Chapter Twenty Four: Liars

~~ I slept but only a few hours, for Raoul's words of love continuously replayed in my mind. He loved me, I knew it, but, to actually hear it smacked me harder than a cannonball ever could! It hurt me a little, for I knew I felt not the same about him; I don't believe I ever could. But, something was holding me back from saying it to him, I couldn't quite put my finger upon it, was it pity? Was it politeness?

I turned over and groaned, burying my face in my pillow when my door opened and in came Raoul, singing a song and carrying something that smelt amazing! I turned over slowly and stretched, rubbing my eyes as Raoul finished his song, it was 'Good Morning to You' and, at the very end, he kissed the top of my nose; He smiled and laid the platter of food down upon my legs as I slowly sat up; it was pancakes! Pancakes, a banana, four pieces of bacon, and an egg with a little jar of syrup. "Good morning, my little tulip! Sleep well?"

He asked, pouring the syrup all over my pancakes and cutting them up into several triangles, so they would be easier to eat. I rubbed my eyes. "Not really" I said softly; sighing and weakly smiling to him.

"Why ever so not, princess?" Asked he, handing me the fork and licking the syrup off of the knife.

"There's...there's a lot on my mind" I answered uncertainly; Raoul's eyes softened and he slid down beside me, his hands laying upon my shoulders and he began to massage them gently.

"Vent to me" said he, his tone soothing and his hands were ever more lenient.

"No" I said, shoveling pancake into my mouth and smiling at syrup's sweet tang which caressed my tongue. "It's nothing important" I added, finishing the second of my four pancakes; Raoul pulled himself closer.

"Well, if it messes with your sleep, my dandelion, than it is more than enough in importance for my ears." He said softly, his hands as tender as his words. "Who knows, peach, maybe I have the answer to your problems." He added with a quiet chuckle. I sighed and finished off my third pancake, quickly beginning on my fourth.

"I don't know, Raoul..." I trailed off, he sighed.

"Well, then, if I cannot help you in that respect, allow me to help you in another." Said he, cracking my back and I gave a squeak, sighing happily afterwards; he chuckled again and kissed the back of my neck. "We'll have the most beautiful home in London, Anna, it will be big and lavish, the biggest room, of course, being a library, for I heard that you do love libraries. We'll have every book known to man in that library, and we'll call it the 'library of infinite worlds'.

"Our bathroom will be completely made out of Turkish marble and you'll only wear the finest dresses and devour only the most delicious of things. We'll dance and sing and love the night away; we'll have children, and you'll be the best of mothers and the most bewitching of brides." Raoul paused and sighed; I allowed him to speak as I finished my pancakes and most of my banana. The things he spoke of sounded absolutely exquisite, but, they were things I wanted to do with someone else; I sighed as he continued to babble on about the life he wanted with me. He finally realized my silence and addressed it.

"Peaches, what's the matter? Does the life I'm constructing not sound perfectly merry?" Asked he; in this moment I got an idea, an idea I might not be able to play off, but, I tricked Blackbeard into thinking I was pregnant, so, I could taste any lie now, right? I lifted the platter off of the bed and placed it on a side table, turning to Raoul and putting on the best smile I could; as much as I cringed, I cuddled up to Raoul and batted my eyelashes.

"It sounds unbelievably wonderful...my...my love." I choked out; Raoul paused and stared at me in disbelief.

"Your...your what, my dear?" He asked, I thought he was in shock! I smiled and sat up.

"Well, I've been thinking, why fight something that's meant to be? You and I, my love, were at first bound by a document, a single...document, and now, my heart sees what yours does; I know you love me, Raoul, and, I am now ready to be yours." I replied, fighting off the urge to burst into laughter at how idiotic and fake I sounded, however, Raoul bought it. He savored every word and he whisked me off of the bed and into his arms, laughing and holding me close.

"Oh, my angel, my angel!" He cried, kissing my cheeks. "I knew you'd see it my way now or another! I just knew it!" He cried, sighing in relief and laying me down upon the bed again, smiling to me; his eyes were so filled with hope.

"Well, London's only a few hours away, my darling teacup, so we'll get to your home and do whatever you want, hey, let's go get ice cream!" He cried; I plastered on a fake smile and nodded. He gasped and planted a large, wet kiss on my cheek, hurrying out of the room and clicking his heels as he ran to the bow. I emerged from the room shortly after and saw sails; black sails. There was only one boat with black sails and that boat belonged to my Captain; 'The Black Pearl'.

I gasped and ran to the stern, hoping to catch a glimpse of my Captain, however, as I searched, I saw that 'The Black Pearl' was moving farther and farther away from our boat; I began yelling for my Captain, and, his door opened! I waved frantically to him and he only gave me the most pained stare I had ever received. In his eyes was the sorrow of a thousand men and the anguish of every death there ever could've been; around his wonderful eyes his skin was puffy and a little red...he had been crying. My Captain had been crying! Now, his pained stare turned into one of rage; his eyes narrowed and he disappeared back into his room, slamming the door shut.

Then, his boat went farther and farther away until it was only but a speck upon the horizon. I paused and Raoul walked over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my neck. "We'll have the most beautiful ceremony.."

** We arrived in London at nightfall and I wasted no time in running home, however, I had to drag Raoul along behind me, he was laughing and made excited by my lie. However, just before we reached my home, my name was called; I turned upon my heel to see Willie! It was Willie, my friend from the prison decks on 'The Black Pearl'. "Willie!" I cried, breaking away from Raoul and running to Willie's arms.

"Oh, little girl! How's everything been?" Willie asked, I only smiled; Willie stared hatefully at Raoul. "Why the hell are you with him?" He hissed quietly, glancing from me, to Raoul, back to me.

"I'll explain a bit later, okay?" I asked, attempting to break away from Willie's arms, but, Willie held me there.

"Are...are you in love with him?" Willie asked, in an even quieter whisper.

"No, Willie, I remain faithful to my Captain" I whispered into his ear; Willie sighed in relief and now allowed me free.

"Well, I best be goin' now." Said he, nodding to me; my brows furrowed.

"W-Wait, where are you going?" I asked, walking slowly after him.

"Back to the ship, darlin'." He replied, winking to me and strolling away, whistling a happy tune. Raoul walked over to me and grasped my hand softly, pulling me away and to my home; he asked not who Willie was, he didn't question anything! It surprised me, to say the least. As Raoul and I walked up to my home, a large, white bricked mansion; there sat a sign outside of it that caused my heart to shatter within seconds.

"Foreclosure!?" I asked in disbelief, running up to it and making sure I read it correctly; indeed, I did. "We had more than enough money to pay for it! I...I don't understand! Why...why is the bank taking it over?"

I asked; Raoul only moved silently behind me and massaged my shoulders. I fell to my knees and touched the sign. "I don't understand..." I whispered again; Raoul only sighed and lifted me off of the ground.

"We'll inquire about it in the morning, now, let's go back to the ship and get some rest; I'll need it." He said, carrying me away from the home I so desperately wanted to come back to; my library, my room, my things...they were all gone! How could this be?

That night, I did not sleep. I walked about the deck and stared at the stars, they had homes, but I did not. Now what was I to do? Continue conning Raoul or go to the bank myself and attempt to fight for my lost home? I dropped to my knees on the bow, and I wept, I didn't understand and I hated not understanding things; I didn't understand why the house was gone, or why the Captain glared at me so, or why Willie visited me!

I leaned against the bow and shivered, the night was unusually cold; I clenched my eyes shut and turned away from the deck, balling myself up. Someone behind me cleared their throat and I paused my tears, wiping them off of my face before turning; it was my Captain! I squealed in joy and jumped into his arms, kissing his cheeks; however, he did not return the favor. He only glared at me with that same hateful stare as he did the day before. "My Captain" I said, touching his cheek.

"What's the matter?" I asked, his glare, somehow, became even fierier.

"What's the matter?" He asked in a mocking tone, he rolled his eyes and dropped me, allowing me to fall against the deck. I blinked in confusion as he stepped over me, lighting a cigarette and staring at me, leaning against the bow; he puffed out smoke and shook his head. "You know" he started. "You really had me tricked, sweet cheeks; I've done so much for you" he hissed, he took another long draw from his cigarette and puffed it all out like a dragon; he gulped, but wouldn't face me.

"Hell, I...I killed my entire crew for you" he said softly; I stood and walked forwards, but, he stuck out his hand. "Stay...stay away from me, Anna." He growled, I nodded and allowed him to speak. "Anna, I've given you something so dear to me, and you, you took it and beat it...you beat it so hard with those few words which spilt from your mouth this morning." He paused and shook his head, he stood a few feet away from me; I paused and remembered what I said to Raoul, I gasped and began giggling.

He turned to me with the most malicious gaze, it froze my laughter in my esophagus. "My Captain, I'm laughing because...because that was a lie, what I said to Raoul; how could I ever love him? Sure he's a great guy, he's very sweet, but...he's not mine; he's not my big, strong Captain." I said, stepping closer to him, he pushed me away.

"How do I know you're not lying to me, Anna? Huh, how?" He spat, advancing upon me, pushing me into a corner on the bow.

"I..I would never lie to you! How dare you even think I would!" I cried.

"You've lied to a lot of people, Anna, and very well, might I add. I have no idea when you're fake and when you're true anymore!" He yelled back. He sighed and turned away from me, rushing his fingers through his hair; I felt sick to my stomach. "You called him...you called him your love, Anna, how can any man recover from hearing his woman say that to another?"

My Captain asked, his tone saddened; he began to walk away but I turned and grasped his arm, tears falling from my eyes, but he wouldn't look at me. I love you, Captain, I do! I was lying to him, I...I swear I was! My Captain, please, you must believe me, I...I love you.." I said, kissing his knuckles and dropping to my knees.

"Pull yourself together, Anna, you wouldn't want your boyfriend to see you like this, now would you?" He asked, a hiss in his voice.

"Erik!" I blurted out, holding tightly to his hand; he tensed and ripped it away from me causing me to fall onto all fours. "Erik, I...I love you! I love you, Erik!" I called desperately after him; he said nothing but threw his cigarette back at me; I yipped as the ashes touched my hand. I sat upon my knees and watched as he left to his own boat, again, he slammed the door behind him. A few moments later and I felt hands wrap 'round my neck, but, they just laid there.

"You lied to me" the voice which belonged to Raoul said. "You blatantly lied to me, Anna, you tricked me; do you know the feeling of guilt?" He hissed, I didn't answer him; he sighed and yanked me up by the back of my nightgown. I closed my eyes as he stared at me, he scoffed and lead me down the plank, onto the pier; he hurried away and returned with my luggage, giving me my suitcases. "You know, Anna, I love you, I still do, and I more than likely will for the rest of my life; but, I'm not going to chase after you anymore, I don't like liars, Anna. And that's all you are."

He said. "Now, go, find somewhere else to live, at least, for now." He said; he turned and walked back up, onto his ship and into his room, not giving me a second glance. I paused, trembling and attempting to understand what had just ensued; still trembling and confused, I lifted my suitcases from the ground and began walking. The only places I knew of to go to were my friend's homes; this I did, none of them had room for me, or were awake at the time.

My fingers, I was convinced, froze around the handles of my suitcases and my insides were beginning to turn to ice! I walked back to my home and plopped down at the back of the house, which shielded me from the wind; I opened my suitcase and covered myself with a few of my dresses, shivering to keep warm. "Why c-couldn't he of just k-killed me with my p-parents?" I asked myself, sighing and closing my eyes, hoping to fall into a merciful sleep.