CHAPTER 5: The Bloody Sword
Katherine smiled and snuggled further into whatever was keeping her so warm. Hmmm, whatever it was it was solid too. Her hand moved. It had long hair as well . . . uh oh. Katherine opened her eyes to find herself staring at a broad chest. She tipped her head up to find herself staring into the dark eyes of Captain Jack Sparrow.
"Jack!" she squawked attempting to pull away but Jack was having none of it. His arms were wrapped around her holding her to him tightly.
"What's the hurry, luv?" he grinned.
"Jack Sparrow, what are you doing in bed with me?!"
Jack arched an eyebrow. "It is my bed after all." Katherine bit her lip and looked down. It was his bed. Jack tipped her chin back up. "But you'd be the one that invited me in whether ye were asleep at the time or not. You were crying last night weren't ye?"
Katherine shook her head but Jack would not be put off. "What's the matter? And don't tell me that it's nothing. Was it your spell? Or what Jones pulled?"
Katherine didn't answer. She was shocked by the sudden realization that she wanted nothing more than to kiss the lips that were mere inches from her own. Stunned Katherine tried to pull away again and again Jack held her tight.
"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what's gotten into you." Jack told her firmly, "I'll stay here all day if I 'afta."
"Oh, Jack," Katherine began only to be interrupted by frantic knock at the door.
"Captain!" Ana's voice cried.
"Not now, Anamaria," Jack yelled back frustrated.
"Get yer arse out 'ere, Jack! There's a ship flying a pirate flag approaching fast off our starboard bow!" she screamed banging on the door.
"Blast," Jack yelled leaping from the bed. He raced to the door, Katherine following on his heels. Jack cursed as he saw said pirate vessel about a half a mile off and closing. "Run out the guns!" he barked.
Katherine grabbed his arm and Jack turned to order her back to his cabin but the paleness of her skin startled him. "That ship," she whispered, "it's the same one."
Jack frowned. Well he had wanted to know who they were hadn't he? Jack handed her his knife, "Stay with me," he ordered "Understand?"
"Y-yes, Jack," she whispered her eyes never leaving the ship. What Jack didn't seem to realize was that she didn't seem to be capable of releasing his arm.
"Raise the Jolly Roger!" Jack yelled amongst the seeming chaos. Jack grabbed Katherine's hand dragging her towards the helm.
"We could out run them, Captain," Ana suggested.
"No," Jack shook his head, "This is my territory and they are about to learn that."
Anamaria sighed. She should have known. She eyed Katherine worriedly. The girl clung to Jack as if he were her lifeline but her eyes never left the approaching vessel. Ana could see fear in her eyes but also a blind rage that made Ana shudder. She prayed that the girl wouldn't do anything stupid.
When the enemy ship reached the pearl pulling along side also with its guns at the ready a man with a beard stood at the side grinning. He was several years older than Jack but his face held none of the friendliness. Katherine shuddered at his smile. Most of his teeth were missing. Jack walked leisurely to the Pearl 's side and nodded at the other pirate.
"Is there something I can do for you, Captain?" Jack raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
"I'm Captain Murdock and what you can do, Captain Sparrow is surrender your ship and leave the Caribbean or ye can die."
Jack smiled pleasantly, "That doesn't seem fair as my crew and I were sailing these waters first. This is no way to introduce yourself, mate. Didn't your mum teach you any manners? I see that the normal skull and cross-bones isn't good enough for ye either. I think yer getting a bit too big for yer britches, mate."
Captain Murdock rolled his eyes. "Me flag and me britches be none of yer concern, Captain Sparrow. As Captain of the Bloody Sword I'm givin' ye one last opportunity; surrender or die."
Jack was about to order his crew to fire when Murdock held up his hand, "Where did you find that girl, Sparrow?"
Jack tensed. Maybe keeping Katherine at his side hadn't been such a good idea after all, "That's my concern not yours."
"I find ye mistaken. That girl was on a ship we raided mere days ago," Murdock grinned, "Therefore she is our property. I'm feeling generous, Sparrow, so, if ye hand over the girl maybe we can make a deal. The girl for your lives." His eyes raked over her body making her shudder. "My men and I could use some entertainment."
Katherine felt all eyes turn to her. Her heart pounded in her chest. Murdock would kill her or worse. But the lives of the crew were at stake. Katherine searched her heart and found that she couldn't bear that anything should happen to Jack Sparrow. If Jack handed her over the Pearl and her crew would be spared. She tugged on Jack's arm. "Do it, Jack."
Jack's eyes widened. He couldn't have heard right, "What?!"
"Give them what they want, Jack," she told him, "I'm not worth it."
Jack gaped. Did she know what those men would do to her? The fear in her eyes and the way her hand trembled upon his arm told him that she did and she was still willing to sacrifice herself to keep him and his crew safe. Jack clenched his jaw in determination and turned back to face Murdock. "Go to hell, ye bastard. Fire!"
Murdock reddened and as the Pearl's cannons fired so did he. Katherine screamed when Jack staggered next to her blood quickly covering a large portion of his shirt over his left shoulder. He fell to one knee gasping for breath and fighting not to loose consciousness. He heard another scream and cried out as a body barreled into him knocking him to the deck just as several bullets peppered the railing a foot away.
Katherine scrambled up to her knees pulling Jack's bloody shirt aside to assess the damage. Luckily it didn't seem like the bullet had hit anything vital. Still, as it stood Jack was in no condition to fight. She had to get him out of there. Katherine looked about her desperately looking for an escape route but found that the way to his cabin was barred by fierce fighting.
Katherine grabbed Jack's sword; she'd never killed before but it was her duty to protect Jack. "Jack!" she yelled shaking him slightly relieved when his eyes turned towards her. His dark eyes were glazed with pain and his teeth where clenched with the effort of not crying out. "Can you stand, Jack?" she demanded, "We've got to get you somewhere safe."
Jack Sparrow did not run from a fight wounded or not but as the sounds of battle raged around them Jack realized that he had to get Katherine out of harm's way. His crew would take care of the rest. Jack forced himself to his feet allowing Katherine to drape his right arm over her shoulder. One of the Bloody Sword's crewmen ran at them and Jack pulled his pistol and fired. The man fell to the deck dead with a neat little bullet hole between his eyes. Stepping over his corpse Katherine continued to lead Jack towards his cabin. When they were half way there Jack's knees buckled and he collapsed, darkness threatening at the edges of his vision. He heard swords clash above him and lifted his head to find Katherine blocking a swing that had been aimed at his head.
Katherine stood between the pirate and Jack her eyes hard with determination. She'd die before they got to Jack.
Murdock stood aboard the Bloody Sword and cursed. His men were loosing the fight and the Sword had taken heavy damage. He had no choice if they were to survive, "Retreat! Back to the Sword, men!"
Katherine sighed in relief as the pirate turned and ran back towards his ship. The crew let them go. It wasn't worth it to pursue the scurvy dogs. Jack closed his eyes. The Pearl and his crew were safe and knowing that, he allowed the darkness to claim him.
*AUTHOR'S NOTE
I know. I know. I hurt Jack. I'm a very, very bad little writer. It'll be okay. I promise. Look for some old friends in the next chapter and again thanks for all the great reviews. I hope you enjoyed!
Katherine smiled and snuggled further into whatever was keeping her so warm. Hmmm, whatever it was it was solid too. Her hand moved. It had long hair as well . . . uh oh. Katherine opened her eyes to find herself staring at a broad chest. She tipped her head up to find herself staring into the dark eyes of Captain Jack Sparrow.
"Jack!" she squawked attempting to pull away but Jack was having none of it. His arms were wrapped around her holding her to him tightly.
"What's the hurry, luv?" he grinned.
"Jack Sparrow, what are you doing in bed with me?!"
Jack arched an eyebrow. "It is my bed after all." Katherine bit her lip and looked down. It was his bed. Jack tipped her chin back up. "But you'd be the one that invited me in whether ye were asleep at the time or not. You were crying last night weren't ye?"
Katherine shook her head but Jack would not be put off. "What's the matter? And don't tell me that it's nothing. Was it your spell? Or what Jones pulled?"
Katherine didn't answer. She was shocked by the sudden realization that she wanted nothing more than to kiss the lips that were mere inches from her own. Stunned Katherine tried to pull away again and again Jack held her tight.
"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what's gotten into you." Jack told her firmly, "I'll stay here all day if I 'afta."
"Oh, Jack," Katherine began only to be interrupted by frantic knock at the door.
"Captain!" Ana's voice cried.
"Not now, Anamaria," Jack yelled back frustrated.
"Get yer arse out 'ere, Jack! There's a ship flying a pirate flag approaching fast off our starboard bow!" she screamed banging on the door.
"Blast," Jack yelled leaping from the bed. He raced to the door, Katherine following on his heels. Jack cursed as he saw said pirate vessel about a half a mile off and closing. "Run out the guns!" he barked.
Katherine grabbed his arm and Jack turned to order her back to his cabin but the paleness of her skin startled him. "That ship," she whispered, "it's the same one."
Jack frowned. Well he had wanted to know who they were hadn't he? Jack handed her his knife, "Stay with me," he ordered "Understand?"
"Y-yes, Jack," she whispered her eyes never leaving the ship. What Jack didn't seem to realize was that she didn't seem to be capable of releasing his arm.
"Raise the Jolly Roger!" Jack yelled amongst the seeming chaos. Jack grabbed Katherine's hand dragging her towards the helm.
"We could out run them, Captain," Ana suggested.
"No," Jack shook his head, "This is my territory and they are about to learn that."
Anamaria sighed. She should have known. She eyed Katherine worriedly. The girl clung to Jack as if he were her lifeline but her eyes never left the approaching vessel. Ana could see fear in her eyes but also a blind rage that made Ana shudder. She prayed that the girl wouldn't do anything stupid.
When the enemy ship reached the pearl pulling along side also with its guns at the ready a man with a beard stood at the side grinning. He was several years older than Jack but his face held none of the friendliness. Katherine shuddered at his smile. Most of his teeth were missing. Jack walked leisurely to the Pearl 's side and nodded at the other pirate.
"Is there something I can do for you, Captain?" Jack raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
"I'm Captain Murdock and what you can do, Captain Sparrow is surrender your ship and leave the Caribbean or ye can die."
Jack smiled pleasantly, "That doesn't seem fair as my crew and I were sailing these waters first. This is no way to introduce yourself, mate. Didn't your mum teach you any manners? I see that the normal skull and cross-bones isn't good enough for ye either. I think yer getting a bit too big for yer britches, mate."
Captain Murdock rolled his eyes. "Me flag and me britches be none of yer concern, Captain Sparrow. As Captain of the Bloody Sword I'm givin' ye one last opportunity; surrender or die."
Jack was about to order his crew to fire when Murdock held up his hand, "Where did you find that girl, Sparrow?"
Jack tensed. Maybe keeping Katherine at his side hadn't been such a good idea after all, "That's my concern not yours."
"I find ye mistaken. That girl was on a ship we raided mere days ago," Murdock grinned, "Therefore she is our property. I'm feeling generous, Sparrow, so, if ye hand over the girl maybe we can make a deal. The girl for your lives." His eyes raked over her body making her shudder. "My men and I could use some entertainment."
Katherine felt all eyes turn to her. Her heart pounded in her chest. Murdock would kill her or worse. But the lives of the crew were at stake. Katherine searched her heart and found that she couldn't bear that anything should happen to Jack Sparrow. If Jack handed her over the Pearl and her crew would be spared. She tugged on Jack's arm. "Do it, Jack."
Jack's eyes widened. He couldn't have heard right, "What?!"
"Give them what they want, Jack," she told him, "I'm not worth it."
Jack gaped. Did she know what those men would do to her? The fear in her eyes and the way her hand trembled upon his arm told him that she did and she was still willing to sacrifice herself to keep him and his crew safe. Jack clenched his jaw in determination and turned back to face Murdock. "Go to hell, ye bastard. Fire!"
Murdock reddened and as the Pearl's cannons fired so did he. Katherine screamed when Jack staggered next to her blood quickly covering a large portion of his shirt over his left shoulder. He fell to one knee gasping for breath and fighting not to loose consciousness. He heard another scream and cried out as a body barreled into him knocking him to the deck just as several bullets peppered the railing a foot away.
Katherine scrambled up to her knees pulling Jack's bloody shirt aside to assess the damage. Luckily it didn't seem like the bullet had hit anything vital. Still, as it stood Jack was in no condition to fight. She had to get him out of there. Katherine looked about her desperately looking for an escape route but found that the way to his cabin was barred by fierce fighting.
Katherine grabbed Jack's sword; she'd never killed before but it was her duty to protect Jack. "Jack!" she yelled shaking him slightly relieved when his eyes turned towards her. His dark eyes were glazed with pain and his teeth where clenched with the effort of not crying out. "Can you stand, Jack?" she demanded, "We've got to get you somewhere safe."
Jack Sparrow did not run from a fight wounded or not but as the sounds of battle raged around them Jack realized that he had to get Katherine out of harm's way. His crew would take care of the rest. Jack forced himself to his feet allowing Katherine to drape his right arm over her shoulder. One of the Bloody Sword's crewmen ran at them and Jack pulled his pistol and fired. The man fell to the deck dead with a neat little bullet hole between his eyes. Stepping over his corpse Katherine continued to lead Jack towards his cabin. When they were half way there Jack's knees buckled and he collapsed, darkness threatening at the edges of his vision. He heard swords clash above him and lifted his head to find Katherine blocking a swing that had been aimed at his head.
Katherine stood between the pirate and Jack her eyes hard with determination. She'd die before they got to Jack.
Murdock stood aboard the Bloody Sword and cursed. His men were loosing the fight and the Sword had taken heavy damage. He had no choice if they were to survive, "Retreat! Back to the Sword, men!"
Katherine sighed in relief as the pirate turned and ran back towards his ship. The crew let them go. It wasn't worth it to pursue the scurvy dogs. Jack closed his eyes. The Pearl and his crew were safe and knowing that, he allowed the darkness to claim him.
*AUTHOR'S NOTE
I know. I know. I hurt Jack. I'm a very, very bad little writer. It'll be okay. I promise. Look for some old friends in the next chapter and again thanks for all the great reviews. I hope you enjoyed!