A/N: Hello again. Enjoying the installments so far? I'm trying to post this before the shutdown this evening.I know people are reading, but very few are commenting back. Please do, it gives me an idea on your reactions so that I know what to do to make this story better. For those who have been commenting, thank you. And who knows, if I get the correct addresses, you could have a surprise in your inbox later this evening.
Happy Tales...
McFadden-
Chapter Four
When morning did come, Jezebel arose sorely from the bed, careful to make sure that Dominic was still out cold before she moved. Of course, he was. Although it hurt to even put her feet on the floor, somehow she managed to move around quietly gathering garments that had been torn off the night before. For all intensive purposes, she was alright. Her shoulder just hurt her the most and it was the nastiest shades of blue. She dressed hastily and pinned her hair back up. As she left, one of his menservants caught her attention. He looked at her sadly and shook his head apologetically. They had to have known what went on when he drank. It was only another embarrassment to add to a very long list. She couldn't be happier just to go home and sleep in her own bed.
Jezebel loved her little doss. It wasn't beaten up and ragged like most small housing structures. She kept it nice and to her taste. Floating glass all the colors of the sea hung in rope nets above her windows and various curious looking items lay out on display as well. Mostly, she loved her books. They seemed to be her only escape from reality in recent years. Jack used to be that escape, but after he left she only had the pirate stories to help her fill the void. Sighing heavily and relieved, she opened the door and slipped off her shoes. Jezebel walked tiredly into her room, the wood creaking under her feet when she entered. She immediately took off her ring and earrings, setting them on the dresser. She removed her waist sash and was about to disrobe when a reflection caught her eye in the mirror, making her breath hitch in her throat.
"Where were you last night?"
Jack slowly rose from his seat on her bed. The sheets had been slept in, which meant he had spent the night there. She wasn't really surprised to find him waiting there for her when she came home in the morning. He was a pirate, he could get in anywhere if he really wanted to. But his voice was curious, questioning, and most of all tinged faintly with jealousy. Jezebel sighed softly and removed the pins from her hair, letting it flow down her back. She stared at his image from the mirror as she ran her fingers loosely through the strands. He looked as though he hadn't gotten much sleep. To be honest, she too spent half the night awake thinking only of him and nothing more. His face was set in a patient countenance but Jezebel could see that he wanted some answers, and that he wasn't going to leave without them. Jack caught her again with his accusing stare. His voice barely above a whisper.
"I can smell him on you..."
She whirled around and looked directly at him this time. Damn him and his intuitions! His dark lashes lined in kohl, drifted down as his eyes rested on her red sash. Jack picked up the discarded strip of her dress, feeling the satin material carefully before pressing it to his nose and inhaling, slowly letting it fall to the floor between them.
"Surprised love? You shouldn't be...I know your smell like I know the currents of the sea. It's been stolen and replaced by something that I don't like. It makes my body cringe."
Jezebel could only remain silent. His voice was in that intoxicating tone again. The gravelly whisper that rolled over her senses, igniting them like only he could. She nearly felt violated by the intensity of his eyes that held her in place.
"Who is he?"
She really didn't want to tell him, but he had figured out so much by now that she really had no choice in the matter. Sighing, she rubbed her head with her fingers and confessed quietly.
"His name is Dominic..."
She picked up the flashy jeweled ring and tossed it on the bed beside Jack. He just stared at it, not because it was pretty and he wanted to steal it, but because in that instant, he held so much malice towards the inanimate object.
"...We're going to be married."
Jack ears started to buzz as they filled with his boiling blood. Married! His Jeze...never! She wouldn't...she couldn't! Could she? But seeing that ring before him made it all too true. It solidified every horror that he never wanted to think of. She was promised to someone else. But deep down in the depths of Jack's sunburned mind, she still belonged to him.
"When..."
That was the only word he could croak out. He watched as she bit her lip. He hated it now when she did that, only because he loved it so much still. She'd only do it when she was shy or hesitant about something and it made him want to take her right then, right there.
"I've got two months."
The tension was so thick in the room as they both absorbed energies from eachother. Not being able to take such silences, Jezebel moved to turn around. But not before she caught the flash of fierce questioning in Jack's eyes. He moved closer.
"What's that?"
He had pointed to her shoulder that had been uncovered by the cloak of her hair. Her skin had been so pale that the bruise stood out well. Jezebel's hand immediately went up to cover it. Blushing slightly.
"It's nothing Jack..."
Her tone was too shaky, and the unmistakably foreign flash or fear that settle into her eyes was something so rare. It was so unlike Jezebel to be afraid of another human being. But there she was, trying to play off the indiscretion of whatever harmed her. He wasn't buying it. He placed his hand over hers and moved it out of the way. What he saw shocked and scared him. It was a purple, angry bruise, complete with tiny lacerations across the top. He knew immediately that this was no cause of a mere accident. From the look on her face, he could tell that this hadn't been the first time. His voice seethed with anger.
"Did he do this?"
She meekly nodded. What other choice did she have? Standing still, she saw Jack's other hand clench the bed sheets into his fist, turning his tan knuckles white beneath the strain. His hand slid down her arm and to her waist, pulling her to him until she sat beside him on the bed. Then he held her. Pulling her onto him as he did so. He couldn't care less if she didn't want him to do it because at that moment, he needed to. He wanted her to know that she was safe with him. Still, he was surprised when she laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms tightly around him, breathing him in. Jezebel began to cry. If anything could break down a man like Jack, it was seeing her cry. It had only happened once before, and he would've done anything to make her stop. Tears trickled down her face as he rocked her. Speaking cherishments meant only for her into her ear. She sat quietly listening to the gentle hum of his words as they vibrated through his body and up to her. There was nothing more soothing to her than the sound of his voice.
Speaking as hushed as she had ever heard him, Jack eyes unmistakably glazed over with he most terrible thoughts circling in his head. He couldn't handle the knowledge that his beloved Jezebel had spent six years enduring this pain. An overwhelming since of guilt suddenly plagued him. He pulled back and looked at her saddened face.
"Being with me couldn't have been worse than this, could it Turtledove?"
He brushed his knuckles gracefully across the bruised and soft flesh over her shoulder. His voice was apprehensive, as if it would crush him to hear her say yes. He looked her over carefully, not missing the fact that she had a large matching bruise on her long neck, being hidden in a veil of her dark hair. Only this one had a row of harsh teeth marks with it. He moved the obstructing hair away gently and let out a soft and hurt breath. His eyes closed briefly, wishing it to go away. He didn't want to see it. Not on her pretty flesh. How could someone lay a hand on this delicate creature? His delicate creature...
He looked up at her. She was ashamed to meet his eyes, knowing that he had found the other one too. Jack caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. His chocolate brown orbs peered into her until she looked back. They seemed so sad and sorrowful.
"I know I haven't been perfect but...Even I have never done this."
How she missed the thick texture of his voice. She felt it float up to her ear and wished that his mouth was closer. She knew it was so wrong to think like that. Her dark lashes closed over her hazel eyes once more, ashamed to look at him. He was right. For all of his faults, and he had plenty...Jack was a good man. Deep down Jezebel knew that. Why was this so hard!
"Why did you leave me Jezebel?"
It wasn't a question for her. It sounded more like an anguished plea. But she knew the answer anyway. So should he. He claimed to her once that she had it all wrong, but Jezebel hadn't left it up for discussion. It was because he had been unfaithful. She caught him with her own eyes. Looking at him right now, she wondered if maybe there was something she misjudged about that day. No man who has ever been unfaithful could ever look at her the way he was right now. But she didn't want to think of that now. It would only make the pain of not having him while he was so close so much worse.
"Jack..."
His name was so soft on her lips, he wondered if he had heard it at all. He saw her as she pulled at her bottom lip with her teeth. He so loved to watch her do that. He nearly reached up and took it with his own. She looked as though she wouldn't have protested it if he tried, but he didn't.
"I have to go. If he finds me here with you..."
She didn't get to finish her sentence before he broke in with unmatched levels of convictions behind his words.
"...I'll kill him."
Jezebel felt her blood run cold because she knew he was telling the truth. He chanced at placing a soft kiss on her forehead and when she didn't protest he stretched out on the bed behind her urging her to follow his lead.
"You need to rest love... Captain Sparrow's here now. No one is coming to take you away."
Jezebel eyed him warily. Jack knew what she was thinking and already had a reply for her. Looking mischievous, he raised his hands in surrender.
"I'll be good...Scouts honor."
He held up two fingers playfully as Jezebel's eyes looked at his hesitantly but with a touch of amusement.
"Why do I not entirely trust you?"
Jack just grinned knowingly as she settled down into the fluffy pillows. She study him from this angle and still found his profile quite handsome after all these years. Jack just laid there, raging a conflict in his own mind as he roamed over her features.
"You're so beautiful Jeze..."
He sighed heavily.
"I wish I could..."
Jack cut himself off before he finished the line. Jezebel just looked at him. She knew he had spoken out lound when he hadn't meant to and she expected no answer from him. She was a kind for doing that. Because even though Jack would never admit it, he got embarrassed when he felt he revealed more of himself than he should have. Truthfully he wished he could take her in his arms and kiss her over and over again, melting away any resolve she had left for him.
"...But I can't."
The last part came out sad. Jezebel heart thumped against her ribs. She was finding it hard not to forgive him for everything and throw all caution to the wind. But she held her ground. Jack just silently berrated himself for what just happened. Why was he incapable of controlling his inner monologue? Really, he needed his tongue cut out.
Jezebel pulled the covers tighter around her. They were still warm from where he had laid on them earlier, and smelled of salt and sandalwood. Just like him. She felt wrapped in security as her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. The last thing she saw before drifting off to sleep was Jack, watching over her vigilantly and turning the emerald stoned skull ring about on his finger.
