Misconception

Chapter 9


Isabella slowly tiptoed to the door and placed her fingers around the handle. She turned it and she gave a little gasp of surprise when it opened. She pushed the door open and carefully stepped outside. She looked around and she realized that the deck was empty. A frown formed on her face as she walked further out and looked first right and then left. Jack was not around, neither was Gibbs.
Had they all gone ashore? And left her alone and unguarded? No way.
She walked closer to the railing and looked at the dock which was illuminated by small lights before she let out a sigh. She didn’t know what to think anymore. First she had to live in a cell and now she was in the cabin, no sharing the cabin, with the man that had marked her life. One moment he was rude and the next he was polite. She had started thinking that perhaps this whole situation was a big joke from his part. She had started considering that perhaps he did know who she was and he was just denying the fact in order to get to her. It was absurd, really but it was a possibility. Either that or fate was playing terrible games with her.
As for her feelings toward him; well, she didn’t know what she was supposed to feel. His whole existence disgusted her. With his crudeness, his dishonesty and his low regard towards others. That image suited the man who had stolen a precious moment of her life. But then again, he wasn’t always that bad...
She shook her head and groaned. Thinking like that didn’t help.
“He’s the man who kidnapped you for God’s sake! A man who thinks people have the same value as gold!” she hissed to herself as she rubbed her eyes, “He’s no prince charming! Idiot.” She muttered as she turned back only to collide with something. She looked up and gasped. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the sight of a man she had not seen before. He was short, shorter than Jack and Gibbs and he had an unkempt beard. She shuddered at the look on his face and took a step back only to collide with the rail.
“Who were you talking to you, lovey? Ain’t seeing no one around.” He smirked and Isabella stepped to the right and further away from him.
“N-no one.” She stuttered as he followed her footsteps.
“I’ve seen you walking up and down the galley with the cap’n. Keeps a close eye on you, he does.” He said and she swallowed audibly.
“Bit selfish really, keeping you all day long in his cabin.” The man continued as he got closer and abruptly grasped her arm in a death grip.
Isabella gasped loudly and tried to twist her arm out of his grip and she succeeded by pushing him away with her free hand. The man released her and stumbled back with a snarl on his lips.
“You little bitch!” he seethed and Isabella staggered backwards in a hurry to get away from him. Her foot got caught in a rope and she felt herself falling backwards. She fell down with a loud thud and her head barely missed the mast of the ship. She gasped as pain erupted up her back and down her ankle which she had twisted during her fall. The man appeared in front of her and leered down at her before he reached for the front of her robe. His fingers had barely made contact with the soft fabric before he was wrenched back by a strong hand.
“Disobeying me orders again, Master Tim?” she heard Jack growl from above and she felt as if a huge rock had been removed from her lungs, making it easier for her to breathe. She’d never thought that hearing his voice would bring such great relief.
“Cap’n.” the man gasped as his arm was twisted behind his back by the other pirate.
“Didn’t I say that no one is to touch her? She is of great value to be sullied by the likes of you.” Jack released him and he stumbled backwards.
“Aye, cap’n. Apologies. Won’t happen again.” Tim replied out of breath before he turned and walked away without looking back.
Jack watched him go before he turned to Isabella. He reached down and offered her his hand which she accepted. He tried to pull her up but she groaned.
“Stop, stop! My head is turning.” She hissed and he paused without releasing her hand.
“Can you stand?” he asked with a crease between his eyebrows.
“I think I twisted my ankle.” She said quietly and Jack’s eyes went to her leg and down to her ankle. He let go of her hand and leaned down on his knees. He placed a hand on her ankle and he realized that it was slightly swollen.
“I think you’re right. Come on.” He muttered without looking at her before he reached for her. Isabella watched with wide eyes as he effortlessly picked her up and steadied her with a hand around her back and another under her knees.
“Ow!” she complained for the jolt caused her ankle to throb.
“Oh, hush. You should be thanking me for carrying you.” He said and she scowled.
“Thank you. The door! Watch the door!” she shrieked and he turned to the side in order to enter the cabin without bumping her leg against the doorframe.
“I may be a pirate but I’m not stupid.” He said matter of factly as he placed her on his bed instead of her own bunk.
He stepped back and disappeared to the side cabin. He appeared again with a cloth which he soaked into water. He placed it over her throbbing ankle and sat down on the bed. Isabella hissed but remained quiet as he adjusted the cloth around her leg.
“That was Tim. Stay away from him.” Then his eyes narrowed, “And by the way, what were you doing outside the cabin? Did I not tell you to remain there until I was back?” he almost growled and she raised her chin in indignation.
“I am not one of your crewmembers. I do not take orders from you.” She spat and his eyes darkened impossibly.
“Really? Is that so? Then perhaps I should place you in the men’s quarters. Let us see how you survive one day without my protection.” He said sarcastically as he stood up.
“Protection? Who is going to protect me from you!?” she said venomously and he smirked.
“Oh, believe me you’re not in danger with me, darlin’. I am not that desperate.” He stated bitingly before he grabbed his hat and stormed out of the cabin, slamming and locking the door firmly behind him, leaving her in the darkness of the cabin.
Isabella stared at the door unblinkingly for what seemed like an eternity, refusing to admit how much the words cut into her entire being.

********************************
She didn’t how long she had been sitting there on his bed, thinking over their conversation. It was ridiculous really to be hurt by his words. They didn’t mean anything to her. They shouldn’t mean anything to her. But it was cruel to know that he had taken pleasure from sleeping with her even though he didn’t remember any of it. She did though. She recalled every sound he had made that night and she wanted to be able to talk back to him, to hurt him like he had hurt her even if he hadn’t been conscious of the fact. She groaned inwardly and turned onto her side, wincing as she did so. Her leg hurt even more as time passed and she couldn’t even crawl out of his bloody bed! It hurt to even move her toes. She reached forward and turned the wet cloth over and the coolness of it caused her to sigh in some relief.
She flopped back down on the pillow, his pillow, before she threw it onto the floor with a huff. She put her head down on the mattress and stared at the ceiling while biting her lip.
Her eyelids slowly and gradually drifted close and she fell into a light sleep.
She was awoken sometime later by the door being unlocked. She groggily opened her eyes and she could make out two figures standing by the door. She blinked, trying to get the sleep out of her eyes so she could be able to focus. Once her vision cleared she wished it hadn’t. Jack was there but he wasn’t alone. A woman was giggling and playing with his hair while kissing her way up his neck. Isabella blinked and she gasped horrified when she realized that the woman’s hand was inside Jack’s breeches and touching his…
“Oh my God! What the hell are you dong?” she exclaimed and the couple stopped. Jack turned slowly, confusion upon his face until he spotted her.
He hastily dislodged the woman from his body and pushed her unceremoniously out of his cabin. He quickly straightened his clothes and smiled sheepishly at her.
“Sorry about that, love-…”
“Isabella! That’s my bloody name! Just say it for once! Is it that hard to remember even that?!” she shrieked as her face flushed pink.
Jack paused and raised his hands up.
“Right. Isabella. Sorry. I forgot you were in here.” He said and the woman reappeared at the doorway, muttering obscenities only to have Jack close the door, shutting her out of the room.
“Sorry.” He repeated but it was obvious by the smirk on his lips that he was anything but.
“You said you weren’t that desperate! If that isn’t desperate-…”
“I said I am sorry. That includes and concludes out little disagreement from before.” He cut her off while waving his hands around.
“Really? You left me locked in here, hurt and you went to…to…urgh! Just get me to my own bunk! I don’t like sitting on your bed.” She snapped and he chuckled.
“You look lovely when you flush with anger.” He stated and she hurled the other pillow towards him. He ducked and it landed somewhere behind him.
“I hate you!” she shot back and she was shocked to realize that she did mean it. At least to some degree.
“Hate and love are just this close, love- …I mean, Isabella. Isabella is such a long, tiresome name. Shall I call you Bella instead?” he asked as if talking about the weather while walking towards her.
“No!” she cried as he pulled her up to him and started carrying her to her own bunk.
“I am so glad you agree. I will indeed call you Bella. It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?” he asked and she had to resist the urge to slap him and his silly grin out of his face.
“No, I don’t.” she replied angrily as he placed her gently on the bed and moved back.
“I’ll have to bind your ankle, I think.” He said as he started looking around for a bandage.
“I don’t want you to.” She said crossly.
“Oh, come on now. I abandoned my pleasurable company for you which I had already prepaid mind you.” He said and she gritted her teeth.
“Get out, Jack.” She seethed.
“There. You said me name. We’re friends again.” He grinned.
“I am not our friend and I will never be!”
“That’s because you’re too spoiled.” He fired back smugly.
“I thought we had agreed that I am not Charlotte!” she cried in frustration.
“You had agreed.” He corrected.
“I am not!”
“Oh, yes you are. I bet you’re a virgin too.” He smirked and she hurled her own pillow at him. This time it got him in the chest.
“I am not a virgin! And even if I were it’s not any of your business!” she blurted and he grinned widely.
“You’re not? I wonder what daddy will say-…”
“Just get out of here!” she thundered and he leaned forward to tuck a few stray locks behind her ear.
“Who’s going to bandage your ankle if I go?” he asked quietly while waving said bandage in front of her.
“I will.” She said as she snatched the bandage from him and slapped his hand away from her hair.
“Temper, temper.” He admonished and she looked up at him in resignation.
“Why don’t you believe me?” she asked inaudibly and he poked her nose playfully, much to her displeasure.
“Of course I do, darlin’. I just enjoy riling you up. Night.” He tipped his hat at her before he walked out, closing the door behind him and leaving her wide eyed and embarrassed.

End of chapter 9