Chapter 2

Marina's POV

I waited for Jack behind a rock, hidden from the nearby humans who were searching frantically for a mermaid in the water. I knew I should've swam away to safety but I couldn't miss a chance like this. Who knew when I would see Jack again?

I watched as he swam towards the shore, looking a bit in shock at what he had just done. Once he was close enough and was able to stand in the water, I revealed myself.

"Jack Sparrow," I said coyly, watching as he froze in place. "Never thought I'd see you again." Jack still didn't move, he looked anywhere but at me before placing a calm expression on his face.

"Marina, love. How nice it is to see you again," he responded, giving me a wry smile which I ignored.

"You bastard," I snarled, my eyes narrowing into furious slits. He backed away from me as I swam closer to him. "You left me, for her!" I yelled, pointing a finger at Angelica whose attention was now on us. All the other pirates were watching us as well. But I didn't care who saw us.

"Marina, darling―" Jack began, reaching a hand towards me.

"No! Don't you dare touch me!" I shouted, willing myself not to cry. The only time I had ever cried was when Jack had left me and I wasn't about to go through that humiliation again.

I heard the click of a gun being cocked and I whipped my head around to see Blackbeard pointing a gun straight at my head. I growled and glared at him.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Two mermaids?" he drawled. I looked behind him to see one of my younger sisters trapped inside a glass tank. "You've been a busy man for the past few years, Sparrow. First, Angelica and now a mermaid," Blackbeard said, a smile on his face. I hissed at him and Blackbeard reached down to grab my chin. "And a pretty one at that," he smirked causing me to growl. I spat at him "With a feisty temper… How did you ever manage to tame her?" he laughed.

"Tame?" asked Jack, a jokingly confused look on his face. The rest of the crew had gathered around us now and I glanced at my sister again. She was looking at me with a sympathetic expression and her eyebrows were scrunched together in worry.

"Where did you meet her?" Blackbeard's eyes traced my features while I continued to glare at him. A peculiar look of lust was mixed into his cold, almost colorless eyes. I bared my teeth at him but my fangs didn't seem to have an effect on him. I ripped my chin out of his hand and he didn't try to grab me again.

"Tortuga," Jack answered and I turned my fiery gaze on him.

"On land? With legs?" questioned Blackbeard, his face confused. I started to back away from the men but Blackbeard turned his gaze on me again. "Don't move," he ordered, his gun still aimed at my had. I stayed put, not wanting a stupid mistake to be the cause of my death.

"Uh…" Jack hesitated to answer, knowing that I would kill him if he revealed this information. The fact that mermaids had the ability to walk on land was a secret that we all liked to keep. Not many people knew this and we all wanted to keep it a secret. Blackbeard pulled out a second gun and aimed it at Jack, forcing him to answer. "Yes, sir," Jack answered quickly.

"Your death will be so brutal, Jack Sparrow, I swear," I threatened and Jack gave me a worried smile.

"Let's bring her along. She may come in handy for other purposes," cackled Blackbeard, playing the gun aimed at Jack back in its holster. He then ordered for his men to pull me out of the water. I hissed and fought the men but I was weak in the shallow water.

The men managed to drag me out of the water, causing the slippery scales on my tail to disappear and reveal legs. I hid in my hair, trying to cover my naked body in front of all these men.

"You will walk," Blackbeard said, smiling evilly at me as I glared back at him.

I jumped when I felt fabric touch my shoulders. I whipped around to see Jack standing behind me, his coat off. I looked at him in a confused way but Jack just stood there, avoiding my eyes. I stood, placing my arms through the sleeves and buttoning up the coat that went down to my lower thighs. I discretely inhaled Jack's scent. It had been so long since I had smelled him or even seen his face.

"Ah, you care for her," Blackbeard stated knowingly. I turned to see a strange smile on his face. "But does she care for you?" he asked, pulling his sword out and pointing it at Jack's throat. I turned my face away but Blackbeard ordered his men to make me watch.

I struggled against their grip but stood still as Blackbeard brought his sword away as if to slice Jack's head off. He swung and I couldn't stop the cry that came out of my mouth. Blackbeard turned to me with a smirk on his face. He hadn't swung his sword all the way, he stopped right before contact with Jack's skin. I slammed my mouth shut and bit my tongue, furious at myself for screaming.

"She does," Blackbeard concluded, walking up to me and moving a piece of hair out of my face. His men back away from and I leaned away from his touch. "What is your name?" he asked, his mouth next to my ear. I shivered at his hot breath. I didn't respond even when I felt the tip of his blade poke into my side.

"Marina," answered Jack. I turned to glare at him again and still, he didn't look at me.

"What a lovely name...Marina…" Blackbeard commented softly. I looked at him in disgust as his face became much too close to mine. My sister's growls and hisses of protest filled the air as she watched us.

"You will die, soon I hear," I snarled, smirking as his expression turned to one of rage. He brought his hand back and smacked me across the face. My weak knees gave out and I fell to the ground.

"Father, we need to go," said Angelica, her accent stirring the memories inside of me. I placed a cool palm against the burning skin on my cheek while I sat in the sand.

"Onward then," ordered Blackbeard, placing his sword in his belt and walking away from me. I felt hands on my shoulders pulling me to my feet. I knew that they were Jack's but I let him do it. I didn't acknowledge him as I stood.

I looked at the ground, biting my lip. I felt gigantic standing on my feet and my legs felt like soaked seaweed strands. I hadn't walked in years. I placed one foot forward, putting my weight on it before stumbling and falling. Jack caught me and placed me upright again.

"I'm still mad at you," I hissed, keeping my voice low. I looked ahead to see my sister looking back at me, her eyebrows still knit together in worry. Her hand was placed against the glass like she wished I was near. I stepped forward again, seeing that the crew was walking farther and farther ahead.

"But you won't kill me...not anymore," commented Jack, stabling me by grabbing my elbow as I stumbled again.

"And how do you know that?" I asked, getting the hang of walking by having Jack hold onto my elbow. My leg muscles seemed to start remembering how walking worked and I grew stronger.

"Because you care," he simply answered, letting go of my arm as I started to walk normally. I opened my mouth to spit back a retort but a voice cut me off.

"Sparrow! Get your bloody ass up here and show me where to go!" yelled Blackbeard's grating voice. He was waiting at the treeline of the jungle; his words prevented me from arguing with Jack any further.

"This isn't over," I growled, stumbling once on my own feet.

"Oh, I know, love," Jack responded, flashing me his silver teeth slyly.

I stared at his face, my eyes tracing his features which brought back the memories again. But I was jerked from my mind as I felt the ground disappear from underneath of me. I realized that I was lifted off the ground and a shoulder was digging into my stomach.

"Cap'n needs you up front, I will bring her," spoke a deep voice and it was the black man covered in strange scars.

"Put me down!" I yelled, clawing at the man's back but he ignored me and just continued to walk at a steady pace towards the others. My nails weren't as long as they usually were considering that I have legs now. When mermaids lose their tails, they lose most of their mermaid qualities as well.

I finally decided to shut my mouth when it was clear that the man wouldn't put me down. I looked back at the beach and the ocean with a melancholy feeling in the pit of my stomach. When we reached the treeline, the man dropped me to the ground causing me to land on my ass. I grimaced and stood, turning to face the snickering crew but a hiss silenced them. I met my sister's gaze and nodded to her, telling her that I was alright but she still looked worried.

"Where will we be heading, Jack?" asked Blackbeard, looking over at Jack's compass. I could see Jack shifting uncomfortably under his gaze.

"This way," Jack pointed in some direction and walked into the thick jungle.

Blackbeard and his men followed, leaving me behind. I sighed, glancing back at the beach. I could just go back now, but what about my sister? And Jack? My sister would need my help, surely she would be killed and Jack...Jack had a pretty big chance of being killed.

I sighed, making up my mind and putting a foot forward again. I smiled to myself as I continued walking through the trees, fairly far behind the crew but keeping up nonetheless.