Emerald Seas

Chapter 15

Kate watched Jack almost finishing the bottle. He moved up the last bit of the probably expensive liquior to his face as his questioning eyes asked her if she'd like a sip. Kate moved her hand up and signed she was alright. Suddenly the doors opened and they watched Cutler moving out of the room, his face was red, his fists squeezed tightly. Kate rose from her chair quickly, lifting her dress she moved into his direction, her heels echoing on the marble floor beneath the silk of her long skirt. Her hands lowered onto Cutler's fists, she felt his tense body relax somewhat when he felt her touch.

'Cutler, what happened?' Kate noticed things were wrong. She'd never seen Cutler like this before. He'd always stayed calm in difficult situations, being a man of etiquette and he behaved like every gentleman should. But there was an anger boiling inside him and it seemed like he hadn't been able to control his temper.

'I am not leaving you behind, Kate. You hear me, I am not leaving you here' Cutler started mumbling while pointing with his index finger, his blue eyes piercing hers. Jack had moved up to them, the empty bottle tightly in his hand. Kate knew what he was speaking of and lifted her hand to her lips. This could only mean trouble.

'Why did he ask this of me?' Cutler watched Kate and noticed she understood the situation without him telling her what happened inside the meeting room.

'Kate, what's wrong? Is there something I should know? Cutler continued when he noticed her concerned look. The doors of the meeting room abruptly opened again. Mercer and the Company's men left the room, followed by some of the King's men. It looked like the King was not letting them go.

'We need to leave now, Sir' Mercer marched in a quick pase into their direction, adressing Culter. Kate for a slight second wondered whether it was the first time she saw Mercer out of his always calm state. They moved through the large halls as the sound of the King's men quickly followed.

'We need to do something before we end up in jail' Jack took Kate by her arm out of concern as he didn't seem to feel like their pace was fast enough, her eyes shifted to him.

'Would he go that far?' Kate asked Jack. He nodded slightly in the rush through the large palace.

'Never trust a King' Jack spoke like he had experience.

'She needs to leave this place, now' Jack repeated and Cutler moved to him still holding Kate's arm and pulling her along,  he stopped for a moment.

'Sparrow, what are you doing?' Cutler was afraid once she left his side he won't be able to protect her anymore.

'She needs to leave Court as soon as possible, Sir' Jack's eyes moved to Cutler looking up at him, it was obvious he tried to straighten his back to show who was in charge.

'You forget your place. You are not the one making decisions here' Cutler hissed into Jack's direction, their faces only inches apart. Kate moved in between their discussion, her hands separating them, her small fingers resting on both their chests.

'Cutler, Jack is right. If we stay we might get arrested when not following the King's orders' Kate spoke while Cutler taking her hand firmly out of concern moved them to the place beneath large staircase of the palace as they had moved down in a quick pace, hiding from the King's men that were looking for them. Mercer and the other men moved on, to make sure the path ahead was secured. They had only mere minutes before they would be discovered. Kate saw Cutler's eyes staring, she knew he was making up a plan quickly.

'I'll go back, I will deal with it here, explaining it was all one big misunderstanding. Sparrow, take her with you. If anything bad happens to her I will personally..' before Cutler could finish Jack interrupted him 'I will protect her with my life'