I just have to say, Mia...you're reviews are cracking me up! Are you calling ME a soulless individual? LMAO!

Chapter 7~

IPOV

I'd managed to get back to the cave and fall into a fitful doze filled with green eyes and cracked lips. All too soon, Jak was shaking me awake.

"I'm going to head back to the beach, Isa. I want you to stay here, out of sight, until I get back," he said.

I shook my head 'no.'

"Jak, I should tell you. I went back to the house during the night..."

He screamed out at me before I could finish and I waited patiently for him to stop before resuming. "I was hungry, so I went to the mango grove and there was an abundance so I took them back. But none of that matters. What does matter, is that they set up camp in our yard," I paused, expecting him to begin another rant but he stayed quiet, though his eyes were wide.

"Jak, I'm not certain, but I don't think they are bad the way we are thinking. I think..." I hesitated again. I'd never told Jak of the feelings and words that had been exchanged between Edward and I. No one, except he and I, knew what we had been.

"You think?" he urged me to continue.

"I think it is the gypsies...from home. Madame E and Carl, Edward..."

His clenched his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them to look at me, his head cocked to the side. "Why do you think that, Isa?" he asked through gritted teeth, knowing I was about to reveal I'd gotten much closer than I should have to the new arrivals.

"Because," I lowered my voice, "I knelt beside one of them, one that seemed familiar. He, well, he reminded me of Edward." Each time I said his name, it became easier and his memory seemed to come alive within me. He was becoming less a fanciful dream and someone that was within reach.

"Isa..." he growled.

"I know, Jak, it was reckless and careless, but there was something about him. I didn't feel scared at all. In fact, I felt safe next to him and when I removed his hat..."

"You what?" He shook his head and glared at me. "Isa, how could you be so stupid? He's a pirate, proven by the flag his ship bears, and you thought it safe to just saddle up to his side and be friendly?"

I didn't know what to say. He was right. I knew this. Yet I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was never in any danger from the man that resembled my Edward. As I relived the feelings he'd elicited in me, I began to get angry with Jak. I was the elder here, not him. In fact, we'd only survived as long as we had because of the skills that I'd come to this island with.

Skills that Edward had taught me.

Such as how to test plants and berries to determine if they were edible. How to build and set snares for small animals using only what the land provided. How to start a fire using only rocks and twigs.

I threw my arms up in frustration and bolted out of the cave, ignoring his cries telling me to stop and get back there.

When he grabbed my arm, I spun on him. "I'm going to the bathing hole, Jak. If you know what is good for you, you will leave me be and trust that I can take care of myself!" I snapped. "Go chase your scary pirates, I'm going to go clean myself," I added snarkily, yanking my arm free before I broke into a run, knowing the path to the waterfalls like the back of my hand.

By the time I reached the pool, I'd calmed down considerably. I pulled off my coverings and draped them across a branch. Squatting down, I reached into the niche where I stored the coconut shell that held my soap. Concocted of animal fat and coconut milk along with some of the beach sand with its fine granules and bits of broken shell, it worked well to scrape away the dirt yet leave my skin soft.

Jak didn't like the smell so he avoided it, choosing to just scoop handfuls of sand from the bottom of the pool to scrub against his skin.

I also pulled out the special bowl I used for cleansing my hair. Made of coconut milk, mango pulp and crushed mint leaves, I only washed my hair with it about once a week as it was not easy to fashion, the mint not being easy to gather. But I wanted to smell and look my best for when I would most certainly encounter him later today.

With my treasures in hand, I waded out into the water, gliding to the center of the pool where a large rock provided a surface to set my items down upon.

I ducked under the tepid water to wet my hair. Coming up, I slung my hair back and wiped the water from my eyes. I pulled myself up onto the rock and hurriedly slathered my skin down with my soap, rubbing in circles to remove all traces of dirt.

Satisfied I was clean, I stood up on the rock and jumped into the pool with a loud squeal and a splash. I stayed submerged as I rubbed my hands over my body, rinsing away the mixture, until I could hold my breath no more and shot to the surface.

My relaxed state vanished as a voice growled at me from the end of the pool, "Arrrr, what a fine sight tis that to start a man's day, savvy?"