Two Sparrows And A Blood Debt – (4)

The Black Pearl sailed to an archipelago in the Caribbean that matched the outline of some claws that Tia Dalma had showed them before they left. And there, on the shoals, lay a ship, the main deck slanted into the sea.

Under the glow of an old oil lantern, Jack and Gibbs silently stared at the broken vessel.

"That's the flying Dutchman?" Will asked them. "She doesn't look like much,"

"Neither do you," Jack snapped. "Don't underestimate her,"

Ashley watched and then broke a rather awkward silence "What's your plan?"

She was still rather surprised that Jack had agreed to let her come, but then again, she'd more or less demanded that she came. So he really didn't have a say in the matter. If she wanted to risk her life, she could.

"I row over and search the ship until I find Jack's bloody key," Will retorted.

"If there are crewman?" Jack asked, testing him.

"I cut down anyone in my path,"

Jack smiled. "I like it. Simple and easy to remember,"

Will nodded. His eyes traveled to the cloth Jack held tightly in his hand. "I bring you the key, you give me the compass,"

"Yes, and if you get captured, just say, 'Jack Sparrow sent me to settle his debt,'" Jack ordered. Then he added. "It might save your life,"

Will nodded his farewells and climbed over the rail to a waiting longboat. As Will rowed with his back to the scuttled ship, Jack watched silently. Then he ordered Ashley to lower the lights.

One by one, the lanterns of the Black Pearl went as dark as her black sails. She was all but invisible, except for the smile of one gold-toothed Captain Jack Sparrow.

Hidden in darkness on the deck of the Black Pearl, Jack Sparrow looked through his spyglass and gasped Davy Jones was staring strait at him.

As Jack slowly lowered his telescope, Davy Jones suddenly and jarringly appeared right in front of him. The crewmen of The Flying Dutchman were also transported onto the Pearl's deck and they quickly surrounded Jack and his crew. Except that is…for Ashley..

(To Ashley!)

She had nothing better to do than to go below deck, waiting for Will to return – if he returned- and it was growing rather boring, and it seemed that nothing could entertain her.

At this present moment in time, she was in Jack's cabin, being nosy and looking through his drawers, much like she had done not long after she had joined the crew of the Pearl. There was of course, as always. No Rum. The only difference of the situation was that Jack wasn't there to say 'Why Is The Rum Gone?'

A long bang from the top deck interrupted Ashley thoughts.

'Is that Will? If so that was mighty quick!' Ashley said to herself, as she walked back out onto the top deck.

But, there was no Will. Just several strange looking people aboard the ship, they surrounded the crew of the Pearl with cutlasses and pistols pointed at them. Jack was stood in the middle, talking to a man that looked rather like an octopus, or something along those lines. Nobody noticed her at first, so Ashley listened to what was going on.

"You can condemn an innocent man – a friend – to a lifetime of servitude while you roam free?" The octopus man asked, Ashley suddenly realized that it was Davy Jones himself.

"I'm good wiv it," Jack answered. "Shall we seal it in blood? I mean, ink?"

"Let's not and say we did. Agreed?" Jones asked.

"Agreed," Jack said, grinning. Ashley saw him look down at his palm, the black spot which had recently been there was now gone.

She made to step back and silently creep back below deck, but Ashley stumbled and went flying forwards, making her presence apparent to everyone.

"Well well, well what's this then?" Jones said, he walked up to Ashely and peered down at her with his beady eyes.

"No one, no one at all," Jack replied.

"Don't play games with me Sparrow, I know exactly who this is, just one look at the girl and anyone would be able to tell. She's your daughter isn't she?"

Jack gave no reply.

"Isn't she?" Jones repeated loudly.

Ashley stood up nervously and looked over at Jack who nodded in reply.

"Who'd have thought it! Jack Sparrow has a daughter and a pirate at that!" Jones laughed, noting the large P on Ashley's arm.

"You ever need a favour, come to old Jones. I'll help you, just like I helped your good-for-nothing father, but you better hope that you don't try ta do what he's doing," Jones said, his face right next to Ashley's.

He and his crew laughed once more.

"Jack Sparrow, you have three days to find me 99 souls to replace yours, or you know the consequences," Jones said, and in a blink of an eye. He and his crew where gone.

Moments later, The Flying Dutchman sailed off into a distant storm with Will aboard. Jack watched silently as the ship faded from sight. He had three days to find 99 souls. There was only one place to go – Tortuga.