Chapter 21 – Anne Morgan – The Accord
Anne Morgan heaved in a breath, but could not find it. She sat herself down, hugging her knees, rocking herself gently, desperately seeking comfort.
"Captain? I heard you were feeling unwell." Mr. Blackheart gently closed the door behind him."Is it your cut?"
"No, no, nothing's wrong. Why do you that anything was wrong?" She snapped, her hands were shaking her eyes darting around.
Mr. Blackheart lay a hand on her forehead and she jumped, startled. "Anne Morgan, what is it? You look terrible. Where have you been?" He demanded.
"Nowhere! What are you talking about?" Anne Morgan half sobbed. "I'm fine! See? I can still handle a sword!" She drew her sword and in the process, managed to cut herself across the thigh. She whimpered, slumping back down to the ground, rocking herself once more.
"Anne Morgan! Tell me what happened!" My. Blackheart said sternly. Then in a more gentle tone, he added. "You can trust me. I won't tell anyone else."
Anne Morgan nodded, resignedly, but she said nothing, as if she was waiting.
"What happened after you died?" Mr. Blackheart began.
Anne Morgan stifled a scream of fear; her eyes were wide again, but Mr. Blackheart rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He passed her a bottle of rum. She took it gratefully, sculling the contents quickly.
"So thirsty!" She cried, lunging for another bottle. Mr. Blackheart did not stop her, just watched in horrified fascination as she drained the second bottle, throwing it against the wall when it was empty. Shards of glass littered the ground. Some had cut into her skin. Anne Morgan clawed at her neck.
"So thirsty! But no matter what I drink, no matter how much I drink, I'm still so thirsty, so hungry, so tried. I wish I had chosen death!" She moaned, beating her head against the bookshelf.
"Calm down, calm down! It's alright Anne Morgan. Tell me about it." Mr. Blackheart, though his heart was racing. "What happened after you died? Do you remember?"
Anne Morgan tired to steady her heart. "I don't remember...remember how I died. But...but...but..." It was hard for her to speak.
"Go on..." Mr. Blackheart coaxed.
"I...knew...knew that I was dead. But...it, it didn't feel right, didn't feel like it. I just...felt like I was lying on a row boat...and, and I couldn't open my eyes..." Anne Morgan shuddered, her continued. Her breathing was uneven. "I...I, it got hot, and I was really thirsty, but...I-I couldn't move. I-I it felt bad. It was uncomfortable; I couldn't do anything about it. I just wished so badly that I wouldn't have to endure it any longer. I...I was d-dead, but my mind...was awake...and then..." Anne Morgan choked back a sob, her nails clawed at her skin until it was red.
"Calm down." Mr. Blackheart said again, patting her forearm. "What happened next?"
Anne Morgan was petrified. "And...and then, he came. He and his ship, reeking of death. I-I wanted to run, but I couldn't move. And he...asked me, asked me if I feared death. I-my eyes were closed, but I still could see him, still see them." Anne Morgan made a small choking sound.
Mr. Blackheart waited patiently.
"I...they looked like death itself. And I told him that I did fear death...that I wanted to live." She continued, swallowing the lump in her throat. "He made a deal with me, seeing how scared I was."
"An accord? What were the terms?" Mr. Blackheart asked.
"He would give me back my life, and my ship. Seven days. Seven days to retrieve the treasure, all of it from Lār Asia. At the end, if I failed, I..." Anne Morgan shuddered. "I would have to die again, and serve on his death ship, and eternity."
There was silken as Mr. Blackheart tried to digest the tale.
"He did make me another deal." She said slowly.
"Yes?" Mr. Blackheart said hopefully.
"If...if Hunter decided to...love me, then I would be exempt from death..." She finished, her voice was barely a whisper.
"Well, why don't we get Mr. Hunter now?" Mr. Blackheart said, standing up. Anne Morgan grabbed his arm.
"No! How could I Mr. Blackheart? Do I dare ruin his perfect life? The life he has made with his dear Cecilia? That would be selfish of me." She whispered.
"Then why did you take him onboard with you for the second time?" Mr Blackheart demanded, annoyed. Anne Morgan shrugged and he grew angry. "Why waste you life like this? You have with you the chance to live! Why must you do this? Why throw away your life? Why Anne Morgan, why?" He demanded.
There was silence, and then...
"Because I love him..." Anne Morgan whispered.
Mr. Blackheart failed to hide his astonishment. "Oh." Was all that he managed to say.
Peaceful silence filled the cabin and the Captain closed her eyes, her face looked calm, but her body was tensed, waiting.
"Who was it...that made the deal?" Mr. Blackheart asked finally.
"Davy Jones." Anne Morgan whispered in reply.