Of Ghosts and Deceptions: Chapter Four

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this story, just the twisted plot.

A/N: To my reviewers: You'll just have to read and see, and might I remind you that this is a dark story.

Enjoy!

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Elizabeth watched as Jack began to stride toward her, pawing at many of her possessions along the way. Forgetting about what had happened earlier in the day, Elizabeth became angry at Jack.

"Jack Sparrow you fiend!" she cried out, "do you have any idea what you out me through?!"

Elizabeth was taken aback by a force against her cheek; it was so fast and so hard that her head was forcefully jerked to the side. Jack Sparrow had struck her. Placing a hand to her stinging cheek, she glared at Jack; tears were welling in her eyes. Jack's expression had changed completely; he had the look of rage in his eyes.

Elizabeth could not speak, at the sight of Jack's rage, she became very frightened. Jack said nothing to her in return, merely staring her down with his cold dark eyes, he reached out for Elizabeth.

Stepping back in fear, Elizabeth squeezed her eyes shut and awaited her next punishment. This is what it had to be, a punishment. Feeling Jack's hands gently grab her shoulders made Elizabeth jump. It was gentle, and Elizabeth's mind reeled, why was his touch so gentle?

Jack suddenly wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. Elizabeth unknowingly removed her hand from her stinging cheek and she laid her head against Jack's chest. This was what she needed, reassurance that she was not crazy. Elizabeth forgave Jack in that sudden warm embrace, she felt that she deserved that strike, after all she deserved far worse, but right now her focus was to have Jack back in her life. Like old times.

A cool breeze filtered in through the window, encircling Elizabeth, moving her honey brown hair, she felt like she had been standing there for ages in Jack's arms; she felt Jack shift and she lifted her head to look up into his eyes. His warm fingers touched her lips before she could open her mouth to say something.

Elizabeth smiled up at Jack, and closed her eyes as she felt Jack's hands run down the sides of her face, over her cheeks. The touch sent tingling sensations under her skin, like a myriad of ants crawling on her face. For a moment Elizabeth forgot her troubles, how she wanted Will to marry her already, how she feared that Jack would always hate her for what she had done. For once she felt like she belonged to Jack, that they were going to run away together. It felt nice to forget her troubles, almost as nice as Jack's rough warm hands ran down to her neck.

All those troubles and worries came flooding back as Elizabeth felt her air cut off suddenly. Jack had gripped his hands tightly around Elizabeth's neck. Elizabeth's eyes widened and she struggled to free herself, her hands gripped jack's, trying to cause him pain so that he would let go. Her eyes were watering and she felt her face get hot, no doubt that it was turning red. With an instinct her legs collapsed underneath her, willing Jack's hands to be free of her neck, but they remained and she hit the ground with great force.

Elizabeth was beginning to get weak, and her surroundings were clouding in darkness. Jack was still standing over her, and her mind was screaming for air at the same time as it was screaming for someone to burst in a save her. The last thing she saw was the darkness in Jack's eyes, so cold. With a final jerk of her body, Elizabeth passed out.

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Elizabeth jerked and in a rush of color and sound, she gasped and sat up. Choking down gulps of air, she began coughing, tears leaked from her eyes. Looking around quickly, she found that Jack was not in the room anymore, she rubbed her neck with a free hand. Elizabeth began to panic, not only was Jack not there, but she was not on the floor. Looking down, she found herself in her bed, with the blankets and throws gathered around her, the chapter book was gripped in her other hand.

Dropping the book, Elizabeth ran both hands through her hair. Was she dreaming a horrible dream, which had to be impossible, her throat was sore. Elizabeth was beginning to get really scared, if something was wrong with her mind they would want to put her away. Will would leave her and her father would probably give her to the care of Port Royal's finest brain doctors and then what would happen to her after that??

Elizabeth stopped thinking about it as she heard loud whistling echoing through the Manor, it was an eerily familiar tune:

'Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me'

Elizabeth dropped her hands back onto her lap, she turned her head sharply and stared wide eyed at her bedroom door, unconsciously gripping her blankets in fear. What if it was real and Jack was still wandering the Manor, taking items from her. There wasn't anybody here to help her, her servants would probably try to save their own skins once they whiff a pirate.

Springing from her bed, Elizabeth grabbed her trouser pants and quickly pulled them on underneath her gown. The whistling continued, and Elizabeth suddenly realized something, she nearly kicked herself for being so stupid, so helpless. Will had taught her how to fight, Will had given her her own sword, it was hidden beneath her mattresses, she grabbed it and gripped it strongly, and she had become a determined woman. Striding out of her room she started down the stairs, cat-like and silent, if Jack was messing around in her Manor she was going to put an end to it. And then throw him to the gallows, Jack Sparrow was not the man she thought he was no longer.

Although she was sure Jack was in the Manor somewhere, she didn't want to doubt her mind's capability, so she refrained from calling out the rouge pirate's name. Deciding it was best to check the kitchen first and then cut through the library, Elizabeth headed in that direction. The whistling was growing louder. In the kitchen, there was nobody there, no one was cooking and it looked completely spotless.

The whistling grew loudly behind her, spinning around Elizabeth caught sight of Jack sauntering through the front from where the stairs were located and headed toward her father's study.

"Jack, stop where you are!" she yelled, pointing at him with her sword.

Jack did not stop and he went through the door to her father's study. The Swan Manor was built quite strangely, almost like a half-moon or a semi-circle. If Elizabeth had to chase Jack down, there would eventually be no more places from him to run through. Elizabeth became determined to catch the rouge pirate and demand why he had treated her so badly. Reaching her father's study, Elizabeth kicked through the door and swept the room with her sword, Jack was not in there.

There was another door he could have sneaked through, and that would lead to the sun room, an enclosed area just reachable from the outside, full of large windows that allowed the sun to enter. It was a lovely room that Elizabeth enjoyed visiting when she wanted to read. Quick steps took her to the door and once again she kicked through and searched the room, finding that Jack was about to leave it and make his way passed the library.

"Jack! Stop!" she cried.

Still, Jack did not stop, it was almost as if he didn't hear her. Elizabeth continued yelling his name as she ran across the room, through the other door and into the main library. This was beginning to frustrate her, Jack was not stopping and she was growing tired. The main library was the largest by far of the other four libraries the manor held. Books upon books from all over the world were neatly shelved on bookshelves that completely took over all four walls, from floor to ceiling. As much as Elizabeth admired the myriad books her father collected, Jack Sparrow was not in the Main Library.

"Where the bloody hell are you?!" she hollered at the top of her lungs.

Elizabeth ran through the library and ran down the hall that would connect to the kitchen. She heard shuffling, fast shuffling, Jack was trying to get away from her yet again. Elizabeth decided that this was enough, turning the sharp corner that brought her into the kitchen, she lifted her arm and expertly threw her sword in Jack's direction. There was a cry of pain and a very loud thud, Elizabeth walked forward and eyed the rouge pirate lying face down on the floor in the kitchen. Elizabeth's sword had managed to pierce through his lower back, this was a pirate that forced entry into her home and caused her harm, she knew that if Jack was dead, she'd be forgiven for her actions. Removing her sword from Jack's back, she rolled him over with her foot. Elizabeth blinked and suddenly dropped her sword.

Lying on the floor, with pleading eyes looking up at her was none other than James Norrington.

"Oh my god! James!" Elizabeth cried and dropped heavily on her knees, grabbing onto the ex Commodore.

James had a pool of blood already encircling him, and Elizabeth sobbed loudly,

"No! No! No! James, it wasn't you, it was Jack! It wasn't you!" Elizabeth continued to cry, she cradled James in her lap, he opened his mouth to try and say something,

"Eliz…beth…. I…."

James Norrington stopped moving.

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Ok I had a little trouble getting this chapter out, hopefully it's something to talk about. Tell me how you like it, please!!