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: sorry again this took so long! Exams are over…I have all winter break to write now…I just need to figure out where I want this to go still. The next chapter will be a good one; this one is setting things up. I hope everyone got the "pirates" dvd and saw the bloopers! They are hilarious! Also can't wait for Lord of the Rings on Wednesday! Yeah!!!!!!!!! Legolas!!!!!!!!!! Lol…I'm okay…really…
CH 17…
Kira followed behind Jack as he left the cabin and out into the morning sunlight. The crew was up and working, and the Pearl was on a steady course to nowhere, always hunting an unsuspecting merchant vessel. The crew casually greeted their captain with nods and smiles. They were proud to be part of Jack Sparrow's crew, and members of the infamous Black Pearl.
Jack stood at the wheel with a grin upon his face as he watched his crew work. This was his life – this wheel, this ship…and this girl. He gave Kira a wink as she walked past him to stand at his side. This was where she belonged, at his side. Everything would be all right. She just needed some blood to satisfy her thirst, and she would be able to keep last night's dream out of head.
Kira felt a presence behind her. Of all people to be next to right now, Will was on the bottom of the list. She turned her head a bit and confirmed her beliefs, seeing his form out of the corner of her eye.
Will stepped in between them, "Morning," he greeted and casually rested a hand on Kira's shoulder. That sudden contact made Kira's stomach tighten. It seemed like only an hour ago, that hand was all over her.
Kira shook her head. Now was not the time to be thinking about any of that. She needed to maintain her composure and keep her mind clear, until their next stop when she could feed.
Jack mingled with his crew, giving an occasional order or two, or partaking in conversation. Kira remained at the wheel, eyes forward, not allowing them to wander towards Will. But her own willpower wasn't enough. Every now and then, her eyes would sneak a glimpse of Will as he worked with the crew, and her thirst would temporarily alleviate. But what would Jack do if he caught her staring at Will all day? That wouldn't go over nicely. Kira sighed, she needed to keep Will out of her mind…and in order to do that, she apparently needed to quiet her thirst first.
"You all right, luv?" Jack asked from behind.
Kira shrugged. Now wasn't the time to get into all of her current issues.
"You've seemed a bit distracted these past few days,"
"I'm very distracted," she voiced.
Jack nodded, "It's not only that, luv. You've also seemed distant from me,"
"I'm thirsty, Jack," she paused to look at him through white irises, "Very thirsty,"
"Well what about the prisoners?" he asked.
"There are no more," she answered.
Jack nodded, "Should we take another trip to Tortuga?" he asked with a grin.
Kira remained silent.
"That is your favorite place to feed,"
Kira nodded, "It's too far away,"
"Is it that bad?" Jack asked, lowering his voice.
"It's getting extremely hard fro me to control it," she stated, "I don't want to put any of the crew in danger. You know I wouldn't intentionally harm any of them,"
"Aye, we all know that," Jack agreed, "I guess we'll stop at the first island we see,"
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The crew hoisted the sails, preparing the Pearl for a fast journey to the closest island. None asked questions, they all knew very well why there were heading to a random destination for an unexplained reason. And most took note of Kira's appearance. She looked very unfocused and irritated, mainly because of the vacant look her white eyes were giving.
"She all right?" Will asked quietly.
"She's out of prisoners," Jack stated.
Will nodded, "I see,"
Jack turned to the younger man, "Have you noticed anything different about her?"
Will frowned, "What do you mean?"
Jack waved his arms, "Like the way she's been acting lately," Jack explained, "She seem off to you?"
Will shrugged, "She is thirsty, isn't that reason enough?"
Jack shook his head, "No, she's never acted like this when she was thirsty before she was shot,"
Will tried to put his own feelings for her behind his thoughts, not wanting them to surface around Jack, "She's seemed a bit vulnerable to me, mate,"
Jack eyed him, "What do ya mean?"
Will scratched his head, "I don't know. That's just what it seems like to me…you did ask,"
Jack nodded, "So I did," he turned his head towards where Kira stood, overlooking the sea, "I know she needs blood,"
"But it seems like she needs more," Will muttered to himself.
"What was that?" Jack asked.
"It seems like she needs more blood than usual," Will suggested as he saved himself from allowing too much to escape.
Jack shrugged, "Maybe she does,"
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"We're coming up on an island," a crewmember shouted across the deck to the captain.
Jack brought his old telescope up to his eye and surveyed the mass of green that was steadily coming into focus. With a slight move to the left, another interesting figure came into view – a ship.
"Will!" Jack called, still looking through the telescope.
"Aye, Jack," he answered, coming up behind him.
Jack handed him the telescope and pointed in the same direction, "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
Will nodded as he assessed the ship, "But what about Kira?"
Jack turned towards her direction, "Good call, mate," Jack said and patted his shoulder.
Will nodded as he looked back out towards the oncoming ship.
Jack walked towards Kira as he placed an arm around her shoulder, "Luv, I have a situation,"
"Aye?" she asked.
"Now, we found an island for you…which hopefully is inhabited," he added, "But I also found us a ship,"
"Jack, I told you before that I didn't want to interfere with anything,"
"But you said you needed blood fast," Jack explained.
"Aye, but I'll be fine for a bit longer. Perhaps we'll even take some prisoners, then we won't have to make an unnecessary stop,"
"But you're weak," Jack said, "I don't want another incident like the last time we took a ship,"
"I'm not weak, I'm just very thirsty," she said, "I'm actually more alert and aggressive than usual," she added, "Which is the main problem,"
Jack raised an eyebrow.
"I'll be fine,"
"You sure, luv?"
Kira rolled her eyes sarcastically, "Give 'em the order captain,"