A Most Unusual Interest
folder
Pirates of the Caribbean (All) › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
41
Views:
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Category:
Pirates of the Caribbean (All) › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
41
Views:
5,405
Reviews:
56
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
2
A most unusual interest, chapter 2 (NC-17)
Disclaimers Apply
A/N Goddess Foxfeather is still the Queen of Mad
Plotbunnies, BUSIEST WOMAN ALIVE ™, Prophetic Muse and Hamster Witch AND Uberbeta
even in this universe! * G * Kali: D’oh!
I’ve read that book! I should’ve
known that’s where The Nautilus comes from! Graycefulchaos:
Thanks! Hmmm…now that you
mention it…I have had the feeling of being watched, lol… Readers/future reviewers: Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so glad y’all are reading this!
“Doesn’t
sound like anyone I know, mate,” Jack said with a slight slur, which Elizabeth
was beginning to believe was part of his normal speech rather than the effect
of rum. “Heads gone, eh? That’s…interesting.”
Elizabeth
made a face. “That’s inhuman!”
“Still, you
have to admit…it’s interesting.” Jack
leaned back in his chair, tilting dangerously floorwards before balancing
himself. “Why would someone do that, I
wonder? Pirates have no use for extra
heads…”
Will sd and and rubbed his eyes
wearily. “It’s horrible and I pity that
poor girl they pulled out of there. How
long was she hiding, I wonder?”
Elizabeth
gasped at this. “Someone
survived?” She stood and wiped her
sweaty palms on her wide skirts, the humidity combining with nervous tension to
produce a physical reaction. “Where did
they take her?”
“Norrington
said she was to be released to the custody of her brother in law, as soon as
they found him. He’s a botanist, it
seems, and hard to contact when he’s on a study.” Will yawned and popped his back.
“It’s nearly dawn…I think we could all do with a bit of rest.”
“Will! How can you just go off to bed when that
girl might need help?”
“She has
help, Elizabeth… She’s in good hands until her guardian can come for her!”
Jack’s eyes
narrowed in amusement. “She’s in the
hands of the Royal Navy,” he pointed out dryly. “They can’t even swim.”
Will
snorted. “Good point.”
Elizabeth stood,
drawing herself up to her full height. “I’m
going to go see her. Are you coming
with me?”
“It’s almost dawn,”
Will sighed. “Can’t it wait until we’ve
had a few hour’s rest?”
Jack stood
as well. “Me, I’m going to visit an ol’
friend…” His grin winked in the dimly
lit room. “Don’t hold luncheon on my
account.”
Elizabeth
colored slightly, knowing full well just what he meant by “friend.” Jerking her chin in assent, she said
airily. “Very well. We shall go see this poor girl at nine. Jack…”
“Mmmmm?”
“Just…be
careful.”
“Always,
lovie,” he laughed, sweeping her a bow.
“Always.”
Shouldn’t
I be crying? Scared? Myrtle stared at the ceiling of the jail
cell. It had been the one place they
could find to put her, the governor’s home deemed inappropriate and most port
residents unwilling to take on a stranger such as her. Her neck hurt, the red seam where the knife
had barely parted her flesh burning from salt water and medicaments pressed on
her by the governor’s own physician.
She had been examined top to toe and found relatively fine. She was not even shaking in shock as they
all agreed she should be. Myrtle
wondered at her perversity, thinking herself an unnatural girl. I just want to kill them myself. I want to…to feel their blood on my
hands. Wash away Hazel’s, wash away
Willow’s… God, Willow… She closed her eyes at this first spike of
pain. Richard could not be found, which
she thought strange. They were a day
late coming into port—should he not have been waiting and worried himself? Someone had found a cot, rickety and smelly,
but better than the floor; Myrtle winced as she shifted on it, trying to get
comfortable. In a way, she was grateful
for the jail. It took her mind off
Richard for a bit, off his lack of appearance.
She could never, she knew, forget about her sisters. She just worried that she was in some way
strange for feeling so angry instead of properly hysterical. Willow, Hazel… I love you both. I’ll make this even. I have to.
I can’t live if I don’t.
“…and
really bad eggs…Whoops…” Myrtle
struggled to sit up in her stays and boning, cursing her dress not for the
first time. Someone was near the small
window, the only source of fresh air in her new abode. Someone who sounded very drunk and…jangly. She made it to her feet and then to the
window in time to see a swarthy man pick up several pieces of coin from the
dirty outside the jail. “Now who’d be
losin’ these, I wonder…”
“The drunk
in the next cell,” she said quietly.
Jack’s head
turned so quickly his locks flew. “Well…hello
there.” A tight smile, a curt nod and
he began his walk again, the long route to Madame Loreli’s Inn, a vague
misnomer for the establishment.
“Are you…”
Myrtle licked her lips, nervous beyond measure. It must be nerves catching up with me. But look at him! He must be!
“Am I…?”
Jack encouraged, turning mid-stride to face her again, encouraging her with
fluttering hand movements.
“Are you a
pirate?” she blurted. She felt sick to
her stomach and, she noted with alacrity, she finally started shaking.
“Interesting
question, dove. What do you think?” He held his arms wide and grinned at
her. “I’m not the governor…”
Myrtle
sighed inwardly. Her spark of an idea
was struggling for life and she found herself praying to God that He would
smile upon her this once and grant her strength and help. “I have a proposition for you.”
Jack raised
a brow, his grin fading. “Now what’s a
nice girlie like you doing proposition’ men from inside a jail, hmmm?” He paced closer, one hand coming up to
stroke his beard, the other coming to rest on his hip in a posture of abject
unconcern. “Might you be a
murderess? A thief? Or something more…entertaining?” His grin
returned, albeit briefly, as he regarded her face pressed against the bars of
the window.
Myrtle
choked on a cry, her first since the pirates boarded The Nautilus. She knew in her heart of hearts that this
man had not been one of them but she could not help the new panic rising in her
gut as it sank in that she was talking to an actual pirate. Her penny dreadfuls paled in comparison to
this man’s very appearance and she wavered, tempted to say never mind, go on,
and let the Royal Navy dither about the massacre. “I am Myrtle MacLeod.
Sole survivor of the Nautilus Massacre.
Where is your ship anchored?”
Jack’s face
fell then was rearranged into lines of careful neutrality. “Now that’s somethin’ I’ll not be tellin’
the likes of you, Miss.”
“I have a
proposition. I thought pirates were
always interested in propositions…”
“We’re interested
in gold, dove. Treasure. I’m not in the business of acceptin’
propositions.”
“I have
gold. And jewels,” she added desperately.
It’s for my sisters’ lives.
Jack leaned
forward. “And where would this gold and
jewels be comin’ from?” He was close
enough now that he could sriedried spatters of blood on her face and the very
edge of the red mark lining her throat.
“Or you plannin’ on a bit o’stealin’ yourself?”
“It doesn’t
matter,” she said stiffly. Her nausea
was roiling now. This had to
work! “I want passage on your
ship. I want to commission you to find
the pirates who did this to us…”
“Now, dove, I’m no
privateer. I don’t take commissions…” His voice was soft with interest, despite
his words. “You’re best to leave the
Kings’ men to this one.”
“No,” Myrtle said urgently,
mindful of the guard’s snoring nearby. “They’ll
make a ruin of it. Please,” she paused,
gathering her scattering wits. “Please. I’ll give you half now and half when we find
them.”
“We?” His brows shot up. “You’re no sailor, lass, and surely no
pirate…”
“I can
learn.”
Jack fully
understood the meaning of the word ‘gobsmacked’ then. “Are you suggestin’ that you become a pirate?” He shook his head. “Not my place to train ya, dove.
Like I said, I take no commissions.
Each for himself, is what I say.
Actually…we all say that. One of
the good things ‘bout bein’ a pirate, we answer to no one.” He grinned and patted her hand where it
wrapped around the bar. “I feel for ya,
really I do, but I don’t hire meself or me crew out for vendettas, dove.”
Myrtle felt
like her insides were crumpling into black ash. “But…I have gold!”
“As do I,”
he called cheerily over his shoulder to her.
He made haste around the side of the jail before he blew out a harsh
breath and paused, wondering. “Odd one,
that girl… A pirate! On a mission!” He snorted. Norrington’d
better be on the ball on this one…
Jack
sauntered into the Turner home closer to nine than anyone expected. “What’s the matter?” Will asked jocularly, “Madame
Loreli out of business?”
“Actually,
yes.”
Elizabeth
lookll cll cll curiously. “And how
would you know that/”
“I…but…”
“Oh, come
off it,” she teased over Jack’s laughing.
“You’re so easy to fluster these days!”
“Are you
plannin’ on seein’ this girl still?” Jack asked as Will’s embarrassed fumbling
faded.
“Yes,”
Elizabeth responded gaily. “I’m taking
her some clothes and a bre breakfast…What’s wrong?”
“Ah, I’ve
seen her already…”
Elizabeth
and Will exchanged glances at this. “Oh?”
she asked lightly. “And…?”
“And I’m
thinkin’ fresh clothes are the least o’ her worries right now.” He shrugged as a strident knock fell on the
door. “I’ll be checkin’ your larder ‘bout
now,” he muttered, passing into the back room as Will headed towards the door.
“Master
Turner?” the young soldier at the door asked gruffly.
“Yes…” Will cocked his head to one side. “Can I
help you or are you just checking for veracity?”
“Um…actually,
I have orders to procure Captain Jack Sparrow and bring him for the governor’s
pleasure.”
Will let
that potential ribald comment go out of respect for his wife. “Jack Sparrow?” he laughed. “Why would you look for him here?”
“Because he
is here,” the soldier said dryly. “His
presence is requested at the Governor’s offices immediately. Elizabeth
moved to stand next to Will and frowned.
She could practically hear Jack trying to be quiet in the back room and
hope he would not do anything stupid, like try to run. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Lieutenant
Lawson, but Jack Sparrow is not here.”
Not a total lie, she congratulated herself. He was not in the room,
therefore not here.
“Got him,
Lieutenant!” a voice caroled from the side of the house, in the alleyway
between them and their neighbors. “He was goin’ through the garden!”
“Jack!”
Elizabeth sighed painfully.
Will was
out the door and between Lawson and Jack before anyone noticed him move. “You’re not taking him anywhere! He has done no wrong…this visit…and was
merely coming to congratulate two old friends on their wedding!”
“He isn’t
under arrest, lad,” Lawson ground out. “He’s
bein’ asked a favor!”
Everyone
fell silent at that. Jack twisted free
of his captor’s grasp and looked oddly thoughtful. “A favor? Interesting…that
will be the second one in less than six hours…a favor…” He smiled brightly then and bowed like a
true cavalier. “Lead on, my good
man! Will, Elizabeth, walk with us!” He offered Elizabeth his elbow and, with a
backwards glance at her husband, she accepted.
Disclaimers Apply
A/N Goddess Foxfeather is still the Queen of Mad
Plotbunnies, BUSIEST WOMAN ALIVE ™, Prophetic Muse and Hamster Witch AND Uberbeta
even in this universe! * G * Kali: D’oh!
I’ve read that book! I should’ve
known that’s where The Nautilus comes from! Graycefulchaos:
Thanks! Hmmm…now that you
mention it…I have had the feeling of being watched, lol… Readers/future reviewers: Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so glad y’all are reading this!
“Doesn’t
sound like anyone I know, mate,” Jack said with a slight slur, which Elizabeth
was beginning to believe was part of his normal speech rather than the effect
of rum. “Heads gone, eh? That’s…interesting.”
Elizabeth
made a face. “That’s inhuman!”
“Still, you
have to admit…it’s interesting.” Jack
leaned back in his chair, tilting dangerously floorwards before balancing
himself. “Why would someone do that, I
wonder? Pirates have no use for extra
heads…”
Will sd and and rubbed his eyes
wearily. “It’s horrible and I pity that
poor girl they pulled out of there. How
long was she hiding, I wonder?”
Elizabeth
gasped at this. “Someone
survived?” She stood and wiped her
sweaty palms on her wide skirts, the humidity combining with nervous tension to
produce a physical reaction. “Where did
they take her?”
“Norrington
said she was to be released to the custody of her brother in law, as soon as
they found him. He’s a botanist, it
seems, and hard to contact when he’s on a study.” Will yawned and popped his back.
“It’s nearly dawn…I think we could all do with a bit of rest.”
“Will! How can you just go off to bed when that
girl might need help?”
“She has
help, Elizabeth… She’s in good hands until her guardian can come for her!”
Jack’s eyes
narrowed in amusement. “She’s in the
hands of the Royal Navy,” he pointed out dryly. “They can’t even swim.”
Will
snorted. “Good point.”
Elizabeth stood,
drawing herself up to her full height. “I’m
going to go see her. Are you coming
with me?”
“It’s almost dawn,”
Will sighed. “Can’t it wait until we’ve
had a few hour’s rest?”
Jack stood
as well. “Me, I’m going to visit an ol’
friend…” His grin winked in the dimly
lit room. “Don’t hold luncheon on my
account.”
Elizabeth
colored slightly, knowing full well just what he meant by “friend.” Jerking her chin in assent, she said
airily. “Very well. We shall go see this poor girl at nine. Jack…”
“Mmmmm?”
“Just…be
careful.”
“Always,
lovie,” he laughed, sweeping her a bow.
“Always.”
Shouldn’t
I be crying? Scared? Myrtle stared at the ceiling of the jail
cell. It had been the one place they
could find to put her, the governor’s home deemed inappropriate and most port
residents unwilling to take on a stranger such as her. Her neck hurt, the red seam where the knife
had barely parted her flesh burning from salt water and medicaments pressed on
her by the governor’s own physician.
She had been examined top to toe and found relatively fine. She was not even shaking in shock as they
all agreed she should be. Myrtle
wondered at her perversity, thinking herself an unnatural girl. I just want to kill them myself. I want to…to feel their blood on my
hands. Wash away Hazel’s, wash away
Willow’s… God, Willow… She closed her eyes at this first spike of
pain. Richard could not be found, which
she thought strange. They were a day
late coming into port—should he not have been waiting and worried himself? Someone had found a cot, rickety and smelly,
but better than the floor; Myrtle winced as she shifted on it, trying to get
comfortable. In a way, she was grateful
for the jail. It took her mind off
Richard for a bit, off his lack of appearance.
She could never, she knew, forget about her sisters. She just worried that she was in some way
strange for feeling so angry instead of properly hysterical. Willow, Hazel… I love you both. I’ll make this even. I have to.
I can’t live if I don’t.
“…and
really bad eggs…Whoops…” Myrtle
struggled to sit up in her stays and boning, cursing her dress not for the
first time. Someone was near the small
window, the only source of fresh air in her new abode. Someone who sounded very drunk and…jangly. She made it to her feet and then to the
window in time to see a swarthy man pick up several pieces of coin from the
dirty outside the jail. “Now who’d be
losin’ these, I wonder…”
“The drunk
in the next cell,” she said quietly.
Jack’s head
turned so quickly his locks flew. “Well…hello
there.” A tight smile, a curt nod and
he began his walk again, the long route to Madame Loreli’s Inn, a vague
misnomer for the establishment.
“Are you…”
Myrtle licked her lips, nervous beyond measure. It must be nerves catching up with me. But look at him! He must be!
“Am I…?”
Jack encouraged, turning mid-stride to face her again, encouraging her with
fluttering hand movements.
“Are you a
pirate?” she blurted. She felt sick to
her stomach and, she noted with alacrity, she finally started shaking.
“Interesting
question, dove. What do you think?” He held his arms wide and grinned at
her. “I’m not the governor…”
Myrtle
sighed inwardly. Her spark of an idea
was struggling for life and she found herself praying to God that He would
smile upon her this once and grant her strength and help. “I have a proposition for you.”
Jack raised
a brow, his grin fading. “Now what’s a
nice girlie like you doing proposition’ men from inside a jail, hmmm?” He paced closer, one hand coming up to
stroke his beard, the other coming to rest on his hip in a posture of abject
unconcern. “Might you be a
murderess? A thief? Or something more…entertaining?” His grin
returned, albeit briefly, as he regarded her face pressed against the bars of
the window.
Myrtle
choked on a cry, her first since the pirates boarded The Nautilus. She knew in her heart of hearts that this
man had not been one of them but she could not help the new panic rising in her
gut as it sank in that she was talking to an actual pirate. Her penny dreadfuls paled in comparison to
this man’s very appearance and she wavered, tempted to say never mind, go on,
and let the Royal Navy dither about the massacre. “I am Myrtle MacLeod.
Sole survivor of the Nautilus Massacre.
Where is your ship anchored?”
Jack’s face
fell then was rearranged into lines of careful neutrality. “Now that’s somethin’ I’ll not be tellin’
the likes of you, Miss.”
“I have a
proposition. I thought pirates were
always interested in propositions…”
“We’re interested
in gold, dove. Treasure. I’m not in the business of acceptin’
propositions.”
“I have
gold. And jewels,” she added desperately.
It’s for my sisters’ lives.
Jack leaned
forward. “And where would this gold and
jewels be comin’ from?” He was close
enough now that he could sriedried spatters of blood on her face and the very
edge of the red mark lining her throat.
“Or you plannin’ on a bit o’stealin’ yourself?”
“It doesn’t
matter,” she said stiffly. Her nausea
was roiling now. This had to
work! “I want passage on your
ship. I want to commission you to find
the pirates who did this to us…”
“Now, dove, I’m no
privateer. I don’t take commissions…” His voice was soft with interest, despite
his words. “You’re best to leave the
Kings’ men to this one.”
“No,” Myrtle said urgently,
mindful of the guard’s snoring nearby. “They’ll
make a ruin of it. Please,” she paused,
gathering her scattering wits. “Please. I’ll give you half now and half when we find
them.”
“We?” His brows shot up. “You’re no sailor, lass, and surely no
pirate…”
“I can
learn.”
Jack fully
understood the meaning of the word ‘gobsmacked’ then. “Are you suggestin’ that you become a pirate?” He shook his head. “Not my place to train ya, dove.
Like I said, I take no commissions.
Each for himself, is what I say.
Actually…we all say that. One of
the good things ‘bout bein’ a pirate, we answer to no one.” He grinned and patted her hand where it
wrapped around the bar. “I feel for ya,
really I do, but I don’t hire meself or me crew out for vendettas, dove.”
Myrtle felt
like her insides were crumpling into black ash. “But…I have gold!”
“As do I,”
he called cheerily over his shoulder to her.
He made haste around the side of the jail before he blew out a harsh
breath and paused, wondering. “Odd one,
that girl… A pirate! On a mission!” He snorted. Norrington’d
better be on the ball on this one…
Jack
sauntered into the Turner home closer to nine than anyone expected. “What’s the matter?” Will asked jocularly, “Madame
Loreli out of business?”
“Actually,
yes.”
Elizabeth
lookll cll cll curiously. “And how
would you know that/”
“I…but…”
“Oh, come
off it,” she teased over Jack’s laughing.
“You’re so easy to fluster these days!”
“Are you
plannin’ on seein’ this girl still?” Jack asked as Will’s embarrassed fumbling
faded.
“Yes,”
Elizabeth responded gaily. “I’m taking
her some clothes and a bre breakfast…What’s wrong?”
“Ah, I’ve
seen her already…”
Elizabeth
and Will exchanged glances at this. “Oh?”
she asked lightly. “And…?”
“And I’m
thinkin’ fresh clothes are the least o’ her worries right now.” He shrugged as a strident knock fell on the
door. “I’ll be checkin’ your larder ‘bout
now,” he muttered, passing into the back room as Will headed towards the door.
“Master
Turner?” the young soldier at the door asked gruffly.
“Yes…” Will cocked his head to one side. “Can I
help you or are you just checking for veracity?”
“Um…actually,
I have orders to procure Captain Jack Sparrow and bring him for the governor’s
pleasure.”
Will let
that potential ribald comment go out of respect for his wife. “Jack Sparrow?” he laughed. “Why would you look for him here?”
“Because he
is here,” the soldier said dryly. “His
presence is requested at the Governor’s offices immediately. Elizabeth
moved to stand next to Will and frowned.
She could practically hear Jack trying to be quiet in the back room and
hope he would not do anything stupid, like try to run. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Lieutenant
Lawson, but Jack Sparrow is not here.”
Not a total lie, she congratulated herself. He was not in the room,
therefore not here.
“Got him,
Lieutenant!” a voice caroled from the side of the house, in the alleyway
between them and their neighbors. “He was goin’ through the garden!”
“Jack!”
Elizabeth sighed painfully.
Will was
out the door and between Lawson and Jack before anyone noticed him move. “You’re not taking him anywhere! He has done no wrong…this visit…and was
merely coming to congratulate two old friends on their wedding!”
“He isn’t
under arrest, lad,” Lawson ground out. “He’s
bein’ asked a favor!”
Everyone
fell silent at that. Jack twisted free
of his captor’s grasp and looked oddly thoughtful. “A favor? Interesting…that
will be the second one in less than six hours…a favor…” He smiled brightly then and bowed like a
true cavalier. “Lead on, my good
man! Will, Elizabeth, walk with us!” He offered Elizabeth his elbow and, with a
backwards glance at her husband, she accepted.