I'm back, with the sequel to The Soul of Poseidon's Wrath. Enjoy, and then review.
The Heart of Poseidon's Wrath
Chapter One
Captain Jack Sparrow sauntered through the nearly-empty backstreets of Port Royal, drunkenly swaying and stumbling through alleyways, partially hidden by the shadows. Once he reached his destination, he stopped, looking upwards to see a newly-painted sign hanging from a rusty metal hook that read: "Turner's Smithy", smiled to himself, and opened the door, walking in without any notice.
William Turner was slaving away before the fire, forging a new sword, when Jack walked in and greeted him.
"'Ello, eunuch!"
"Hello Jack," Will smiled wryly. "It's nice to see you, but why are you here?"
"Erm. uhm. I... uhh. I think I need a sword. Right. A sword. Mhmm."
"She's not here, Jack."
"Who? Who's not 'ere?" Jack said too quickly. Will immediately knew that the rumors circulating must be partly true, and that his suspicions had proved correct.
"She's dead, Jack," he continued. "We heard the stories of Henry Morgan's treasure, Ella Raven, and your involvement in the whole ordeal. News travels quickly, I suppose. She died, Jack. She's buried in Port Royal."
Jack's eyes widened in shock. "I still don't know who you're referring to, but if I... hypothetically... wanted ta' see tha' grave you're speaking of... hypothetically, of course, where could I... erm... hypothetically... find it?"
"Near the bay where you dock the Pearl, there's another secluded bay, only a few yards away. There's a huge house, set back onto a cliff. On the cliff is where she's rumored to be buried."
"That's where she would've wanted ta' be," Jack murmured under his breath.
"What, Jack?" Will questioned, but Jack quickly changed the subject and averted his gaze as he began out the door.
"So, whelp, tell me. Where be all of tha' fine members of tha' King's Royal Navy this lovely day?"
"They're getting ready for Lord Beckett's wedding tomorrow. He's marrying a widow... Henry Morgan's other granddaughter, from what I hear. Apparently she's from Spain or the like. Elizabeth told me her name, but I can't really think of it... Esperanza... yes, Esperanza sounds familiar. But at any rate, the soldiers are 'rehearsing'," Will finished with a roll of his eyes.
"Interesting," Jack muttered as he darted out the door once more, leaving Will shaking his head, smiling ruefully.
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Over an hour later, Jack saw the white house that Will spoke about, but as he walked up the the cliff where Ella was supposedly buried, he paused, confused.
Two little girls sat near the gravestone, making flower chains and playing with their dolls, their voices merrily tinkling like chimes in the breeze. They were both pretty girls, but they looked completely different. One had tan skin and long, curly black hair, with beautiful chocolate-y brown eyes, and her playmate, the other was pale, with long, pin-straight blonde hair that shone in the sun like a halo. Her blue eyes matched the sea behind them. She was the more fragile of the two, and it seemed that her playmate protected her out of instinct. Jack observed this as he moved closer.
He slowly approached them, sinking down into the grass beside the stone, rubbing his finger lightly in the grooves of the letters on it. "Here lies Captain Ella Raven," he read silently, sighing. But he didn't regret what he'd said to her on their last meeting. He was still a bit angry and bitter on finding Ella pregnant. But where did the children go, he wondered, and turned his attention to the two sitting before him."
The blonde girl froze, eyeing him strangely, her white-blonde hair being casually tossed by the breeze as he stared, curious, her blue eyes searching his face with recognition. She frowned, almost... angry. The other girl happily jumped up, abandoning her doll and her playmate, and settled herself in Jack's lap, playing with the beads in his hair.
"Hello, mister. Why are there all these funny things in your hair? Mother says that proper men wear wigs, like Grandfather. Why don't you have a wig? Are you not a proper man?"
Jack wasn't quite sure how to respond to this. "I don't wear a wig because they're itchy and they make my head hot. And they make me look like a bloody ponce."
The girl giggled, but then frowned and shook her finger at him. "Mother says that it's naughty to say bad words like that. You should be ashamed!" The blonde girl broke out into a fit of giggles. "You sound just like mother!" she managed, between bursts of laughter.
""Where is your mother?" Jack inquired, for by that time he was extremely curious.
"Well..." the one on his lap started, but was immediately silenced by her blonde friend, who, with a simple glare, shut her playmate up. "She's right there," she said softly, pointing to the stone lying atop the ground, her eyes boring intently into Jack's.
A voice, vaguely familiar from some far-off time, called out from the house and a woman walked out, her black hair pulled up like a lady, her dress a pretty blue that was elegant, if simple. She was barefoot, and strands were escaping from her bun, as the wind tugged her at her hair and clothing. The children ran to her as fast as their legs would allow, yelling and squealing as they tripped and got back up, shouting, "Mother! Mother! Look what I've done..." and as Jack watched, still unnoticed, she scooped them up and returned inside, her mouth moving but the wind catching her words.
Though she was gone, Jack's interest had been caught. Who was this woman, and how were her children the same as Ella's children? She hadn't really looked like the Ella he remembered, she was paler, and substantially neater and cleaner-looking, but there was still that nagging feeling in the back of his mind. "I've got to get a better look at her," he mused, and started for the house.
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A maid was helping me into my corset when Jade said something. "Who was the man outside near your grave, Mother?" she inquired nonchalantly. I turned quickly to face the two that were sitting atop my bed, playing with the newest ribbons and bits and pieces of silks that I'd given them. "Who was near the grave?" I said sharply, instantly regretting my tone. But Melody understood, like she always does. "It was Jack Sparrow, Mother. Perhaps he's come back for us?"
I sighed, turning back around to face the full-length mirror. "No, I doubt it, darling. Jack Sparrow would not come back for anyone. It's in the Code, remember?" And with that, I fell silent, studying myself in the mirror. My curls had been finally tamed by my maid and also friend, Caroline. They were currently swept up, but soon they'd be curled and twisted elegantly every which way, for Lord Beckett had sent me a message, saying that he had changed his plans once again, and our wedding was to be tonight.
I was slimmer now, for after I delivered the twins, Melody and Jade, I had fallen ill, so ill that doctors feared I might not survive. They underestimated me. Ella's spirit is still here, even though the name is changed. I pulled through it. My skin was a lighter shade, not ridiculously pale as was the fashion, but a light caramel, and my blue eyes seemed more intense, even more multi-faceted, if that was even possible.
The girls knew who I was, and what had happened to me. They were sworn to secrecy, an oath that I knew they'd keep. Every time Jade nearly slipped, Melody would silence her with a single glance, telling whatever person necessary the story we'd rehearsed together.
Calypso had been right, one of my children had been effected by my gaining my soul in the nick of time. The twins were now five, and it grew more and more aware to me with each passing day. Melody looked unlike any of my family, though I couldn't vouch for Jack's, with her poker-straight, blonde hair. She had my eyes, but little else. She knew things, instinctively, and often she could read my thoughts, which was unnerving, but otherwise she was a typical five-year-old, if a bit more reserved. Jade was at the opposite end of the spectrum, and I could see both myself and Jack in her, with her curly black locks and dark eyes and skin. She was loud, opinionated, and protected her twin, often fighting the other children at the dame school they both attended.
But I was proud of us. I hadn't been on the sea for five years, and I had kept my 'reincarnation' a secret as well. But most of all, we were surviving without Jack. I knew that I could, but I doubted whether the girls would be able to have fond memories of their childhood without a father. Unfortunately, my grandfather found this out, and being the meddlesome prick that he is, forced me into a marriage with Beckett.
My grandfather had been working for the East India Trading Company the whole time, and he knew that by me marrying Beckett, his position would increase, especially after he lost esteem after handing over the heart of Davy Jones to Calypso. Beckett was the opposite of what I'd ever wanted in a husband: he was cruel; controlling, and unpredictable. His moods changed with the tides, and I hated it. But my grandfather threatened to have me hanged for piracy if I didn't go through with it, thanks to the branding he'd give me all those years ago, on the Poseidon's Wrath.
Caroline helped me into my wedding gown, a huge white monstrosity with dozens of petticoats and starched underthings, with gauzy white fabric, and, of course, long sleeves. Beckett knew that I had a branding, but he didn't know who I actually was. No one else knew about it, though, so I was forced to wear long sleeves, unless I was at home. I had to admit, though, it did look sort of pretty, with its off-the-shoulders neckline and its bodice, embroidered with pearls. Definitely not the thing I imagined for my wedding, but the girls loved it.
"Mother, Mother! You look like a princess from a fairy tale!" they cried, jumping up and down on my bed as Caroline placed the veil over my face and I stood in front of the mirror. "Yes... I suppose I do..." but I was interrupted by the door slamming open and a familiar voice lazily drifting from the doorway.
"'Ello, Lady Beckett. Aren't you looking... expensive."
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The first chapter!! Review and tell me what you think! Hopefully you all like this one as much as the last!
Yours,
--Ella.
Captain Ella Raven
