THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION Ch. 4

The Black Pearl coasted silently into Shipwreck Cove two days later. Night had just fallen and the lights around the cove had begun to twinkle. Elizabeth waited until the ship glided to a stop against the dock and softly jumped down swallowing her nerves. The last time she had been here had been for the fateful meeting when she was named King and ordered the brethren to go to war. That seemed so long ago, back then she had been confident to the point of arrogant. That was before her husband had turned his back on her. That was before she had spent the last five days haunted by images of Jack being thrown overboard dead. She had lost count of how many times she had woken trembling in a cold sweat her eyes wide in the last few days.

Now she could not help crossing her fingers behind her back. This was her last hope, her last possibility of getting help to rescue Jack before it was too late. The door to the brethren court creaked open under her hand and the scents of rum and cigar smoke wafted out to greet her. Memories of shouting voices arguing lingered in the air. Yet now the room was heavy with silence. Elizabeth cleared her throat the sound echoing around the huge cavernous room. She could only hope he had answered her message and come at her request. Silently a shadowy figure stepped forward and Elizabeth gasped, struck yet again by the resemblance to Jack. Captain Teague Sparrow stood before her, a familiar lop sided grin on his face.

'Captain Sparrow,' she began hesitantly, 'I need your help.'

He smiled at her nerves, gesturing to a chair trying to set her at ease, 'Call me Teague, Jack has spoken of you often.'

Elizabeth coloured slightly wondering what he had told his father. Moving forward she sat in the chair indicated.

'What can I do to help you?' he asked clearly not wanting to waste time.

'Jack has been taken prisoner I need help to rescue him.'

Teague smiled, 'My son has an uncanny ability of crossing the wrong people, who has he upset this time?'

'Linus Silverwater' Elizabeth replied her voice shaking slightly.

Teague's eyebrows rose, clearly he had heard the name before.

'It would seem Jack can still surprise me, he has certainly outdone himself this time.'

'So you will help me?' Elizabeth asked her eyes shining with hope.

'Not so fast, what does Captain Silverwater want with Jack?'

'I think he wants to find the Fountain of Youth'

Teague's mouth fell open slightly, 'What would Jack know about that?'

Elizabeth wondered how much Jack had told his father about his time in the locker and how he ended up there.

'Jack stole the chart from Barbossa.'

Teague smiled, 'He does get himself into some complicated situations, Linus Silverwater is an extremely dangerous man.'

'So you see why I am so worried about him?'

Jack's father stared at her silently for a few moments, clearly trying to gauge what Elizabeth was not saying.

'You care a great deal about my son, don't you?' he said finally.

Elizabeth lowered her eyes feeling warmth fill her cheeks knowing she could not deceive the man whose blood ran in Jack's veins.

'I'm in love with him,' she replied her voice slightly hoarse with emotion she knew she could not longer deny what was truly in her heart.

'I see' was Teague's only reply. He slowly rose and began walking around the room.

'Without Jack's compass it will be very difficult to track them down, there are very few who know the location of the mysterious Fountain of Youth.'

Elizabeth sighed in frustration she knew every moment that passed Jack moved further away from her and into greater peril. Teague gazed at her for a moment clearly reading her thoughts,

'Fortunately I am one of those few' he said finally a smile breaking out on his face.

Before she could stop herself Elizabeth jumped to her feet and threw her arms around the startled Teague Sparrow's neck. He laughed and spun her around.

'Don't worry my dear, I am sure we will be in time to save Jack.'

Elizabeth nodded unable to speak due to the lump in her throat, she could feel tears of gratitude sliding down her face.

'Thank you Teague.'

She murmured softly for a moment wishing this man was her father in law. If he was then Jack would be her husband, her cheeks coloured at the thought of being Jack's wife.

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Jack lay on his back on the thin pallet that served as his bed. He had slowly become accustomed to the noisome stink that filled the brig. He had already performed the painful task of wrenching his nose back into position. It was not the first time his nose had been broken. His injuries were slowly healing, what was hurting more was his heart and his mind. He was going crazy being locked in this rat hole. For a man who had spent his life used to the freedom of the sea being locked in a cage was torture. What was torturing him more was the threat Silverwater had made against Elizabeth. Although he would sell his soul to see his charming murderess again, he silently prayed she had sailed the Pearl as far away from here as possible. Jack could feel a slow trickle of tears sliding down his face. He had not wept since his infancy he could not remember ever feeling this much emotional pain before. It was this realization the brought home to him just how much he loved Elizabeth. 'Lizzie…' he murmured softly, 'be safe my love..'

To be continued…..