The Devil's Bride

The Devil’s Bride

Chapter 7: One Way Or Another

A few weeks had gone by and Anne Bonny was no longer staying in the brig. At first she refused to cooperate with even the smallest request. If all Jack wanted was for her to tell him if she needed anything, she replied with nothing but stony silence. Then when he demanded that she come out of the brig, even left the cell door unlocked, she informed him she preferred to stay inside and did so for 3 days. But she found her resolve wearing thin, and by the third night she was itching for some fresh air. Slowly she stepped out of the cell and made her way up to the deck. It was a peaceful starry night and the Pearl had dropped anchor. It was late enough that not a crewmember wassighsight. Anne found herself a little spot of deck behind some barrels and she lay on her b abs absorbing the twinkling stars and the crisp night air. It had been nearly five months since she last had the pleasure of seeing the sky with out cell bars interrupting the view.

When she awoke the next morning she found Jack’s jacket tucked around her. She mentally reminded herself of her extreme disliking for the man. It was a trivial gesture, nothing to dwell on. Anne promptly sought out Jack and shoved his jacket at him.

“No thanks to ye, I have yer stink all over me.”

“Are ye sure luv? Don’t remember ye coming to me bed last night. Seems as though ye found a more comfortable place up here on the deck. However, ye could have a bit more privacy and a feather bed if ye promise ter be nice and not kill yer roommate.”

“If yer the roommate ye be speaking of, I’ll make no such promise.”

“Nay luv! I would never suggest such a thing.”

“Jack, not one minute ago ye did just that.”

“Old habits, luv. But I swear me bonny Anne Bonny, I’ll be on me best behavior from no. I . I don’t want an unhappy guest aboard the Pearl.” Jack knew he was laying it on a bit thick. He inwardly cringed at his vow of politeness, it was a promises he knew he could not keep. This was all very uncharacteristic of him, and he hoped Bonny didn’t read it as a ploy. Which would be correct, but there was a part of him that was still soft her her, wanted to help her, make her not so bitter of his company. “I’ll have a nice cozy set set up fer ye in Elizabeth’s cabin. Ye know her, the girl ye were so keen on taking a bite out of in Port Royal. Not that I can blame ye, she does look right tasty.”

Anne rolled her eyes but nodded her head in agreement. “I suppose if ye can be on yer best behavior, so can I.”

“Good. We have an accord.”

That night was the first truly peaceful sleep Anne Bonny had got in far too long. The same couldn’t be said of Elizabeth. She spent the better part of the night wide-awake, a hand underneath her pillow clutching the dagger Jack had given her. “Just in case” he said.

At first Elizabeth was very wary of Anne, her reputation had preceded her. Anne was more or less indifferent to Elizabeth, just a spoiled girl playing pirate to piss off daddy she figured. “sound familiar?” Anne subconscious scolded her for being so judgmental, especially of a girl that was starting out into the pirate world just like she had not many years before. Over the days the two women, perhaps being slightly starved for female companionship, began to talk. Nothing important really, just chitchat. Then one day Billy, the youngest member of the crew at the age of fourteen, spotted a Dutch ship sailing low in the drink. The Pearl was quick to over take her, and with out so much as a death on either side. Jack preferred to keep things civilized unless violence was absolutely necessary. Helped insure a longer career for a pirate, if he didn’t go and get himself killed. Anne was carrying a small barrel of gold coins across the deck of the Dutch ship, followed closely by Elizabeth when she heard a loud screech. Anne turned around and from what she could surmise, one of the Dutch sailors thought he could get fresh with Elizabeth. She was clutching her rump where she must have been pinched and was pouting like she was about to cry. “Humph, typical” thought Anne. But to her and the Dutch sailors surprise, Elizabeth reeled back and slugged him so hard she gave a new shape to his nose. Elizabeth’s hand needed three stitches, but she had earned Anne’s respect and from that day on they became friends. The rest of the crew noticed this and soon the rumors of Anne making a pact with the devil, killing 50 men in one night with her bare hands, and other such nonsense was no longer talked about. It became clear that although Anne was defiantly worth her metal, there were many myths built up around. My. Myths that Anne would rather pretend were true for various reasons. Gibbs was still wary of her but the more time he spent around her, the more he was able to draw parallels to the way Anne and Jack practiced piracy. “Prolly too alike fer there own damn good.” He thought.

The savory smell of roasted chicken wafted through the mess hall. It had taken the Pearl’s cook nearly a week to figure out the hens they had stolen from the Dutch ship were not hens and there for would not be supplying the crew with fresh eggs. Jack wedged himself between Elizabeth and Anne on the cedar dinning bench, and promptly set about filling his plate high with hunks of chicken, potatoes and biscuits.

Anne watch in half disgust, half amazement at the amount of food the pirate could shove into his mouth in such a short amount of time. “However do ye keep such a girlish figure?” she muttered.

“Whass thaa, lubb?” Jack said through a mouthful of potatoes.

“I didn’t hear anything Captain,” giggled Will.

Jack merely shrugged and returned to his meal. He was not much for conversation when there was food to be eaten. After Jack finished his meal, which was done considerably faster than his company he gesticulated with his hands that he desired their attention. Clearing his throat of the last traces of biscuits and butter, he began. “Well since I finally have all of ye together I thought I should mention that tomorrow night be a full moon. This be of significance because we have a tradition that new crewmembers sign the articles on the first full moon since they start sailing on the Pearl. In the eyes of pirate society this almost be like taking a marriage vow. It means ye will promise to honor the crew, the ship, and her captain. Will, Elizabeth, I’m very happy ye have decided ter make yer home here on the Pearl. Ye are becoming right good crewmates. Tomorrow will call fer a celebration.” Jack got up from the table and patted Elizabeth on the shoulder and gave Will a wink. “Just leave it up ter me and we’ll all have a great time. Anne, could I have a moment with ye?”

Anne looked down at her half finished meal wishing she had eaten faster like Jack. “I suppose.” She said as she reluctantly got up. Elizabeth gave Anne a smile of encouragement. She was doing her darndest to make Anne see that Jack wasn’t so contemptible. Anne gave her a small snort, knowing perfectly well what Elizabeth was thinking and grabbed another biscuit before following Jack to the quarterdeck.

“Before ye say anything, I know what ye are going ter ask and the answer is no.”

“No ter what, luv?”

“I’m not joining yer crew.”

“Well that’s rather presumptuous, don’t ye think? The thought hadn’t crossed me mind, but it’s not a bad idea. Ye are a wonderful pirate, a good sail rigger, and not bad on the eyes.”

“Flattery will get ye no where but the bottom of Davey Jones locker.”JackJack sighed, “Well I gave it a try…now on to what I really wanted to have a word about. The map. If ye really don’t want ter stay aboard, I could get ye to a port quicker if ye were willing ter cooperate. Eventually ye are going ta have ter give me the last couple ‘o coordinates ter the treasure.”

“And if I don’t?”

“We went ter a great deal of trouble ter rescue ye, ye will have ter work ta pay off yer debt ter me, one way or another.”

“Ye fucking filthy cur.”

“Fair is fair, luv. I helped ye, now ye help me. Might as well sign the articles. Seems like yer going ter be here a long time.”