Will opened the door to the Captain's cabin slowly, and quietly. Jack stood up when he saw him.
"I need to know… everything that you know." Will told him, "I need to know who my father was, where he is now, so I can discover who I really am."
"I can tell ye who your father was, and where we might find him," Jack said, "But the only way you can find out who you are, is to come with us to find him." Will shook his head and sat down, his head in his hand. Jack chose to ignore the fact that Will had just sat in his chair and leant back on the table.
"This is just… a lot to take in."
"Can't be that hard," Jack said shrugging, "Yer dead dad's up and about and no one knows if he's going to be glad to see ye or try and take the heads off the lot of us." Despite himself, Will laughed, and Jack became serious. "But don't be blamin' Martina now William," He said, "This news hit her hard as well."
"What?"
"Well didn't she tell you? She and your father were good friends. They knew each other plenty longer than I knew yer old man."
"But she would only have been a young girl when he was alive," Will observed, "She can't be much older than me,"
"Aye, she's not." Jack agreed, "Bootstrap was her mentor. He taught her everything she wanted to know, about being a pirate. The girl was orphaned, and your dad was like the older brother she should have had."
"I suppose I have some apologising to do. Do you know where she is?"
"Best bet is she's with Ana Maria," Jack said, "I saw em headed for Tortuga a while back. Said they had some errands to run."
"Errands?"
"In my experience," Jack said, knowledgably, (Will could tell he'd been drinking. More than usual.) "When they are running errands, they are more than likely trying to find some good looking young men," He said, "Of course, no man in Tortuga be as handsome as meself, but they always try."
"Still not looking to settle down then?" Will joked. Jack smirked,
"The day I announce that will be a very sad day to every woman in the Caribbean," Jack said, "Wouldn't want to be disappointin' them now would I?"
Marti and Ana Maria were in fact not having much luck in Tortuga with men. One side of town they could not go near because Marti owed a hefty sum to an inn keeper which she had failed to repay for quite a while. It was late afternoon, but not late enough for it to be busy. Marti had recognised a woman on the street and dragged Ana Maria with her to speak to her.
"Haven't seen you around here for a while Martina," The woman, named Scarlet, said in greeting, "Ana Maria," She said, acknowledging her but no more than was necessary.
"Been busy," she said, "How's business?"
"Has been booming, my dear," Scarlet caught a look of disgust flash across Ana Maria's face. "Although not at present,"
"Reason being?"
"Well it's that blasted pirate friend of yours. The bastard who came back to life," Ana Maria's ears pricked up, "Scared the lot off, well those with scores with him, which is most. They reckon he'll be headed here next, to take his revenge." Ana Maria raised her eyebrows, "Is that why your crew have landed? Hoping to meet up with him?"
"It would appear you are mistaken," Ana Maria said, "For we are leaving tomorrow. We only came here to meet with Martina,"
"And her friends, of course," Scarlet saw the looks on both of their faces, "Oh yes, everyone knows you are here with the Turners. Awful uproar they caused last time they were in these waters." She leaned in to Marti, "You may be sure you are not the only crew searching for Bootstrap Turner, although you may be alone in your good intentions. Say hello to dear Jack for me, won't you Ana Maria?" And with that parting comment, she left. Ana Maria turned to Marti,
"You can befriend whores if you really must," She said, "But the next time you involve me in a conversation with one, I'll be being a lot less… polite."
"Wouldn't expect anything less mate." Marti replied. "So what's Tortuga got that the Pearl hasn't? Bad company, it seems. Let's be headed back. Clay were tellin' me he were getting' some kegs while we're here. And I be wanting a drink that don't be costin' me. What say you?"
"Aye," She agreed, "Before Morton takes his stash," Marti laughed,
"Morton? What kind of pirate has a name like Morton?"
"He likes to be called, 'Mort'," Ana Maria told her, "He thinks it makes him sound deadly, but really it just makes him sound like his name is Mortimer, or that he spends too much time in France,"
"Nothing wrong with the French," Marti said, Ana Maria looked at her questionably, "What?" She asked, "Great food, great drink, nice and er… romantic, shall we say, and Parley has saved my hide many a time." She said, causing the pair of them to laugh.
"Drinks!" Ana Maria said, "I be feelin me thirst,"
"Aye, then back to the Pearl."
Lady Hurst crept down a dark alley keeping an eye on the path behind her. She knew all to well that a well dressed lady such as herself should not be seen lurking at night, so she kept in the shadows. Quite a few turns and dashes across windows later she came to a dead end. Now she really would be in trouble if she was caught. There was a key hole in what appeared to be a boarded up entrance. She pulled the key from her glove where she had hidden it and slid it in, taking care not to make the slightest noise. The key turned smoothly, though the lock looked rusted as if it had not been used for many years. She removed the key and waited expectantly. When nothing happened she glanced around uncertainly. Then, she slipped her fingers in the small gaps around the edge of the board/door and tugged it open. It did, and made an enormously loud creaking sound. She sighed,
"So much for the quietly-quietly approach," She whispered to herself. "Oh well," Knowing that she would be heard now anyway, she pulled the entire door off and threw it across the alley. Quickly grabbing the wooden box inside she slipped out of the alley and into one she knew had more than one exit. Hearing voices she quickened her pace.
She tripped up, twice, and proceeded to tear off her boots, then her skirt, revealing dark green leggings. She looked quite strange with her corset and her new attire. The box nearly slipping out of her hands as she ran as fast as her legs would carry her, she stripped off her right glove to get a better grip, but left her left one on. Seeing the street ahead of her she unbelievably quickened her pace and made it just in time to see three very large, and very angry men rounding the corner behind her. Well done to them, she thought, I see the race is not over yet, but do they really believe they stand a chance? She pulled a knife from a belt around her waist, and leapt into the air, spinning mid flight. In less than a second's glance she threw it, landed and kept running. She head a groan and a satisfying thud followed by the slowing and stop of two sets of feet. In her mind she was pushing herself, telling her body what she needed it to do. She rounded another corner, and saw the docks ahead of her. No! Not yet! I just need to rid myself of this bastard! She slowed and made out she was tiring, then, just as the man was in range, she stopped dead and dropped to the floor. Being caught off guard, and his senses dulled by alcohol, the man ran straight past her and his sword swung straight over her head. She stuck her hand up and caught the handle, twisted it and imbedded it in the mans leg. He cried out in pain and grabbed his leg, falling to the floor. He cursed after her as she walked away. She turned back,
"My friend, you should think yourself lucky that your injury is not fatal. Also that you did not catch me, for what is held within this box would destroy you." Taking her glove off and letting it go in the air, it floated over and landed on the floor in front of him, causing him too look up at her. In the moonlight, he could make out a mark burned into the skin above her left wrist. "Not only that," She said, "But you be playin' with fire the day you chase after a pirate." The white, scarred brand of the letter 'P' flashed in the dim light of the moon and she ran off to the docks.
Thought about just uploading the one new chapter, but I'm not that mean!
Thanks for the reviews,
U-ne-korn,
PED Sarah, dude, I looked at your profile and you've got quite a CV of stories! I promise I am going to read some of yours as soon as I possibly can because I really want to read them!
Ray Roberts, MTI rocks! And Marti is a cool character. There is another one being added as we speak, who's cool, because she seems to know everything, but I have to admit, out of my new characters, Marti is my favourite. As for reviewers, tell me about it. I'd love to have a huge long list to reply to, but then again, not having that means the ones I have are all the more important! (But I'd still like some more, hint hint)
Glad your enjoying it,
Savvy Z