Disclaimer: I don't own POTC.
SHE WAS A PHANTOM OF DELIGHT
Chapter 16: The Feuding Legendary Brothers
It turned out that the two men who had boarded the ship had been members of Long John's crew. And although Jack would not readily admit it, he was now twice as much in debt to the girl for her bold actions. If she had not scared the two men into leaving the ship, there was no doubt in Jack's mind they would have taken the key from inside his coat pocket.
Camille never knew any of this as they pulled into the next port, Port Tostito. But Ana Maria and Gibbs had been keeping her very well informed. Apparently the bond between Jack and his brother John was a very tense one. Although their goal had been the same, they had never really gotten along. Jack was the younger of the two, and Long John had outdone him in anything and everything. So it was no surprise that Jack felt contempt towards his older brother.
The crew was in a tavern in the Port, drinking in a whorehouse as usual. "So is that why we're going to Peru? So that Jack can finally outdo John in one thing?"
Ana Maria laughed. "That and the fact that it's treasure, love. Sometimes you can be so naïve, Camille."
"Well I'm still new at this pirate thing," she said, defending herself. "I'm not as attached to material possessions."
The two women continued to laugh and talk until Camille felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned around and saw an extremely handsome man grinning at her. And when he spoke, he had the most perfect Irish accent she had ever heard.
"Excuse me miss, but I was sittin' over at the other end and couldn't help but notice you. Would you let me buy you a drink?" he asked politely.
Ana Maria spoke up. "Of course she would!" Then she leaned over a little tipsily and whispered and Camille's ear. "I'll be over there," she informed her friend.
"So, what'll you have then?" the stranger asked her.
She turned to him. "I don't know, I can't really drink that much."
"Ah, come on now. An Irish girl who can't hold her liquor? What would people say?" he said lightly.
She laughed. "To be perfectly honest, I've never met another Irishman to judge that."
"Well there's a first time for everything," he said, ordering some shots. "William O'Rafferty. My friends just call me 'Bill' but you can call me whatever you like, Miss…"
"Uh, Quartermaine!" Camille blurted out. "Camille Quartermaine," she introduced herself.
He kissed her hand. "It's a pleasure, Miss Quartermaine."
Ana Maria made her way over to the table Jack was sitting at where he had two broads on either leg. He had been kissing and making out with them playfully as they laughed and drank more rum, but he focused a little when Ana Maria returned.
"Hey! Where's the other girl?" he asked, laughing as one of the whores kissed him on the neck.
Ana Maria nodded towards the bar where Camille and some strange man were laughing and drinking shots. And he could plainly see that she was increasingly becoming less and less aware of things. He sighed inwardly. He was going to take advantage of her, and she was going to learn a harsh lesson unless someone stepped in.
But the women were already trying to entice him to come to bed with them. Two women! Again! He looked longingly at the stairs that led to the bedrooms, and then looked back at Camille and her stranger. Hesitantly, he began following the women as Ana Maria waved goodbye to him and turned her attention to some of the crewmembers.
Jack was about halfway up the stairs when his conscience finally got the best of him. He excused himself, promising only to be a minute. The women looked at each other, bewildered, and began upstairs without him as he hurriedly made his way back downstairs.
Camille was obviously drunk, and the man had her right where he wanted her. He was already leading her away towards the door. Jack wondered what he was going to do. He had sort of started walking without a plan; but he did all things like this so he just assumed things would work themselves out.
"Camille! Camille, thank the powers I've found you!" he said, waving his arms about. "It's about the uh…" he cleared his throat, "…treasure," he said in a low voice.
"What treasure?" Camille said loudly, causing some heads to turn. "I dunno about any treasure-"
Jack looked at the man she was with. "Do you mind giving us a few minutes? Pirate stuff; very confidential," he said as he pushed the protesting Camille outside.
The man nodded slowly, looking a little confused.
Jack patted him on the arm. "There's a good lad." He led Camille outside, where she exploded at him.
"Jack, what the hell do you think you're doing? He's a decent man, and the first REAL Irishman I've met! What gives you the right to-to…"
He tried to shush her. "Camille, please listen to me darling. If you leave with that man he is not going to be there when you wake up, I promise you," Jack said seriously.
This only made her angrier. "Look Sparrow, I dunno what you think you're tryin' to pull just…just cause your brother's better than you. And your own damned crew doesn't respect you, no one does! They all wanna mutiny first chance they get! And…I love him, and I hate you!" she finished, staggering around and throwing her arms around in mad gestures.
Jack stopped completely. It was by far the worst drunken lecture he had ever gotten, and though he knew very well that she was beyond drunk the words still hurt. He straightened up. "Very well then, Miss Quartermaine. You're absolutely right, you are a grown woman. And as such I will not treat you like a child. The ship leaves at 10 o' clock tomorrow with or without you," he said monotonously as he went back into the tavern and upstairs. Once again, his mind was on other things.
