The Adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow

Not an Angel but a Demon in Disguise

Gabriela was sitting at a small desk drawing. Her father, Don Juan entered her room and saw her sketch, he reminded her that she was engaged to be married and a decent lady from a good family would never entertain the fascination for outlaws. She stood up, hugged her father, and gently kissed his cheek. She told him not to worry, it was the first time she encountered a pirate, and did not know how to react. This was all new to her. She was a spoiled girl brought up in the king's court. After her mother's death, the queen treated Gabriela as her daughter because she only had sons. All this was new to her, she needed time to adjust.

Her father kissed her on her forehead and said that was the best arrangement he could get; he was sorry for marrying her to that despicable duke. She smiled and told her father not to worry that she understood. This was the only way to stay alive. Don Juan told her to rest, the luggage would be soon home and her maid would help her get a bath and change for dinner at the duke's house.

When Don Juan was about to leave her chamber Gabriela stopped him and asked him something he hoped she had forgotten.

"Father, where is my house?" She said in a polite but demanding tone.

"Why do you still think about that, dear? After your marriage you will move into the duke's house" Don Juan answered rather annoyed by his daughter's insistence.

"Before your greed drove you to go against the king of Spain, I was the Queen's spoiled daughter and she arranged a very convenient marriage for me, I was engaged to the Prince of Greece! He is young and handsome and with that marriage, I would become a queen. Now I am to marry that disgusting, pathetic, ugly duke! In exchange, I only asked for a house overlooking the ocean. It was your life that was on the line, not mine! I am ruining my future and happiness because of you, to save your life! Mine was never in danger!" She reminded her father. "If I don't get what I want I won't marry that hideous little man! For Christ's sake are all the members of that monarchy this ugly? One would imagine a man of noble birth to be a bit less disgusting to the eye!"

Don Juan knew his daughter was stubborn and now that the duke had seen her and would introduce her as his fiancée in this evening ball he would be worthless if she didn't marry that man. He knew very well what her daughter was capable of. "Darling you should understand that the duke would never let you have a finishing school for ladies. He would never let his wife work" he said in the hope of making Gabriela understand.

"I will see how I manage to persuade him to let me have my way but if that is your last word, I will reject the duke during tonight's ball in front of everyone! I do not owe you anything, you killed my mother, she was related to the king, not you! I have someone in court and if they don't receive any news from me they will give the king a letter where I tell him how you killed my mother, that you kidnapped me and brought me here against my will, and that you want to force me into marrying the enemy." Gabriela said almost hysterically.

"How do you know about your mother?" He asked still in shock.

"You always underestimated me, Father. Just because I am a woman does not mean I have no brains! Please do not dare to change the subject! Where is my house?"

"Are you betraying me, your father?"

"Ha, my beloved naive father! My mother's killer!"

Don Juan was infuriated "How dare you speak to me like that! I would not tolerate this treatment not even if you were my son! You will do what you are told or else I will keep you locked in this room till your marriage!"

"Haven't you heard me, Father?" She asked nonchalantly, "I've just told you, if that somebody I have in the king's court does not receive news from me, they will deliver my letter to the king."

"Please, do not do that!" Don Juan was trembling.

"If I marry this duke you gain his favor... but what do I get?" She said.

"You could have stayed in Spain but decided to come with me. I didn't have to do much to persuade you... Why do I have this feeling you planned this?" Don Juan asked realizing he had fallen into his daughter's trap.

"My poor innocent father... I feel pity for you, but this is business, I want my house!" She laughed through her teeth.

"Alright, I bought your house! But how do I know you will marry the duke?"

"Are we negotiating Father?" She was amused, "Who would I possibly marry instead? He is part of the monarchy; nobody would dare to even talk to me. And as you can see I want to be away from you! So now tell me where my house is!" She ordered

Don Juan pointed to the window, and in a defeated tone he said, "Do you see that house on top of that cliff? That is your house! On the east, you can see the whole port and on the west, there's a small private cove and some stairs carved in the stone to go from the top of the cliff to the beach."

"Alright, now that we've settled this matter, please tell the servants to take the boxes marked with a red X there. And as soon as my maid comes I will go personally to supervise them." She said with determination, "If you don't have anything else to talk about I would have some rest, it was a long journey and I am tired." she added indifferently.

She finally defeated her father. But this was just the beginning. "Father I need to rest, please leave me alone."

"Tell me the truth why are you doing this? As you said you could become the queen of Greece, why? Did you leave all behind just to avenge your mother? But what will you do then? I don't think that the Prince will marry you after you marry the duke..." He was very confused and frustrated.

She interrupted him and calmly said, "Who told you I wanted to become a queen? Who told you I wanted to live in Greece? This is the new world with its own rules, I am tired of the old world's traditions. That is not the life that I crave for me!"

Don Juan was speechless. He could not believe his ears. Without saying a word, he turned around and walked away.

After her father left, she walked towards the bed and just fell onto it. She held a pillow in her arms and sighed...