Okayz, so here's the second chapter. Hopin' people are liking this one. Or at least my sister. XD
Two days later
"All hands on deck!" Aeron hollered.
Once everyone was assembled Wisteria called out authoritatively, "Alright! We be nearin' Tortuga. Mr. Angeles, Mr. Totter, if ye would please be so kind as to stay with the ship first round. Victoria and Nathaniel will relieve you of your post within the hour. Bellatrix will remain behind for now."
"Aye!" the crew said enthusiastically.
"Aye," Bellatrix said. "Have a good evenin' mates. You deserve it."
"To your posts," Aeron commanded. "We're preparin' to dock."
The crew dispersed and Bellatrix said seriously, "Don' forget me vodka and various good things or there be hell to pay."
Aeron made a face and replied, "Wisteria's got that under control. Vodka's so rare in these parts I've no idea how ye get it."
Wisteria winked and said darkly, "Trust me darlin', ye don' want to know."
Aeron smirked and pushed her away while muttering, "You're horrible."
"I know."
They looked toward the lit town as they drew nearer.
Aeron squinted through the darkness and asked, "Is that the Pearl again?"
"Aye," Wisteria replied cheerfully. " 'tis indeed."
"Don' go getting' any fancy ideas," Aeron warned. "Tortuga's still a dangerous place. Don' get too drunk, either."
"Exactly," Bellatrix agreed. "If ye be drunk, how will ye find me vodka?"
Aeron glared at Bellatrix and sighed heavily, shaking her head. They got their ship tied up beside the Black Pearl and headed into town. Boisterous music was echoing through town from the pub. Prostitutes and drunken men crowded the street, laughing and hanging all over each other.
Aeron grimaced and said to Wisteria, "I'd forgotten how dirty this place is…"
"Aye!" Wisteria yelled. "Don' ye just love it?"
It was even louder inside the pub. Wisteria immediately spied Jack Sparrow.
She grinned and said, "God he's sexy. I can only imagine him without his clothes on."
Aeron elbowed her and said with a laugh, "You're such a horn-dog. Remember what I said. Don' get too drunk."
She snorted and said, "Me? Not get too drunk? Who do you think you're kidding?"
She headed for the bar and Aeron rolled her eyes. She took a swig of water from her flask and pulled up a seat at an empty table. She was barely there ten minutes before she started getting eyed by all manner of drunken scoundrels. After a while, Sebastian pulled up a chair with a pint of strong smelling beer.
"Ah, ye shouldn' be drinkin' that, Sebastian," she grumbled. "You're too young. Ye want to end up like Wisteria?"
He waved her off and replied, "I'm 18. I'm not a boy anymore. I can handle me own. Anyway, just letting ye know after I finish this I'll get bread like ye asked and head for the ship."
She nodded and said, "There's a good lad. Now go on. Off with ye."
He left and she heard Jack Sparrow muttering to himself, "I know what I want, I know what I want."
Aeron glanced over curiously, having been seated nearby. She shrugged and took another swig of water. A moment later he questioned a man with white hair who was seated at the table next to him. They seemed to be recruiting a crew. Over an hour and a half passed since they first arrived. Mr. Totter and Mr. Angeles had booth been in there a while. Somewhere in the pub Wisteria's tinkling laughter rang out. While everyone around her was getting hammered, she relaxed and enjoyed the music, however distasteful it may have be.
A few minutes passed before another man said loudly, "No, not anymore! Weren't you listening!?"
She looked over again curiously. She couldn't see his face clearly. He was leaned forward talking quietly to the man with white hair. She noticed Jack picking up a plant to hide behind as he slid out of his chair. Having piqued her interest, Aeron continued eavesdropping.
"You still haven't said where you're going," the other man said. He raised his voice as he flipped the table while shouting, "Somewhere nice!?"
The music stopped and everyone backed up a bit. Aeron could tell he was drunk. She had a better look at him now. He must've been an officer of some sort previously. He was still wearing his white wig, though it had all gone astray and his real hair was peeking through. Despite his dirty appearance she found him oddly attractive. Beneath that dirt he must have been very handsome.
"So am I worthy to serve under Captain Jack Sparrow?" he asked sarcastically.
Jack was passing her table, trying to make an escape. Suddenly the man pulled a gun out and pointed it at Jack. She noticed his close proximity with some discomfort. The crowd gasped and muttered.
"Or should I just kill you now?" the man continued dangerously.
Jack, who had stopped and tried to hide behind a pole, moved from one side to the other. The man followed his movements.
Jack grinned and said, "You're hired!"
Not liking where this was going she started scanning the pub for Wisteria.
The man smiled and said, "Sorry. Old habits and all that."
At this point two other men tried to wrestle the gun away from him. Aeron leaped to her feet pushing away from the table. A shot was fired into the air. It ricocheted off the chandelier and broke someone's mug. A full out bar fight ensued, the music starting up again. Swords and all were drawn. She darted through the crowd, drawing her own sword for protection.
"Wisteria!" she called over the noise. "Where are you, ye drunken git!?"
She looked around the pub frantically, trying to spy her sister. Wisteria was sitting across the room looking confused by all the fuss. Aeron started shoving her way through the crowd, fending off a few swords. She stopped focusing on who she was fighting and focused on getting to the other side.
"Get out of me way, damn it!" she shouted.
She held the advantage of being sober. Her sword clashed with someone else's and they locked together from the force. She looked up and found herself glaring huffily at the man who started all of this. The first thing that popped into her mind was how lovely his eyes were. They both eased up, staring at each other for a few seconds. Someone from her left punched her right in the jaw. Caught off guard, she stumbled and fell to the ground. She caught herself and kicked the guy square in the knee before he could get away. He yelled in agony and fell to the floor holding his knee. Aeron grabbed her sword and darted through the crowd again. She broke through to Wisteria and latched onto her arm.
"Out! Now!" Aeron yelled.
Wisteria frowned and slurred, "I don' wanna go. This party's jus' getting' started."
She was even more intoxicated than yesterday. Aeron pulled her to her feet and dragged her out while shouting, "No, 's not fine. There be a dangerous bar fight brewin' in there. We got what we came for and now we're leavin'."
Wisteria stopped outside the pub and said, "Jus' a tick. I's not half as think as ye drunk I am."
Aeron pulled on her arm and said, "Ye just proved me point."
A group of men came out carrying the fight-starter. He seemed dazed – must've taken a blow to the head. They heaved him into some runny mud near some pigs. She grimaced and the men headed back inside, laughing obnoxiously. She bit her lip, feeling sorry for him. Their crew could always use a new member.
She glared at Wisteria, who was leaning drowsily against he wall, and said, "Don't move a muscle. I'll be right back."
She approached the man cautiously as he tried to get up.
"Give me your hand," she said gently.
He looked up in confusion.
"C'mon," she urged. "I don' bite, I promise."
He took it warily and she pulled him to his feet.
Aeron looked him over and muttered distractedly, "Humans are bloody pathetic, they are. Get the tiniest bit of liquor in our systems and it turns us into barbarians. Look what they did to ye! They hurt ye a'tall?"
She looked up at his face again to find him starting at her, still looking confused. She raised her eyebrows expectantly and he shook his head.
"C'mon then. Ye can clean up at me ship. Got some clothes ye can change into as well. Ye got a name, sir?"
"James Norrington," he said quietly.
She nodded and said teasingly, "I was beginnin' to think they stole your voice."
It was hard to tell, but it looked like he blushed.
"Can ye walk on your own?"
"Yes," he replied, seeming a bit more sober now.
"Excellent. Off we go."
Aeron took one of Wisteria's arms and put it around her shoulders.
Wisterai laughed as they stumbled along and called, "I lurve Tortuga!"
Aeron shifted her weight and said agitatedly, "Ye love anywhere they have alcohol. Look at yourself – drunk off your ass in less than two hours."
She giggled and said, "What'dya expect, love? I'm Irish!"
Aeron scoffed. "So am I, in case you've forgotten. Ye don' see me stumblin' around outta me mind."
Mr. Norrington was shuffling along awkwardly beside them. Sebastian ran toward them when they reached the edge of the dock, holding a red stain on his side.
"No," Aeron murmured in horror. The cogs in her mind instantly put things together.
"Cap'n!" he called. "The ship! She's bein' stolen! The rest of the crew still be on board!"
She looked desperately to James and said, "Please take her. Keep headin' for the dock. I have to help me crew!"
He nodded and she shifted Wisteria to him. She sprinted after Sebastian, drawing her sword. The plank to board their ship was gone and she was already starting to move away. The crew was gathered on deck, the invading pirates pointing their swords at them. Aeron saw Jack and his crew watching and wished pirates were more helpful beings.
She looked at Sebastian and demanded, "Bellatrix – is she still on board!?"
Sebastian avoided looking her in the eye.
"Answer me boy!" she yelled, grabbing a fistful of his shirt.
"Yes, Cap'n," he replied. "She… took a blow to the head. When I last saw 'er, she was out cold."
"Son of a bitch!"
She looked around desperately for a way to get to their ship.
"Take this!"
She handed Sebastian Wisteria's bag and prepared to dive into the ocean.
"No Cap'n!" he said. "Look at Wisteria! She be needin' ye when she's in such a state. Those men will be sorry when Bellatrix wakes and finds she has no vodka."
Aeron looked at Wisteria, who was practically passed out latched onto James. She looked back at The Siren's Call. The offending pirates were jeering from the safe distance. In a fit of rage she pulled out her pistol and prepared to shoot at them.
Sebastian grabbed her arm and said, "Don't! They'll hurt someone!"
She growled and screamed at the top of her lungs, "Bloody pirates! Don' ye dare harm me crew! You're dead, ye hear me!? DEAD!"
She yelled in frustration and paced back and forth across the dock. Sebastian sat down on a crate and started coughing. Aeron stopped and looked at him, remembering that he'd been hurt.
Aeron knelt down in front of him and asked, "Where are ye hurt? How bad is it?"
He moved his hand to reveal a blood soaked shirt. He had a very serious stab wound right in his abdomen. Worried by the vast amount of blood she turned him around. Her fears were confirmed – the wound was all the way through. His face was getting sickly pale. He was sweating and shaking.
"Sebastian," she muttered, cupping his face.
"I won' make it," he mumbled "I can barely hold meself up. I'm dyin', Cap'n."
"Don' say that. You'll be fine."
" ' been an honor servin' the three of ye."
Aeron forced away the burning in her throat and said, "It's been an honor to have ye in me crew. No captain could ask for a more loyal lad. You've done well. Your father would be proud you."
He smiled weakly and grimaced. He leaned his head on her shoulder, barely able to keep himself upright. His breathing was ragged and shallow. She stroked his hair and quietly sang a lullaby her mother used to sing.
"Baby sleep, gently sleep. Life is long and love is deep. Time will be sweet for thee; all the world to see. Time to look about and know, how the shadows come and go; how the breeze stirs the trees; how the blossoms grow. Sleep, baby sleep. Sleep, gently sleep."
He slumped forward in the middle of her song, but she finished all the same. Her voice cracked. She bit the inside of her lip and stared down at his limp body.
"I'm sorry I can't give ye a proper burial. Forgive me," she whispered.
She laid him down and got to her feet. She wiped her eyes and walked over to James.
Captain Jack swaggered over and said, "If it's a ship ye be needin', I be needin' a crew."
Aeron eyed him suspiciously for a moment before saying, "Aye, sir. Thank you."
Wisteria looked down as they headed for the Pearl and asked, "Wha's Sebastian doin' on the ground there?
Aeron sighed and said with a dull smile, "I'll tell ye in the morning when you're sober."
"I've no idea wha' your talkin' bout. I'm perfectly sober."
At this point, she vomited over the edge of the dock.
"Sure ye are, doll. Sure ye are."