What Is & What Will Never Be
Chapter 15
Disclaimer: I do not & cannot obtain ownership of POTC 1, 2, or 3...
Sorry for the cliffhanger! School got in the way...
"Je vous ai observé Mademoiselle...vous a observé ainsi soigneusement... et j'ai décidé", he murmured, firmly placing his hands upon her shoulders.
(I observed you Miss...observed you thus carefully...and I decided)
He looked as if he were going to continue, but paused, then smiled.
"Vous savez qui je suis". (You know who I am) He was quite serious.
When Jade didn't respond, he murmured, "Certainement... votre mere ne vous a dit...? No?" (Certainly...didn't your mother say to you...? No?) He shrugged. "Très bien."
He inclined closer to her, so that she felt his breath on her face.
C'est vous que je veux, Mademoiselle Rochet!" (It is you whom I want, Ms Rochet!)
Jade cried out in frightened disgust, about to strike the revolting brute where it would hurt him, when—
"Serge! Is that you?"
Jade gasped tearfully in hope and surprise as the man abruptly let her ago, and spun around. They were both facing the silhouette of William.
"Mr. Turner!" Jade was sure she shouted, but her throat seemed to have closed up on her, and all that escaped her was a ragged breath.
"Mr. Turner", the brute of a man said in perfect English, with not a hint of an accent.
Jade's head was spinning as she watched Mr. Turner and the man congenially shake hands as if...as if they were rather well acquainted with each other...and...And were amis?
"Ah, yes, I meant to compliment you on your work tod—"
Jade was having trouble breathing...she stumbled back, her hand at her throat...she felt so very faint...
Ha ha ha...Ha ha ha! Yes, very fine—"
She had her back turned to them...she could hear their voices echoing through her pounding head...her pounding heart...
Her heart...! She sobbed. Where was it? It was gone! Gone with...with the man she loved...!
Taking a deep breath, she turned back around...
"Will!" she screeched in consternation.
"Miss Rochet!" he acknowledged with a smile. "You've met Serge? He works under me at the Blacksmith's."
"Yes, how do you do, Ma'am?" the man gazed at her as if just noticing her presence, and smiled, his blue eyes piercing threateningly right through her.
Her empty heart was beating uncontrollably fast now...her head was spinning, and her eyes felt blurred with tears...
And she was frightened. Just frightened. The hot afternoon glaring sun was only worsening the situation as it shined into her eyes...she felt ill.
She didn't know what to do. She had not the strength to decide.
She brushed her hand over her eyes to clear them and wash away her dizziness, and mechanically extended her hand as the brute extended his.
She met his eyes as she took shallow breaths. He kept those piercing blue eyes on hers as he bent down slightly and he took her hand, gently this time, and brushed his lips lingeringly against it...
"No!" she cried, pulling away.
"Jade...?" Will called in alarm as she backed away, her surroundings indiscernible as she faded away into an abyss of darkness.
"So, we migh' come inter a bi' o' treasure Cap'n?"
"Why the hell not?" Jack answered, now fully inebriated, but with his senses still quite accurately about him, as he swaggered towards the Pearl.
He gestured to the half of his crew surrounding him, Pintel and Ragetti in the lead...Well, Pintel was in the lead, but he'd appeared to have disappeared somewhere...
Ah, there he was. Scarlet was smothering herself all over him, pointedly attempting to make Jack jealous as they hustled back into the bar.
Jack caught her eye, and smiled (to which he received back from her a full look of contempt) and then walked up to the dock, his shipmates following behind.
"Dear God, what have we here?" a strong, masculine voice said.
Jade opened her eyes, and carried her gaze through the bright, white room.
"Our sleeping beauty has awakened."
She looked up...into a sickeningly familiar pair of blue eyes upon a male face.
The man stood, walking in a slow circle, as he continued, "My, but you did give Mr. Turner a scare."
He looked at her and smiled coolly. "Quite the actress, I see. As well as the vixen. Madame Rochet was right." He lifted his eyebrows in amusement. "So, being the gentleman that I am, I offered to take you to le hôpital. And here you are. And Mr. Turner, trusting me as he does..."
Jade gasped, and sat up. The hospital?
"Oh God, what's happening to me?" she muttered, putting her hand to her forehead.
She looked to the door. The man was standing there. He...he...
Anger and fear and remembrance surged through her.
"Obtenez loin de moi! Leave me alone, you sick..."
The man laughed slightly. "Look, mademoiselle, I'm a man who knows what he wants. Your mother was wise to set us up. I've seen you around town for weeks..." He smiled. "I can satisfy your desires. Ou si pas...you will certainly satisfy mine." His eyes settled upon her.
"You sick roué!" She disgustedly shook her head. "You womanizer! Leave mon mere out of this."
"Darling, you can call me as many names as you want—as soon as I saw that charlatan leave, I knew you could come to me." He walked towards her. "Don't resist it. And your mother is the one who started this, don't you know?"
Jade extricated herself from the bed, and stood up, using the back of a chair for support so that she did not fall and weaken.
"Madam, Madame!" The door burst open as a nurse hurried into the room, taking hold of Jade's arms, and trying to set her back down in bed.
"Vous devez reposer, Madam...vous êtes malade... vous étiez sans connaissance... vous êtes trop pâle... vous vous évanouirez", the nurse muttered quickly.
(You must rest, Madam...you are sick...you were unconscious...you are too pale...you will disappear (faint))
"S'il vous plaît, Madam", Jade murmured as the nurse sat her down on the sheets.
"Je veux aller à mon maison." A tear rolled down her cheek. (I want to go to my house)
The nurse looked at her sympathetically, and then glanced over at the man, who had been standing silently in the corner of the room. "Mais, votre mari..." (But, your husband...)
Jade glared viciously at the man. "Il n'est pas mon mari." (He is not my husband)
"Quoi?" the nurse exclaimed. "Est-ce que c'est la vérité? Vous n'êtes pas bon", she insisted, putting her hand to Jade's forehead to test for fever. (Is it the truth? You are not well)
"No", Jade resisted. "Je ne suis pas hors de mon bon sens. Mon mari est parti." Her voice grew faint, and she faltered. (I am not out of my mind. My husband is away)
She had to think fast...But was this true? She had to question...would her mother seriously...
She recalled her last meeting with her mother, quite a long time ago. It had not gone well at all...Had her mother really set up an arranged marriage for her?
"Excusez-moi, madame—elle ne se rappelle pas. Nous serons mariés bientôt", Serge interrupted, to the nurse. (Excuse me, madame—she does not remember. We will be married soon.)
Jade sat up again, to the contention of the nurse, whom she unnoticed.
"Ceci ne peut pas être vrai!" (This cannot be true!)
"Vous rappelez maintenant, aimé?" His blue eyes flashed haughtily. (You remember now, love?)
Jade hastily turned back to the nurse. "No..."
But the nurse had already left the bedside, and began to converse with Serge.
"No", Jade whimpered, sighing as she covered her face with her hands.
There was a hasty rap at the door.
"Aucun visiteurs!" (No visitors!) The nurse said as she went to the door.
"She...she is in my protection", a voice said in broken French.
Jade recognized the voice. "Monsieur Turner!"
Upon hearing her, Will made his way in past the nurse, looking quite furious.
"Serge!" he exclaimed, looking about ready to murder him.
Jade gasped at his appearance. A bruise was forming under his right eye.
A moment's breath later, two policiers came in after Will.
"Arrest him", Will murmur wrathfully.
"Mr. Turner", Serge almost chuckled. "There is no need..."
"I trusted you", Will retorted, angrily shaking his head, as he watched the policemen take the blackguard away.
"Que est la signification de ceci?" (What is the meaning of this?) the nurse huffed. "Mon patient doit se reposer." (My patient must rest)
Will cleared his throat. "Could you excuse us for a minute?"
"Veuillez nous excuser", Jade translated.
The nurse reluctantly agreed, and gently closed the door behind her as she departed.
"Mr. Turner..." Jade began.
"That man was a fraud. I should've seen it from the moment I hired him. He's a liar. I'd heard enough. I know you would never consent to be married to him. Besides the obvious reasons..."
"Thank you", Jade uttered gently.
Will glanced over at her and smiled half-heartedly.
"I'm sure Elizabeth has been worried sick over us." He walked over, and helped Jade stand. "Are you alright?"
She nodded. "I'll be fine. I—"
"I have you checked out already."
Jade nodded appreciatively. "Thank you...again", was all she could say.
They made their way out of the hospital, and into a carriage, on their way back to the house.
Ou si pas: or if not
policiers: police officers