Chapter Four
Slowly, Elizabeth turned around; her heart was beating fast.
"Drop yer guns," ordered Jessie in a hushed tone as he moved forward, still holding his knife to young Will's neck.
As Elizabeth tried to gulp down her fear, she hissed, "What do you want?" She dreaded the answer because she was sure that she already knew.
"You know what I want. It's something that is very priceless and that happens to be something that will help me make a deal with someone," replied Jessie in a dangerous tone.
Elizabeth impatiently urged on, "And that would be? And who is this "someone"?"
"The bloody pouch with the blasted stone!" yelled Jessie letting loose his temper.
Elizabeth stared at the hostile man, trying to calculate at how far he would go to obtain this jewel. Coolly, she retorted, "You still didn't answer my question about the "someone"." Jessie, panting with rage gazed at the woman in front of him in surprise. He was not used to people standing up to him let alone trying to pry things out of him when they were at a disadvantage.
"You'll find out soon enough." He cocked his pistol and pointed it at her, motioning her to the door.
The man pushed them both out the door of the pub and into the alleys. Guiding through many passageways, Jessie briskly walked Elizabeth and her son around until even Elizabeth couldn't determine where she was.
After about two hours, the trio broke out from amidst the cramped buildings and onto an idle dock. There was only on ship docked there and it appeared very out of place since it was so splendid compared to the shabbiness of the buildings surrounding it. Jessie hailed the docked ship and in answer, a ramp was let down do receive the small group.
Still at gun-point, Elizabeth held William's hand tightly; determined that not even the Devil himself could pry her son from her. She glanced all around her to get a bearing of her surroundings. Elizabeth met many a stare of husky sailors who were hustling to prepare the ship for sail. Out of sheer curiosity Elizabeth asked, "What's her name?"
"The Siren. She's a beauty isn't she?" Jessie replied. He was bewildered at how this woman could think of such things. After all, he did just kidnap her and her son and threatened them.
Elizabeth nodded, still breath taken. She hadn't realized how much she had missed being on the ocean instead of just gazing longingly at it. But Elizabeth had to make a living for her son. Maybe when he was older they could take to sea. She sighed, running her hand along the rail as the pirate led them to the cabin which would accommodate her and little William.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Jessie watched Elizabeth intently. He was wondering about whom she was and what her past could possibly be to make her ignore her current condition. All Jessie wanted was the diamond; he didn't know anything else about this woman and her son except that she had what he wanted. However, since he didn't want her raising a cry and bringing attention to the mysterious stone that glowed, Jessie's best plan was to take the two with him.
Jack didn't know what to think. Vanessa surprised him in many ways. She seems to be doing everything for her own jolly good self, but what 'bout me? Is she really just using me as she says or is there something else? Still locked up, Jack had nothing to do except try to think things out and plan what he would do if he did escape. Trust her or not? He tugged at his beard contemplatively. What could Vanessa possibly have that would have to do with me? True she's a sneaky little skank, but she might be slyer than I thought… Jack got up and paced some more; still trying to sort things out.
Vanessa sat clawing the armrests of the chair that she was sitting on. Pintel and Ragetii were already on their way with a ring of keys which were just for a couple chests in the cabin on the old ring. They were too easily fooled, thought Vanessa. She couldn't make up her mind entirely on what to do about the map, Jack, and herself. There wasn't really anywhere to go if she did release Jack or if she tried to run away herself.
Light was streaming through the window and there was an abnormal increase in the shouting and clumping of boots outside on the deck. Vanessa scanned the ocean through a window and spotted a ship not far in the distance. "Thomas," Vanessa's eyes widened as she saw the name of the ship painted on its side. Time to finish things up. She smoothed out her skirt, and redid her hair which had come undone and walked out the door. She was met with a gust of wind. Surprisingly, Tortuga was still in sight, but as she looked around, Vanessa noticed that the anchor was down in the depths. In the distance she saw Thomas getting into a longboat. Not much time was left.
Vanessa slipped unseen into Barbossa's cabin; knowing it was empty because the captain was at the helm. It's got to be around here somewhere, she thought as she shuffled papers around on a table covered in charts and the like. Then, next to a bottle of rum and underneath a handkerchief, she discovered the bamboo chart which Jack had cut out of the original piece. Ah me beauty, Vanessa sighed as she rolled it up and securely stuffed it into her many skirts and exited Barbossa's cabin.
Rushing into hers, Vanessa put her ear against the wall that was shared with Barbossa's cabin. Soon, she heard Thomas and Barbossa enter and waited for them to begin to converse. Obviously, this meeting was planned.
Jack was getting impatient, "C'mon! All this bloody "greatest advantage" timing is so blasted shtupid!" He was regretting that recommendation of deceiving and of taking advantage of certain persons that he had given Vanessa. "I knew I shouldn't have relied of that, that, WOMAN!" He was scowling as he repeatedly kicked the bars. Frustrated, Jack looked around him for anything to smash the door with, "Just 'ill have ta do it myself!" Out through a small hole in the Black Pearl, however, Jack gaped when he saw a somewhat familiar ship not far from the Black Pearl. "Oh?" Jack did a sarcastic little swagger. "So Vanessa couldn't help but bring her lil puppy along with her could she?" Stopping, Jack moodily plopped down on his bench once more.
Vanessa was bored. The two pirates had begun to converse only about ships, taverns and the like. Not a word was said about the map. To the muted clinking of glasses and silverware, she almost dosed off when she unexpectedly heard the word "map" enter the men's discussion.
Vaugahan inquired, "So 'bout this map that you were talkin' 'bout…" Jessie (Thomas) tried to hide the eagerness in his voice, but it still seeped out a little.
"Ah, yes, the map. I found that when I found a Jack Sparrow and a certain woman with him." Barbossa glanced knowingly at Jessie. He couldn't wait to get rid of Vanessa.
Jessie looked up wonderingly, "And who is this certain woman? You mean Jack has been able to keep something in his possession?" Jessie Vaugahan knew all about Jack's misfortunes of losing his ship, crew and the like, and could not but help to rub it in every once in a while.
"I wouldn't say that she's really his. She has about as much freedom in her as Calypso herself," Barbossa enjoyed making people impatient. It always brought the most interesting side out of them he thought. Jessie folded his arms and waited; Barbossa was disappointed. "She's that one Vanessa. I assume Jack was reunited with her at a tavern in Tortuga."
Jessie lurched, "Where is she?"
Barbossa smiled, "Oh, she's safe and sound. I have 'er locked up in the cabin next to this one."
Satisfied that he could take care of Vanessa later, Jessie turned the conversation back to the much needed map, "Now back to this map or yours."
"This map that you want, why is it so important to you?" Barbossa leaned back with a wary, suspicious look.
"Well, you see, I have these two diamond eyes that need to be placed in a certain skull in order to open a door. The skull is the skull of Quetzalcoatl. It is the skull of the highest heathen god of the Aztecs. You know the story I suppose?" explained Jessie. Don't ask more. Don't ask more, he thought. He didn't want to have Barbossa looking over his shoulder at what he was searching for.
"Yesss, I know the story, but where does my map figure in?" probed Barbossa. He's holdin' back something…
Vaugahan shrugged, "I need it to find the skull. That's all"
Barbossa leaned forward accusingly, "But you forgot, Captain Vaugahan, you forgot to tell me what the skull, which is the lock to an entrance, opens. What do the iridescent jewels, being the keys, open?" Barbossa watched Jessie's expression like a hawk. "Ye were purposely not tellin' me cause ye assumed I didn't know about it; the Agua de Vida, the Water of Life, or if you prefer… the Fountain of Youth."
Jessie Vaugahan took a deep breath. That didn't go the way he wanted it to.
Elizabeth was gazing across the ocean. Needing a plan, she was pulling possibilities out left and right. Just row away in a boat: no, not a chance. Try to take over the ship by threatening to kill Jessie. That wouldn't work either, too risky. Elizabeth was grasping the railing in a death grip by now. Jessie, or whoever he is, is gone over to the Black Pearl. What are they doing there anyways? She guessed it had something to do with the precious stone that her son had found seeing as the captain had requested it before he left.
Not wanting to get embroiled in every little thing going on at the moment, Elizabeth had handed it over without a question. She was saving those for later. Besides, there might be more for the pirate to tell her once he himself had more things settled.
Elizabeth needed someone. She needed someone who she could trust to help her and her son get away and back home instead of ending up who knows where with this man. Who knows what he would do to them now that he got what he wanted? That only left her Will or Jack Sparrow, and at the moment, neither of them were there. Maybe she would take her chances with Barbossa. At least he knew who she was.
Vanessa calculated how long it would take the two conspirators to finish up, and got up to go down to the brig again. "Jack! We gotta go now!"
Jack looked up in astonishment, "How's that gonna be when you don't 'ave the key?" Vanessa pulled a chain from within her bodice and dangled it in front of Jack. "Ahh! So you did 'ave the key!"
With a click, Vanessa unlocked the door and swung it open; stepping aside to let Jack out. "Thomas is here. He asked 'bout the map and it sounds like him and Barbossa are gonna make some sorta deal." She finished off unshackling Jack and began to run up the stairs. Jack, however, stayed where he was. "Aren't ye comin'?"
"Where would we go, luv?" He leaned against the cell bars, "As far as I can see, there's nowhere else to go except back here."
Huffing, Vanessa stomped back to Jack, on the verge of giving him a piece of her mind. "We're going ta go to Thomas's ship, take it ova' and sail away into the sunset. Understood?"
Jack thought for a moment and then inquired, "How were we gonna go 'bout taking over Jessie's ship? Unlike some, his crew is loyal."
Vanessa whirled her arms around in a frustrated manner, "We're just gonna, um, say that we're friends. I don't know!" She started to ascend the stairs again and then asked, "Who's Jessie?"
Jack grinned wickedly, "Ohh? He hasn't told you who he really is?"
"Save it, Jack. Let's GO!" Vanessa was irritated at Jack's additional piece of intelligence.
Seeing that his little stab at Vanessa's composer was successful, Jack decided that he best get going, "Not without my effects."
Quickly, they ran up the stairs and crept to the side of the ship closest to the Siren. Kneeling behind some barrels Jack stated matter of factly, "Looks as if we're gonna have ta swim for it. We can't very well use a long boat; someone would notice. No rope handy either. Yep, we're definitely gonna have ta swim." Looking Vanessa up and down, Jack advised, "You might want to shed some of those skirts, luv. Else ya won't make it over."
In protest, Vanessa began to open her mouth but stopped as Jack grabbed her outer skirt and tore it clean off. Pouting, Vanessa added, "Fine, you'll buy me a new one." But Jack's focus was on something else. When he had ripped off her skirt, the chart had tumbled out of its secure hiding spot.
Jack stooped to pick it up, "Now what could this possibly be doing here, I wonder?" He cocked his head to one side with an inquisitive look.
Vanessa's eyes wandered as she tried to come up with an excuse, "It was just lying there. I decided that if Barbossa and you wanted it so much, that I might as well take a look at it as well. As it turned out, though, Thomas, or Jessie, or whoever he be, showed up so I just moved things along a lil' and borrowed it for the most opportune moment. You know, it shows all the legendary places of legend," she paused for effect. A slight frown spread over Jack's face. "Of course, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't have shared it with ye, does it?" Vanessa finished with eyebrows arched.
Jack stuffed the chart into his shirt and whispered, "We'll finish this later." He began to climb down the side of the Pearl but stopped and popped his head back up when he noticed that Vanessa wasn't following him. "Well, let's get goin' then!"
"Um, I, ah, I can't exactly, um," stuttered Vanessa. Jack waited expectantly. "I can't swim."
"Oh," Jack's mouth formed a big O. "Well, that's going to make it more difficult. Wonderful." He continued down the side of the ship.
Vanessa smiled to herself. In away, she was insulted. Really! Does he honestly think that I can't SWIM? She hoisted what was left of her skirts and slipped over the edge.
Without splashing, Jack lowered himself in the water that was lapping at the side of the Black Pearl. "C'mon! I wouldn't let you drown now would I?" He held out his hand for Vanessa to steady herself on.
"Well, I'm not entirely sure that you wouldn't," Vanessa hesitantly eyed the water below. Finally, she let one hand go and held onto Jack as she eased her body into the cool sea. Cautiously, she released her other hand from her hand-hold on the ship and tightly grabbed onto Jack, throwing her arms around his neck.
"Here we go," Jack huffed under the added weight.
Difficultly, they made for the Siren. On the way, Jack couldn't but help noticing schools of little fishes and a couple wandering sharks. Hopefully Ol' Jessie doesn't still 'ave that board walk anymore. He wasn't too sure about this random, impulsive plan of Vanessa's. At least his plans had a slight chance of working.
