A/N: I do not own POTC or any of its characters. I only own the storyline and my original characters.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Neptune's Curse

Chapter One

"Addy!"

"Adrianna!"

"Adrianna Taylor!"

Finally her mother gave up and resorted to ringing the large bell by the back door, calling her daughter home.

Down at the docks, Adrianna popped out of a barrel. Her eyes wide, she peeped over the top, scanning the area. She heard boots approaching from behind and then two strong hands grabbed her from under her arms and pulled her from the barrel, dropping her feet first on the deck of the ship.

"Trying to run away again, Miss Taylor?"

She turned around to see Danny, one of her father's crew, with his arms crossed in front of him and a stern look on his handsome face.

"Stop it with the 'Miss Taylor' stuff, will you Danny? It's just 'Addy,'" she huffed.

"Well excuse me, Miss Addy," he bowed mockingly.

She pointed at him with narrow eyes, "You're having a go at me. Aren't you?"

He recoiled dramatically and put his hand to his chest.

"Me?" he asked. "Never!"

And then he winked.

She may have only been eleven years old, but every time he winked at her she felt her knees go weak and her cheeks flush. This time was no different.

He mercifully let her obvious reaction slide and instead focused on the matter at hand.

"What is this? The third time you've tried to sneak on this ship in the past two days?" he ruffled her loose curls.

"Fourth!" she exclaimed proudly.

"And what would happen if we were to have set sail and you were stowed away on this ship?" he asked.

"It's not like it hasn't happened before," she taunted.

In fact it had happened six times before; the first time when she was five years old. They found her in the ship's hold a full two days into their journey. Luckily they had only been on a month long voyage. Mrs. Taylor was a mess when they returned. Addy didn't walk straight for a week from the hiding she received from her mother.

"Why's a young lady like you so eager to sail the seas?" he asked.

She let go of a deep breath and dramatically shook her head.

"The sea just feels like home for me. Papa says I was born at sea. I feel like my life should be lived at sea."

"Well too many more tricks like today and you'll end up dying at sea, or worse," he replied gravely. He cared for the young girl, but since he had joined Captain Taylor's crew he knew she was trouble. And while he believed that she would have made a fine sailor, he acknowledged that there were too many dangers for a woman at sea.

"Oh Danny, what could be worse than death?" she teased him.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to ask questions? Now," he grabbed the tops of her shoulders, spun her around and gave her a small shove, "off you go. Home with you. And don't let me catch you back here again or I'll be telling your mother on you!"

She started to run at that and she was home in a flash. She gently opened the back door and tiptoed into the living room.

"She isn't going to be fooled."

Addy found her second eldest brother, Peter, sitting in a chair by the window with one of his law books in his hands.

"Mother's been calling for you for over an hour," he said.

"Is she upset?" Addy asked.

"Well she isn't happy. You had lessons planned for today. You're tutor left because you weren't here."

"I don't need all this schooling. I'm going to become a sailor like Papa, James, and Christopher," she replied.

"Addy, you're the daughter of one of the most successful sea captains of Port Royal. Papa is invited to dine with Governor Swann each time he makes port. I don't think sailor is a suitable life's calling for a woman of your status."

In the past Addy and Peter had been close. But when he entered his fifteenth year and started taking an interest in studying law instead of following in his father and older brothers' footsteps, she found he'd become much too boring for her tastes.

"I am going to become the best sailor in the world Peter Taylor and there is nothing you can do about it," and she stuck out of her tongue at him.

When he rolled his eyes in response, she huffed and figured she might as well go see her mother and get it over with.

The moment she entered the kitchen, Isabella grabbed her daughter and began to wipe at the dirt on her cheeks with a wet cloth. The servants that were busy preparing the meal began to quietly chuckle in amusement.

"Adrianna, where have you been? You've been playing on the docks again, haven't you?"

"I was just walking around town Mama," she pulled away from her mother's grasp, "and please don't fuss over me!"

Her mother threw her hands up in frustration, "Adrianna Taylor what am I going to do with you? Here I am, in need of assistance for your father's going away dinner, and you're covered in soot . . . and do I smell gun powder?"

"Mama, you know I'm a horrible cook," Addy said as she stuck both her fists on her hips.

"That's because you are never home for me to teach you to cook or even how to run a kitchen!" her mother cried as she mimicked her daughter's stance.

Though they were not related, it was amazing how much the one looked and acted like the other sometimes. But Addy didn't know that she was not actually a Taylor. Isabella had the same ash blonde hair as Addy and both possessed delicate features. The only obvious difference was that Isabella's eyes were a deep chocolate color while her adopted daughter's shone like the sea. Because of this, the Taylors figured that Adrianna's origins could and should be kept between them as well as James who had been the only boy old enough to understand the situation. The rest of the boys didn't really remember how Addy came to be part of the family. No one was the wiser.

"What are we having?" she asked, hoping to sidestep her mother's anger.

"Now you will just have to wait until tonight to find out," her mother replied and she walked over to speak with Lucia who was chopping the vegetables.

Patience was not a virtue that Addy possessed. In fact, she was a rather curious and tempestuous child. Isabella knew that the best way to punish Addy was to make her wait for something.

"Is it scrod again?" Addy whined.

"I have told you time and time again, there is no way that the fish we get for our dinner can speak to you," she laughed nervously, encouraging the rest of the kitchen to do the same.

"The fish at the docks talk to me. Why can't the fish from the market talk to me?" Addy asked.

Her mother swept over to her, grabbed her arms and kneeled down so she was eye level with her daughter. In a low voice she explained, "You can never tell anyone else about that. Understand me?"

Isabella thought back to that first incident, where instead of swallowing Addy up, the ocean had safely delivered the baby back into her arms. After that Isabella noticed an unexplainable influence that Addy had over water, making it jump and dance with just a flick of her hand. She seemed to be able to communicate with sea creatures. And she always knew whether it would be a good or a bad day out at sea.

Knowing that look on her mother's face meant she had hit her limit, all Addy could do was concede, "Yes, Mama."

Isabella let go of Addy's arms and then returned to her work.

"Go see what your father is up to and tell him dinner will be ready in an hour or so. I think he was going to Mr. Brown's to pick up his sword."

Isabella barely got the request out before Addy had flown out the kitchen and the back door.

She ran all the way to Mr. Brown's, not even stopping to say hello to Mr. Chesterton's pet pig that was tethered to the post outside The Bride's Head. When she finally made it to the shop, she took a heaving breath before opening the door. Inside she found her father talking with Mr. Brown and her friend Will cleaning around the shop.

The boy hadn't noticed her arrival and in sport she snuck up behind him and covered his eyes with her hands.

"Who is it?" he squeaked, surprised by the invasion.

In as deep a voice as she could muster she replied, "It's the dreaded Captain of the Black Pearl, give me all of your gold!"

Her father heard her and scolded, "Adrianna, stop terrorizing poor William."

She dropped her hands from Will's eyes and her shoulders slumped, "Papa, I was just having a bit of fun."

Her father gave her a stern look, but he couldn't stay serious for long and let his warm smile sneak through.

"Just be careful in here. Can't imagine your mother would be very happy if I brought you home wounded. This is a blacksmith shop you know."

She smiled back at him, "Yes papa, I understand," and then turned her attention to Will who had been waiting patiently for her.

"Want to go down to the docks and watch the ships come in?" she asked him.

His head sagged a bit as he looked at the floor, "Can't. Have to get the shop cleaned up by sundown for Mr. Brown."

"We'll only go for a bit. I promise you'll be back in time to finish the job," she started but then had an idea.

"Better yet! Why don't I help clean this place up? We'll be done in half the time and then we can go down to the docks. Mama said dinner wouldn't be ready for an hour or so," she paused and spoke a little louder, "Hear that Papa?! Mama said dinner would be ready in an hour or so!"

He chuckled, "Aye, Addy. I will be there."

She once again looked back at Will, "What do you say? Let's get started!"

Before he could even answer she found the broom but he grabbed it from her hands.

"No Addy, it's not right. You're not supposed to do this kind of work," Will told her.

This was the second time today that someone had informed her of her so-called place in life. She noticed that as she grew older it was happening more and more. She had even heard her mother talking with the ladies that so often visited for tea about her future prospects for marriage. And how many times had her mother hidden her breeches on her so she would be forced to wear a dress?

You're too old to be dressing like a boy, Adrianna, her mother would say.

But with a wink, her father would always tell her where she could find them.

"William Turner, this is not the first time that I've helped you clean up this place. What in the world could be different now?" she was angry.

Will became bashful and looked away from her, "Peter told me I need to start treating you like a lady. I can't be running around town with you."

She let out a very unladylike noise, "Don't listen to Peter. He's an old git who doesn't like anyone to have fun. Now let's get to work, shall we?"

She grabbed the broom back from Will and started to sweep. They were done in half an hour and headed to the port. Adrianna knew she only had a few minutes before she had to get back home, but was hoping to catch at least one ship come in before then.

The two sat peacefully on the dock, their legs dangling over the edge.

"Have you seen Elizabeth lately?" she asked, breaking their companionable silence.

Elizabeth Swann was the daughter of the Governor of Port Royal. The three of them had become fast friends when Elizabeth and Will had first arrived in Port Royal two years ago. For a season they had run around the island, causing mayhem wherever they could. But when Governor Swann found out that it was his own daughter that was stuffing the fort's cannons with seaweed, he decided it was time to keep a closer watch on Elizabeth. It had been several months since she had been able to sneak out of the governor's mansion.

"I saw her at the market yesterday but she was with her tutor," he replied sadly.

"Probably teaching her how to properly stock a household," Adrianna said in a ridiculously pompous tone.

Will laughed quietly, "Not all girls are as against womanly duties as you are, Addy."

"Elizabeth isn't looking for that kind of life, Will, and you know it. She's just like me. Her father just has more eyes on her than mine does," Addy replied, silently thanking her stars for that.

"Well, what do we have 'ere?"

The two turned to find an obviously inebriated man, leaning heavily on the lamp post at the head of the dock, blocking their way.

They both immediately jumped to their feet and, being the young gentleman that he was, Will stepped in front of Addy.

"Two li'tle love birds? Awww, and aren't you a pretty lass," he started to stagger towards them.

"Sir, let us be on our way," Will's voice wavered.

"Don't worry lad, we can have some fun," he wheezed, "but first, I want to get a nice taste of the li'tle lass here."

He reached out, knocking Will to the side and made to grab Addy. But when he touched her he was thrown back onto his bottom by an invisible force.

"What in hell, you bitch!" he cried as he grappled to his feet, "Oh, you will pay for that my dear."

Addy was still in shock over what she had just done but the moment he tried again she pushed against him and this time he flew right into the water. As he started to swim back to the dock, something beneath the surface grabbed his leg, like a hand. It was joined by another hand and then another and then another until he felt several hands grabbing at him.

"Addy!" she turned to see her father running towards her.

He got there in time to watch as the drunkard was dragged under the sea. He did not resurface.

"Addy," he said again, with fear in his eyes. He had seen the man fly backwards just from his daughter's touch. She looked at him and saw his fright. She then looked at Will who had a similar expression on his face.

She held up her hands. They appeared to be normal. But how could they do what she just did?

She looked back at both of the men, and then took off, running past her father and leaving him and Will in her dust.

When she got back home, she locked herself in her room.

That night, despite the fact that it would be the last meal she thought she would share with her father in several months, she refused to come down for dinner. After her brothers and the servants had gone to bed she snuck downstairs to find her parents relaxing by the fire in the sitting room.

"I agree with you. Her powers are growing stronger. And yes, we need to find a way to control them or everyone will find out about her gifts," her father said quietly.

"I wouldn't call them 'gifts,' Billy," her mother sighed tiredly, "What did you tell Will?"

"I think he was a bit too terrified to realize what actually happened. The man was drunk after all. I merely suggested that he was too far gone to swim and walked him back to Mr. Brown's," he paused, "At least we know Addy can take care of herself."

"This is not a time for jokes Billy. What are we going to do with her?" Isabella asked.

"We could always tell her - "

"No," her mother interrupted, "that is never an option."

"We agreed that we would tell her one day."

"She is still a child. Now is not the time," her mother said in a tone that ended the conversation.

After a moment of silence, Isabella spoke again, "It's time for Addy to put away the breeches and start acting like a proper girl. No more running around town like a ragamuffin. No more playing pirates. A young girl like her needs to start learning how to run a household, not how to sail a ship."

"That is never going to be our Addy," her father shook his head.

"But she isn't 'ours' now, is she?" Isabella bit back.

Addy felt her heart stop and her knees buckle. She fell back from the door she had been hiding behind and her head smacked against a pedestal holding a model ship. The decoration crashed to the floor. She heard footsteps heading towards her hiding spot and she took off to her room, slamming and locking the door once more.

"Addy," her father pounded loudly against the solid wood.

"Addy let me in," he pleaded.

But she would not come out. She just sat in the far corner of the room and let the salty tears stream down her face. Outside the wind began to howl and the sea grew wild.

Even the next day, when her father came to say goodbye before he cast off for his next voyage, she would not come out.

"Addy," he said through the door, "Addy, no matter what, I love you."

If she had known she would not see him again for a decade, maybe she would have said "I love you" back.

A/N: Now you know a bit more about our heroine, Adrianna. Quite the spitfire isn't she? Thanks to Linalove for her encouragement, as always. If you have any comments, please review?

Thanks!

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