Ok, next chapter. This is the chapter where everything falls apart. Loyalties will be tested. Friendships will be torn. And war will ensue between characters...Sorry to sound dramatic, but this pretty much, the summary...I guess we better start...
Chapter 34
It had been days since James's and Jack's little run on. Both men had been separated on opposite ends of the boat. Most people had forgotten what had happened, except for those who had witnessed it.
This was the day they had finally arrived in Port Royal. This was The Wedding Day...
Emma stood in AnaMaria's cabin, in a long white gown. Her cousin, AnaMaria, and Angela were with her. Something was not right, and Anne could tell.
Anne had known her cousin since she was a little girl. She could tell when her cousin was bluffing, or when she had a secret she would never tell. But now Anne could tell, Emma was making a mistake.
"Emma do you love him?"
"Who?"
"James, the one you are marrying..."
"Of course! A ridiculous question!"
Anne could see the force on Emma's face. Finally, she decided that she would find out what the problem. She pulled Angela aside and forced the question on her.
"What did James do to Emma? Something is wrong with her!"
"I don't know..."
It took a few tries before finally, Anne pulled her dagger out of her boot and held at Angela's neck.
"TELL ME!"
"I..."
"TELL ME!"
"I..."
"ANGELA! I'M WARNING YE! I'LL SLIT YER THROAT IF YOU DON'T !"
"Alright, I'll tell! James asked your aunt, Emma's mother for a love potion to use on her. He did indeed use it, and now she is infatuated with him. She can't stay away or even think negatively about him."
Anne groaned. She had a feeling this was the problem.
"Does he still have the antidote?"
"Ofcourse..."
"Where is it?"
"In the Captain's cabin."
"Emma needs a quick dose before the wedding! She really doesn't love him! She really loves Jack!"
"I know, but how will we get into his cabin?"
Anne smiled a knowing smile. "I have an idea..."
In his cabin, James was getting ready to marry the woman of his dreams. He smiled, remembering how well his plan had worked.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in, come in, who ever it is!"
Angela came through the door. "Captain!"
She gave a mock salute. James grinned.
"Sir, may I ask how you are disposing of the antidote?"
"I am going to through it overboard before the wedding. It will be grand! Also it will assure that Emma will be mine till the day we die!"
"So, may I dispose of it now, to rid you of the trouble?"
"Oh, why not? It would give you something fun to do!"
"Thank-you, sir! The honor is all mine!"
James grabbed the small vial, and handed it to his first mate. She smiled and hugged him. James was happy to have to see Angela happy, but he had to admit, she did look a bit tipsy...
"I got it!"
Angela handed the antidote to Anne. Anne spooned it into a glass of wine. Anne moved to the room Emma was staying in, and knocked on the door.
"Cousin! May I enter?"
"Of course. I 'm done getting dressed."
Anne came in, the glass of wine, behind her back. Anne flashed a smile.
"I just wanted to propose a toast to your wedding." She handed Emma the glass.
Emma smiled. "How sweet! Thank-you!"
Emma took a sip from the glass, and almost instantly felt light headed. Her head felt cleared a few minutes later, and finally realized what was happening.
"Anne! I'm marrying James!"
"Aye, you both decided a few days ago! You want to back-out?"
"Yes! I need to get out of here!"
"Don't worry, I have a plan..."
Jack's POV
Jack sat at the tap. He had just polished off his tenth pint since this morning. Henri watched his friend as he cleaned up for the wedding. He knew Jack wouldn't come because it was his lass that was getting married, but that was no reason he couldn't go...
"Fill 'er up, Henri! I can pay for a few thousand, so keep it commin'!"
Henri shook his head and sighed. "Jack, why aren't ye commin'? She is yer lass, but that is no reason to skip on her wedding..."
"Henri, I really don't want to 'ear it! Just get me a pint and get on wit it!"
Henri grabbed Jack's mug and filled it. Jack quickly gulped it down, and demanded another. He was getting drunker by the minute...
James's POV
James waited patiently at the 'alter' that was positioned at the bow of the boat. A friend of his was also a priest, so he had been asked to present the vows. Angela was to be honored as his 'best women', because he had no real friends, that happened to be men.
He was relived to know that everything was going well. The three piece orchestra started up the bridal march. The wedding was starting!
His crew and a mixture of Jack's crew and some close friends all stood, waiting patiently for Emma to come up the aisle. The music played and played, but no Emma came.
"Angie, go see where she is..."
Angela nodded. She quickly moved down the aisle and headed for the room where Emma was supposed to be coming. The audience waited for Angela to return. But she never did...
James made his way to the room, only to find it empty with a note on the bed. James sighed trying to hold his conclusions. The note read:
Dear James,
I'm sorry, but this will not work out. I have found out from classified sources that you had my mother give you a love potion for my purpose...
I must say, you are a gentleman. You have charm and manners. You are a great friend, but not one to be married.
All my love,
Emma
P.S.
I have left with Alison, Anne and Angela to an undisclosed location. We will not be coming back.
Emma's POV
Emma raced up to the door of Henri's tavern. Word was that Jack was there at the moment, and she could only hope he still was. She pushed open the door. The bells on the door rang as she came in.
"Jack! Jack! Jack!"
"Aye? Can I 'elp ye?"
"Jack! It's me!"
"Please, lass! It's too painful, to see ye. Especially since ye are getting married very soon."
"Jack, I'm not getting married to James. I love you, a lot! I came all the way in my heels and wedding dress just to tell you how much I love you!"
Jack looked her over. "I think this is just a hoax!"
"Jack! It isn't! It's true!"
Jack made an annoyed face. "Luv, I don't know what I saw, but you are just some damn whore, who obviously is getting married, so go on, go on to your husband and don't come bug me again!"
Those words pierced Emma like a thousand sharp daggers. Tears formed in her eyes, and slowly leaked down her cheeks. She quickly made her way out of the tavern, crying as she did. Anne, Alison, and Angela were waiting for her outside.
"Mommy, why are you crying?"
Emma looked at Alison, and gave a very, very, small smile.
"Did you just call me Mommy?"
"Yes, Mommy. Now why are you crying?"
Emma wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'm just not feeling well, Ali. I will be alright..."
Emma picked Alison up in her arms, and looked at Anne and Angela.
"So, Emma, how did "The Truth" hit ole' bird boy?"
"Please, don't mention Jack to me ever again, Anne..."
"Of course. Not a word, ever!"
"Aye, same for me!" added Angela.
Anne saluted to her cousin. "So how about Trinidad and Tobago? I know the weather is always lovely! Perfect place to settle down!"
"Aye, a good idea! You two going to say with me?"
"A month or two for me. I want to lay low for awhile, and I'm sure the crew would love a bit of a vacation..." piped Anne.
"I think I'm staying permanently. I love the sea, but I don't want to be with James anymore..." said Angela
Emma felt a bit happier, but not completely happy, but the man she loved didn't love her anymore. Her happiness would never be complete, ever again...
Jack's POV (One hour after Emma leaves)
Jack abruptly sat up. He just had the strangest dream. He had dreamed he had turned Emma down when she said she loved him. He knew he would never do that...
"Nice of ye to join us, Jack..."
Henri and AnnaMaria were staring at him from the other end of the tavern. Both had stern looks on their faces, if not, angry.
"Oy, what did I do now?"
"Heart-break, being a jerk, calling Emma a whore...Any of this ring a bell?"
"Ana, sorry, but I have no idea..."
"Aw, shut-up! Emma was giving her you heart and you called her a whore, not to mention turned her down? What was it you wanted with her? Hmmm? I thought you loved her, but oh no, she was just so girl you would seduce then throw her over board. Please, Jack save the crap, ok? Save it for someone who will believe you and actually cares!"
AnnaMaria threw her pint of rum on the table and left the tavern. Jack watched her leave. Henri picked up the mug and dumped it down the drain. Henri gave Jack a look.
"Why does she believe I did something to Emma? Does it have to do with that dream I had? But how does she know..?"
"Jack, it wasn't a dream! You were drunk, and in your stupidity that the drunkness brought, you turned Emma down, even though you desired this since you met her."
Jack hit his head with his hands. "Stupid, Stupid, Stupid! How could I do this?"
"Jack, all you can do now is go find her and apologize. Tell her how much you care about her. But first we need to find her!"
"Aye! Now where is she?"
"I don't know...We will have to search the entire Caribbean for her..."