Wild Hearts

I do not own potc

The brig was dark save one flickering candle. Its feeble glow was not enough to penetrate to dark shadows of the cells, one of which sat a figure, unmoving and watching the door with eyes of a predator. As predicted the door swung open spilling light into the brig, with the light game an old man clutching a steaming bowl of broth.
“Supper lass.” he said sliding the broth between the bars.

Shannon remained in the shadows her eyes still trained on the old man, watching as he eased his weight into the chair opposite, he did not expect her to move nor speak yet each night he spared a moment to sit down here in the stale damp to smoke his pipe and rambled about trivial things such as the weather.

“Storm brewin’” he murmured blowing a lungful of smoke into the air, “I’ll try and get some more blankets for you but I don’t promise you anything.”

Shannon did not move, her coal coloured eyes absorbed every det Hug Hugh his name, an old man, thick at the waist and slow in his movements. Brave too. He was the only man who dared to come down here to feed her and Shannon respected this. Blood still soiled the rutted wooded floor where previous men had tried to slide the food through the bars, she had with expect accuracy tore at their flesh with her nails, severing arteries and sinking teeth into muscle. Hugh had been one of these men, but unlike the rest he had returned the next night unfazed by her wildness. She had respected this and sat quietly as he pushed the food through and since then it had always been the same.

“That’s us finished in the Caribbean, heading on to he middle east. I think the captain is eager to have you delivered.” he chuckled softly and Shannon cocked her head to the side listening to the soft laugh turning into a coughing fit.

“Damn this tobacco,” he eredered standing, “Ruining my lungs, not the usual stuff I get…” his voice trailed off as he climbed the stairs, “Night lassie.” the door clicked shut behind him and Shannon slowly uncoiled herself from where she sat. Normally she would eat her supper and return to the back of the cell to wait for sleep to over come her but tonight something was not right. She was uneasy, the urge to pace the cell was stifled as she stood and lowered herself again, crouching in the darkness, eyes trained on the door.

Perhaps hours or minutes Shannon did not know, she had not moved from her position save to flex a tight or camped muscle. At last commotion above her, feet thundering, shots fired, Shannon stayed put and never once let her eyes leave the door.

It was a long time before it swung open, Hugh entered, his eyes nervous, hands trembling. Shannon lifted her lip into a sneer as she caught sight of the cause of his distress, the glint of metal flashing in the dim light.

“There is nothing down here.” the old man insisted and Shannon scuttled further back in the cell.

“What this then?” another man waved a hand at Shannon , his face heavily whiskered and his belly swollen. Hugh winced as the blade pinched his back.

“Just a prisoner.” Another man entered, feet thundering some what clumsily on the stairs.

“Not a bloody shilling in the hold. I don’t know what the idiot is talking about.” the voice was heavily slurred and thick with accent, she watched as this figure slapped away the blade that threatened Hugh.

“No need Mr Gibbs,”

“A lass,” the older Mr Gibbs commented nodding in Shannon direction, “Say’s she’s just a prisoner.” She cocked her head and rose slowly from her haunches, Hugh eased himself away from the bars.

“Ahh.” the slurring figure came forward, “I see,”

“See what Jack?” Jack narrowed dark eyes on hers and she followed suit narrowing her eyes and lowering herself back down on her haunches. His hand went to the handle on the cell door, keys jangling as he slid one into the lock.

“I wouldn’t open that.” Hugh grimaced trying to step passed Mr Gibbs in the door way. Jack’s turned his head to glance at him.

“Why?”

“She’s not the friendly type.” Jack turned his attention back to Shannon a small grin forming on his lips, strange looking lass she was, pale brown skin, dark curls sweeping round her small waist. She wore only a wildcat skin over her breasts and an attempt at a small skirt round her waist. She sat poised in the corner, black eyes narrowed in slits, it disturbed Jack somewhat. Never the less he turned the key in the lock and opened the door.

Shannon waited until the man had stepped in before launching her attack, nails grating the skin of his neck, teeth sinking into the flesh of his forearm as he raised it to protect himself. Shannon fingers probed the hollow of his throat looking for just the right spot to puncture his windpipe, too late. He had grabbed her roughly by the hair and peeled her off, a blade pressed against her own throat. She caught his eye for a momedarkdark and alluring before stepping back and sinking once more to her haunches.

Jack turned wide eyed to Hugh, breathing hard and bleeding slightly from the scores on his neck.

“What kind of woman is this?” he waved the dagger in her direction as she watched motionless from the corner.

“Wild one sir.” Hugh shifted uncomfortably.

“Wild.” Jack drawledningning to eye her, “How are we going to get her to move across to the Pearl.”

“You could ask me.” Shannon voice was husky, it was seldom used. She smiled coldly as the three men turned to stare at her. Jack lowered the dagger and peered at her.

“You speak then?” he hesitated before tucking the blade back into his sash, “Name?” Shannon didn’t not answer, she had no intention of telling these men anything, instead she rose slowly, tipping her head to the side and regarding Jack with a wistful smile.

“Name? rep repeated waving his hands to encourage an answer. Shannon made no attempt to speak she merely stared at the pirate much to his annoyance.

“Come on then luv,” he sighed turning to leave the cell. Shannon sunk back down and watched him leave. She wanted to get out this prison but to go to another? She knew of the Captains plans to ship her to the middle east, it was a fairly safe option in her opinion. She would not be harmed and she could make her escape there but it did mean that she was in the middle east with no reasonable way of getting back to her home. She weighed the options to follow this new pirate, where would he take her and what would her chances of escape be with him? She cocked her head to the side and watched as he turned to her hands flailing in the air at his annoyance.

“Hurry up, don’t have all day.” he slurred and Shannon looked over at Hugh seeking some sort of approval for her to leave. The old mans eyes were weary and he stepped towards her.

“Lassie, your chances are better if you move,” he said quietly and Jack’s head snapped over to look at Hugh.

“She trust you?” Hugh shrugged his answer and glanced over at her,

“She doesn’t try and kill me at least.” Jack nodded and began his fluent stroll to the stairs.

“Good. You come aswell, get her moving.”

The sunlight seared Shannon eyes as she stepped above deck, it had been so long since she’d had the warmth of the sun on her skin. It burned in the sky above her and she tipped her head back to relish the feeling. A fresh breeze tugged at her matted curls and flapped the short skin that was secured round her waist. She breathed deep the salty aroma and closed her eyes with the joy of the freedom.

“What the hell are you doing with her?” that voice. Shannon knew it and she narrowed her eyes on the owner. Captain Roy, the man that had stolen her, tore her from her home and subjected her to months of captivity. She stepped away from Hugh and approached him, her fingers curled in anticipation of tearing the throat from his foul neck.

“Get her away from me!” he cried struggling furiously in the ropes that bound him, “Why is she not in irons?” his eyes widened as she drew closer. Her hand shot out swiping at thin air as Jack grabbed her round the waist and pulled her away from the Captain.

“Should she be in irons?” Jack grinned at the captain, “No way to treat a lady.” he plonked Sahsa down keeping himself between her and Roy.

“A woman who acts like a wild animal deserves to be treated as such.” Roy snapped struggling still against his bindings, “Put her back down in the brig, you have no use for her.” Jack raised a finger at theer cer captain and swayed forward waving it under his nose.

“That’s where your wrong, I’m not a fool sir and I know this branding when I see it.” he snatched Shannon arm and thrust it towards Roy showing the tribal markings that looped round her wrist. Shannon didn’t take kindly to this treatment and snatched her hand back drawing her nails across Jack’s forearm as she did so. He turned to her slowly with a weary expression on his face.

“Please stop doing that love, it…wellhurthurts for a start.” Shannon scowled and shrunk back, she was surprised that his scolding had effected her the way it did. He had not treated her the way Roy had and perhaps she respected him for this. Sidestepping Jack she could hold herself no longer and swiped out again at Roy, her nails left four scores down his cheek, blood oozing out immediately. Roy cried out and tried to block any more impending attacks but the girl had already jumped back watching Jack’s reaction with a pained expression. She did not want to anger him.

“Perhaps you deserved that, mate.” Jack told Roy grinning like a fool and turning to leave him, Shannon followed not resisting the dark look she threw over her shoulder at her previous captor.