Chapter Five: Heaven's Just a Rumor She'll Dispel

Time can slip or speed by when one is not aware of its passing, Aurora was no exception to this rule. What seemed to her to be no more than an hour proved to be several to the world around her and soon darkness had settled upon the ship. A slight knock on the door drew her attention from the book in her lap to the Captain that now stood in her door way.

"I guess I should thank you for saving me life earlier today," Jack starts out as she closes her book. He tosses on her bed a small but heavy leather bag; she looks up at him cocking an eyebrow clearly confused.

"Your cut of the loot," he answers the question on her mind. She shifts back in her bed leaning against the far end. Her eyes run over him as if searching cautiously for ulterior motive. Finding none readily available she motions for him to have a seat.

"Would you like to join me in a drink Captain?" She asks evenly pulling out a bottle of rum from the side of her bed, a personal stash she kept.

"Read my mind," He says eagerly sitting on the bed across from her as she pops the bottle and takes a drink from it then offers it to him. Sitting in silence she pops another bottle for herself and continues to stare at him.

Why are you really here captain… the voice within her questions his motives as she attempts to probe him unwilling mind.

"How did you know that the girl was his daughter?" He finally asks the question that had been burning in his mind since the raid. The man had been hiding and gave no indication that the girl was his. Jack though she had just randomly guessed until he remembered the earlier incident before the raid.

Perhaps this is a learned skill she could pass on… Jack pondered staring back at her. Aurora stared into the brown depths and saw nothing.

Why can't I read him…she thought shifting in a disgruntled manner and taking a large gulp of rum. She contemplated her answer for a moment more as they remained locked in each others gaze.

"The same way I knew where we were going before you told me" She says laughing lightly and taking another drink of rum. Her eyes advert from his trying to break his hold on her inquisitive mind. Had she stayed a moment longer her mental probe might have knocked the poor captain out and that was something she did not need.

"And what way would that be love?" He pressed on taking a drink from his own bottle, feeling glad she looked away. In her eyes he only saw a hollow void staring back at him and that did not make him very comfortable at all.

"Magic," She replied melodramatically waving her fingers for effect. He shook his head knowing that most likely hadn't lied and if she had; best not to push the subject.

Particularly after the display earlier… his mind threw out quickly.

"Where's the crew I last saw you running away with?" Jack asks reaching to learn more about her power or her in general, looking for something that made her appear more human and less ethereal.

"They are there when I need them most," She replies leaving him to be content with the vague answer "So great and adventurous captain where will we be going next?"

"Port Royal," He answers back "Seems the raid failed to yield much needed supplies and the closest port available happens to be that one." She popped another bottle of rum and they began to drain that one as well and tossed another to him as well.

"You must have connections there," She concluded "why else risk docking at a well to do British port, even if you need supplies?"

"Yes you could say I have my connections but you are coming on land with me first," He explains.

"Why?" She questions as to the reason she had to go.

"Because they know me there and you can pass easily through the streets to reach my friends, without being caught," he makes clear of her role and taking a swig of his new bottle.

"Fine by me," She says slightly slurring the end of her sentence as the alcohol begins to take effect. A warm euphoric haze begins to take over her body she leans further backwards and scans Jack again. He leans back laying on her bed staring at the ceiling.

He looks innocent from this angle…Aurora thought watching the rise and fall of his chest a he drank more liquor.

"You're welcome to stay aboard the Pearl as a crew member if you like," Jack blurts out quickly drinking more rum and swaying a bit from its effects as he sat up to look at her. Aurora stares at him for a moment with glazed over eyes. At this point she had not thought about her future or about where she was going. This was an alternative her drunken mind as beginning to consider.

"Sounds like a plan," She slurs finishing the last of the rum.

"Why is the rum always gone?" Jack slurs as well looking at the empty bottle in his hand as well.

"I was thinking the same," Aurora says with a chuckle lying down fully on her bed next to Jack. They stared at the ceiling in a haze for some time. Silently enjoying each others company. She did not notice as he watched her lie there. Her eyes closed lightly and her facial features softened in with the peace only sleep could bring.

She looks so relaxed… Jack thought watching her drift in the grey area between sleep and reality. He tried to get up without disturbing her but failed as her eyes snapped open and her former cold approach took over her body.

"Well I suppose I should be off to bed now," Jack says attempting to stand and finally making his way to the door and out of her room. Aurora laughs slightly as he leaves then gets up and removes her clothing before slipping between the sheets and passing out and sleeping soundly for the first night in weeks.

Sleep does not always come so easily to the wicked…