Hello again! For some reason this is in italics. But it looks pretty. So it's going to stay as italics. Also i can;t be bothered to change it. Anyways, this is the next chapter. Will might be coming in a few chapters or so. So... tell me what you think. Please.
Also thank you to everyone who reviewed. Cptn-jacks-bonnie-lass or sands-agent, as you have become, you are welcome! I love your stories! And thanks again to everyone else- i love you all! #virtual hugs# So, on we go:D
Maggie screamed. The white-hot iron she was holding to her forearm hissed slightly as it burnt its mark into her flesh. But it didn't matter, because now she was a pirate and Jimbo would let her onto his ship. She moved the iron and stared at the 'P' that was burnt onto her arm. Breathing heavily, she put the iron back into the fire, and picked up Ruby, who was sleeping.
"Hush little baby." Maggie whispered into the child's ear. "Because Daddy's coming. And he's going to take up on his big ship."
She picked up the iron once more, and stretched out Ruby's arm. She pushed the iron onto her delicate skin and held it there.
Ruby awoke suddenly and screamed.
"Hush, little one." Maggie said, throwing the iron away. It hit the floor and burned a hole in the carpet.
The door banged open suddenly. Sarah stared at her sister from the doorway, a look of horror on her tired face.
"Maggie! What have you done?" She shrieked, snatching Ruby from her sister.
"No!" Maggie jumped up and pulled her child away from Sarah. "She's mine." She whispered. "We're pirates. We're going to find Jimbo." With that she pushed past her sister and made for the door.
"No!" Sarah shouted, trying to catch Maggie's arm. "Maggie come back! Don't be ridiculous!"
Maggie grabbed a jug from the table as she passed it and threw it at her sister. It hit her on the head and she crumpled to the floor unconscious.
"Jack?" Johnny gasped, feeling blackness closing over him. "Jack!"
"Right 'ere, John. Just lay still." Jack replied from somewhere to Johnny's left.
"What's happening?" Johnny managed to splutter as a fresh wave of pain flew through him.
"Er…" Jack hesitated, unsure whether to tell Johnny the truth or not. "This might hurt a bit."
Jack paused, a knife in his right hand, and a white-hot poker in his left. Johnny's hand lay on a wooden box in Anamaria's hands, who was standing next to Jack.
Johnny's little finger on his left hand was rapidly turning green and shrivelled. Jack knew the only option was to cut it off.
"Will's gonna kill me." He muttered, as he raised the knife and brought it down swiftly and sharply on to Johnny's finger. It fell away and Jack put the poker to the stump, to stop the blood flow.
Johnny moaned loudly. Jack wrapped the finger in a towel and threw it at Anamaria. She huffed and took it outside to throw overboard.
"John?" Jack asked, peering into Johnny's face anxiously. He picked up a bandage and wrapped it around the stump of Johnny's finger.
"What did yeh do?" Johnny asked, breathing heavily, allowing the pain to wash over him.
"I cut yeh finger off." Jack replied feebly.
"What?" Johnny yelped, pushing himself up, and wincing as he pressed on his wound.
"Lucky it was only yeh finger." Jack said, with a grin.
"I'm gonna kill Ruby." Johnny hissed, snatching up his sword. Jack's grin faded.
"Maybe I should have a word with her first." He suggested, putting a hand on his shoulder. Johnny shrugged it off and stormed out of the cabin to find Ruby.
"Johnny! Get back here!" Jack shouted, following him.
Johnny ignored him.
"Ruby!" He shouted, climbing on deck.
"Johnny, do ye mind not waking the whole of me crew up?" Jack snapped.
"What?" Ruby demanded, turning around.
"Look what yeh did!" Johnny brandished his bandaged hand in front of Ruby's nose.
"What?" Ruby said, coldly.
"My finger! Your fucking sword touched my finger and Jack had t' cut it off!" Johnny fumed.
"Well that's not my fault." Ruby said defensively.
"It is your fault! If you hadn't been so protective of it! It's evil Ruby! It killed ye father-"
"Enough!" Jack cut in sharply, as Ruby's eyes filled with tears again. "Johnny, go t' bed." Johnny ignored him. "Johnny, I'm the Cap'n o' this ship. Go t' bed. Now." Jack snapped, pushing Johnny away.
Johnny gave him a sour look and stalked away.
"Ruby?" Jack asked anxiously.
"Go away." Ruby snapped.
"Put the sword in my cabin," Jack said. "In case there's any more accidents."
"No." Ruby snapped, trying to push past him. He put a hand out to stop her.
"Please Ruby?" He said.
"No! Just go away!" Ruby shouted at him, almost hysterically. "It's my sword!"
"Ruby!" Jack almost shouted. "For God's sake, just leave the bloody sword!"
Ruby pulled the sword out of its sheath and threw it at Jack's feet. He jumped back violently. Ruby stormed off.
Anamaria, who had been standing quietly behind Ruby, watching the whole affair, walked over to Jack and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeh ok?" She asked, as Jack frowned at the sword.
"Yeh. How'my gonna shift this thing?" He pointed to the sword.
"I think yeh should talk t' Ruby." Anamaria said, ignoring Jack's comment.
"In case yeh didn't notice, I just tried to." Jack replied coldly. Anamaria rolled her eyes.
"She needs t' talk, Jack." She said, patiently. "She hasn't got over her father yet."
"Well, talk to her then." Jack snapped. His patience was wearing thin.
"You're all the family she has." Anamaria replied.
"I know!" Jack hissed, kicking the sword. It burnt a hole in his boot. "Shit!"
Anamaria sighed and walked away to find Ruby, leaving Jack frowning at the sword, wondering how in hell to move it. He regretted shouting at Ruby already, and hoped she would be in a better mood in the morning.
"Bugger!" Jack muttered as he pulled out his own sword and used it to push the cursed sword towards his cabin.