Evangeline McKenna has won Jack Sparrow's heart. Now, as she joins him again on his beloved Pearl, outside forces threaten to tear them-and everyone else-apart. The crew teams up with new and old forces to defeat a wealthy man in London who wants no...
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The Isle of Tortuga. June the 29th, 1745.
The roughened streets of Tortuga were muddied from the rain, but it had washed away the usual foul smells and for that, Geline was thankful. She had not missed the island with it's filth and men stinking of desperation and other unmentionable things. The hollowed stomping grounds of pirates everywhere felt different to her this time around. She sensed that she was more seasoned, held more experience as if she belonged. Maybe this was her port now, too, since she had no port to call home.
It was early morning, the men and women of the Caribbean were either just waking for their shifts at the bars or just heading home from them. Geline wondered how many of them were drunk. More than likely, they all were. Light streamed through the broken slats on the buildings and reflected off the puddles that stray cats drank from. It would be more lively as the day wore on, she knew.
The Pearl's crew had scattered about, eager to finish their duties so that they might engage in their leisure time once night came. Jack had been light-hearted on deck, but the second his boots were on the ground, it was as if he had been reminded of what lay ahead for him. He would have to barter his way through the vendors to acquire each item from his list, and spend most of his allotment on food and provisions, a typical ordeal, but afterward, he would stand at the helm and tell the crew about Shipwreck Island.
They walked side by side, stepping around puddles and dodging glances from interesting individuals who may wish to take their possessions. The couple stopped in front of the bathhouse, and Jack laid his hand on her shoulder.
"Be careful, Evangeline. This town'll eat ya up and leave nothing behind if you let it. I'll meet ya back here within the hour, and keep a watchful eye on that," he said, pointing to her valise.
He left her with a kiss on the cheek, and headed towards the market, waving indolently to someone he seemed to know. Geline gripped her bag tightly and stepped through the door and into the steam that rolled out into the street, quickly mixing with the humid air. ____________________________________
Evangeline wouldn't have described her bathing experience as particularly pleasant, but she had been able to relax a while before two women had begun to physically fight one another in the stall next to hers. The terrible screeching had certainly persuaded her to leave sooner than she would have liked. But, she supposed, the floral scents that had adhered to her body and hair were quite nice, she had smelled of sweat and salt for a bit too long. She wanted desperately to wear the hair clips that Sarah had gifted to her once she dressed, but she knew they would be quickly yanked from her head and sold before she could blink.
So, she braided her hair back and wore her most comfortable britches and shirt so as to not draw attention to herself and to ward off the humidity that had built from the rain. When she stepped back out into the street, she was surprised to see Pintel and Ragetti sitting against a brick wall, Jack nowhere in sight.
