Chapter six: The wulf in the land
Blind curiousity took me down into the brig when I was released from my cabin cell. I had rememberd that man...Wulf, when I was swatting at flies the day before. I rememberd his speech, and was nice to a surprised Sparrow who let me out.
"Wulf? I asked as I went down into the brig. I had brought a keresone lantern with me, and it illuminated the brig. I looked around, and screamed, dropping the lantern. I picked up before it caused a fire and ran out of there, searching for Sparrow.
"What is it?" He asked, frowning as I came running to him.
"What happened to Wulf?" I asked, out of breath. Sparrow had a confused look about his face, that was almost comical. "The man in the brig!" A look of regignition dawned on his face and he looked away.
"He was a traitor." Sparrow muttered, looking out at the sea.
"What did he do?" I demanded, puting out the lamp.
"Nothing that concerns you." He said shortly. "Now get your skinny ass back in the cabin."
"Why must you always think that you can order me around?" I snarled at him. He looked me square in the eye.
"What makes you think that you can question me. I swear, you really are dumbwitted." I slapped him for that. He stood perfectly still.
"You are the stupid one, Sparrow."
"Now...it takes on to know one...remember." I stood there for a moment, thinking of the best comeback.
"Well, at least I don't have to make up for my lack of masculinity. I mean, thats all that this is, right?" I gestured to him, up and down. "The whole 'Im a bad ass pirate, fear me!' look...thats so passé. And this ship...I mean come on! Who really believes that you are the awe-inspiring captain? Hmm? Its amazing men even want to be on your crew!" I laughed bitterly. There was a heavy silence following my insult. Sparrow stood there, sizing me up. His jaw jutting out sharply, causing his cheeks to have a more sunken in apperance. His eyesbrow's were raised. And for a moment, I thought he was going to let it blow over and maybe retort sharply. But no. He hit me.
"You bastard!" I screamed and put my hand to my stinging cheek. He had backhanded me.
"I told you never to insult this ship. You are treading on thin ice, Mack...and one of these days, its gunna break and your going to fall." I turned around, and the image of the Indian Wulf, decaying down in the brig haunted me for a long time.
/\
We arrived in Ireland two long weeks later. Sparrow and I had reached a truce and that ment practically never speaking to each other. I was determined to get whatever the hell it was he was offering and hightail it out of there.
"Alright. Now stick by me at all times, and try to remember, though I know it is difficult, but please, stay besides me. I dont want to have to go looking for you." I crossed my arms over chest and refused to walk down the gangplank.
"I will go along with this," I hissed at him. "But first, you must take me to my father's place. Then I will do whatver you ask." Sparrow's eyes danced around and a sly grin erupted on his face, showing his gold teeth.
"Anything?" He asked wickedly. I scowled and he laughed. "Alright. I will take you to your da." He said in a mock accent that resembled mine. I raised an eyebrow and gently placed the glass rose in my pocket.
"Lead the way!" He said jauntily and I practically skipped down the wooden board.
/\
"Da?" I called out, knocking on the small hovel that I had know as my home for the longest of time. "Da? Its me, Mackensy!" The door opened suddenly and a big and sweaty looking woman stared back.
"Who are ya lookin fer?" She asked, her accent heavier then any Irish woman I ever knew.
"My da..." I said uncertainly. "His name is Gerald Shane." Her eyes suddenlly held a look of pity.
"Im serry darlin'." She said, and beckoned me into my own house. Sparrow followed me in, and I stopped suddenly when I saw what was in the middle of the room.
The Irish, when one of their own die, have a wake, for a long period of time, so anyone who knew the decieced could say their final good bye. I had sat through one of those before, and now, my father, my da, was layed out.
"He died abou' two deys agew." The woman explained. "Im serry lass. But he had been veery sick." I backed up and ran out of the hovel, tears blinding my eyes so I didn't know where I was going.
"Mack! Mackensy!" I heard someone yell behind me. I tripped over something, and went sprawling to the ground, sobbing.
"Mack..." Sparrow kneeled down besides me.
"Its all my fault!" I said quitely, hiccupping. "I hadn't hic sent him hic money hic or anything. He hic died because hic he was sick and hic cold." Sparrow grabbed me up and shook my roughly.
"It is not your fault." He said in a harsh voice. I looked up into his dark eyes, lost in them. "It is no ones fault." Suddenly the terror of being alone struck me, and I grabbed onto Sparrow, not wanting to loose someone else. A feeling hit me, as hard as if I had been shot with it. I loved this man. I had always loved him.
"Don't leave me alone," I whispered into his chest. He ran his fingers through my long hair and whispered sympathetic nothings. But I didn't listen. "Don't leave me alone," Was all I kept saying.
/\
"Why are we going back to the ship?" I asked brushing my hair out of my face. I had finally calmed down enough to start walking again.
"Because, you need to relax for a while. In a couple days we will go looking for that treasure. You are emotionally exhausted." When Sparrow said that, I realized I was tired. So tired, that when wavered slightly on my feet, Sparrow scooped me up and carried me the rest of the way. My head rested against his strong chest and I fell asleep.
/\
Jack sat at his desk and watched Mackensy sleep. Her face was peaceful, and didn't have its usual dour look to it. He looked down at the desk he had hit a while ago, when he realize that she had slipped through his fingers. He had been handling the whole situation the wrong way...but...Damn! He scratched his chin, confused from all the emotions coursing through his body. When she had thrown herself on him, sobbing and repeated over and over again not to leave her alone...the feeling in the pit of his stomach finally had a name. It was love. But the doubt that the feeling wasn't mutall is what made him squirm away from it. He knew she was just in shock and was reaching out to anyone who was close. He figured in a day or so, she would be back to snipping and snarling at him like a bitch in heat.
With affection he would never show her awake, he got up and walked over to her, and kisses her full on the mouth. Mackensy sighed, and shifted her position, smiling. With a weight in his heart he walked out of the cabin to his only refuge.
His drink.