Chapter 1: Attacking Port Royal
The night was still and quiet but on the smooth dark ocean sailed a ship that was as silent as the wind. The ship was dark with the wood burned from the past and if anyone else sailed past it when the full moon was out they would see skeletons manning the ship but no one ever lived to see the full angle of the ship. The ship itself was deadly and faster than a tidal wave. Many stories circulated because of the reputation that preceded it but no one knew about its captain or crew because no one lived to see them.
Only one person knew the secrets and she was a woman about twenty-eight years old who lived aboard the ship. The ship was called the Black Pearl and it was the deadliest ship known in the Caribbean because it sailed like a ghostly shadow yet did more damage than a cannon. The captain was fearless and dark but the only person who melted his exterior was his wife Melinda Barbossa, a quiet, serious woman who wished for nothing more than to be with her husband.
Melinda Barbossa was a pretty woman who lived in England until she turned sixteen and went off on her own when her parents died. She stowed away on a merchant ship and made a swim for Tortuga, a small pirate-owned island. It was there she met Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow when she went to the Faithful Bride bar and became part of their crew, despite being told that it was bad luck to have a woman aboard. The sea air changed her from a pale, frail young woman to a strong woman with tanned skin and a serious disposition. She married Hector after Jack Sparrow got mutinied and tossed overboard but then the curse happened.
After taking all the gold of Cortes, the crew and Hector began spending it but there was a price: they turned into cursed skeletons that felt nothing nor got injured by anything. Since Melinda didn't touch any of the gold, she didn't turn into a skeleton but had to suffer along with the crew because it pained her to see her husband, so strong and gallant, turning into a skeletal demon.
She watched the crew and her husband kill and pillage towns but now no longer felt anything for anyone (save for Hector). Anyone who saw the woman noticed that she looked older than she was because she frowned so much and looked stressed all the time but that didn't stop her from loving her husband. Her husband, Hector Barbossa, wasn't like other pirates. Instead of getting drunk and staying with strumpets, he chose to stay with her even if he did drink a little. Instead of being stern and distant, he remained ever-faithful and kind towards her even when they got into arguments. When they argued, they always made up and talked everything out.
Melinda sat near the side of the Black Pearl and gazed out into the night with a morose frown on her face. The crew was sleeping and/or drinking and her husband was in the chart room but she didn't want to bother him. It was rare to have time to herself so she decided to savor it. Right now, she thought of her parents and remembered her faith in God. Many pirates believed in different things but they all believed to have a Maker. There was a heaven and a hell, and right now everyone aboard the Black Pearl lived in hell.
"Melinda," she heard the familiar grave, low voice of her husband's voice, "what are ye doin', lass?"
She turned and saw her husband standing there with his map in hand and Jack the monkey on his shoulder. Since they didn't have any children (yet), they had a monkey and named it Jack after Jack Sparrow, previous owner of the Black Pearl. They loved the monkey because he had a personality of his own, despite him turning into skeleton.
"Evening, Hector," she said quietly, staring out at the water. "I was just thinking?"
"About what, my lass?" he asked, sitting down next to her and gazing at her seriously.
"Everything," she answered, feeling tears well up in her eyes. "Hector, what if we can't break the curse?"
A small smile found a way on her husband's weather-beaten face. "We will, m'dear," he said gently, touching her hair tenderly.
"How do you know, Hector?" she asked, turning to face him.
"Because I found the Turner child," he said, smiling widely. "The gold calls to us, remember? Whoever it is, they live in Port Royal, one of the English ports of many. We're close, I can feel it." He gazed off into the horizon and she followed his gaze to see a small port with a few candle lights lit.
"That's it?" she asked, pointing out to the distance.
Her husband didn't answer her but he yelled in his orderly tone, "Land ho! Get on the deck, you curs!" That order was loud enough for even those dozing in the below decks could hear it.
Bo-sun came out from below deck and stood next to the captain. Even though he was on the crew, Melinda still felt intimidated when she was around him so she stood at her husband's other side. The crew got the long boats ready and sat down in them. Under the orders of her husband, the crew fired the cannons to attack the port and as they shot the island she flinched, watching many innocents fall to prey like so many others before.
She closed her eyes to block her sight of the explosions but she could still hear the booming of the cannons and the screams of the innocents. Why did her husband have to be so violent to people who meant no harm to them?
"Hector," she said over the booming of the cannons, turning to him, "what if the Turner child doesn't reciprocate?"
He gave her a wry smile before grabbing her in a tight embrace. "Oh, Melinda," he said as if she said something foolish. "Dear Melinda, if they don't we can always force them." A deadly smirk crossed his face and it sent a shiver down her spine. Despite loving her husband, he scared her—and it was for good reason too.
…
A little later, the crew that got sent to shore came back with a young woman about twenty or so and in her hand was the cursed medallion. She had dark brown hair and fear-filled coffee colored eyes with a white nightgown and some slippers. She looked afraid but she was bold enough to go up with Pintel and Ragetti to confront Bo-sun.
"I wasn't aware that we were taking prisoners," he said in his deep voice.
"She invoked the right of parley with Captain Barbossa," answered Pintel, gesturing to her.
"I am here to…" she started but got cut off by Bo-sun slapping her across the face sharply.
"You speak when spoken to," he said sternly but got detained by Hector.
"And ye'll not lay hand on those under the protection of parley," her husband reprimanded sternly.
"Aye, sir," answered Bo-sun, shaking himself loose and walking off.
This got Melinda's attention so she walked down the stairs of the mast and stood next to Hector, who wrapped an arm around her waist as he spoke to the woman.
"My apologies, miss," he said smoothly, eyeing her carefully.
"Captain Barbossa," said the girl boldly, "I am here to negotiate the cessations of hostilities against Port Royal."
Hector smiled. "A lot of long words there, missy," he said, amused. "We be naught but humble pirates; what is it that you want?"
"I want you to leave and never come back," answered the girl coldly before glancing at Melinda curiously.
"I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request," replied Hector, placing a hand on his hip, "means 'no'."
"Very well," said the girl, holding the medallion and dangling over the water. "I'll drop it."
Melinda gave her husband a fearful look before looking back to the bold miss hostilely. She already didn't like this girl because she was too bold for her own good and she was playing them at her fingertips.
Instead of showing fear, Hector began laughing. "Me holds are burstin' with swag. That bit of shine matters to us? Why?" He gave her a look.
"It's what you've been searching for, isn't it?" she asked, gazing at the crew. "I recognize this ship; I saw it eight years ago on the crossing from England."
"Did ya, now?" asked Hector curiously.
"Fine," replied the girl, "then I suppose if it's worthless there's no point in me keeping it." The chain of the medallion slid in her hand but she caught it when the crew reacted. A smile of victory grew on her face when she heard them gasp. Melinda stared, wanting to slap the girl.
"Do you have a name, missy?" Hector asked.
"Elizabeth…Turner," she answered hesitantly. "I am a maid in the governor's household."
The crew began talking and muttering the name of Bill Turner, the one who doomed them to the curse. Hector looked mildly impressed as he gazed at the girl.
"Miss Turner," he repeated, looking to the crew and his wife. "And how is it a maid hold a trinket such as this? Family heirloom?"
"I didn't steal it if that's what you mean," replied Elizabeth coolly.
"Very well," said Hector, holding his hand out, "ye hand it over and we'll put your town to our rudder and ne'er return."
Elizabeth hand him the medallion and he handed it to Jack, who ran off with it. Hector, Melinda, and Elizabeth watched the monkey for a bit before getting back to the situation at hand.
"Our bargain?" asked Elizabeth anxiously.
Hector merely smiled and nodded to Bo-sun, who began to shouting out orders to the crew. Melinda followed her husband and took his arm as they walked up to the mast. Elizabeth followed after them, shouting in protest.
"Wait!" she shouted. "You have to take me to shore! According to the Pirate Code set up by Bartholomew…"
"Missy," said Hector, turning to face her, "yer return to shore was not part of our negotiation of our agreement so we must do nothing. And secondly ye must be a pirate for the pirates' code to apply and yer not. And thirdly the code is more of guidelines than the actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner."
Elizabeth was taken away by Pintel and Ragetti to be placed in the brig as Melinda and Hector stood at the helm.
As they turned and left Port Royal, Hector noticed his wife's expression was morose and contrite and decided to ask her about it. He hated seeing his wife look so distressed, especially if he was the cause to it.
"Melinda, darlin'," he said, taking her hand in his, "whatever is the problem, m'dear?"
She gazed into his face with her big brown eyes. "Why must we hold this girl captive?" she asked quietly. "I don't like her one bit." Instead of looking hostile, she looked sad and grieved.
Hector stared at her. "For the blood to be repaid," he said, "we need to have her with us until we reach Isla de Muerta so we break this infernal curse. I wish to feel ya as you again. In order ta to that, we need to negotiate with this wench."
Melinda nodded in understanding. "I'll do it…for you, Hector," she said, holding his hand tightly. "I love you."
"I love ye too, lass," he returned in a gentle tone, bending in to kiss her on the lips even though he wouldn't feel it on his lips.
A/N: New PotC story! I hope you all enjoy it! This will follow Hector and Melinda Barbossa's voyage in Curse of The Black Pearl. R&R!