GREETINGS, ALL! Hello, yes, another chapter! Yay! Anyway, this chapter has a bit of language in it, but it's needed for the moment! Anyway, hope you enjoy it!
BTW, thanks to Johnny'shumiliatedgrape for reviewing so nicely in the last chapter! YAY!
CHAPTER 3: THE PAST AND THE FUTURE
They sailed for several hours, headed to Meadstown, when they came upon trouble. Kylia had been standing at the end of the ship, keeping watch, when she saw a ship in the distance. She grabbed onto a rope and hopped onto the railing, looking out at the vessel. The ship flew a red flag with a black X on it. She jumped down on deck and ran up to Jack at the helm.
"Jack, there's a ship straight ahead." she told him.
"I know." he replied.
"Well, are you going to do anything about it?" she asked.
"Why should I?" he asked her.
"Because… Do you realize who that is?" He shook his head. "The red jolly roger with the black X." He shrugged. "It's Jonathan Xavier!"
"Oh…" Jack mumbled. "Well… is that a problem?"
"Have you met him?"
"No…"
"Then you don't know." Kylia stated. "He robs every ship he passes and… has a bit of an infatuation with me."
"Why, you rude, rude girl?" he joked.
"Shut up I hate you." she told him (she was kidding). "Look, I know how to deal with this let me give the orders for a minute."
"'ey I"
"No, Jack, you don't know what this guy is capable of…" she interrupted. "I realize this is the legendary Black Pearl, but his crew is powerful and… don't run the risk…" He opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off. "And I know it's not fun to let someone else take over, but you'll thank me. I promise."
"No!" he objected obviously.
"Jack, please!" she begged.
"No!" he repeated.
"Jack!"
"No!" he exclaimed. "Wha's in it for me?"
She thought for a moment. She had to do something. "Fine." she surrendered. "Let me give the orders just to get us out of this situation and I'll sleep with you."
He blinked but considered her offer. "…Really?" She nodded. "Well… I don't know…"
"I'll shiver your timbers so hard you'll never look back." she pressed. He raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"The situation's yours, captain." he surrendered, bowing respectfully to her.
She sighed in relief. "Hey! Listen up, everyone!" she yelled. "We're coming up on Jonathan Xavier's ship! The man robs every ship he passes! If we don't let him get near us, he'll have to pass us by!" The crew were all listening carefully. "So run out the sweeps and load the cannons!" They all looked at Jack for confirmation.
"Do as the lady says, you scabrous dogs!" Jack ordered. Kylia glanced at him, but he didn't see it. No one ever called her a lady… they usually called her pirate scum… The crew scattered out on deck and obeyed Kylia's orders.
She gazed out at the ship intently, fidgeting with something with something on her belt. Jack hadn't noticed before, but she had something he couldn't see tied to her belt with a leather string.
"What's that?" he asked, motioning to the object. She glanced at him and then down to her hand which grasped it.
"Oh." she said, holding it up a little so he could see it. "Panther claw. It's a good luck charm of sorts. Superstitious pirate, you know."
"Oh, aye, I know I definitely know." he replied. "Is there a story behind it?"
"Well, er, let's see here…" Kylia mumbled, recalling the story. "Oh, aye. Well, it was when my crew and I traveled to Africa. We were tracking these French treasure hunters who we later caught and robbed completely. They took the treasure ashore and we followed them. On our way, we came across this panther that was caught in some kind of trap. My crew didn't care, but I tried to help it." She continued to stare out at the ocean. "When I approached it, it snapped at me and lashed out, so I stood back and shot the hinge that held the trap together. Well, the trap fell apart and the panther limped off, but it was alright. I went over to the trap and looked at it. It seemed that the panther had tried to free itself and one of its claws had gotten caught and been ripped out. I don't know why I wanted to save that panther so much, but… I realized how merciful it was… so I… keep the claw with me to… well, remind me to keep that mercy as a priority."
"That's a beautiful story, darling." he told her, impressed. "Wow, tha's great." She smiled, but kept her eyes fixed on Xavier's ship in the distance. "I've met very few pirates who think mercy is a priority. Wouldn' 'ave taken you for one."
She snickered. "Aye, no one ever does." She glanced at him. "Do I really seem that tough?"
"Well"
"KEEP THE SAILS UP TIGHT!" she ordered loudly to the crew. "YOU WANT TO BE EUNUCHS! GET ON IT!" She looked back at him. "Sorry."
"I think you answered your own question, love." he told her.
She sighed and returned her gaze to Xavier's ship. "I'm not really that tough. It's an act, really. If you're tough, then you won't get stepped on." She blinked, realizing what she'd just said and looked at him. "You'll tell no one what I just said and you'll still respect me, got it?"
"O'-o' course." he replied, being caught a little off guard. "You 'ad me respect when you told me that mercy story." She smiled and looked back at Xavier's ship. "Chances are you're not goin' to lose it."
"…I hope not." she mumbled.
Finally, they came upon Xavier's ship. Jack had tried to steer the ship out of the way, but Xavier's ship still came upon them, turning sharply and heading straight for them. Jack turned the wheel as much as he could, but it still didn't help. Xavier's ship plowed into the left back end of the Pearl.
Jack took the blow as if someone had driven a ship into his own back end. He yelled and babbled about his ship, panicking. Kylia placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and hurried to the back of the ship.
She surveyed the damage and realized that Xavier's ship had hooked onto the Pearl and was now stuck. Kylia ran to Anamaria and dragged her up to the helm.
"Xavier's ship hooked onto the Pearl aft on the stern," she explained to Anamaria on the way to the helm, "I need Jack you'll have to steer." They reached the helm; Jack was panicking. "Jack, come with me let Anamaria steer." He reluctantly let go of the wheel and Anamaria took it. "Alright, we'll be able to unhook from them if you steer in a starboard circle. Sharply." She grabbed Jack's arm and pulled him to the edge of the ship. "Get out your pistol." she told him. He obeyed; she got hers out as well.
"Halen!" Xavier cried, going to the front of his ship. "What the hell are you doing on the Black Pearl!"
"None of your business!" Kylia yelled back.
"Well, I'm going to raid your ship, alright?" Xavier yelled. "If everyone cooperates, no one will get hurt!"
"Damn it, Xavier!" she cried. "This is one ship I'm not letting you raid! Captain Sparrow happens to be a personal friend of mine!"
"If it were anyone but you, you'd be dead right now for saying that!" he told her. "But seeing as how you left me so abruptly, I'd be glad to let you make an even trade!"
"An even trade?" she asked.
"Oh, you know I still love you!" he yelled. "Just one night! Come on!"
"No!" she yelled back. "I've seen enough of you, Xavier, now get out of my sight!"
"Well, if you're going to act like that, then I'll just have my men raid your ship."
"I'm not letting that happen!" she exclaimed. Mr. Cotton was rushing by them, and Kylia caught his arm. "Mr. Cotton, muster much of the crew to prepare for a possible attack." she whispered.
"Wind in the sails! Wind in the sails!" Mr. Cotton's parrot squawked and he rushed off.
"You think you're the big shot of the ocean, Xavier, but you're still just a little boy!" she yelled.
"You know, Halen, I hear you ran into a bit of trouble with your crew!" Xavier yelled back. "Hart did a mutiny, aye? Tsk tsk. I've heard so much about your past as of late! Who was it ten years ago? Anthony Schram?" Kylia faltered and Jack noticed. "Me best friend at the time and you killed him!"
"He deserved it, the bastard!" she screamed. By this time, the crew started to gather.
"He only did what I would've done!" he yelled back. "Said you screamed like a banshee, though!" She scowled. "I would've loved to have been there! Would've, too, if I hadn't got held up in England! Someday, Halen, you're going to get the same thing from me! Never even gave me a chance!" Jack thought he saw Kylia's eyes water, but he couldn't be sure… She clenched her fists in anger, gripping her pistol tightly. "No, I'm going to do worse than Schram did!" She let out a small scream of anger and pointed her pistol at him. "I'm going to rip you and make you cry until your screams run out, you little slut!"
"Fuck you, Xavier!" she screamed. "Fuck you!" He laughed at her and she pulled the trigger the shot went straight into his groin. All the men on both ships let out grunts of shock and looked away. "Live with that, you bastard!" Xavier fell to the deck of his ship, writhing and yelling in pain.
Just then, the Pearl got free of the other ship and they started to sail off. Kylia put her pistol away and pushed her hat down lower on her face to cover her eyes. She hurried off deck and went downstairs to her room. Jack looked concernedly after her, but didn't pursue her. Whatever was wrong, he was pretty sure she wanted to be alone. For a little while, anyway.
After an hour, Jack decided to go and check on her.
"Kylia?" he called, knocking on her door.
"What!" she called back. She sounded distressed.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
"Why?"
"Because I want to talk to you." he replied.
"I don't want to talk." she stated.
"You'll explode if you don' talk, sweetheart." he said.
"Then let me die in peace."
"Kylia, open the door!" he exclaimed.
"Damn it, Jack, just go away!" she cried.
"Tha's it as captain, I order you to open the door now!" he yelled. She sighed in annoyance and opened her door.
"What?" she asked.
"Well, can I come in and talk to you?" he asked.
"Don't have much choice in the matter, do I?" she replied bitterly and went back to lying down on her bed. He closed the door and sat down in a chair near the bed. "Well, captain, what do you want? You want to laugh at the supposedly tough-as-nails wench who's been crying over some stupid man's words?"
"O' course not." he stated. "I think you need to talk about this."
"Since when the hell did you get so sensitive?" she asked, irritated.
"You're so difficult, you know that?" he said and sighed. "Look, you'll feel better if you tell someone what 'appened, alrigh'?"
"Aye, I'm sure." she scoffed. "So you can go back to Tortuga and tell everyone what really happened to me?"
"Kylia…"
"Everyone will finally know how poor Kylia Halen got fucked over by some bastard in Tortuga when she was only fifteen!" she cried. "The secret's out everyone go gossip!"
"Kylia, stop it!" he yelled. She shut her mouth and looked away from him resentfully. "You're so paranoid! No one on this ship is out to get you! You know Anamaria you trust her. She trusts us an' you should, too." She started to say something, but he cut her off. "Don' interrupt me." She sighed in annoyance. "Now, look, you need to start openin' up to people. Great comin' from me, I know, but even I 'ave a certain level of trust with me friends." She looked at him. "It's like when you 'elped the panther. Everyone needs to be 'elped sometimes."
"What makes you think I need any help?" she asked.
"I can see it in your eyes." he replied. "You're not so cold, Kylia. You're a sweet girl. You jus' won' show it." She stared at him for a moment, then turned over on her side, away from him.
"There's not much to tell." she said. "I was fifteen, my parents had just died. I was really trusting because I didn't know what to do. Then it happened and I decided to stop trusting people. Not before I shot Schram, though… Got a pistol and blew his brains out… I eventually worked on a ship, made my way up to first mate. We raided a ship and had enough money to get a ship built. That's when I got my Estrella Grande… I was twenty…" She smiled at the happier memories. "My captain gave the ship to me… He told me I deserved a ship like that. That I had a passion for the ocean like few he'd known… He died shortly after the Estrella was built… but his spirit is weaved into every fragment of it… My crew were pirates, sure, but good people. We made it a point never to kill people unless we had to. We'd only rob people who didn't need what stole…" Her smile faded. "And then Hart decided to do a mutiny and now I'm here miserable as hell."
"I don' want you to be miserable. You shouldn' 'ave to be." he told her. "I know what it's like to lose a ship. I'm tryin' to 'elp, you know. You could try an' enjoy your time 'ere."
"My ship is half of my heart, Jack, I can't just forget it."
"I suffered for ten years without the Pearl, Kylia, you keep goin' and get 'elp where you can get it." he said.
"Aye…" she trailed off guiltily. "Look, I'm sorry for cursing so much… and… so severely. I do that when I get really, really angry. It doesn't happen that often, anyway, so don't worry about it…" She sighed and turned over on her back. "I just don't understand why you care."
He stood up and went to her. "Because you shouldn' 'ave to suffer alone." he said, running a finger along her jaw. He turned and left her room.
That night, they docked in Meadstown. Kylia and Jack went ashore and looked around the harbor. The crew went out to get supplies for repairing the ship. Finally, they spotted Raphton's ship.
"Alright, what do we do?" Kylia asked. "It doesn't seem like we can bargain for Andrea's life… And I don't know Raphton personally, so I can't possibly do what I did with Leon…"
"Why don' we jus' sneak on?" he suggested. "We can jus' climb through one of the windows an' go down to the brig."
"We don't know the way around the ship how are we supposed to know where the brig is?" Kylia asked.
"The brigs are always the on the lower levels, aren't they?" he replied. "So we'll jus'… explore the lower levels…"
"What if we get seen?" she asked.
"Then you say you're a whore who Raphton's been seein'"
"Thanks. Thanks a lot." she interrupted. "And what excuse do you give? 'Oh, you didn't know? I'm a male whore Rapthon's been seeing.'"
"Oh, shut your mouth." he stated, annoyed.
"Got a better alibi?" she asked.
He paused. "…Well…"
"Aye, that's what I thought."
"No, wait I'll jus' go aboard and say I'm Captain Smith. I'm in town an' jus' wanted a friendly word with Raphton. Fellow pirates an' all."
"I don't know…"
"It'll work don' worry about it." he said. "I'll keep Raphton busy on deck and you can find the girl."
"Well, alright." Kylia agreed. "Let's go."
They made their way over to the ship and Kylia ducked behind some barrels. Jack went aboard and was going to distract anyone who was on deck. When Kylia could sneak aboard, Jack would sneeze as a signal. There were two men on deck as it were and Jack approached them.
"'ello, gentlemen." Jack greeted. "I was jus' in town an' 'eard Captain Raphton was 'ere."
One man stepped up. "I'm Captain Rapthon and who are you?"
"Captain Smith or Smithy, if you like." Jack said. "I've 'eard stories about you for years on end. Thought it would be an honor to meet you."
"Well, that's nice to hear." Rapthon replied, rather flattered.
Jack kept up a conversation with Raphton and the other man, eventually getting them to turn away from where Kylia was to sneak aboard. He sneezed as a signal. She peeked around the barrels and slowly snuck aboard, darting behind objects as she went. Finally, she was able to get below deck. She started to make her way down to the lower levels when she heard screaming. She followed the sounds and found herself in front of a door marked "Captain." She tried the doorknob, but it was locked. Finally, she just kicked the door down and burst inside. There was a girl tied to a bed being exceedingly violated by a man lying on top of her. The man looked over at Kylia and she pulled out her sword. He quickly got up and went to her.
"'oo the 'ell are you?" the man asked harshly.
"The last thing you'll ever see." she replied and plunged her sword into the man's face. The girl let out a small yelp in surprise and the man fell to the floor. Kylia kicked the man's body aside and went to the girl. She wiped off her sword with a sheet.
"Th-thank you…" the girl stuttered, crying.
"Hey, it's no fun being in that situation." Kylia told her, cutting the ropes that confined the girl. "I know what it's like. You're Andrea, right?"
"Yes." Andrea replied, nodding.
"Your father sent me." Kylia said, as she finished cutting the ropes.
"Wh-what's your name?" Andrea sobbed.
"That's not really important right now." Kylia replied. "Come on, follow me." Andrea nodded and they left the room. "So how did all this happen to you?"
"Well, I was… h-having a few issues with my parents and I-I just… I don't know, I th-thought I trusted Raphton and…"
"Did he…?" Kylia asked. Andrea sighed and nodded. "And you trusted him?"
"Well, I just… didn't kn-know what to do…" Andrea told her. "He told me I wouldn't… have to worry and that I could join his crew…" Kylia didn't say anything.
'My ship is your ship. I'm glad to help.'
'That's very kind of you. My parents didn't leave me with anything, so I didn't know what to do…'
'Well, you don't have to worry. You can trust me.'
'I, er, I'm pretty sure I can help. I've been on lots of ships and know lots of strategies for attack and all that.'
'That's not what I had in mind.'
'Wh-what are you talking about?'
'You're so beautiful nearly perfect form.'
'Let go of me!'
'You've never done it before, huh?'
'Stop it!'
'Just relax enjoy it.'
'NO!'
Kylia clenched her fists in anger. "He told you that? He actually told you that?"
"Yes… I hate myself for trusting him…" Andrea told her, recovering.
"It's not your fault." Kylia pressed. "It's not your fault at all. It's his fault. There's nothing keeping me from killing him for you. Would you object?"
Andrea paused. She shook her head and sniffled. "Kill him. Go ahead. Keep it from happening to anyone else." Kylia noticed that Andrea was holding her lower stomach in pain.
"How can I say no?" Kylia said, pulling out her pistol. They went up on deck and Jack was still talking to Raphton and the other man. Raphton spotted Kylia and Andrea.
"Hey!" he yelled angrily.
"Don't move don't make a sound or I'll shoot." Kylia ordered. "Smith, kill that one." The man looked around frantically and stared at Raphton, waiting for him to do something. Jack shrugged and pulled out his pistol. "Kill him."
"No, sweetheart, I don' throw lives away." Jack said and knocked the man out with his gun.
Kylia sighed in annoyance and went to Raphton. Andrea followed, holding her stomach the whole time. Kylia looked back at Andrea and then to Raphton. "You son of a bitch who the hell do you think you are, thinking you can go around doing whatever you want regardless of who you hurt!"
"Hey, look, if it's money you want"
"Oh, no, no." Kylia laughed. "No, I just want… retribution for those who deserve it." She held her pistol to his head. "People like you have got to learn that it's not alright to do things like this it's not alright."
"Woah, don't"
"Shut it." Kylia ordered. "Andrea, look away." She obeyed.
"No, no, no!" Raphton cried.
"Your sins won't go unpunished. I'm just… speeding up the process." Kylia told him. She sighed in annoyance. "When will men learn?"
"Please…" Raphton begged.
"Did you listen to this poor girl when she said please? I don't think so."
"Wait"
BANG! Raphton fell to the deck, head blown to bits. Kylia scowled down at the corpse and put her pistol away. She wiped at the blood on her face, but it didn't come off."
"Come on someone has to have heard that." Kylia said. "We'll have to run."
"Oh, I don't think I can run…" Andrea said reluctantly.
"Jack, carry her." Kylia ordered. Jack nodded and picked Andrea up. Suddenly, five crewmembers hurried on deck and spotted Raphton's body. "Bugger! Run!" They dashed off the ship. "We can't go back to the Pearl they'll see us, first of all, and it needs repairs so we can't leave now!"
"Righ'." Jack agreed. "Let's jus' run into town." Kylia nodded and they ran into town. Eventually, they lost Raphton's crew, but still needed to hide. They spotted a barn and ducked into it. Jack put Andrea down and sat down to catch his breath. Andrea sat down as well. Kylia went to a bucket of water and washed Raphton's blood off her face.
"We'll go back to the ship a few hours after midnight." Kylia stated, drying her face off. "After that we can't be seen on deck just in case. That includes you, Jack."
"Aye, I know." he sighed.
"Well, Raphton's dead." Kylia concluded, sitting down next to Jack. "Thank goodness. Scum like that deserve to die."
"Erm, thank you for rescuing me." Andrea piped in.
"Oh, you're welcome." Kylia told her. "Glad I could get you away from that guy." Kylia took a deep breath and flopped on her back in a stack of hay.
After about an hour, Kylia started to get drowsy. Andrea noticed Kylia's exhaustion and spoke up.
"Hey, I'm, er, I'm not really feeling like I can get much sleep." Andrea stated. "You two can doze off for a while if you want."
"Oh… are you sure?" Kylia asked.
"Of course. Don't worry, I won't fall asleep." Andrea replied.
"Well, alright… thanks." Kylia said.
"Aye, thanks, sweetheart it's been a long day." Jack told her.
A little while later, Jack and Kylia both fell asleep. About half an hour after that, Kylia woke up and realized something… She was holding Jack's hand… Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't move. How did that happen! For a moment, she was tempted to stay that way she felt comforted… No. She didn't need anyone… Did she? She looked over at him: he was sound asleep. She glanced over at Andrea and she was gazing out the window. She looked back at her hand and thought for a moment. Her eyes softened, but returned to their sharpness as quickly as they had first changed. She let go of his hand and turned on her side, away from him. She sighed and went back to sleep.
Not too long after, Andrea woke them up and they all started on their journey back to the Pearl. They arrived there without any trouble. They gave Andrea a room next to Kylia's and were to set sail the next day.
The next morning, the crew got up extremely early to do repairs. They worked as hard as they could and were able to set sail back to Ciel that afternoon.
They sat in the dining room, eating dinner and talking.
"You know, Mr. Sparrow, I was very impressed with how strong you were." Andrea told Jack. "I mean, all that running and carrying me at the same time."
"Oh, you 'ardly weigh a thing." Jack replied, clearly flattered.
"This is such a beautiful ship you have here." Andrea said, flipping her blond hair back.
"Thank you ' Jack told her. "You know, love, you 'ave very beautiful blond hair. Don' see it much lately since most o' me friends 'ave dark hair."
"Oh, why, thank you." Andrea stated. "And you're very handsome, you know. It's a nice change from Raphton."
"Tha's good to know." Jack said. "You're not so bad looking yourself. I"
"Should I leave you two alone?" Kylia asked, annoyed. They stifled and the rest of the meal was mostly quiet.
After dinner, Kylia pulled Andrea aside. "Look, Andrea, I can see you're attracted to Jack, but it's not a good idea."
"…It isn't?" Andrea asked. "Why?"
"Well… I mean… the man can't hold his liquor. I out-drunk him." Kylia told her.
"That doesn't matter to me." Andrea replied, waving it off. "I don't really drink anyway."
"Damn." Kylia mumbled, but Andrea didn't hear it. "Well, er, he… oh! He once said that if he got the opportunity to be with two women at once, if you get my drift, he would jump at the chance!"
"…He said that?"
"Pretty much." Kylia told her.
"Oh… well, I didn't… realize…"
"Sorry." Kylia apologized.
Andrea gave up on trying to get closer to Jack. Kylia didn't know why exactly she didn't want Andrea to be involved with Jack, though…
They docked in Ciel that evening and they went ashore. They found Glass and he reunited with Andrea happily. After the reunion, they talked to him about finding Hart and the Estrella Grande.
"I know exactly where the Estrella is." Glass said. "They decided to break for a while at Shefton Island. You'll find them there."
"Really!" Kylia exclaimed. "Are you sure they're still there?"
"Pretty sure." Glass replied.
It was set. They would set sail for Shefton Island the next day. And they would finally get the Estrella back!
YAY! Anyway, hope you enjoyed that chapter! Twas fun to write! Poor Kylia. Her past is pretty sad, huh:-( But anyway, hope you all enjoyed it! PLEASE REVIEW!