Chapter seven: Mixed emotions(I think I've used that before?)

"Success!" Katerina looked up suddenly, to see Jack striding into her cabin, a look of triumph on his face.

"Pardon?"

"I've got the last piece!" He waved a piece of gold in front of her, then put it in his pocket, smiling.

"You know, I have no clue why you are so bleeding happy. Why is returning that gold so important?" Jack sobered, and looked around, clearly wishing to avoid the conversation.

"You might as well sit down then," He looked surprised, noticing there was only Katerina's bed on which to sit.

"Well, it all started about thirteen years ago"– Jack began.

"That asshole!" Katerina suddenly yelled, after silence reigned. She stood up, and started pacing the few feet of free space in her small cabin.

"So...when you take one of these...medallions, you are immortal? Doesn't sound too bad." Jack sighed, clearly not happy with her conclusion.

"There is a price attached, love. You are immortal, yes, but you live a half life...cursed. Its not all shits and giggles." He stood up, and stopped her pacing by putting a hand on each shoulder. "If. You. Ever"– he punctuated each word with a flexing of his hands painfully. He suddenly broke off, and released her, at the look Katerina gave him.

"So how exactly is this curse lifted? I mean, if these people aren't dead, then why aren't they coming after you because you stole their treasure? It just doesn't make sense." She ignored his reproach, and continued. "And what of it? I think having it around would be handy. It would save our sorry hides on raids...and keep the crew satisfied. Then I wouldn't have to worry about you getting stabbed or–" She shut her mouth quickly, and turned away from him, horrified she said that.

"No," Jack said harshly, his voice almost betraying him. "No it wouldn't do. And I would be damned if this ship sees any more of that." With that last statement, he turned on his heel and left the cabin.

"Its not like Im trying to steal it!" She yelled after him, then sat down on the bed, just confused.

Slowly, as if the whole of the world was suspended, the last gold piece fell from Jack's fingers, and into the chest. There was no clinking of other pieces. Just silence.

With a foreboding that she rarely felt, Katerina watched this, a distance away, her brows together in a frown. Something seemed to break inside her chest. And as if she had been under a spell, she suddenly remembered her shop...her life. Without waiting for the other three, Katerina turned, and went to the boat. Again, waiting. Would waiting never cease? It seemed her whole life was waiting. Waiting for money. Waiting for people to realize she was an able person. Waiting to take the mask from her face and show her true self. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

Well she, Katerina Smith, was going to wait no more. She vowed that when she got back to Port Royal, she was buying her small shop out from underneath her friend. She would then sell it, hopefully for a profit, though she didn't need it if none arose, then she would set up shop in a better part of the Port. Hopefully then, and only then, would people begin to see her as she was.

The only problem presented to her at that moment; getting out of her contract. It was like a business deal that wasn't taken lightly. She had been offered to leave, after so long. But no, she chose to stay on. Now the task was over, and she needed to go back to Port Royal. She felt as if she would parish if she didn't.

"Besides, with this face," She thought bitterly. "Who could say no?"

It was in her luck, that Jack had decided to go to Port Royal. Katerina told no one of her plans for jumping ship(not literally), but as twilight was drawing near, she approached Jack at the helm. That's where he seemed to always be.

"We'll be in Port Royal tomorrow morning," He said, seeing her walking towards him. He shot a scathing look to the direction where Elizabeth was walking the baby. Apparently that was the reason for going.

"I wanted to talk...about something," Katerina started slowly, leaning against the small railing that surrounded them. Instantly Jack's face hardened.

"We are not going to take that damn treasure, Kat." He said gruffly. "I don't care how useful it is," She rolled her eyes and let him finish ranting.

"No, not that." She took a deep breath. "I want to leave the crew. And close your mouth." Indeed, his jaw had dropped, and his mouth was gaping open. He stared at her for a few seconds, then jerked his head back forward, at the horizon.

"You signed the articles. You took the oath. The crew accepted you."

"But Im not really part of this crew!" Katerina threw her hands up in exasperation. "You took me on because I saw you with one of those damn medallions! You bribed me!"

"I gave you a choice to stay or leave. You chose to stay, so you are staying. Or so help me god, I will...I will maroon you!"

"Good!" Katerina screamed, not quite sure why he was being so bent up about it. "That would just be fine by me! Go ahead. I'd be getting off the ship either way!" She gave a mirthless laugh, and strode away, giving angry glares at whoever dared to look her way.

"Kat?" She turned around swiftly, a stinging remark on her lips, but saw Elizabeth. She was clutching the sleeping baby to her, but looked more concerned about this woman.

"...What?"

"Are you really leaving?" It was more of a plea, then anything. Well, Katerina thought, I could see her missing me, I mean, being the only other female aboard who doesn't try to shoot you...Wait! She is leaving.

"Why?"

"Sticking to monosyllables? Its amazing how blind people are! When its right in front of your face!" Suddenly irritated, the new mom turned on her heel and stalked off, leaving Katerina confused. Ah well. Hormones must be raging then. She had no idea as to what just happened, but proceeded to her own small dismal cabin.

"Thank you for letting me stay..." Katerina said through a tightly constricted throat as she looked around her room.

"Its nothing. You delivered Lillian, so I think it would be fitting to be her nanny." Elizabeth smiled in the doorway. "Now, if there is anything about the room you want to change, just let me know, ok? I am more then happy to have you here. Will too, though he likes to put up a fuss." Katerina sat down on the edge of the eider down bed, and surveyed the apple green walls, and white and gold molding.

"I wont be staying long. Just until I can get my feet back on the ground. And forget this whole piracy business." She pushed a fly away strand of hair from her face.

"Are you ok?" Elizabeth suddenly asked, before shutting the large white door. "I mean, really ok?"

"Er...why? I am getting my shop, I have a nice place to live. Im fine."

"Still blind." She walked out, shaking her head.

Why was she always saying that I'm blind? Katerina though. Its like they think I– oh.

Yes. Oh. She knew now. Though unsure exactly. She was just being foolish. It was the heat. Yes! Thats it. It was the heat making her delirious. She couldn't tell which end was up. She was such a fool...and she knew it well.