Many days (by now I had stopped counting) had passed since I left Port Royal... my supply of hope running low all the time, I knew, was running out. The kitchen was far less neat and flawless as it had been before as most of my time was spent at the window, gazing out, hoping to see even the faintest glimpse of a ship. My efforts, though, went unheeded by whatever force there was in the world, for no ship passed into my sight.
Over those days that were spent on the Black Pearl I had learned to avoid Henry Smith, the sail maker. His beady dark eyes however had always had a taste for me, as I noticed... he always seemed to find me.
I wasn't one to complain, so prideful I was, and never went running to the Captain when unwanted eyes would make their way over my body, or when an unwanted hand would run down my leg at mealtimes. Of course, I expected little cooperation from the Captain, as Jack Sparrow's eyes would travel as well as anybody else's. I forced myself to ignore them and went about every day.
My health had been reasonably well but unfortunately I could not say the same for my clothes... All but a burgundy dress that I had set aside were torn in some way, stained, or worn from the sun. I made a note to purchase new clothes next chance I got. I knew that we would have to stop at a port sometime for the ship couldn't resupply itself.
As I stood in front of the tall, vanity mirror, showing half of my body I scrutinized myself for the first time. My black spiral curled hair lay somewhat tangled and in desperate need of a good wash. My skin, which had always been the purist white, was beginning to tan. My body, which had always been thin by nature was now toned, giving me muscles I would never have thought I would acquire. Smiling slightly, I reached for my kohl and applied it, ruffling my hair as an old habit, straightening the last unharmed, burgundy dress and walked out the door.
Stepping above deck and into the morning air, I breathed deep, letting the slight wind kiss my face and the salt in the air grace my senses. With another small smile despite the aching in my heart, I walked to the front of the ship where I spotted the captain, in his usual place, leaning his elbows over the railing. I hesitated, not sure why I did so, but approached him with caution, leaning over the edge and looking out into the endless sea water. Jack Sparrow and I had come to talking in the morning as the sun peeked over the water. I liked talking with this peculiar and... a thought tugged at my mind... even handsome man. Despite the inappropriate manner, he always had interesting things to say and a laugh would rise in my throat at even the slightest of remarks.
In exchange for my history lesson on my life, Jack gave me his. He had once been Captain of the Black Pearl but was mutinied upon, after he told his first mate the location of the treasure of Cortez, on Isla Du Muerta, his first mate led a mutiny against him. They stranded him on an island and left him to die.
"But how did you escape?" I asked.
"Sea turtles mate." Jack replied, "I waded out into the water until all kinds of sea creatures came and landed on me... then I roped a couple of sea turtles, tied them together, made a raft and sailed away from that dreaded spit of land." I raised my eyebrows... I had heard a lot of crazy stories but not one like this.
But... what his crew didnt know was that the treasure of Cortez was cursed. If even a single piece of the treasure were taken from the chest, then the taker would be cursed for eternity. The crew, all but Jack who was stranded on the island, took the treasure and spent it all on everything they could desire but soon the curse descended on them. "The food turned to ash in their mouths, the drink would not satisfy, and not all the pleasurable company in the world could slake their lust." I had heard Elizabeth say.
Jack spent ten years trying to get the Pearl back, traveling to and fro, trying to find it and his mutinous first mate, a man named Barbossa. Finally, he came to Port Royal and met Will, who broke him out of jail and commandeered a ship to save Elizabeth, who Barbossa had kidnapped.
Will and Jack had sailed to Tortuga, where they had acquired a crew on the ship that they had stolen from the navy and sailed after the Black Pearl. They went to the island Isla Du Muerta, where they found Elizabeth and the crew of the Black Pearl, who were trying to break their curse by putting Elizabeth's blood on the gold. But in the end, they found that they needed Will's blood to break their curse because the crew needed a man named Bootstrap Bill Turner's (Will's father) blood to break the curse.
My eyes widened again and my hands twisted over the edge of the railing as I listened with intent interest. I had never heard a pirate story like this, no matter how many I had heard.
Jack tried to get the Pearl back but ended up being left on the island once again with Elizabeth.
"She burned me rum!" Jack exploded in the middle of the story, "to flag down a ship... I'm not saying it didnt work because the Navy came and picked us up... but she burned me rum!" I tried to hold back my laughter but failed miserably. Jack looked at me strangely and continued with his story.
Elizabeth agreed to marry Commodore Norrington in exchange that they would go save Will and the crew from Barbossa's men. They went to Isla Du Muerta where, after a struggle of wits and swordsmanship, they ended up breaking the curse with Will's blood and killing the crew.
But it wasnt over, Jack was taken back to Port Royal after the crew obeyed the code and left without him and was sentenced to a hanging. Will took on the entire Navy with him and he and Elizabeth confessed their love to each other. Jack got away on the Pearl, which the crew had come back to get him with, claiming that the code was more actual guidelines than anything else. Will and Elizabeth were married.
"And I sailed away on me beloved ship, the Black Pearl, and out into the horizon." Jack finished and I smiled, leaning my chin on my hands dreamily, looking out into the water.
"That was an amazing story Captain." I said and sighed, "I wish that I could have an adventure like that..." Jack smiled.
"There are your friends, luv." Jack said and pointed out onto the water beside the ship. I walked behind him to the side of the vessel and looked over the edge, gaping once again at the dolphins in the water. They squeaked and I laughed, allowing their giddiness to rub off on me... to them there was not a single problem in the world. To imagine it was a life of chasing boats and loving friends... All the while I watched them, only vaguely aware that Jack wasnt looking at the dolphins, but at me.
"What do they feel like, Captain Sparrow?" I asked and turned back to Jack, who abruptly looked away. He smiled and turned to me again silently, cornering me on the front of the ship, one arm on each side of me. I felt my heart miss a beat. I didn't struggle, for he wasnt hurting me in any way, but just looked at him with a questioning glance. His face was approaching mine much too fast. I wanted to push him away... why wasnt I? He was too close, there was almost contact. My eyes flicked from his eyes, locked on mine, and to his lips, back to his eyes, my own eyes wide as saucepans. My mind told me to back away but... I couldnt... why wasnt I pushing him away?
"Cap'n?" Gibbs's voice said and I was pulled from my trance before turning around abruptly to look back out at the water, trying to hide my beat red face my mind racing... why didnt I push him away? Did I need someone to care so badly that I would let a perverted pirate kiss me... or was it something else? I pushed the thought backd. Jack took his arms off from beside me and turned to Gibbs.
"Mr. Gibbs." Jack said, "What service can I be to you?" for a moment I thought I heard a tone of annoyance and frustration in his tone but I dismissed the fact and lightly pushed him out of the way, hurrying to my cabin, my head down. Gibbs looked questioningly after me but shrugged and continued to talk to Jack.
The door slammed behind me and I threw myself upon my bed, my thoughts spinning and a light headache beginning to form. He's a pirate! I scolded myself, pirates killed my mother! but still I argued with myself... this one's different! He wouldnt hurt me or... but how do you know that? I stopped, realizing that I was right... how did I know that he wouldnt hurt me? How did I know that he didnt try to kiss me so that he could have his way with me? I "humph"ed and stalked out the door and into the kitchen, hurriedly starting another day's work as I heard the crew come out of their quarters looking for breakfast.
- - - - - - - JACK'S POV - - - - - - -
Jack turned away from Gibbs, annoyance tugging at his insides. "Mr. Gibbs!" he abruptly interrupted the man. "When I want to go searching for treasure and jewels... I will. Why? Because I am the Captain and what I say goes, savvy? Miss Ricci is paying an exceeded amount of money for us to help her find her father and trust me, by the time we do find him and take them back to Port Royal... you will be very pleased indeed with the money we will acquire." Gibbs still looked doubtful.
"We will never find him, Cap'n." he said, "This is one man that we have to find... with no clue as to where he is." Jack held up his finger.
"Ah, but there is a clue, mate." He said, "The people who took her father left a little note... said something about Palori... the treasure..." Gibbs's eyes widened, "Now we're docking in Tortuga tomorrow, there's got to be somebody there who knows something about it... aye? Well we're going to find out about it, and then take it for ourselves." Gibbs grinned a toothy grin and nodded before sauntering off. Sighing, as he watched the crew file into the kitchen, where he knew Christina was, he walked into his cabin before sitting at his desk, his head on his hand. What is wrong with you Jack? he thought and stood up, his restless legs refusing to stay still. Why did you try to kiss her? That was just the question wasnt it... why had he tried to kiss her? Could he possibly feel something for the rich opera singer that he didnt feel for the general whore? Or was it just that his lust had been contained for so long that having a woman on board was proving to be too much for him? That must be it. Jack thought, its just the fact that she's a woman... when we dock in Tortuga we'll have ourselves a nice little night with the brothel. Nodding to himself, content that he had fixed the problem, he left his cabin and set the crew to work, an apple in his hand and the other being preoccupied by the wheel.
- - - - - - - END JACK'S POV - - - - - - -
Finally finished with catching up from my lack of work from the last few days, I tossed the wash towel onto the table and walked out the door wearily to find that the crew had already gone to bed. The moonlight reflected off of the deck slightly and I smiled, making my way towards my room. Suddenly a voice reached my ears and I pressed myself against the wall... it was Henry's voice.
"Where are you little bird?" he called out quietly in a heavy accent. I pressed myself against the wall further... he was looking for me. "Why dont you come out and sing a tune for me, I know you've sung one for the Captain..." I edged and stood beneath the stairs that led up to the helm, my heart pounding in my ears.
"Hello, little bird." Henry's voice drawled next to me. Looking over I suppressed a scream as Henry's face met mine, his gold and missing toothed smile like one in my nightmares. I breathed quickly and scrambled away from him as he made a grab for me, tearing my skirt on a nail. I hardly noticed. He chased me around the deck, our boots making thumps alike. I prayed that somebody would hear it and ducked behind a barrel. Suddenly, I felt a hand grab my arm and force me to stand. An arm went around my waist and I struggled madly, kicking and biting anything that came into view.
Struggling I was thrown against a wall and a hand covered my mouth as I tried to scream, I kicked and struggled as his hand reached for my dress. His hand went up the skirt, sliding along my thigh, closer.
Quickly thinking, I pulled the butcher knife from around my thigh and dug it into his leg. He roared in pain and backed away from me, clutching his leg. I started to scramble up, but only fell back again as he made another lunge for me, throwing me to the ground and grabbing my throat. I began to choke and soon lost my furious state, my mind beginning to panic. The knife had spun out of reach. He was going to kill me... but I couldn't let him. Bringing my fist up, I clumsily punched my attacker in the face. It made no difference though, only resulting in making a very nasty bruise.
"Get off me!" I sputtered through my short breaths. Henry just smiled, sending a punch in the neck to me. I choked, unable to speak. But very suddenly, a boot appeared and Smith was kicked off of me. The pair of hands were ripped from my neck and I gasped for air, struggling to pull myself away from the man. I looked up at my savior... it was Jack Sparrow. Standing, I looked down at Smith in horror, still bringing in lungfuls of air, and clutching where he had punched me.
"Cap'n!" Smith said and stood up straight in attention.
"Did I not say to the crew not to lay a hand on Ms. Ricci?" Jack asked coldly and I leaned against the wall by his feet, unable to stand fully, fearful that Smith would try to grab me again.
"I was only having a little fun with her, Cap'n that's all." Smith said and I heard the crew rushing up on deck to see what the matter was. Gibbs looked from my torn dress, to my messed up hair, fearful eyes, and bruised face, coughing, to Smith, standing before the Captain, looking defiant and fearful, a bruise next to his eye, and finally to Jack, who looked in a rage.
"You'll leave this ship when we dock at Tortuga." Jack said, "Until then you will reside in the brig." Smith was grabbed by Joe and Glenn, who dragged him towards the brig entrance. Smith made a lunge for me but I calmly bent down, picking up the blood covered butcher knife, only to discard it to the side once more, disgusted. I felt safe next to the Captain and finally let my breath out when Smith disappeared down the steps into the dingy brig. Jack dismissed the crew back to bed as I still stood beside him, trying to find my voice, wheezing.
"Ye too luv." Jack said somewhat gently "I saw that bruise on Smith's face did ye do that?" I nodded and Jack gave a small laugh, "Maybe ye're not as weak as I thought..." he pondered and turned to leave. He was halfway across the deck and I still had not moved.
"Captain?" I croaked, finally abandoning my shock with disgust Jack turned around with question in his eyes, "Thank you." I said and took a step closer. "Thank you..." I repeated. Jack looked back at me for a moment.
"Ye're welcome... Ms. Ricci." I still didnt understand why, single minded he was, he called me "Ms." It seemed so beneath him. He turned once again.
"Captain!" I called after him and he turned around once more, regarding me with a curious expression.
"Yes, luv?" he sighed.
"It's Christina, Captain..." I said, barely audible and he smiled.
"Alright, Christina... then it be Jack to you." I smiled broadly and nodded before stepping into my room and falling onto the bed, discarding my last unharmed dress, now slit, slipping on my nightgown and falling into my bed, falling asleep and prey to nightmares once again.