The Bend to Rue (Jack Sparrow fanfic)

chapter 10

I woke once again to gentle rocking as someone put a rough, cold cloth on my forehead. "Don't touch me." I tried to say with as much venom  as I could muster, but only came out as though I was muttering in my sleep. "Jerk." I tried to move away, only to feel firm hands grip my shoulders to keep me in place.

"You've go' a fever Luv."

"Don't call me Luv." I moaned, pushing his hands away.

"Now, Darling, I know you're angry with me, but hear me out."

"There's nothing you can say." Oh, I thought, I'm gonna puke....

"I'm sorry." My eyes rolled in my skull as I tried to focus on something as the room spun out of control. "Really."

"Bleeeeaaaggheragha." With a jolt I was puking over the side of the bed, hoping I'd gotten Jack in the crossfire. I heard a chair fall back and a bunch of curses being fired, so my answer was yes. I smiled a bit as I laid back down. I felt much better.

When I woke up again, my fever had broken. I moaned, unable to move, thirsty, and utterly alone. I coughed violently and began my struggle to free myself of the covers. My brain decided to play ping pong against my skull as a raging headache ensued, increasing when I landed to the floor in an attempt to roll out of the confining cocoon. After the dizzyness ended, I picked myself up.

A water basin was on the dresser, so I shuffled to it, hoping to rid myself of the sweat that was stinging my eyes. The cool water almost stung and left me colder than ever, I could have sworn there was ice hitting me in the face. I hastily grabbed a towel and was patting my face, when I saw it, a mirror.

My eyes had to be decieving me. The person in that mirror could not have been me. I looked around in curiosity, then brought a hand to my face as I looked back at the mirror. It was me. My face was tanned, my hair was streaked with bits of gold, as though my hair held sunlight hostage. My wrists were finally healed, but scarred severly. 

The boat rocked violently and I was knocked down. "Ow!" I cried as I landed, once again, on unforgiving wood.

I was picking myself off the floor as the door opened, "Angel?"

"Will?" My voice sounded so weak, even to my ears. In my moment of relief that I was no longer alone in this God forsaken room, I completely forgot that I was angry at anyone. He hurriedly picked me up and set me back on the bed, covering me once more in mountainous covers.

"Do you need anything?" He held my hand so gently it was as though he thought I might break. He reached up with his other and put the back of his hand onto my forehead.

"Water, please." He nodded.

"Right away, Ms. Ravens." He got up, only to give me a look, "Promise me you'll stay abed." I nodded, to tired to do much else.

I felt like I was asleep when someone barged in, making me jump in fright. Jack just came thundering in, looking as though he were searching for something in particular, paying me no nevermind. His gaze swept past me several times before he realised I was even awake. "Angel?"

I just stared at him as he walked over. "Do you remember anything?" He asked cautiously as he sat on the edge of the bed, checking my head for any traces of fever, as Will had just done.

"It's your fault I'm here." I accused, "All for some stupid treasure. I remember the rhyme and I had no control over anything. I just-" I stopped before I started crying infront of him. He probably thought I was already stupid, had a good laugh at my expense. I was so gullible as to trust him, the crew. I trusted pirates, and this was my punishment.

"Do you remember anything after?" I shook my head no.

"Why?"

"No reason."

"Don't you think you've done enough lying?" I glared, pushing his warm hands away. 

He gave me a look and went to open his mouth, but Will came in with my water. He looked between the two of us and asked, "Did she have another fit?" Jack rolled his eyes and stood.

"What fit?" 

"Yes William, what fit?" I couldn't see the look he gave William, but from my experience and the fact that William gulped and shot a glance at me he knew he'd made a mistake.

"Well.... Before, when you found out about-" William tried to think of a way out of his predicament.

"Oh yes, that reminds me.... GO AWAY!" I threw a pillow at Jack, who stumbled a bit when it collided with the back of his head. However, despite my victory, I gasped with pain as I started coughing horribly.

Jack hurriedly helped me to sit up and took the water from Will and helped me drink, soothing my aching throat. "Go watch the wheel." I heard him order, and in no time I heard the cabin door shut.

"Thank you." I sighed with exhaustion, settling back into the bed. "How long was I out?"

"A few days, I'd suppose." He said, dabbing a wet cloth onto my forehead once again. 

"Why me Jack?" I asked, finally sounding like myeself again, "Why?"

"Thomas Ravens." He said, looking at me.

"Who?"

"He's a relative of yours apperantly." I just stared at him, patiently waiting for him to go on. "He was a dreaded pirate. He was also a person of many intrests, particularly of collecting things... particularly valuable things..."

"I get it, get to the point Sparrow."

He made an irritated sound at me before continueing on, " Captain Raven's was not well known as a particularly kind and generous person.  In fact, his main goal was to take as much as possible. He said it was planning for his future. He sealed everything he could into a vault- as it were- and said the key was in his blood."

"I'm his blood?" He nodded. "That still doesn't answer my question. Why me? Why not someone from this time period?"

"Captain Ravens was an incredibly secretive man, obviously. The only way to find his heir would be to kill him at home. Which no one knows where that is. Also, he was not known for his tastes in women." I made a face, nobody wanted to know about exploits when family was involved, no matter how old. "No one knew where to look or even how. I went to Tia, us being on such good terms and all, and the only way to find his heir was to look for something.... let's say publicly recorded." He prompted.

"The car crash." I whispered. He nodded. "You found the paper about my parents car crash?"

"Tia has many talents." I thought about his answer for a moment, and Jack let me. If my parents had never died... Oh I missed them. "Why did you wait three years?"

"Well, you had to be close to the water and it had to be your twenty- third birthday. Water is Tia's specialty, and you know the rest." I looked at my palm for a moment. "Are you hungry?"  I nodded.

When he got back from telling someone to bring some soup, I asked, "So, what now?"

"We figure out the riddle."