A/N- Okay, this is a bit late... Sorry! But I've been away in Wales for a week... Anyways, here you go!

Chapter 10

Hours pass, and nothing happens. Immediately after my incident with the conch shell, Jack ordered the anchor to be lowered, and since then we have been floating in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, waiting in near-silence as the sun dips low over the horizon for I know not what.

I spend the time, for a change, with Alex as we seem to forget our present worries, instead reverting back to how we were before all this stress ruined our lives- laughing and carefree. We spend several happy hours relaxed in the warmth of the sun, talking about every subject that springs to mind. I am pleased to leave the strained relationship we had become accustomed to recently behind, at least for the moment, and instead enjoy some time where we are not at each other's throats, or on each other's nerves. Thankfully, Jack also keeps his distance, sensing that we really do need some time in which to catch up, and renew the friendship that had begun to be cast aside. For once, I am glad of the pirate's absence; I do not want to lose someone who I feel is my one true friend.

Around us, the rest of the crew wait, faces set as they keep watch out to sea as our captain has ordered. At some points when mine and Alex's conversation lapses into natural pauses, the tense atmosphere and silence surrounding us becomes apparent, often making me shift uncomfortably. Luckily Alex seems oblivious to the mood around us, picking up another thread of discussion- whether he does it purposefully to distract me, I do not know, but it works and I am grateful for it.

However, at one of these pauses, I notice a change in the atmosphere of the ship.

Instead of the tense watchful silence, activity has once again resumed as I notice people rushing past- most, it appears, in the same direction. Standing, I see they are all crowding to the side of the ship, making the Pearl rock dangerously with the unbalanced weight. Oddly, they are pointing at something in the water, and so, frowning slightly, I walk over to the side as well to see what could possibly have grabbed their attention.

Immediately, I notice that the previously calm seas have become alive, darkening in colour and churning over and over themselves. I have never seen the water so animated before, and wonder what is causing it.

However, that is the least strange this as I follow the gestures of the crewmen, my mouth hanging open slightly in amazement. Alex, who had followed my example and so also stood, curses in a way that would have made me smile in any normal situation.

Unnoticed, Jack has also slipped alongside me, and the three of us stand slightly separate from the others as everyone cranes to get the best view of the spectacle occurring.

I stare at the strange spike that has just appeared out of the choppy seas, unable to stop myself from admiring the elegant twisting pattern etched into it, the uneven pattern suggesting that it had been formed that way by the sea itself.

Beside me, Jack smiles in his wicked way.

"Ah…" He sounds immensely pleased with himself.

After a quick glance in his direction, I return to watching the strange phenomena occurring in front of my eyes whilst ignoring the fearful gasps and muttered oaths from the crew around me.

The spire begins to rise, growing wider until it ends, to be replaced by a smooth rounded shape which breaks through the water, a beautiful shade of aquamarine. At first I believe it to be some strange leviathan of the deep but as more becomes visible, I realise that it is in fact the tallest tower of a building… But a building like nothing on this planet.

This could only be Atlantis.

All the muttering going on around me slowly dies down as people watch the city rise from the depths in awe.

Tall spiked towers glisten in the sun as water drips off them, making them look like polished blue glass. In opposition to what may be expected due to the city's location underwater, the buildings are remarkably clear of any form of sea life- looking as clean as when the city was first constructed.

As more of Atlantis becomes visible I cannot help but draw an intake of breath at the beauty of it. The intricate patterns and decorations that cover every inch of the towers, walls, arches and columns that I can see give me no other option but to truly believe this place was created by the gods. Different levels, separated by spaces where I presume roads must pass, become apparent after careful examinations of the layout of the city on the hill it is built on. Each level appears to be more decadent than the last, rising up to the very top of the hill where a massive pillared structure can be seen with the spires that we saw appear out of the water first. The glassy stone reflects the sun's rays and causes a gleam that is so bright I am forced to look away.

As gigantic walls appear in front of the Pearl, enclosing the city safely within them, everyone aboard has to grab hold of whatever sturdy object is nearby due to the huge swells that are stirred up, further rocking the ship and making me fear we may even capsize. I am thankful for the place Jack chose to anchor- we could have so easily decided to wait right over where the city was, making me shudder at what sort of a situation we would be in right now.

Everyone aboard the Pearl is still and silent, as the crew try and comprehend what they have just witnessed. Looking around at the men closest to me I see some with their mouths hanging open, and others with mixed emotions showing clearly on their faces- amazement, disbelief and fear being a few I can identify. A couple of the crewmembers appear to be deciding whether to run or not.

I personally cannot stop myself from admiring the gates to the city.

Taller than the Pearl they rise above us, flanked by the wall on either side and casting a long shadow as the block out the low evening Sun. Their brilliant blue-green hue is not painted on but seems to be the colour of the actual material they are made from- but this is clearly a material I have never seen anything like before. The different shades are never still, but swirl around each other, making the gates look as though they are made from the sea themselves.

But it is, perhaps, the carvings that I find the most fantastic. I am in awe of whoever fashioned them, so long ago, as they must truly have been a master of their trade. Scaled sea creatures, wild and ferocious with snapping jaws, snake and hiss at the brave men they are locked in immortal combat with as the men raise their weapons high, twisting out of the way of the beasts. The wild eyes of the men and the gaping mouths of the creatures they are fighting looks so realistic that they unsettle me- I keep thinking I see a movement from one of the characters out of the corner of my eye but when I turn my head to look properly, they are always in the exact same position they have always been, the only thing moving being the constantly shifting colours.

Then, as I watch, a rumble starts up as these great gates begin to swing open. I can see no mechanism to aid them in doing so, and yet the water puts up no fight against them as the gap becomes wider and wider, the gates gathering speed as they open. Water is sucked in between them, rushing to fill the space behind where previously it was dry, and this sudden disturbance is so strong that the Pearl rocks violently at anchor, straining against her leash until the tension becomes too great and the thick rope snaps as though it was no more than a piece of silk from a spider's web. Once again, anyone who does not have a firm grip on anything is thrown off their feet, and in the worst cases, overboard, as the ship joins the surge of water flooding into the city.

We pass through the gates at a dangerously high speed, thanks to the water carrying us, and I am afraid that we are going to smash into the walls and be wrecked- if the water were to carry us in the wrong direction… Luckily, however, this does not happen.

Once past the gates, the force of the water lessens and the ship slows to a more normal speed, although still carried along by strange currents which seem to know exactly where to take the Pearl. However, as one problem ends a new one begins, at least for me- the voices that have been constantly at the back of my mind, whispering and crying out to me, start to reach a new level now that I am within the walls of their home. They rise in volume until it is all I can do to withstand throwing myself over the side of the ship, and stopping their voices once and for all. Curling up on the deck, and ignoring whatever quizzical glances may be thrown my way at this strange behaviour, I try to desperately lessen the noise. As I concentrate so hard on doing this, I hardly register as a calming hand is placed on my shoulder- glancing up, I notice rather distractedly that it is Alex, smiling down at me sadly. I do not say anything, simply returning to my former position, but I am thankful for the support he is providing.

As we are pulled towards a mooring place in the natural harbour that we appear to have entered, the voices die down after their sudden, startling uproar. I am able to sit up weakly, surveying the scene laid out in front of me as Alex stands by protectively, with the rest of the crew following suit- staring out across the city in awed silence.

On the dock at which we have become moored- without ropes or anchor, but even so the ship has come to a dead halt- a figure stands, immobile.

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ChocolatPirate- Okay, you've probably gone away now, for which I apologise- I've just been so busy! But for when you get back, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the others!

Captain Uschi- Alex is annoying you? Oh dear... Is he any better in this chapter? Still, glad you like Jack and Sierra!

RumQueen- Well, more description in this chapter... Like it? And yeah, I'm pretty sure Jack's used to oddness by now! Hehe.