Disclaimer: Don't own anything except original characters. All material (c) to respective owners. I write these for fun and make no profit. They're just random plot bunnies that live within my strange mind.
Chapter 13: Sea-serpents and Unicorns
--One Month--
A month sailing to somewhere unknown was wearing thin on everyone's nerves. Elizabeth and Jack had more frequent fights with one another then Will or I could deal with and it even got to the point the crew were tip toeing around both of them. I was wishing for a stop anywhere just to get away from the fighting and murmured rumors that Jack had finally lost his mind. The crew was getting restless even though I knew none of them would dare mutiny against Jack I could sympathize with them, I mean after a month of fighting and traveling to somewhere unknown who wouldn't want a break from everything. One night I heard another yelling match between Elizabeth and Jack, putting my pillow over my head wishing for once they would take the screaming match to the deck. I had a fight in the cabin about every other night and because of these battles I hadn't had any alone time with Jack in about two weeks, talk about frustrating and what made things far worse is I was very tempted to stuff the pillow over his face and smother him just to keep Elizabeth quiet. Frustrating wasn't the word for life on the Black Pearl at the moment, it was a bloody nightmare of anyone among the ship and it had gotten to the point where Will and I had discussed locking the pair in the brig to see who would eventually win the matches that seemed so frequent.
"ENOUGH!" I thought allowing my pillow to fall from my head and sitting up in bed glaring from Jack to Elizabeth and back again. There in the doorway stood Will who looked as annoyed as I felt. "WILL YOU TWO STOP ALREADY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH I'M GOING TO THROW YOU BOTH OVERBOARD!"I yelled watching both Jack and Elizabeth pause during their latest screaming match and give me startled looks.
"Finally…thank you Brandi." Will said tiredly before seeing Elizabeth give him a dark look and watching Jack study me as though I had grown another head.
"The two of you have been fighting so damn much lately I think the crew has considered leaving the ship and chancing the longboats. This is getting ridiculous…I can't take anymore, pleas just call your arguing match a draw and give us at least one week free of the usual fighting. There hasn't been a stop for a month to get rid of all the tension on the ship and I just can't take anymore…do we have an accord?" I questioned seeing Jack and Elizabeth exchange looks with one another and then us.
"Aye." Muttered Jack reluctantly hearing Elizabeth agree before she turned to follow Will back to bed. The door closed silently behind the married couple and left Jack and myself alone for the first time in about two weeks. "Love…has it really been that bad?" he questioned curiously watching my face wrinkle into a very irritated look.
"Worse." I mumbled flopping back on the bed and taking a deep breath. "Finally some peace and quiet." I muttered aware of Jack settling down beside me studying me with those familiar dark eyes. "What's on your mind?" I questioned seeing him allow an almost smug smile on his face.
"Ye missed me that much?" Jack questioned noting my brow raise and chuckling at my annoyed expression.
"Oh yes I did." I muttered sarcastically before lifting the blankets over my head and rolling away from Jack. "Actually yes I did…but that doesn't mean you need to know that." I thought giggling when he started to tickle me. "Bloody pirate, stop." I snapped rolling over into his arms and giving him a very annoyed look before smiling slightly.
"Ye won't make me stop, why pretend." Jack muttered claiming my lips and my body in that moment.
I sat upright hearing a very hesitant tap on the door and glanced at my side seeing surprisingly Jack had already left for helm duty that morning and smiling to myself I slid into a robe walking to the door, there stood Elizabeth looking somewhat rested and studying me almost cautiously. I motioned for her to enter the cabin and started to dress ignoring her muttered speech of an apology that lasted for a good half hour, I then stood in front of her waving my hand to get her attention. "Now that I have your attention and you're done with your obnoxious apology speech, come on and let's get to work." I thought both of us going up on deck and to work among the crew. After several hours of work I walked off to find Jack at the helm still tracking our position with the strange globe and his trusty compass, he offered me one of his ever present cocky smirks before muttering the next heading to Gibbs and meeting me halfway up the steps he turned me around both of us heading back down to his cabin.
"We're almost there, the globes brightness is fading the closer we get." Jack stated sounding almost relieved. "Ye alright?" he questioned aware I was oddly quiet and watching him carefully from my seat on the edge of his desk.
"Yes and no." I answered thoughtfully studying him and remembering how he sounded very worried back on the strange island that seemed like a bad memory by then. "When we were on the island you warned me to stay in your sight…what got you so worried about me Jack, I know or at least have an idea Tia Dalma said something that got you thinking." I murmured deciding enough was enough and I had grown tired thinking over that subject for the past month.
"Ye always seem to confront me at the most inopportune moments." Jack thought studying my familiar stubborn expression with an annoyed look. "Ye don't need to worry about that love…I have it all figured out." He said again offering me one of those familiar end of discussion smirks and approaching me slowly wrapping his arms around me pulling me into his embrace and to my feet. "She isn't letting me out of this one." He realized seeing my expression turn slightly frustrated. "Ye need to trust me on this one love, ye don't want to know." He said knowing full well by then I trusted him with my life and hoping that, that answer would be good enough.
"I do trust you." I said sighing miserably in defeat. "I just wish that you wouldn't always worry so much…after three years it seems like you would just give up." I muttered rolling my eyes seeing I had again amused him. "I could always find our friend in Tortuga and see what next sharp object she decided to use." I offered with a giggle seeing he did not find my train of thought amusing in the least.
"Ye know woman…yer starting to get to smart for yer own bloody good." Jack warned with an amused smirk stepping back to observe my expression with an all too cocky smirk. "Why did ye fall into my life and why did ye even want to stay?" he muttered the familiar question already knowing the answer after being told it a hundred times over again. "Crazy woman." He muttered noting my sour expression before both of us tumbled to the floor with a startled groan, the ship tossing us violently. "Do I even want to bloody know?" he wondered aloud helping me to my feet.
Jack and I quickly made our way to the deck already seeing the crew was scattering about for trouble and one of the railings had taken damage from a cannon blast not far from where Will and Elizabeth were slowly getting back to their feet. "Here we go again." I thought watching Jack rush to the helm barking orders and scattering to assist where I could. The ship was hit a few more times giving Jack enough time to shout a familiar indignant cry before we managed to get ahead of the pirate ship in the distance and leave them behind. "Looks like our friends finally caught up to us." I thought sourly before joining the crew to inspect for damages and instantly hating the fact I decided to go below deck where water was about now ankle deep thanks to the quickly being repaired holes. After an hour of helping below deck and watching Ragetti fish around for his eye I squished back on deck already hearing Jacks annoyed rants and seeing he was studying some charts hoping to find somewhere nearby to repair the ship before going any further. The nearest port was not pirate friendly in the least and was known to be much like the nearly forgotten Silverton. This port was much smaller then any we had been in and we would more then likely have to be very careful during our short stay, luckily the damage was minor and wouldn't take long to fix. We would be pulling into the port of Ridge Landing in about ten hours.
The Ridge Landing Port had very few places to really keep a group of pirates busy, which meant we would be leaving as soon as repairs were completed. Elizabeth and Will had disappeared into the Port, Elizabeth dressing in proper lady attire; I refused to do so and remained on the ship with Jack hiding out in the cabin. Neither one of us were really in the mood to wander a town that would prefer to hang him and we found other ways to amuse ourselves waiting for the happy couple to return and the ship to be repaired. After eight hours of repair work and no sign of the happy couple returning I gave Jack a curious look seeing he was wondering the same thing, which was what was taking them so long.
"Shopping." I said simply before seeing Jack offer a sour expression. "She's addicted to it." I mumbled snuggling against Jack before both of us exchanged another doubtful look. "We're going to look aren't we?" I grumbled before seeing a sly smirk cross his face and wishing I could bury myself under the pillows.
Soon I was dressed in my shirt and pants following Jack to the deck. Ridge Landing was another knock-off of Silverton and appeared far less tolerant of pirates. Jack led the way carefully down one alley after another passing several less then pleasant smelling back ways among other things until both of us stopped dead in our tracks in front of an officer. "Oh great." I thought offering a small smile seeing the man glance us both down with narrowed eyes. Jack and I found ourselves shackled and led carefully toward a large jail cell and to my surprise we were both bluntly shoved into a cell together, there wasn't overly much room and the officers apparently thought we were better together with all the problems currently in the cells around us. I gave Jack a very dark look and ignored the cat calls and gentle coos for my attention seeing he was working on an escape plan.
"We were better off in your cabin." I muttered crossing my arms ignoring Jacks dirty look in my direction. "Elizabeth is going to kill us both and…
"Love, look." Jack pointed across from us at a cell and there to my horror stood Elizabeth and Will staring back at us, their expressions mirroring mine at the moment.
"Oh." I said sighing and walking to the bars. "What happened?"
"They mistook Will for a pirate and I got rather violent with them." Elizabeth said seeing me give her an annoyed look before she crossed her arms. "What's your excuse?"
"We come to find you two." Jack said with a smug smile seeing her clamp her mouth shut in surprise. "Now to get out of this place." He murmured absently staring around the cell and noting Will giving him a small smile pointing to the hinges on the door. "Proper leverage." He murmured.
"Huh?" I mumbled glancing back and forth between the two and realizing what they were talking about. "Problem…there are four of us, two different cells, and we aren't in Port Royal." I hissed crossing my arms seeing both of them give me a curious look.
Apparently it registered with them and they both sighed nodding in agreement. Jack started to pace a hole in the cell floor before Elizabeth appeared to perk up and started to whisper into Will's ear. By then I had given up standing and was sitting down leaning against the bars, I felt something lightly tap me on the head and glanced over at Elizabeth who was pointing at the handkerchief she had tossed with something inside over to us. "Elizabeth, I love your thinking." I thought unwrapping the piece of metal wire she had apparently hidden for an emergency and glancing carefully at the locking mechanism of the cell. After nearly an hour of fighting with the lock it finally clicked free making both Jack and myself hesitate and listen for any signs of trouble.
"Hurry." Elizabeth whispered pointing to the keys on the wall, the only problem was we had drawn the attention of several others in the jail and they were starting to make excited sounds. "Bugger." She whispered Jack and I both turning to the sound of a door opening.
I handed Elizabeth the keys and quickly pulled Jack back into the cell making sure it didn't lock behind us in the process, I held onto the door seeing the guards pause in front of me with a look of contempt, that's all I needed to ram the door into his face and watch Will take out the other one from the back. Both guards were out cold on the dusty floor and we quickly left due to the noise that we knew would attract many more guards. Jack led the way through the town Elizabeth struggling to keep up thanks to her dress but somehow we made it back to the Pearl all ducking below deck while Gibbs got the crew around to sail. An hour into sailing and it was safe to re-emerge above deck, we did not join Will or Elizabeth assuming they bothered. Jack was procrastinating different sets of coordinates due to the globe and muttering to himself while I studied one of the many books lying around his cabin that had become weapons oddly enough during a storm. "I wonder?" I thought staring over at Jack who was still murmuring over the maps and clearly for once uninterested in me, I slowly stood walking around behind him hearing his muttering suddenly pause watching his head turn to observe the empty bed before he turned glancing over his shoulder offering me an amused smirk before returning his attention to the maps in front of him. I slowly slid my hands onto his shoulders massaging them noticing him again pause leaning back against me appearing content with my gesture.
"Love…I have to get these coordinates done." Jack said softly his voice sounding far from convincing at the moment. "Why do you insist on distracting me?" he caught my wrists and chuckled at my attempt to free them.
"Because I'm bored." I said leaning down gently kissing along side his ear and slowly down his neck. I knew his spots or at least some of them and knew I was winning out. "Take a break?" I asked nuzzling against his neck aware of his hands very slowly releasing their grip on my wrists and smiling again.
"Bloody hell." Jack muttered sounding amused and annoyed at the same time. "Ye know how to convince me too easily." He murmured turning catching me around the waist and pulling me into his lap stealing my lips with his own.
"I know…have had plenty of time to learn and use it to my advantage." I murmured kissing him back in turn before both of us pulled apart hearing a sharp tap on the door and groaning in annoyance. "Elizabeth…go away." I whined hearing a stifled chuckle beside me before leaning into Jack's arms.
"There's a ship approaching in the distance." Gibbs stated already guessing by the sounds of things he had interrupted something.
"Bloody hell…again." Jack muttered allowing me to my feet and starting toward the door. "Hold that thought love." He said over his shoulder before leaving me there pondering what was going on above deck.
"Since when do I stay put when there's trouble?" I wondered staying there all of maybe a minute before grabbing my coat and walking out after Jack. I saw Gibbs talking with Jack at the helm and took notice that Elizabeth and Will were nowhere in sight, the crew were on full alert though and of coarse as was typical for Ragetti he was running quickly after his eye followed by Pintel who was shaking his head in surrender. "Ship." My mind registered the ship in the distance and I noticed it was growing smaller and smaller by the second which meant Jack had ordered us to avoid contact with it for the time being, that also meant trouble in my experience with Jack. I stood there pondering the now gone from sight ship, allowing a brief smirk feeling arms wrap around me from behind and noting Jack rest his chin lightly on my shoulder his own mischievous smirk lighting up his dark eyes.
"Our friends from Tortuga?" I questioned seeing his smile fade slightly at the question before he sighed nodding in confirmation. "Wow…no effort to get that out of you, what's on your mind?" I asked sensing that there was a serious conversation coming judging by the suddenly sober look in his eyes.
"You." Jack said simply and to the point watching as I rose a brow in curiosity. "Ye and I need to talk love…a serious one." He warned noting my gaze soften slightly before I nodded. "Come with me then." He said leading me slowly across the ship my arms wrapped around his arm leaning into him in the process.
The night was comfortable for a change and the stars were twinkling in the night sky with a promise of safety under their guarding gaze. "Something serious is on his mind." I realized noting that Jack had a now familiar concerned look on his face which I knew meant he had a lot to discuss, especially after all the hell we had gone through. Jack paused at the back of the ship staring around for signs of any of the crew that may have been lagging behind in their duties and smiled apparently relieved we were alone. I met that dark gaze of Jacks and offered a warm smile before he kissed me softly and nodded apparently satisfied all was clear for our conversation.
"You asked me what Tia had said to bother me so much…I didn't want to tell ye because I knew it would cause you some problems." Jack started very soft deciding it was time to do something he had never done before, be completely honest or as close as he had come before with the woman he had finally come to terms that he was in love with and for once quite happy. "She told me to look out for ye that something could happen in the near future and she wanted to protect ye somehow."
"The necklace." I murmured softly watching his gaze fall on the necklace before he nodded.
"Ye have never taken life before, she said it would cripple ye and I would loose the woman I have fallen in love with……needless to say love I like ye the way ye are and yer the best thing that's happened to me in a very long time, Gibbs will agree to that. I don't want anything to do with that ship and will go to the ends of this world and the next to keep ye as ye are." Jack paused at the end of his oddly long speech and realized he had admitted to several things in that long sentence then he normally wouldn't have, he had let his feelings take over and was now thinking about how long the woman beside him had been in his life, three years was a long time especially for Captain Jack Sparrow. "I want ye always by my side Brandi." He thought smiling faintly at that thought somewhat startled at the meaning hidden behind it.
"For once that crazy woman……is probably right." I said softly deciding just maybe she wasn't as nuts as I originally thought, but then again it was debatable. "Are you going soft on me?" I questioned quietly a small note of teasing in my voice Jack was very used to by then.
"Aye…don't tell me crew." Jack said softly almost conspiratorially. "What did ye do to me woman?" he questioned with a curious expression that could only remind me of the one when he noticed the medallion around Elizabeth's neck the first time he seen her in the first movie.
"Fell in love with you." I whispered stealing a kiss apparently briefly startling the good captain before he returned the kiss wrapping his arms around me in turn deepening the kiss.
The moment was interrupted quickly with a call for Jacks attention, which left me staring after the current love of my life with an annoyed mutter at whomever demanded his attention at the most inopportune moment. I started back toward the front of the ship letting out a startled sound catching the railing feeling the ship tilt to the side without so much as a warning shot. I then heard commotion on deck and made my ways as fast as I could freezing dead center of the Black Pearl at the sight before me, I was fascinated with what was there in the water studying the ship but I had the feeling my amazement would soon fade. Before us was a giant water dragon, better known then as a sea-serpent. The beast was huge and covered in ocean blue scales with a wide almost square head with a fine point to his snout and fin like ears about two foot across on each side of his head, his eyes were black almost like midnight pearls themselves and his forked tongue appeared to be testing the air around him. In my opinion he was a beautiful beast, but looks can be very deceiving especially when the large mouth opened revealing hundreds of very sharp piranha like teeth.
"Brandi…don't move!" Called Jack seeing the creatures' attention was currently focused on me standing there in the middle of the deck amongst the now frozen crew.
"Oh shit." I thought my throat suddenly dry realizing its gaze was currently frozen on me. "I don't want to be his dinner." I said barely above a whisper gulping in a mouth full of air half expecting myself to fall unconscious on the deck.
"Oh no!" Elizabeth cried her gaze frozen between me and the sea-serpent and then to my surprise Will started across the deck only pausing at Jacks command.
The serpent lowered his massive head down on the deck studying me almost as though taking in my appearance or something before it let out an odd snort like sound. "It's…sniffing me." I realized tilting my head in puzzlement before the massive creature blinked tilting its own head following my movement. I jumped as he quickly lifted his head back upright letting out an odd roar sound and disappeared below the water. Jack run full tilt down toward me catching my arms before I let my jellified legs give out under me and managed to support me.
"Ye alright love?" Jack asked concern clearly in his gaze and not caring at the odd looks he may receive if anyone noticed.
"Um…yeah." I said with a weak smile. "Jack……that was too easy." I whispered peering at where the sea-serpent had once been and hearing Jack murmur something in agreement.
"Jack." Whispered Will watching as Elizabeth took to inspecting me now that I could manage to stand without Jacks help.
"What?" Jack asked quirking his brow in thought observing Elizabeth grow a shade paler then he thought possible. "Oiy." He muttered hesitantly turning to follow the pale woman's gaze and groaning miserably.
"Damn." I whispered as the ship was again shoved roughly forcing the four of us to collide with the deck, again the sea-serpent had resurfaced and was studying the four of us now. "That won't do anything but make it mad." I warned catching Jacks wrist before he managed to pull the trigger of his gun.
"Aye." Jack stated with a wry look before watching the large beast nearly become eye level with us and snort in the sniffing manner again. "What the bloody hell is it doing?"
"I think it's…well…sniffing us out." I said seeing three confused gazes land on me before I shrugged. "I'm not sure if it wants to eat us or……something else." I said staring up at the large creature hoping it would or rather wished it would go away.
"What?" Elizabeth asked just below a screech.
"Shhh." I hissed placing my finger against my lips noting the sea-serpent's head move swiftly at the sound. "I wonder if this is like the T-Rex scene from Jurassic Park?" I wondered silently before hearing Ragetti swear watching his eye roll, the sea-serpent was instantly alert and come within inches of Ragetti who nearly dropped his recovered eye. "Hey!" I called watching his head jerk to us and again freeze, I whispered my theory to Jack watching him pass it along the others.
"No one move! Don't even sneeze!" Called Jack freezing as the sea-serpent come closer to us and sniffed at the air again.
After a few minutes the creature appeared to give up in his attack and again sank below the surface. Needless to say the rest of the night everyone was ordered to be as silent as possible and have as little activity as possible in case the creature decided to stop in for another visit. Most of the night was so silent I could have heard a pin drop a mile away, I hated the quiet it was oddly eerie and unnerved me at least until Jack pulled me into his embrace while observing my weary gaze over the side of the ship.
"We must be getting closer, the globe barely glows anymore." Jack said softly against my ear, a whisper of a smile came across my face before I leaned further into his embrace.
"I just hope there is something to find other then the usual……death, destruction, supernatural problems, monsters…did I forget anything?" I questioned hearing an amused chuckle.
"Giant lizards, jewel people…spiders." Jack whispered the last part noticing my dark look before I elbowed him hearing a light chuckle. "Ye know love…it's interesting to see the girly side of ye once in a while, couldn't resist teasing ye." He pointed out receiving another playful elbow.
"I'll give you girly." I said turning around in his arms and watching his eyes widen slightly when my hand trailed a bit lower then usual, I then pulled away walking toward the cabin amused at the annoyed curse that followed the action.
I awoke the next morning finding Jack had already headed out on deck for duties and smiled briefly before slowly crawling from the warmth of the bed and getting dressed. For once there wasn't a whole lot of action or noise and I assumed it was still a precaution to our recent encounter with the sea-serpent. I made my way out on deck that morning seeing all was normal for the ship except one very tiny detail, Jack wasn't at the helm or anywhere in the immediate area which made me slightly curious. I went around deck searching for him for nearly a half hour giving up when there was no sign of him and headed straight to the rum storage he wasn't there either. Feeling a little anxious I started down the hall to disturb Will and Elizabeth taking notice that their cabin was empty and frowning in puzzlement. I heard noise back up on deck and started quickly back the way I had come only to nearly collide with a startled Anna-Maria who was wearing a very warm smile, almost suspiciously nice smile to be honest. She caught my arm steadying me so I didn't topple to the floor and motioned for me to follow her up on deck, I nearly let out a startled yell when I noticed everyone was gathered on deck dead center of the crew stood Jack when they yelled out a blunt 'surprise'. I was so startled by this I had a feeling I was missing something important and turned giving Elizabeth a confused look when she come up hugging me without warning. The crew went about their own amusement breaking out the rum and playing music further confusing me.
"I'm confused." I said giving Elizabeth a curious look and noting Jack had an amused expression on his face, he was enjoying the fact he had caught me off guard and knew I was lost to the occasion of scaring the crap out of me without warning. "What are you up to Jack Sparrow?" I wondered still pondering what was going on before something seemed to click.
"Remembering now love?" Jack questioned quirking a brow seeing Will and Elizabeth were amused by his teasing. "It's April…
"Seventeenth." Elizabeth quipped ignoring Jacks annoyed expression before it finally seemed to click with me.
"Oh." I managed smiling slightly giving Jack a look. "Sneak." I murmured watching Jack's grin spread across his face and allowing his arms to wrap around me kissing him softly.
"Pirate…happy birthday love." Jack whispered softly against my ear smirking when I leaned in nipping at his ear playfully.
"Thank you Jack." I whispered softly leaning closer to him smiling when Elizabeth started to drag Will across the deck to dance among the crew. "I hope she doesn't twirl overboard again." I muttered absently hearing Jack chuckle at this.
"We could let her swim for it a bit?" Jack questioned giving me a curious look before catching my wrist stopping me from smacking his arm. "Right…not amusing." He shrugged dragging me into the dancing fold across the deck.
I was more then surprised with the birthday celebration seeing a side of Jack Sparrow no one could have imagined at that point, I also sensed something else was going through his mind after the serious discussion we had yesterday. I didn't bother bringing up anything serious enjoying the surprise party spending time with my best friends and the love of my life; I was truly happy and didn't want anything to change. Not shocking the party was still going strong by the time night fell but I was currently resting against Jack sitting down against the railings at the back of the ship, the both of us had snuck off about two hours prior to this and hadn't budged since. I leaned into his arms resting my head against him amused that Will and Elizabeth hadn't come looking for us at the moment but then again they knew better sometimes.
"Ye having a good time love?" Jack questioned watching as I glanced up smiling at his curious expression.
"Of course…for once getting older isn't a bad thing, I'm happy." I said noting his amused look at my comment. "How long before we're there?" I questioned recalling the globe barely sparked any more.
"Probably tomorrow." Jack offered with a curiously nervous expression in his face which peeked my interest slightly. His hand trailed into one of his many pockets of his jacket, he had been debating over something for a while and finally decided to take Gibbs advice and get it over with, besides he couldn't deal with the world without me and come to that conclusion with Gibbs the morning before when they were planning the surprise party. "Bloody hell." He thought checking his other pocket and smiling faintly noticing my curious expression. "Talking with Gibbs results in being told yer a stupid git." He murmured watching as I sat forward giving him more freedom.
"Right…he's also too superstitious for his own good." I said with a giggle noting Jack still checking over his person and rolling his eyes. "Jack…what are you doing?" I couldn't help but laugh at his annoyed expression.
"Finding something Gibbs basically reminded me to drag out of the bottom of one of my trunks…just a second." He murmured muttering in annoyance still trying to locate whatever he was searching for and finally appearing to do so. "Ah…found it." He paused in thought before thinking about what he was doing and shrugged.
"What?" I questioned noticing his dark gaze lighten at my curiosity.
"From what ye told me…I don't need ye to pass out, savvy?" Jack asked curious to what I would say to that. "Ye give me my freedom in turn and put up with whatever I do next, ye are going to wear this…I don't care how ye take the meaning." He thought watching my puzzled expression soften catching my hand and allowing one of his most secretive smiles.
"Jack?" I felt his hands moving mine about and felt an odd sensation giving him a curious look before he carefully released my hand watching my gaze tick down to my hand. I felt my eyes widen faintly but I couldn't find my voice, there was a ring there and to my amusement not a typical ring but a ring with none other then a black pearl on a silver band. "Why does the black pearl not shock me." The ring did surprise me but the choice of gem didn't, then the surprise really sunk in and I met those curious brown eyes following my gaze apparently waiting for something to come from my mouth. "Yes." I managed shrugging slightly at the amused look already guessing I still looked far more shocked then I should have.
"Ye can tell that blasted Lizzie to leave me be now…she was going to drive me nuts when I asked for her help." Jack said with a wrinkled expression noting my giggle before pulling me back against him and staring out across the Black Pearl.
"Ah there you two are." Elizabeth said finally managing to find us ten minutes later. Will was holding her hand glancing at Jack who rolled his eyes already guessing why she was there.
"Bloody woman." Jack muttered lowering his hat over his eyes ignoring the annoyed sound from Elizabeth who stood there crossing her arms. "If ye came to ask just look." He pointed to my hand resting on his arms around me and ignored the startled sound from Will.
"Elizabeth…you failed to mention what Jack was asking your help with." Will managed eyeing the black pearl ring and giving his wife a look that was only described as shock.
"Those two are always going to be together…that just makes it obvious." Elizabeth stated ducking as something flew overhead and peering up at Cotton's parrot. "Now what?" she asked already seeing Jack was alert to the animal.
Another moment of fun gone in that instant as the four of us started quickly around to the front of the ship and Jack took his spyglass staring in the distance. After a short while Jack started ordering the crew to get closer to the distant island and get ready to anchor, he removed the familiar globe from one of his pockets and noticed it had grown cold and dark, we were at our destination. Oddly enough I wasn't thrilled with being at our destination because we still had no idea how much trouble the island really had involved with it and something else struck me as odd, why was it above the water…this wasn't anything to do with Atlantis like I thought but then again thinking was bad when on an adventure, with Jack Sparrow and friends.
"Love…if yer theory is true, why is it still above water?" Jack asked watching my curious look before I shrugged not entirely sure myself.
"For all I know it was moved from the ocean bottom Jack." I said seeing Elizabeth was starting to get worried as was Will. "I guess we'll just have to find out." I muttered grasping tightly to his hand as he led the way to the helm of the Pearl to take in the view of the giant sized island.
This island resembled the one we had left days ago in more ways then I cared to admit, this time I was sure there was no helpful monkey person and that we were truly on our own. Jack was aware of my thoughts I could feel it and once I met those dark eyes I knew he was worried about all the problems that could be awaiting us. Jack pulled me close into his arms and leaned on my shoulder observing as the ship was anchored at the shadow of an Island in the distance, we would be heading to that island in the morning for tonight we were going to relax and hopefully come up with a plan. "I really am not going to like this." I thought sourly before feeling Jacks breathe gently against my neck and realizing he was whispering something under his breath, but not catching what was said. After a while of observing the island I felt a gentle pull toward the stairs and smiled following Jack down to the cabin. I slowly slid into bed tired from the busy days events, but Jack wasn't about to settle after seeing the island I could see his mind working overtime. I already knew he would not be joining me and saw him instantly take to his desk grasping his materials and starting to do what little he could about the island, considering how vague Tia Dalma was it wouldn't be much. I rolled over realizing it was still dark and saw Jack was rubbing his eyes still busily working at the maps, charts, and other materials he had in hand, I finally surrendered in my sleep for the moment and stood walking around behind him.
"You need to sleep Jack." I murmured softly sliding my hands on his shoulders gently massaging them noticing the light as it hit the black pearl ring on my finger. I smiled observing the ring wondering if Jack had ever thought that he would hand over a ring to a girl in his lifetime let alone one from the future. "You aren't going to be ready to face that island if you don't sleep." I heard a snort of annoyance and leaned down wrapping my arms around him hugging him tightly. "Don't make me use other methods of persuasion."
"Promises, Promises love." Jack smiled up at the amused look on my face and sighed miserably in defeat. "We aren't going on that island tomorrow…I need to figure things out before I set foot on that island, you are too important to me and I don't want to loose Will or Lizzie either." I was taken back by this a little, but then I realized he was actually a softy deep down; you just had to get around the scoundrel pirate underneath.
"What are you going to do then?" I asked as I found myself pulled into his lap and met those dark eyes seeing a smirk lighten his face.
"I'm going to look over all the information I have and hope to figure something out." Jack said softly before his lips found mine.
--Other POV--
"Elizabeth is this wise?" Will asked watching his wife pause outside Jack and Brandi's cabin.
"Yes." Elizabeth then opened the cabin door and instantly turned crimson shutting it behind her. "No." she then heard laughter from the cabin and led Will up on deck without further discussing the matter.
--Original POV--
"That was interesting." Jack said watching as I sat there watching Elizabeth quickly leave the cabin nearly as red as the afternoon sun.
"I don't think she expected to see you parading around in your currently nude form Jack." I said laying there on the bed watching as he went about gathering his cloths ignoring the smart remark.
"I know she didn't…ye have to admit it was interesting." Jack said smirking as I rolled my eyes but who couldn't agree embarrassing Elizabeth wasn't fun? It was actually quite fun indeed.
"She's going to have a lecture for both of us you know?" I pointed out watching Jack wrinkle his nose in annoyance at the statement.
"Aye, I know." Jack said looking around for his boots and turning already expecting me to have them ready to toss him. "Love…you are evil sometimes." He smiled catching his boots before they could knock the wind from him.
"I know that, no fair Jack I was hoping to catch you off guard this morning." I said crossing my arms watching his eyes trailing over my current lack of attire. "Stop staring." I finally scrambled from bed starting to dress getting the feeling it was going to be a very long day.
Jack led the way up on deck heading straight for the helm to discuss the island with Gibbs and further discuss his thoughts on the matter. I found my way up to the crows nest staring in the distance watching the thick emerald greens of the island seem to come alive with the morning sun. I heard Elizabeth mutter something before she joined me also staring in the distance at the island.
"What's he up too?" Elizabeth's gaze was instantly on mine. "He hasn't yelled about getting to the island yet and normally we would be in the water on our way by now." She waited for me to say something in turn. After a long silence she tried again. "Brandi?"
"He isn't going to the island today…he wants to know what we're heading to before we do head into trouble. He's being far more cautious this time around then usual." I sighed staring down at the helm seeing Jack was still waving his hands and talking avidly with Gibbs. "He doesn't want any of us to get hurt." Elizabeth's jaw nearly hit the deck with this news.
"Jack Sparrow's going soft?" I gave her a withering look and shook my head. "Then why isn't he running head first into the situation?" she questioned thoughtfully.
"I was wondering that same thing myself, he's hiding something." I turned to go back to the deck only to feel a hand firmly lock on my arm. "Hmm?"
"If Jacks hiding something…does that mean we're all in trouble?" Elizabeth looked so pleading at the moment I didn't have the heart to say either way.
I shook my head forcing a reassuring smile and started back down to the deck below only to fall the last couple of feet managing to tangle myself in the ladder. "One of these days I'm going to kill myself on this bloody ship." I thought watching Jack notice my graceful move and study me with an amused spark in his eyes. I slowly climb to my feet with the aid of Pintel and Ragetti both thanking them before I started toward the helm to give Jack a piece of my mind. Before I managed to get even remotely close to the helm the ship rocked and our sea-serpent friend rejoined us, upon his appearance the whole ship froze remembering the last time. "Not again." I studied the graceful curve of the creatures' neck feeling the air above me shift with his sniffing action again and wondering what it was doing back. Finally to my surprise the creature lowered his head almost protectively toward the deck and studied me eye to eye. For the first time I finally noticed something off about the creature which was it appeared to want something from us and not food from what I could gather, or at least hoped.
"What do you want?" I realized I had spoken the thought aloud and upon hearing my voice the creature snorted softly letting out an almost purr sound. I finally noticed something off the side of the sea-serpent's face it was a spear of sorts sticking just below his eye.
"Love don't…" Jack stopped watching me grasp the spear and pull with all my strength. "Do anything stupid." The sea-serpent let out a roar of pain and shot up in the air before it seemed to register the spear was gone and then he slowly lowered his head back to the deck letting off the odd purr sound again. "Bloody hell."
"Something like that." I remarked stepping up to the sea-serpent and touching his skin which felt like rough velvet to my surprise and nothing like a reptile. "Maybe it has something to do with the necklace Tia Dalma made me wear?" Jack shrugged at this stepping up beside me hesitantly observing our sea-serpent friend.
"He is kind of cute." Elizabeth come up beside me with a weary look in her eyes the Cyclops incident to fresh in her mind. "WILL!" she watched in horror as Will come charging across the deck and missed the sea-serpent who moved sideways sensing the danger and then we heard a splash. "He's overboard." She cried rushing to the side and staring around for a sign of her husband.
I glanced at the frantic Elizabeth and then to my surprise the sea-serpent moved his head over the side and made an odd sound before promptly dropping a startled Will on deck. Elizabeth stopped him from further attacking our odd new friend and took him off to get fresh clothing. I started to turn back to the helm to follow Jack and was startled when the sea-serpent's head slid under me lifting me up just behind his head, Jack startled by the action turned and quickly caught around his long face scrambling up behind me.
"What the bloody hell is this thing doing?" Jack glanced down at the Pearl and startled faces of his crew watching the large creature steadily stare in the distance at the island. "Love…I have a bad feeling about this." He murmured softly.
"I do too." I whispered realizing we were steadily moving from the Pearl toward the island and the unknown dangers that lay before us. "ELIZABETH, WILL!" I called hearing the couple's startled sound and noticing them returning to the deck a bit on the late side.
--Elizabeth & Will--
Elizabeth and Will watched the sea-serpent drag Jack and Brandi off toward the island and leaving them with no choice but to follow. Will was the first to go to the longboats being assisted by the crew while Elizabeth watched her friend and Jack disappearing in the distance. "Bloody Dragon thing." She thought running toward the long boat and joining Will as quickly as possible.
"We're loosing them." Elizabeth realized seeing the figures getting harder and harder to see in the distance, she started to row faster hearing Will muttering under his breath sounding remarkably like Jack.
"We need to get to that island and fast." Will replied putting all his strength into rowing with his wife hoping they got to the island before their friends really found trouble.
--Original POV--
"Jack look…" both of us were bluntly tossed onto the sandy beach of the island with a groan of pain. "Never mind." I muttered spitting sand from my mouth and glaring at the now disappearing sea-serpent mumbling curses and angry retorts under my breath. "We're on the island." I stood nervously expecting something to come attacking us from the thick foliage and dark jungle life around us.
"Aye...are ye alright love?" Jack brushed off himself and then me as I nodded in response. "This is not good." He glanced back at the Pearl and noticed a blotch among the water realizing Will and Elizabeth were on the way, if the sea-serpent let them past.
"Are you alright?" I questioned brushing the sand from his hair and face watching a small smirk light up his face before he nodded in response. "Good…now what?" I took quick look around us and sighed miserably seeing we were stuck for the moment.
"Lizzie and Will are on the way…if our friend lets them past." Jack pointed to the quickly approaching long boat and smiled seeing a brief struggle in determining who was steering.
"Elizabeth…I wonder whose steering?" I remarked thoughtfully before turning to the sound of rustling leaves and grabbing onto Jacks arm. "Now what?" I wondered wishing I didn't ask since neither of us knew what to expect.
"Let's not wait to find out." Jack murmured pulling me quickly down the sand to the edge of the water where Elizabeth and Will had finally managed to join us much to our relief. "Ye two made it." He said ignoring the dark look Elizabeth shot at him.
"For the moment…what's that?" Elizabeth pointed behind us with an odd expression on her face.
"Please let it for once be nothing bad." I turned feeling Jack tense beside me before relaxing staring at the white horse peering at us from the dense jungle. "A horse…um…yay." I felt lame saying something but it was much better then half the things we had seen in the past.
"Odd." Will remarked softly watching Elizabeth start up the beach behind Jack and myself and then to our horror something come charging from the jungle and spooked the white horse. "What's that?" he asked nearly choking seeing the large animal pause and regard us with a hungry look in his red eyes.
"I don't know." I said softly watching the odd creature which looked like a fury iguana to say the least only with piranha type teeth. It was about four foot high with green scaly skin and an odd layer of brownish colored fur, his red eyes glistened in a predatory manner and his forked black tongue flickered in our direction before it turned toward Elizabeth startled squeak. "Elizabeth." I whispered worriedly seeing her offer an apologetic smile and disliking the attention we were suddenly receiving.
"I-I think we sh-should go." Elizabeth managed to stammer feeling Will's hand locked in her own studying the odd creature.
"Interesting." Jack got three death glares for the comment but ignored them seeing the white horse had returned off to the side away from the strange lizard thing. "Look." He motioned with his head watching our gazes land on the white horse watching us almost hesitantly.
I noticed the lizard thing flick its tongue and turn in the direction of the white horse, the horse let out a whiney but remained still holding its ground. "Is that horse facing off with this lizard thing?" I wondered watching the two creatures face off before the lizard thing charged toward us and then suddenly a flash of white was between us and the creature stabbing at it with a near white silver horn. I felt my mouth open in shock hearing Elizabeth try to say something but loosing her voice. "Impossible…I think." I thought realizing since being in the pirate world nothing was impossible especially if you get odd magical beings and Tia Dalma involved.