Author's Note -

Well another week managed and survived ... always a positive thing. Personally, I've had a WONDERFUL week and I only hope that the rest of you have shared in my wealth of happy experiences.

-A-

Author Thanks -

Moulin-Rouge-Pirate - Don't worry about it. Thanks! Enjoy!

TriGemini - Thanks! I can't tell you exactly what you hinted at ... whether it is right or not but ... you MAY be on the right track ... then again, you may not and I could be just blowing smoke. The short answer is to wait and see ... all will be revealed in time.. Enjoy!

Captain Tish - Thanks! Enjoy!

jisAtU siLENcE - Thanks! Yeah, she's still sick. I know it may have been slightly confusing, with the fight and all but it is my personal experiences that the mind can will the body to do things even when it seems impossible. Anywho, enjoy!

-A-

Last Time

Jack grinned. "Yes?"

I nodded. "Trust me. Go get Colin and I'll be ready when you get back."

Jack walked over to me and ran a hand down my arm gently. He leaned down and kissed me softly. "I'll be back."

"All right."

-A-

Beyond the Horizon

Chapter 12 - Just Grit Your Teeth and Do It

I waited for the door to close before jumping to action. I went immediately to the trunk in a corner. I opened it and started rummaging around for something 'suitable' for my coming engagement of sorts with Rion.

Finally I found what I was looking for, a tight fitting dress with a sufficiently low neckline. Low enough to tempt any secrets from my 'friend.'

I glanced around the cabin, making sure that no one was peeping before hurriedly changing.

I walked over to the mirror and examined my reflection ... I definitely looked seductive but I wasn't entirely comfortable with it. Stomaching my doubts, I turned my attention to the rest of my ensemble. I removed the necklace that Jack had given me five years ago ... if I was going to be convincing, I needed to loose the necklace. The necklace was a sure and present sign of my love for Jack and well, circumstances called for 'lost love.' If Rion knew about what had happened in Madagascar, he probably knew more than that ... and the necklace was definitely something that the crew had always seen me wearing.

I undid my plait and put my hair into a complicated twist that looked exceptionally seductive. But the fact remained that I was still not feeling well at all and I had to truly convince myself that I could do this before I reopened the door for Jack and Colin.

Jack looked me up and down as he stepped into the room. "Nice, Christy ... but I didn't think you wanted him to assume anything."

I chewed my lip for a moment, planning how to best word the details of my plan. "Well ... I don't ... but this is what I figured would get to him the fastest. He's made comments that he thinks that I'm pretty and I think that this is the easiest way to play to his weaknesses. Besides, like you said, you and Colin will be there ... I trust that you'll protect me."

"As much as I hate to question your logic, darling, how is you throwing yourself at him going to make him tell you what we need to know?"

I had been expecting this question from the beginning and knew exactly how to answer it. "That's easy enough. I'm going to tell him that you're not good enough for me and that I can see what he means by me being with a stupid man," I paused. "Which is untrue, of course. Then I'll tell him that I've seen the error of my ways and can think of no better way to thank him than ... well, use your imagination to fill that one in."

"Ye sure 'bout this, lass?" Colin asked, still near the doorway.

I nodded, despite the fact that I was not feeling all that sure of myself. To tell the truth, I was a little scared.

Jack ran his hands up and down my arms gently. "You're going to be fine, darling. Trust me. We won't let anything happen to you. Just trust me."

I leaned back into him, trying to gather all the strength that I could from him before I faced the next challenge ... a very important challenge. When I felt that I had my composure, I straightened and said, "Well, I suppose we should get this over with."

Colin nodded and came closer. "But we need a reason for Christy ta be driven out by Jack ... there be no scenario for it at the moment."

"So ... what if I said that Jack hit me," I said, turning to face Jack.

He shook his head. "Not happening darling. I won't hit you. Not for all the gold in Spain."

"Okay ... so what else could we say ... could I tell him that you thought that I had gotten involved with Colin?"

Jack looked slightly perturbed at this but nodded. "Aye ... that'll work."

"Good," Colin and I said together.

"Now, where is this going to occur? And how are we to get you two into there without him knowing?" I asked, moving along to the next item of business.

"Galley?" Colin suggested.

"No ... too many places," Jack rejected.

"Crew cabins?" I offered.

Jack shook his head. "No ... too many people."

"What about in here?"

Jack glanced around. "Well, it does definitely have the element of surprise ... I doubt he'd expect it..."

Colin gazed around as well, "I suppose that this could work. Cap'n, you could be behind the trunks and I could be between the bookshelves."

"Colin ... how would you get out if you were between the bookshelves? That would take entirely too much time ... but what if ... what if we put you inside the trunk at the base of the bed and left off the lock so that you could see or jump out at a moment's notice," I suggested.

"Nah, Christy, that couldn't work, darling ... he would only be able to see directly in front of him. But ... this could work," Jack said as he pointed to the bureau. "There is plenty of room behind it and so long as we leave the top shelf open, there's a large slit in the back of it ... Colin could see through and have more of a field to see. There's more than enough room to get out easily and Colin is light on his feet so he won't make nary a noise."

"Okay," Colin said. "Sounds like we have some hiding to do, Cap'n, while Miss Christy finds her prey."

"Perhaps I should wait until you are safely hidden to leave ... that way it doesn't arouse suspicion."

"Good idea, love. See, that's why I keep you around here ... yer always thinking," Jack said jokingly.

"Careful, or I'll put this for real," I warned jokingly.

Jack leaned down and kissed me. "Be careful darling."

"I will. I'll be back quickly ... but you two need to get into place." I waited until they were completely out of sight to leave the cabin.

I felt jittery as I walked down the familiar halls of the Pearl's underbelly. Today felt different than any other day ... mostly because there was so much more riding on today.

I clenched my hands together to stop the shaking when I reached the crews cabin. I stopped outside of it and listened. I thought that I heard something moving but I couldn't be sure. So, quietly, I pressed my ear to the door and listened.

"Looking for something, seniorita?"

I jumped. My heart hit my throat as I spun, completely alarmed. I placed my hand to my chest as I whispered, "What?"

"Are you looking for something, seniorita?" Rion asked, a malicious glint in his eyes. "You're looking quite guilty right now."

I smiled my best seductive smile as I walked slowly over to him, deliberately putting a lot of hip into my walk. When I reached him, I ran a hand down his chest. "As a matter of fact, I was ... but it seems that I have found it."

"What's that, seniorita?" Rion asked, his voice becoming very husky ... it made me sick but I continued on.

"You of course."

He smiled. "And why would you come looking for me?"

I started walking him backward up the hall, towards Jack's cabin. "Because, I think that you were right with what you told me ... Jack is a fool. You were right and I just wanted to tell you that I would really like to make up what I said to you."

"Really?"

I winked at him. "Yes, really. And I was thinking how to make it up to you and it came to me. Since Jack accused me of getting with Colin, which I haven't, I think the best way to punish him would be get with someone opposite of Colin ... in Jack's own bed."

"Seniorita, you surprise me ..."

I put a finger to his lips, quelling his speech. We had reached the door. "My name's Christy. Mi amo Christy," I said, after pushing myself up on tip toes, my lips brushing his ear as I spoke.

"Christy, you surprise me," he repeated.

Deftly, I opened the door and pushed him in. "Is this a good surprise or a bad surprise?" I asked innocently.

"A good surprise ... a very good surprise..." he said silkily. "But I must ask," he added as he spun me around and undid my hair before beginning to unlace my dress. "What changed your mind?"

"I told you, I was accused of getting with Colin. Jack was very defensive and he played far too rough ... I won't be handled like that. I like the gentle touch."

At this Rion ran a hand down my cheek.

Still intent on keeping up the charade, I nuzzled into his touch but inside I was screaming ... it was torture. "But also, what you told me earlier ... I don't remember now exactly but you scared me and I'd rather be with the winnner of this struggle. What was it that you said exactly, I don't remember?" I asked. I could feel his hands under the back of my dress ... I had to go faster.

"What?"

"What did you tell me earlier? About the changes."

Rion's hands ran over my skin as gently as the man could manage for the snake he was and I did my best not to shy away from them ... but it took an enormous amount of will power. I turned to look at him and placed my own hands on his chest, to help him remember. "I said," he leaned down to kiss me. "That things will be changing." Another kiss. "That you're captain may find himself marooned or even dead." His hands began to wander more freely, one settling on my arse. "And that everything would be different soon enough. That there are enemies for me and my kind everywhere."

Fortunately for me, that had been enough for Jack. "That's it mate, away from the girl!" he cried as he sprung up, catlike from his hiding spot and approached, gun fixed on Rion. There was no semblance of sway in his walk nor merriment in his eyes.

An extremely ugly look crossed Rion's face as he glared at me fiercly. He stepped back about half a step but was still within reach of me. "You ... you ..."

"Yes, me. Do you really think that I'd leave Jack? After all these years?"

Rion brought an arm back to slap me but before he could deliver the blow, Colin grabbed him by the wrist and twisted his arm back behind his back.

"Ye should nae hit a lady," Colin chided.

"That's not a lady, she's a whore! Bet she's had you too! And all the rest of the crew as well!" Rion spat.

Jack cracked Rion swiftly across the mouth. "Watch your tongue or you won't be using it ever again," he hissed, fire blazing in his eyes. "Christy .... I think that you should leave now, love."

I nodded and left silently, feeling the heat of Rion's stare upon my back the entire way.

-A-

Author's Note -

Phew ... another chapter done. I hope that ya'll enjoyed it.

So, I have a proposition to make for you merry folk out there. And here it is -

Whoever can CORRECTLY identify what poem the following stanza comes from will get the chapter sent to them a day early. Here's the stanza :

'sun rain stars moon

(and only the snow can begin to explain

how children are apt to forget to remember

with up so floating many bells down'

(Yes, the lack of punctuation is intentional. That's how it was written.)

So, the floor is open for guesses … I'll only reply to people who are right, though, so, you'll know whether or not you're correct.

Anyways, on with the show. Have a wonderful week … the next chapter will be posted in about a week-ish. Things might get a bit hairy for a while … I have finals coming up so after Chapter 13 … expect a possibly longer delay … I get quite stressed around finals time.

Mange Klemmar!

CrazyCanoeingGIT