I.
The angry sea's roiled against the Flying Dutchman, not an uncommon situation for the ship, and yet on this night, disaster, as they tried to side-by-side with another ship.
Bella pitched across the deck, cursing yet again as she tried to secure the rigging were it had torn loose.
In the past year, she hadn't changed much, due to the fact that she was no longer living, and yet neither was she dead. She was something in between, as were all those aboard the Dutchman. Her situation was just a little different. She was not a crewmember, she was more of a companion, in her duties as the Messenger of the Caribbean, carrying the last words of the dead back to their loved ones, when necessary. And ferrying messages between Captain Will turner and his beloved wife and son.
In saving her life, The Goddess of the sea made her immortal, and in doing so gifted her with two things.
The first, a tattoo on her wrist of a string of pearls surrounding a crab. The Tattoo covered the hand which had become infected ,poisoning her blood. That death was the fate she was saved from. That death was what awaited her should she break her vow.
The second gift, was a very special compass of her own, with three hands. Each hand was a different color and represented a different symbol painted on the edge of the compass. The brown needle represented the message in a bottle, and pointed to whomever she needed to deliver a message to at that time. The second needle, a green needle, represented the Flying Dutchman, the ship that had become a common ride for her, as it collected the souls of the dead and therefore those whose messages she would deliver. The third needle was Black, and one she tended to avoid looking at. This needle represented Jack Sparrow, her own immortal love.
And so, their fates have yet more in store.
.
I screeched in frustration as I hit the railing, the rough wood jarring painfully against my spine.
"Will Turner I hate you!" I screamed, fumbling once more to tie down the rigging.
The captain chuckled at the helm, the laugh lost in the wind that carried his voice.
"No You Don't!" He called back, his face alight in the storm, his eyes glinting with something otherworldly and unrecognizable.
"Couldn't wait for the storm to blow over?"
"Afraid to get wet?" He cat-called. I stood strait.
"Nev-" My words were lost as a wave washed over me, spinning me across the deck. I bounced off a canon with a dull moan and accepted a hand gratefully when a passing crewman offered it.
"Thank you, Canton!" Canton grinned. He was one of the older types, with a weathered face and eyes crinkled with wind and wet. He had peppered hair and a far-off look to his green eyes. He was also missing his left canine, which he had replaced with gold.
"Need help, Lass?" He chuckled. I glared at him, pulling a wet strand of hair from my face and shook my head.
The deck heaved and I clung to Canton.
Today was one of those days.
.
That evening I paced the captains quarters.
"A ship down and nary single message to anyone!" I fumed,. Immortality with nothing to do could really get on your nerves. Will just glanced up at me, his eyes tired and a hint amused.
"I can always set up a message for you. I never get enough of Elizabeth." He sighed wistfully.
"Yeah, Yeah, ye two are bloody adorable." I grinned sheepishly and Will waved me away, glancing back down at the maps on his desk, muttering beneath his breath.
.
I slept uneasily that night, my nerves on high, my heart clamoring in my chest, as though waiting for something, as though in anticipation.
.
II.
Captain Jack Sparrow turned gently on the wheel, his eyes across the choppy seas, just settling down from the storm. The moon gleamed with a ghostly brilliance high above him, shadowing darker the odd wisp of cloud.
His compass sat before him, guiding him on. It had been a long time since he had pointed the needle towards this particular desire. Now was the time, he thought. Tonight was the night. The needle drifted just slightly to the west. He adjusted his course accordingly, headed towards that speck of a shadow in the moonlight.
.
Thunk.
I wasn't sure what woke me. It may have been a sound, or a feeling, or my bloody rapid heartbeat. I lay there, coated in sweat, and listened to the steady roll of the waves and the occasional shuffle of the guard on deck.
I could see hints of my breath in the chilly air. I prayed that immortality protected me from the nuisance of fevers.
Rap-rap-rap. The sound of a knuckle tapping against the shuttered windows of the upper deck.
I stilled, cocking my head, and listened.
Rap-rap-rap.
Closer this time. I slid from my bunk. I had my own private quarters on the ship, courtesy of Will.
Rap-rap-rap.
I stepped lightly to the door as the sound neared me. I pulled a hidden dagger from my sleeve. I always had a dagger on me, somewhere. My hair itched beneath my rumpled bandana, I ignored it.
'Ree-ooh-ree-ooh-wu-ee-ee-ru-ru-ree'
someone whistled. I listened intently to the tune.
'Ree-ooh-ree-ooh-wu-ee-ee-ru-ru-ree'
Heave, ho, Heave, ho, a pirates life for me. I smiled at the tune and opened my door.
Who should be standing there, but Captain Jack Sparrow?
"'ello, luv." He grinned. I threw myself at him, holding him tight and laughed aloud.
"Now who be ye to haunt my nights, Mister Jack." I asked coyly.
"oi come back here you bonnie lass!" Jack grabbed for me and I jumped around him, swinging into my room and closing the door in his face.
"Oi! Bella!" Jack cried.
"Aye, Captain Jack?" I asked innocently enough.
"Open the damn door, love."
"oh, now, Jack, you should woo a lady before bargin' into her bedroom."
"And I haven't wooed, you, Bella darling?" He chuckled. I tilted my head.
"Oh, I suppose ye have." I replied, unbolting the lock. Jack pushed the door open and pulled me into a kiss. My heart fluttered and a tingle ran down my spine. He smelled like spice and rum and salt and he was oh so warm.
"I've missed you, Jack." I whispered when we broke apart for air.
"why miss me, love? I told you-"
"-I'll never leave ye behind, if ye'll never stay behind." I quoted with him.
Jack pulled my into another kiss, his chilled skin giving me shivers.
I was one lovesick lass.
.
III.
.
Morning rolled around with a flurry of activity on deck, and several confused cries from the Flying Dutchman and the Black Pearl.
My personal morning came when Will stormed right into my cabin with a cheery and sarcastic 'Good morning, Bella. Jack.'
"Captain?" I asked blearily.
"Yes?" He replied, unaffected. I glared. He smirked at the two of us and left. I groaned and leaned back against Jack, enjoying his warmth and company.
"ah-eah-mm. " I yawned. " Jack, any particular reason ye deck hopped onto the Flying Dutchman?"
"To see me bonnie sweetheart?"
"And?" I prodded. I had learned a long time ago that Jack always had an agenda.
"It has been brought to my diligent attention that something very….valuable belonging to a certain…royal personage…is going to pass right under me nose and I have a distinct feeling that it will be the most opportune opportunity. One shouldn't waste opportune opportunities."
"uh-huh."
"Well, when ones opportune opportunities bear fruit, I find it…reasonable to celebrate, and who better to celebrate with than those you hold dearest, eh?"
"Is that yer way of tellin' me that your going to do somethin' stupid, reckless, and clever and if it works then yer gonna come take me on a date."
"Something to that effect. Aye."
"Wonderful, Jack. When shall I expect your joyous return from this opportune, opportunity?" I smiled at his use of terminology.
"hmm…." Jack thought about it, nibbling on my ear as he did so. I twitched at the ticklish feeling.
"Nine days on the morrow."
"one problem."
"What is it, Luv?"
"I'll be in Singapore then, With the lovely Mrs. Turner. I have a letter to deliver her from Will."
"Then I shall meet you in Singapore! Nine days on the Morrow. Watch for me on that Horizon, Savvy?"
"aye aye, Captain Jack." I giggled, rolling over and back into his arms before he rose from my bunk. He pulled me to his chest and bent his face to mine, his mustache tickling my cheek, the heart of the black pearl rolling across my collarbone. I sighed happily.
