Chapter 10: Piracy Is Contagious
After having nervously paced the deck ever since her daughter and son left for the island, Evanna had worried herself to the point of exhaustion. The bright sun burned her ears and the back of her neck and she kept brushing away the sweat adorning her brow. She'd long given up pacing and stood staring at nothing but the desolate ocean. Since arriving in these accursed waters, oddities had plagued the ship's crew. The creature continued to follow them, raising its massive body just a fraction above the waves. Occasionally, a pair of gleaming gold eyes stared tauntingly at the ship before sinking back into its dark home.
A gigantic sea creature was not what concerned the distraught mother, however. The sun had been disappearing and reappearing at random, enveloping them in sudden black to midday sunshine. The darkness had taken the island with it. When the sun was back overhead, the island was gone and nothing but the ocean had surrounded the ship.
Since then the sun had burned its unforgiving heat onto the Pearl crew and robbed them of their shipmates.
"What'll we do?"
The question was directed to Jimmy, as the first mate Gibbs was lost on the island and the crew now looked to him for advice.
"What do you mean, 'what'll we do?'" he asked sharply. "Stay 'ere o' course till the island reappears."
"Aye," agreed another, "Unless the sea demon swallows us first."
"Then it'll swallow us!" Evanna cried suddenly. All heads turned to gape at her. "We're waiting right here until we see that island again. Understood?!"
Astonished faces stared at her and then at each other. Most had deemed she and her daughter unlucky additions to the crew, though her murderous glare drifted over the crowd like cold water. Some of them shivered.
"You 'eard the lady!" shouted Jimmy. "Back to work!"
The crew bumped into each other as they scrambled off to return to their duties. Evanna returned her gaze to the water. It was still void of all land.
"They're all right," said Jimmy from beside her.
"You don't know that," she reminded him.
He shrugged. "No, I don't, but I know Emerson and I know Evy. They've got a lot of their mum in them."
"And their father too," she said with a tiny smile.
"Best of both worlds, I'd say," he agreed with a smirk. "Don't worry."
"Mothers always worry."
"I know," he said softly, "But they're half-pirate too and we pirates are survivors."
Evy settled against the hard rock wall, wincing as the sharp points dug uncomfortably into her back. Jack meanwhile seemed to be asleep already. He'd stretched out, feet crossed at the ankle and had pulled his hat down over his eyes. It was irritating how calm he was, taking everything in stride as though it was a holiday trip.
"The longer you fidget, luv, the more sleep I lose."
"My heart breaks for your discomfort," she said dryly.
He pushed his hat back to look at her. "Finding it difficult to relax, darling?"
"Rocks are not exactly soft," she answered, sitting up in defeat.
Jack propped himself up on one arm and traced a finger down her arm. "I'm soft and warm too," he said huskily, sitting up and inching closer. "A little snuggle could warm that chilled skin."
She picked up the hand that had lightly dropped onto her knee and returned it. "No, thank you."
"You're still sore 'bout me not remembering that other kiss, aren't you luv?"
"It is a bit insulting to a woman when a man can't remember kissing her, Jack."
He grinned lopsidedly. "Care to refresh my memory?"
"Not on your life," she said with a laugh.
"Oh, but darling, you've enjoyed my fabulous kisses."
"Beg your pardon?" she asked, amazed that he seemed to grow more arrogant as the days passed.
"As we did share a passionate kiss naught but a few 'ours ago that I do remember, I knowledgeably speak from experience."
"You arrogant pillock. If you'll recall, I slapped you because I do not enjoy kissing you."
"Sure you do, luv."
"And what makes you say that with such confidence, Jack?"
"Because the tiniest fraction before your lovely hand flew through the air like a cannonball...you...kissed me...back. Savvy?"
"Fine," she conceded. "I did kiss you back. So what?"
"So, you liked it and you want more and I'm 'appy to oblige."
"You're imagining things."
"I beg to differ, luv."
"Differ all you want, Jack. You're just afraid that there is one woman in the world immune to your unique charms."
"And you're afraid to admit that you like kissing the handsomest pirate on the ocean."
"Yes, I just love the smell of rum in my face," she said sarcastically.
"My favorite aroma," he said wistfully, digging through his pockets again. "There's never enough rum to go around."
Evy slipped a hand into her coat pocket and produced his favorite beverage. She'd felt it might be a necessary item to carry along at all times when in Jack's company. It was only a small flask, but it was better than nothing.
With a gleeful smile, he took the proffered drink. "I'm beginning to like you more and more everyday, darling."
"Captain Jack Sparrow likes me! Oh, I can die happy now!" she said facetiously.
"Lucky you are, girl."
She snatched the flask back. "That's all I've got, Jack. Best save the rest for later."
"If someone were to cut you," she said offhandedly, "You'd bleed nothing but rum."
"'ate to bleed anything else, Evy luv."
"It's not as if it makes any difference to you, anyway," she muttered, picking at a vine growing through cracks in the rock.
"What?" he asked, confused.
"Kissing me," she supplied.
"'ow would you know, darling?"
"Because I'm merely a woman in your endless line of women. Shoulder to shoulder, we'd probably circle the earth twice."
"Aye! Pride meself on that one," he said, grin so wide his face nearly split.
"You would! Never give us a second thought. You kiss us and move onto the next trollop."
"Working so far," he said shrugging. "Why upset the apple cart, eh?"
"You are absolutely the most bloody frustrating man I've ever had the misfortune to encounter," she said tiredly, leaning against the rough rock despite its prickly fingers.
He laughed. "Takes one to know one. 'Cept you're a woman, darling."
"At the moment, that's my misfortune." The only man she'd ever developed feelings for just had to be Captain Jack Sparrow. A bloody pirate. Though the fact that he was a pirate didn't bother her. What bothered her was that Jack treated her just like every other woman he'd ever kissed. An object to be desired. Nothing more, nothing less.
"For what it's worth, luv, you're not such a bad kisser. Romantic picture, wasn't it? On the deck of a ship sailing the crystalline waters under the stars...your sad little tears. I 'ate to see a woman cry. Gets me right 'ere." He softly pounded his chest with his fist.
"How poetic, you—"
Evy narrowed her eyes. Had Jack just said what she thought he said?
"What?" he asked.
"I thought you didn't remember," she accused in a dangerously soft voice.
Jack had obviously heard the menace to her tone and began inching away from her. "Remember what?" he asked dumbly.
"I only told you about the kiss. I didn't say where it took place or that I was also crying at the time."
His chin wagged as he spluttered about to answer her.
"You lied," she hissed.
Jack puckered his brow as she waited for an answer. Finally, he shrugged while saying, "Pirate."
Evy's fingers moved towards her pistol in response, but instead she growled in anger and scooted out from under the rock shelter.
He followed her. "Just a tiny white lie."
"Give it whatever color you want, it's still a lie."
"Where you going, luv?"
She'd started back up the incline determined to get as far away from him as possible.
"Away from you!" She did stop, though, determined to have the last cruel word. "Quality, not quantity, Jack."
He swaggered up to her, trying to keep his flailing balance. "I don't follow you, luv."
"No, you don't. You never will, you bloody stupid man."
"Sticks and stones, dearie. I've been called worse."
"And it's never made a difference. A woman here and there. Kisses here and there, but never anything more. Quality not quantity, Jack. That's why the only friend you'll carry with you to the grave is another bottle of rum."
Evy ran on and Jack didn't follow. Having said all that left her empty and not satisfied as she had hoped. Probably because it wouldn't matter in the end. No matter how many terribly cruel things she said, she'd never make him understand that she cared too much. The farther she ran the closer Jack seemed. He'd followed only in her mind and wouldn't bloody get out. Those dark eyes wouldn't stop staring. She kept looking over her shoulder, but each time the path behind was empty. Evy was both grateful and both sad. If she so much as looked at him, she'd probably shoot him, but if he'd return her gaze with those black eyes, she knew she'd be so happy. Her thoughts were getting too convoluted. What she needed was a blast of icy water to sting her face.
For the first time in her life, Evy was speechless. Jack had called her on it, but she wasn't about to admit anything to him. She'd known him long enough now to realize lying was one of his many specialties and two could play at that game.
Matching his grin with one of her own, she pried his fingers off gently. "Jack, you're a smart man, therefore, you should be able to see the truth for what it really is."
His eyes narrowed, smile faltering a little. "And what is that?"
She smiled regrettably. "I'm sorry for leading you on."
"You...were leading me on?" he asked, eyes widening in surprise.
"Well, yes," she said, feigning embarrassment for her actions. "I've been feeling a bit sad lately, but that's past and I suppose I took advantage of you."
Jack looked as though he'd just been punched in the head. The wheels of his mind were obviously spinning very fast as he absorbed her confession. It seemed he was putting forth a great deal of effort to hide his surprise. He stared hard at her as though unable to believe it and Evy couldn't help but feel proud of herself for having convinced him speechless.
She patted him on the arm. "No hard feelings, eh?"
He grinned again, though it wasn't as bright as it had been. "Course not, luv. Take advantage anytime you want, darling. I'll be 'appy to oblige."
"Right," she said slowly. "Let's move on shall we?"
They have to spend the night alone and they make up, Evy makes her plan, confuses Jack and then they're caught.
she kidnapped briefly by the tribe of women and makes a deal with them, Jack for her brother, returns to Jack and begins her ruse.
"Is there anywhere you haven't been?"
Jack scratched the stubble on his cheek, lost in thought until he smiled proudly. "No, luv. I've been everywhere you can imagine."
Evy cocked a disbelieving eyebrow. "You're saying, every city in every country on every continent?"
"I didn't say that, little missy. I said everywhere you can imagine and maybe a few places you cannot."
"I can imagine quite a lot, Jack."
They'd been going uphill and footing became increasingly difficult as the land rose. Somewhere along the way, he'd taken her hand to help her up the steep terrain.
