Secret of the Four Points

Ob1MegOb1

Chapter 9

"No," Jasmine muttered, "It can't be."

"I know it's a lot to take in," Gerry said walking forward slowly, "but it is me."

She stepped away from him as he stepped forward to embrace her. Memories of that day were rushing back to her. When she had been screaming for him to come back and he had only walked away. And now he hoped to embrace her like nothing had happened?

"Jasmine?" he said confused.

Her voice was shaking as she said, "You knew."

The smile on Gerry's face disappeared as she said this, "So did your beloved Jack. Or did he forget to tell you?"

"I don't care about Jack and what he didn't say…you're my brother for God's sakes!" she cried. "How could you allow them to…do what they did to me and James."

Gerry turned away from her his eyes emotionless, "Nicodemus got it into his head a long time ago that you and James were holding us back from being everything we could. So he thought he would commit an act that would ensure that you both would be out of the way."

She sat there horrified and not believing that those words had come out of his mouth. He and Jack had not only known…but had agreed to it? "Why?" she said her voice shaking, "All we had ever wanted was to sail the seas together. Why would you cut me and James out?"

"For one thing James went and joined the Royal Navy. Do you have any idea how much that complicated things?"

"He told you why he joined the Navy. Besides he didn't even use our names so I don't understand…"

"You both were weak that's why!" Gerry said raising his voice. When he turned to her she stood back horrified to see his eyes had gone black. "You both never had what it takes to stand with me and Jack."

"What's wrong you?" she said horrified. "It was that amulet wasn't it?" she said stepping forwad, "The one you and Jack went looking for."

She turned as Nicodemus entered the cabin, "Captain," They are still pursuing us at full speed. All three of them."

Gerry turned to Jasmine his eyes cold and emotionless, "You were right Nicodemus, she is nothing but a nuisance."

"What should we do sir?" Nicodemus said.

Gerry smiled, "I say we drop that cursed thing," he said pointing to the necklace, "at the bottom of the ocean."

Nicodemus smiled, "Aye sir."

(The Black Lady)

James' face was a mix of anger, and confusion as he continued to hold Jack pinned to the wall. "You're wrong," he muttered.

"I wish I were mate," Jack whispered, "But its true."

James slowly released Jack his hands shaking as he did. He couldn't believe this…not only had Gerry been alive all this time…but he was Nicodemus' captain. But that meant…. "Wait," James muttered, "Does that mean?" he said turning to Jack. Jack's eyes were pained as he turned to him.

"James look!" they suddenly heard Elizabeth call from the front of the ship. James looked ahead to Nicodemus' ship horrified to see the man himself standing there, and he was holding his sister at knifepoint.

"No," he said rushing forward his heart pounding. This couldn't be happening…not again. Jasmine this time was unconscious in his arms her eyes closed and her body slumped. Nicodemus lifted her up over the side of the ship showing that her legs and arms were bound. And attached to her feet was…

"Oh dear god," he said horrified, as he realized tied to her legs was a series of weights. He was planning to drop her to the bottom of the ocean.

"We need to slow down now!" James called but there were several gasps as they all watched Nicodemus throw Jasmine's unconscious body over the side of the ship and quickly disappear from view. "No!" he cried, preparing to jump over the side himself.

"James wait!" he heard Teddy call. But it was too late James and had already vaulted over the side of the ship and into the ocean. He took a deep breath before finally descending down to try to reach his sister.

He heard the sound of splashing and he saw that Theodore had also jumped in after him. He turned back and continued to head towards his quickly sinking sister who he noticed had jolted awake and was trying to struggle against her bonds. He grabbed her hand as her the weights finally hit bottom, thank god it wasn't deep waters. But he was already beginning to need breath even as he finally reached her.

Her eyes were wild as he reached her and her hands gripped his as he tried to undo he bonds. She was bound with ropes surprisingly but even then it was impossible to release with his bare hands. Theodore had since reached them as well and was trying to get at the bonds at her feet. But it was no use they were not going to be able to release her.

And then another pair of hands appeared with a knife in hand. James looked on amazed to see it was Jack, and he quickly worked on the bonds around her feet first. As soon as they snapped off James quickly grabbed her wrists and began dragging her up. His lungs were bursting but they both gasped as they both burst above the surface.

"There they are!" he heard Elizabeth yell. And instantly a rope ladder appeared at their sides to haul them up.

As they climbed up Jasmine turned to James, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone over there alone."

James' eyes were sad as he said, "Is it true?"

Jasmine looked up at him startled, "You know?"

"Jack told us shortly after you left…I didn't want to believe it."

As they both climbed up on deck Elizabeth could see the seriousness in both their eyes, "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry Mrs. Turner," Jasmine said softly, "but I'm afraid this is a family matter and we need to speak privately." She quickly grabbed her brother's hand and dragged him into her cabin.

"Where did they go?" Theodore said as him and Jack finally clambered aboard.

"They need to talk alone," Elizabeth groaned, "Apparently it's a family thing."

(James and Jasmine)

"I can't believe this,"James said his voice faint, "he's been alive all this time. And apparently he's always known about the attacks on us by Nicodemus, because obviously he's his first mate."

Jasmine just stood there too stunned for words, and unable to believe it herself. She gripped her arm, and she could still feel how sore it was from when Nicodemus had grabbed her before knocking her out. "The big question is…what are we going to do with Jack?" she said her voice pained to say it. "If Gerry knew about the attacks its almost safe to say he did too. Can we really trust him?"

"I don't know," James said looking up at her, "Its your ship…I guess its your choice."

Jasmine stood on her feet and turned to him, "Then I need you to trust me, and send him in alone."

"Jasmine," James began but she stopped him.

"Please James just trust me."

James shook his head but he finally gave in, "Alright hang on I'll get him."

Jasmine sat there waiting patiently as he did. She took a deep breath telling her herself to stay strong. She needed these answers and she couldn't afford to be weak now. She gripped her arm again though as another jolt of pain ran through it. Geez had he hit a nerve or something when he had grabbed her?

Finally she heard his solitary foosteps enter her cabin the door closing behind him. There was a long bout of silence before Jasmine finally spoke, "I just want to know one thing."

He merely stared as she made eye contact with him, "Did you know? Did you know about that night?"

Jack closed his eyes pained as he heard the question but finally he said, "No I did not. I didn't find out for sure until after," he paused, "until we left you both at Port Royal." Jasmine was surprised by the rush of relief that spread inside her. She turned surprised as he continued to talk, "I wish I had though." She looked at him surprised, "Because then maybe," He looked down, "Maybe I could have stopped them from…" and he tapered away at that unable to make eye contact with her.

"But why didn't you tell me about Gerry?" she said a little desperately.

Jack's eyes were still pained as he said, "Because I couldn't bear to. I know how much you loved him, and I just…" he sighed coughing to himself, "it was my moment of weakness. I still felt…feel…this inane sense to protect you. And besides…that man isn't the brother you knew. Your brother…my friend…he died a long time ago."

She sat down her head dropped knowing what she had said was true. Her brother had dropped her over the side of the ship without a second thought and left her to die. That wasn't like him, just like when he had walked away from them that hadn't been like him also. "You figured it out when he left all those years ago," she muttered.

"I knew that a lot of things had gone wrong but I never thought that…" he said softly.

Jasmine looked up at him his eyes downcast, they were those same eyes that he had given her all those years ago. She smiled knowing that he had been down there somewhere…her Jack. This façade, this crazy person he had become the last few years seemed lost for now…and for a moment she had her own Jack back.

He leaned down in front of her, "I have never lied to you when I knew the truth Jasmine. And I don't want to start now."

She looked up at him surprise in her eyes, "What are you saying?"

"Jasmine your brother does wear the amulet that we found. The legends said that amulet provided immortality but what they didn't say is that a powerful spirit dwells within the amulet. Demon is a better term," Jack said almost disgustedly.

Jasmine nodded her head remembering how Gerry's eyes had gone jet black and his whole demeanor had changed. "So this thing is taking over Gerry? Doesn't mean he's in there somewhere? That's he not doing this of his own accord?"

Jack shook his head, "I wish it were that simple. Its more like this thing feeds on doubts and fears and then tears you up from the inside. Even once we get that thing off of Gerry I don't think…I don't think there's anything left of him."

Jasmine looked down trying not to feel hopeless but that was where her mind kept going everytime. "So what do we do?"

Jack held up the necklace, "These necklaces I think were Gerry's last ditch effort before he completely lost his mind. He went to Calypso to find a way out, and she provided these. He sent them out to us his only family, the only people he could trust."

Jasmine gripped her necklace, " So he wants us to-?"

"Of course," he said, "Who else?"

"No," Jasmine said immediately, "I am not about to just let my brother die…not when I can save him." Her arm spiked with pain again and she gripped it trying to ignore it for now.

"Jasmine he is in pain, and there is nothing we can do to help him. His mind is gone…keeping him alive….he would be empty and not the man we know."

Jasmine shook her head, "Forget it Jack I'm not killing my brother and you can forget it if you are going to convince James to do so also."

"I wasn't going to convince him of anything."

Jasmine jolted, "So that's the only reason you told me. You were hoping I would convince James to do this? How could you think that?"

"Because I would think you wouldn't want him to suffer either!"

"Forget it Jack," she said raising her voice but then suddenly her arm screamed with pain and she fell to her knees gripping her arm.

"Jasmine!" he said running to her side, "What's wrong?"

"My arm," she gasped, "Something's wrong,"

Jack ripped off her sleeve and his eyes went wide as her saw her arm. Hers did too. There was what looked like a black spider web growing on her arm. Her arm continued to scream in pain and the different ends extended even further. "Jack," she said gasping, "What is it?"

He quickly jumped up, "Stay here and don't move!" His voice had a tone of desperation in it she had never heard before. This was bad. She heard her brother yelling at Jack as he exited the room. Followed by his hurried footsteps as he ran inside. "What the hell?" James said rushing to her side. Her breathing was becoming labored as the web continued to extend out, steadily making its way towards her heart.

(Jack)

Thank god she had been so nostalgic she hadn't gotten rid of anything. He rushed into the ships stores searching for one thing and one thing only. He finally found the black chest hidden on top of a shelf. He gently opened it relieved to still see three glass vials inside. He quickly pulled one out making his way back to Jasmine.

When he got there Jasmine was collapsed in James arms the web growing too close to her heart. He quickly got down beside her despite James' protests. "Here," he said holding out the vial, "you have to drink all of it."

She was barely able to reach out and grab the vial and reluctantly drink it all down. She coughed and sputtered but slowly the web retracted a little bit before stopping completely.

Immediately her strength returned and she slowly sat up. The web was still visible on her body but for the moment it had stopped extending.

"What the hell is it?" James said tenderly touching it on her skin.

"Nicodemus' dreaded weapon," Jack said. "It's a fast acting poison that extends out attacking different parts of the body. Paralyzing you until it reaches your heart. We were lucky there was still some antidote on board."

"If its an antidote then why is it still there?" James said insistently.

"Its not really an antidote," Jack said sighing holding up the vial. "The only one who can stop it now is Nicodemus."

"And that's not going to happen," Jasmine said already trying to get to her feet. "Even if that man was willing to help me."

"But this is only going to last so long Jasmine," James said, "if Jack's right this will kill you."

Her eyes turned to him stony and cold, "I have lost everything I love James or I'm going to soon. My brothers can't be saved, and neither can I. People I trusted have betrayed me. I can't take it anymore James," she said shaking her head, "I'm through." And with that she turned on her heel walking out of the room. She walked straight past a confused Theodore, Elizabeth, and Will and up to the captain's quarters. Everybody cringed as she slammed the door behind her.

(Jasmine)

She stood there in the dark room her mind and hearth racing out of control. Her breathing intense and labored. So many things racing through her mind…words, promises, death. She reached over chucking the nearest object at the portrait of her "family." They had been fools to believe that dream would ever happen. Everything was gone…she would do her part and save others from suffering her fate. But after that she was done. Truly and completely.

(James)

He leaned back against the wall shaking his head. He couldn't fight what she said. Him and Gerry can't be saved…she was still alive though. He would find a way to help her. She would probably hate him for it…but he didn't care. She deserved the chance to have her own life after all of this was over. And he would do everything in his power to make that happen.