Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted and Terry.

Original Characters such as Julia Carlisle and Abigail Peterson are my own creation.

Characters: James Norrington, Theodore Groves, Murtogg, Mullroy, William Turner, Elizabeth Turner, Julia Carlisle, Abigail Peterson.

Setting: A few months after The Chosen.

Hearts Across the Sea

Chapter 13: A Dark Deal

Lorelei felt the tears dry on her face as she neared one of the entrances to the sea. He still refused her. Could he not see that she loved him? Could he not understand all that she had to offer? He would soon be King James Norrington of the sea. She had never come across a human who did not want to become immortal, and better still, a god. She could offer him ships and riches and he would still refuse her, and she did not understand why.

She did not smile at her subjects who spread out amongst the flat rocks, either resting before returning to the water, or waiting for their tails to dry and turn into legs so the could walk on land again. A few had noticed she was upset and gave her sympathetic smiles.

"Never," her words came out in a dry tone. "I have never been refused. They all accepted, each quicker than the previous, why is he different, and why does it cause me to desire him even more?"

"He must be blind," one of the mermen had said, he was curled up next to his mate, his bright green tail wrapped around her coral hued fins, both were finishing their snack of mussels and sea snails.

"His eyesight is perfectly accurate," Lorelei paused. "Perfect just like the rest of him, and those beautiful green eyes cannot see the greater picture."

"Not his eyes on the outside," the same merman continued. "The eyes in his mind, he cannot see the true you and they have been clouded by something."

His mate sighed, causing her bare chest to bob before one end of her fluke stroked his slowly in a sensual way. It wouldn't be long until they would be back in the water and they would be ensnared in another fashion.

"Of course," Lorelei stared at the couple, feeling a slight bit jealous that it wasn't her and James sitting like that. She knew that merman was a bit odd, a being that saw things that others could not. He was what the humans would consider to be an artist, or a philosopher.

"The other men were single, were they not?" A mermaid with bright red hair and scales the color of freshly spilled blood asked her. She was lying on her stomach, head propped up by her hands and elbows. "He wears the ring of the woman he had fallen in love with around his throat."

"He would not stop talking about her," Lorelei sat next to another mermaid. "He always insists on having that ring with him. He spoke about her with love in his eyes, and no amount of my singing can do anything about it."

"Does she live around here?" Another mermaid asked. Her tail was already starting to turn back into a pair of legs. Her tail was an odd color, the color of ivory with dark brownish orange stripes, earning her the name of Tigris "You might me able to summon a maelstrom, send it to her coastal home, and hopefully destroy her."

"She lives on an island in the Caribbean," Lorelei sighed. It was too far away from her, and even if she had decided to swim that great distance there was a chance she may come across another sea nymph who was territorial, or the local merfolk colony might not be keen on nymphs, there was also a chance she might come across nixies, even selkies and while they might not have any dislike of merfolk or nymphs may know of her and her reputation.

"I am sorry," Tigris placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Even if I could it would not change his mind. He would possibly hate me, detest me even more."

"You cannot change him by force."

"No I can't," Lorelei scowled. To change a man into a nymph he must be willing to drink the potion, unlike the merfolk who can force their blood potion down human throats to transform them. "There has to be someway to convince him."

"His kind hates pirates," the Crimson reminded her. "He and the rest of the royal Navy have been trained to hunt down every pirate they come across."

"One of the many things about him that I have fallen in love with," Lorelei sighed. "I could tell him he will be able to hunt them down even better. He can summon storms to destroy their ships, and he would drown the survivors. He would like that, but then again it won't be enough. He would still refuse and demand that he and his crew returned to the human society and he can return to his weak human lover."

"I have been reminded," Tigris said. "The last of the single maids have selected their mates from the officers, everyone is ready."

"Have they been transformed yet?"

The striped one shook her head. "They are waiting for you to change the admiral."

"They do not have to wait for me," she felt touched that her loyal subjects would want to wait for the full moon so they can transform their mates together.

Tigris shrugged. "They want to, feels it would be better if everyone was in synch with each other."

"I understand, but tell them to go ahead, I may have to wait until the next full moon to convince him. What of the rejects?"

"They are suspended in the nixie bubbles, waiting for the big feast."

"The selected officers will not want to eat their fellow crewmen," Lorelei pressed a finger underneath her mouth. She had remembered James's repulsion to dining on human flesh. "My James would also refuse, in fact he would demand that I release them." Her eyes widened. "That is it."

"What is it?" The Crimson asked.

"I know how to convince him to be my mate."

"This is like what had happened before," the male said. "In the scroll tale of the past." His mate's hand clasped across his mouth, silencing him.

Lorelei ignored the display; the idea was already in full motion.

Elizabeth stared at her finger where she pricked it with one of her needles. The blood was seeping through, gathering into a ball and hung like a ripe berry, ready to drop. The pain from the needle wasn't great, she was more disappointed with herself than anything else, and how could she make such a foolish mistake?

"I wouldn't hold my arm out over the sea," one of the marine's said to her in a coy tone. "Don't want to have your blood fall into the sea and attract sharks, now do we?"

"It isn't the sharks that we have to be afraid of," Elizabeth used her handkerchief to blot up most of the blood.

"You are correct," the marine did not loose his smug tone. "Once they taste your blood they may want to leave and never come near this ship again."

"Excuse me?" She nearly dropped the rest of her needles.

"Most creatures do not eat things that have a bitter taste."

"I do not have a bitter taste," Elizabeth set her embroidery aside and stood up.

"The only bitter thing around here is your attitude," Mr. Saris limped up to them. "I am certain you have more pressing matters at hand than insulting young and innocent women."

"She may be young and she maybe an woman, but there is nothing innocent about her. How many hearts has she crushed in the past? How many webs of lies has she spun? How many lives have she ruined?"

"I have never ruined anyone's life," Elizabeth snapped. The only life she may have ruined besides Cutler Beckett's was Jack's when she had chained him to the mast.

"What of the man we are about to rescue?" The marine pressed on. "Would he have been obsessed with capturing a certain pirate if you hadn't lead him into the false belief you were in love with him. Would he be where he is if it wasn't for you?"

"From what I have understood the admiral left because he had received a dispatch from Parliament," Saris said.

"Many naval officers and marines were slayed the night Barbossa's crew had tried to take the Dauntless," the marine did not move.

"I told lieutenant Gillette the truth," Elizabeth said slowly. "I wanted to tell everyone but he kept me locked in the cabin."

"Why didn't you tell us before?"

"Would any of you believed her?" Saris asked. "At the time would you have believed what she had said? Many men would of laughed it off. The very idea of cursed pirates who turn skeletal in the moonlight." He raised his cane and waved it about. "Now it would be a good time for you to leave this area."

Elizabeth felt her anger abate as the marine joined his fellow officers. Her skin no longer felt any tingling sensation, her heartbeat had slowed. How dare that marine say such things? She had half the mind to go and find Captain Groves and complain about him, but she didn't. She did not want to come off sounding like a stuck up society princess and she did feel some form of guilt. She had told Jack why she hadn't told them at first, it was the reason she accepted James's marriage proposal in the first place.

"I hope you forgive me for being too forward," Mr. Saris had set his cane down. "I do not care for bullies."

"He wasn't a bully," Elizabeth stared at her sore finger. "He certainly was rude, but he wasn't wrong."

"Not wrong?" Saris raised his eyebrows. "Are you saying you were responsible for all that he accused you of?"

"Yes and no." She tucked her handkerchief away. She would wash it once she returned to her cabin. "I did not force James to loose The Dauntless, nor did I force him to resign, or take up residence in Tortuga. I did go back on accepting his proposal and I did not warn them about Barbossa's crew at first."

The strange man nodded. "May I inquire why?"

She just stared at him, uncertain if she should tell him anything. "I was desperate," not a complete truth but it was close enough. "They would have killed my husband. Barbossa's crew needed his blood to break the curse, and I had no idea if they were just going to take a few drops like they did with me, or if they were going to slit his throat.

"Did you explain your fear to those who rescued you?"

"I tried, but they refused to listen. Both my father and James were going to turn the ship around and leave Will to his fate. I had to do something. I may have gone through the marriage and be willing to become Mrs. Elizabeth Norrington, if Will hadn't told me his feelings, and if he wasn't going to rescue Jack Sparrow."

"You were willing to do anything to rescue Will, and now you are willing to do anything to rescue Admiral Norrington?"

"Yes," she did not even need to think about her answer.

"Even if you felt like you didn't owe him?"

She nodded. "I owe him at least three times. I owe him for saving my husband twice, and for what I did to him."

"I think you may have made up for the last part if what I have heard is true."

"And what would that be?" Elizabeth heard approaching footsteps, but did not turn around.

"Would the admiral and Miss Carlisle have met each other without your intervention?"

Elizabeth wasn't certain. "They may have. Julia's father knows about demons and they would have both at the docks along with the others who have evacuated."

"Would they have taken the time to get to get to know each other?"

"I am not certain. I have invited both of them along with several others to a salon brunch." She still had yet to reschedule that event.

"Is he bothering you?" Will approached the two of them and stood in between Elizabeth and the strange man.

"No he isn't." Elizabeth said. She did not want to admit that she was grateful Saris had come to her rescue. "We were just talking."

"I know you do not like me, Mr. Turner," Saris said softly. "And that I am still here by Captain Groves's good grace alone."

"I hope you keep reminding yourself that," Will said.

"Will," Elizabeth addressed him in a sharp tone.

"I am sorry for any offense I may have caused," Saris tipped his hat towards Elizabeth before he had left.

"William Jonathon Turner," Elizabeth crossed her arms. "How could you say such words?"

"I am sorry if I do not trust that man," Will sighed. "There is just something about him that I sense."

"Whitecap also senses something off about him, but she does not feel he is a threat."

"Maybe he isn't a threat," Will rubbed the crystal dove he kept under his shirt. "It isn't glowing."

"Then maybe you shouldn't be so short with him," Elizabeth turned on her heel. "I am going to our cabin. I need to put my needlepoint away."

James had figured it out a way to open the lock on his cage door that was what it was, a bloody cage, despite how much space he had and how many luxuries he was given. He was not allowed to leave; he was not allowed to find out where his men were being held. The lock wasn't too simple to figure out, and he was careful to look up every second, or whenever he had heard a strange sound. He would make the try for an escape when he was certain Lorel and the rest of her kind was still asleep.

He spent many hours waiting while in the room he considered to be his den. He had read a few of the books in the meager library and had spent the last half hour sitting on one of the two plush chairs, drumming his fingers against his thigh. He stared at the paintings, trying to remember the works of art created by Julia.

James did not look up when he had heard the sound of soft footsteps approach. "I do not wish to speak with you."

"I understand," Lorel said. "I have understood why you have refuted my intentions and advances. I have forgotten our ways are not your ways and I have been, how you say, far too bold?"

"You are correct," he refused to look at her.

"I have also been wrong in many other ways. I cannot transform you by force. You must be willing to drink the potion." It did seem that she had finally understood.

"I am certain you know that I am far from willing."

"I hope you will accept my apologies. I will even ask my best cooks to prepare your favorite meal."

James had thought about making it difficult for her and would have requested meal made from beef, but he decided to be civil with her. "Chicken and crab, there is no preference to how they are prepared, as long as they are together. I would like it to be served with carrots and turnips and bread, but before I would like to start the meal with a creamy potato soup, with plenty of black pepper."

"What would you like for dessert?"

"I doubt you can manage to prepare an English trifle."

"You can be in awe of all that we can prepare," Lorel finger about. "I shall relay your request to my servants at once, but first would you like to see your men?"

James sat up. "You are going to take me to see them?" He relaxed before he continued. "This is some ruse isn't it? You are only willing to allow me to see them on the account I agree to be your mate."

"I do not make such offers," Lorel shook her head. "I am willing to take you to them as of now."

"You are not going to bind my wrists together?"

"No, and I shall not sing if you decide to bolt, and I have given strict orders to my people to not do such things either, not if they wish to face my wrath."

"I will not bolt," James stood up. "You are the only one who knows the way."

James tried to take in his surroundings as Lorel led him not only out of his cage, but long past the walls with the red stones. He had to remember how he had gotten there so he can return the same way in the future.

"I believe we should be honest with each other," Lorel said after minutes of silence had passed. "My whole name is not Lorel, but Lorelei."

James froze. He had heard that name before; from a few German sailors he had shared a few drinks with in Tortuga. "Should you not be in the Rhine?"

The mermaid laughed. "That would be one of my daughters. She is always causing mischief in Germany."

"How many children do you have?"

"Several, boys and girls, and yes nymphs can be male, your writers have gotten several things wrong.

"The immortal mermaids are called nymphs," James nodded. At least he was getting some knowledge during this misadventure.

"Don't forget the men," Lorelei held up a finger. "One of my sons has bonded with the dolphins, together they have rescued many sailors who have fallen overboard."

"There is no killing an immortal?" James asked. He knew it was a foolish question to ask.

"Are you asking if there is a way to kill me, or do you want to know the benefits of becoming a nymph?"

"Perhaps a bit of both."

"The only way to kill a nymph is to make them mortal, or for the nymph to take their own life," she frowned. "Like my one foolish daughter had done when she fell in love with a human prince. She made herself appear human, but he fell for another woman, and what did she do? She threw herself on the rocks below." Her lower lip quivered and she brought her hand up to her face.

James stiffened as the tears rolled down her face. "I am sorry."

"You do not have to feel sorry," she wiped away the tears. "That was centuries ago and she did not take my advice."

"She was still your daughter."

Lorelei nodded. "She should have convinced her prince to drink the potion. There would have been so many benefits. He could protect his kingdom from enemies, much like you might be able to if you accept."

James just stared at her. In a few seconds they had gone from talking about her daughter to her trying to convince him to drink the potion.

"Would you like me to explain? You would be able to summons storms to destroy many pirate ships. You can be rid of them forever."

"That may sound tempting," James thought it would be easy, and he never did like the extremely easy way. Destroying piracy should be by the Royal Navy, and through hard work. "I do not want to destroy all pirates. There is one who may be annoying, but has struck an accord with me."

"Does this pirate have a name?" Lorelei asked.

"He goes by the name of Jack Sparrow."

"Jack Sparrow?" One of the mermaids had stopped in her tracks as she passed by them. "You know of Jack Sparrow?"

"We have crossed paths several times I the past," James was a bit surprised this mermaid knew of Sparrow.

"If you see him again I want you to give him a message," the mermaid brought the backside of her hand against James's face.

"Explain yourself," Lorelei glared at her subject.

"I am sorry, my ire likes with that pirate," the mermaid ran off.

"I do not want to know what that was about," James rubbed the side of his face where he slapped.

"Pay no mind." She grabbed his hand and led him into another cavern.

The room was as dark the one with the bone filled pits. James had noticed the several large spheres placed that filled the room, they reminded him of large bubbles, or fish roe, for each one was filled with a cloudy material and a shadow.

"What is this?" James asked. "Where are my men?"

"Look closer."

James approached the nearest collection of bubbles. His eyes strained to make out what the shadows were, each step he could see they were humanoid in shape and when he stood right in front of them he could see they were men, and dressed in the uniforms of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. He recognized their faces. Each member of his crew was trapped in the same way. There were only three missing, and they were not the ones who had died.

"What have you done?" James touched one of the bubbles and pulled his arm back when he felt how soft they were. "I thought you have told me they were not dead."

"They are still alive," Lorelei placed her hand on James's shoulder. "They are still sleeping, however their fate depends on how you answer my question. Will you be my mate?"

Swordmaster Z, yes they will put something in or actually against their ears. It wont be wax though.