I've noticed something since I began to write this sequel, my reviews seemed to have disappeared almost completely without a trace, as to my old reviewers there is no trace… sniffle Not that I'm not thrilled to have new reviewers, windychick I liked your review:) made me feel special, but did I wait a few months too long so that everyone stopped checking to see if I had put this story up? Well if you guys are reading it, review! Anyway on to…

Chapter 4

Disillusionment

"The ball will be spectacular My Lady," the maid dressing Saihrena said with a dreamy look in her eyes. "All the beautiful ladies dancing in their gowns with all the men dressed in their finest suits, how lovely," she finished with a sigh. Saihrena had had it with the maids rediculous fancy.

"Yer bein rediculous, the women will be faintin from lack of oxygen because their corsettes are too tight, to catch a man, the men'll be too busy fightin with their rivals te notice the women, let alone catch em when they faint, and the entire evenin will be my personal hell. Now give me that damned dress and be quiet before I string ye up by yer insides girl." The maid shut up at that point and handed her the dress.

It really was quite lovely, it was a white gossamer that overlay a blue shimmering chemise. The design was intended to cover the scars and tattoos of the last four years and did so quite gracefully. The sleeves were long and the skirt touched the floor, while the neckline showed her generous chest off. Her long dark hair was bundled into a french twist at the nape of her neck.

When the seemstress had shown up that afternoon with it she had lost her breath, which had been quickly regained as the woman produced a corsette to go with it. She had told the woman she would slit her own throat before wearing a corsette, the dress had better fit as is. The seemstress had grumbled, but the dress was fixed.

Saihrena slipped the dress over her head, being careful not to mess up her hair which had taken two hours and six disgruntled ladies maids to tame.

"How much longer?" Saihrena asked, turning to the maid.

"You have an hour My Lady," the maid said in a subdued tone of voice, Saihrena immediately felt bad for yelling at her.

"Come here girl," she said. The maid came to her slowly. "What's yer name?"

"I-I'm Juliana."

"I'm sorry fer yellin at ye Juliana, it is simply that I don't want te be here."

"Is it true that you're a pirate queen?" Juliana asked suddenly, making Saihrena laugh.

"Not quite, a pirate princess perhaps, but I will never get to marry my King," Saihrena's eyes began to tear up as she thought of Jack, and of what Morgead had told her.

"But my lady your engagement to the King will be announced tonight," the girl said brightly, thinking this would cheer Rena up, all it did was make her sob harder. She found Julianas shoulder and laid her head against it, wishing the shoulder were Jack's and not this childs, but she relished in the warmth of her and sobbed until there was nothing left.

Jack wasn't coming for her, he didn't even know she was in trouble. She was utterly alone for the first time in many years, though not the first time ever. Hadn't she been alone when she was sold to the Sultan? Hadn't she been alone most of her time there? It was only in the past years that she had anyone, and she hadn't even had Jack then. She could stand on her own feet, she could escape. With those thoughts the tears subsided and she pulled away from Juliana.

"Thank you," she whispered as she stood and went into her bathroom. She had to clean herself up, she couldn't very well go to the ball with tear stains running down her cheeks. Everything had to be perfect.


Jack was aware that he had wasted weeks doing nothing, he was aware that Saihrena was already in Spain, and he was aware that she was in danger and he wouldn't be able to reach her for at least four weeks. He hated himself for that. If he had thought about it he would have realized the note was a fake, he would have checked the harbor, and he would have caught up with them in the water and killd them all for taking his love away. She would be in his arms right now, but he was a fool, and Saihrena was all but lost to him now.

"Stop it Jack," Jessie said, coming to stand beside him at the helm.

"Stop what?" He asked innocently.

"Stop thinking that you could have changed anything, you couldn't have. They wanted her, they took her. Now we just have to get her back," his daughter said, amazing him again with her wisdom.

"Yer right darlin, and me thinkin she's gone ferever isn't helpin much."

"Nor are you helping by working the crew to death. They can't keep up the sweeps forever, they need to rest, eat, sleep, drink. We'll get there, this is the fastest ship in the caribbean, possibly even the world. Don't forget that," Jessie said, then kissed him on the cheek and left.

Jack sighed in thought, when had she grown up? "Halt the sweeps, get some rest ye mangy cads," Jack called, making the crew cheer. He would reach her in time, he had to. Nothing could stop him.

Little did he know a ship had orders to do just that.


"Saihrena my love, are you ready yet?" A voice asked from the sitting room as she emerged from the bathroom.

"Yes Morgead, I'm ready," she said, walking into the sitting room to meet him.

"You look amazing darling," he said, taking her hands and kissing her on the cheek. She let him, not wanting to spoil her plans too soon, and for nothing.

"Thank ye." He offered his arm to escort her to the ball and she took it after a moment of hesitation. The last thing she wanted to do was touch him, but she was ordered to behave as if she were in love with him at the ball, as if he had rescued her from kidnapping pirates. The more she touched him the more she loathed him, she just wanted the evening to end.

"Speak propperly for heavens sake, you're a lady not a pirate." She glared at him for a moment before bursting out laughing.

"Ah Morgead ye are quite funny. Ye see I'm a pirate, not a lady."

"Then keep your mouth closed or I'll have you hanged, pirate." This sobered her and she nodded.

They entered the ball room then. Raul had refurbished it since she had been gone. The room had once been done up in the house colors of green and blue, beautifully decorated with emeralds inlaid in the floor and lapis lazuli in the walls. Now it was gaudilly decorated in gold. Gold floors, gold walls, shandeleers. It hurt her eyes to look.

As they entered a chorus of cheers resounded through the hall, and she could only think they were for her safe return. People began to surround her and Morgead, and she held on to him afraid she would drown in the tide of people wishing her well, thankful she was back safely, and happy she looked so well. It was all bullshit, she knew it, and knew they knew it, but she was the sister of a King and everyone had to pretend. So she smiled and nodded when they said it must have been horrible, and wished she were in that horrible place instead of this hell.

The night wore on, and took forever to do so, but finally it was time for a toast. Raul asked for quiet and got it, then pulled her and Morgead next to him.

"I am thankful that my darling sister has been brought safely home to me after all these years. I have missed you so," he said, turning to Saihrena and kissing her on the cheek. She had to stop herself from spitting on him. "But none are happier than Saihrena and Morgead who, after all these years, have decided to fulfil my parents wishes and get married. It will be a joyous occasion and all of you are invited. I know it is dreadful short notice but the ceremony will be held one week hence so these two may forever be joined," Raul yelled, and the entire room burst into cheers.

Saihrena didn't hear the cheering, she hadn't heard what Raul said after that. All she could hear was "one week hence," it ran back and forth through her mind, threatening, laghing at her. It was too soon, she would never escape before then. Saihrena fainted.


Hope you liked that chapter, I must say I liked writing it. So Jack is winging his way to her, but will he get there in time? I know, cliff hanger, oh well, guss you'll just have to wait and see what happens, and review of course. If you want to read the next chapter review and tell me how much you want to read it. I don't care if you've never reviewed before (which I know a lot of you haven't) review now! Press the little button, will only take a minute or so, come on, please?