A change in the winds

Chapter six: Warnings

A few hours had passed since Jack burst into Christian's room and brutally stripped Kenna of all her dignity. She felt like a prisoner, ordered around and forbidden to associate with whomever she wanted. She couldn't understand why he was doing this. What was it he hated so much about her? Was it the spells? She had stopped using them when he gave her permission to speak to the crew, well when he gave them permission to speak to her. Maybe it was the way she looked. Maybe he didn't like foreign looking people. No, that's just silly. He couldn't be that shallow…could he?

She threw herself backwards on the bed and sighed. She had heard the men in her town complaining how difficult it was to understand women. Well, understanding how the male brain worked was not a simpler task!

'' Men are strange creatures…'' Kenna said as she sat up on the bed. She had been keeping to her room for the last few hours, not knowing what to do. Christian had been really sweet to her, but he had been awfully close to her by the window. Maybe Jack was right, maybe he was not to be trusted. But he seemed so nice, much nicer than Jack had ever been towards her. Her mind was spinning and she clutched her head in order to make it stop. Only a few more days, that was all she had to do, survive a few more days. Then she would be back to her town and wouldn't have to worry about which one was the bad guy.

She felt her stomach grumble and realized she hadn't eaten since this morning, and now it was way past noon. She stood up from the bed and opened the door, heading for the galley. Inside she found Jack, sitting on a chair with his feet up on the table. He didn't even glance up at her as she sat down by the table. Jack took a bite of his bread and stared down at a sheet of paper he held in his hands. Kenna reached out for an apple and took a bite. The silence was killing her, this always happened after they fought.

'' Jack, about earlier…''

Jack raised his hand to silence her. '' I don't wanna hear it…''

'' I have to ask you something.''

Jack looked up from the sheet. '' What's that? Ye wanna blame me again for ruinin' yer life? ''

'' I'm sorry I acted so harsh, but what did you expect? You barge in ordering me around, telling me what to do and what not.''

'' I only did it ta protect ye, but if ye don't want me help I'll stay out of yer life.''

'' Why do you want to protect me? You hate me, remember.''

Jack laid the sheet down on the table. '' I don't hate ye.''

'' Then why do you keep on treating me like a prisoner? ''

'' I just don't want ye ta spend too much time with Christian…''

'' Why not? What could he do to me? He's the only person on this ship who has been nice to me! ''

'' He's fakin' it. Ye don't know him as well as I do. That man be nothin' but trouble.''

'' You keep saying that. Why do you keep him on your ship if he's so bad? ''

'' He's not a bad pirate, one of me best, but he's not ta be trusted around the ladies.''

'' You think he would rape me? No, not him. I know you think you know him, but he would never do that.''

Jack sighed. '' I never said he would rape ye…'' He took his feet off the table. '' He has a reputation with the ladies, a big heartbreaker he is. I just don't want ye ta get hurt.''

Kenna was stunned by the concern in his voice. '' So you really are just trying to prevent me from being hurt by him?''

'' Yes, I would never deliberately harm ye in any way.''

'' So all this time, all the yelling and the ordering around, it was just you trying to protect me?'' Kenna felt her eyes watering, so he really did care.

Jack took the sheet up from the table and pretended to examine it. '' Just watch out for him.''

Kenna stood up from the table and walked over to him. She kissed him on the cheek, making Jack drop his sheet and look up at her surprised.

'' I really appreciate what you are doing, but you don't have to worry about me. I can handle myself.'' She took her half-eaten apple up from the table and smiled at him. '' Now I want some fresh air.'' And with that she left the galley.

Jack brought his hand up to his cheek. Did she just kiss him? Only a minute ago she was all in for hating him for life. What a strange girl.

Kenna went out on deck, smiling widely. Jack didn't hate her, what a relief! And she was sure she saw a little blush form on his cheeks when she kissed him. She went over to the railing and watched the sun high up in the clear, blue sky. She heard footsteps approaching and turned around excited.

'' Jack! See how beautifu…'' But it wasn't Jack who was approaching.

'' Jack…were ye expectin' him?'' Christian said with a smug look.

'' No, not at all…I just assumed it was him,'' Kenna replied sheepishly.

'' So ye two have solved yer problems I assume? That's good…''

'' Yeah, he can be a bit stubborn, but he's not a bad guy,'' Kenna replied, turning around to face the railing. Christian walked over to where she stood and leaned back on the railing beside her.

'' What made ye change yer opinion on him so suddenly?''

Kenna looked up at him surprised. '' What do you mean?''

'' Ye were cursin' him a few hours ago, even came ta me cryin' this mornin' 'cause he treated ye badly. What has changed? ''

'' First of all, I did not come to you crying, I just bumped into you on my way to my room. Secondly, everyone fights, opinions change from hour to hour. I can assure you that nothing has changed besides that at the moment I'm not mad at him.''

Christian raised his hands up apologizing. '' I'm sorry if I offended ye, it wasn't me intention. But I feel it be me duty ta inform ye that Jack isn't all where he's seen.'' Kenna looked at him questioningly.

'' I believe he's been tellin' ye about me past, me dealin's with the ladies and such.'' Kenna looked away and he took it as a yes.

'' Well even though I not be denyin' the blames, they're not as bad as he describes them. I've never deliberately broken a woman's heart, wouldn't think of it. I've had me share of women over the years, but that comes with the life of bein' a pirate. We move from port to port, not knowin' when or if we'll return.''

'' And what's your point?'' Kenna asked puzzled.

'' Me point is that I'm not as bad as ye think I am. Jack says he feels the need ta protect ye from me, when in fact I should be the one ta protect ye from him.''

'' Protect me from him? He would never harm me in any way,'' Kenna replied.

'' That's what the others said.''

'' What did he do to them?'' Kenna inquired worried.

'' The same as he's been accusin' me of. But he was not as gentle.''

'' So what you're saying is that he's going to break my heart just like he has done to others before?''

'' Yes, I'm sorry.''

Kenna snorted.'' What's wrong with you two? Why do you have this urge to save me from each other? Have I showed any signs of needing your help? I'm not in love with either one of you so I don't need your help.''

Christian was taken aback by her remark. '' Well that might change…I just wanted ta warn ye before it was too late.''

Kenna laughed. '' Thanks for the warning, champ. I'll be sure to remember it,'' she said with a pat on his shoulder.

'' Now I'm going to go to my cabin and sink myself in sheer desperation over not being loved,'' Kenna said mockingly as she left the deck. Christian frowned in humiliation as he watched her disappear below deck. That woman was so difficult. He had to have her.

Author's note: So what do you think? Is Jack telling the truth about Christian or is he just jealous? Please review and tell me what you think :-D