Precious Illusions

Chapter Two: Everybody Here Wants You

Jack Sparrow stared out at the ocean. Will noticed immediately that Jack was in one of his moods again. It was that time of the month, always around the same time he had also realized, that Jack would stare out at the ocean completely silent, with the grimmest expression on his face. It was almost as if he was remembering something very distant that pained him to remember. Will cleared his throat and Jack turned around unsteadily, a grim line set on his lips. "Jack," Will started, "We're nearing Port Isabella. I...Just thought you should know." Jack nodded, resting his hand on Will's shoulder before the tiniest of smiles came to light up his face. "Aye."

The morning sun shone over the oncoming rock of an island. It was sturdy, with one of the most established Naval Bases around and also one of the most established Villa's around. The governor was a strange and quiet man named Arthur Kent, and his daughter, Arabella Kent was just as strange and quiet. The pair never really left the Villa and they came to be known as hermits, slaves to their estate. However, this was all day life. Come out at night and Port Isabella was a much more low-key Tortuga minus the whores.

Of course that was why Jack had chosen Port Isabella as their next stop. He wanted the cool night life that came with Port Isabella, he wanted the rum and the gin and the beautiful women who weren't whores but would almost certainly fall in love with him and agree to take him into their beds. He wanted the distraction from the haunting memories of the pretty little fifteen year old girl with stunning golden hair and eyes like the ocean that he loved. He didn't think it was right, of course he didn't think it was right, that she was still in his head after so long. He had left for the purpose of forgetting her, but he had never forgotten her. It was almost impossible.

He frowned again, but then turned on his heel and nimbly maneuvered his way up the netting that led to his crow's nest. He screwed his eyes up in his face as he held his brown hand up to his eyes, shielding the light from burning him. There was the rock, there the villa, perched on the cliffs like a beautiful ghost of a bird. That was what made him smile, the monstrosity of the estate and the people bustling around the docks. He noticed the light that was disappearing from behind those massive cliffs, and a smile lit his tanned face. It was already almost time for the people to come out and play. Night was almost upon them.

By the time they were in port, the moon was high in the sky, a silver giant that loomed over the island and smiled down on them. He swayed down the alleys, Will by his side, clutching an empty bottle of rum in his left hand. He smiled suggestively at a young woman passing by, and called out in his slurred voice, "Allo darling...Be a good gal and tell ol' Cap'n Jack where there might be a pub 'round here, will ye?" The girl tittered nervously and pointed timidly down the alley. "Turn right and you'll be face to face with a pub called the Rusty Lantern. Good luck!" She called, giggling and running the rest of the way down the alley. Port Isabella would be even better then he imagined.

Rubbing his hands together he slung his arm around Will's shoulder and the pair marched off down the alley, singing something to the effect of, "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life fer me..." It was terribly off-key, and it lilted disgustingly in the thick, muggy night air. They laughed as they barged into the pub. There were a few people who looked their way, but nothing really exciting was taking place just yet. It was perfectly normal, at least for Port Isabella, for the pubs not to really light up until the entertainment came out.

So they sat there for a while, talking in hushed voices and hoping to cause some controversy to get things really going, when the lights dimmed over a small wooden stage in the back. The kerosene was turned down to almost nothing, and the stage was black, when make-shift curtains pulled back and the kerosene was turned back up. There, in the middle of the stage, was the one person Jack had been trying in vain to get out of his mind, only she was twelve years older and much more attractive.

Aryana Black wore a red and white striped bodice and a full white skirt, her brown boots cinched up to past her knees. Her thick golden hair was pulled back out of her face, and her cheeks were rouged with some cream. Lips were a crimson red, and her thick ashen lashes were pointed down to some lonely naval officer in the front. It seemed like before she was to start her act, she flirted with the lonely officer. That was when the music started up, and Aryana gazed out at her audience.

"Love isn't funny when it's burning inside...When all you think of is how to get through the night. And when you want it, it's just a game that you play. And when you get it, they're going to take it away...Maybe it's nothing, maybe it's all just in my mind. Maybe I'm foolish, maybe it's just a waste of time. But I don't think so, maybe I definitely know that maybe, maybe I'm in love."

She smiled and set her narrow foot on the table in front of the lonely officer, resting her hand on his hat and picking it up, setting it on her head. Jack's heart almost stopped right there. How many times had she done that to him, stealing his hat and setting it on her head. But she was different now, that much was certain. Her eyes seemed brighter, her smile more beautiful, her face more mature. Well of course all these things were more beautiful, she was older. He was still in love, and she had forgotten him. Or had she?

"So if you want it, you want to come out to play, then you can have it cause he's got plans for the day. And if I want it, there's not one out there for me, when you don't need it, there's plenty of fish in the sea. Maybe it's nothing, maybe it's all just in my mind. Maybe I'm foolish, maybe it's just a waste of time. But I don't think so, maybe I definitely know. Why do I keep fooling myself, why can't I let go? This is not like me, but now I definitely see, that maybe, maybe I'm in love."

Jack was almost ready to get up and walk out the door, and Will cast a concerned glance at his friend. "Are you alright Jack?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowed. Jack laughed uncertainly and shrugged. "I'm fine." That was when she looked at him. Right in the face, she looked at him and her whole body went rigid. The music continued, but she stopped singing. It seemed like time had stopped. Someone to the left of her shouted at her to keep singing, and so she cleared her throat and smiled apologetically, but her eyes never left his face.

"But I don't think so, maybe I definitely know. Why do I keep fooling myself, why can't I let go? This is not like me, but now I definitely see that maybe, maybe I'm in love. Love isn't funny when it's burning inside. When all you think of is how to get through the night. And when you want it, it's just a game that you play. And when you get it, they're going to take it away. Maybe it's nothing, maybe it's all just in my mind. Maybe I'm foolish, maybe it's just a waste of time. But I don't think so, maybe I definitely know. Why do I keep fooling myself, why can't I let go? This is notlike me, but now I definitely see that maybe, maybe I'm in love."

The crowd that had gathered in the pub cheered for her, and she smiled slightly and curtsied like her mother had taught her to. Stepping down from the stage, she tried to find anywhere to go, anywhere except near Jack, but she couldn't help but notice that there was an empty chair beside his friend, who looked a lot like Bootstrap Bill.

Waving mildly at the people she passed by, shaking a few hands and laughing slightly as they told her how wonderful she was, she took a seat beside Will. "Good evening gents. You two are new around here, no?" Her voice had matured too, he noted, as he looked at her and narrowed his eyes. She had a chocolate voice, he reckoned, smooth and rich and delicious. "Aye, we're new around here, love." Aryana narrowed her eyes and then smiled. "The name's Aryana, Aryana Black. Who might you be?" She asked, offering her slender hand to Will. He smiled his devastating smile and shook her hand. "The name's William Turner." Aryana looked slightly surprised but just shook it off and shook his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you William. And who are you?" She asked Jack, who just sighed. "You know who I am Ary..." Her smile faded.

"Hello Jack."

AN: Dun dun dun...And the plot thickens! Haha. If you want Ary's picture, please IM me or Email me. Thanks.
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