Chapter Two – Discussions of a Curse

Not 100% sure if I like this chapter, anyway I introduce to you the crew of the "Raging Mare"...yay...woot...ok its not that exciting...just a little confusing

Jack Sparrow stared in open awe after the "Raging Mare". The whole conversation with his sister, Bonnie-Kate had just gone completely over his head. The only thing that kept circling through his head was the fact that she was alive.

A sudden rush of gilt swirled though his body. He'd left them, left them all to death. Four out of his crew of forty seven had survived. Each and every one of them had been good sailors, and he couldn't help but notice the dark stare that Ice – the man beside his sister – had given him as the Mare sailed away.

He shook his head. Not my problem, he thought to himself.

'Gibbs,' he said making his way once again towards Tortuga.

'Aye.' Gibbs answered, blinking his eyes several times, trying to confirm if what he was seeing was real or if he had just had too much to drink last night.

Jack sighed. 'I think we're going to have to re-stock up on weapons if it's anything like the last trip I went on with her.'

Gibbs eyed Jack warily. 'So where going then.' When jack didn't reply he narrowed his eyes. 'Are you sure about this Jack, it doesn't seem like the brightest of things to do.'

'I would much rather do as she says, then decline her request.' Jack replied as we watched the Mare disappear over the horizon. 'Besides, I'm, curious to know what she's up too. Kate always had a way of finding the shiniest of jewels.'

Unsure what his captain was thinking, Gibbs shook his head and made his way to the nearest bar. 'Were doomed,' he muttered to himself, knowing all too well the capabilities of the young Miss Sparrow.

Jack shook his head, hearing what his first mate had said. 'Not doomed, just in a bit of a mess.'

The sea was calm, the sun was bright and a steady breeze determined that the sails were at full canvas. There were few things in terms of work for the crew of the "Raging Mare" to occupy them with, nothing needed to be mended, cleaned or tended to, so they were enjoying a chance of free time. Something that was not uncommon aboard the Mare.

I stared with frustration down at a wether beaten map; held flat onto the helm table with four of Satraya's, my weapons master, throwing knives. 'This doesn't make sense. Why would the map say that Shipwreck Island is to the Northeast, if it's to the west?'

Ice, which was behind her at the wheel, shook his head. The Caribbean currents were unfamiliar to the captain. She had been just out of childhood when they had sailed far from her place of birth. 'Because, Shipwreck Island is a pirate haven. If any of our foes were to get a 'hold of a pirate map, the haven would be lost. So we have our own ways to hide things. For instance, on this map, all of the secret places that are clearly labelled on that map are actually in the same position, just the opposite direction.'

I glanced behind me at the helmsman. Ice was always fairly quiet, he kept to himself, offering advice when needed, but he never made idle conversation. That's what I liked about the old sailor. His was vital to the Mare, he was the oldest and most experience pirate and his navigational skills were rarely matched.

'I'll take your word on it. Ah, Kaygo,' I said as my first-mate, a man ginger haired man in his late twenties ascended the helm stairs. 'Have the crew gather around the mast, we have some matters to discuss.'

The Mare was left the float as she pleased as the unusual crew made themselves comfortable.

'So,' I said as she flashed a wolfish grin at my crew, each and every one of them loyal to the bone willing to risk their lives for me. 'I have managed to convince the fish to take the bait. Now all that is left to decide is, do we real him in without questions, or do we explain as we go?'

'Sparrow should not know of our secret,' Ice said distastefully

Mekala, the self appointed mother of the ship, a green haired woman in her early thirty's, stood from her seat. 'I will not have that weasel know of this curse, he will as soon as abandon us then help us.' She, like Ice was open in her hate, they both had every reason to be.

Meka, Ice, and Kaygo had been the three other saviours of Jacks betrayal, and they were all bent on avenging their fallen comrades and repaying him for his actions.

I glanced a Kaygo, who shrugged in agreement. 'He cannot be trusted, yet we need his help if we are to lift the curse.' He court the eye of Meka, his wife, 'We should leave him to the fate he left us to as soon as his role is done.'

'If this Jack, is really as bad as you claim,' Satraya, a young northern European woman with long blond, braided hair full of many trinkets said as she flicked a small dagger between her finger's. 'Then I should like practice my throwing skills with him.'

Meka scoffed. 'You would have to tie the coward down first otherwise he would flee like a rabbit at the sound of a gun shoot.'

The young weapons master tilted her head at the older woman. 'Who needs a rope when you have the ability to charm any man like a snake charms a mouse?'

'You cannot possibly charm a man who does not have the human capacity to feel.' Meka said standing and glaring at Satraya.

Satraya raised an eyebrow. 'Everyman has his weakness and every pirate has his price. I'm sure I could have Jack Sparrow on his knees praying to the gods to have mercy on his soul. He would curse the day that he stumbled across my...'

'Tray, Meka, that is enough.' I interrupted causing the two to stubbornly fold their arms and face the opposite direction. I rolled my eyes. 'The fact is, Jack is going to be at Shipwreck Cove within the week and we have a problem that is not going to disappear. Solbren, what do you have to say.'

The man had stood in the shadows of the mast. He was to most least likely character you would find among pirates. Pale white skin, dark hair past his shoulders, Solbren was quite and spent his days in the crow's nest alone and away from the crew. He had stumbled into the life of the Mare after he lost his wife in tragic accident.

'Whatever is decided, this Sparrow should not know.' He said his depressed voice sending shivers down my spine.

I nodded. That left Sunbeam and Kayak, both sat to back of the group, their heads bent together as they whispered to each other. I stole a glance at Meka, knowing that she was not impressed with Sunbeams impression on her daughter. 'Sunbeam, what say you to these terms.'

The Greek girl looked up, catching my gaze. She tossed her head, flicking her two long plates over her shoulder. 'Well, I can't possibly give an opinion about someone that I have never met.'

Solbren glared at the girl. She had a tendency of finding the most imaginative ways of annoying him. 'Have you not been listening? Clearly he is a man that cannot be trusted with our curse.'

'Says Ice, Kaygo and Meka, all of which are hell-bent on revenge.' She answered. 'I was listening. I just can't make a judgement until I meet him.'

Solbren shook his head, reached for the net above him. 'She will cause more problems than she's worth,' he said to me and then climbed up the side of the mast. Sunbeam smiled after the fellow Greek has he headed to his post in the crow's nest.

Kayka stared after him in wonder. 'Sun,' she said to the Sunbeam beside her. 'Do you think the crow is so sad because he has no friends?'

'Ah Kay I think you could be onto something.' Sunbeam said, making the kids face light up. '

Meka scrawled at Sunbeam. I stepped in before another argument broke out. 'Okay, I think we have done enough damage for one day. Back to work'

Bye the next morning the crew was back to their normal attitudes and I sighed with relief as Solbren claimed Shipwreck Island was within sight. Now all I had to was face Teague, and hope that he was in a good mood.

So do you want to know the individual stories of each crew member, coz im not really sure if i'm going to go too far into it...if you do let me know...ohh and the curse will be revealed in the next chapter...