh come on luv. You've been on land too long,"
"I'm not sure about this Jack. I don't think Elizabeth likes me. I'd be sort of hard to be on a ship for months together. I don't want to jeopardize you're relationship with her,"
"Nonsense!" Jack exclaimed loudly, and then lowered his voice, "For me?"
Kira lowered her eyes, "Don't do this Jack, please? I'm sorry,"
"But I can't just leave without you. You know how much you mean to me. Please, luv?"
Kira looked down at her old boots, "I told you in the beginning that I couldn't get too close to anyone. And I did with you," she paused, "I can't deny that I'm not in love with you, Jack. But I can't do this, it's not fair to you,"
"You're not doing anything unfair to me. Kira, I've never loved anyone before," Jack's usual energetic attitude and smile were gone, "Don't leave me,"
Kira shook her head, "It's my fault. You don't understand. I'm not who you think I am," she finished. With that she stood up and walked away and out of the tavern leaving Jack alone with nothing but the pieces of his heart and tear swollen eyes.
He looked down at his hands and let a sigh escape from his lips, "Kira…" he began, but stopped as he felt his throat tighten. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but it seemed impossible to speak.
************************************************************************
Jack swaggered to the docks. He looked out to his ship. That was it. That was all he had. It was just him and his Pearl again. The sun was setting over the warm Caribbean Sea making the water glow a soft orange color. Jack could feel the tears in his eyes, but he wouldn't let them fall. That's just what he wanted someone to see, the great Captain Jack Sparrow crying. But what he wanted to cry over was the most important thing in his life. His head was spinning with his thoughts. All he wanted was to have Kira with him at his side. But why was she pushing him away? What was her deep secret? What was so bad that she couldn't tell him? This is why pirates shouldn't fall in love. Jack thought to himself as the sun dipped lower into the sea.
"Jack?"
The captain turned his head at the familiar voice, "Aye, Will?" he asked.
"You okay, mate?" Will knew he wasn't. He saw the look of despair in his captain's eyes. And he even saw the tears that he was holding back, "It's okay, Jack. I'm here for you. Tell me what happened,"
Jack looked into the younger man's eyes. He truly did want to help him, but how could he fix any of this? Will placed an arm around Jack's shoulders in an attempt to comfort him. They had been best friends for a while now. They trusted each other with their lives and always lent an ear when it was needed. Jack was thankful to have such a friend like Will. But he couldn't help him pick up the pieces of his heart. That was a job only Jack could do…and he had to do it alone.
"She's gone," Jack answered, barley audible.
"What do you mean?" Will asked.
"Kira…she left me. I asked her to come on the ship and join the crew. She said no,"
"Well why? She's a pirate, and she hasn't a ship of her own," Will asked, a bit confused.
"All she said was that I didn't understand," Jack paused, "And that she should've never fallen in love with me," Jack finished.
Will nodded in understanding, "Look at it this way, Jack; that proved that she still loves you. You still have hope to win her back," Will explained.
Jack shrugged, "How can I do that?"
"Come on, mate," Will said with a smile, "You're Captain Jack Sparrow,"
The corner of Jack's lip turned up ever so slightly into a half smile, "Aye, I am…"
AN: Do you think I should give my chapters titles?