Twisting her wrists against the rope and feeling no give, Fia resigned herself to the situation and relaxed her body. Bruises were beginning to appear on her throat, dappling her neck with dark amethyst marks, like storm clouds gathering along a horizon.
Hearing voices through the wall, she pressed her ear against it and heard the captains sturdy commanding voice.
"Who else was involved?" he asked sharply.
A muffled younger voice returned weakly. A crash and dragging noise followed with a mans voice wailing.
The door to the cabin swung open and Jack entered dragging a young man by his hair, followed by a menacing looking member of the crew. No one turned to glance at Fia.
The younger crew member looked to be about 19 and was begging the other two to forgive him.
"Please...I didn't know. He said it was ok. I won't do it again I'm sorry -please" he went on between sobs.
"WHO said it was ok" growled the menacing looking man, brandishing a cutlass.
"I ... I cant say" the young man stammered "He'll kill me."
"You leave me no choice then." Said Jack, resolutely, nodding to the other crew member.
The young man screamed as the menacing man pulled his wrist taught on the table and hacked at his pinkie, severing it from his hand.
"What's he done?!" asked Fia, the words leaving her lips before she realized she was speaking.
"Shut your mouth, whore" barked the other man. Jack tapped him on the shoulder.
"It's alright." said Jack to the man, as he turned to face Fia.
As he began moving closer to her, Fia feared she would regret speaking up but knew she couldn't live with herself if she sat by silently while this young man was tortured.
"This man stole from me- from all of us." Jack returned. The young man began again, spewing apologies and declarations of loyalty.
"He won't tell us willingly who masterminded this plot, so we have to force it from him, unfortunately." Continued Jack.
"Please tell them." Fia begged the young man. "Don't waste your life protecting someone who put you in this position. It will be alright. Just tell them." She pled.
The young man looked at her pleadingly, tears streaming down his cheeks. "It was Ratlin, Sir." He sobbed.
Looking at Fia, Jack broke into a curious smile like she was a child who had said something amusing. He strode over to the men and patted the younger one on the back.
"Thank you, Peter. I appreciate you telling me." Jack said earnestly.
He turned to the other man and calmly ordered, "Hang them both from the sails as a warning to the others."
The young man let out a haunting cry as he was dragged from the room. Fia looked on in horror, tears forming in her eyes. The door shut.
Jack stood facing the window silently.
The sky was now a dark indigo, with the moon set high like a gleaming Opal. The water was still.
Fia realized she had been holding her breath, although she wasn't sure for how long. Time had stopped.
The trancelike moment lifted and Jack moved to the bar, pouring himself a glass of the dark brown liquor and turning to Fia.
He walked towards her and knelt, noticing, for the first time the bruises on her neck and feeling a wave of guilt.
Fia slowly moved her eyes upwards to meet his, feeling her face grow hot from embarrassment. She wanted desperately not to let him know he was affecting her so powerfully.
Seeing her eyes welling with tears, he reached out his hand to brush them away. He noticed her wince as he touched her cheek. Now, he thought, she saw he was a monster.
His dark amber eyes fixed on hers as he undid the rope fastening her wrists. He offered her his glass, and she took it, draining its contents swiftly. Jack smiled and lifted her into his arms, as she let out a frightened yelp.
He carried her to the bed and sat her down gently. Climbing on top of her, he began to kiss where the bruises had formed along her neck.
"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I shouldn't have used so much pressure on you..." he said tracing the discolorations with his fingertips.
Fia tried to maintain composure but swore he could hear her heart pounding. She tried to even her ragged breath. He could see she was in distress. He leaned down and kissed her softly.
Deepening his kiss, he effortlessly unfastened several of Fia's buttons and pulled the neckline to the side exposing all of one shoulder and her breast- making her whimper with surprise. Kissing down her neck, he felt her begin to struggle, squirming beneath him. He continued kissing down to her breasts, pulling her taut, tan nipple into his warm mouth, and circling it with his tongue. Fia heard a breathy gasp enter her throat before she even knew it was coming from her. Upon hearing her arousal, Jack pulled the rest of the white shirt from her chest and threw it from the bed.
Now he let his hands roam freely over her breasts and hips, dipping between her legs. Fia twisted from his touch, closing her legs tightly. Undoing his pants quickly, his cock sprung out, pressing itself at her opening.
