A change in the winds

Chapter eleven: Shocking experience


The dinner was served aboard the Pearl and everyone ate with much gusto. Jack sat at the head of the table, just as usual, with his feet up on the table. The men had gotten used to this habit of his long ago so no one complained.

Kenna sat beside Christian, who had saved her a seat when she and the Captain had joined the others. He had tried to start a conversation with her, but she didn't seem to be listening. Her mind was far away. She was still thinking about the incident with Jack earlier that day. She felt ashamed for letting him trick her like that but she also yearned for his touch on her skin, his lips on hers and his hot sweet breath on her face. That man was truly dangerous. He was able to stir up so many emotions in her that she couldn't tell which one were true. One minute she felt love and affection for him, the next hatred and shame. He was right, she did fear him. It wasn't a fear for her life or welfare, it was fear that she might fall for him and most likely get heartbroken in the end.

'' Kenna, are ye all right?'' Christian inquired worried.

'' Yes, I'm fine,'' she replied with an absent-minded smile.

'' Ye don't seem fine...''

'' I thank you for your concern but I'm absolutely fine.''

Christian knew she wasn't telling the truth but there was nothing he could do. If she didn't want to share her troubles with him then that was the end of it.

Jack was drinking and laughing with the men that sat nearest to him. He had occasionally cast a glance at Kenna but she never noticed. He saw that she seemed absent-minded and wondered if it was because of her mother. He saw Christian trying to communicate with her with no luck and grinned. That man didn't know how to give up.

'' Gents, I have an announcement ta make,'' Jack said as he put his feet down on the floor and stood up.

'' Ye've all noticed our new crew member, the lovely lass, and perhaps wondered why she be here.'' The crew sat quiet awaiting his next words.

'' It be true that the plan was ta help her get home but somethin' came up and she has decided ta join our crew for a little while longer.'' A man howled and got an evil glare from Jack.

'' The rules be still the same. No touchin', no howlin' and no threatenin' her. She be a member of the crew just as much as ye be and should be respected as such.'' The crew nodded their heads, mumbling aye.

'' With that behind us I feel inclined ta tell ye what be ahead.'' The crew stared at him alarmed, this sounded bad.

'' A man by the name of Toby…'' Jack begun.

'' Tobo.'' Kenna corrected him.

'' Aye, Tobo…that's what I be sayin', '' Jack said with an awkward smile. '' Anyways, he be a powerful magician and has taken Kenna's grandmother hostage.'' The crew started to get uneasy.

'' I know this be somethin' we've never faced before, but this crew fears nothin'. We'll defeat him and prove once and for all that nothin' can stand up against the crew of the Black Pearl.'' A roar of cheering could be heard as fists were raised in the air. This crew was not one to give up and this time would be no different.

Jack looked over at Kenna and winked, receiving a smile from her. Christian saw it and frowned. What did Jack have that he lacked?

'' Ye up for a glass of brandy ta celebrate yer arrival back?'' he asked with a smile.

'' Sure, why not,'' she said with a smile as she stood up from the table.

'' Great, I have some in me cabin.'' Christian stood up and offered her his hand. Kenna accepted his hand with a laugh and together they headed towards the door. Jack saw them standing up and called after them.

'' Where be the two of ye goin'?''

Christian turned around with a smirk. '' Just gettin' some brandy that's all.''

'' Don't worry Jack, it's only a drink,'' Kenna added with a smile.

'' Make it quick then, I be needin' ye on deck,'' Jack replied annoyed. Christian's smirk grew wider when he saw how much it affected his Captain.

'' Of course Capt'n,'' he replied as they left the galley.

'' If he so much as touches a hair on her head…'' Jack cursed. Noticing that Gibbs was still there his face grew stern.

'' What are ye standin' here for? Take the helm!''

'' Aye Capt'n,'' Gibbs replied as he hurried out of the galley.

'' I really need a drink…'' Jack mumbled as he sat back down on the chair.

Christian took Kenna down to his cabin where he offered her to sit down on the bed and make herself comfortable. He fetched the brandy from his desk along with two glasses.

'' I figured ye would like this drink a bit better than the rum,'' he said as he poured the liquor into the glasses.

'' I'm actually not a big drinker so I don't like either one.''

'' Ye be an ale drinker?''

'' Not really, but I have to admit it does taste better than this.''

'' I'm sorry I not be having any ale for ye.'' He handed her a glass of brandy.

'' I don't mind. Brandy is good enough for me,'' Kenna said with a smile as she took the glass from his hand.

'' To yer swift arrival back.'' He raised his glass to make a toast. She raised hers as well and then took a sip and frowned, making him laugh.

'' This tastes vile, I can't believe you pirates actually like drinking this!''

'' We prefer rum, this be a women's drink.''

'' Are there actually some women who like drinking this?''

'' Loads. It comes with the lifestyle.''

'' I could never be a pirate…''

'' Yes ye could, it just takes some time ta get used ta the taste.''

'' Not just the taste, the burning feeling in my throat as well!''

'' Ye just need the practice.''

'' I'm not sure I want the practice…'' Kenna said frowning. Christian just laughed and took another sip of his brandy.

'' So how is yer relationship with Jack?''

'' What? Well we get along…I guess that's progress.''

'' So ye two be friends?''

'' Yeah, I guess you could say that.''

Christian nodded his head, his lips pursed together.

'' What's this all about?'' Kenna asked puzzled.

'' I'm just curious.'' He raised his hands up as if to surrender. '' I just want ta know who me chances be.''

'' Your chances? Of what?''

'' Makin' ye mine.''

'' I think you're stepping over the line here. I'm not something to be played with.''

'' Who said anythin' about playin'? I be deadly serious.''

'' You know, you are a very handsome man, but this would never work out.''

'' Why not?''

'' First of all, I have no feelings of love towards you. None.''

'' But ye do find me attractive,'' he said with a grin.

'' Not in that way…''

'' Why ye be throwin' yerself at the Capt'n? What does he have that I lack?''

'' Whoa, slow down here. I'm not throwing myself at him. How can you even think that? We are just friends, colleagues.'' She stood up from the bed. '' And to answer your latter question. He respects women.'' She was going to leave the cabin when he grabbed her arm.

'' Don't waste yer time with him, he's just usin' ye.''

Kenna slapped his hand off. '' I think I'm capable of judging that by myself.'' She opened the door but Christian slammed it back, turning her around.

'' Don't do this. Ye're makin' a big mistake.''

'' Let go off me!'' Kenna shouted as she tried to break free.

'' Stop fightin' it, I know ye want me.''

'' Release me! '' Kenna cried out. '' Let me go!''

'' Not until ye see sense.'' Christian leaned down and crashed his lips against hers. She struggled to break free but he was too strong. Tears started to flow down her cheeks as she felt his hands hold her wrists uncomfortably tight against the wall. When he stopped to breath she bit him hard on his bottom lip, which made him cry out in pain and release her hands. She used the opportunity to open the door and run up on deck.

'' Ow! That whore…she bit my lip!'' Christian felt the blood taste in his mouth. He touched his lip with his finger and growled when he saw the blood. She sure was a fighter.

Kenna ran up to Jack's cabin and threw the door open. Jack was out by the helm but saw her run inside his cabin so he quickly ordered Gibbs to take the helm and ran over to her to see what had happened. He entered the cabin and found her sobbing on his bed.

'' Kenna, what be wrong?'' He closed the door and kneeled down beside her, taking her in his arms. She instantly wrapped herself around his neck as she sobbed. He sat down on the bed and rubbed her back soothingly.

'' What happened?'' he asked her sweetly.

'' Christian…he held me…I couldn't go…'' she sobbed.

'' What did he do ta ye?'' Jack inquired worried.

'' He held my wrists…I was stuck…''

Jack embraced her tighter as he slowly rocked back and forward. '' Did he touch ye?''

'' He forced me to kiss him…I was so scared.''

'' Did he do anythin' to ye except kissin' ye?''

'' No…I hurt him…and ran away.''

'' Good girl. It's all right, everythin' will be all right. I won't let him harm ye again.''

She raised her head off his shoulder. '' I didn't know what to do…I just ran to your cabin.''

Jack gently caressed her cheek. '' It was the right thing ta do. I'll protect ye.''

'' Thank you Jack. I don't know what I would do without you.'' She threw herself back around his neck and he embraced her lovingly.

'' I'm here for ye whenever ye need me,'' he said with a comforting smile as she raised herself off his shoulder. She ran a hand over his cheek, smiling through her tears. She hadn't been wrong about him, he did respect women. They looked each other in the eye for a while, feeling their breaths slowing down. She leaned down to capture his lips in a soft kiss. Jack moved his hands up to her waist as hers framed his face. She deepened the kiss, allowing his tongue to enter her mouth. The kiss was sweet, but full of passion. Their tongues tenderly brushed against one another, exploring the foreign feeling of the other's mouth.

'' Are ye sure this is what ye want?'' Jack asked when they broke apart to get some air.

'' Don't talk…just kiss me,'' Kenna replied sweetly as she brushed her lips against his. Jack complied to her wish and buried his hand in her hair, pulling her closer for a deeper kiss. Their kiss now intensified, their tongues moving faster and their lips more hungry for the feel of soft skin beneath them. She felt safe, she knew she could trust him. He would never do anything to harm her. All her worries went away with the first touch of his lips.

Jack was highly enjoying this situation. Her lips felt so good on his and her tongue tasted of brandy. He had been worried for a moment that she was rushing into things in shock of her encounter with Christian, but when she spoke those five words all his doubt went away. He didn't care if she was only doing this as to say thanks for comforting her, her lips were too irresistible. He felt his arousal grow with every touch of her silky lips against his own. Oh how he wanted her.

Suddenly the door was thrown up and Christian stood in the doorway with an angry frown on his face.

'' Ye whore… I knew ye'd go runnin' ta yer man.''

Kenna jumped off Jack, frightened. Jack pulled her down beside him and stood up.

'' What do ye think ye're doin' boy? I warned ye what would happen if ye wouldn't leave her alone.''

'' What can ye do. I not be afraid of ye…''

'' Well ye should be, 'cause when I be done with ye there won't be anythin' left of ye,'' Jack growled.

'' I've got nothin' ta say ta ye, me problem lies with her.''

'' Well ye have ta get through me first.''

The crew had gathered, hearing the commotion by the Captain's quarters. Their loyalty lay with Jack, their Captain, but they knew that he would get mad if they interfered.

'' So what'll it be boy?'' Jack asked, narrowing his eyes at him angrily.

'' I won't fight ye for her, she be not worth it,'' Christian said with a look of disgust on his face.

'' Wise choice lad. Gents, take him down ta the brig, he needs some alone time with his thoughts.''

Two strongly built men dragged him cursing and shouting down to the brig.

Jack turned back to Kenna. '' Are ye all right?''

'' Yes…'' she replied a bit startled.

'' There's nothin' ta see here, get back to work,'' he ordered his men and they complied. He closed the cabin door and sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her.

'' It'll be all right, he can't hurt ye now.''