CHAPTER TEN

It took a moment for Jack's words to sink in. "The daughter of…Hang on, Jack, hasn't Davy Jones been around for centuries? Or at

least a lot longer than Lila, or Lila's mother, has been?" Jack looked at Will and sighed. "Well, obviously not his daughter daughter.

Sort of like...I don't know… a reincarnation? Look, the point is, that girl could very well be the direct, or indirect, descendant of ol'

Davy Jones himself."

"And so what does that mean for us?" Will asked.

"That…I don't know either. But I think I know someone who will."

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The Black Pearl docked in Port Arthur, a fairly large town. Lila's eyes widened when they entered the harbour. "I know this place!"

She had exclaimed excitedly. "My father used to do business here sometimes."

"Well, we're only gonna stay for a few days at most, kitten, so make the best of it." He smiled that sexy smile of his. Lila couldn't help

but smile back. Although, she felt he had been acting slightly different around her. He was still sweet and affectionate, but he still seemed

ever so slightly withdrawn, like he was…I don't know what goes on in that man's head. Lila sighed, and tried to forget her worries

as she explored the familiar town.

Lila had pretty much been wandering aimlessly, just enjoying the feeling of being in a crowded town again. She was making her way

through the market place when she heard a woman screech in what sounded like excitement. Like many of the people around her, Lila

turned her head to where the sound had come from, and was shocked to her the same voice screech her name. "Lila! Oh my god, Lila

it's you!" It took Lila a moment to recognize the petite brunette running towards her. She found herself almost bowled over in an

enthusiastic hug, the young girl sobbing into her shoulder. "Lila, I thought they'd…." Lila pulled out of the hug for a moment, and looked

at the girl before her. Realization dawned. "Charli!" Lila was ashamed to admit that she had almost completely forgotten about her

friend, but she had been trying to forget everything to do with her past. As Charli hugged her again, Lila felt a resurgence of hope.

"Charli…my parents…did…" The way Charli stepped back and looked at her was all the answer she needed. "Lila, I'm sorry…

they…" Lila nodded as tears stung her eyes. That was it, the last shred of hope she had was gone…so were her parents. Lila's heart

ached as the confirmation sunk in – she would never see her mother or father again. Her friend took her hand gently, "Lila, honey, do

come to my place so we can talk?" Lila nodded dumbly, and followed her old friend through the throngs of the crowd.

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Charli's house wasn't exactly lavish, but it was obvious she was quite well off. She told Lila how her father had hidden his daughter and

wife in the cellar, while he, and most of the other men in town, had gone to fight the invading pirates. Charli's father had been lucky, he

had survived that fight. Lila's father, unfortunately, was killed in the dying moments of battle. Charli commented on how her father spoke

of Lila's father, how he had fought and how brave he had been. Lila's eyes began to water again. It was painful to hear of her father's

death, but it made her so proud to know he had died defending his home. She found out her mother, to, had fought to the last second,

trying to keep the pirates from entering her home, where she had been looking after the neighbours' children. Lila didn't want to think

about what the pirates had down to her parents…That Vladmile will pay for this I swear. For the first time since her kidnapping, Lila

felt nothing but white hot rage. She no longer felt weak or threatened, as she had before. Charli noticed her friend tense up, her fists and

jaw clenched. She quickly rushed on, "Oh, but Lila, darling…we have something that belongs to you." Lila looked up, frowning. "But…

but I thought everything was destroyed? At least on my street anyway…" Charli smiled wryly. "Well, most of it was. But these things

were kept in a stone encasing in your cellar, there were marks of all kinds all over, the pirates had obviously tried to get in but…well, I

suppose they didn't get a chance to open it." Charli called for her maid, who soon entered the room carrying a glossy, black marble

case. She placed it on the table and promptly exited the room. Charli glanced at Lila, "Are you alright?" She asked, somewhat alarmed

at Lila's demeanor – she had tensed up even more the moment the maid stepped into the room, she was frozen stock-still, her eyes

wide. "Li-Lila?" Lila hesitated a second, then seemed to shake herself out of her daze. "I- Sorry, I don't know what came over me.

Too long at sea I guess." Lila tried to laugh it off, and had never been so grateful for Charli's gullibility. "Well, are you going to open it?"

Her friend asked her, obviously excited. "I've been dying to know what's inside, but father said it would be rude to open it." Lila

swallowed. "Um…im afraid I must be going, Charli, I should be getting back to Ja- uh, my captain." Lila didn't think it would be wise to

tell her overly-excitable friend about who she was sailing with. She politely refuted Charli's protests, finally compromising to come see

her next time she was in Port Arthur, and promising to keep in touch. Lila wrapped up the strange box in a cloth the maid had fetched

for her, and hurried off to the Black Pearl. She didn't know why, but the second she had seen that box her blood ran cold. She was

overcome with an eerie sense of deja-vu, of…I have no idea. She thought to herself. I don't know whats inside that box, but I know

its far more important than Charli would have ever known.