Misconception

Chapter 29


Bella stared at him for so long, her eyes roving his face as he stared back at her. He seemed satisfied just to look at her because he didn’t make any move to speak or get up from her chair. He still held the ring in his hand while she held the candle so tightly in her hand that her knuckles had turned white. The wind blew again and it seemed to break her from her haze. She blinked and walked hurriedly to the window. She placed the candle on the desk near the window before she closed it. She drew the curtain and then turned to face him again. He was still leaning away from the chair with his elbows on his knees.
She took a deep breath and then she glanced at the door. His eyes followed her as she walked back to the door and turned the key in the lock.
“Nice bedroom you have here, love.” He spoke at last and she turned around so she could look at him.
“That’s what you have to say after sneaking in here?” she asked quietly as she approached him. He leaned back in the chair and looked up at her. The dim light of the candle danced over his features, almost concealing him from her eyes.
“What should I say?” he asked and her gaze shifted to his marred cheek.
“What happened to your face, Jack?” she asked as she stepped closer, trying to stifle the urge of wanting to touch the scar, to soothe it.
“Just a scratch, Bella.” He murmured as he slowly stood up and leaned slightly towards her.
“Just a scratch?” she repeated incredulously as she raised her hand, almost reflexively, to touch the uneven skin. Her fingers had barely brushed his cheek when his hand reached up and coiled around her fingers. He squeezed her fingers and brought her hand down and away from his cheek.
“Is that worry I just saw in those gray eyes, love?” he asked as one corner of his mouth twisted upwards. She swallowed hard and averted her eyes from his, focusing her gaze on the visible skin on his chest, revealed by his shirt.
“I don’t understand why you seem so surprised.” She said at last before he proceeded to bring her hand to his mouth. He placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand before he looked down at his shirt.
“What?...Oh.” he grimaced when she moved his shirt aside to brush her fingers over another scar that ran across his chest.
“How…” she trailed off as she raised her eyes to meet his dark ones.
“It isn’t very easy to get information from me, Bella. Especially when it has to do with the Pearl.” He stated defiantly as he pulled her hand away from his chest.
“I see.” She whispered, suddenly nervous to be alone with him.
“I see you got me ring.” He waved the ring in front of her and she nodded, “Good.”
“Why did you leave it to me? How did you know where my room was?” she asked and he raised both his hands for her to see. They were bare. No rings whatsoever.
“That is me secret.” He smirked, referring to her last question, “I left it with you because I didn’t want to loose it. I didn’t know if they would catch me again.” He said simply and she was somehow touched that he trusted her enough to leave it with her.
“They…they took your rings?”
“Hmm.” He confirmed.
“Why?”
“Let’s just say that they were not worthless. My jailors knew that.” He shrugged as he looked around her room, his dark eyes lingering on her bed a little more than necessary. He narrowed his eyes and leaned down to brush his finger over her sheets.
“Silk?” he asked with raised eyebrows and a lascivious grin.
“I suppose.” She replied and he chuckled.
“Your employers are ever considerate to your needs, love.” He said and there was an edge to his voice and a shadow over his expression.
“I never noticed…” she trailed off when she realized that there hadn’t been silk sheets on her bed before her kidnapping. Her eyes widened a fraction and she wondered if it was Christopher’s doing or a simple mistake from Nellie’s part while changing her sheets.
“You don’t mind if I try those sheets, do you?” he asked as he plopped down on her bed and slipped the ring on his finger.
“How did you pass the gates?” she asked curiously as she tried to keep her voice low.
“Love, I am Captain Jack Sparrow. No one saw me if that’s your worry.” He grinned as he made himself comfortable in her sheets. She watched him for a while and even though she should scold him from lying on her bed with his bloody boots on, she resisted and wondered if her covers would smell of him afterwards.
Not liking where her thoughts were leading her she shook her head and spoke again, “How did you manage to escape?’ she asked as she stepped closer to the bed.
“Joan helped. Let’s just say that the woman can use her charm in very profitable ways.” He chuckled as he placed his hands behind his head and looked at the ceiling as if recalling something extremely amusing.
Bella almost scowled at the mention of the other woman but she quickly neutralized her expression.
“Right.” She muttered, “What are you doing here then? Other than retrieving your ring?” she asked and the edge in her voice caused him to look up at her.
“If I recall correctly we parted in very… unfriendly terms.” He chose his words carefully and she snorted.
“That doesn’t explain why you show up in my room in the middle of the night. Aren’t afraid of anything?” she asked, shocked by his recklessness.
“Have I no right to come and see you?” he asked her hoarsely and she blinked down at him in surprise.
“You…wanted to see me.” She repeated slowly.
“Aye. And no, I am not afraid of your boss, love.” He added as an afterthought.
“You took the money he gave you.” Her tone was not accusing; just quiet.
“Of course I did! Why did you expect? To my credit I didn’t ask for any money.” He shook his head quickly.
“The map he gave you. It’s-…”
“Fake?” he cut her off and she closed her mouth, “Aye. I know that.”
“How…”
“As soon as I saw it I knew. I know what real maps look like.” He rolled his eyes as he stretched on the mattress with a low moan.
“Are you going to be standing there for long? It’s far more comfy here.” He chuckled as he noticed her stiff posture.
“You can’t stay here, Jack. Someone might come in my room.” She said as she tentatively sat beside him.
“At this hour? Who would visit you so late?” he asked and she shifted next to him. He sat up slightly and appraised her with narrowed eyes.
“So, tell me. Was I right then?” he asked and she turned to look at him.
“About what?” she asked with confusion.
“About Stevenson’s son.” He sneered as he said the name, “He’s interested in you, isn’t he?” he pressed on and she frowned.
“I don’t know…”
“You don’t know. Has he come here?” Jack asked and he looked around the room as if trying to find a trace of him there.
“No. Why would he come here?” she exclaimed before she placed a hand over her mouth to shush herself, “Don’t be ridiculous.” She whispered.
“Am I?” he murmured as he studied her and she found herself faltering under his gaze.
“He has come once. He invited me for a ride.” She said at last and he raised his eyebrows.
“Ride? What kind of ride?” he asked and she flushed.
“You’re crude. It was one time. He invited me to go horseback riding with him. It was awful.” She shook her head. She almost jumped when she felt his hand on her wrist.
“Why was it awful?” he questioned curiously.
“Because it was tense and uncomfortable. Are you done questioning me?” she asked defensively and he rolled his eyes before he tugged on her hand to pull her down next to him. She yelped and he smirked.
“Is the Pearl here?” she asked as he turned to face her.
“No.”
“Then how did you come?” she frowned.
“I was aboard Joan’s ship. We’ll meet the Pearl in Tortuga.” He said as he rubbed the skin of her wrist with his rough thumb.
Bella tensed again and nodded, “Oh. You should leave.” She murmured as she tried to slip her hand from under his. He held her fast though and didn’t release her.
“Sleepy?” he asked amused and she rolled her eyes.
“I don’t want your bloody arse back in prison, thank you very much.” She snapped and his hand was suddenly in her hair, threading in the locks at the nape of her hair. He brought her head closer to his and Bella could feel his breath on her lips as he leaned into her.
“You worry about me.” He stated as he stared into her eyes and she inhaled sharply, as her own hand reached up to fist his shirt between her fingers.
“Admit it.” He husked and as he spoke his lips kept brushing against hers, “It doesn’t make any sense though…” he trailed off and Bella could feel her self melting against the mattress as he pulled her closer.
“What doesn’t?” she managed to ask.
“I haven’t done you much good.”
His words were true but at the moment she couldn’t think of not ever seeing him again.
“I am trying not to think of that at the moment.” She gasped against his lips as he pressed a kiss on her top lip.
“Captain Jack does have a way with the ladies, I know.” He grinned quite breathlessly before he covered her lips with his.
Bella had barely moved her lips beneath his when there was a loud knock on her door.
“Bella?”
Bella broke the kiss and gasped, “James!” she whispered and Jack frowned.
“Who?”
“He works here.” Bella mumbled as she pulled away from him and stood up from the bed.
“Just a moment!” she called before she looked at Jack who rolled onto his back and placed his hands behind his head lazily.
“Hide!” she hissed and he grinned.
“No.”
She groaned and quickly tugged at the covers. She threw them over his form and she heard him chuckling under the cocoon of blankets.
“Shut up!” she hissed before she went to the door. She unlocked it and opened it slightly.
“James, what is it?” she asked and he looked down at her sleepily.
“I thought I heard voices…” he trailed off as he looked at her.
“No. I was in bed.” She said calmly.
“You’re alright then?” James asked and she smiled at him.
“Yes.”
“Okay…You look sultry by the way.” He laughed as he waved at her attire.
Bella blushed and she could swear that she heard a snort coming from the bed.
“Get out of here!” she called to him as he walked down the hall to his room before she shut the door.
She turned to face the bed after locking the door and Jack poked his head from under the covers. His face was a grimace of dissatisfaction as he wrestled with the covers until he was sitting up on the bed.
“Sultry?” he drawled as soon as he had pushed the offending covers from his body.
“Oh, shut it.” She muttered as she pushed away from the door.
“No, seriously, sultry?” he repeated as he reached up and scratched at the scar on his cheek roughly.
Bella clicked her tongue, “Stop it.” She told him as she walked over and pulled his hand from his cheek, “You made it bleed.” She stated as she reached for her drawer.
“Does he come often to see how you are in the middle of the night?” Jack asked as she pulled out a cotton handkerchief and wiped at his cheek.
“Not really.” She shrugged and he scoffed as he pushed her hand away.
“I’m fine.” He muttered gruffly and she paused.
“Why are you really here?” she asked as placed her hand on her lap.
Jack looked away and blinked, his lips pursed, “Do you not want me here?” he asked instead and Bella faltered.
“I don’t know if I should.” She said quietly and his head turned sharply towards her.
“Why?”
“Because you can disappear as quickly as you appeared. Where would I stand in such a situation?” she asked him and he bit the inside of his lip.
“Do you like it here?” he asked with a drop of disdain in his voice.
“If I like it here? I work here.”
“And do you like it? Obey each and every whim other people have?” he waved around the room and she frowned.
“It’s what I do. I don’t have another choice.”
“There’s always a choice.” He said and she looked up at him.
“What is my other choice at the moment, Jack?” she asked with a small sigh of weariness.
“You can leave.” He said and his voice sounded loud to her ears even if it wasn’t.
“And go where?” she asked and he stared at her. She stared back, trying to understand him until she did.
“You mean with you?” she whispered and he didn’t reply.
“I can’t. I am not like you.” She shook her head.
“I never said anything about me. I was only making a suggestion.” He said and the words stung.
“Oh.”
“I could take you somewhere. Anywhere you wanted.”
“I know these people here. They care for me. I can’t leave when they did everything to protect me from…” she trailed off and he sneered.
“From me?” he offered and she pursed her lips.
“Yes, from you. Should I remind you what you did?”
“No, my memory is in excellent condition. And if every conversation we’re going to have is going to lead back in you reminding me of my deeds then perhaps we shouldn’t be talking about anything serious!” he snapped and she gaped at him.
“Okay, let’s talk about something not serious. You know Joan’s probably waiting for you to appear, right? It’s late. I have work to do in the morning. Unlike you.” She said bitingly as she stood up and walked over to the window. She threw it open and crossed her arms over her chest.
Jack glared at her before he stood up abruptly and stormed towards her. He stopped a breath away from her and licked his lips. He studied her face before he spoke quietly.
“Fine. As you wish. Stay here and rot.” He spat the words out and she flinched, not understanding where this sudden disdain stemmed from. She took a step back from him and he threw a look around her room.
“I don’t know how can you breathe in here.” He muttered before he grabbed onto the window and slipped out of her bedroom. He landed on the garden with a thud and he walked away, without looking back.
Bella quickly shut the window and jerkily fixed the curtain before she came to stand in the middle of the room. Her gaze fell on the bed where he had sat moments ago and she blinked back tears of frustration. She wanted to shout but she bit her lip and stalked towards the bed.
She flopped down onto it and turned onto her side, away from the space he had been sitting on.

End of chapter 29