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Chapter 11
For a while Lily and Samuel sat in silence, each angry with the other, but Lily soon began to tire. The events of the past few days had worn her out entirely and worry for her family was beginning to take over now that she had time to think.
A single tear trickled down her cheek and she sniffed slightly, brushing it off with a finger. Samuel had his eyes closed and she hoped that meant he was asleep as she had no wish for him to see her like this. She was no longer angry, just afraid and sad and she felt all too vulnerable for his brash manners.
Tear after tear rolled down her cheeks and she began to shake with soundless sobs as she remembered her twins face when she was taken away, how she'd left him and her Mother to deal with whatever was coming for her. The thought of never seeing them again made her sobs more fevered and before she could stop herself she let out a little shuddering cry.
Samuels eyes flew open and she turned away, a hand over her mouth as she fought for breath through the tears. Samuel stared at her, no emotion registering on his face and then walked slowly over. She looked so small and fragile, crouched there, compared to him and she felt the difference keenly, twisting away as if shielding herself from an expected blow. Samuel saw the small gesture and realized this was different to before, she was no longer being melodramatic she was genuinely upset and scared.
"Look." He said and she started at the sound of his voice, "It's okay." He continued and she gave a shaky laugh.
"It is by no means 'okay'." She snapped, still managing to sound imperious.
He reached out to her, he wasn't sure what he meant to do but she tried to push past him and he caught her waist instinctively.
"Let go." She said brokenly but he just held her. "LET GO!" She shouted with a sob.
"Calm down." He said and she threw back her head.
"I cannot, I've – my fault -it's..." She broke off, her head spinning with guilt and fatigue. Suddenly pushed to breaking point she pounded on his arms with weak blows. "Just kill me, kill me, kill me! That would be better just don't let me kill them...let them be okay. I'll sign your stupid papers I don't care as long as -" Again she couldn't finish but her blows made no difference and before she knew it she had leaned into him and he had somehow wrapped his strong arms round her.
"Shh, don't be an idiot." He said, wondering how he'd come to be comforting her. She had just seemed so small and delicate.
"I mean it." She said, her voice muffled by his shoulder. "I'd rather die than live knowing it's my fault my family is dead. My mother...my brother." She took in a juddering breath. "My twin brother, Will."
He nodded, finally understanding.
"Why think about it if it upsets you?" He asked, shrugging.
"Because...well I can't help it." She replied, pulling away from his hold and looking at him with questioning, watery eyes.
"Course you can." He said gruffly. "Why bother, you can't do anything about it."
"It's not that easy."She said tiredly. "I wouldn't expect you to understand." She didn't say it to offend him, just because she was too tired to think of another way of saying it, but he raised an eyebrow.
"You think you're the only one who's ever lost someone?" He asked.
"No I-" She started but he cut her off with a menacing glare.
"Forget it." He said bluntly, running a hand through his tousled hair. "And they're not dead."
Lily's breath caught in her throat and she stared at him. "They're...they're not?" She asked shakily.
Samuel shrugged, "Would've been counterproductive to kill your mother and your brother's death would've been pointless." He said, turning to face her again.
"Alive? Mother and Will are okay? Oh thank god..." She doubled in on herself, burying her face in her arms, almost laughing with sheer relief. Samuel watched her with folded arms – he hadn't said they'd stay that way for long.
She looked at him, quiet now, her eyes seeming to melt. He slowly met her gaze.
"Thank you." She said quietly and he gave a curt nod, crossing to the other side of the room.
"Do you know anything about Davy Jones?" She asked suddenly and he stopped in his tracks, his expression stony. When he didn't reply she got to her feet and went over to him. "Samuel?"
He breathed out heavily, "Why should I tell you." He said, still facing away from her.
Lily put her hand on his shoulder and tried in vain to make him look at her. "Because I need to know!"
Suddenly he turned round and caught her wrist in his hand, Lily leaned away from the fierce look in his eyes but he pulled her in closer.
"Don't meddle in things that should be left alone." He said, letting go of her so abruptly that she stumbled backwards.
"If your Father asked me then I have a right to ask you." She protested, all trace of tears gone as she faced him.
"Father asked you?" He said, stepping closer. "If you're lying..." He trailed off and Lily shook her head fiercely.
"No! He asked me." She said firmly. Samuel looked at her for a moment and then sat down on the chair, it seemed too delicate for him at that moment, as if he could snap it like a twig.
"Davy Jones is meant to be a legend, nothing more. At least that's what lubbers think. But he's real enough. He was supposed to ferry the souls of the dead into the next world but he abused his power and neglected his duties, forming instead a monstrous crew with which he took down many ships. He became the most feared pirate on the waters as he could not die, he had no heart."
Lily gave an involuntary gasp of horror and then put a hand to her mouth.
"His legacy was passed on some years ago to another man who now has the task of ferrying the souls. His curse, only being able to walk on land every 10 years, has also been passed on." Samuel continued, he looked at her sharply.
"Well who is it now?" She asked, seemingly both drawn in and repelled by the story.
"Your Father." Samuel said quietly.
Lily felt as if she'd been punched, her stomach seemed to convulse with shock.
"What?" She whispered. "No you're wrong."
"I assure you, I'm not." He said. She began to back away, shaking her head, her cheeks flushed.
"I...I don't – believe you." She whispered. "No! You're lying!" She screamed and then ran to the door and shot from the room, her hair and dress streaming behind her in the night air.
Samuel cursed and ran to his Father's cabin.
Lily couldn't breathe or see for horror, it couldn't be true! Not her Father...Oh God. She turned and found a pirate blocking her way, she screamed and he laughed, crouching slightly as if ready to grab her. She tried to turn the other way but he moved quickly to block her escape, walking forwards so she was forced to move back. She attempted to dodge but his fist slammed into the mast on her left, his arm preventing her from moving. Still he continued to advance with a leering smirk on his face, Lily looked around frantically for ways to get away but she was closed in and more pirates were gathering round them.
"Oh dear God." She whispered under her breath, the pirate sneered.
"He ain't gonna help ye now." He told her and then lunged forward, Lily screamed as he grabbed her and the surrounding men laughed as if this was good sport. The man that had hold of her was stronger even than Samuel and however hard she tried she could not throw him off.
"'Ey we got ourselves a wildcat gents!" He said as she struggled and a cheer went up. Lily meanwhile was sick of being grabbed, she crouched over as if tired and felt his grip slacken slightly, and then brought her head up to slam into his. She felt the contact and heard him swear as he released her but she didn't wait around to see the damage, instead dashing through a small opening in the crowd. Some of the men made a grab for her but she swiftly evaded them and ran down some stairs into a sort of galley, hearing pursuing footsteps she ran again until she found a set of stairs and slipped underneath them. She backed into the darkest corner as the pirates piled into the room.
Lily tried to calm her breathing as she backed away noiselessly, she could hear them talking about her in low, throaty voices, what they'd do when they found her. She blocked her ears and moved back again but stepped on something squishy. She nearly cried out but whatever it was put a hand over her mouth and drew her silently into him.
"Shhh." A familiar voice breathed in her ear. She couldn't quite place it and it could well have been one of the pirates but Lily didn't have much choice so she didn't struggle. Eventually they heard the pirates leave, their heavy footfalls sending a cascade of dust from the stairs. Then everything was silent, she felt the man holding her breathe out then push her forwards. She emerged into the galley and turned round to see the man with his back to her, reaching for something in the cupboard. Again something familiar struck her about him...then she realized as he pulled out a bottle of rum.
"Jack?"
