Disclaimer: I succeeded in capturing Jack, but Disney stole him back, so I don't own him.
AN: Possibly some very sappy stuff happening in this chapter, so beware all those who dislike romance and stuff! Also, picture the acrobatics that Nerissa does as something you would see in Cirque de Soleil (or something just as impressive, for those who've never seen it). Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 10: Treasure Hunting:
Later that Day, Nerissa's POV:
In the privacy of her mind, Nerissa thought the trip to find the treasure would likely prove to be interesting. She had spent the better part of the day hiding from Jack, who was probably still upset about the whole waking-him-up-using-a-bucket-of-water incident. It had cracked her up to think that she had managed to do it, and she still had a broad grin on her face as she kept watch from the crow's nest.
Presently, Nerissa was enjoying the fruits of her efforts. They had the treasure map, Jack was thoroughly awake to take them there, and she was successful in finding the crow's nest as the perfect place to hide from the Captain's wrath, since he would have to make a lot of commotion over the effort of climbing the ropes to get to her. If he did manage to get up here, though, she could always get down and run so that he couldn't catch her. Annamaria had already told her of another good hiding place in case Jack managed to find her up here.
Sighing, Nerissa closed her eyes and let the sea air caress her face and hair. A calm, steady wind blew off of the Caribbean, tossing her brown hair and cooling her sweat-soaked face. The Caribbean sun was especially hot during the afternoons, so duty up in the crow's nest was usually a good way to cool down. Opening her eyes, Nerissa picked up her water flask from the shady place she had stashed it and took a good swig, letting the semi-cold water slide down her dry throat. Cold water…what a wonderful thing…and it was so peaceful, with the crew in the galley having an afternoon break while she kept watch…
"I know you're up there, luv," called a familiar voice from below the nest.
'Uh, oh. No good can come of this,' she thought, putting down her water and risking a peek over the edge of the nest.
There on the main deck stood Jack, dry as a bone (despite the sweat that she could imagine dripping off of his face in the heat), and with his arms crossed over his chest. From the sparkle coming from his facial area, there was also a broad smirk on his face, which only made her even more apprehensive about what he might try and do to her in revenge for his little "wake up call." Gulping, Nerissa plastered a fake smile on her lips and stood up, showing herself willingly to the Black Pearl's captain.
"What can I do for you, Captain?" she called down to him, leaning on her arms to look more relaxed.
"Oh, nothing much, luv," he replied, walking towards the mast and the ropes that led up to the crow's nest. "Just wait for me up there; I'll be up in a jiffy."
Smirking, she waited to the count of ten before tying the flask of water securely to her hip and slipping over the ropes leading down to the deck. By now, Jack was three-quarters of the way up the rigging, watching her as she reached for the ropes that would lead her down towards the deck. He raised an eyebrow in speculation.
"You can't be that fast or good of a climber, luv," he called to her. "I'll be there before you're a foot down!"
Grinning, Nerissa gave a mock salute and reached for the rope. Going head over feet, she did an impressive set of back flips down the rope and onto the deck, successfully landing on her feet on the deck. Looking up, she saw Jack up at the crow's nest, his jaw hanging open in shock. Grinning as she gave him another salute, she ran downstairs to the little hiding place Anna had told her about.
Jack's POV:
From his perch in the crow's nest, Jack tried to go over what had just happened in his mind. He honestly couldn't believe what he had just seen. Had she really done back flips down a rope and landed on the deck, graceful as a cat? It had been one of the most amazing things that Jack had ever seen, and he had seen quite a lot in his life. Still, it had been rather impressive, the way she arched backwards down the rope, her feet somehow managing to grip the rope even when she couldn't see if she was fully (and safely) holding on to it.
'That is a wonderful trick,' he thought to himself, looking out to sea. 'I wonder what else she can do…though we probably won't find out unless she wants us to.'
Chuckling, Jack headed down the ropes to try and find the elusive little Siren.
That Evening, Author's POV:
Walking around the Pearl's main hold for the hundredth time that day, Jack was starting to feel a bit annoyed with his female crewmembers. Nerissa had literally vanished into thin air after leaving him earlier that day, and he couldn't seem to find her. He knew every inch of the Pearl, and he had searched through all of it in an attempt to find the woman, but still had no luck.
Well, technically that wasn't true…he hadn't searched the Women's Quarters, meaning Nerissa's cabin and Annamaria's private little corner of the Pearl. He knew that if he knocked on Nerissa's door, she probably wouldn't answer, and he couldn't exactly barge in, since there was an unspoken rule on the Pearl forbidding such intrusion on the ladies. And if he went into Annamaria's cabin, well…he rather liked living and breathing, thank you very much. Frustrated with his failure, Jack headed to his cabin to test out his unopened bottles of rum.
Meanwhile, Nerissa had enjoyed a rather quiet afternoon chatting with Annamaria in the dark-skinned woman's cabin. The two of them had finished their chores for the day, and had decided to snatch some cold food (cheese, meat, bread, and fruit) and water from the galley to have their own little private female get together. They snacked, talked, and giggled over nothing in particular until Anna pulled out some books for them to read before the light was too poor for it.
Now, with the light fading, the two women set aside their books and stretched. The two of them ate the last of the food and separated, Nerissa quietly sneaking back to her cabin so as to avoid Jack and his questions. Snuggling under her bedsheets, she fell into a deep contented sleep.
Three Days Later: Jack's POV:
'This is really starting to get on my nerves,' thought Jack for the fourth time that day as he stood at the helm of his ship.
Nerissa was proving to be very adept at avoiding Jack at all costs. It seemed as though she could tell when he was looking for her, and she would always manage to slip away from right under his very nose. Even when she was in the middle of doing her chores, she was able to somehow vanish right under his gaze. When he failed to find her after a thorough search of the ship, he discovered that her work was finished (and done well), and he had no idea how she did it! It was absolutely maddening!
Today was their fourth day at sea, and they were that much closer to getting to the treasure. From what Jack could gather from the map, it was in a little hidden cove on the island off of the coast of Mexico, which was still two days away from where they were. It would be slightly risky, given the attentiveness of the Navy in the area, but it could be done. Now if only he could get his hands on a certain young woman with pretty brown eyes and the ability to drive him mad in an instant with her antics…
"Earth to Captain Sparrow!" called a familiar voice as a hand waved in front of his face.
Jack blinked and snapped his head backwards a bit. "What the bloody hell?" Looking around, he spotted just the woman he was looking for.
Nerissa stood by his side, a broad grin on her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest, causing the white shirt she was wearing to enhance certain…attributes. The black pants and red sash she wore were very form fitting, and showed off her curves quite nicely. Her boots clung to her legs, and with the red bandana in her hair, she was the image of a female pirate. Jack swallowed hard, extremely thankful that the helm was hiding the lower half of his anatomy. Trying to put his shot nerves aside, he plastered on a smile.
"What can I do for you, luv?" he asked, leaning a bit towards her.
"Well, since I've been trying to get your attention for five minutes, I would like you to actually pay attention when I'm talking to you," Nerissa said, rolling her eyes. "Annamaria says that if you don't get downstairs soon, there won't be any lunch left for you and you'll have to fend for yourself."
Sighing, Jack waved his hand for a moment before Mr. Gibbs approached and took the helm with a slight nod of his head. Once he was sure the ship was in good hands, Jack reached over and grabbed Nerissa by the wrist and led her down to his cabin, thoroughly glad that she didn't protest his actions. Once they were in the cabin, Jack checked to be sure there was enough food for two before pulling out a chair for her to sit in. She accepted with a nod, and the two were soon eating their stew and buttered bread.
As they ate, Jack couldn't help but look over at the woman in front of him. She really was a puzzle, this noblewoman-turned-pirate. She still ate with all of the proper behavior and manners of an aristocratic woman, but the talents she displayed in sailing and fighting clearly screamed "pirate," or at least "Siren." And the pretty brown eyes that sparkled when she was amused or laughing outright…
'Yes, I really am a man who enjoys pretty eyes,' he thought to himself, finishing off his food and setting the empty dishes aside. 'And she's got the prettiest eyes I've ever seen…'
Watching Nerissa set aside her own dishes, a small, admiring smile pulled at his lips. Oh, how he adored girls with pretty eyes…
Nerissa's POV:
She could sense him watching her as she put away her dishes. It would have been uncomfortable to most women, but Nerissa had grown up with both young and older men watching her whenever they came to visit whichever family member's house she was in. Suitors would always see her almond-shaped, chocolate brown eyes and slightly golden skin, and instantly find her exotic. Some thought her Spanish, but it was really her mother's Asian blood that made her look so appealing to men who had grown up seeing pale white female skin every day of their lives.
Yes, Nerissa Fox was indeed used to the stares of the male population, but whenever a certain pirate captain did it, it made her heart flutter for some reason. It would be stupid for her to fall in love with Captain Jack Sparrow, though. Her Siren relatives wanted her to marry for the sake of further strengthening the connections of the Siren population, and if that's what they wanted, that's what would happen. Others had tried to get out of such marriages without much luck; they had been forced into a wedding anyway, with little choice. If the union had turned abusive or threatening to the Siren, however, it was easily remedied with a small dose of poison or a quick little encounter with a sharp, long knife to the man's gut. Such sour endings didn't matter, though, as long at the Sirens establish the connections they wanted.
Sighing, Nerissa carefully folded the napkin she'd had in her lap and set it aside. 'But not all arranged marriages ended badly,' she thought to herself, leaning back in her chair while staring at the napkin in front of her. 'Some turn out rather well, and evolved into loving, happy relationships. The matchmakers among the Sirens are remarkably good ones, and bad marriages can easily be dealt with.'
Still, she couldn't help but feel attracted to the handsome pirate captain. Looking up at him discreetly through her eyelashes, Nerissa could clearly remember the day they had met at Elizabeth's home. She had come down the stairs to find the man staring at her, an adorable look in his kohl-lined eyes. After he'd stolen her away on the Black Pearl, she found that his eyes were even more endearing whenever he tried to plead her into doing something, such as extra chores or joining him for dinner against her better judgment. His smile wasn't half bad, either.
And speaking of smiles, he was wearing a rather suspicious-looking one right now as he stared at her from across the table.
"Penny for your thoughts, Captain," she said, giving him a small, teasing smile.
Jack's POV:
He blinked at her and gave a rather sly smile at being caught staring at her. Jack had seen her look at him from beneath those lush brown eyelashes and had waited to be called out. He hadn't had to wait long, and that pleased him for some reason. The woman was observant, he'd give her that.
"Just thinking about treasure, luv," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Do you think this'll be an easy treasure hunt, or not?"
Nerissa shook her head, her loose brown hair swishing from side to side. "I don't think there will be much of a problem," she said, shoving her napkin away from her. "Siren hidden treasures are only difficult to find by way of actually getting the map pieces together. Some are ripped in half, with one half either given to a new Siren captain or they're told where to find that one half. After they've found the first half, they have to find the other in order to find the treasure. Some like to receive a real challenge, so they'll ask for a map that's been torn into three, four, or even five pieces in order to find a treasure."
"Why would they do that?" Jack asked, thoroughly puzzled at the ideas of some people. "Treasure is treasure, right? It's all the same, isn't it?"
"Not really," Nerissa replied, smiling at his confusion, which only made him smile back at her. "The amount of the treasure depends on the number of times a map has been torn, and vice versa. They're all of good size," she assured him when his eyes narrowed at the thought of being cheated, "but the more difficult the hunt, the more we get to compensate for the troubles the Siren captain goes through."
"I see," he muttered thoughtfully. "But this one will make the crew happy, won't it?"
His heart swelled when Nerissa laughed. "Oh, they'll be more than happy, Jack, I can assure you."
Two Days Later, Author's POV:
Their arrival off the coast of Mexico had been a much-anticipated event for the crew of the Black Pearl. There would be a slight problem in looking out for the Navy, but since the cove appeared to be small and well hidden, there really shouldn't be much of an encounter with the redcoats. However, Jack wasn't taking any chances. So, under the cover of darkness and a half moon, nearly three-quarters of the Pearl's crew rowed ashore to retrieve the treasure.
All was silent as they landed the boats on the white sandy beach, their feet swift as they headed for the jungle to find the exact location of that which they sought. Green vegetation was hacked out of their paths as Jack carefully read the map by way of a shadowed lamp. For an hour, the crew of the Black Pearl wandered until, finally, Jack stopped in front of the cave that had the Siren's insignia carved above the entryway. Smiling to himself, the pirate captain began leading the way into the cave, only to be stopped by a female hand on his shoulder.
Turning around, Jack's eyes collided with Nerissa's, one of his eyebrows raised in a silent question. She merely shook her head at him and sighed, snatching the lantern out of his hand before heading in first. Angry that she had taken charge of the situation, Jack stalked forward and stole his lamp out of her hands, causing her to turn around and glare at him.
"Two words, Jack," she whispered so quietly that no one but he could hear. "Booby traps."
Both of his eyebrows were now raised. "And yet, somehow you managed to forget to mention the possibility of these lovely little traps, luv," he whispered back, his tone skeptical.
Nerissa gave a soft sigh. "The insignia above the door had a small flame carved next to the wave," she replied, her tone still muted. "It means that the Siren thieves of this particular treasure quest were pranksters and wanted it to be much more difficult than the seeker would think." She grinned. "Which means it's also quite a bit larger than we thought it would be."
Jack's eyes lit up. "Well, then, luv," he said, his voice still soft but now full of excitement. "Please lead on!"
Nerissa shook her head and led the crew forwards in a slow and steady walk down the dark cavern and towards the treasure room of the cave. As they moved, word of mouth let each member know to not touch anything and to not rush ahead until Nerissa gave them the signal that all as right. Several men had to have the backs of their heads or hands slapped by fellow crewmembers for trying to poke the walls, but the rest managed to restrain their curiosity.
Being a Siren, Nerissa knew exactly what she was looking for. The symbol above the door stated that the treasure was quite old, and that most of the traps that had been laid out were no longer working. However, it didn't hurt to be on the safe side, which was why she was keeping a sharp eye out for anything and everything that a Siren might put in the way of others. In several places, she tapped her foot on the floor and found that the trap had indeed been worn away by time. A few presses against trigger points in the walls suggested the same thing, though she'd pushed Jack backwards to keep one trap from hitting him in the side of the head with a hundred tiny wooden needles.
After two hours of checking and re-checking, Nerissa finally led the crew into the dark, vast cavern that held heaps of treasure that put the Isla de Muerta to shame. The crew instantly tried to moved forwards, but put a hold on themselves as they remembered the warning about traps. Nerissa quickly motioned them to stay put and moved around the room on her own, checking the walls, floors, and even the heaps of treasure to be sure that it was safe for them to touch.
A few of the treasure pieces were triggers for some particularly nasty "pranks," but nothing really harmful. However, she did disable them with a few moves taught to her by the Sirens and made them all safe to remove. Satisfied with her work, Nerissa returned to the crew and gave them all a nod. They all let out a cheer before racing forward to start staking claims on particular pieces. Watching them in amusement, Nerissa turned to start picking things of her own, but was stopped by the warm, firm body of Captain Jack Sparrow. Looking up into his eyes, she raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Yes?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. However, she knew what he was going to ask and beat him to it. "I knew where all the traps would be because they were taught to me by some very trustworthy and very important Siren captains. Only they would know how to look for every single trap trigger, and I learned them all and where to find them." She shrugged. "On the off chance of me missing one, the traps in here are nothing more than the types of tricks children would play on one another and are harmless. It's the ones hidden in the pathway which leads here that you should worry about in particular." Nerissa let out a small chuckle. "After all, they can't risk just anyone getting in here and stealing a treasure that rightly belongs to a Siren, can they?"
Jack nodded in understanding. "Well done, luv," he said, grinning broadly. "Thanks to you, the crew will be having a great deal of fun for the next several months in whichever ports we stop at."
He gave her a pat on the shoulder before heading off to claim the best pieces for himself, as was his right.
Later That Night: Author's POV:
As the crew of the Pearl bunkered down for the night, Captain Jack Sparrow stared out his window at the island. It held as many secrets as the woman who slept in a cabin just down the hall from his own, and like the island, Nerissa was beautiful in both sunshine and moonlight.
It was this poetic train of thought that had Jack all up into a frenzy. He wasn't supposed to feel this way about anyone, especially not a woman. And yet, here he was, thinking about how wonderful moonlight looked reflecting in Nerissa's dark brown hair. It was unnatural and disturbing.
"Nothing like a bottle of rum to clear that up," he muttered to himself, heading for a crate near his desk.
AN: Liked it? Hated it? Please review and let me know! Thanks!