Kindred Spirits

Chapter 8

From One Headache to Another

Devon sat upright in her bed, rubbing her temples and trying, in vain, to actually get some sleep. However, she was finding that rather impossible when with this massive headache that was rolling through her brain like dark thunder clouds right before a big storm. Maybe it was her lack of sleep, maybe it was the rum.

Might jus’ be th’ rum… she thought. Of course the sounds of her loud, snoring dog didn’t help current problem. It only seemed to make the pain even worse.

‘Bullet will you stop snoring already!’ she yelled.

Oh god, don't ye start screamin’ Dee… ye know tha’ it’ll only make matters worse. She searched her nightstand for a mirror. She was positive that she had it lying around somewhere. She had stolen a purse from an upper-class lady once and just when she thought the thing wouldn’t be any use to her, since there was no money in it, she found a small mirror with rubies encrusted in it hidden in one of its many pockets. She had liked it, so she kept it.

After all, wha’ was a lady without a mirror ta check ‘er visage, eh?

Ah, there it was. She was almost afraid to look into it… but she steeled her nerves. Hell, she’d been through much worse than this before … it’s just a little mirror.

‘Oh my… Me hair makes Medusa’s snakes seem tame, not ta mention th’ tiny lit’le fact tha’ I look like a bunch o’ wild horses dragged me through th’ mud an’ then ‘ad a herd o’ donkeys lick th’ mess off me face! Damnit all ta Hell, I look bloody awful!’ she wailed. There was kohl all over her face, bags the size of eggs under her reddened eyes and her hair … well she’d have to deal with that later when she could think straight without making her head feel as though someone was trying to drive a peg into it with a sledgehammer.

She decided to go wash her face, at least that way she’d clean up the kohl streaks and maybe, just maybe, the large bags under her dry red eyes would go away. She stumbled towards the galley with only a sheet wrapped around her body to find some water and soap. Suddenly, she found the passage was blocked by none other than Dacosta.

‘Wild night, eh?’ he grinned while he looked at the muscular woman in the sheet. As his flickered down over her barely-covered body, he realised he could see her scars and tattoos slightly stand out underneath the white of the blanket.

He felt a shiver run down his spine. He chanced another look at her body and noticed that saw she had more tattoos than he and the other members of The Hazard’s crew had counted on. Good thin’ I never placed tha’ bet on ‘ow many tattoos she’s got… I woulda lost badly.

He tried desperately not to look at her chest, but he found that he just couldn't help himself. His eyes had a mind of their own… and they wanted to take in all that they could in this particular moment. When he saw that he could make out the dark hardness of her nipples, he swallowed hard.

Of course Devon had noticed where Dacosta's grey eyes were wandering, no matter how much he had tried to hide it the first two times. Though it was kind of hard to miss now, he was openly gawking at her … all he needed was his mouth to drop open and drool to come out of his mouth. Considering the state she was in right now, she couldn't care less.

‘Try no nigh’ at all, luv!’ she said with a hoarse voice.

‘Ye should take pity on th’ poor guy ye left this morning dear, if ye look this way one can only wonder how he looks…’

Devon gave a small grin despite the ache that was wreaking havoc in her head.

‘There was no man last nigh’, at least not one tha’ I've spent it with at any rate, t’was just me.’

‘No man? Devon Duville sets foot in her beloved Tortuga after a long journey an’ there was no man on her first night back? Must be losin' yer touch, Dee…’

‘Keep blabberin' on like tha’ Dacosta an’ I'll formally introduce ye ta th’ barrel o’ me barker…’ she said rubbing her temples again. ‘An’ would ye stop wit’ th’ loud noises?’

‘Random headache or hangover?’ he asked studying her face.

‘A bit o’ both I s’pose… didn't get much sleep last night an’ I coulda had a bit more rum than I shoulda had. Now if ye'll jus’ excuse me I need ta freshen up a bit. Let’s see if I can turn this lovely face back in what it ought ta look like.’

She pushed past Dacosta and stumbled into the galley where she drenched a somewhat clean cloth into some cold water. She washed her face and pressed the wet cloth over her eyes. She slumped onto one of the benches at a large table and let herself fall back.

She felt her back hit against the cool wood of the table and she tried to clear her mind. Maybe I should stop drinkin’ tha’ blasted rum an’ switch ta th’ absinthe ‘gain… she thought to herself. At least then she would have the comfort of the green fairy claiming her for her wicked mind games and she would certainly be taken into a blissful oblivion.

But then again the green venom’s liquor always got her aroused, which dragged out even more of Dee's darker side. No, th’ green fairy messed wit’ me heart too much even then. Th’ rum just messes a lit’le with me mind.

‘Damn th’ bloody rum,’ she sighed.

Jameson was watching his female crewmate as he walked in to check the food supplies.

‘Dee, are ye alright, luv?’ he asked with concern in his voice.

‘Aye, it's jus’ tha’ me head won't stop poundin’ somethin’ terrible an’ on top o’ tha’ I've got ta meet an old friend today…’

‘Maybe ye should try gettin’ some more sleep, Dee.’

‘More sleep? I ne’er slept a bleedin' minute last night, Jamie…’

‘What poor soul did ye devour then last night, luv?’

‘Fer Hell’s sake, there was no man! I slept by meself last nigh’, or at least I tried to…. I don’t see why this is so hard fer ye all ta comprehend!’ Devon hissed back to him.

‘In that case I'll make ye a strong coffee luv, maybe it won't help with yer headache, but at least it'll yet ye over yer lack of sleep.’

Devon nodded, the cloth still pressed over her eyes. I’m sure I could use th’ coffee... tho’ it might not help if it’s a hangover. If it was a hangover however, then this would have to be the worst one she’s ever had.

After two large mugs of pure black coffee she felt a little better… that was a good sign at least. The headache was still lingering, but at least she didn't feel as wretched as she had before consuming the hot, wonderful black fluid.

She was sat there idly, running her fingers around the top of the mug, humming to herself again, when Shredder popped his head around the corner of the galley’s entrance.

Dee, there be a lady ‘ere ta see ye.’ When Shredder said lady he winked at her. ‘She's from th’ Pearl.’ he added.

‘Show her in … she be an old friend o’ mine.’

AnaMaria walked in looking at the woman sitting at the dark wooden table, her legs folded underneath her.

‘Dee? What ails ye lass?’

‘Hangover, I s’pose…’ Devon responded flatly.

‘I almost thought ye forgot all 'bout our appointment. Been waitin’ fer over an hour ye know. I told th’ Capt'n ye wanted ta meet him…’

‘Shite!’

Devon got up slowly and walked towards her friend. She put her hands on the other woman's shoulders.

‘Stall ‘im. I'll be there in half an hour.’

‘Won't have ta do much stallin’, th’ wenches at “Th’ Treasure Chest” have pretty much claimed him, so there’s really no need fer ye ta hurry. He ain't goin’ anywhere fer a while.’ Ana told her friend with a smirk on her tanned face.

‘Well, ye'd best be off then, I won't be too long, luv,’ Devon replied and she returned to her quarters again.

When she got back it was only to find that Bullet was still fast asleep. Really, how much sleep did such a small dog need?

She let the sheet that had covered her fall down to the ground and slipped into her black breeches. No knickers. She hadn't been lying the other night, considering the fact that she really didn't have one decent pair left. Since sewing and mending were never her favourite pastimes she had just thrown them all overboard. She had been afraid that if she had just thrown them away with the garbage on board, someone would have seen them and then they would undoubtedly make their way around the crew to satisfy their perverted little fantasies. No matter the case, it remained that she really had to go and get new knickers for herself. Red ones maybe? Maybe Ana knew of a place where she could get new ones.

She pulled one of her tunics over her head and started to assemble and equip her weapons after she buckled her belt. After tucking in the daggers, pistols and her throwing stars, she sheathed her cutlass and put on her black sea boots.

She left her leather vest where it was, the heat of the Caribbean sun was damp and almost too hot to bare in this season. Besides she liked the wind blowing in her blouse. She stood in front of her small mirror putting on the kohl again. If th’ men like th’ kohl, who would I be ta disappoint? She smirked.

She wasn't really a vain woman, but she did like looking better than the average woman and whore. There was never much makeup for her, but it was the kohl that she couldn't do without. Being outside as much as she was, the kohl helped her to see better in the bright sun. That and it gave her an even more mysterious look than she already had. It was a nice little added bonus.

‘All standin’!’ she said to Bullet, but the dog just continued snore loudly.

‘Bullet ye scurvy mangy cad! Wake th’ hell up!’

The dog didn't even move when she yelled at him.

She shook the dog with the nose of her boots but all it did was turn over again, regaining its old position. ‘BULLET HEEL!’ she yelled. The dog raised its head.

‘There now, was tha’ so hard ta do?’

She leashed her dog and walked up the stairs, across the deck, off the gangplank, over the docks and onto the cobblestone streets of Tortuga.

A few sailors whistled at her and she bowed at them, letting her braided hair touch the ground, grinning mischievously.

She saw them nudging each other and she could make out "Duville" from their lips.

Her grin got wider. This was stroking her ego.

Her eyes were drawn to the dark ship again. It was a beautiful ship. She recognised it now, fully lit by the sun. The wood was very dark, almost black. Strange how she hadn't recognised it instantly last night, but then again she had been quite drunk and tired to boot.

The bird in the woman's arms was a sparrow… that much she’d figured out last night. What else could it be? She grinned to herself. The legendary Black Pearl was slightly swaying in its mooring. And now she was about to meet its legendary captain.

She opened the door of “The Treasure Chest” and promptly scanned the room for Ana. Her friend was sitting with a man wearing a tricorn-hat and was wildly waving his hands in the air. Must be tellin’ one hell o’ a story, she thought.

This must be the infamous Jack Sparrow. Who else would it be? There was a wench was sitting on his lap, and she giggled like a child at whatever story the man was apparently in the middle of.

‘Dee!’ Ana shouted. She waved her hands and gestured for Dee to come over to their table.

Devon slowly made her way through the crowd towards the table that Ana and her Captain were sitting at.

‘Jack, I want ye to meet a good friend o’ mine,’ AnaMaria said poking her captain in the ribs.

‘That be Captain Jack, luv. Really how often do I have ta tell people?’ he said with a little exasperation in his soft melodic voice.

I know I’ve heard tha’ voice before, but where? When? I know I’ve ne’er met Captain Jack Sparrow, but his voice sounds so familiar… and I ne’er forget a voice. A face maybe, but ne’er a voice. Maybe I’m jus’ hearin’ thin’s. Men are all alike … I ne’er remember all th’ men I meet. Hell, I barely remember most o’ th’ men tha’ I sleep with. Her mind was raced over everything about this man once again and she was pulled out of her thoughts as she felt a raw hand touch her face.

She looked up and found herself staring into a pair of very familiar, kohl rimmed eyes...

‘‘Ello luv! Ye never gave me th’ opportunity ta formally introduce myself ye know.’

‘You?’ Devon asked astonished.

‘Ye mean ye two know each other?’ AnaMaria asked in shock.

‘So it would seem,’ Jack answered matter-of-factly.

Devon looked from Ana to Jack and then from Jack to Ana, as if she could find answers in either their eyes or in the space that separated them.

‘But this can't be. Ye've got ta be kiddin’ me!’

‘Nope, not kiddin’ ye luv. But I could think o’ numerous other things tha’ I’d like ta do ta ye…’ he grinned devilishly.