Greetings all, and my apologies for not updating sooner. I got bitten by the nasty Writer's Block Bug, and having fought valiantly, finally conquered the beast…lol.
I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to read and review my story thus far…I really do appreciate your comments and suggestions, and will try to work them into the story line if at all possible.
(Author's note: I failed to add the Madame's full name in that last section, but it is NOT the Madame of Madame T's,…rather a Madame of Voodoo…and yes, there is a good possibility of some other famous figures from the museum coming to life---- talk about a spoiler! muahahahahahaha---stay tuned!)
As always, I do not own any of the Characters from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean; just the story line and the characters I've made up in my poor widdle brain.
Now, on to the newest installment!
Chapter 13: But is Vegas Ready For Jack?
The sun was a fiery orange ball in the sky when Jack and Jo left the apartment and headed to the waiting cab. Neither of them spoke, but as they approached the famous strip, Jack's eyes once again got as big as saucers as he took it all in…the bright lights, the traffic jams, the people…the glamour that was Vegas.
They pulled up to the gated employee parking lot of The Venetian, and after paying the fare and keying the gate, she directed Jack toward her dark blue '87 mustang. Tossing the sunshade in the small backseat compartment, Jo fired her baby up, and grinned in amusement when Jack's eyebrows rose and all but disappeared into his borrowed black leather doo-rag. As they waited for the interior to cool down, she took a moment to compare the new Jack Sparrow to his previous form. '….Pirate incognito, indeed……'she thought with a sigh.
His hair, now free of its ornaments, braids and dreadlocks, was tied neatly back in a que which hung to a point midway between his shoulder blades. She smiled again when she recalled the way he had fussed when she had fought the comb through his hair. He was a remarkably handsome man, with his neatly trimmed mustache and goatee, although it had been a hard battle getting him to part with the twin beads on his chin. His eyes stood out from his face, lined with dark blue eyeliner which he had apparently pilfered from her makeup drawer. She noticed that he had also 'liberated' one of her favorite gold hoop earrings, which now resided in his left earlobe. Jo flushed when she recalled his reaction to her nipping that very same earlobe earlier, and licked her suddenly too dry lips. Jack, who had been watching her intently, recognized the signs of desire for what they were, and favored her with an appraising glance of his own through his hooded brown eyes.
"You look hungry, love……I'd say we'd better find those victuals fast, else I may not survive the night 'round you….you might turn cannibal and devour me inch by inch."
"I might at that….and I know just where I'd start, too…." Jo met his gaze directly before her gaze flickered to his lap and then back again, and she chuckled as he shifted in his seat. She leaned over towards his lap and nearly laughed aloud at his sudden intake of breath as he grasped her arm. She sighed and pushed his hand away, reaching for the seatbelt and tossing his own words back at him as she strapped him in. "Relax, Jack, I only bite when asked nicely…twice." She froze momentarily when his arms wrapped around her holding her against him as he inhaled deeply, enjoying the coconut scent of her shampoo. His breath was warm against her hair as he murmured a reply.
"That's one promise I intend to hold you to, m'dear." His words were low and his voice was smooth as 12 year old Scotch, and without warning he pulled her face up to claim a rough kiss. Even with the car's A/C going full blast, the interior was fast heating up, and after a few seconds Jo broke free and leaned back in the driver's seat, her lips slightly swollen and her expression slightly dazed. She glared at him as he relaxed against the seat, a look of smug satisfaction on his face as he examined his now clean fingernails. Reaching up, she selected a CD from the visor holder and slipped it into her player. She watched him start when the car's interior was suddenly flooded with the opening notes of Evanesence's "Bring Me To Life". She revved the mustang's powerful engine, and almost laughed at the suddenly nervous expression on her passenger's face. Jo looked over at him seductively as she stroked his thigh before reaching for the stick. "Sit back and enjoy the ride, love." She chuckled at the curse he uttered as she popped the clutch and smoked the tires as she cleared the gate and joined the fast moving traffic.
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The quiet house in the suburbs of Vegas gave no hint to the depravity that often took place behind the lace draped windows. Michael rang the bell and was swiftly ushered into the dark cool interior of the VouDoun practitioner's home. Moments later, the Madame herself appeared in the doorway and greeted him cooly.
"Your message said that you wished to speak to me on an urgent matter, Monsieur Dixon. I hope for your sake that you do not waste my time." Her Creole French accent would have been charming if it weren't for the veiled threat in her voice.
Michael bowed his head in acknowledgement of her formidable power and presence. "I would not have disturbed you if it were a trivial matter, Madame. I realize your time is valuable, but I knew of no one but you who has the knowledge and power to aid me in this endeavor." Accepting his flattery with a slight curving of her lips, she gestured him to proceed her into the living area. The darkened room was covered with unusual works of art---primitive masks, weapons, and dark, vivid paintings that Michael wasn't sure he wanted to examine closer. Seating himself in a chair across from the priestess, sat back and looked at the woman across from him. Her age was indeterminable; she could have been anywhere from 30 to 80 or more, her café-au-lait skin was smooth and wrinkle free. It was her eyes that showed her wisdom far beyond her apparent age. The geometric pattered silk caftan she wore elegantly graced her lithe figure beneath a mound of unique jewelry. She leaned back in her chair and tilted her head as she looked at him. "I am waiting, Monsieur."
Taking a deep breath, Michael began to speak. "Madame Benoit, strange things have occurred at the museum. This may sound mad, but I believe one of my fellow employees has brought a waxwork to life."
To his surprise, the VouDoun practitioner didn't act surprised at all, but favored him with a guarded stare instead. "Such has been known to happen from time to time, monsieur….was it the same one who left their mark on you, perhaps?"
Michael started and his hand went to the nail marks that Jo had left on his neck while they had tussled on the bed. "How did you know…."
The priestess merely sighed and shook her head at him as she leaned forward, her long, dangling earrings tinkling softly as she did so. "Your aura flared when you spoke of this employee, but I sense that there is more to this relationship than you are revealing. This employee, she is a woman you desire but who has rejected you, is she not?" At his affirmative grunt, the woman nodded, her elegant fingers forming a steeple as she contemplated the man before her as she spoke.
"And this….waxwork….that came to life…..he is a dashing hero, a knight in shining armor…a prince among thieves, yes?" At the last comment, she observed the slight widening of Michael's eyes.
Michael favored her with a wary glare before he replied. "You seem to know quite a bit about this situation, Madame. I take it you've been…involved…with this type of thing before?"
"You would be surprised the kind of thing a person in my line of work has seen, Monsieur…..not many of them pleasant, and some so terrifying as to send the strongest of men screaming into madness." She sat back suddenly before continuing. "What the object of your desire has done.." the priestess noticed his swift flush "is call to her a protector from another realm."
Michael looked at the woman and his voice was full of venom and disbelief. "What do you mean, another realm? The character is made up, a movie pirate for Chrissake!"
"Are you so narrow minded to think that we are alone in the universe, Monsieur? The realm of fantasy is indeed real…where do you believe our creativity comes from? What is imaginary here can and often does exist in one of the other realms, and all it takes is the proper equipment and ability to tap into those realms. Consciously or unconsciously, she apparently desired this pirate enough to wish him to life, and so to life he has come. And in answer to your next question, you can't send him back."
She smiled at his frustration before continuing. "Only the summoner has the power to cut the tie between the realms."
Michael Dixon sat back in his chair, momentarily defeated and deep in thought. The woman could almost see the whirring thoughts in his head, and watched cautiously as a strange smile crossed his face. He sat forward suddenly, his voice deadly serious as he addressed the priestess before him.
"One last question, Madame…..just what would it take to bring one of this pirate's friends through from the other side?"
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"Chicken… McNuggets, you say?"
"Yes, Jack…..now hurry up and eat them before they get cold. Here, try this sauce." Jo picked up the freshly cooked pressed poultry and dipped it into the sweet and spicy chipotle BBQ sauce and popped it into his mouth before he could protest. She grinned at his expression as the heat of the meat, the sauce or both combined caused his eyes to bulge and his hand to reach for his drink. "Little too much for you, pirate?" She chuckled as he shot her a glare and reached for the fries they shared on the tray between them. They sat at the back of the fast food restaurant with Jack's back to the door, and Jo hoped that his appearance wouldn't draw too much attention. There was little hope for that though, especially since he seemed determined to flirt with every female within sight.
Sighing, she turned her attention back to her own box of nuggets and dipped a nugget into her own open honey mustard sauce. She moaned with delight, closing her eyes briefly as the sweet and sour tangy sauce hit her tongue. '…God, it's been forever since I had these……I've been such a nooge!….'She felt a drop hit her chin, but before she could wipe it away, a rough finger swept it up. She opened her eyes to see Jack sucking the bit of sauce off his finger, his gaze hot upon her face. She flushed and swallowed hard as he chuckled, his gold plated grin wide as he reached for the two packets of honey on the tray and slipped them into his pocket.
"I always knew you were a saucy wench, and I intend to find out just how saucy."
Jo made a rude noise and threw a ketchup packet at him…but to his surprise, she didn't say no to his proposition… 'now THAT's interesting…' Jack thought, a flash of anticipation running through him.
They quickly finished their meal and although they had been cast several speculative glances, no one approached them to ask about Jack's resemblance to the famous Johnny Depp. Jo gave a deep sigh of both relief and satisfaction as they climbed back into the mustang. Jo pulled out of the parking lot and started singing along with Gwen Stefani and Eve's "Rich Girl" as they moved smoothly through the Vegas Traffic. She glanced over at Jack to find him staring at her, his teeth gleaming as he grinned at her through the car's dim interior.
"What? Have I still got sauce on my face or something?" She changed lanes and sped onward towards the shopping district. They needed to get some groceries and also some other clothes for Jack. Like the many casinos in Vegas, most of the stores in the area were also open 24 hrs, for which Jo was increasingly thankful.
"Not at the moment you don't, sweeting...I'm just constantly surprised by you is all." She cast another quick glance at him before she changed lanes, and was surprised by his thoughtful expression. "You look surprisingly fragile on first glance, but you're satin over steel." At her frown, he laughed softly. "I meant it as a compliment, Jo. You're unpredictable and fearless and full of life, and one of the most erotic and enchanting women I've ever encountered. Strange as it may sound, I've the feeling that everyday we spend together will be an adventure."
Jo didn't reply, but he sensed rather than saw the blush that crossed her features. "For once Jack, I think I have to agree with you."
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The pulled into the ATM Machine, where Jo withdrew $200.00 before heading to the nearby Wal-Mart Supercenter. She had to pull Jack along several times as he encountered aspects of modern technology that caught his eye, including the automatic doors. They purchased jeans and some hi-top tennis shoes, several shirts, socks, underwear and a few other needed items before heading to the grocery store.
He was amazed at the variety of both fresh and canned foods available, and spent an inordinate amount of time in front of the liquor display, especially the cardboard standup of Captain Morgan. He felt Jo and the shopping cart stop beside him and he turned toward her, noticing her face growing pale as she recognized the costume worn by her attacker. He wrapped his arm around her and felt her trembling, and thinking quickly he did his best to calm her. "Easy, love…..remember, I knew him in real life…..sharp dresser, not a bad bloke for a privateer, but reliable sources tell me he was a eunich."
Jo took several deep breaths and looked up at him with a shaky smile before reaching over and picking up two large bottles of the spiced rum. At his puppy dog look, she rolled her eyes and added a 3rd bottle to the cart . "People are going to think I'm a lush."..she grumbled as she grabbed him by the arm and moved toward the checkout.
"Mmmhhmmmm…..lush is one way to describe you, true…" Jack grinned wickedly, his hand sliding down her back to briefly squeeze her derriere. Jo yelped and slapped him, cussing as she shook her stinging palm and glaring at other market patrons as they stared. Jack merely grinned, his hand stroking the red mark on his face and said just low enough for Jo to hear…
"I deserved that…..but it was worth it….."
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(a/n) coming up next time…..Jack sneaks off for a little adventure all by his onesies…….