Chapter Nine: You Give Me the Reason.
Aurora drifted some where between sleep and reality, half awake and half asleep. Her mind was starting to grip conscious though but her body lagged behind like a stubborn child refusing to be dragged away. Slowly she began to regain feeling and her eyes fluttered open. Sometime during the night the shirt she wore had ridden up allowing a small section of her flat stomach to be shown and she felt something warm draw across her cool skin. Looking down she could see a very tan hand creep across her skin delicately, she glanced at Jack and found him still asleep. Every fiber of Aurora's body begged her to stay there, to stay under the gentle caress of the man sleeping beside.
No… A voice inside screamed and despite what her body wanted she slid out of bed and stood up. It took all her strength not to fall back into bed as her body ached as she stretched.
He is reasonably attractive and it's been years it's ok to have those thoughts… She reasoned with herself, trying to rebuild the defenses she had let slip. Quickly she pulled her skirt on and walked out of the room careful not to even glance at him for fear of what could happen. Aurora made her way to her former cabin to check on Will. She entered the room to see Elizabeth clutching him while wiping his forehead with a cloth.
"When did he become like this?" The redhead asked coming to his side and removing the bandages to see it had turned purple in the night with infection "Shit."
"What's wrong?" Elizabeth asked clearly about to become frantic.
"He has an infection," Aurora explained "I can make a cure but I will need some herbs." Will started to convulse and it took both women to hold him down until he stopped. Elizabeth sobbed quietly while Aurora quickly walked from the room down to Jacks cabin.
"Get up!" She calls sternly, pulling the blankets from his body. Jack rolls from the bed onto the floor and pops his head up staring at her in confusion.
"It seems Will has developed an infection that requires immediate attention" She tells him calmly "I can heal it but we need to stop at the nearest town so I can get the herbs I require." Jack pulls himself to his feet and walks past her and out of the cabin heading for the helm, Aurora follows him.
"Mr. Gibbs please set a course for the nearest island," Jack says to Gibbs who is steering the vessel. Upon hearing this she pivots on her heel and heads back to care for the dying Will.
Jack watched her care for him from the doorway. Occasionally she would glance up at him, and her eyes would send shivers through him.
It was a fun game… Her voice echoed in his mind remembering what she did last night. While he should have been more concerned about his friend his thoughts kept drifting back to the pale redhead. An hour past and nothing but the sounds of the creaking ship were heard.
"Captain we have reached land," Gibbs interrupted the somber group. Aurora stood and walked out on deck climbing down with Gibbs to go on shore not noticing Jack behind her until she got into the long boat.
"I can get the herbs alone," She told him as he settled down next to her.
"Well I'm coming along regardless," He retorted earning him an arrogant smirk from her.
Once on the island the pair went to work on locating a place to purchase herbs, finally getting the answer that they would have to travel up the hill to the house of the local healer to get it. Jack crinkled his nose but followed behind Aurora up the hour long walk to the reclusive healer. Aurora entered the small home followed by Jack.
"Aw, I've been expecting you," an old woman called walking over to Aurora and handing her a small pouch "to help your friend." The old woman handed her a pouch and she in turn dug into her pocket to pay her.
"No payment is necessary for one such as yourself," the old woman smiled warmly at Aurora knowing who and more importantly what she was. Returning her warm smile she nodded in acknowledgement and turned to leave seeing as how Jack had already left.
"So dangerous and passionate is fire yet this one is so cold," The old woman's voice rang out behind causing Aurora to stop in her tracks "You should stop listening to that head of yours so much." Scoffing she resumed her walk and returned to Jacks side as the started down the hill. She hoped he never caught the fleeting glance she made the entire way.
"Who are you?" Jack asked her without warning.
"I believe I have answered that in the past," She replies calmly wishing he wouldn't ask any further questions.
"I believe you are not telling me the whole story," He retorts.
"If you were meant to know the whole story I would tell you," She snaps.
"You can't hide from me darling" Jack informed but Aurora remained silent. All remained quiet between them as he took over the helm and she went to prepare the remedy for Will. She entered the room with a cup from the Captains quarters and pours some rum into it.
"What are you doing?" Elizabeth asks watching the strange woman pour the herbs into the rum.
"Healing him," Aurora answered simply trying to mask the bit of anger left in her voice from her conversation with Jack. Pricking her finger she put two drops of blood into the cup and stirred it. Bringing it to Will's dry lips she made him drink the potion she made, with help from Elizabeth. Aurora placed her hand over his wound and closed her eyes focusing her energy on him. After a few minutes her hand glowed slightly and she pulled away revealing a completely healed shoulder. Elizabeth stared at her astonished as she ran her fingers over his skin. Aurora walked over to her wardrobe and took out a new set of clothes and put them in her bag along with a few other items then left without a word. She found her way back to Jack's room and found him still not there. Locking the door she removed her clothes and used her power to fill the basin. She pulled some lavender soap from her bag and carefully washed her long hair then dumped the water out of the port hole. She filled the basin again, cleaning her skin with the soap and shaving with a straight razor she kept.
I may be on a pirate ship but I refuse to smell or appear like one… She said to herself dumping the water and drying off with a long piece of cloth from her bag. She packed every thing away again and dressed in her usual clothing. Carefully she washes her dirty clothing and uses her inborn power to dry them and put them away. Aurora looked out into the night, time had slipped away from her again as it was quite late. Soundlessly striding to the door she unlocks it just before the handle turns and the door swings open. Jack stood in the doorway his eyes scanning her, she knew he could not see anything yet her body burned under his gaze.
"Well 'ello love," He grinned calmly as she raised an eyebrow. He shut the door and locked it behind him and took a step toward her. Her eyes locked with his in clear confusion yet she did not move from her spot. Jack circled behind her and brushed her hair back exposing her ear.
"You never did answer my question," He whispered sending chills through her body from his warm breath on her neck.
"I don't intend too," Aurora counters coldly careful not to let on about his effect on her.
"Come on now love," He presses on in a low voice turning her around "I'm curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat," She said taking a small step back.
"But I'm not a cat," He takes a step closer.
"Don't press me Mr. Sparrow," Taking a step back and coming in contact with the wall she can feel his body heat on her skin.
"That's Captain Sparrow," He rasps out closing in on her, leaving her no escape. Her mind clouds with his proximity.
"And what is it that drives the captain's curiosity," She smirks and steps towards him. Her lower body grazes his.
"Wouldn't you like to know," He takes a step back swallowing hard as she comes but inches from his face.
"No I wouldn't," She smirks arrogantly pulling away and walking across the room, Jack stares at the wall in frustration.
It's hard to corner a ghost.