Disclaimer: POTC is property of Disney, my OCs are mine.
A Sparrow's Shadow on the Sea
Tempest Tossed
I walked on deck, looking around. The wind was picking up, making the bay quite choppy. Broken clouds speckled the sky above. And on the horizon, the towering line of storm clouds loomed, their billowing tops illuminated by the bright morning sun.
Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.
I had heard the saying throughout my life, in regard to stormy weather. It had never held any particular significance until that moment, as I gazed at the approaching storm. The clouds glowed an orangey-red, like the embers of a fire, in sharp contrast to the deep slate blue at their base.
The crew hastened to secure the sails, drop anchor, and clear the deck of all extraneous items. Mr. Cotton's parrot fluttered past me, on its way toward the crew's quarters, squawking "Any port in a storm!"
I climbed the steep steps to the helm, where Jack stood observing the scene around him with a broad grin. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," he mentioned. "And that storm," Jack pointed gracefully, "has 'scorned woman' written all over her!"
I glanced at the clouds as they thickened menacingly on the horizon. The warm morning sunshine had caused them to explode high into the sky. It was an awe-inspiring sight, but it made me feel slightly uneasy.
"No need to fret, luv, we'll be perfectly safe here," Jack said reassuringly, wrapping his arm around my waist, "But, you do remember your promise to me." He gave me a look of seriousness.
"Yes, I remember," I said, unable to tear my gaze away from the gorgeous display in the sky.
"Cap'n, ev'rythin's tied down tightly and the Pearl's as secure as can be," Gibbs announced as he joined us.
"Cargo holds checked and secured as well?" Jack questioned.
"Aye, Cap'n," Gibbs answered, pausing to observe the storm as it neared. "This one looks to be wantin' to unleash some unholy wrath upon us," he commented, "By the fire of Saint Elmo, I hope we manage to stay in one piece!" Gibbs pulled out his flask and took a sip.
Jack glanced sideways at Gibbs, with an annoyed expression. "I'm quite certain we'll be just fine," he commented.
"Miss, ye should be shelterin' yerself in the cabin," Gibbs advised.
I smiled at his concern. "I'm going to stay with Jack, and watch the storm for a bit," I told him.
Gibbs eyed both of us critically. "Well, I'll be getting' below, then," he said. He shuffled off, muttering something about "one's crazier than the other."
"You know, luv, we should go secure things in the cabin, before it gets too turbulent," Jack suggested.
We descended the stairs and made our way to the cabin. Jack walked directly to his rum cabinet, locking it securely to prevent any bottles from falling and breaking. We stowed any loose items in cabinets, and rolled up his maps, placing them in a cabinet as well.
The Pearl listed, as a strong gust hit her, and I momentarily lost my balance. Jack was at my side immediately, supporting me as I regained my footing.
"And here I thought I had my sea legs," I said smiling, "Thank you."
"Our child's gonna have sea legs before you do, my dear," he teased.
"Hey! I'm usually pretty good," I protested.
He grinned at me. "Perhaps you were just swooning then, luv, overcome by my handsomeness," he suggested, teasingly.
I smiled fakely at him. "Yes, I'm sure that's it, Jack," I replied sarcastically.
"I know you can't help yourself, Eve," he said in a low, seductive tone, "You find me irresistible."
And, just like that, he gave me butterflies in my tummy! The sound of his voice was just…so…sexy. I'd begun to think that sensation was a thing of the past.
Jack looked at me with alarm. "Are you alright, luv?" he asked.
"I'm fine," I said, smiling, not wishing to inform him of my body's involuntary reaction to the sound of his appealingly masculine voice.
"You're sure," he persisted. "You had a strange expression, then touched your belly…" he said, his eyes filled with worry.
"I'm fine," I repeated, wishing he'd drop the issue.
He embraced me gently. "You would tell me," he began, "if something was…wrong."
"For God's sake, Jack, it was butterflies," I declared.
"Butterflies?" he repeated, making a peculiar face.
"Yes, you gave me butterflies," I finally admitted.
"Hmmm…how'd I do that?" he asked, bewildered.
I glanced at him irritably, expecting him to be teasing. Instead, he looked truly mystified.
"Your voice," I told him.
"My voice?" he responded with surprise. I noticed the corners of his lips begin to twitch, ever so slightly.
"Yes, your voice," I said, "Sometimes, just the way you say certain things…makes me want to…" I looked at him and saw the twitch had become a full on grin. Gold teeth and all. "Can we go watch the storm now?" I asked impatiently.
"Of course, my love," he said. "Did that do it?"
"No," I answered as we left the cabin.
He proceeded to spend the next half hour experimenting with his voice, asking repeatedly if "that did it." And I realized I would eventually be stuck living the rest of my days with, not one, but two children!
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Jack finally grew bored with his vocal experiments, to my immense relief.
It was mid-morning, but the sky had darkened so much it resembled twilight. The wind gusts whistled shrilly through the rigging of the Pearl, the screeching sound reminiscent of a badly played violin. Each powerful gust caused the ship to pitch and roll in the tumultuous water of the bay.
We stood at the bow. Jack was behind me, his arms encircling my waist, keeping me from losing my balance. Suddenly, thunder rumbled loudly in the distance.
"Has the Pearl ever been struck by lightning?" I asked Jack.
"Not once," he answered. "You've heard of Saint Elmo's fire, luv?"
"I've heard of it," I said, "but I've never seen it."
"A wondrous sight, to be sure! I've seen it a few times, here on the Pearl," he explained, "Saint Elmo is the patron saint of sailors. And the spectacle of Saint Elmo's fire is regarded with much superstition. 'Tis thought to be an omen of heavenly intervention."
Another loud rumble of thunder echoed through the bay. Large raindrops began to splatter here and there on the deck.
"The appearance of Saint Elmo's fire was believed to portend that a ship would be seen safely through a storm," he continued, "It once lit up the mastheads and bowsprit of the Pearl, illuminating them with a bluish glow."
"Must've been eerily beautiful," I commented, as I tried to imagine the Pearl with glowing blue highlights.
"Aye, luv, it was," he replied dreamily, as he thought of the memory.
A bolt of lightning flashed overhead, followed soon after by a loud clap of thunder. The rain had begun to fall in earnest, the large drops making a splatting sound as they speckled the deck of the ship. The wind gusts were growing stronger and more frequent.
I could feel the cold rain begin to seep through my clothing, except for my back, which was kept warm and dry by Jack's body.
"Perhaps we should get to the cabin, luv," he suggested, "I'd hate for you to wind up becoming catching a chill from this."
"No, please, just a little longer, Jack," I begged, "It's just starting to be fun!"
His eyes held a hint of warning in them as he looked at me.
"I know I promised," I said, "Please?"
He began to smirk at me, and I knew I'd gotten my way.
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I had always presumed the Caribbean to be a place of unceasing warmth, even when stormy. I was surprised at how cold the wind and rain proved to be. Jack and I were thoroughly soaked to the bone, and I was freezing. But I stubbornly ignored the sensation, wishing to experience as much of the storm as I could, before Jack insisted we return to the shelter of the cabin.
The sky had darkened even more, save for the flashes of lightning, which were occurring much more frequently now. The thunder was deafening. I could feel it reverberating through the hull of the ship, and up through my legs.
"We should go now," Jack said by my ear.
Before I had time to protest, a bolt of lightning struck a palm tree on a bluff jutting out from the shore. The tree exploded into a shower of sparks! It reminded me of Fourth of July fireworks.
Almost simultaneously, Jack was in motion, dragging me by the hand behind him. It took me a second to recover my wits after the startling lightning strike. We dashed beneath one of the staircases that led to the helm.
"That was amazing!" I said breathlessly, flushed with excitement at the magnificent display of picturesque destruction. "I've never seen a tree explode like that! One minute it was there, and the next, it was in little fiery pieces, flying everywhere! It was just the most awesome…"
Jack kissed me hard, with wild abandon, his hands gently holding the sides of my face. The destructive beauty of the storm mingled with exhilaration and desire. We broke from the kiss only for a moment, to get a breath, then kissed again urgently, and eagerly. Adrenalin fueled our passion, like gasoline poured on a fire. The sound of the storm, as it raged around us, only served to inflame our wanton craving for each other.
"We're the only ones on deck, luv," Jack said breathlessly, his voice edged with desire.
"I know," I replied. I impatiently pulled Jack's shirt from his breeches, briefly slipping my hands underneath to glide them over his chest. He felt impossibly warm, in spite of the chill in the air. I moved my hands down over the firm muscles of his stomach, unfastening his breeches nearly as quickly as he undid my own. And he took me there, on the deck of the Pearl, as nature unleashed her fury around us.
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"What the devil be the two of ye doing out here?!" Gibbs exclaimed, as he peered out of the door to the crew's quarters.
Jack and I smirked mischievously at each other. Thankfully, we had finished rendering ourselves presentable, just in the nick of time!
"Just marveling at the grandeur of said raging temptress, er, tempest," Jack said, gesturing gracefully toward the deck, as I tried desperately to stifle a giggle.
Gibbs regarded us with a suspicious scrutiny that made his eyes crinkle. "Mother Mary have mercy upon the two of ye! Crazier than a couple of loons, ye are!" he exclaimed, "An' Jack, what be goin' through yer head, bringin' the lass out in this godforsaken gale? Look at ye! The two of ye be soaked to the skin!"
"Look!" I shouted excitedly, interrupting the first mate's tirade, as I pointed to the masts.
The tips of the masts and yardarms were glowing with ghostly blue flames, as if they were some type of otherworldly candles. It made the Black Pearl truly resemble a phantom ship! And it was indeed, eerily beautiful.
I wandered, involuntarily, out onto the deck, mesmerized by this mystical phenomenon. The bluish flames flickered and undulated, as if they were living spectral creatures. I was so consumed by my fascination as I stared, wide-eyed, that I didn't hear the sharp, cracking sound of wood splitting that emanated from the spires above.
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A/N: Uh-oh. Cliffhanger! Will Eve notice she's in danger before it's too late? We'll find out next chapter! Hope you enjoyed! Bright shiny thanks to all who read and reviewed! I love you guys!