Damned (15 page)

“Enough.” He roars. “What the fuck are you doing here Jade?”

Rusty shakes his head, again glaring at Jax. “Really Cap, you’re going to be an asshole?”

“Back down Rusty.”

I shake my head. “I am on my way somewhere, to see a friend. I ran away.”

“You’re on your way to the ocean floor, this is a fucking loaded ship Jade. It’s been set to go down in twenty four hours.”

“W-w-what?”

“It’s been used, finished, it’s time for it to go down. They send them out to the ocean full of explosives. We raid them because we take all the sheets, china and anything else we can get hold of. You insane idiot, you didn’t notice there were no people?”

I huff. “Don’t call me an idiot, I only got on before…I didn’t realize it was empty.”

“Well, we got no choice now, we gotta take you on board.”

“I am not going anywhere with you.”

“Have it your way, this ship blows up, and you blow with it.”

Rusty gives me a worried look. “Come on lass, we can drop you off at shore.”

“I…am meeting somebody in America.”

“What, a little lover?” Jax snorts. When I don’t deny it, he stiffens. “You ran away from home, for some man you don’t know?”

“I know him very well and yes, I ran away. James was planning on bumping me off, and my father wouldn’t listen to me, not to mention…I am not actually a princess.”

Jax shakes his head. “We don’t have time for this now, you stay and die or come with us.”

“Will you take me to shore?”

“When I pass by shore, perhaps. Make the choice, we leave now.”

I mumble under my breath and nod. “Fine.”

“Come on lass, the crew will go wild to see you.” Rusty says, taking my hand and leading me towards the deck. I tell him I have to get my things, and he wait’s while I get it all and rush back up.

I can’t explain the crazy feeling of love I feel when I get onto that ship. I am hugged, pulled, kissed and torn in so many directions I know it will hurt tomorrow. I can’t wipe the grin from my face; it feels like home to me. When the excitement dies down, Jax yanks my arm towards a room and shoves the door open.

“You can stay here.”

“Fine.” I snap curtly and go to shut the door, but he puts his arm up and stops it.

“You told me you loved me?”

“You know pirate, I was wrong. I lusted you; I was sexually attracted to you because you made me feel good. I didn’t know what love was. You did the best thing for me leaving because I would have only hurt myself further, instead I moved on.”

It is a lie, a huge lie. If he knew how my heart was straining against my rib cage right now, how my stomach is twirling with pain and hurt over seeing him again, he would know it is all a massive lie.

“So, you were all fake too. You never really cared about me?”

“No you’re wrong, I did care about you. I just didn’t love you. You’re right; love is a huge waste of time. I would never have learnt that without you.”

“You said you have a lover you’re running to?”

“I care a lot for him, I will marry him and have children with him. He will take care of me, but I will never give my heart to anyone again.”

“I thought you said you didn’t love me, so how did you give your heart to someone?” He murmurs, and I curse myself on the inside.

“I gave my heart to you all the same, love or no love. I trusted you, and you were my friend, friends can break hearts too Jax.”

He stares at me for a long moment. “Whatever, I won’t be docking for some time in America. You stay with us until then.”

“How long?”

“Months, at least three.”

“WHAT!”

“It was that or die, be grateful.” He snarls, slamming the door.

I yell out curses to him, then turn and face the room. It is rather nice, considering it’s on a ship. The walls are wooden, the same dark pine the rest of the ship. There’s a small window on the far wall, its round, just like in the movies. There is a double bed, which I am grateful for. It has a bundle of new sheets sitting on it, thanks to the ship that I was on. There is a small bathroom and toilet off to the side; it is modern enough and quite clean. The room’s small, but it is cozy.

I have to wonder what will it be like on this ship for months? Would I see horrible things? Would I witness death? I shiver; I hope and pray it is a quiet, quiet few months. I sit on the bed, staring down at my bag, before riffling through it and finding my phone. I have to let Keegan know I would not be
there for a little longer. He answers on the second ring; his voice is calm and soothing, like it always is.

“Hey.”

“Hey girl, how are you?”

I explain to him what has happened, and the line falls silent for a long while.

“You’re on the ship, with your old lover?”

“It’s hardly like that Keegan; he despises me and the feeling is mutual.”

“So…how long until you make it here now?” Disappointment washes through his tone.

“A few months, I am so sorry.  Death is the alternative, so I am not ungrateful.”

He sighs. “No of course not, neither am I.”

“I have eyes only for you, it was over between Jax and I a long time ago. You believe that, don’t you?”

“I trust you Jade.”

“Ok, listen there is someone knocking, I have to go.”

“Be safe.”

“You too.”

I hang up the phone and walk over to the door. It is a light knock; I assume female or somebody with some respect. I open it and make a strangled sound; it is Jack. The years have been kind to him; he has not aged a day and is still extremely handsome.

“Oh Jack.” I cry, throwing my arms around his neck.

“Hi sweetheart, I couldn’t believe it when they said you were back. Can I come in?”

“Oh, please do!”

“How are you feeling?” He asks, sitting on my bed.

“Confused. I really cannot believe Jax raided the one ship I was on. I suppose he saved my life; I would have died otherwise.”

“How are things since you have been back on board?”

“I refuse to let him know how I feel, I said I have moved on. The man I am seeing is lovely but, I don’t think I feel how I should about him.”

“You still love Jax?”

“Yes and no. I do, but I am so angry at him for leaving me the way he did.”

“He always said he would run Jade, you knew that.”

Jacks eyes are gentle as he speaks, I sigh and plonk down next to him. “I know but a letter? Really? I know I shouldn’t have fallen for him, but I did.”

“Are you staying?”

“I don’t think so, I should go and move on. If I don’t…”

“He will break your heart sweetheart, I assure you.”

“I have no doubt. He has moved on anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

“He hasn’t moved on; he went back with Bella for a while, but she left in a hurry over something. Then, he has just been with the girls on the ship, even that has been few and far between. Not his usual self.”

That gave me a small sting of hope. “Anyway, how do you survive all these hours on a ship? I am bored already.”

He smiles, reaching out to grasp my hand. “Come.”

He leads me down the hall, to his room. When he opens the door I gasp, beautiful sculptures of ships and castles, hand made and carved from wood; line the room.

“Oh Jack, did you do all this?”

“Sure did.” He says, walking to his cupboard and opening the door. He pulls out a small carved ship and hands it to me. On the side, he has carved “Jade”.

“You made this for me?”

He nods, sitting on the bed.

“Why?”

“Because, you changed us all, when you left I decided to make it.”

“Are we friends Jack?”

He smiles. “We most certainly are, you are without fail my friend and the only decent one I have had in a long time.”

“Right back at you.”

“How do you think you will cope on the ship if a battle occurs?”

“I haven't really thought of it, I am certainly not as tough as you lot.”

“Might have to roughen you up a bit then?” He smirks.

I lean into him. “Maybe Jack, maybe.”

“Do you want to learn how to carve?”

I beam. “Please.”

“Come then, let me show you.”

I spend the rest of the few hours left of darkness carving with Jack; then I decide to go and check out the view up on deck. The sun is just rising in the distance; the clouds linger beside it, waiting for it to pop up and shove them out of is glorious way. The ocean is still, no waves rack the ship. I peer out quietly, alone in my thoughts as I sink down onto a nearby wooden chair. I feel myself drifting off when a hand shoves me. I open my eyes to see Jax.

“It’s dangerous out here.”

“Hello to you too.” I mumble, straightening and stretching.

“The enemy ship is lurking Jade, you need to be careful up here. You won’t see them, but they can see you from miles away. One shot and…”

“I get it,” I snap, standing. “I will go play prisoner again.”

“You don’t have to hide in you’re room, dinners on every night in the dining room and music, things like that.”

“To socialize with you, I think not.”

He glares at me. “Don’t be a bitch to me, I saved your ass mate.”

“Wow, you’re going to use that? Honestly? If you want to get technical, RUSTY saved my ass.”

“Don’t play with me Jade, I do not have the patience for it.”

“Aye Aye!” I salute sarcastically.

“You said you’re not a princess anymore, how is that?” He asks, ignoring my rude outburst.

“None of your business.” I growl, standing and storming off. He doesn’t follow me.

I don’t go to dinner that night; instead Sam br
ings me a tray of food. She sit
s beside me on the bed as I eat. I am rather surprised at the amount of delicious food that has been prepared. Chicken with rice, steamed vegetables and a golden syrup pudding for dessert; served with ice cream.

“How have you been honey?”

“Not too bad.”

“I heard about you running away, your parents have not managed to track you down obviously?”

“I am not sure they really want to.”

“Are you truly not a princess?”

“Apparantley not, so I overheard anyway. I didn’t confirm it, but something tells me it is true you know?”

“Sometimes feelings are all the confirmation you need.”

“Anyway, how are you?”

“The usual, healing wounded men.”

I laugh. “Sounds fun, too bad they aren’t sexy.”

“Two are.” She smiles.

“Oh Jack?”

“At least he is pleasant to clean up, Jax grunts and swears the entire time. Though it’s always fun to touch him.”

I stare at her with raised eyebrows and a mouth full of food. I swallow it then speak. “You got a little thing for the Captain?”

“Nah, I think it’s just a normal womanly reaction. He is so damned hot it is hard not to want to be in his bed every night, but I have to share.”

“You sleep with him too?”

I feel hurt; I know he sleeps around, but I assumed it was only Gazelle.

“Yeah, here and there.”

“Oh.”

“I’m sorry Jade, I thought you knew?”

“I did, it’s just tough.”

“Gazelle takes favor, I don’t know why. I think she is just easier and prefers to hurt him. I never really got into it, I don’t like to hurt people. I am a healer. And besides, he gets so taken up with it sometimes and hurts us. With those damned claws.”

“Claws?” I ask, confused.

“You…you…oh…”

“Sam what?”

“You don’t know about the curse?”

“What bloody curse?”

“Oh. Jade. Talk to Jax.”

“Sam!”

She stands and leaves before I can get any more information out of her. What claws? What curse? I sit on my bed, pondering it, when suddenly my door bursts open. Jax saunters in, drunk as a skunk.

“Do you mind?”

He stares at me. “I wanna talk to you.”

“Good because I want to talk with you.”

He begins walking in until he meets my bed, then he kneels down onto it and actually crawls towards me, so I begin backing up until my back is pressed against the wall. He shoves his body so close to mine; I can taste the rum on his breath.

“You’re too close, move away.” I breathe.

He grins. “Can’t handle it? I thought you didn’t want me, if you don’t want me what does it matter?”

“Every girl wants you Jax, now move off.”

“So you do want me?”

“Jax.”

“I want you, I am so god damned hard it’s killing me. I haven't fucked a woman for over two months.”