Hi! Well, this is the last chapter! I previously wanted this to be at least 14 chapters long but I couldn't stretch it any further so enjoy th last one!
Was and had always been…
Lord, it must have been a dream, or good honest luck was strongly aiding the pirates! The crew of the Black Pearl skipped through the waters surrounding Port Royal to the mystical ship.
After Cassie and the captain had somehow escaped an angry Davy Jones sent them floating back to the Pearl on drifting wood from a recently boarded merchant vessel. One man however didn't run straight for the ship. He grabbed the arm of a rather excited Ana Maria.
"Don't set sail 'til I return!" He ordered.
"Aye, master Gibbs," She nodded. Joshamee's silhouette climbed against the dark indigo sky, the moon and stars his only means of light to guide him to the Fort.
"Send 'er home-uh!" Davy's chilling voice echoed through his head. For once, he actually agreed with Jones' orders. Cassie needed to stay in Tortuga- her home- to him; she had been through enough without getting in more trouble.
If he knew the Royal Navy like he used to, Jack and his adopted daughter would surely have been put in the prison.
It was now early evening on Sunday. Damour had, once again, pardoned herself from James' home, happy to be away from Aunt Lillianna and her ever annoying questions and hawk like eye's watching her every move.
Cassie slipped into the cell hold through the shadow cast over the entrance.
"Cass!" Jack stumbled to his feet as she descended the last hard rock step. She smiled excitedly. Apparently something had been thrown into their escape plan for the better, something – or someone? - that could assist them, thus making their 'departure' earlier than expected.
Something caught her eye as she passed the guard on watch. He was different. This wouldn't have caused her to have questions running around in her mind if he didn't look so familiar. The hat that originally sat on top of his head now covered his closed eyes and the bridge of his nose, the naval uniform was noticeably too tight for his stout form. Damour shook her head in denial- there was no way she could place him with anyone she possibly knew. She continued to Sparrow's cell, twirling a small set of keys around her index finger which she had picked off the guard's belt subtly.
"Well, that was easy!" She muttered unlocking the barred door. Jack swayed out of the cell to the guard, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Jack, what the hell are you doing?" She hissed grabbing his arm. He just grinned down at her then poked the man's arm impatiently. Cassie began to worry as the stout guard began to stir. He grumbled, annoyed…then fell straight back to sleep!
"Oi!" Jack growled. The guard suddenly jerked awake with the harsh tone snapping in his ears. He cleared the hat from his eyes and adjusted to the minimal light now coming through the square in the wall.
"Gibbs!?" Jack clamped a hand over her mouth, silencing her. He looked to the stair case nervously then let her go.
"Ye want them t' hear us!?" He hissed. She shook her head, then turned back to Joshamee.
"How'd you get off the Dutchmen?" The captain cut in.
"Listen, no time for a tearful reunion, where-"
"The Pearl's still at the dock, capt'n." Gibbs stated.
"Good!" Sparrow grinned descending the stone stairs, Cassie and his first mate in tow.
Once the patrolling guard had passed, the trio climbed up on to the high wall around the inner area of Fort Charles. From there Cassie spotted the Black Pearl sailing towards them.
"Jack," She tugged Jack's arm, pointing only just visible ship. He grinned mischievously, swaying the edge of the wall and stepping up on to the wall, placing a hand on the stone arch beside him for support. His head snapped round to the two pirates behind him.
"Aren't ye comin'?" A dangerous sparkle danced in his eyes, showing them exactly what he intended to do.
"You're mad!" Cassie exclaimed.
"I'll second that!" A voice came from behind them. Damour spun around and gasped, Christen panting from the climb to the Fort.
"What are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you the exact same question!" She glanced at her feet. A moment of silence passed over… then:
"I shall come with you…" The woman stared up- wide eyed- at Russell.
"What!?"
"I shall come with you! It was I and Tyler's dream to sail…I would still like to go…" Christopher turned to Jack.
"If you need an extra hand on board?" The captain put a finger to his chin.
"Aye! Welcome t' the crew lad, now Cassie, we really must go!"
With out thinking, she ran to the wall and dived over, crashing through the open sea air and into the warm waters below.
The three men looked down for any signs of her.
"She's the one who's mad!" Jack chuckled.
"I blame ye!" Gibbs added, laughing.
"Oi!" Her now tiny figure was floating on the surface. "Aren't you comin'?" She called up.
"Here they come!" Ana Maria yelled at the crew to help the four on deck. She rushed down from the helm as they swam closer to the side of the Pearl, throwing a rope into the water.
Multiple cheers swamped over the ship as they collapsed on the deck, panting, soaking and, over all, happy to finally escape from Port Royal. The four laughed together for no reason, just celebrating their escape.
The celebration lasted way into the night and early morning. Christen had been welcomed by bottles of rum and slaps on the back, no longer was he the icon everyone would swoon over or envy, just a young man, the young pirate he always wanted to be.
Cassie had never felt so happy to be back on the Black Pearl. She skipped over to Gibbs, her third bottle holding the sloshing brown liquid- what remained of it!
"Don't ye think you've 'ad enough, Cass?" Gibbs laughed at her current state, it being the first time he had ever seen her drunk. She pouted then burst into a fit of giggles.
"Aw c'mon dad! I'm just happy to be back here… I hated those damn corset thingies!" She had thrown her dress over board hours ago, having put on her breeches, shirt and boots on under it the morning prior.
Gibbs raised an eyebrow at the girl as she began to look around aimlessly.
"Where's Jack?" She asked.
"In 'is cabin, girl, but I don' think 'e wants t' be disturbed…"
"Oh," She pouted again in a drunken disappointment. She then left Gibbs' side, swaying over to the crew who were gathered around watching Christen's first game of Liar's Dice.
Gibbs shook his head in amusement. He dicided not to drink tonight, he had to talk to Sparrow- busy or not.
Jack looked up as he heard a rough knock on the door, coming out of his dazed thinking position. His first mate entered looking slightly saddened.
"Aye?" The captain asked, ignoring the loud yells that came from his wasted crew on deck.
"Tis about Cassie capt'n," Gibbs inhaled, trying to think of the right way to put what he was about to say.
"What about 'er?"
"Jones…he…I…I think we should send her back to Tortuga…" Jack stared at him for a moment.
"Glad to know some one agrees with me," He grumbled.
"What?"
"I said I'm…I," He sighed. He didn't want to let her go, not now. Something about her made him want her more, but he knew that thing was the truth. She was the daughter of the devil himself. He was scared…he just couldn't let her go, but he had to.
"Forgive me mate, I know she's been close to ye and she looks to you as her father," Guilt hit Gibbs like an anchor, why did Jack just say that!? It was only going to make things worse. "We'll arrive in Tortuga within the day…" Joshamee nodded, knowing he just missed most of his captain's apology.
"Aye, capt'n…" He took his leave, head bowed, lost in thought.
The rum had long coursed through Cassie's veins and been diluted in her blood, never had she even thought to drink five bottles of the strong drink within one night. Now she was gently waking up, feeling cold stone and straw beneath her. Wait…straw…stone!? She immediately shot up, regretting the sudden movement that caused hr head to throb uncontrollably. She lay back down, holding her head.
"What happened last night?" A sharp bang came from the door beside her, had someone just been here? Her eyes adjusted to the wooden ceiling above her. She sat up.
Damour knew this place. Hearing a familiar soft tune playing, she looked to her left, something small and silver glimmering in the new day's light. She slowly crawled over, sitting on the back of her heels before musical locket. She took it into her hands and studied it carefully. Where the locket sat the straw had been pushed aside, showing the engraved wood patch.
She read the short paragraph, tears glazing her eyes.
Here once lay the deceased body of Louise Damour. A loving and caring woman, who changed to be as harsh and untameable as the sea. Her spirit lives on. A daughter, widowed man and a short lived love she left behind. They stay strong. The daughter, standing on her own, holds her mother's strong will, letting it shine through when she stands up to her fears. Rest in peace.
Cassie traced her fingers over the words. Closing the locket, she found the same pattern on the lid as the one mystically burnt into her flesh.
She ran outside of her old home, only to see her father retreat through a brick wall back to the Flying Dutchmen.
Although it was Jack and Gibbs who had brought her back to the port, her new found father had given her a reminder that she, Cassie Damour, was- and had always been-
"Fille aux Diable…"
Well, that's it...
Thank you to all the people who took the time to read and review! I love you all!
LMR! xx
P.S- Anyone for a sequel ;)
