Once Araelya and Lee were pulled aboard the Cassiopeia, Araelya new this wouldn't be her freedom.

A man with a large hat and a long coat stepped forward. Judging by the way the crew looked at him with fear, she knew he was the captain. His face was covered in black stubble, the start of a beard. His eyes were piercing, like he was trying to look through her. He held himself tall with confidence. He looked a lot older than he probably was; about thirty years old. Araelya knew from the start that she wouldn't like him.

"Meet Captain Xander," Lee said from beside Araelya.

With a snap of Xander's fingers men from the crew seized Araelya by the arms, keeping her from running.

"I thought you were helping me?" she said to Lee in a cold tone.

He smiled at her and moved behind his captain. "I did help you escape Gwillim, but we have other plans for you."

The crew snickered. Araelya pulled against the men holding her, wanting to hit Lee in the mouth. She hated that smug look on his face.

"You see, Araelya," Xander said. "We have orders to hand you over to someone much worse than Lord Gwillim."

Araelya swallowed down her fear. She starred ahead of her, not giving them the satisfaction of scaring her.

Xander continued. "Perhaps you know of a Pirate Lord or Madagascar by the name of Edward Teague."

The crew laughed again at Araelya's reaction. She knew him all too well. She had been a prisoner on his ship once. She escaped and killed all of his crew members, save for the captain: Edward Teague. Araelya knew he wanted revenge on her, as most people did. She dreaded the day it would come.

"He'll kill me," she said in desperation.

Xander shook his head, a malicious smile on his face. "No. He'll do much worse than that. You're gonna be wishing you were dead."

Araelya tried to break free from the men again, but to no avail.

"Lee, take her to the brig."

"Aye," Lee said and turned so that Xander could tell him something without the others hearing. Araelya wanted to know what Xander told Lee privately, but she couldn't hear them over the crew making snarky remarks at her.

Araelya was seized by Lee. The crew members yelled and poked at her. Many catcalls were shouted. Araelya kept her gaze ahead, not flinching or reacting to the men. She had dealt with men like this many times before, and she knew to look out for them lurking around her cell that night.

Lee tightened his grip on her and made her move faster. She was pushed down the steps to the brig and into a filthy cell, locked up tight.

"Your crew is disgusting," she said coldly, wiping grime off her face with her sleeve.

Lee laughed at her. "Thanks. I'll be sure to tell them that."

"Yeah, after they all come down here to take advantage of me."

Lee shook his head, more serious. But not too serious. "They won't touch you. Not if I can help it."

"My hero," she said, rolling her eyes.

He took a dramatic bow before he leaned lazily against the bars of her cell. A big mistake on his part.

Araelya took a step forward. She got close to his face through the bars. She could hear his breath quickening as she leaned closer to him. She loved to be able to control men this way; it was her favorite thing to do. She teased him more, flicking her eyes down to his lips. They were nice full lips, she had to admit. She knows his heart beat picked up, just like she planned. She wanted him to want her, it makes it easier to get through him. The closer people are to you, the easier they are to break. And she would definitely break Lee; he was fragile.

"But who is going to keep you from touching me?" she asked in a quiet voice.

His eyes flicked down to her lips as well. He wanted to lean into her; to close the small gap between them. So what if he had just met her? She looked like an angel, and acted like the devil. And Lee was curious about her, which was dangerous. Her brown eyes shone with flecks of gold. Her dark black hair framed her face perfectly. Lee almost couldn't control himself.

His thoughts were interrupted when Araelya yanked his arm through the bars and bent it into an unnatural position.

"Hey!" he yelled in pain and surprise. "Let me go."

"Why should I, pretty boy?"

"How cute. You think I'm pretty." His smile is wiped away when she twisted his arm more. "What's the point of this? I'm not going to let you go, and even if I did, you would have nowhere to go."

"I just wanted to see you squirm," Araelya said and released his arm. However, she was partially lying to him. She had managed to slip the cell key from his pocket while he was whining in her grip.

He stepped back from the cell and rubbed his arm.

"You're strong for such a little lass," Lee said.

"So I've been told."

He stood back and looked her up and down. She shifted uncomfortably as Lee stared. She hated herself for letting Lee make her uncomfortable; that was her job to mess with him.

"Lee!" calls Xander from above deck. "What is taking so long?"

Lee's devilish smile is still on his face when he starts to leave. At the steps he turned around and winked at her, then he's out of sight.

Araelya flopped onto the ground of her nasty cell and waited hours to use the key to escape. She shivered as the wind came through the cracks in the ship. Sea water sprayed her every now and again, making her chills worse.

It wouldn't be long until Will or Jack, or even Lord Gwillim himself, came sailing by. This ship and crew was no match for the others, and she wandered why Captain Teague would choose such bad pirates to capture her. It didn't matter, she knew they would all be dead in time. It almost made Araelya sad thinking that someone with such a pleasant face as Lee's, would be reaching their doom so soon. Almost, though.

After she was sure most of the crew would be asleep, she slipped the key out of her sleeve. A flutter of excitement filled her when she stepped out of her cell. Up the steps she went.

Three men were on deck, drifting off to sleep. Araelya slipped through the shadows and to the boat hooked to the side of the ship. She needed to lower it into the water so she could row away on it. The shore couldn't be that far off. Besides she would rather die at sea than go to be tortured by Edward Teague.

Araelya started to lower the boat when someone grabbed her arm. She turned around to look into the face of the nastiest pirate she had ever seen. He barely had any teeth. His breath reeked of dead fish and cigars. His hair was long and greasy. His stomach stuck out over his belt. His clothes smelled too, and they were covered in all sorts of stains. His eyes were a deep yellow color. It made her sick to look at him.

The grossest thing about him was the way he looked at Araelya. She looked at him with fear too. He was twice her size. She could take out many men, but when they were bigger than a small house she didn't stand a chance.

The man grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. "I was just waiting for a chance to get my hands on you," he growled. His voice made her want to hurl all over him.

Araelya squirmed in his arms, but he wouldn't release her. "Let me go."

He acted like he didn't here her. She dug her nails into his fat arms, but still he held her close. He leaned towards her and planted his slimy mouth on hers. Araelya wanted to kill this man. His lips were gross and tasted just like he smelled. She bit down on his lip as hard as she could. He finally let her go, blood dripping from his mouth.

"You'll pay for that," he said and smiled at her with blood colored teeth. He came charging at Araelya, only to stop short when one of the other men saw him.

"What is she doing out of her cell!" someone shouted.

Within moments the entire crew was on deck, curious as to what the ruckus was about. Her attacker blended in with the others once they were all present. No one would every know what happened, and that only fed the fire that was burning in Araelya.

She wanted to kill them all for looking at her the way they were. Thirsty pirates.

"What be the meaning of this?" yelled Captain Xander, not looking pleased at all. His hair was sticking up in all directions, and he wasn't wearing his usual captain's attire.

"What, did I disturb a good dream?" Araelya asked rudely.

Xander wasn't hesitant when he drew his hand up and smacked her across the face. She let out a gasp and held her sore cheek. She noticed Lee behind Xander, making her want for a fight even greater. She did notice that Lee's dirty blond hair shone a silver color in the moon light, which distracted her from her burning cheek.

"Captain," Lee said, stepping forward. "Shouldn't we just lock her back up? Besides, it'd be a shame to damage such a pretty face." He didn't look at her, but at the crew who were snickering and laughing in agreement.

"How cute. You think I'm pretty." Araelya grinned deviously at Lee, using the same words that he had used before.

"How did you get out in the first place?" Xander stepped closer to her. Araelya was cautions of the reckless look in his eyes. She knew this would end in another beating.

Instead of answering she spat on the deck. An insult to them all. She knew what the consequences were going to be, and she was ready for the blow. Xander's hand, in a fist this time, came down on her face twice as hard as before.

"Lee, where be the key to her cell?" Xander hissed, getting impatient.

Lee patted his pockets, realization dawning on him. After realizing what she had done earlier to get the key, he looked at her accusingly. "You swiped it off me."

She gasped with fake astonishment. "Why, I never."

Her remark was met with another hit to the face. Blood flowed from her lip and nose now, but she acted like there was no pain at all.

"Give me the key."

Araelya stayed silent. She knew they would find the key on her eventually, but that didn't mean she had to cooperate with them. Xander kicked her in the stomach this time. She doubled over, not making a sound. Araelya starred at the floor. Her blood dripped onto the deck in a long stream. She kept her breaths even and straightened her back again, starring at Xander as if it was another casual day. Her boldness caused a look of confusion to flash in his eyes for a moment, but only a moment. With another kick, not nearly as hard as the first one.

"Search her for the key," Xander commanded Lee, his first mate.

Lee, not taking his eyes off Araelya for fear she might hit him, pulled her shirt up a bit to get a clear view of her waist.. He smiled victoriously when he saw the key sticking out of her belt. He grabbed the key, his fingers brushing along her bare stomach, making her inhale. It was amazing how a beating from Xander had less of an effect on her than a small touch from Lee did. She hated herself, once again.

Araelya returned his smile, trying to get into his head again. Smiling always confused people. "You could at least buy me dinner first," she teased, knowing that he had brushed her stomach on purpose.

"Too bad I'm a filthy pirate, though," he reminded her, dropping the key into his captain's hands.

Xander grabbed her arm, his grip hurting her. "I will see to it that you are locked up properly."

Lee looked at them with a blank expression. He watched Araelya being dragged off, and he knew Xander would get a few more hits in on her before he left her alone. He wanted to stop him, but he wasn't willing to take the hits either. It wouldn't look good if the first mate was interfering with the captain, anyhow.

That's when the others showed up.

Araelya and Xander were almost to the steps that lead to the brig when the beautiful sight of the Flying Dutchman appeared. Some men quaked with fear when the ship separated the waters and bounced into place next to the Cassiopeia.

Will turner and his hideous crew stood on deck, snarling at them. Will looked triumphant, clutching the rope of a sail, the wind blowing his loose clothes. The rest of the crew, however were frightening. They had a murderous look in their eyes, and their snarls showed that they were ready to fight to the death.

Xander pulled Araelya to the edge of the deck in front of the enemy ship. "What is the meaning of this?" Xander asked. He sounded confident, but his expression made it obvious that he was afraid. Araelya would be afraid too if she hadn't already met Will and the crew. They aren't that bad, actually. She quite liked the crew, and still wished to be apart of it. Maybe she could still talk Will into helping her. She needed to get aboard his ship first, and away from the Cassiopeia. Away from Captain Teague.

"We've come for what is ours," Will's voice rang out over the settling sea.

Xander scoffed. "This here's our booty."

Lee couldn't help himself. He let out a snort and laughed. "Yeah," he agreed, still laughing hard. "Best booty we've ever laid eyes on," he joked, glancing down at Araelya's butt.

Araelya rolled her eyes playfully, she did think it was funny too, but she couldn't show it much. She extended her leg and kicked Lee in the knee. He yelled in pain, but his smile never faltered. Araelya wanted to kick him again, but she refrained.

"She belongs to us." Will called, not amused by Lee's comments.

Araelya had had enough of this. She was done playing around with stupid pirates. She broke free from the hold of Xander and turned to address everyone. "I belong to no one." The men were silent, too afraid to interrupt her. He voice was strong and commanded attention. "Not you or them or the Royal Navy. Stop throwing me around like property."

Will was studying her closely. "Then who will you choose to go with. Us or them. You have to choose one of us, you are in the middle of the sea," he pointed out.

She knew she had to choose one of them, or be lost to the sea. "I will bored the Flying Dutchman. I would rather risk going to Gwillim than Captain Teague. " She tuned to Xander. "Your crew is no match for the crew of the Flying Dutchman, so there will be no need for you to try and stop me. All your men could be killed, or you could let me go."

People around her shrugged in agreement. Lee was wearing a smug, impressed look, opposite from Xander's annoyed look. Araelya was walking across the gangplank that connected the two ships. Will grasped her arm as soon as she came aboard, but she shook him off of her. She was letting no man handle her anymore. She was doing what she wanted to do.

"We have some terms to discuss," she said to Will.

"Terms?"

"Did I stutter, William?" She held her head high. She was finally in charge of her life again. She wanted to be clear on that. "We shall talk about my stay on the ship and where you will be dropping me off."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but you are going to Lord Gwillim. Jack Sparrow is expecting his reward for you."

She raised her eyebrows. "Looks to me that he is the one that is going to be disappointed."

"What makes you say that?"

Will was following Araelya into the captain's quarters as they talked, just like she had wanted. "I take it you still don't want me to be part of your crew?"

Will looked reluctant when he answered. "As useful as you would be to us, I don't think it is the best idea. You're a lot more trouble that it's worth."

"But I am telling you now that I won't be handed over to Gwillim."

"How else am I to get the reward from him then? If Jack doesn't see to it that you are turned in, he will hunt you down and kill you himself. I'm sure of it."

Araelya laughed. A soft laugh that gave Will chills. "I'm hardly afraid of a Sparrow," she spat out. "He's honestly a disappointment to pirates. The man couldn't steal candy from a baby."

Will's mouth turned up at the corners. "He has his moments. He's a good man."

"Makes him a bad pirate, that."

There was a long pause. "If I don't give you to Gwillim, where will you go?"

"As if I would tell you where I plan to hide out. I just need you to drop me at Tortuga and I can steal a ship fro my own." Araelya had no real hideaway. No man on earth would help her. She had to stay at sea and run form the enemy on home territory. She didn't see any other options. "Will, I know you don't feel right about turning me in, no matter how much I'm worth. But trust me when I say I am worth a lot more than the entire Royal Navy is." She had a few tricks up her sleeves. There were things that she was keeping secret from everyone. If they knew the truth they wouldn't be willing to throw her to the gallows.

"I know the stories about you. Can't we turn you in to Gwillim? You've escaped him a thousand times already. Do it again."

"You have no idea how exhausting that is. He has made mistakes; underestimated me. He won't make anymore mistakes, not like before. I won't be able to slip though his fingers for much longer."

Araelya hadn't realized how long they had been sitting together. A crew member covered in barnacles and seaweed, a horrifying sight really, came into the room now. "Captain," he growled, sea water dripping from his mouth. "They have arrived."

Araelya looked at Will accusingly. "They?"

He gave her an apologetic look. Two members of the crew grabbed her and hauled her outside. On the deck was Lord Gwillim himself, wearing an evil look that frightened even Araelya.

"What have you done, you bastard?" she screamed at Will.

He kept his eyes on Gwillim only, feeling to guilty with what he has done. "We have what you wanted. Now, pay up."

"See to it that she is locked up in my brig first," Gwillim's squeaky voice said.

Araelya was being walked passed Gwillim when she decided to break free. She stomped on the foot of the soldier holding her. She kicked his knees and bit his arm. When he released her she turned on the other guard and punched him in the throat. In a moment she was throwing herself at Gwillim. A shock of victory surged through her when her fist collided with his nose. Bold burst from his face when her fist hit him. He didn't hesitate to swing back at her and throw her to the ground.

"Get her on my ship." His tone was venomous. "Now."

Araelya didn't look up when more soldiers kicked her and hauled her to her feet. She didn't dare look at Will, she was too furious with him. He wanted to help her. His only excuse for not helping was Jack Sparrow. Araelya wanted to kill that man. She would get Sparrow if it was the last thing she did, and it very well might be.

She was on the gangplank when she got another idea. She twisted her body and kicked a man square in the stomach. He lost his balance and fell directly into the water below. Araelya was rewarded by a kick to the back, making her fall onto the deck of Gwillim's ship.

She now saw that Will was behind her, watching her every move. "You can't do this," she pleaded. More men grabbed at her. Some places they grabbed wasn't necessary, either. She screamed and fought against them, but it was no use. "Wait!" she screeched. "Wait, please."

Gwillim rolled his eyes. "Must you always be this resistant?"

Araelya didn't hear him in her struggle to get away. "I am-"

Another kick was delivered to her side, making her loose the ability to talk.

"You don't want to do this," she was able to wheeze out.

She was going crazy. No one would stop pulling her around for her to get out one last thing before she left. She wanted to tell them the important thing she had wanted to tell Jack. She needed someone to know before she was to die. "I am the daughter-". More hits cut off her words.

Blood was dripping from her face, but she didn't feel the pain. "I am the daughter of Jack Sparrow," she screamed loud enough for all to hear. Everyone stopped moving. They all looked at her like she was crazy, which she very well might be. Only the noise of waves were to be heard. Araelya pushed the men off of her and stood tall. "I am the daughter of Captain Jack Sparrow," she repeated, the blood running down her face making her look even more terrifying than she already was.

Everyone was afraid to react. They were too surprised to move. They starred at her in awe. However, Gwillim's reaction gave her a tinge of fear. A smile so sly and evil slowly spread across his face.

"Perfect."