The sun only half-rose the next day, which perfectly fit my mood. I had stayed in my cabin all night after Will left, just sitting there on my bed, then decided I had better try and get some sleep. It wasn't a very successful endeavor; I just kept thinking about Will's kiss, and how it had made me feel, well… soft? Sweet? Romantic? The thought that he was actually thinking about Elizabeth the whole time made me sit up on my elbows and pound my pillow in frustration and embarrassment. I had clearly been kissing back, and I think he had noticed- after all, he HAD pulled me closer. But was that pulling ME closer, or pulling Elizabeth closer? I ended up sleeping about a grand total of an hour, where I had a dream of the kiss, a beautiful woman looming over the both of us, pointing her finger at me and laughing in a taunting manner.

So I got up the next morning, determined to get out of that room, when I spotted the key on my bedside table. Suddenly, the memories of The Gryffin's teasing and kiss came rushing back to me. Ah, the irony. I had received two kisses last night: one, forced upon me from a man I despised, but who clearly wanted me, the other, that I willingly took from a man I… admired? Liked? Maybe even… loved? But who clearly wanted something else.

I gingerly stepped opened the door of my cabin after changing back into the linen shift from my nightgown, and stepped precariously onto the deck. The crew weren't doing much; the wind was with us, and was doing most of the work. Only one sailor stood at the helm, fixing the wheel's position now and then. Since there was so little activity, I knew exactly what was going on just under the open air upper deck… "Liar's Dice."

When I been so desperately bored in my youth, I sometimes went to watch the mutated crew members playing this game, gambling with the only things they had- their years of service. Some of them were rather good at it, and had actually bargained things down to only twenty years or so, other, less fortunate gamblers soon found themselves with enough years of service to last an eternity. I made my way across the deck, ignoring the crude calls from the members of the crew who hadn't known me through my years of captivity. I almost felt sorry for them. Davy Jones would teach them soon enough- his daughter required almost as much respect as he himself did upon "The Flying Dutchman." There had been sailors who had made passes at me before- and had received two lashes for it.

In the present circumstances regarding the Gryffin, however, I decided I needed to up my own protection a bit. I thought about it for a while as I crossed the deck, and then decided I would keep a sheathed sword under my pillow, my hand on the handle. It wasn't like I was going to sleep much, anyway, put I would feel a lot more comfortable knowing there was a very long, very pointy object close at hand during the night.

I finally reached the area where the shipmates played "Liar's Dice," and a few of them moved over for me so I could take my place near the table and watch. There was a large crowd today; a few of the most skilled players were competing against each other, but I soon learned that they had only staked one year each. The crew members with the less years were always grateful for it, and tended to be less flamboyant with their bets.

The game ended, as the member with the sharp points all over his body lessened his debt to Davy Jones by one more year- now down to nineteen. He raised his large arms over his head and made a victory cry, while the other two shipmates sulkily collected their dice and cups and stalked off into the crowd, who started to mumble again, waiting for the next round of shipmates to take their turn.

In the general cacophony, two voices stood out, one of which made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and a shot of adrenaline went through my body like a cannonball through a cannon.

"Can anyone of the crew be challenged?" It was Will. I made myself sit up straighter, to look like I was very interested by the table on which the game was played.

Another familiar voice answered, "Yes. And if you're thinking of playing today, it looks like we have a very important person in the audience. My fiancée, Catherine Jones, daughter of the captain of this ship." It was the Gryffin. Talking to Will. His tone wouldn't have been so amiable if he would have known what Will had done to me last night, after the Gryffin left.

"Ah, so you're the Gryffin!" Will said, in a tone of discovery.

"Guilty as charged, as with so many things. And you are…?"

"Will. Turner. Involuntary member of 'The Flying Dutchmen."

"Involuntary, eh? So does that mean you've not officially said to Davy himself that you are to be debted onto his ship?"

"No."

"…And there's the loophole in the whole thing. You see, normally, you would be bound here, but if you haven't said those exact words…" The Gryffin trailed off, and a smile could be heard in his voice. "Now I've recently been looking for some more crew members myself, for my ship, 'The Seven Deadly Sins.' Officially, I can't tell you how to get off this particular boat, as that would sort of ruin the whole alliance thing. But, Will Turner, if you ever find yourself in need of a captain, you're welcome to join us."

Will paused, as if he was thinking about it all very deeply. "Gryffin? I can't promise you anything. But, if certain circumstances come together, than I may very well find myself aboard 'The Seven Deadly Sins.'"

The Gryffin laughed easily, and I heard the sound of a strong pat on the back. "Very diplomatic, Mr. Turner. And now, I must greet the lovely Catherine."

I stiffened as I felt a presence walk over my way. A few more sailors were sent scurrying, and the Gryffin took a seat beside me. I faced completely forward, aware that his whole body was turned toward me, and leaning quite closely, and also aware that Will was probably watching our every move.

"Miss Jones?" The Gryffin said silkily, reaching out for my hand, which I quickly snatched away from his grip. He spoke in a softer tone of voice. "Come now, Catherine. In two weeks, we shall be married. Shouldn't we, well, warm up to each other a bit?"

At this, I regally turned my body so that it was partially facing him, but he could clearly see my face.

"Sir, I would rather marry the Kraken itself then spend the rest of my life by your side."

He grinned, than said in a more threatening tone of voice, "You really have no choice in the matter. As I have previously stated, you will be delivered to my ship, and we WILL be married and then…" He smiled sweetly, "…all of this politeness won't really matter. If I want to kiss your hand, I shall do so. If I want to embrace you, it will happen. If I want to feel your skin against my own, you will comply. I only hope that two weeks is enough time for you to get… used to the idea."

I looked directly into his eyes with all the hatred in my being pouring from them. "I will kill myself before I let that happen."

He shrugged. "Then I'll just have to make sure you don't do that, won't I?" He opened his mouth to say something else, but was interrupted by a call from behind us.

"I challenge Davy Jones to a game of 'Liar's Dice!'" I gasped, and turned around to see who had cried out such a mad thing, but my heart already knew- it was Will. He stepped up to the table, and turned to the Gryffin and I. "Gryffin, may I borrow your set? Unfortunately, I am unequipped with a set of my own." He turned toward me. "Miss Jones…" and bowed, but he caught my eyes for a moment as the Gryffin was fishing in his knapsack for his set of dice and cup. There was sympathy there, for sure. I knew he had overheard our entire conversation. He whispered the words, "Don't worry, Catherine. I'll protect you."

I whispered back, "Like hell you will. I'll protect myself." But the familiar phrases from the jungle reminded me that Will and I could work together to get off this hell of a ship. As the Gryffin stopped rummaging in his knapsack and handed Will his dice, I slowly nodded at him, as if I was accepting his bow, but we both knew it meant more. We would help each other get off this accursed ship, kiss or no kiss.

Suddenly, that dreaded gurgly voice came from behind me. "Mr. Turner? Challenging me?" Davy Jones began to laugh his deep, great, terrifying laugh. "Fine, boy. As long as you know what you're getting yourself into…"

"Oh, I think I do."

They both sat at the table: Will on an upturned bucket, and Davy on a straight-backed chair that someone had probably fetched from his cabin.

"Boy. Name your stakes."

"I stake the key to the chest of Davy Jones." Davy stood up, and leaned over the table intimidatingly, but Will didn't flinch. "Boy, how did you come to know of the key?"

"That is not a part of the game. But if I lose, I stake all my years on this ship to be doubled."

Davy nodded slowly. Apparently, it had slipped his mind that Will didn't owe any years to Davy whatsoever. He brought out his dice and cup, and prepared to shake them, when Will said, "I need to see it."

"What, boy?"

"I need to know it's real before I proceed."

Davy stared at him, then nodded briskly, as his tentacles began to ripple. Suddenly, a black key on a ring was presented, hanging on one of the most inside of them.

And they began to play. The dice were rolled, then held under the cup, just at an angle so that the dice's owners could see them. Plays began to be called out, and I felt myself begin to go numb. Finally, it all came to an end. Will was winning, it was certain, until he called out a play that was obviously wrong.

Davy Jones began to laugh. "Boy, you should know better than to mess with me… Welcome aboard!" He stalked off back to his cabin, as Will feigned complete misery, putting his face in his hands. I could see, however, that he was trying not to smile through his fingers.

"Most exciting! Most exciting!" The Gryffin called out, and went to congratulate Will for his expert play, and expert deviousness. I, however, sat there flabbergasted. Will had had the key nearly in his fingertips! Yet he had just let it go… just like that? I stood up to go back to my cabin, before the Gryffin – or Will – could speak to me again.

I spent the rest of the night reliving that game in my mind, as well as the Gryffin's declaration- "…and you will comply." I shivered, and brought the covers up more closely around my shoulders.

My right hand stayed firmly on the sword under my pillow, especially after speaking with that vile man today. Sure enough, I heard my cabin door quietly click open, than squeak as if someone was trying to open it as quietly as they possibly could. This didn't really make much sense to me- The Gryffin would have just barged right in, but my grip tightened on my sword.

Sure enough, the moonlight told of a decidedly male figure coming toward me in my bed. I half-opened my eyes, enough so that I could see the figure, and make an approximate estimation as to where their throat was.

The man neared, and then knelt by my bedside. He was coming closer now, the moment was now if not ever…

I quickly unsheathed the sword and heard its comforting "SHHHWWWING!" sound, than sat up straight in my bed, and held my sword's point at the throat of the intruder, who had suddenly stood up.

"Whoever you are, whatever you're doing, you have no business here that Davy Jones could possibly approve of. Now get out before I make a mark that won't easily be forgotten."

"Goddamn it Catherine! Keep your voice down!" It was Will.

I quickly turned up the oil in the lantern that I kept beside my bed. "What the hell are you doing here at this time of night?" I screeched, and quite reasonably, too. I held the sheet up to cover myself, still pointing my sword in his general direction.

"We're getting out of here…" he suddenly grinned, and held his forefinger up, spinning it round and round. It looked like… but it couldn't possibly be… "The key to Davy Jones' chest. You really didn't think I would make such a mistake like that as an accident, did you? I just needed to see where he hid it!"

"There's still rather the problem of guards… and a boat…"

Another figure stepped into the doorway. "Ahem. Your chariot awaits, my lady." Bill grinned, pointing to the empty corridor outside my room. "Told them all they had night duty. Davy's special orders. Now get going, you two…"

"Bill, can't you come with us?"

"And what good'ud I be? No. I'm debted for here for more years yet, and just the thought of my son… my son…" he began to tear up. "… being free. That's enough for me."

Will walked up to Bill, and threw his arms around him. "I promise I won't leave you here. I promise… I'll not let you spend the rest of eternity in this hellhole. I'll come back and get you. You have my word."

I hugged Bill as well. "You have no idea… I never would have made it through without you the first time…"

Will ran over to my closet and began to fish through things, than finally pulled out a long, black cloak. "Here, put this on over your nightgown. It's cold out there. And who knows how far we'll have to go before we reach another ship… or land."

I pulled the cloak over my shoulders, and we both headed out the door, leaving Bill standing in my rooms. I waved one last goodbye to him, which he returned, a bittersweet smile on his face.

We crossed the deck as quietly as we could, and stepped into the remaining boat, which Will and I began to lower immediately. As soon as we were in the water and a fair distance away, Will said, "Catherine… I need to apologize to you."

I stared at him. "I… I don't know what I was thinking the other night."

"It seems pretty apparent to me what you were thinking."

He blushed. "No. What I mean is… what I want to say… I kissed YOU, not her. I just… my brain was…"

"It's alright." I said, even though it really wasn't. "Please forget about it. I don't really want to talk about it. Please."

"And the Gryffin… Catherine. I swear to you, I will save you… HELP save you from him in any way I can. He's… he's…"

"Despicable?"

Will nodded, then stopped rowing for a moment to take my hands in his. "Catherine, we did it. We got off that ship, and if we can do that… by God, we can do anything."

I slowly brought my eyes up to his, and began to laugh. "We're off the ship, Will. We're off the ship!" I stood up in the rowboat and shouted, "This is the second time I've escaped your ship, Davy Jones! You couldn't contain my mother, and you can't contain me! Lock me in a cabin, take away my freedom, force me into a marriage to a man who is evil, and I will still escape you! I am the sea, Davy Jones, and your are just a leaf floating on its surface!!"