The Teardrop Of Immortality

Chapter 8


Jack chewed contently at his juicy chicken leg before he let his eyes fall on Nerissa. She was absently chewing on an apple, her eyes turned towards the cabin window, gazing out of it. Her blond hair was pulled over one shoulder and as the sunlight entered through the windows, Jack could see her wet skin glimmering. His mouth twitched and before he knew it he was grinning widely at the sight of her alabaster shoulder. He swallowed his mouthful and quickly reached for the bottle of rum that was next to his plate. He groped for it without taking his eyes off of the mermaid and once he had found it he brought it to his lips.
He watched as she sighed and looked away from the window, her blond hair falling over her face, concealing it. Jack gulped and placed the bottle back on the table before he grasped around for his fork.
“Captain?” her voice was as always melodious and Jack found himself smiling.
“Love?” he triumphantly tightened his fingers around the fork which turned out to be a knife. He grimaced when he realized it and quickly reached for the right cutlery to fork a potato.
“You are staring.” Nerissa said with her cheeks tinged pink.
Jack blinked, “Eh?” he straightened in his chair, “Am I?” he cleared his throat and shifted in his chair, “I didn’t notice.” He smirked and Nerissa shrugged.
“It’s alright…I mean most men aboard stare.” She replied and Jack frowned, “I am something of a peculiar sight…Strange almost.” She mumbled and Jack shook his head to clear it.
“Hold on, love.” He stood up with his fork in hand, the potato hanging from the tip of it.
“Yes?” she looked up at him.
“I am afraid that like most eh, women, you have the wrong perception about yourself.” He told her before he looked at her half eaten apple.
“Perception?” she frowned, looking utterly perplexed.
“Aye. You’re not strange…You are simply a wonder if I say so myself.” He grinned as he leaned down and plucked the apple from her hand. He grimaced and threw it out of the window before he looked back down at her.
“Wonder? I think you are trying to charm me.” She told him and he looked suddenly too interested in his rings.
“The question is why? I do not see how anything with me would work.” She told him sincerely and Jack licked his lips before he outstretch the hand with the fork.
“Potato?” he offered and Nerissa narrowed her eyes at him.
“Captain.”
“Hmm? What? I am guessing you never tried one. Spanish are quite clever.” Jack grinned and she looked at the offered food.
“I have not tried it. They do not grow in the sea, do they?” she asked curiously and Jack laughed out of sheer and shocking embarrassment at being caught ogling her and trying to seduce her.
“Eh, no. They do not.” He replied and Nerissa smirked. Jack’s eyes widened at that and he almost went cross eyed when she leaned forward and wrapped her lips around the fork, taking the potato. She chewed while Jack stared with parted lips.
Nerissa’s eyes widened at the taste and she beamed up at him, “Can I have some more?” she asked and Jack blinked out of his daze.
“’Course, love.” He replied with a quick grin before he turned and walked to the door. Opening it he hollered, “Davis! More potatoes!” he barked before he returned inside.
“Captain?” her voice made him pause.
“Aye?” he looked at her as he resumed his seat.
“I won’t be able to swim until we reach the destination?” she asked as she curled her hands around the edge of the tub.
Jack hesitated, “I am afraid so, love.” He said and her expression turned glum.
“But,” Jack raised a finger and smiled at her, “I can take you out on deck later tonight. And I can have the cook make all kinds of foods for you. What say you?” he propped his feet up on the desk before he grabbed his bottle once more.
“Alright.” Nerissa smiled sadly before she looked at Jack peculiarly, “Captain?”
“Hmm?” He quirked an eyebrow at her, his chocolate eyes set on her face.
“You’re a good man.” She whispered before she leaned back and lowered herself deep in the water of the tub.
Jack grinned.


oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Erik stormed inside the cabin, pushing the door so hard that it slammed against the bulkhead.
Jack looked up from his chart and scowled, “You.” He turned his gaze back upon his map, “What do you want?” he asked with barely concealed boredom.
“What do I want?” Erik’s eyes briefly turned towards Nerissa who was staring with wide eyes, “What I want, Sparrow, is an explanation!” he exclaimed and Jack looked at him sideways.
“Do not have time for your childish hysterics.” Jack stated and Erik’s cheeks turned pink
“And you’re busy with what?” he sputtered and Jack turned the map a little to the left so he could mark a spot.
“With ignoring you…It’s a tricky feat. Mostly, I want to bang your head against the Pearl’s bulkhead.” Jack replied calmly and Nerissa smiled silently.
“Or run your sword through me like you did to my sister!” Erik said and Jack looked up, a smirk on his face.
“Ah, so that is what this is all about. Brotherly love.” Jack pushed away from the desk and approached Teach, “You are here to protect your sister’s honor.” Jack said while nodding his head, “Fair enough.”
Erik sneered and pulled out his sword. He pressed it against Jack’s chest.
“Lad, I hate to break it to you but is no use protecting her honor. She doesn’t have one.” Jack sighed and with a swift move of his hand he slapped the blade away. He had his pistol pointed at Erik’s head a moment later.
Teach’s eyes widened.
“Tell me, lad. Is it worth it?” Jack questioned and Nerissa bit her lip at the tension of the scene.
“I…I…You don’t know her.” Erik replied quietly.
“Oh, but I do.” Jack objected.
“You didn’t have to hurt her.” Erik shook his head.
“She tried to drown me, mate. I wonder who would lead you to Oak Island if I found my death while on this journey.” Jack waved his hands around for emphasis.
“She was in pain all night.” Erik hissed.
“Good. Then perhaps she’ll learn not to cross paths with me while on route to our destination.” Jack smirked.
“You betrayed her first.” Erik argued.
“Well,” Jack withdrew his pistol and walked back to his desk, “I can’t help it that I am a heartless bastard.” He grinned and Nerissa looked at Jack sharply at that, her tail and hands jerking inside the water at his words.
Erik simply glared at him.
“It is a gallant effort that you came here. Just ask yourself this; would she do it? Would she return the sentiment you so openly showed here? Hmm?” Jack winked at him, “Word of advice; do not trust her, lad.” Jack said and Erik stared at him for a few seconds before he turned on his heel and hurriedly walked out of the cabin, slamming the door behind him.
Once he was gone, Jack sighed and rubbed his temples.
“Captain?”
Jack looked up, his face softening, “My Siren.” He smirked.
“You did something to the woman who tried to hurt you?” Nerissa asked and Jack grimaced.
“Well…” he trailed off.
“Did you?” she pressed on, her brow furrowed.
“Unfortunately for once in my life I did not control myself.” He admitted as he approached.
“You mean to say that you usually hide your emotions.” She clarified as she leaned slightly forward.
Jack blinked in surprise, “Aye. That be correct.” He nodded his head.
“I understand.” Nerissa surprised him with her words.
“You do?” he murmured as he placed his elbows on the edge of the tub and leaned down so he could look into her eyes.
“Yes.” Nerissa faltered a bit at his close proximity but did not move back, “I hide my emotions as well.” She replied and Jack grinned a bit, his gold teeth glimmering in the candlelight.
“Well, not so well.” He shot back and she frowned.
“I’m sorry?”
Jack laughed, “For instance I know that when you flap your tail and blush you are embarrassed. When you narrow your eyes and move your tail you’re about to snap and when you look outside that there window, you are unhappy because you want to be out in the ocean.” He brushed her chin with a roughened finger and she flushed.
“Those are true. But you know all these things simply because of close inspection. You are good at noticing things, Captain. And so do I.” she said and he chuckled.
“Touche, love. I like watching people. See what makes them mad, what makes them happy…You can tell a lot from that.” He smiled and slowly pulled his finger from her chin only to use it to touch a lock of her golden hair.
“Indeed.” Nerissa replied and then she looked at his fingers as they touched her hair.
Jack rubbed the lock between his fingers and she looked up at him.
“You always do that as well, Captain.” She murmured and Jack grinned lopsidedly.
“Aye.”
“Why?” she narrowed her eyes and he laughed as he straightened and stepped back.
“Why don’t you figure that out on your own, eh love?” he winked before he walked away.
Nerissa frowned.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo


Gibbs and Cotton both stared at Nerissa as they stood on watch. Jack was at the helm but his eyes were occasionally drawn towards the mermaid. He chuckled when he saw her looking around the deck with joy.
“Um, Master Gibbs.” She spoke hesitantly and the older man smiled.
“Aye?”
“Do you know about stars?” she asked as she gently moved in the tub, her tail having a little difficulty moving around with her as she turned.
“Eh, you mean constellations?” he rubbed the back of his neck.
“Yes.” Her eyes widened with delight.
“Eh, I do not know much about them…” he trailed off and then smiled, “But the Captain does!” he exclaimed and Nerissa nodded.
“What do I know?” Jack asked from behind Gibbs as he slowly made his way towards them.
“Constellations.” Gibbs said and Jack smirked.
“Oh, aye. But then again what don’t I know?” he said smugly and Gibbs rolled his eyes.
“Saw that, Gibbs. Go and take the helm. Hold her steady.” Jack scowled at his first mate and Nerissa chuckled.
“It’s not good to be arrogant, Captain.” She chided and he looked down at her, his grin like the cat’s that got the canary.
“Tell me about it.” He winked and she shook her head as he plopped down on the deck next to the tub. He crossed his legs and looked up.
“So, what is that?” she pointed at the stars and he narrowed his eyes before he smirked.
“Ah, that. Aquarius.” He said proudly and she frowned.
“Why are they called that?” Nerissa asked and Jack lifted himself up on his knees. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she tensed.
“Relax, love.” He chuckled as he brought his hand up and pointed at the sky, “Follow my finger.” He breathed into her ear and she did. She watched as his hand moved around with fascination.
“See that? What does it look like?” he asked as he traced the shape of the stars again.
Nerissa blinked rapidly, “I do not know. I do not recognize the object…” she whispered and Jack nodded.
“Alright. Look. That is a pitcher…They keep water in it. Now see that? That is the water that is pouring out of the pitcher. Aquarius means water bearer. He was believed to be the god Ea who brought destructive floods upon the ancient city of Babylon.” Jack finished and slowly lowered his hand.
Nerissa’s lips were parted in awe, “Fascinating.” She said and he laughed.
“It is. How about another one…Let’s see.” Jack squinted as his eyes scanned the night sky. Nerissa turned and looked at his profile, a small smile on her face.
“Aha! There. Follow my hand again.” He told her and she quickly looked up, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. Thankfully it was dark.
“There. See…That one is Serpens. It has the form of a snake.”
Nerissa frowned, “That looks like…me.” She whispered and Jack burst out laughing. The sound startled her and she looked at him.
“What?”
“Love, you’re comparing yourself with a bloody snake?” he said still laughing as he let his hand fall gently on the top of her head.
Nerissa scowled, “Because of my tail…”
“There is no resemblance whatsoever.” He said as he tucked some of her hair behind her ear, his hand following the side of her neck as he ran his fingers through her long locks.
“You’re doing it again, Captain.” Nerissa said and Jack grinned, both of them unaware of the eyes that were staring at them from the other ship.
“What?” he asked and she smiled.
“You’re trying to be charming.”
“I have to speak my mind, do I not? Especially when you’re comparing yourself to a snake.” He grimaced, his hand still on her hair.
“Most sailors would disagree with you.” She shrugged.
“Disagree with what? With the fact that you’re the loveliest creature I have ever laid eyes upon?” he murmured as he cocked his head to the side and stared at her.
Nerissa’s eyes widened and she looked a bit to the side before she turned her eyes on his face again. She gasped when she found him much closer than before.
She gulped, “Captain.” She started but he shook his head.
“It’s Jack, love.” He murmured before he closed the distance between them.
Nerissa froze as he pressed his lips against hers and her hand moved to grasp his wrist as he cradled the back of her head in his hand. He used his grip to bring her closer while he wrapped his free arm around her, pressing his palm flat against her lower back.
The cold surface of the tub was digging into his sternum as he kissed her but he ignored the slight discomfort and deepened the kiss.
Gradually, Nerissa’s eyelids fluttered shut and her mouth became pliant under his. Smiling against her lips, he parted her mouth with his tongue and leaned more heavily into her. His hair fell around their faces like a veil as the kiss became more and more passionate and his fingers coiled around her hair tightly.
Nerissa’s eyes opened when a pistol was fired and Jack released her mouth with an audible pop. His eyes scanned the area and he rolled them when he spotted Angelica on The Revenge.
“May I help you?” he asked while Nerissa lowered herself a bit in the tub.
“Aren’t you worried that you’re going to smell like a fish afterwards?” the dark haired woman called and Nerissa froze in Jack’s arms.
Jack gritted his teeth and unconsciously tucked the mermaid’s head under his chin before he spoke.
“Aren’t you worried that you’ll accidentally bite your tongue and die from your own venom?” he shot back and Angelica’s cheeks flushed with anger. A family treat it would seem.
“I advise you to be more careful. Instead of having your tongue down the creature’s throat, it’d be better if you watched your surroundings a bit more. There’s a ship behind us.” Angelica snapped before she turned on her heel and walked away.
Jack sneered at her back before he slowly released Nerissa who was not looking at him.
“Never mind her, love. She is the snake.” He murmured and with a last caress of her cheek he headed for his cabin to retrieve his spyglass.
Once he had it, he walked up to the helm and looked behind them.
“Bugger.” He hissed and Gibbs looked at him with worry.
“The Navy?” he asked and Jack turned to look at him.
“Worse. Spaniards.” Jack replied with a scowl.

End of chapter 8

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Xxx Lina :)