Chapter Nine

Lord Beckett's Betrayal

"No," I moaned. "No, no, no, no, no."

Everyone's attention was fixated on me. My crew members looked worried, Kalie looked flabbergasted, Lord Beckett looked grave, and Jack- well, Jack was Jack, he didn't react much. But I thought I saw one of those sad looks in his eyes again.

"How did they know?" I cried, jumping up. "How?" I demanded the answer intensely, rage at the unfairness of it all glittering in my eyes.

"Why, Miss River, you seem to have forgotten…" Lord Beckett's tone was gentle. "You seem to have forgotten you're famous."

"First female captain," Jack reminded me.

"So they know everything?" I paced around vigorously. "NO! They can take away my dried pineapple, they could take away the compass, they could even take the clothes off my back for all I care, but not my freedom! Not my freedom!" I was on the verge of tears.

"What are you going to do?" asked Lord Beckett.

"I don't know," I cried, trying to calm down and failing. "I don't know."

Anger subsided and I felt only sadness, weakness… I collapsed in a chair and buried my face in my hands.

I felt a warm hand firmly clasp my shoulder, and looked up to find Jack.

"I wouldn't worry," he said, addressing pretty much everyone in the room except me. "This is the bravest, strongest, smartest girl I've ever met." He shook my shoulders to enunciate his point. "Look. She has broad shoulders, see? Most girls have frail, thin little things. She has a lot of upper body strength, see?" He took my arm and flexed it. "Muscular."

"Are you suggesting she fights her parents?" questioned Karissa, wide-eyed.

"My point is that she's a strong, hardy girl," Jack summed up.

"But that's not to say that she isn't a proper young lady," argued Beckett. "Look, she has a slim frame and… and…" he paused. "My Lord, Sade, you're not wearing a dress."

"No, she isn't. I can't picture her in one," defended Jack.

"We've wasted enough time here," I said, standing up. "Come, everyone."

That was when I noticed Beckett studying Jack.

"Miss River," he began.

"Got to go!" I grabbed Karissa's sleeve and we fled the scene, my crew members and Captain Jack Sparrow following closely.

Lord Beckett was yelling something in the distance, and several soldiers rushed towards us.

"The… rum…" Jack managed.

"No time!" The Ocean Pearl was just fifty yards away…

"Move!" I commanded the crew as we boarded. "Move! We have to go! Prepare everything! Barbossa, take the wheel!"

My orders were carried out, but Gibbs looked hesitant as we pulled away from Port Royal.

"What is it?" I asked him. Us two were standing near the side of the ship, gazing down at the sea.

"Well, it's just, this couple, they asked to be taken aboard. They haven't let yet. Looks like we're stuck with them."

"And you just LET them go aboard MY ship?!" I demanded. "Didn't I leave Barbossa in charge? Since when would he do something like this?"

"He went to his cabin and left the job to George, and, well, you know George."

I certainly did. George was the one pirate that was always drunk. Worse than Jack, if you'll believe it.

"So where are they?" I asked.

"In your cabin, Captain."

I swallowed. I knew who they were. "Thanks, Gibbs. I suppose you all had to follow George's orders. I am going to go murder Barbossa now." With that pleasant remark, I crossed my wonderful ship and jumped on top of the steering platform, not bothering with the stairs.

"Hector," I said. "Why did you leave the drunk pirate in charge?"

He turned toward me, and his gray eyes widened. "What did I do now, darling?"

"George!" I cried. "The drunk one! You left him in charge!"

"He acted sober."

"They all do," I groaned. "Now my parents are aboard my ship. So much for freedom."

I leaned over the rail. Freedom, the one thing I cherished. Would I have to go to school again? That was awful. I closed my eyes, and memories hit me like a brick wall. The feeling of not belonging. The other girls laughing at my lack of make-up. Suppressed feelings. Homework. Bad grades. Torture. Hell.

For the second time that day, in the midst of my despair I felt a hand on my shoulder. "I know what this means to you. I just made a grave mistake. I'm sorry. But to get to you, they'll have to get through me, Jack, Karissa, your crew mates, and Jack's crew mates. We're all on your side." Barbossa patted my shoulder and went to steer again.

I turned toward him. Our eyes met briefly, and questions unanswered came back. What was it with him and Jack?

"Thank you," I told him sincerely. "I'm going to go face my parents now. I'll bring Jack just in case."

He nodded, bowing his head again, and I jumped off the platform. "Jack!" I called across deck.

The pirate turned to face me, his handsome brown eyes glittering in the sun.

"We're going to talk to the exact opposite of freedom," I explained, and beckoned him over to our cabin door.