Burning - Killian Jones x Reader - Chapter Three

The sun’s fierce essence blazed the through the uncovered window below deck, where you stirred from your brief slumber. The night had been long and your stomach still felt restless upon the calm waves, despite the past  weeks being spent on your father’s ship. You clenched your eyes shut, attempting to bar the sun from your dry eyes but alas you could find no way to keep from waking, the harshness of the tight ropes a constant reminder of the nightmare you were currently living. You writhed your arms, the stinging offering some comfort as they at least hadn’t lost all feeling, yet your legs were numb and your spine ached. Blinking a few times to adjust to the brightness of the cabin, your groggy stare eventually fell upon the closed door opposite you before following along to the messy desk, down to the locked chest, the bookshelf brim full of books and the maps that decorated the walls. Eventually, you spotted a familiar item; your looking glass. The large mirror, ornamented and framed by floral gold spirals, stood by the bookshelf. Knowing you should feel angry such a priceless gift from your father was on board the scoundrel’s ship, you were ever-so-slightly grateful that it hadn’t gone down with the precious ship, along with your chest of mementos and valuables, the reminiscent thoughts causing a throb of loss to replace the sliver of appreciation.

“Damned bastard.” You muttered bitterly, testing your bonds once more, your chafed wrists and ankles throbbing, the pain sharp enough to grant you a soft yelp.

“Ain’t it a bit early for a lady t’be cursing?”

You flinched as your eyes flickered over to the mirror which reflected the sight of  the mentioned bastard’s legs upon his pillows, his stomach flat on the bed. You could imagine the rest for yourself , though you still turned your head to throw a daggered glare at the pirate lounging his head on the back of his hand, gaze focused on you.

“Isn’t it a bit irresponsible of the Captain to be shirking his duties?” You snapped, baring your teeth slightly, though your viciousness didn’t go unnoticed.

“Oh, such a sharp little tongue. Besides, my duties don’t start until six today, my lady.” He commented, fingering a loose lock of hair. You hissed through your teeth and jerked your head away from him, your hair slipping smoothly from his hand.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Why not? You’re mine, now, princess. Surely I can do with my own belongings as I please?”

“No, because I don’t belong to you.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Since when?”

“Since I kidnapped you, have you not been paying attention?” Killian smiled at this, finding his captive’s responses overly amusing as he rolled off of his bed and crouched down next to you. His gaze flickered over your grimace due to his closeness, down to the rope around your waist, trapping your body against the wooden bedpost, and even further down, past the splayed silk of your dirtied dress to the bound ankles near hidden beneath your dress’ folds.

“Are you in pain?” He inquired, the smile gone and instead what you may have mistaken for slight concern should you have been naive enough to fall for his charm. No, he was just curious. At least that was the only thought in your mind, though another crept up on the idea of the black market. You’d been pondering the thought for a while; why had he kidnapped you? To ransom you? No, your family was in ruins. That’s why you were setting sail for the mainland, for the--- No, let’s not think of such a dreaded topic, you thought with a cringe. Instead, what was most likely was that he was planning to sell you. The conclusion brought a lump to your throat which you forcefully swallowed to throw as strong a glare as you could manage at the scheming pirate.

“Yes. Why do you ask?” You breathed, deciding to contain your initial panic and remain calm, despite your overwhelming urge to scream and throw a fit in order for him to release you. Of course, your pride stopped you from even daring to plead for your life and purity, mainly because you definitely did not want him to know of your virginity. So many problems could arise from it; higher pricing, rape and whatnot. No biggie.

“I don’t want to be selling damaged merchandise, now do I?” Came his snide remark, all traces of concern washed from his features and a smirk drawing the corners of his lips up as pure horror erupted on your features; wide eyes, dilated pupils, trembling lips. The sight was so beautiful it was almost aroused the pirate, though it was near enough a bluff.

“Nah, don’t fret, lass. I shan’t be selling you just yet. I have other plans for you.”

You let out a sigh of relief and dropped your gaze, though the confusion soon set in again as you glanced up from your lap and back at his face. “What other plans?” You questioned in a higher pitch, your curiosity seemingly more urgent than before.

He laughed, glancing down at the floor before raising his eyes, head still downcast, to look at you. “Oh, I shan’t be ruining the surprise just yet.” He replied before shuffling towards you and raising his hook. Your breath hitched and you opened your mouth to loudly protest against such brutal slaughter until his face neared your own, the intimacy between the lack of distance not unlike the previous night, when he had so brutally bruised your lips.

“Just sit still, love. This will only take a second.” He grinned, his deep eyes boring into your own until you accepted your fate and turned away, clenching your eyes shut as you awaited your demise. Only to slump sideways, your shoulder bumping the floor as the ropes wrapped around your waist were cut. No sooner had you fallen were you hoisted upright, still sat on the floor, and turned so that your back faced the pirate who soon freed your wrists and then fumbled through the layers of petticoats to cut the rope around your ankles. The blood flowed into your hands, causing a tingling yet stinging sensation, the relief of being able to move overbearing the aggravation against the discomfort of pins and needles in both your feet and hands.

“There. Now that wasn’t so bad no was it?” You heard his voice over the scuffling of him rising to his feet, and so turned to look up at him and for the first time actually noticed him. You noticed his brown trousers that softly clung to his toned calves, the loose shirt tucked in at the waistline though hung out from the back, the lack of coverage from the top of his abs up to his collarbone, the strong jawline etched with stubble and the oh-so-handsomely-structured face, one that would send every girl falling to their knees when deplored appropriately. As you noticed this, he noticed your long and observing stare as well as the rising pink on your cheeks while your rubbed your sore wrists.

“Like what you see, madam?” He jested, offering a hand to help you to your feet of which you hesitantly accepted, embarrassment forcing you glance away for a moment or two before hand. Your whole body ached as you gained your footing, knees almost buckling under your weight though a strong hand on your hip kept you upright. Your gaze shot down to it and though appreciative as you were, you had to prove that you still considered him the enemy.
He killed my crew, you reminded yourself, he killed Russell.

Instantly you shoved him away and clenched your fists, all of his handsome features turning sour as you recalled the horrid soul they hid away beneath them. Killian simply raised his brows and sauntered forward, closing the distance your step had created. Panicked, you held out your hands and shoved him back the step he’d taken.

“Stop that. Stay away from me and tell me...explain to me why I’m here. Why did you just free me? Are you toying with me?” You demanded, eyes narrow and dry and brow furrowed with confused frustration.

“Love…” He began, raising his hook and eyeing it casually, “I don’t play with my food. I just eat. And as delightful as it was having a bound damsel at the foot of my bed, in my chamber, it would have been even worse hearing you drone on and on or begin to whine.”

“You have no proof that I would have done any of that.”

“No, I don’t. But I have experiences with rich little girls that lead me to assume, just as you assume that all pirates are evil.”

“You haven’t demonstrated anything heroic, sir.”

“Aye, that’s true.”

Silence followed his agreement until he sharply snatched your forearm and pulled you into him. You choked on a shriek, and immediately attempted to wrench yourself away from him, only to have him turn and throw you against the door, following in and closing you in, with his hook on your neck and his hand taking your left wrist to hold against the wood.

“What are you--- ?!”

“Mi’lady, I don’t really want to have to restrain you again, so here are some ground rules. You are my rpisoner. We’re on open shark infested waters and you have no where to go. Steal or attempt escape; expect punishment. Once I have what I require, you will be of no use to me and free to go, understand?” He stated clearly, his face once again, only centimeters from your own; he must not understand the concept of personal space.

“Fine. But what about my retribution? You killed my crew, including a young boy! And I haven’t even heard one word of apology from you or anything--- !!!” You rant was cut short, muffed by the lips that landed on yours, swallowing your angry cries and instead caused you to squeal out of shock. No sooner did Killian pull away and smirk at the silenced woman before him.

“Lass, don’t make this too complicated. Either, we take on a large number of captives and have them starve to death in the brig, or perhaps work ‘em and allow all our food rations to dwindle, or maybe even set them free and allow them to either attack us or gather reinforcements to rescue you which would most likely cause the ultimate death of my crew and I.” He explained, while you stood there dumbstruck by the logic in his words and the cruelty of such self-preservation. “We did pray for their souls and we did offer them a choice. And for your information, your young lad isn’t dead.”

You choked, heart thumping so loudly you were positive he could hear it. Russell was alive?

“H-How? I mean-- Where is---?”

Just at that moment, your rambling inquiries were interrupted by a knock on the door and an ever-so-familiar voice calling from the other side, “Captain, are you ready to see me?”

“Right on time, come on in, lad.” Killian grinned, simultaneously pulling you from the door and stepping away, his arm slipping around your waist to hold your rigid body against his. “Prepare yourself, love. You’re about to meet the most cunning pirate on the seven seas.” He whispered down to you as the door opened and in walked in the teen you had grown to adore, wearing an apologetic smile.

“Hello, _____” He greeted softly, your strongbox in his hands. You gaze filled with tears almost immediately and despite how much you desperately wanted to hold the cabin boy in your arms, Killian’s words were not lost on you.

“Formalities later, lad.” Killian stated before flickering his gaze down to you and squeezing your side uncomfortably. “Now, lass. This is where your part begins. I need you to open your strongbox and hand over that lovely jewel you have tucked away inside.”

And at that very second, everything made sense. Russell was one of the pirates. He’d been spying on you since your engagement, since the day you received that blasted stone. You possessed the key to unlock the chest and you alone knew how to figure the intricate lock. And you’d revealed it’s hiding place to one of the only people you thought you could trust, only for him to betray you in such a brutal manner.

“See, originally, I’d thought we’d be able to find the key ourselves, but when Russell explained that only you knew of it’s whereabouts, well...you suddenly became of value, my dear.” The pirate snidely remarked, only to get a fist to his jaw and shoved aside. Surprised by your sudden attack, Killian stumbled backwards, tripping over his own foot and falling to the floor while your shoved past Russell, whom in turn dropped the strongbox on his foot and yelped in pain.

You threw the door open and dived out of the cursed from, causing a few heads to turn and glance at you, viscious smiles and shocked gaping mouths being the only reaction you noticed in that split second, before you ran forward, slipping past the large pirate who lunged for you and running down the steps towards the brig, holding up your skirts as you did. Behind you, you could hear Killian shouting and barking orders, men tumbling over themselves to catch up to you as you fled past the working men, who merely glanced up as you fled past, unsure of what to do, while you ran out of sight and the other pirates came rumbling past.

You turned a corner and ran straight into the closest room with a closed door, of which just so happened to be the weaponry room, filled to the brim with guns, swords and barrels of powder. Instantly you locked the door with all three of the bolts attached, before pushing barrel upon barrel in front of the door, just as you could hear men’s voices nearing it. You glanced around in a fit of panic, before taking hold of one of the daggers on the shelving unit in the farthest corner and cutting the lace holding your bodice on and the unhitching skirt over layering, leaving you in your corset, petticoat and crinoline, until you untied the blasted thing, your clothing now a scattered pile on the ground as the pirates started fumbling with the door.

A lump rose in your throat as you frantically ripped one of your skirts, tying the strip of fabric exceedingly tight around your corset, glancing up at the door as the men started shouting and slamming against it. You then grabbed at a pair of flintlock pistols, a cutlass and a dagger, tucking them into the makeshift belt.

“What now, _____? Think! C’mon!” You whispered furiously, not noting how you were shaking like a leaf as the pirates began to hack and shoot  at the door’s hinges. You spun in a circle, eyes landing upon the cannon hatches lined across the wall.

“Of course! They must have had cannons in here at some point, but moved them to make space for the weapons!” You cried joyfully, just as the shooting stopped and you heard your enemies begin to pull at the door, the busted hinges almost giving way as you glanced back and then threw yourself forward.

Killian was now pushing his way through the men, until he reached the ones pulling at the door. “Get on with it. The little hussy is in need of a spanking or two.”

Some of the men chuckled amongst themselves as the two at the door finally yanked it from the frame, moving aside to allow their captain to barge past.

“Now, lass, you’ll be happy to know that I’ll be more than happy to lessen your punishment if you apologize,” He began, kicking the barrels aside as he addressed you, “--- and perhaps warm my be...d……”, only to drift off as his eyes met an empty weaponry ornamented by torn fabric and a crinoline.

“Where the fuck did she go?!”