Thunder roared fiercely in the distance and brought with it a warm breeze and the smell of damp earth, which drifted through the lush chambers of Lady Elizabeth Beckett. It sent the expensive cream coloured drapes that adorned the open French doors leading to her balcony floating gently around the porcelain tub which she relaxed in. With her head rested over the curve of the elegant bath, she laid in the water, just as she had for hours. The milky rose scented water had chilled since her chambermaids had first filled it, but it was pleasant in the stifling Caribbean heat.

The first three days of married life had treated her well. That afternoon had been no different than the two past, spent relaxing and indulging in all of the pleasures that a life in high society afforded. After months spent at sea, Elizabeth wasted away each day doing all that she had missed, feeling that she was making up lost time. She ate luxurious meals, bathed far more than required, and flipped through the vast amount of books that her new husband owned. For the few days of their marriage, Elizabeth had been left alone in the manor to her own devices. The first day had been pleasant; she had slept through most of it, anyways. On the second her father came for tea, but it was short lived as he too was drawn to work. That afternoon had held no company for Elizabeth and she was becoming quite lonely. The lack of her husbands presence to entertain her was due to a lengthy letter that he had received the very morning of their reunion. It was from the King. Elizabeth didn't know what it said, but whatever it was had certainly sent Lord Beckett's stress levels through their baroque ceilings.

And so with her loneliness came restlessness. Elizabeth itched to join her husband in whatever he was up to. The life of a Lady was pleasant and rewarding, but it certainly wasn't exciting. Despite her husbands agitated mood as he stalked into the dining room every night from a long day of work, Elizabeth envied him. She wished that she had something to draw her mind away from all that plagued her. She thought often of the fate of the crew of the Black Pearl, who had left Port Royal days beforehand. She wondered if Will had accompanied them, or if he was in his blacksmiths shop, cursing her name.

Knock knock knock

Elizabeth breathed a sigh in irritation. She assumed that it was one of her many maidservants come to pester her once more about the aging bathwater that she still sat in. With a roll of her eye, she slid down the porcelain tub back, submerging her tanned shoulders in the milky white water. 'What is it that you want?' Her tone voiced strongly that she did not wish to be disturbed once more.

The golden door handle turned with a metallic click and the large wooden door leading into her airy chambers creaked open.

'Put your claws away, it's me,' answered the voice of Lord Beckett.

With a crocked eyebrow, Elizabeth peaked over the side of the tub at him, her wet hair clinging to her forehead and cheeks, making her look like a madwoman. But a smile played on her lips. 'What are you doing home? You're due to be back in three hours.'

'Well-' Lord Beckett sat in one of her lavender satin chairs near her personal bookshelf and then pulled off his black polished riding boots- 'I was horribly irritated at work and decided I needed a break. And I suspected-' he stood and worked at removing his waistcoat- 'that my wife was in need of attention. And so I've come home early to check on you.'

'Does removing your clothing somehow enhance your ability to check on me?' Elizabeth jested as she watched him struggle with his cravat.

'I was actually rather hoping that you would allow me to lounge about here,' he admitted, finally doing away with the silk cravat, which he tossed carelessly across the room.

Lord Beckett glided across the extravagant carpets that graced the floors of her chambers to the porcelain tub. He sat at the end, resting his crossed arms at it's edge- a lazy way of sitting that Elizabeth noticed was not normal behavior of his when anyone else was around to see it. His gunmetal blue eyes ran the length of her body in the most lewd way. Elizabeth omitted a loud sigh, announcing her want for attention was far from a sexual one. Every hour of her night was filled with that and during the day she preferred his company by conversation. But her shrewish sigh did nothing to interrupt his gaze and his eyes continued to wonder. He bit his lip as he admired her breasts.

'Surely you didn't come home only to ogle me,' Elizabeth remarked, only then drawing his eyes to her face. She could admit that he looked devilishly handsome while admiring her in such a way.

A snicker came from him. 'I could hold a lecherous gaze on you for hours; we can time it, if you like.'

Elizabeth raised a dark brow high. 'I would enjoy your conversation, not your unchaste desires. I have been so bored today.'

A smirk crossed Lord Beckett's features as he rested his head upon his crossed arms. With a tired sigh he retired his attempts. 'A man can dream,' he said, his voice low and relaxed, a far cry from his usual stone cold tone. The tips of his fingers glided across the milky water and up her bruised shin, where he softly drew circles.

'Perhaps he could love you too,' Elizabeth's mind sounded off as she watched him. It was a thought that she wished were true, but she feared she was only a pretty thing to look at, just like most things in their house. She felt like to him she was more like a coquette, not a wife. It was confusing to her to see him gazing at her in such an affectionate way, for she felt that she would never truly be granted love from him. Her eyes darted towards the balcony, unable to watch anymore without the threat of tears. When she felt that the tears had safely retreated, she spoke, 'You have me,' her voice was but a whisper. 'All of the days and all of the nights. There's no need to dream.'

A sound of acknowledgment was all that came from Lord Beckett. He pulled his hand from her and moved around the tub, moving closer to her. He rested his chin on her shoulder. His nimble fingers ran along her clavicle and then up the delicate skin of her neck, bringing chills to her skin, which she tried not to feel by staring at the stormy clouds just outside.

BOOM

A bright strike of lightening painted the room purple and the thunder shook through the house loudly. Elizabeth had nearly jumped from her skins, her heart suddenly beating furiously. Even Lord Beckett had flinched against her. She had grabbed a tight hold on Lord Beckett's arm, which was wrapped tightly across her torso. A laugh came from her husband and she giggled at herself too. Her head fell back to his shoulder with a sigh.

'Don't worry, I shall protect you from the frightful storm,' Elizabeth whispered teasingly.

Lord Beckett breathed in to speak, but nothing came out. The pitter patter of rain on the stone balcony outside suddenly turned into showers, teeming down relentlessly. It had distracted him from what he was going to say. He stood from where he sat behind her and shut the French doors. Elizabeth watched, as she idly ran her fingers over her clavicle just as he had done, cursing the weather for interrupting the first truly affectionate moment he had granted her. She willed for him to return back to her side, but as she expected he strolled across the room, away from her with his hands behind his back.

'I meant to ask you,' he inspected one of the books that sat on her bookshelf, 'if you might join me at the offices tomorrow. I suspect you shall find it dreary, but it would please me to have you to talk to.'

Elizabeth didn't have to give thought to her answer. 'Yes of course,' she breathed. She could hardly keep the smile from her face; anything done outside of the manor could hardly be dreary. 'Cutler, I-' I would spend every day with you if only you asked. That's what she was going to say, but silenced the girlish sentiment before embarrassing herself.

'Yes?'

'Well, I-' she began, 'Well I don't know, actually. I'll be happy to accompany you, that's all.'

Lord Beckett gave a small nod. 'I shall have supper sent here and send your maids to dress you.' He stood close to the door, readying to leave her once more. 'I will be back within the hour.' With that, he left her chambers.

Elizabeth sighed and pulled her knees to her chest. She buried her face in her hands, wanting to scream. For what she did not know or understand.

As he had said, her chambermaids arrived shortly after he left, come to take away the dirty water in her bath and to dress their mistress. Elizabeth went through the usual routine that she had suffered since she was young, allowing too many woman to toss her about, combing her tangled hair and stuffing her into nightclothes roughly. Once they were finished with her, servants brought in a small table and two chairs for supper to be held at. Elizabeth was soon left alone in her chambers. She watched the storm rage on outside, tracing her fingers along the water droplets streaming down the glass panels of the French doors. Lord Beckett returned to her chambers, looking the same as he had when he left, but in his hands he held a crystal decanter of port and a deck of playing cards.

'I don't know how to play,' she had told him.

And so he tried to show her how to play, but Elizabeth lost game after game. She couldn't understand his instructions and felt dim for it. Just before she was about to call it quits, servants interrupted her losing battle with platters and dishes of delicious foods. They ate and chatted about a soiree that was due to be held in a weeks time, by the socialite Lady Worthington in Kingston. Neither could decide if it would be horrible or not; Lady Worthington was a notorious gossip mill and those who attended her gatherings usually found themselves subject to her whisperings. They assumed they were invited for that very reason. Elizabeth knew well that she would be talked about, not that she cared. At least it was free food and drink, and she would have the chance to wear her red brocade silk dress, so it wasn't all bad.

Once they were finished eating, servants returned to clear the table. Elizabeth moved towards her bed, which she flung herself at, landing amongst the pillows. A sigh escaped her lips. She felt the bed shift as Lord Beckett joined her. She rolled over until she ran into him; she drew her leg over his waist and propped herself up on her elbow. Her fingers toyed with his lawn shirt.

'It would be nice if we could get out on the sea,' she mused, 'together. I already miss the excitement of it.'

Lord Beckett made a 'hmm' sound, remaining tepid as usual with his eyes closed and his arms lazily over his head.

'Is that something that would be possible in the near future?' she pestered on as she ran two fingers across his chest.

He sighed. 'I would like to, but I must do as the King orders, and the King orders that I remain in Port Royal for the time being,' his voice was monotone and Elizabeth wondered if he was becoming annoyed with her. 'Though it shall change soon.'

Elizabeth smiled at this promising response. 'And you'll take me with you, won't you? I could work if you like, or perhaps-' she said it all in one excited breath.

His brow furrowed. 'Work? No, I don't think so. Life at sea is lonely, though, and I would certainly look forward to having you in my bed every night.'

It wasn't what Elizabeth wanted or planned to do, but it would be better than a dearie life in Port Royal. The cogs in her mind already turned with ideas as to how she would manipulate herself into being an important crewmember and not simply a play thing. Perhaps she could don a midshipmen's garb- by day a sailor, by night a rich mans toy. It was a life she felt she could be content with.

Her head fell to his chest with a satisfied sigh. Another question played on her mind, one that she felt she hadn't had time to ask.

'Davy Jones,' she whispered. 'What are you using his heart for?'

Lord Beckett was quiet and still. She thought that he may not answer her for a moment. 'I was sent here to exterminate the pirate scourge,' he replied smoothly. 'Having control over Jones makes my job much easier.'

Elizabeth thought that the conversation was best left at only that. She agreed that pirates needed to be purged from the seas- they raped, pillaged, and killed. There was nothing to save. But the pirate crew that she had come to call her own didn't deserve such a cruel fate. They had scarcely committed crimes worth punishing. Perhaps it was hypocritical for her to feel that way, but her thoughts on it wouldn't change. She could only hope that they would put distance between themselves and the threat of Davy Jones and his Kraken. Surely within a fortnight they would be far away from the Caribbean and past the West Indies. Elizabeth couldn't help but feel the cool pang of jealousy for their adventures.

The pair laid on the bed as thunder roared and the rain pelted off of the windows loudly. Time ticked by as they remained silent. It was a peace that Elizabeth was grateful for. Soon the windows went dark, save for the violent flashes of lightening. The room was lit in a golden glow as the warm fire crackled on. Eventually Elizabeth lifted her head from Lord Beckett's chest to see that he was deep in sleep. She pushed herself from her relaxed positon and removed her dress gown before attending to him. Her nimble fingers removed his rings and took them to her dressing table and she removed the white wig from his head. Not to her surprise he remained fast asleep. Elizabeth climbed into her bed and crawled under her satin sheets. She kissed Lord Becketts cheek before retiring to sleep herself, content with the simple affections of the evening.

Elizabeth fell into sleeps sweet caress within minutes.

'The king and his men stole the queen from her bed,' Elizabeth sung, 'and bound her in her bones.'

It was a song that she had never heard. A figment of her dream land.

She stood on the bridge deck of a ship with Jacks compass firmly in hand, sailing to a place unknown. The Caribbean sky was as blue as it's waters. All was peaceful.

'You know you've done something terrible,' the words came from Jack, who stood beside her. He was the only other soul on the ship.

'And you haven't,' was her smooth retort.

'All my sins have been paid for, love,' he whispered. 'What about yours? Not a poor soul on this earth shall escape the after life. There's a circle deep in hell, with a name card marking your spot. "Lady Elizabeth Beckett : Liar, Betrayer, Thief, and Murderer," I reckon it reads.'

Elizabeth's jaw tightened as she shot a glare at Jack.

The ships movements jarred, sending her crashing to the wooden deck. By the time she stood, Jack had disappeared. The familiar sound of the Kraken's hiss filled the air. In mere seconds it's giant tentacles were crashing onto the ship, sending debris flying, mirroring the day that she had put an end to Captain Jack Sparrow. The mast of the ship came toppling down and everything shook. Elizabeth jumped over the railing of the ship, escaping the fate of the Kraken. Her body vanished beneath the blue water. By the time she came to the surface, the ship and Kraken were gone. She looked around, her breathing unsteady, worried where the beast had gone.

The sun was setting. Elizabeth's panicked brown eyes watched as it fell faster than usual, sending the seas dark. A bright green light flashed where the sun had descended below the horizon. She looked around her dark surroundings, which changed once more. Now she swam in the dark waters below the fort, the place where she had fallen from so long before, when Jack had saved her from drowning. The docks weren't far and she tried to swim to safety.

But a hand grabbed her ankle. Without seeing, she knew who it was. Before she could scream, she was pulled into the black abyss. In a matter of seconds she was ten feet below and still descending. Her fingers desperately reached for the moonlit surface of the water. Elizabeth struggled against her lungs, which fought for her to inhale the black sea water. Further she descended to the depths, and gave up the fight. Her body inhaled, it felt like a soaking cloth had been wrapped tightly around her face. The salt water filled her lungs, burning like fire as it made it's journey through her as she slipped into the darkness. She could no longer tell if she was inhaling or exhaling. Her hands clutched her throat as her body wretched in pain and panic. After an eternity her feet touched the sandy sea bottom. The hand on her ankle was replaced with the iron grip of a weighted chain.

Elizabeth watched as Jack swam away from her, rising as she struggled against the chain. Her body wouldn't give up the fight, though her mind wished that it would. As she wretched, alone in the dark water, her vision finally faded to black.

Back in her dark bedroom, she awoke with a choked scream, unable to get a sound to come from her throat. Her chest heaved with labored breaths.

'What's the matter?' Her panic had woken Lord Beckett, who sat up beside her with his arm firmly around her.

'It was a nightmare,' she whispered, her eyes scanning the dark chambers on high alert. All was dark. What had happened to the fire and the candles? 'I was-' she wiped the bead of sweat from her brow with the back of her hand- 'I was drowning, I- the Kraken-'

Something moved in on of the dark corners.

'What was that?' Elizabeth drew her knees to her chest and backed towards the ornate headboard of her bed. 'Cutler I saw something-'

'-calm down, you're-'

'Cutler Beckett. . .' the velvety voice of a woman came from the corner. She stepped into the stream of moonlight that flooded the room from the French doors. A rag-like dress covered her vibrant ebony skin. 'Many year ago we made a deal.'

'Tia Dalma,' Lord Beckett muttered in shock. 'I've upheld the deal.' His voice wasn't as stoic as usual.

'Ah- so you have,' it was hard to see in the dark, but Elizabeth thought she saw the woman smile. 'Punish them who have bound me. You 'av. But now I wish to be freed from the bones what hold me.'

Elizabeth sat terrified, unable to explain to herself what was going on. Was she still asleep?

'Then I shall find the nine pieces of eight-' Lord Beckett assured the ghost-like woman.

'Neigh, the nine pieces of eight are useless. The pirate lords used objects, so dem hide away the objects from those looking,' she explained. 'But it is of no use. If the item is not passed on to another before him dies, I canna be free. Jack Sparrow has moved on wit him piece.'

Elizabeth finally spoke up. 'I hardly see how that's my husbands problem.' Terror made itself known in her shaky voice, far from the way she meant it to sound. Lord Beckett gripped her arm tightly, signaling for her to shut up.

'Ahh,' Tia Dalma stepped closer, 'But what if it was him woman what did it?'

Elizabeth froze, eyes wide and fingers clutching the sheets.

'You know why him 'aunt you. Him run a foul with an untamable and cruel woman,' Tia smiled, able to admire Elizabeth. 'A woman what chained him to the mast of him own ship and fed him to the Kraken. Her watched as him was engulfed, sated with the victory. An him curse the day what he crossed you. . . Elizabeth.'

Lord Becketts eyes burned into the side of Elizabeth's head. Her face went hot and she felt like vomiting.

'You made a deal with me, not her,' he snapped. 'What do you want?'

'The nine pirate lords must release me,' she said. 'A task, Cutler Beckett, that you canna control. First-' she pointed at Elizabeth- 'you travel to me, den we journey to find Captain Jack Sparrow. Him can only be found by the one who killed him. Witout him, there is no chance for me. . . and so no chance for you.' Her last was meant for both of them.

Tia Dalma smiled widely, sending chills down both of their spines.

'How to we find Jack if he's dead?' Elizabeth questioned, keen to appease the woman.

'We journey. . . to Davy Jones' locker.'

Lightening flashed through the room and Tia Dalma vanished, leaving chaos in her wake.

WRITERS NOTE:

Thanks for reading! xxx

And a special thanks to Cupcakes and Tea! Your reviews are so sweet and much appreciated!