ManEater

Elizabeth

The Black Pearl was sailing briskly through the crystal blue Caribbean Sea. The air was warm and calm. The sun shined brightly down on us from heaven, engulfing me with a sense of relief, and peace throughout my body. It has been approximately a month and a half since we saved our dear Captain Jack Sparrow from the fiery grips of hell. Yet things were quite different between us. We barely have spoken or yet alone made eye contact with each other…and I do not like that at all!

“Capn’ we should be approachin’ Port Royale in ‘bout a half hour or so” Mr. Gibbs yelled from the crow’s nest.

I turned around to look at Jack, who was busily steering his beloved ship to our destination. I couldn’t help but to admire him…his stance, his bravery…his…his dangerously handsome looks. The kiss we shared upon this very ship on that fateful day keeps playing over and over again in my head. I hated what I had done…I hated how I had to trick him by giving him a sweet kiss of death…a kiss that almost killed him. I hate myself for kissing him…for falling in love with him…for not only having eyes for Will, but for a ghastly pirate! A tear began to form in my eye and slowly trickled down my cheek. I quickly turned my glance away from Jack and continued to gaze upon the sparkling sea…until I felt warm arms holding me. I closed my eyes and fell back into my embracer’s arms. I knew who it was…I know him by his sweet, manly scent. I turned to face him and it was Will…my beloved fiancée.

Jack Sparrow
Do not look at them; do not look at them…I kept telling myself. Concentrate on the sea…you love the sea, nothing else…not some bloody woman! But I can’t stop staring…I could see them from the corner of my eye. That eunuch with her…with my Elizabeth! I can’t stand it when he touches her…Oh and now look…he’s bloody kissing her! That eunuch…I bet he can’t kiss better than me! The kiss we shared a time ago still resonates in my mind…in my heart. I could still feel her soft lips touching mine. I knew she couldn’t resist me…I’m Capn’ Jack Sparrow! No woman can resist me! I wonder if she felt anything in the kiss…Oh why the bloody hell do I care! She’s just like any silly woman I’ve ever kissed…but why do I feel so different when I’m around her? Why do I actually give a rat’s ass how she feels about me? She’s just a blasted woman! A stuck up governor’s daughter at that! I have to stop lookin’ at them and focus my eye on the sea before I run my precious Pearl into the docks!

“Land ho!” Gibbs shouted as he slid down from the crow’s nest and onto the deck. I could see Port Royale’s beach and docks a few meters away. I carefully steered the ship as we approached the docks and gave out orders to my crew.

“Lay anchor! Lower the sails!” I shouted. I love it when I gave orders. I love how my crew runs around when I give ‘em. I especially love how women melt when I give ‘em orders, too…if only I can get my dear Elizabeth to follow one of my special orders…

Elizabeth
“Elizabeth, I’ve noticed a slight change in you, is everything okay?” Will inquired as he caressed my face. When I gazed into his eyes, I could see his passionate concern for me. I couldn’t tell him the real reason as to why I was so distant…why I was so confused. I decided to come up with an explanation that was both false and true.

“I’m tired ‘tis all and I miss my father. I haven’t seen him in the longest time…”

“That explains the forlornness on your face…You’re homesick…I thought maybe it was something else…” Will replied as he smiled at me.

A lump began to form in the pit of my stomach. It was not homesickness that plagued me…it was something else…someone else rather, who I was not supposed to love…I wonder what he meant when he thought it was something else…

The ship finally approached Port Royal’s dock. All of the crewmen were scurrying along the ship, making last minute preparations. Will gave me one last kiss and left me to get our belongings from below deck. After a few moments, I turned around and noticed him talking to Jack upon the steering deck. My heart suddenly stopped. I wondered if Jack would tell Will about the kiss? No, he wouldn’t dare. Jack was many things, but he wasn’t vindictive. I nervously continued to watch them talk, which was for an awfully long time.

For a split second, Jack glanced in my direction. My heart began to beat faster than it ever had in my entire life. His eyes…they are so beautiful, but dangerous. I noticed him smirk at me and then turn his attention back to Will. He hadn’t made any inkling at me during the whole time on this blasted ship! How dare he all of a sudden have a change of heart and want to be friendly with me now! Damn pirate! I quickly turned away. I did not want to have anything to do with him…I did not want him to see that he had an affect on me…

As I drew in the sweet salty air, I began to feel calm again. I wondered why I had allowed that fool to have any affect on me! That damn compass! It’s wrong. I could never love Jack…and he is absolutely not the one thing I want in this world!

Shivers rapidly began to run up my spine…I felt a seductive presence behind me as the sweet smell of rum began to fill the air. I dared not turn around…for I knew without a doubt who it was…

“I see you can’t take your eyes off the sea, love” an all too familiar voice said cheerily.

I continued to gaze upon the horizon, as my charming disturbance stood next to me. I stood silent for a while and turned to my right. There, in all his tacky splendor was Captain Jack Sparrow, grinning cunningly in my face. I tried to compose myself. I quickly stopped a smile from forming across my face. I wouldn't dare want him to notice that he had made me smile...

“Nice view in’t it?” he asked as he moved closer to me. My heart began to pound harder and louder as his body brushed against mine. “Nice view” I replied harshly. “And what be milady’s problem today? I hope dear ol’ Mr. Turner didn’t make you mad now did he? I guess he didn’t take the news too well. You know…about our…” Anger flared up inside me as I turned to him and glared him straight in the eyes. Oh why did I do that? His eyes burrowed deep into my soul, causing me to forget what I was about to say. I couldn’t help it…his eyes were intense and mesmerizing. Those damn eyes! If we were alone at this very moment, I would kiss him again, but this time, much more passionately…much longer. I quickly snapped out of my trance and turned away from him.


He gently removed a strand of hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear. He then brushed his hand over my flaming red cheek. The very touch of his hand made my knees buckle…something I didn’t want him to notice. I could sense a smile appearing on his face. “It appears I’m having an affect on you” his voice crooned enticingly into my ear.

“You’ve never had or ever will affect me in any way!” I hissed angrily.

Jack’s smile widened. “Well if I don’t have an affect on you, why did you kiss me? Oh not to mention, why did you sail to the ends of the earth to save me?”

I was stumped…I did not know how to answer him. I turned to look at him and noticed something in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. He appeared serious and confused, but I didn’t care. I was angry at him…angry that we didn’t talk about this long ago…angry that he didn’t initiate something with me.

“For your information, Will doesn’t know what happened between us that day and secondly, I had to do it to save the crew. It was a last minute resort…the kiss meant nothing to me…you mean nothing to me” I replied spitefully. Jack continued to stare at me…I could see in his eyes that my words cut him deep, like a double-edged sword. I felt terrible because I didn’t mean anything I said. Oh why did I say it!

He suddenly turned his gaze away from me and looked upon the horizon, standing still and quiet for a moment. “Well then, in that case…you’re lousy…” he retorted teasingly.

My eyes widened in disbelief. “What did you say?”

“You’re a lousy kisser Ms. Swann. Dogs kiss better than you! He replied, sounding childish. I was outraged by his insult. “Dogs kiss better than me? And how would you know how dogs kiss? I guess you participate in bestiality don’t you Jack? I should have known, a disgusting man like you would engage in unconventional affairs. You already sleep with whores so I shouldn’t be so surprised” Jack quickly turned his head and shot me an angry glare. “You don’t know me Lizzie, and first off it was a metaphor…and I would have rather been kissed by a dog instead of by an uptight bitch!” I was shocked at what he had called me. I became lost for words. I wanted to slap him or perhaps throw him overboard, but something held me back. He grinned at me devilishly and turned to walk away. “Blasted women!” I heard him retort snidely under his breath.

I would have run after him but I did not want to cause a scene or reveal to everyone else that something happened between us. “Well, you’re, you’re…a bloody pirate!” I screamed after him, but he continued to walk away quickly, like a scorned lover.

Just then, the crew began to unload the ship and walk onto the docks of Port Royale. I was happy, but yet again anxiously nervous to see my father. How would he think of me now? Would he treat me the same way now that…that…I associate with pirates? He would have a fit if he saw me clad in men’s clothing, but today I have on my dress…It’s the least I could do for my father…

Will approached me with my luggage in his hands. “Are you ready to see your father? The carriage should be waiting for us outside the dock.” I smiled and nodded my head as I followed him off the ship. As I descended down the ramp, something peculiar overcame me. It felt as if I was leaving something of importance behind me. I glanced up from looking down and noticed Jack standing at the end of the ramp; I tried desperately not to make eye contact with him. He politely extended his hand to me and smiled.

“Watch your step milady, don’t want you fallin’ and hurtin’ that delicate body of yours” he crooned sweetly, with his eyes glaring at me. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what kind of foolishness he was trying to pull. I was still angry at what he had called me. But I couldn’t resist. I slowly placed my hand in his. A surge of energy and temptation ran throughout my body as I stepped off the ramp and onto the grounds of Port Royal. All hatred and anger towards him began to turn to sheer admiration; and I found myself giving in to his benevolence.

“You’re a charming gentleman Captain Sparrow. Too bad you’re an ass.” I said sarcastically as I gazed into his charcoal lined eyes. “I should be angry with you for calling me that wretched word.”

Jack grinned devilishly as he stepped closer to me. He then lifted my chin so that our eyes could meet. I nearly collapsed from weakness at his soft touch and the closeness of his body to mine. “Ahh but you’re not mad anymore. If it helps, I would like to apologize for calling you that dreaded word. Please accept my apology Ms. Swann.” He said with a bow. I stared at him in bewilderment and amazement. I wasn’t fully convinced that his apology was sincere. But I guess this is a start, I can’t expect much from a pirate. “Apology accepted, Jack. Well I guess I should apologize for those harsh words I said to you…I saw how angry you became when…”

“I can’t stay mad at a lass as fine as you Ms. Swann.” He interrupted, flashing his golden teeth. “…especially when I know the truth about how she really feels.” We stared at each other for a few moments, causing me to became lost in his eyes once again. “You are truly a very clever man Jack,” I said in a low whisper.

“That’s Capn’ to you, love” he said in a playful, yet serious tone.

Will walked up behind me and placed my hand in his. “The carriage is waiting for us over there. Let’s not keep your father waiting any longer. Jack, I’ll stay at the mansion tonight with Elizabeth for a few hours and then we’ll meet up later.”

“Fine, we’ll set up camp here for a few nights. You and your bonnie lass have fun doing whatever you do best…don’t do anything I wouldn’t do…” Jack said as he turned his attention from Will and glanced at me with slight hurt on his face.

As I walked away with Will still grasping my hand, I felt a sudden urge to run away and stay with Jack. I climbed into the carriage with Will and glanced out the window and noticed Jack talking to Mr. Gibbs. I continued to stare at him for a few moments, until he finally caught my gaze. I didn’t turn away this time. This time, I wanted him to notice me…perhaps show him my interest in him…my desire for him… Those damn smoky eyes. I was entranced by them again. The carriage began to slowly pull away from the dock and onto the cobblestone street. Suddenly, my heart began to sink, as if it was crying out for Jack. I felt a warm hand caress my thigh. I quickly turned my attention away from Jack and noticed Will’s reassuring smile. I returned the smile and gently caressed his face. I couldn’t help but to think about Jack. I pretended I was caressing his face instead of Will’s. I began to feel remorse, but at the same time contentment. Oh Will, my fiancée, my pirate. How could I not see myself with just him? How could I allow someone to steal my love away from him? Just then, reality struck my brain…I’m in a pickle…and for the first time in my life, I feel helpless…I don’t know what to do…or what's going to happen...