Disclaimer: I tried to lure Jack into my house with rum, but Disney got in my way, so he's not mine.

AN: Sorry about the slight cliffhanger in the last chapter. It was evil, but I love keeping people on edge, since it keeps you guys coming back for more. (grins) Oh, and I have to say that the Turners won't be in this fic after this chapter; it's pure Jack/OC after this. Sorry! Still, I hope you enjoy reading and will review. Thanks!

Chapter 3: Of Magic and Immortality:

The five humans could only stand there and stare at the mermaid, who was perched on nothing but a column of moving water. It was rather unsettling, especially when all she did was sit there and gaze at them in a rather annoyingly knowing manner.

As usual, Jack recovered first. Since experiencing The Locker, nothing really seemed to surprise him anymore. "Uh, luv, would you mind telling us your name and what you're doing here? I mean," he waved his hands around, "besides coming here to help dear William and Elizabeth."

The mermaid smiled, her dark brown eyes glittering with amusement as she looked at him. "My name is Kaia, Captain Sparrow," she said. "To make my story short, I was sent here to the Caribbean by my God and King, Poseidon, to observe the battle being waged between the East India Trading Company and the Pirate Lords."

"Wait, Poseidon sent you?" William blurted out. "Poseidon, God of the Sea?"

Kaia burst out laughing. "Yes, Mr. Turner, he is quite real," she replied, her voice full of good humor. "He has been quite worried these past centuries about his favored daughter, Calypso, and when he sensed that her time of being human was coming to an end, he sent me to retrieve her."

She chewed her lower lip in thought. "I did not expect her to break free and cause that maelstrom," she sighed. "I had to flee for my life, though thanks to the gift that Poseidon granted to me for this task, I saw the outcome of the battle, and the price that both William and Elizabeth paid to win it."

"And what gift was it that the God of the Sea gave to ye?" asked Barbossa, obviously skeptical of what he was being told.

Kaia reached into the water and produced a crystal that was slightly larger than her fist. "This crystal showed me," she explained. "It also told me who you all are, as well as a little bit of information about each and every one of you."

Jack was eyeing the crystal very closely. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to part with it, eh?" he asked in a slightly weaseling tone.

She smiled and shook her head. "I'm afraid not, Captain. Poseidon's gifts tend to last only as long as they are needed by those they were given to."

"Ah," Jack replied with a sigh. "Well, it was worth a shot."

Elizabeth cleared her throat. "If you don't mind, I believe that we were all discussing something more important than a crystal?" she put in while turning to the sea maiden. "Was it you who sent Will and I those dreams to come here?"

The pearls woven into her hair bounced as Kaia nodded her head. "I needed to get you someplace far away from where the maelstrom was," she explained in a soft voice. "Calypso's magic is very powerful, and the spell that I intend to invoke would only go wary if it crossed with what was left of hers. Bad things tend to happen when magics overlap."

Barbossa grunted. "And exactly what kind of spell do you plan to carry out?"

A pair of intense brown eyes bore into him, causing him to squirm. "I intend to release William from his bound duty to the Dutchman."

Elizabeth gasped. "Can you do that? Is it possible?"

"It will not be easy," cautioned the mermaid as she flicked her tail, creating a small arch of water to fly into the sky, glittering like diamonds in the Caribbean sun. "Sacrifices must be made to appease the God of the Sea and the God of Death, who both created the task of ferrying souls lost at sea to the Underworld."

They all listened as Kaia explained the deal made between Poseidon and his brother, the God of Death. She told them that, with so many deaths at sea, a ferryman was needed to carry those lost souls to the afterlife, and to those who were waiting for them. The five pirates already about the removal of Davy Jones' heart, but not the fact that, if Calypso had been waiting for him upon his return after ten years of service, the spell on him would have been broken and another captain put in his place.

"So if Will and I are willing to wait ten years, we will be together?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes, but I am willing to help put another in William's place now," Kaia said, her eyes turning to face all of them at once. "The Dutchman must have a Captain; there can be no doubt about that."

Jack shook his head. "Not me, mate," he hastily declined. "I've had enough of death to last a long time, and ferrying souls doesn't sound like my sort of thing."

Kaia laughed. "No, Captain Sparrow, it doesn't have to be you," she assured him. "But someone must take William's place. I give my solemn word that whoever takes the place as Captain of the Dutchman will be freed of their burden after ten years, whether or not they have someone waiting for them upon their return from the Underworld."

"And what else will we get?" Barbossa asked, eyeing her carefully. "I don't suppose you could grant another boon besides a guaranteed return to the world of the living?"

A thoughtful look crossed her face. "I suppose I could add a little something, depending on the volunteer and their request," she slowly replied. "If it were you, Captain Barbossa, what would you ask for in return?"

"Well, I'd like me own ship, for one," he stated, crossing his arms and glaring over at Jack. "Preferably the Black Pearl."

Jack immediately began waving his arms in protest. "No, no, never happen," he yelled.

"I'm afraid that Captain Sparrow is right," Kaia gently said. "My sisters have told me that the Black Pearl was Captain Sparrow's ship years before he even met you, Barbossa, and therefore, by the Laws of the Sea, it belongs to him."

She held up a hand. "However, I'm sure that my mermaid sisters can help find you a ship that is just as good as the Pearl, and not so battle-worn, either."

Barbossa frowned in thought. "Just as good, aye?" he asked, looking at the Pearl. "This new ship you promise me…she'll be swift and well-armed?"

"I can certainly promise you that," Kaia assured him. "My sisters know a good ship when they see one, and will be sure to choose what will suit you."

"And the mermaids…they will find me when the ten years are over?" Barbossa pressed, looking at her closely, as though fearing she would deceive him.

Kaia nodded. "We will give you a talisman that will lead them to you once you have returned," she replied. "However, you must return here to the Caribbean, for it is from here you will depart."

For several moments, everyone waited as Barbossa considered the offer. The thoughtful expression on his face gave nothing away, and the tension in the air was so thick it threatened to smother all of them. Finally, just as Kaia gave an impatient swish of her tail, Barbossa spoke.

"I agree to trade places with Mr. Turner, provided the ship I'm given is as promised," he declared to those gathered. "She must be as fine, swift, and sound as the Pearl, the equal or better of her."

"Done," Kaia quickly agreed. "Now, I realize that Mr. Turner must be on his way to the Underworld soon, but it will take a few days for me to gather enough of my sisters to help me with this spell."

"Why so long?" Elizabeth demanded, obviously impatient to have her husband back that minute.

"Because I alone do not have the power needed to cast it," Kaia explained in a calm tone of voice. "Mermaids do possess magic, but for something as powerful as this, it will take at least six or seven of us to cast it correctly. I will return in three days. You have but to wait for me aboard the Dutchman. I will meet you there on the third morning."

Then, with a flick of her tail, she was gone.


I had not the courage to tell them of the deep price that must be paid if I were to help William Turner. If they discovered it, they might not let me help them, and I could allow no second thoughts on the matter. I needed this as much as Will and Elizabeth did, and would let nothing get in my way.

When I was a mile away from the island, I clutched the crystal to my breast and sent out a call, praying that some of my sisters would hear me. I knew that there were several mermaids, nymphs and sirens that had settled in the warm Caribbean waters, but had no idea where their homes were. The crystal would call to them, though, and once a Daughter of the Sea heard one of her sisters cry out for aid, they always came to help.

The next morning, three sea nymphs and three sirens appeared where I was resting, all of them with concern written on their faces. I explained to them what I was trying to do, and though some where horrified, they all reluctantly agreed that parting Will and Elizabeth would be cruel after they had suffered so much. My sisters agreed to help me with the spell, and to carry out the reward that would be waiting for when Barbossa returned from his time in the Underworld.

My sisters and I spent the next day preparing me for what would come, when I became mortal. My sisters all claimed that it would be horrible for me, not being able to return to our underwater kingdoms, but I shook my head at their words. I had spent centuries beneath the ocean's surface; now I wanted to see what the world above it had to offer. I wanted something different from the watery depths of Poseidon's realms, something that would bring joy, excitement and satisfaction to my life. I wanted to be happy.

The third day dawned, and I used the crystal to check and see if they were ready for me. Sure enough, Captain Sparrow, Barbossa and the Turners were all aboard the Dutchman, waiting. It was time.


It had been an anxious few days, to say the least. William, Elizabeth, and Bootstrap had spent the entire time pacing the decks of either the Black Pearl or the Dutchman, and it was beginning to drive both crews insane. However, the Pearl's crew put up with it (under Captain's orders), and since Will was captain of the Dutchman, his crew kept its mouth shut on the matter of lecturing their captain about his pacing.

Finally, the third morning dawned, and Jack, Barbossa, and the three Turners were aboard the Dutchman, where a large space had been cleared in the anticipation of the arrival of Kaia and her 'sisters.' An hour after the sun cleared the horizon, a man on the starboard side of the ship gave a shout, and two seconds later, a pillar of water erupted from the sea, rocking the Dutchman as it moved closer to the ship. Upon reaching the Dutchman's starboard side, seven watery forms burst from the pillar of water and landed on the wooden deck, all appearing to be female.

One of the figures looked as though it were a woman formed out of moving water. When her outer watery shell vanished, they were all surprised to see it was Kaia herself, wrapped in a roughly made, dark green seaweed dress. Pearls were still strung in her hair, as was the red jeweled shell hung between her eyes on the gold chain. She looked slightly nervous, but otherwise calm as she emerged from the water, shedding her tail before their eyes as it quickly became a pair of legs.

Elizabeth stared at her. "You've got legs!" she blurted out in surprise.

"I have to, if I'm to conduct the spell," Kaia replied, grinning. "My sisters helped me get these legs by performing a special spell on me. If they hadn't, it would take several more days for me to get these. Legs are not something every mermaid has the option of having so quickly."

At that point, the six other sea women joined them. Three of them were obviously not human, having blue hair, blue-tinged skin, and large blue eyes, their lithe figures wrapped in blue gauze that left little to the imagination. Three others were females with flowing black hair and eyes, their skin pale as moonlight against the black gauze outfits that they wore. All six formed a half-circle behind their mermaid friend.

"These three are sea nymphs." Kaia waved towards the blue-haired women. "And these are sirens." The dark-haired trio nodded their heads. "They are here to help with the spell."

"We must have the heart of the Dutchman's Captain, as well as the chest that bears it," said one of the sirens, her voice hypnotic even while speaking normally.

Will made a gesture, and one of his crewmen brought The Chest forwards, setting it at Kaia's feet. She nodded to the man, who bowed in reply and retreated to join the rest of his crew. Meanwhile, the Turners, Captain Sparrow and Barbossa formed a half-circle of their own, facing the sea-people to form a complete circle, with Kaia in the center.

"No matter what happens, you are not to interfere," she firmly instructed them. "William, I need you to come forward, if you please."

He did so, though not before giving Elizabeth a quick hug and kiss. He stood before Kaia, his eyes full of worry and hope as she smiled up at him from her short height. Then, Kaia gently placed her hands on his chest and began to sing. A beat behind her, the nymphs and the sirens joined their voices with hers, weaving together a deep and incredible song of the sea.

It wasn't a song with words, but merely a song filled with haunting notes, one that pleaded for something that no mortal could ever dream of understanding. Although the meaning behind the music was hidden, the power was there, and everyone aboard the Dutchman and the Pearl could feel it in their very bones. To the shock of those aboard the Dutchman, the chest began to glow, a pulsating light that had the rhythm of a heartbeat.

Raising her hands, Kaia turned in the direction of the chest and, holding her beckoning fingertips out, seemed to summon the chest to her. Elizabeth gasped as the chest began to slowly rise off the deck, the lock turning and unlocking as Kaia's song built to a powerful crescendo. Behind her, the nymphs and sirens lent their voices to the bone-chilling song

A moment later, the chest was open, and inside, Will's heart magically began to glow and pulsate with light and a human heartbeat. As Kaia beckoned to it with her fingers, the heart began rising up out of the chest, slowly floating across the space between it and Kaia's fingertips. The pirate captains and crew watched, breathlessly, as the heart reached the mermaid's outstretched hands and hovered an inch above her palms.

Carrying her floating burden, Kaia approached Will, her hands bearing the still-glowing and still beating heart. Gently laying her fingertips on Will's chest, the men and woman aboard the Dutchman watched and listened in awe just as the song reached its' pinnacle. In a flash of gold-and-blue light, William Turner's heart pulsated one last time before vanishing into his chest.

Elizabeth gave a cry of worry just as her husband bent over, almost as though he were in pain. She ran to his side, trying to hold him up as his legs gave way, a pained expression on his face as the scar that had marked his chest from his heart's removal disappeared. Now his heart had been restored, and he was captain of the Dutchman no longer.

"Will, are you alright?" Elizabeth cried, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I'm fine," he softly replied, his voice full of wonder as he touched his chest, right where the scar was supposed to be.

Suddenly, Barbossa gave a yell of pain and surprise, causing everyone, save the sea maidens, to turn and look at him. They all watched in horror as his heart slid right through his chest, leaving a long scar upon his breast as it floated across the deck and landed inside the Dead Man's Chest. The moment that Barbossa's heart came to a rest inside The Dead Man's Chest, the lid slammed shut and the locks fell into place as the key appeared around Barbossa's neck.

The spell abruptly ended when Kaia's song cut off. Jack turned his head, a wave of concern washing over him as Kaia collapsed back into the arms of her sisters. Rushing forward, Jack knelt beside the unconscious former mermaid and felt for a pulse, clutching her wrist with his fingers. Her heartbeat was good and strong, but the looks on the nymphs' and sirens' faces didn't sit easy with him.

"What's wrong?" he asked them, the beads in his hair creating a gentle rattling sound as he turned his head back in Kaia's direction.

"She is exhausted," said a nymph as she knelt beside her sea-sister.

"Her magic is depleted, because her immortality is gone," a siren put in, her voice rich and echoing as she spoke.

William looked up from his kneeling position on the Dutchman. "Her immortality?"

The nymph who had spoken looked at him and smiled. "Our people were given immortality by Poseidon, as we are his children and of his creation," she explained. "We may only forsake that gift when we choose to become mortal, like you."

The siren spoke next. "Kaia has made a different choice. She has used her magic as a mermaid and the power behind her immortality to return William Turner's heart to him, and to shift the burden of captainship to another. It has drained away more energy than she can spare."

"She will live, but she needs rest," the nymph said, placing a blue-tinged hand on Kaia's forehead as she slipped something into Kaia's hand. "She will also need a place to live, someplace near the sea, though preferably on a ship so that she can always be near her former home."

Barbossa, who was fingering the long, thick scar upon his chest, looked at them with a frown. "Well, she can't come on the Dutchman," he said. "It's no place for someone who's alive and whole."

Jack sighed. "I'll take her on the Pearl," he said, looking down at Kaia's unconscious face. Inwardly, he thought, 'That horrible seaweed dress will have to go; it looks dreadful!'

"Jack, are you sure?" Elizabeth asked, helping her husband to his feet. "Will and I plan on settling down somewhere, probably in a town near the sea. We could take Kaia with us."

"And where would your father-in-law sleep if you did?" Barbossa said, stepping forward. He laughed as she stared at him. "Bootstrap, I'm afraid I still hold a grudge against ye for sending that cursed medallion off to your whelp-of-a-son. I free ye of your time aboard this ship, as I can't have ye on the Dutchman, plotting against me, now, can I?"

Bootstrap gave him a smile and a nod. "Aye. I'll enjoy getting to know my new daughter-in-law and my son at the same time."

"Good for you," Barbossa said. "Now, all of ye, get off of my ship!" The monkey chattered on his shoulder chattered its agreement.

The nymphs and sirens laughed as they ran to the edge of the ship and dove into the blue water, one of them tossing a blue stone in Barbossa's direction, which he caught. This was clearly the thing that would draw them to him when he returned from the Underworld to claim his reward. Nodding to himself, Barbossa put the stone into his pocket as he watched the others depart.

Meanwhile, Jack gently hoisted Kaia up into his arms, carrying her to the row boat that Will, Elizabeth and Bootstrap were already waiting in. There, Jack took his seat with Kaia sound asleep in his lap. Slowly, they were lowered into the water, and William and his father began rowing towards the Pearl.

"Do you think the men will let a former mermaid onto the ship?" Bootstrap asked as he rowed.

Jack looked down at the sleeping woman he was holding. "Doesn't matter if they do or not," he whispered so as not to wake her. "I owe her for helping you Turners, as well as getting Barbossa off my ship. I'll make sure that the men know it, too."

Silently he thought, 'Maybe having a mermaid onboard won't be so bad.'


AN: Please review! Thanks!