Title: Sense of Duty
Rated: M
Pairings: J/E, mention of W/E and a splash of B/E
Summary: The Code is being taught, enemies need a new level of trust, and someone's death starts looking mysterious . . .
Notes: I hope you are still liking this story, because it is going to start being a little odd and kinda scary. But as you can tell, we are reaching the end and our heroes still have no clue what is going on . . . but they will, soon, because we see our villain in the next few chapters!!

As you may have noticed, this story is different from other J/E stories. But I like it- don't you?

Beta: Howlongmustiwait

(J)(E)(J)(E)

Chapter Nineteen: Chasing Freedom

"Wait 'til I 'm out! Ye woul' curse de day ye were born!"

Teague smiled and reached over the table. He grabbed one of the many crab claws and brought it close to him, examining it. He was not so worried about being in danger with her around; in her form, she was as harmless as a fly.

"Jest tell me wha' I want to know, luv, take your payment and let me go."

Tia Dalma glowered. "And why wo-old I do tha'?"

"Because. Ye have no choice."

Taking a deep breath, the small colored sorceress got up from the table and walked to her back room. The Keeper could hear her rummaging around back there, cursing as she threw things to the side.

In only a moment, Tia Dalma walked out of the room and sat back at the table.

"'E's still alive." Tia Dalma started, laying out glass beads on the table top. She started forming them in a large triangle with two circles in the middle. "'E's in trouble, as always, but 'e alive." She took out a piece of chalk and started drawing ancient symbols lost to mankind years ago.

Teague nodded his head, looking down into the intricate designs. Staring deep into the circles, an image of his son flashed before his eyes.

Jack was alone, bruised, and half drunk with a bottle in his hand. He sat on a beach, looking out into the sea. The Black Pearl sailed away without him.

The image died.

Teague shook his head, dropping the crab claw he was holding on the table.

"Boy doesn't know when ta shut up."

"Why ye say tha'?" Tia Dalma asked out of curiosity.

"Because he obviously said something very . . . " Standing up, Teague put his hat on and sighed. "... stupid."

And with no other words, the Keeper walked out of the hut calmly and down the ladder to his longboat. Only he came, and only he left.

He sighed at the thought that his son did something idiotic - yet again - but his quick mind was already forming a plan. The island he was on was obviously deserted - which meant there was a good chance it had a rum cache on it.

He would talk to his good friend, a rum runner sailor captain, and see if he could barter his son off that god forsaken spit of land.

"Boy's gonna kill me one day." Teague muttered, pumping his arms to move the boat away from the witch's place.

(J)(E)(J)(E)

Oh god the pain.

The pain was exquisite.

Everything was changing, every bone, every feeling. The power, oh god, the power she felt as she was released.

She was sore; it was hard to go through such a transformation and NOT feel sore; but she welcomed the aching muscles as she felt the sun bless her skin again.

"Calypso! I am naught but a humble servant . . . "

But she was not paying attention.

She looked down, smiling cruelly at all those who ever kicked upon her. Whoever trapped her in this ugly, single form for hundreds of years.

She chuckled, then opened her mouth to speak - words the other did not understand.

"FOOLS!!! You think you can trap me and not feel pain? I will not rest until every one of you die by my hand; I will not stop until I feel the last beat of your hearts in my hand, know your last breath and feel your soul escape to HELL!!!"

(J)(E)(J)(E)

"I am going to make them pay."

Paen and Hecker turned on their heels and stared at their leader.

"I am going to make them pay. I will kill them all. I will hear them weep; see their eyes dull and dance on their dead bodies as the whole Kingdom crumbles to the ground."

"M'lady-" Paen started, bowing deeply. "-always an honor to be in your presence."

Calypso looked down at him, her eyes burning blue. Her long, dark hair floated around her head - her pale skin glowed with power. Upon a closer look, her pale skin was tinged with green. She was no longer Tia Dalma, but she never wanted to be Tia Dalma. Tia Dalma was a curse: Something that the Brethren Court would regret, something the Brethren Court will die for.

"The last thing they will ever know on this earth is how cruel I can be." Casting her eyes down, she fingered a silver necklace around her neck. "I made that promise."

(J)(E)(J)(E)

Being careful to stay as far away from the many deep pools, the trio rushed through the many taverns in the underground caves. Jack relied heavily on Elizabeth - something he thought he would never do - and begrudgingly followed Barbossa.

"Are you sure you know the way out?!" Elizabeth asked, beginning to doubt the oldest Captain's directions.

"Came down here alert, didn't I?"

"That's not a very comforting thought." Jack muttered, and held his side. Elizabeth grasped his hand, holding onto it as she sat Jack down on the ground.

"You alright?" Elizabeth asked, worried.

Jack nodded, and laid his back on the ground. He gritted his teeth. Elizabeth gripped his hand tighter and moved to be closer to him, and stared into his face. Jack gave her a weak smile.

"Fit as rain." Jack squeezed his eyes shut, and groaned. He felt Elizabeth place her other hand on his chest, his shirt curling into her fist.

"We lost Hector." Elizabeth commented. "I think he was leading us the wrong way, anyway."

Jack lifted his head, and groaned in pain and put it back down.

"We need to get out of here." Then Elizabeth went silent for a moment. "Jack?"

"What?"

"Did it get . . . really quiet to you?"