Author's Apology: I just wanted to say I am so sorry for deleting my last story. In the process of deleting it, it also deleted your comments and I realized that was a stupid move. I should have just replaced the chapters but I wanted to start new. I am so sorry again.

This is a new chapter again. My ideas keep changing but I want to make it as good as possible. :)

Chapter 1

So We Meet Again, Port Royal

Cassandra Lockhart stood at the rail of the Yangfeng and watched the horizon with keen brown eyes. The Chinese merchant ship was nearing Port Royal. Her destination.

The port city was a long-lost friend she was glad to see again. Next to Port York, it had become a second home to her.

She grinned as the wind caressed her skin and playfully tousled her thick dark hair. It would be a mess but she didn't care. She was too busy enjoying the swell of the waves and the fresh, crisp air.

She closed her eyes and-

A voice cut through her wandering thoughts. "Are you ready?"

Cassandra turned to see a Chinese member of the crew, Lee, who was looking at her with inquiring eyes.

She frowned and gave him a funny look, not understanding what he meant by ready. Lee Ming chuckled, pointing to the harbour.

"To get off when we reach the harbour." he explained with a smile.

"Oh!" Cassandra laughed at herself and nodded. "Yes, yes I am." Cassandra's stomach rumbled for a moment with apprehension. She really wasn't ready.

She made her way down the companionway while the sailors reefed the sails and prepared to dock. She had to grab all her things before they moored the ship in the harbour. Her heart pounded with anticipation and excitement. She couldn't wait to arrive but she also wasn't looking forward to speaking with the naval officers who patrolled the shores.

Cassandra sighed heavily. She would have to go through them and explain why a young woman like her was traveling with a bunch of sailors.

I can make up a good story, she thought, making a face and shrugging nonchalantly. Cassandra pinned her hair back in place and put on her white cap, wishing she had a mirror to see it properly. Life on a ship for the past few months had not been easy; the weather had been unpredictable and she had to live in cramped conditions...Not only that- she had also had the added bonus of boredom and loneliness, and was forced to eat dry, salty food all the time.

But it had come to pass, like all things. Now she had other things to worry about, like how she was going to get past the guards.

She walked to the sleeping quarters and grabbed her brown satchel. She opened it and reached inside to pull out a bottle. She needed to hide it so the naval guards wouldn't find it. Cassandra tucked the bottle inside her skirt pocket and put her apron over it.

Smoothing her apron over, she looked down at her satchel, full of extra clothes and tied it shut. Cassandra then readjusted her cap and with a determined stance, hurried up the companionway.

Naval soldiers slowly approached the Yangfeng when they spied it gliding into the harbour of Port Royal. Cassandra stood at the fore of the ship, near the bow, and swallowed hard as she watched them walk toward the ship.

Figures of authority dressed in solemn blue, crisp white and striking gold. With unsmiling faces.

Oh well, they have to look serious. Or else no one would take them seriously. Cassandra reminded herself.

She took a deep breath and as they approached she realized that one of the soldiers was Gillette. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise and she watched him, waiting to see if he'd recognize her or not.

"Hello there!" Gillette called to the captain, Tsai Hui. Hui, a man of average height with a long, greying beard, moved toward the edge of the ship. Cassandra watched as the men lowered the anchor.

"Hello." Hui said calmly. Before Gillette could say another word, the crew lowered the plank and ladders. The captain motioned for the sailors to walk down onto the dock with cargo. Cassandra moved to follow them down the plank.

But as she did, she felt like someone was watching her. She obeyed her instinct and turned to look, and met Gillette's gaze.

When she turned to him, he blinked in bafflement and smiled slightly. "Cassandra?" he called. "Is that you?"

Cassandra cringed inwardly. She had hoped that no one would know she was here. But she had run the small risk of that by coming here and not exactly concealing herself.

She smiled and made her way down the plank. "Yes, it's me!" she responded with just as much fervour. Her brown satchel bag swung as she hurried towards him.

When they were in front of each other, Gillette observed her with a somewhat baffled expression. "How did you get here?" he asked, his brow furrowed. "James told me he had last seen you on an island in the Caribbean..."

Cassandra's anger flared for a moment and she pursed her lips to suppress her anger, but it was no use. It came tumbling out anyway.

"Of course he would say that." she replied sharply, eyes flashing. Gillette stepped back from her a bit, surprised by her sudden anger.

"Well...James will be happy to see you!" Gillette remarked.

"Really, why?" Cassandra asked curiously.

Gillette shrugged with a nonchalant expression. "Groves and I were wondering what had happened to you since then, James too."

Cassandra broke out into a smile. "Oh...well that was very sweet," she said. "It's good to know somebody cares."

Gillette observed her carefully. "You seem a bit...angry."

Cassandra didn't respond to him for a moment, stunned that he could read her so well. "No, no I'm fine..." she lied. She waved a hand and added, "I'm just a little bit agitated from the trip, that's all."

Gillette let out a little laugh. "Well, not all of us can handle sea life..." he remarked.

She shook her head. "No, I'm glad I'm in Port Royal...You wouldn't need to interrogate me by any chance would you?"

"Not unless you're up to no good." he quipped with a smile.

Cassandra laughed nervously. "Me? Never."

"Where will you stay?" he asked.

She shrugged. "At the tavern." she answered nonchalantly.

Gillette frowned. "I'm sure James would offer you space at his estate. Let me tell him"-

"Oh it's fine," she interrupted. "Really it is. I don't want to impose on James."

Gillette shook his head. "But you won't be. Here stay here, I'll go get him." With that, Gillette quickly left to go find James.

Cassandra turned to go but stopped when she saw the look on one of the naval soldier's faces. There was no way she'd sneak past the navy. She inwardly cursed herself, stupid move, Cassandra. She sighed and crossed her arms as she waited. He was someone she didn't want to see.

She didn't have to wait long though; soon enough Gillette was back with James trailing behind him. She watched him with a cold expression. She hardly recognized him- his face seemed a little fuller, like he may have gained some weight, and he looked very weary like he was tired of the world. James's pace slowed as he saw her in the flesh and his green eyes widened.

"Cassandra..." he said with disbelief and elation. "You're... alive," he remarked, still in disbelief. He came to stop in front of her and she instinctively took a step back. He smiled at her. "I'm so glad you're all right..."

She could see and hear the genuine honesty but she knew not to trust him so easily. Not after what had happened.

"A little late, don't you think?" she asked coldly.

James blinked. Clearly he had not been expecting her to be so blunt. His cheery expression faded into distress.

His brow furrowed and his green eyes searched hers. "Cassandra"-

"It's all right, James," she interrupted. "You don't have to explain. I completely understand."

"This didn't work out as well as I thought it would..." Gillette remarked with a disappointed face. He was standing beside them a few meters away, listening to their conversation.

James passed him an irritated look and sighed.

Cassandra ignored it and spoke up. "If you'll kindly allow me to go gentlemen, then I'll be out of your way and on my way through town." she remarked with raised eyebrows.

"Well I see no reason to keep you here..." Gillette answered as he squinted in the sunlight. He looked at James and Cassandra inwardly cringed, not wanting to wait for his authorization.

James looked from Gillette to her and after a moment asked, "Where are you going?"

"To the tavern." she and Gillette answered at the same time.

"There's no need for that," he responded. "I'd be happy to assist you with accommodations."

"See?" Gillette put in.

Cassandra narrowed her eyes at Gillette and then turned her attention back to James. "No thank you. That's taken care of. Goodbye." she said and turned around to walk away.

As she was walking down the dock though, James followed her and said her name. Cassandra rolled her eyes and grudgingly turned around to face him just as he was walking towards her.

"Yes?" she asked annoyed.

After taking a look at her angry expression, he sighed wearily, a look of regret on his face. His green eyes were steady and calm. "I know you're mad at me..." he started. Cassandra looked away as he spoke. "And I'm sorry for what I did. If I could, I would fix it."

Cassandra turned her eyes to his, shaking her head sadly. She saw the earnestness in his eyes but she couldn't bring herself to believe him.

"I just don't trust you anymore, James." she admitted, her voice sad.

"I'm sorry Cassandra..." he said quietly, his voice filled with regret.

Cassandra looked down and swallowed nervously. She turned away. "I...I have to go." she said, and without another word or glance, walked away from him.

James stood there a moment and watched her form walk away, wondering if she would ever forgive him. Normally she was a very gentle and mild woman, and so it was very unlike her to be so angry. But he could understand her anger.

He sighed and turned away after she had disappeared from sight. There's no point in sulking about it if she doesn't care to be around me, he thought.

James shook his head and straightened, walking back to where the Yangfeng was still unloading. If there was one thing that was still constant in this world it was work. Things still needed to be done.

Groves approached him with a report. "This report needs to be given to Beckett. It's a record of all the ships that have come in this morning and activity observed on the waters."

James took the report. "Bad or good?" he asked as he flipped through it.

"Good. It seems like Beckett's tactics have scared off the pirates. We've only seen merchant ships in the waters so far..." he said.

"Hmm," James murmured thoughtfully. He closed the report with finality. "Good."

Groves left him and James made his way up to Beckett's office. The spacious and plush office was located in the stone fortress, which stretched over the entire shoreline of Port Royal. The fortress was not only a symbol of strength but of power. Beckett had strengthened this idea of power when he had arrived and taken over Port Royal.

James stopped in front of the glass doors of his office and waited for Mercer to leave. Beckett's office was situated right in front of the harbour so Beckett could keep a close watch. Mercer saw James and turned back to Beckett.

A second later James heard Beckett's voice. "Come in Admiral." he commanded shortly.

James had been elevated to the position of Admiral, as a reward in exchange for Davy Jones's heart. A year ago a promotion would have been important to James but after all that he had lost it didn't mean anything to him.

He walked into the office which had a warm interior to it despite Beckett's cold demeanour. Elegant chairs with intricate wood carvings sat in front of the fireplace to his left, along with various gold-lined law books on a bookshelf. A map of the world, enlarged, lined the wall ahead of him and to his right sat Beckett's desk, in front of a large window, flanked by heavy velvet curtains of a beige color.

The man at the desk was small but the power he exuded was immense. He looked inexpressive as usual, a calm, observant look on his face. He looked up at James.

"What do you have for me?" he asked a trace of curiosity in his voice.

James walked up to the desk and held out the folder. "A report of the ships seen this morning."

Beckett took it and flipped through the report. He then closed it with an unimpressed "Mhm."

James stood there a moment, not sure what to do. Beckett leaned back in his chair and sighed as he looked at the report on his desk. Finally he spoke.

"We must observe everyone with the utmost degree of suspicion," he told him. He looked up at James with stern green eyes. "Remember that everyone is a suspect. No one can be trusted. Keep looking for any suspicious activity," he told him. "I have a feeling that we haven't rid the Caribbean of all pirates yet."

"Yes, I'll get right on that." James answered, turning around and walking quickly toward the open door. As James came out of the office, he stopped at the balcony, disturbed at what had occurred to him as he had listened to Beckett. Everyone was a possible suspect and that included Cassandra. He had no idea why she was in Port Royal...but he had to find out.