Warnings for this chapter: Rated R for the word 'fuck.' Fuck. *nods* Violence, blood. Those are in here, too.

AN: The original ending for part ten has been postponed yet again. ^.^;; This is 50% longer than the last part, so be happy. ^__^ (Also, now I know how to get more comments and reviews: leave extra-evil cliffhangers. Fuhuhuhu...) Does vampiric action raise my rating from PG-13 to R? (Doubt it...)

Note to FF.n readers: Thank y'all for all the happy reviews! ^__^ I am now accepting anonymous reviews. Flames with be shot on sight. (Unless they're signed. If they're signed, then yer not a coward and don't need to be shot like one.)

Note to ESL readers: Thank you for all the offers to help me out with translations!! They are very much appreciated! ^__^ If I plan on having more non-English text, then I'll be certain to ask for help.

Note to self: Fuck. (See? Told ya' this part had that word in it.)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Crimson Ways
Part Eleven

Today is a good day for someone else to die.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Will felt certain that Jack had left. Maybe it was for the better. Jack was, after all, not human. Perhaps what he felt for Jack was a forbidden love; the kind that always ends in ruin.

The area of the bed beside him shifted downward with added weight. Will gasped as he felt strong arms wrap around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. He looked up, his face stained with tears. He'd never felt so relieved before in his life. 'I thought... I thought you'd left.'

'It's a lot harder to get rid of me than you think, lad,' Jack replied, wiping the tears from Will's eyes.

'But, the door--'

'Just shutting out the audience.'

Will paled. 'Audience? Who?'

'No one, just a mangy ol' alley cat is all,' he said, talking mostly to the door.

Will raised an eyebrow at Jack. He sniffed and wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

Jack felt guilty for making Will cry. 'Are ye gonna be okay?' he asked softly. He hoped that he hadn't traumatized Will for life.

Will nodded. 'I'll be fine,' he said, forcing a smile. 'Just remember what I said. Alright?'

Jack released Will and took his hands in his own. 'Right. We'll stick to just holdin' hands for now,' he said. 'I do have all the time in the world.'

Will managed a weak laugh. 'Judging by your patience, one would think that you only had until tomorrow to live.'

'True, but for all you know, I really do only have until tomorrow,' Jack replied thoughtfully. 'So it's best to live every day as your last--definitely more entertaining that way.'

'Just promise you won't get bored and leave me. ...I really don't think I could handle that,' Will choked out.

'I'll never get bored with you. Ye'd have to kill me before I'd leave you alone.' Jack paused for a moment, a thought entering his deranged mind. 'Even then, I'd probably haunt you until yer death.'

'Charming.'

'Aye. And if you die first, you can haunt me.'

'Then I'd get lonely, meet another ghost, and forget about you entirely.'

'Easy fix for that: Join me in immortal bliss, and we'll live happily ever after,' Jack said jokingly as he stood up and held out a hand for Will.

Will took Jack's hand and stood. 'I thought you said that you would never do that to me. Going back on your word?' he asked.

'I hardly ever go back on my word.'

'Not "never?"' Will asked, heading for the door.

'Ye can't keep every promise,' Jack said ruefully. He walked past Will and out the door, avoiding Will's questioning stare.

Will could tell it was a subject that Jack would much rather not talk about, but he couldn't help feeling curious about it. He wondered what sort of promise or promises Jack had broken. He hoped it wasn't a bad habit that would get in the way of their relationship.

He followed Jack down the stairs. Jack stopped abruptly at the bottom of the staircase, and Will, caught off guard, ran into him. He looked over Jack's shoulder to see Millarca sitting quite comfortably at the small table in the room, sporting a playful smirk. 'Having difficulties?'

'I don't recall it ever really being any of you business,' Jack shot in reply. He crossed the room, ignoring her amused smile.

Millarca watched as her son left the room, then shifted her stare over to Will, effectively trapping him.

Will tried to give her a friendly smile. 'H-hello,' he stammered. He still didn't trust Millarca. He felt that he could trust Jack well enough because he actually had the chance to get to know him over the time they spent together before, but he had just met Millarca and knew next to nothing of her character.

Millarca's eyes trailed down to Will's neck. 'I see you've had an eventful morning,' she commented, enjoying the way he squirmed under her gaze.

Will blushed slightly at the suggestive tone in her voice. 'I...uh... It's not like that.'

'I know,' She said sweetly. 'I saw.'

Will's blushed deepened. 'You what?! Have you no scruples?!'

Millarca gracefully stood and took her leave of the room as if she hadn't heard Will.

Will cautiously followed suit; he couldn't help but think that either Jack or Millarca was going to jump him from behind the doorway--he wouldn't put past them to do so.

When he entered the main room of the smithery, he found Jack playing around with one of the more detailed swords. Will advanced further into the room to scold Jack. Millarca spoke from behind him, causing him to jump.

'Yes.'

Will turned to face her, suddenly wishing he had either an easy escape route, or some form of barricade between them. 'Pardon?'

'Yes, I do have scruples,' she smoothly replied. She was leaning casually against the wall next to the door with her arms loosely crossed across her waist. 'Though,' she continued, 'one's morals tend to change over the years.'

'So that's how you justify spying on other's private affairs?' Will asked spitefully. He slowly began to back away from her.

Millarca laughed softly as she pushed herself from the wall and pursued Will. 'Actually, no. I just have a fetish with voyeurism,' she said. She edged closer to Will and raised a pale hand to his face.

Millarca's hand was quickly swatted away by the sword Jack had been playing with. Jack brought the sword's tip to just under her chin. 'Be a good kitty-cat and stick to yer own cream,' he growled possessively. He glanced at Will and said 'I think you need to get some locks for yer windows...and change the ones ye have on the doors.'

'What? Why?' Will looked from Jack to Milarca, who was nodding in agreement.

'It's too easy to get in,' Jack explained. 'I got in though the window.'

'And I used the door,' added Millarca. 'I thought they had ceased making such simplistic locks. We're just for your safety, sweetie.' She brought her hand up to Will's face again, only to have it immediately smacked with Jack's sword. She glared at Jack. 'Stop that.'

'You stop.'

'Both of you stop! And why are you two breaking into here anyway?' Will glared at both of them. He thought one Jack Sparrow was bad enough, but two? Millarca was as bad as Jack, if not worse.

'I was merely lookin' for you, luv,' Jack replied, snaking an arm around Will's waist.

'I suppose that's a viable excuse,' Will said, doing his best to ignore the quirky smirk Millarca was giving him. 'And what of you?' he asked her. 'What might your excuse be?'

'I was bored,' she stated. 'I needed something or someone, to entertain me.'

'The only person Will will be entertainin' is me,' Jack said threateningly, tightening his grip around Will.

Will was flattered that Jack was being protective of him, but he'd prefer it if Jack weren't so publicly affectionate--especially in front of a self-proclaimed voyeuristic vampire.

Millarca made a noncommittal sound. 'In any case, I need a new place to stay; the inn is no longer sufficient for my needs.'

'You can't stay here,' Jack said quickly, cutting off any would-be arrangements.

'This place so desperately needs a woman's touch,' she commented airily as she evaluated her surroundings. 'It's so dusty in here. Bad for the complexion.'

'You? Clean?' Jack scoffed. 'I doubt you've so much as lifted a finger to clean in over a hundred years--I think I'd remember seeing it.'

'"Over a hundred years?" How old are you two, anyway?' Will asked. Neither Millarca nor Jack heard Will's question.

'I said "a woman's touch," not mine. Why dirty my hands when I can just as easily gt someone else to do it?' she said with a shrug. 'I'm certain that even dear William could make a substantial difference...if given proper direction.'

'No.' Jack placed himself between Millarca and Will. 'Ye'll be doin' no such thing. Why don't you ask Lizbeth's father if you can stay with them? He seemed quite taken with you.'

'I suppose I could, but I'd rather stay here,' she replied. She didn't see why Jack was being so overprotective of Will; it wasn't as if she'd ever make any real advances on him. Flirting and scaring was another story. 'It's less conspicuous, really.'

'What part of "no" don't you understand?'

'What part of "vampire hunter" don't you understand?'

Jack winced for a moment. 'You...never mentioned anything about a hunter before.'

'Yes, I did. It's not my fault that you have the attention span of a two-year-old,' she retorted, placing her hands on her hips for emphasis.

'What vampire hunter?' Will asked as he stepped out from behind Jack.

'It doesn't concern you,' Jack replied.

'Nonsense. Of course it concerns him,' Millarca said in annoyance. 'With a bite mark like that, how could it not?'

Will's hand flew to his neck. He could feel two small bumps, but that was it. 'Is it that obvious?' he asked.

'Just keep your neck covered and your head low until it fully heals, sweetie,' Millarca replied lovingly. 'It will heal more quickly than normal scratches and such.'

Will nodded, taken aback by Millarca's momentary motherly attitude towards him. 'But what of the hunter you just mentioned?' In response to Jack's disapproving look, he said 'If you ever want the chance to pretend you're a mosquito again, then you'll tell what's going on.'

'I like him. You should keep him.' Millarca gave Jack a meaningful look. She shrugged off the glare Jack was giving her and said 'There is a man following me. His sister committed suicide, and he thinks I'm the real reason she's dead.'

'But are you?'

She raised a brow. 'Why does everyone think I'm some sort of murderess? In all actuality, she seemed quite fine with me being what I am--in part.' Will gave her a confused look, and she continued. 'She wasn't too keen on the fact that I was a woman. She was a good, Christian girl, but her morals were a bit twisted. It was fine for her to fraternize with what most consider a demon, but unforgivable to do any such thing, with or without consent from God, with another woman. I believe she took her life to atone for her sins.'

'Yer not going to be atonin' for any sins anytime soon, are you?' Jack teasingly asked Will.

'I'd rather pray for forgiveness,' he answered. 'So when did this happen?'

'Mm... About thirty years ago,' she replied. 'You'd think he'd give up by now or lose interest, but he keeps following me! It's quite nerve wracking.'

'Don't worry, you'll just outlive him,' Jack said with a bright smile.

Millarca shook her head and walked back into the smaller room. She sat at the table as Will and Jack entered the room. She sighed and explained further. 'I've had several close calls in encountering him--one just last night. I managed to escape unscathed, but it was much too close for my comfort.'

'Well...if it's any consolation, you're free to stay here as long as you like,' Will offered. 'I'm sure Jack wouldn't mind letting me stay on the Pearl with him for a small while.'

'Or Will can stay here, and you could stay on my ship,' Jack suggested.

'I refuse to willingly stay on some...some boat!' she growled.

'The Black Pearl is not "some boat!"' Jack said defensively. 'She is a magnificent ship, worthy of the highest praise!'

Millarca laughed wholeheartedly, surprising Will. 'You named it after the cat?!'

'And what of it?'

'Oh, nothing,' she said. 'I just find it rather amusing. I'm still not staying on it. No matter what the name.'

Before Jack could argue, Will said to him 'Really, it's alright. She can stay here if she wants.'

'But--'

'We can discuss this further during a drink. My treat.'

'Will--!'

'Behave, and we'll play mosquito.'

Jack stopped trying to protest and perked up. 'Really? Yer not just sayin' it to get me to agree?'

'It all depends on whether or not you play your cards right.'

'Believe me, luv, I'm excellent at cards, Jack said suggestively.

Will rolled his eyes and muttered 'insatiable incubus' as he shoved Jack out of the room. He turned to Millarca before he left as well. 'Erm... Christine says "Hello."'

'She does, does she?' She propped her chin on her hand as a hungry look flooded her eyes.

The fear Will had of her before returned. 'Please don't do anything to her.'

'I promise not to do anything to her,' she swore. She watched as Will left the room and waited until heard the door open and close before finishing he thought. '...Anything permanent that is.'

She looked around the small room and got up from the chair. She started at one end of the room and began rummaging through the drawers and cupboards.

~*~*~*~


'Since it's your treat,' Jack said as he and Will walked down one of the streets of Port Royal, 'we should go someplace expensive. Real high class.'

'I'm not rich, Jack.'

'Fine. Moderately priced, then.'

Will opened his mouth to complain, but another voice interrupted him.

'Es geht...,' Jack replied warily, cursing himself for wanting to go down this particular street.

Wolfgang crossed over to where Jack and Will stood. He noticed Will and the bewildered look he was giving him. He nodded to Will, and Will nodded back, not sure what was going on. Wolfgang caught sight of the puncture wounds on Will's neck--he had forgotten to cover them before leaving the smithy.

Jack saw Wolfgang's prolonged stare directed at Will's neck and panicked. 'Er, well, uh... Gotta go! Tschuss!' He grabbed Will by the wrist and quickly dragged him away.

Wolfgang watched as Jack dragged Will away. He felt a sudden pity for the young man. He now had the need to release him from Jack's evil grip before he suffered the same fate as his sister, or worse.

~*~*~*~


After weaving in and out of several streets and alleyways, Jack finally stopped near an empty intersection. He looked every which way and breathed a sigh of relief when he felt certain that they were not being followed.

'Jack! What's going on? What was that back there?' Will demanded.

Jack took a deep breath. 'I think that was him. It had to be.'

'Who? Jack, who was that?' Will had never seen Jack look so shaken, and it worried him.

'The Hunter. It had to be. He just gives me this...this feeling in the pit of my stomach. And the way he was starin' at your neck...' He trailed off, not wanting to think of what might have been going through the Hunter's head. 'He knows...and he saw you with me. This doesn't bode well at all...' Jack started to go into a panic attack, incoherently babbling about the Hunter as he sunk to the ground. He didn't care as much about his own safety as he did Will's.

Will placed his hands on either side of Jack's face. 'Jack? What's wrong?'

Jack focused in on Will's face, and his breathing slowly returned to normal. 'I'm fine.'

'No, you're not. Something's wrong. I've never seen you act like this before.'

'I'd really rather not talk about this right now. Can it wait until we got back to the ship?' Jack asked as he stood, using Will's shoulder to steady himself. 'Besides, it's nearly sunset. Best be getting indoors before that guy gets the idea in his head to come looking for us.'

Will nodded and followed Jack toward the docks.

~*~*~*~

The final remains of the sun's light faded and was slowly being replaced by the faint glow of lamplight as a man went around lighting the streetlamps. The pale lamplight sifted into the smithery, catching Millarca's attention. She had finished ransacking the cupboards, and staring at swords could only hold her interest for so long.

Going against her better judgment, she went out the backdoor. If she were to be seen by the Hunter, it would be best to be seen at night. He certainly didn't need to know what vampires were immune to--it might give him ideas as to what else might not affect them.

Millarca slinked down the streets, enjoying the sights and sounds of the nightlife. She peered into the windows of various shops, most of which were closed for the evening. That was one of the drawbacks of going out only at night--very few places of interest remained open.

As she rounded a corner, she got the very distinct of being followed. There were at least two men following her from what she could tell, glancing at her reflection in a window as she passed by.

Casually, so as not to draw attention, she lead them towards the dead end alley she found the night before. She turned and watched the two men came towards her. She noted that they were unarmed, save for the extensive amount of alcohol they had been consuming.

'Is there something I can do for you, gentlemen?' she asked with a smile.

'There just might be, gorgeous,' the smaller of the two men said.

'Oh?' She gave them an amused smirk. 'I'm certain that whatever you may have in mind is way out of your price range.'

'So ye do have a price?' asked the other man. 'How much?' He brought his hand up to her face and stroked her cheek.

She sneered at the gesture in disgust. She brought her hands to his head and twisted it sharply. A loud 'snap' echoed in the silence of the alley, and the man's lifeless body fell to the ground.

The smaller man watched as his comrade fell, then looked at Millarca, horrified. 'You-you...monster!' He began to back away, unsure of what had just happened or what to do.

Millarca grinned, showing off her elongated canines. 'A monster, am I? You'll regret that statement.'

In one quick movement, she pounced the man and sunk her teeth into his neck, tearing away flesh as she did so. The man tried to struggle, but the gash in his neck was large and bleeding profusely.

As Millarca drained the man of his life, she felt a third presence. She dropped her prey and glared at the newcomer, a wild look in her eye and fresh blood dripping down her chin.

Halfway down the alley stood Christine. She jumped when Millarca began to advance on her. She took a step back and tripped on the hem of her skirt, landing her on her rump. She looked up to see Millarca looming over her. 'D-dearg-due...,' she choked.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN II: This ending just popped into my head halfway through the chapter. Next part will have the uber-evil ending. Yep. Reminder: I'm a total comment whore, and I do take into consideration what everyone suggests. (I try to give credit if I remember names and such.)