Chapter 4:

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Disclaimer: Not mine. Never was, never will be. Sadly.

I was still sitting in the cabin, drawing when I stroked across my leg to brush away a bit dirt that had settled there after Jack's last visit.

I sucked in my breath, slightly shocked at what I felt. I guess I should have realized it earlier, but I was preoccupied! My legs had prickly hair sticking out everywhere and I hated the feeling.

"What do I do, what do I do?" I stood up and paced the room. "Ok, calm down. You're a witch. You can do magic, magic is based on will, soo… What can I do? I can make fire, but it either really burnt me or didn't burn me at all. Now what is wrong with that statement? Um…" I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. Oh, right, it was my magic. It did exactly what I wanted it to. Now how to use this to my advantage…

I settled myself onto the floor. "Ok, please let this work." I murmured to myself. I trusted my abilities, but that didn't mean I wasn't nervous.

I ignited my palm and held it to my leg, pleased to find it didn't burn. I ran the flame up and down my legs and giggled when I found my hair burned. I proceeded with my other leg an d was nearly done when Jack walked in.

I gave an exasperated sigh regarded the very annoying captain. "Yes?" I completely ignored his questioning expression and when he didn't answer finished my legs. This resulted in Jack giving off choking noises. "Did you just burn your leg?" He spluttered.

"Yes. I was bored of having healthy legs so I decided to mangle them." I deadpanned. "Was there anything else you wanted?" I asked airily.

"I just wanted to tell you that Will and I will be going ashore soon." He sounded a bit affronted. I wonder why…?

I jumped up and squealed. "Yay, we're gonna go see undead pirates." I clapped my hands enthusiastically and was already half-way to the door when Jack coughed to get my attention.

"You're not coming."

"What do you mean 'I'm not coming'? Of course I'm coming." I narrowed my eyes menacingly.

"Well, you're a girl…"

"Soo…?"

"This isn't a girl thingy, it's bound to be dangerous and…"

I cut him off not wanting to hear him tell me how females were too scared and weak or whatever he was going to say. "I'm coming. Don't think you could stop me."

Jack narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Fine." He huffed out eventually. "You can come as long as I get my coat back."

I scowled but did as he asked. "Fine," I hissed, "but if I get a cold I'm going to blame you."

"You could always look around and see if there's a coat somewhere here." Jack said exasperatedly.

"So could you." Admittedly I had never thought of that… and it was just so fun to annoy Jack!

I went looking for a coat and when I found something fitting that didn't scream 'navy' I went on deck to see the little what's-it-called boat being lowered into the water. With Will and Jack already inside.

I gaped incredulously, then ran towards the boat and jumped. I fell about three meters and prayed it wouldn't hurt. Too much.

I landed on my feet, arms flailing, but I managed to steady myself and sit down without making too much of an idiot of myself.

"If this is was what you call waiting I don't want to know what you call going ahead."

Jack looked a bit disgruntled at my rather abrupt arrival. "What, you didn't really think a little jump would stop me from coming with you, did you?" That was probably exactly what they thought, but still, I hoped I had made a point.

We sat in silence, Jack rowing, me humming (earning a few annoyed glances, but hey!) and Will fidgeting. He kept casting me glances, opening his mouth as if to say something only to close it the next second. Then he would fidget some more and the whole thing started again. To begin with it was hilarious to watch but then just frustrating.

"Spit it out already!" I hissed. Will gulped but complied.

"What Code is Gibbs to keep to if the worst should happen?" I couldn't help it, I groaned. The guy had serious problems. He could have asked straight away, if he found it so important, but no, Will goes all fidgety and nervous, in return making me nervous and really annoyed. I hate fidgeting. I seriously do. It's just so… ugh!

"Pirate's Code. Any man that falls behind is left behind."

"No heroes amongst thieves, eh?"

I put my hand in the water, finding pleasure in its cooling quality. I started humming again. I'm not sure if it had a tune or anything, but it was fun.

"You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates you're well on your way to becoming one. Sprung a man" "and a woman!" I interrupted. Jack continued unperturbed, "from jail, commandeered a ship of the Fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga and you're completely obsessed with treasure."

"Yes, treasure is such a nice thing. All glittery and gold. Such a pretty sight."

"That's not true. I am not obsessed with treasure. That would be her." A disgruntled Will retorted. We had at that point left the boat and were sneaking through the cave to watch the gathering.

"That one anyway, but not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." Jack stated almost wistfully, looking towards where Barbossa and Lizzie stood atop a pile of Gold.

"Gentlemen, the time has come! Our salvation is nigh! Our torment is near at end." Barbossa exclaimed.

"Elizabeth." Will whispered.

"Monkey!" I whisper-cried.

"What, where?" Jack turned around.

"Nothing, I just wanted to say something." I explained sheepishly.

"You're impossible, you know that?" Jack sighed. I smiled innocently in answer.

"For ten years we've been tested and tried, and each man jack of you here has proved his mettle a hundred times over and a hundred times again!" Barbossa continued, earning cheers from his men.

"Suffered, I have." Ragetti muttered.

"Punished, we were. The lot of us - disproportionate to our crimes! Here it is," Barbossa threw off thechest's lid, "the cursed treasure of Cortés himself. Every last piece that went astray, we have returned, save for this." H pointed at the medallion on Elizabeth's neck.

Will scrambled up, upsetting some of the treasure. "Jack!"

Jack pulled him back down. "Not yet. We wait for the opportune moment."

"881 we found but despaired of ever finding the last." Barbossa's voice echoed throughout the cave.

"When's that? When it's of greatest profit to you?" Will asked angrily.

"May I ask you something? Have I ever given you reason not to trust me? Do us a favor. I know it's difficult for you, but please stay here and try not to do anything stupid."

"He is what, seventeen? Boys that age do nothing but stupid. You better keep an eye on him."

"And who among us has paid the blood sacrifice owed to the heathen gods?" slowly Barbossa's speech was getting boring and my legs cramped from crouching so long in such an uncomfortable position.

"Us!" the pirates called together, making an awful lot of noise in my opinion.

"And whose blood must yet be paid?"

"Hers!" What was this? School? Some kind of show where you had to listen to a long, a lil' bit boring speech until the curse was lifted?

"You know the first thing I'm goin' to do after the curse is lifted? Eat a whole bushel of apples." Yum, apples. I would really enjoy an apple right now.

"Yay!" I cheered when at long last Barbossa took up a knife and held it over Lizzie's palm. "Begun by blood, by blood undone." He slashed down at the same time as Will hit Jack over the head with an oar. "Shit!" I cried out in shock.

"Sorry, Jack. I'm not going to be your leverage." Will didn't sound apologetic at all.

"You idiot! Can't you listen? Will!" I whispered when he turned away and hurried off. A minute later an enraged Barbossa pushed Elizabeth down the pile of gold.

I knelt beside Jack and laid my hands on his head. I let my presence be guided into the injured pirate and with a bit of concentration healed him. He would have woken up, I knew, but now he wouldn't be plagued with headaches, nausea and some such.

"Wake up, wake up." I chanted kneeling next to my unconscious captain. "Oh come on!" I threw up my hands in irritation when he didn't wake immediately. "I am a seriously impatient person and this is sooo boring."

I shook him and after what seemed like ages, but were probably merely five minutes he finally opened his eyes. I hugged him in delight.

"You're back!"

"Was I gone?"

"You were unconscious and wouldn't wake up and I was bored."

"Why was I unconscious." The confusion was evident in his voice.

"The eunuch knocked you out. He wacked you over the head with an oar."

"I thought you didn't approve of him being called eunuch?" Jack questioned. I shrugged.

"Yeah, but times change."

Jack rubbed the back of his head absentmindedly. "You said Will knocked me unconscious, right?" I nodded the affirmative. "But then why doesn't my head hurt?"

"Am I a bloody healer or something?" I asked incredulous. Of course I knew why his head didn't hurt, and yes I was a bloody healer. I just didn't look it. So technically I hadn't lied.

Jack shook his head and walked off motioning me to follow. I gazed at the pieces of treasure strewn all around us with barely concealed awe. I wasn't a greedy person. I had no use for heaps and heaps of money, but I loved jewels and gold and silver.

I started humming again, this time some Harry Potter melody. Usually I am not oneto hum all the time but now…

"You're supposed to be dead!" an excited Pintel exclaimed coming round the corner and spotting us.

"Am I not?" Jack looked down at himself.

"I think you are actually." I said thoughtfully tapping my chin. We both looked up to see pistols pointed at us. "Oh." We said as one."Palulay, palu-li-la-la-lulu, parlili; parsnip, pasley, par - partner, partner?" Jack tried.

"Parley?" Ragetti asked hesitantly.

"Parley! That's the one. Parley! Parley!" Jack cried out euphoriously.

Pintel raged. "Parley? Down to the depths whatever man that thought up 'parley!'"

"That would be the French." I wisely put in, just as Jack opened his mouth to utter those very words. We were then marched back into the main cave here Barbossa greeted us.

"How the blazes did you get off that island?"

"When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land," Jack started with a smirk, "you forgot one very important thing, mate. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Ah, well, I won't be making that mistake again. Gents, you all remember Captain Jack Sparrow? Kill him." Barbossa stated coldly. In answer all the pirates pointed their weapons at Jack.

Jack smiled slyly. "The girl's blood didn't work, did it?"

"Hold your fire!" Barbossa cried out, making the pirates lower their weapons, albeit reluctantly. "You know whose blood we need?"

"I know whose blood ye need." Jack smirked in triumph.

Barbossa narrowed his eyes. "Fine, you get to live. For now. But the girl… I have no use for her. Shoot her." The last words were directed at the pirates still surrounding us, who got ready to comply.

"Whoa, you really wanna do that?" Barbossa shrugged as if to say 'yeah, why not'. "Personally I must say I am not too fond of that idea. I would much rather stay alive. So if you would just tell your men to lower their weapons…"

"Now why would I do that?" I smiled brightly at him, showing off pearly white teeth. "Because I'm such a pleasure to be around." I chirped. Well honestly, no, I am not a pleasure to be around. Especially around strangers I am just plain annoying. But they needn't know that.

"Well, I think she's bloody annoying…"

"Jack!" I protested. "Do you want to get me killed?"

"But," he emphasized, "she is damn smart" True Jack, I am. But it's not like you ever experienced that. Maybe this is you trying to save my ass? "and great help, if you tell her what to do." Yeah, that's so true… not. I'm great help if I want to, but I rarely do. Ah well. I telling lies helps, who am I to complain.

"You know what?" Barbossa addressed me, "I like playing games. I will show you seven pistols. Six of them will be loaded, one won't. You will pick one and I will shoot you. If you survive you get to come aboard the Pearl where your fate will be decided. If not… there's nothing much to say."

I considered, It was risky, but better than being trying not to get shot than definitely being shot. "Fine." Barbossa smiled evilly and what he had said was done. I wasn't allowed to see, but in the end I was presented with seven pistols. I didn't think too long about it, just prayed that I was lucky.

I picked one out and when Barbossa leveled it at my head I closed my eyes. I heard the click of the trigger being pulled and a bang…

A/N: Yay, cliffhanger! Maybe… I hope you liked it! Please tell me if you did (review J) and maybe, but just maybe, if you didn't.