CHAPTER 21: So There is a Curse…
It took the crew about 4 months to sail back to the island of Jamaica, to drop off their friends in Port Royal. It only took so long because the gold-filled hull was slowing the ship down tremendously.
By now however, Phoenix's belly looked as if she would explode, and Elizabeth's bulge had just begun to be quite visible. Once they arrived, the Turner's urged Jack and Phoenix to stay for a couple of days, but declined when they thought about how restless the crew was becoming.
Jack and Phoenix bid them farewell, and Phoenix gave them half of her share of the gold… knowing that she would be having Jack's as well. Amongst a teary-eyed goodbye, Will and Elizabeth Turner watched their friend sail away into the distance.
"So.. on to Tortuga eh my sweet prince?", Phoenix said, kissing Jack's nose as she approached the helm. Jack nodded and kissed her forehead.
"It's getting' late luv… go get some sleep…", Jack urged an agreeing Phoenix. She quickly walked into Jack's cabin, made sure to lock the door, and was fast asleep as her head hit the pillow.
While Jack was at the helm… he saw one of his older crewmates quivering in the corner. When he went over to look at him, he could see blood pouring from the palm of his hand.
"I'm sorry cap'n! I'm so sorry!", the man began to cry. Jack crouched down beside him as if everything was normal. He looked at him curiously in the eyes…
"Sorry for what mate?", Jack asked. "For this…", the old man replied, showing his palm to Jack. Jack stood up quickly once he saw the black spot on the man's hand. Apparently it looked as though the man attempted to scratch or cut it out of his hand.
"What deal did ye make with him mate?", Jack asked calmly. "I— Well ye see I—… I told 'im that he could 'ave me soul if I gots one more chance te sail the seas… and now, my time's up, but I ain't ready to go Jack! I ain't!", he yelled, beginning to cry at Jack's feet.
Suddenly Jack felt the ship rock as he saw a grand ship rise out of the water beside his 'Pearl'… The 'Flying Dutchman'… Jack picked up his friend by his collar and dragged him to the edge of the ship.
"I'm sorry mate…", Jack whispered to him. Suddenly a gangplank was lowered across to Jack's ship. Jack yelled for his crew to lower the anchor, which they did.
Then abruptly, a majestic Davy Jones walked across to the deck of the 'Pearl'. Jack looked at him with no expression, hoping that Phoenix would stay in his cabin. Davy Jones looked around and spotted the old man, he smiled and walked over to him.
"Do ye feel death?", Davy Jones asked him with an evil grin adorning his face. The old man shook with fear and one of Davy's men picked him up and began to drag him across to the 'Flying Dutchman'. Davy Jones looked at Jack…
"Sparrow… I 'ope yer keepin' yerself out of trouble…", Davy said to him with a chuckle. Jack chuckled as well and replied, "If I was, then I wouldn't be much of a pirate now would I?", he retorted.
"…Exactly", Davy Jones said, then began to follow his man across the gangplank. Just then, the old man began to scream.
"No wait! Get Phoenix out 'ere! Tell 'er to 'elp me! Jack! Please!", the man yelled, making Jack wince and clench his jaw tightly. If that man lived… Jack would kill him.
Davy Jones and his men stopped in their tracks and turned around swiftly walking towards Jack. Davy Jones brought his face to Jack's intimidating him.
"What did he just say Sparrow?", Davy said, his eyes squinting, and his own jaw clenching. Just as Jack opened his mouth, Phoenix walked out on deck rubbing her eyes.
"I 'eard someone screamin' me name… who was---", she said, but her jaw fell when she saw the sight in front of her. Davy Jones turned to her and looked at her stomach, then back at Jack.
"Kill him!", Davy yelled as his men raced for Jack. But a swift Phoenix jumped between them before their weapons could collide with his body. Phoenix's eyes filled with tears… she was torn between her husband and her family.
"Don't ye dare hurt him…", Phoenix said, her jaw clenched as she warned her grandfather through gritted teeth. He laughed at her and then approached her slowly.
"Ye dare 'ave that tone with me missy? Give me one reason why not… he probably tricked ye into 'aving his way with ye!", he warned back at her. Her tears began to fall more now and her grandfather stared at her in the eyes, for what seemed like hours.
"Never…", Jack said louder, threatening Jones with his eyes. "I love him…", Phoenix said to her grandfather. Her grandfather's expression went cold for a moment.
"Ye don't know what love is!", her grandfather yelled in her face. "I know that love, is Jack. He loves me, I love him and we're happy with each other! He cares about me!", Phoenix yelled to him.
"Yer comin' with me! No granddaughter of mine is goin' to be a whore! I thought I raised ye better than that!", he said, grabbing her by the wrist.
"Don't ye dare take me from me husband…", she warned, pulling her wrist free from his grip. Davy's eyes grew wide for a moment, as his men looked nervously back and forth with one another.
"What did ye say he was?", Davy said quietly, walking slowly towards her.
"Did I stutter? I said he's my husband! The father of my unborn child! My lov---", she was interrupted as her grandfather slapped her with his claw, leaving a massive gash across her face.
"Yer coming with me… or ye can choose to stay, and we'll kill Sparrow in front of ye…", he threatened with a grin.
"Ye wouldn't dare…", Phoenix said stepping back towards Jack protectively. "Thrasher!", Davy yelled for his strongest man, who was a large man carrying to cannon balls hanging from chains, swinging them slowly in the air.
"NO!", Phoenix said, hugging Jack and crying into his chest. "I'll go with ye…", she cried. Jack knew there was nothing he could do without putting either himself or Phoenix in danger. He felt his eyes begin to sting as he held her for what he thought was the last time. His tears began to fall onto Phoenix's head quietly.. as Phoenix on the other hand sobbed as loudly as she could.
"How could ye do this to me!", Phoenix yelled at her grandfather from Jack's embrace. She suddenly felt one of her grandfather's men grab her by the arm and began pulling her away from Jack.
Jack panicked, and quickly kissed her passionately, despite the fact they were both crying… "Everytime ye look at that ring luv… remember how much I luv ye… and our child, tell them that I love them with all me 'eart and soul!", Jack yelled at her, his tears falling from his face. Phoenix couldn't talk and began to cry once more.
As she was dragged away screaming by her grandfathers' men. She saw one of them hit Jack in his back, and laughed walking towards the ship. Jack fell to his knees and then slammed his fists to the deck, beginning to sob louder, not baring to hear Phoenix's screams.
Phoenix was placed in her old cabin on the Dutchman, and was locked in. The Dutchman slowly disappeared into the distance of the night and was gone.
Jack sobbed on deck for about an hour… none of his men teasing him, but some feeling deeply sorry for him. No man had to watch the woman he loved be torn away from him, especially one carrying his child. Jacobs finally walked over to Jack and helped his friend off the deck. He then helped him into his cabin and placed him on the bed.
"It's alright mate… ye'll find 'er…", Jacobs said patting Jack on the shoulder then exiting the cabin. He approached Gibbs, "I guess there was a curse after all…", he said, giving Gibbs a look of sorrow, and walking back to his duty.
oooooooooo
It took them about 3 days to sail to Tortuga, no one speaking to Jack since the incident. The only time they saw him was when he went to the cellar's for more rum. Jack had nearly drank himself into a stupor by the 3rd night, not speaking, moving, or eating. To hell if people thought he was weak, is what he kept saying to himself. He missed his wife… and vowed that he wouldn't rest until he had her back in his arms…
THE END
Story 2 in Series: Coming Soon!
It'll either be called, "Journey of the Sparrow", or "The Phoenix and the Sparrow: II"