Star of the Sea
Betrayal
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Gem thank you for being here
always…and Magic thanks so much for stopping by..
Chapter Four - Betrayal
Maia sat on the edge of the deck her legs hanging below her, staring down into
the ocean. She was unsettled, unsure of what she was doing here, of her
purpose. Tia had told her that there was something that she needed to find and
it seemed that whatever it was, it was on the Black Pearl that she would
discover it, but she would have preferred to have been somewhere else. She
rubbed a hand over her lips, it had been three days and she could still feel
that kiss.
She had intended to teach Jack Sparrow a lesson, to remind him that there was
more to fighting than just with swords but she had been shocked at how her body
had responded, at how he had responded. The kiss could have easily become so
much more, she was not adverse to taking a lover, there had been many before
but they had been easily controlled, easily discarded and she did not think
that Jack Sparrow would fit her requirements. He was watching her now, she
could feel it, hot eyes studying her, making her skin
tingle.
It had been obvious from the start that he did not feel comfortable around her,
he wondered what her purpose was, she could sense that in the way that he
seemed to weigh every word that she said, as if looking for the hidden meaning
behind them. That kiss had unsettled him as well, he
kept touching his lips when he looked at her only to jerk his hand away if he
saw her watching. She should have found that amusing, with any other man she
would have smiled to herself, but every time she saw him rest a hand on his
lips she could feel how they had felt against hers. The rasp of his moustache
against her skin, the way his hand had pulled her hips against his, of how her
body had suddenly responded, a surge in her belly, lust certainly, but this had
been need, a desire to drop all the defenses that she had erected and just let
herself be like any other woman. Her fingers touched her lips again, without
thought and she snatched them away but not before her eyes met Jack’s, just for
a second but enough that she could see the mocking gleam in them.
*
Jack felt a shiver run down his back as she raised a hand to her lips, he
jerked his fingers away from his mouth, he had been thinking of that kiss again
and it seemed that she was too. This was madness, she was a dangerous
woman….well all women were dangerous but there were depths to this Maia that
went beyond, he needed to keep that at the front of his mind. She had her own
agenda. He deliberately looked away from her, towards the horizon, there were
dreams to be chased, this was just a passing fancy this curiousity that he had
about her, nothing more, an itch that he wanted to scratch, just like the other
itches in the past. Nothing more, nothing less. He did
not notice when his eyes strayed back to her, to watch again, a lone woman
sitting, swinging her legs, lost in thought.
*
“Sails” the shout from above startled her and she jumped and then cursed
herself for her inattention, noticing the mocking smile on Sparrows face at her
discomfort. Bastard she hissed the word under her breath before leaning
forward, watching the other ship. The other vessel was huge, bigger than the
pirate flags. The tension on the Black Pearl instantly eased, so this must be a
friend, Jack was shouting for the crew to run up flags, they would be sailing
to meet the other, to exchange news. Maia felt a prickle of unease run up her
spine, there was something about this that made her anxious, something that was
not as it seemed. She stood, feeling suddenly cold, there was danger here. But
all around her the crew were laughing, talking about
old mates, eager for news.
She hesitated then pushed her thoughts out unsure of what she was searching for,
trying to makes sense of the jumble of emotions that came to her from the crew
of the other vessel. Greed, lust, hatred……sadness, guilt…..The gap between the
two vessels began to close, closer and closer until they could make out faces
on the other ship……betrayal…the feeling was sharp, raw and almost palpable. The
rush of it nearly drove her to her knees, she could not breathe, one hand
clutched at her chest as she forced the words out, finding air somehow to shout
a hoarse warning.
“NO! Jack beware”
Jack twisted to stare at her even as Anna Maria yelled out, an urgent almost
scream, high in the crows nest she could see what they could not.
“Trap, it’s a trap!!”
Jack spun the wheel, rapidly shouting orders and whilst pandemonium erupted, he
was calm, clear and there was no sign of fear on his face, his eyes met Maia’s
for just a minute and he gestured at her to be ready to fight, she nodded and
he grinned, giving her a mocking salute one hand raised. She was still watching
him when it happened, unfolding as if in slow motion, heard the shot ring out,
and the expression of surprise on Jacks face, his body jolted backwards, one
more sharp report and then he raised his hand to his chest to slump, falling
slowly to the deck.
“Gibb” Anna Maria screamed “get the wheel”
Maia was running even as she heard the shouts of the crew rising around her,
that Jack had been shot, the other vessel was steering away from them, jeering
pirates hanging over the rails as they sailed around the Pearl, not even
attempting to board, their job obviously done.
He was in a crumpled heap on the deck, Anna Maria crouched over him her hands
ripping at his shirt, tugging the bloody fabric away to expose his chest. She
blanched and Jack sighed when he saw her face.
“That bad luv”
“You will be just fine Jack” but her face belied her words, the tears in her
eyes beginning to fall.
“Let me see” Maia was trying to get through, feeling like something was driving
her forward.
“Get away from him you witch” the words were hissed at her from whom she could
not tell and Jack raised one shaking hand.
“Let her through” he was struggling to sit up, Anna pushing on his shoulders
telling him to lie still. It did not take much for her to restrain him, the
blood was bubbling faster now and he was gasping, struggling to breathe.
Maia knelt, his eyes were on hers and she could see that he was fading, she
rested her fingers on his chest, knowing that there was nothing that she could
do, nothing that would work fast enough, she needed
time. He could see it in her eyes and he sighed, moving his lips as if to say
something but he began to cough and his eyes slid shut.