The dreadful morning was upon them. Captain Xander himself came to get Araelya from her cell in the brig. Araelya held her head high like a princess, Xander's rough hands scratching her skin and pushing her around. His pompous hat with a blue feather in it swished when he pushed her up the steps. Jack Sparrow leaned on his own cells bars, watching his daughter being marched away. It was a depressing sight, knowing what her fate would be, but Jack pushed all thoughts of her out of his mind. He was a pirate, and it was high time he started acting like it again.

Now above decks, Araelya stood before the gangplank connecting the Black Pearl with the Cassiopeia. Her hair was pulled into a tight black ponytail, hanging high on her head. The sun beating down on her and the crew was uncomfortable. Araelya tugged at the shackles holding her wrists together. All her weapons had been taken away, along with her new pet monkey. She knew there was no way out of this, but she would fight for freedom until the day she died- which might come sooner than she hoped.

Araelya gave her signature death stare to the men of the Black Pearl. She saw Barbossa, hoping to make him squirm under her sight. Instead, he greeted her with a cocky smile. His rotting black teeth were like the crumbling rocks by the sea, only hanging on by threads.

Lee was next to come into her view. Her eyes rested on him. This was her moment to get inside of his head. Lee made the mistake of locking eyes with her. Her cold stare changed to a silent plead in a moment. She watched his expression soften. Men, especially pirates, are suckers for a sad, pretty face. She begged him with her round, blue eyes to save her from this tragic destiny that was set before her.

Araelya tore her gaze away and allowed herself to be taken to the Cassiopeia. She slumped in the arms of Xander, looking defeated. She heard words being exchanged between Barbossa and Xander. They were to ensure that Captain Teague knew of their assistance and did no harm to them. Araelya, however, believed that it wasn't Teague they should be fearing so much; it should be her that made them quake.

"Now that we have all we need," Xander interrupted her thoughts. "Lee. The crew has discussed it."

Lee stepped up to Xander, panic written all over his tan face. "What are you talking ab-"

Lee was being shackled, same as Araelya. He fought against the restraints but he wasn't hard to tame.

"What is the meaning of this?" Lee demanded to know, his sandy blonde hair stuck to his forehead.

"The crew and I have come to the conclusion that you have become too soft for a pirate; too soft to be a member of my crew. It took you a lifetime to catch this wretch, and Lord Teague will hear that you are the cause of our delay. We can't have a weak spot on this crew. And, boy, you are our weak spot."

"You can't blame your late delivery on me. This girl is a devil, a snake that is difficult to get a good hold on, a clever thief and killer-"

Araelya stepped forward with a smug smile. "You forgot 'talented pirate'."

Lee nodded at her quickly. "Ah, yes, thank you. Talented pirate, she is. You try catching her alone. It is near impossible, I can assure you. And none of you helped me in the slightest. All sending me to do your dirty work, only to imprison me as a reward."

Xander still did not look pleased. "I could've caught her faster than you did. And need I remind you that you couldn't even get the job done by yourself. I can blame our delay on you, but you cannot blame your delay on anything but your feelings for her."

Araelya starred at Xander in surprise. Feelings for her? Was he implying that Lee couldn't deliver her as he was ordered to do because he had feelings for her? Rubbish, that is. Araelya couldn't stand for such an idiotic accusation. They had had a moment before, but that had nothing to do with feelings.

"You say you could've captured me faster than Lee, yet you didn't." Araelya's voice commanded the attention of all those around her. "You are all talk, Captain Xander. I know Teague all too well and I think I have just come to know the reason that he chose such a worthless crew, such as this one, to deliver me to him." The crew blinked at her and silently urged her to continue. She looked each man in the eye and let the silence draw out before she said, "You are all cowards. He will refuse you the reward that you were promised, I'm sure of it, because he knows you won't argue with him."

"That's enough," Xander's tone was dangerous, but it didn't stop Araelya.

"You are all too afraid of him to stand against him. Captain Teague likes people who fear him, it makes them easy to control. That is why he hates me, you know. I questioned his reasoning and when it came to the point of breaking, I sunk his ship and murdered his crew. I was not going to live under the command of a power hungry pirate."

"Take her away." Xander was trying to block out the truthful words that Araelya spoke. He refused to believe her when she said Teague would disappoint them and refuse to pay.

"You won't get so much as a shilling from Captain Teague. Mark my words, Xander."

"Take them both away. Now."

Araelya smiled with pleasure at winning her battle. She had gotten in Xander's head. He would be helping her and Lee before sunset. But until then Araelya was to be locked up in the brig with Lee. And Jack and Barbossa and the others were sailing out of her life forever.

Lee was quiet in his cell for the longest time. Araelya thought of speaking to him, but she left him alone with his thoughts. Much to her surprise, he was the first to speak to her.

"I'm sorry I brought you here."

Araelya almost couldn't believe her ears. Lee had apologized for doing his job? She starred at him with an open mouth.

"Excuse me?" she said in shock.

In the shadows Araelya could see him roll his eyes. "Don't make me say it again, you pig."

Araelya smiled at him. "Thanks. It's good to know when you are wrong. And, Lee, you are wrong most of the time."

"No need to be a know-it-all. I take my apology back."

"Too late." Araelya crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the filthy cell door.

"I should've known Xander would do something like this. He is not a man of his word." Lee looked troubled. Araelya almost got the urge to comfort him, but she reminded herself why she was in this mess. Lee was a filthy pirate, and that was all he would ever be. No matter how he might look at her or hold her or treat her, she had to remember that.

"Araelya, do you really think Captain Teague won't keep his bargain?"

"I'm positive he won't. Not after how long he has waited."

The conversation was put to an end when two men of the crew came down to get them. One of the crew members was know by the name Kay. He was known to Araelya as the man who had tried to rape her previously on the Cassiopeia. She could recognize his nasty snarls and his foul smell from anywhere.

"We can't be there already," Lee said with concern. "Where are you taking us?"

Araelya's attacker was the one to speak. "Captain wants to punish you further." His nasty grimace made the hairs stand tall on Araelya's arms. She backed away from him slightly, a movement that Lee noticed.

The cell doors were unlocked and they were both taken out by the two men. Araelya squirmed under the grip of Kay. He held her close to his large body. Araelya had to stop herself from gagging at his smell.

"Jon," Kay hollered to the other man. "Take him up. I need a minute with the lass."

Araelya immediately tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn't let her.

"The Captain will be mad that you're late," she tried to convince him to take her above deck along with Lee. She knew all too well what Kay was planning to do with her, and she didn't like the thought of it.

As much as she hated looking to Lee for help, she had to. She couldn't fight off Kay, he was a giant. She needed Lee, even though she would never admit that to him. He had told her before that he wouldn't let any member of the crew harm her, and she was going to make sure he kept his word.

She locked eyes with Lee as he was on his way up the steps, and in that short moment she knew that he had remembered his promise also. He too hated the thought of anyone touching Araelya- anyone but himself, that is. He gave Araelya a slight nod, setting everything in motion.

Lee jerked his elbow up and knocked Jon, his own captor, under the chin. Meanwhile, Kay held Araelya around the waist as tight as he could. He lifted her from the ground and took her in the opposite direction of Lee, towards the back of the brig. Araelya kicked and clawed at his arms, but he wouldn't release her.

Lee was too busy fighting off Jon to help her. Jon was a skinny and tall man. Lee could beat him easily if he had had a sword or a weapon of some sorts, but he didn't. Jon pulled out his own sword and snarled at Lee.

"Come on, mate," Lee said, holding his hands up in defense. "There is no need for this. You and I both know that what is about to happen is wrong."

Jon shook his head. "Sorry, Lee." He didn't sound sorry. "We are no longer on the same side." With his final words he swung his sword at Lee ferociously.

Lee ducked and dodged the blade skillfully. His attention was drawn to Araelya when he heard her call his name.

He whipped his head around to see her holding onto a cell bar, Kay trying desperately to drag her away. Araelya was kicking at him, but it did no good. Her black hair was flying every which way as she jerked her body away from him.

While Lee was distracted Jon sliced at his arm; a deep cut drawing blood. Lee hissed in pain and kicked him hard in the knee. Jon fell to the ground and dropped his sword. Lee didn't hesitate to pick it up and run to Araelya's aid.

He swung his sword at Kay, but he barely cut his thick skin. Kay took out his own sword and engaged in a duel with Lee, Araelya temporarily forgotten about.

Araelya looked around frantically for a weapon of her own. The only thing in the brig was the set of cell keys that Kay must have dropped. She thought of locking herself in a cell, so that no one could get to her, but she needed to help Lee, who appeared to be loosing the fight.

Kay had Lee pressed against the wall, his sword at his throat. Kay growled, spit flying onto Lee's face. The sword slowly pressed into Lee's throat. Blood trickled down Lee's neck as the blade drove deeper.

Seeing Lee a few moments before death made Araelya want to vomit. She hadn't realized it until now, but she wanted him alive. Imagining a world without him was not something she could picture. She couldn't explain her feelings. Maybe it was because Lee had saved her skin so many times, that she felt she needed to return the favor?

Araelya took off running towards Kay, the cell keys clutched tight in her hands. She leaped into the air and landed on his back. Rage coursed through her veins giving her the strength to hold onto him. She took the cell key and drove it into Kay's eye. Hot thick blood quickly covered her hands. She didn't stop shoving the key deeper and deeper. Kay let out a blood curdling shout, but still Araelya help tight. She held on, even when Kay fell to the ground.

Lee had to drag her off of him to get her to stop twisting the key in his face. She didn't fight against him. She let Lee take her a few feet away from Kay, but she watched him writhe on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. Lee pulled her against the farthest wall. She leaned against it with ease. She couldn't take her eyes off of Kay. She felt numb all over, and Lee's words echoed in her head, only she couldn't understand them.

Araelya didn't notice, but Lee was looking at her with fear. He couldn't help but think of what Jack had said about her. She was a monster, he had said. She could kill and not feel a thing. Lee was even more afraid when he saw the corners of her mouth turn up slightly into a small smile. She was happy with her clever work; happy that Kay hadn't died but that he was suffering from loosing at eye.

Whilst Lee was starring at what he though was the danger, the real danger was behind him. Jon stood up, fully recovered from his downfall, and took out his gun. Without a moment of thought or hesitation he fired. His hands were shaking and his face was blood red. He shook all over with rage from the sight of Kay.

Lee took in a short breath and looked at Araelya with a shocked expression before he fell into her arms, blood gushing from his shoulder.