Disclaimer: Will, Jack, Elizabeth, Ana, and the other PotC characters don't belong to me. They are the property of Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted, and Terry. However I do own Sammi and Teague Sparrow! Sammi is by far my favorite OC that I've created, I just love her.
A/N: Here it is as promised, the one you've all been waiting for! If I tried to pack any more action, drama, or surprises into this chapter I think it would explode! Haha. Also, thanks for everyone's reviews. I'm now past 800! I really do appreciate the feedback. I wish I could've updated sooner, but that's the way it goes. I had some research to do for this chapter, which took it a bit longer to write than usual. But I digress.
Now you can sit back, relax, and dive right into lateBloomer's PotC universe.
Warning: There are mentions of rape in this chapter, but as usual, there is nothing too explicit. Ye have been warned, me hearties!
Ch. 26: Faith
"William? Oh, there you are," said Elizabeth, finding her son and her husband just about to disembark from the Pearl.
"Mum! I'm going to see Faith and then I'll be cured! Isn't that great?" William enthused, turning around to hug his mother.
"William, you don't know that for sure-" Elizabeth began, before she was interrupted.
"But I just know we didn't come all this way for nothing," William insisted. "Besides, Faith can cure any sickness. Captain Teague said so."
"Yes, I know he said that," Elizabeth sighed. "However, if she can't cure you, I don't want you to be disappointed..." But William didn't hear the end of his mother's statement - he had already rushed down the gangplank and onto the rocky terrain. Will made to follow his son.
"Are you coming, love?" He asked his wife, who had not made a move after him.
"In a minute," said Elizabeth. "You go on, Will. I need to talk to Ana about something."
"Alright." Will nodded knowingly, before he set off after his son.
That morning, Will and Elizabeth had been the first to rise, and when they went up on deck, they found Jack sleeping in one of the dinghies. Try as they might, the Turners couldn't get Jack to tell them why Ana had kicked him out of their cabin. As the day wore on, it soon became incredibly obvious to everyone aboard the Pearl that their captain and his life-partner were fighting. Ana and Jack had not-so-subtly ignored each other all day. Elizabeth was dying to find out what had happened between them, which was why she was waiting around for Ana to leave. Speaking of Ana, where was she? Elizabeth was anxious to visit the healer as well, to see if anything could be done to help her son. Just then, she heard Sammi's voice coming from below.
"Come on, let me come with you," Sammi begged as she followed her parents up on deck. "I'll be good, I swear. Pleeeease?"
"No!" Jack and Ana cried in unison.
"Don't ask us again," Ana added.
"That's not fair," their daughter whined. "William gets to go, and I'm five months older than him."
"William has to go," Jack reminded her. "You, on the other hand, do not. So you will remain on the ship with your little brother where we know you'll be safe."
"Ugh, you never let me have any adventures!" Sammi cried through gritted teeth, and she ran off to her cabin to sulk. Ana rolled her eyes, and then she realized that she was standing in close proximity to Jack. They locked eyes for a fleeting moment, and for a bit Ana thought that he was going to apologize, or at least talk to her. Instead, he just looked away. Ana's temper flared at his refusal to acknowledge her. Well if that's the way he wanted it, then she would go right on ignoring him!
"Ahem." Elizabeth cleared her throat, and both Jack and Ana walked over to her. "Shall we?" Elizabeth asked.
"We're coming," Ana said with a sigh. All three pirates hurried down the gangplank to join Will, Bootstrap, and William on land. To their surprise, they found Captain Teague conversing with a band of Turkish guards over how much treasure was needed as payment to see the healer. Apparently, the sheik had sent the guards down to meet them when he saw the ships arrive. When he was finished, Teague approached the Turners and the Sparrows.
"Well? Are they going to take us to Faith?" Will asked.
"Yes, and no," said Teague. "They said the sheik insisted that we dine with him first. Apparently, he had a feast prepared in our honor."
"We didn't come here to eat!" Will exclaimed. "We don't want to waste any more time."
"Will's right," Elizabeth agreed. "We wish to see Faith right away."
"It would not be wise to refuse their hospitality," Teague warned. "The sheik would be very insulted, and depending on his mood, he might refuse to let us see the healer. Besides, it will only be a few hours' delay."
"William, what do you think?" Will asked his son. "We're doing this for you, after all."
"I don't mind eating with the sheik," William said honestly. "There will be desserts at the feast, right?"
"The very best of desserts," Teague assured him with a wink. "Their pastries are to die for."
"Then it's settled," said Jack, wishing they would be on their way. He was met with no objections, and Teague told the guards they would be delighted to join their master for dinner. The guards seemed pleased, and they motioned for the group to follow them up the hidden stairs that were carved into the far side of the prison. They would lead them to the sheik's rooms, high enough in the prison away from the fetid stench and the tortured screams. Bootstrap, Will, and William fell into step behind the guards, and Jack looked longingly up at them and Captain Teague.
"I think I'd best catch up with Will," said Jack, and he brushed past them. Ana watched him retreat, just shaking her head. She couldn't believe that Jack was treating her like she didn't exist! Needless to say, she and Elizabeth climbed at leisurely pace, lagging behind the group a bit.
"Ana?" Elizabeth asked softly. "Please tell me what's going on between you and Jack. I can't bear to see you like this." Ana heaved a great sigh.
"He's hiding something from me." Elizabeth's eyes grew large.
"Like what?" Ana shrugged.
"That's the thing – he won't tell me. Let me tell you what transpired last night, and then maybe the two of us can figure it out."
"Alright, let's hear it," Elizabeth urged.
"Here it goes," sighed Ana. "It all started with a nightmare…"
333
The previous night
Captain's Cabin
AnaMaria was living her worst nightmare. She had returned to the Pearl after a girl's day out with Elizabeth. The women had wanted to explore Chania, the port town of the island of Crete where they had docked to restock supplies. Ana couldn't wait to find Jack and show him the colored beads of glass she had bought for him, in hopes that he would weave them into his hair. But when she had burst into their cabin, to her horror, Ana found that Jack was not alone.
Jack was lying in their bed with another woman, and from the looks of it, Ana could tell that they'd been very busy. As the busty blonde struggled to cover herself, Ana identified her as the young woman who had recognized Jack at the dock a few days earlier. She had practically swooned at his feet, prattling on about how she had always wanted to meet the legendary pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow. That day Jack had just laughed it off, but now Ana could see that Jack had really wanted to take up with the temptress. He'd jumped at the chance to be with another woman, even though he had promised to be true to Ana forever.
Ana just stared at her life-partner, and she saw the fear that resided in his black eyes. It was then that Ana's heart shattered into a million tiny pieces. It could never be fully mended, for Jack had betrayed her in the worst possible way. Her suffering was almost physical – it was as if Davy Jones himself had stabbed her through the heart and turned the sword a few times just for good measure.
"Ana, it's not what it looks like," Jack pleaded.
"Jack, how could you?" She whispered. Jack looked away from her, and down at the covers. "I loved you!" Ana cried, her voice gaining volume. "I loved you with my whole heart, and this is how you repay me? By sleeping with her? What about our children, Jack? Did you ever think of them?"
"I- I didn't mean for it to go this far," Jack pleaded. "I'm so sorry, love. I'll make it up to you-" But one word touched a nerve. Enraged, Ana cut him off.
"Don't call me love," she spat. "I'm not your love anymore, and your actions proved that I never was." She approached the bed, and the other woman cowered under the covers. But Ana only wanted to give Jack a furious, stinging slap, which she executed to perfection. Jack winced, and rubbed his sore right cheek.
"I know I deserved that one," Jack said sadly. "I tried, Ana. Really, I did. But let's face it; commitment just isn't for Captain Jack Sparrow. I'm a true pirate at heart – my only real love is the sea." Ana's anger had started to fade, and it was replaced with a deep sadness. She knew now that she had lost him forever.
"Fine," she said, her voice trembling as she choked back a sob. "Then you shall be a pirate who is no longer a father. I'm taking Sammi and Teague, and we're leaving you."
"What?" He gasped. "No! You can't." But Ana stood firm.
"Goodbye, Jack," she said, her tone bitter. "Enjoy your freedom; after all that's what you want most, isn't it?" And then she turned her back on Jack and their love forever.
"Ana! Ana, wait!" Jack called after her. "Don't go! Ana!" As she ran out of their cabin, Ana felt something warm trickling down her cheeks. Tears of despair, she thought. She blinked a few times, trying to clear her vision.
That was when she finally jerked awake. Sweating and breathing hard, Ana sat up in bed. She brushed her tears away from her eyes, for they had been real. To her relief, she saw Jack sleeping peacefully beside her with a slight smile on his handsome face. Even though she knew Jack hadn't betrayed her, she still couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness left over from her dream. Ana knew she wouldn't be able go back to sleep, not now. As much as she hated to wake him, Ana had to talk to Jack about the dream. She hoped he would just give her some reassurance that he was still committed to her, and that he would hold her until she fell asleep. She craved the feel of his comforting arms around her, tangible proof that she was loved by him.
Ana briefly wondered if Elizabeth ever had dreams like these, of Will with another woman. But then she remembered that Will had spent ten years in the proximity of Calypso, the most alluring of all goddesses. Will was said to have been the only man ever who had successfully resisted her charms. Ana concluded that Elizabeth had nothing to worry about, for Will was completely devoted to her.
Jack, on the other hand, had slept with Calypso in the past. True, Ana didn't even know Jack during the time he was with Tia Dalma, but it still bothered her a bit to think of him with the sea goddess. Ana knew going in to her relationship with Jack that he'd had a lot of lovers in the past. But she'd accepted that, for it was just part of who he was. Ana tried to tell herself that it was only natural that she be concerned about something as serious as cheating, when Jack had such a reputation as a ladies' man.
It was extremely rare that Ana would have nightmares like this, but when she had before, Jack always had been very understanding. He had been a wonderful source of comfort, and Ana needed that right now. So she decided to wake him up.
"Jack?" She whispered, shaking his sleeping form. "Jack, love, please wake up!" Jack moaned.
"Whassamatter?" He asked, his groggy voice slurring his words more than usual.
"I had a bad dream," she confessed. "I'm sorry I had to wake you, but I have to talk to you about this." Jack sighed with irritation.
"Go ahead," he said, sounding less than thrilled that Ana had woken him up due to something as trivial as a dream.
"You cheated on me, Jack," Ana said, her voice quavering. "With that woman we met on Crete. It was awful; you told me that commitment wasn't for Captain Jack Sparrow…" Ana went on to explain the particulars of the dream. Jack had remained silent throughout the entire story. "You would never cheat on me, would you, Jack?" Ana asked, sounding quite pitiful. He groaned with dismay, but instead of taking her in his arms, he scooted away from her.
"Ana, I've told you that many times before. Of course I wouldn't cheat on you."
"But you did in my dream," she sniffed. "You broke my heart, Jack."
"It was a bloody dream, Ana," he sighed. "It didn't happen. You can't blame me for something that happened in your dream! Where's the logic in that?"
"I don't know," she cried. "I'm just so scared, Jack. So scared that you'll grow tired of me. That you'll find another woman who is younger, thinner, and prettier than me and want to leave me."
"Ana, you're being unreasonable," Jack said quietly. "Will you stop going on about that ridiculous dream of yours?"
"It wasn't ridiculous - it felt so real!" She insisted. "How am I supposed to know what's really in your head, Jack? You've been becoming increasingly distant from me ever since we set out on this voyage!"
"You're right, I do happen to have something weighing on my mind," he admitted. "But unlike you, my burden happens to be something very serious, and something very real! So stop blubbering on about a silly dream, Ana."
"Jack, what's troubling you?" She asked, worried for real now.
"I can't tell you," he mumbled.
"Why? You can tell me anything," said Ana, deeply hurt that he didn't trust her with his burden.
"I promised I wouldn't tell," said Jack. He turned over, away from her.
"Jack, it is things like this that make me doubt your fidelity," Ana said. "Don't you trust me?"
"Of course I do!" Jack cried, his voice escalating as he turned back over. "I just can't tell you about this one thing, Ana. It's private." He sighed. "You wouldn't understand."
"I would if you would just tell me," she insisted.
"No," Jack cried, ever stubborn. "I don't have to tell you anything if I don't want to."
"Well, if you're keeping secrets from me, how am I supposed to know if you're cheating on me? Huh?" She yelled.
"You can't know," said Jack, yelling back. "I could be cheating on you every time we make port." Ana burst into tears when she heard Jack's cruel taunt.
"Don't say that, Jack," she sniffed. "Please don't ever say that again. I don't want you to even think about it, Jack…" She couldn't say any more, for she'd dissolved into sobs.
"Ana, will you please shut it?" Jack roared after a minute of this. Ana stopped crying immediately, for Jack's harsh tone frightened her. "Thank you," he sighed. "I just want to get some bloody sleep. I've been lying awake worrying all night, and I'd just fallen asleep when you had to wake me up to talk about the dream you had. And then, when I do try to talk about it with you, you start crying for no reason at all! He glared at her. "What the hell, Ana?"
"God, you are so insensitive!" She cried. "Get out, Jack. I don't need you. Just go, and leave me alone!"
"Fine!" He yelled. "I don't want to sleep here tonight anyway." He gave her an ice cold fixed glare that made her shiver. "You know, Ana, sometimes you can be a real bitch." And with that, Jack took his leave, preparing for a long, cold, night sleeping on deck under the stars.
Ana lay weeping on their bed, wishing she hadn't sent him away. Bitch. Bitch. Bitch. The word kept running through her head, like a mantra. She couldn't believe Jack had called her that. Like every couple, they'd had their share of nasty words in the past. But he'd never went so far as to call her something that degrading. The word stung her heart, and filled her with bitter resentment. When she finally drifted off to sleep, she told herself that Jack had a lot of groveling to do the next day.
333
"And that was our fight," Ana concluded as they neared the top of the stone stairway. It appeared that they'd almost reached the secret entrance to the prison.
"Wow," Elizabeth breathed softly. "I'm so sorry, Ana. I'll kill Jack for calling you that." Ana shrugged.
"That doesn't bother me too much anymore. I'm more concerned about him keeping something from me. What do you think it is?"
"You said that he didn't start acting differently until we left St. Maarten?" Elizabeth asked. The other woman nodded. "Hmm. It could be any number of things."
"I know," Ana sighed. "That's what worries me. Do you think he's cheating on me?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
"Ana, who could he be cheating on you with? I'm the only other woman aboard the ship, and you know how I feel about Will."
"Yes, but what about when we stop at ports?" Ana worried. "Almost everywhere we stop, a few women recognize him and throw themselves at his feet. What if he takes up with them when I'm not around?"
"I don't think Jack would do that," Elizabeth soothed her friend. "Not now, anyway. I don't think his feelings for you have changed; he seems very devoted to you and your children. I know that it must be difficult to trust him, since he won't let you in on this secret of his. But that doesn't automatically mean that he's cheating on you." She paused to get a rock out of her boot. Elizabeth pulled it back on and they continued their ascent. "Not to hurt your feelings or anything," she said cautiously, "but I think you're overreacting a bit."
"You're right," Ana realized sadly. "I guess I really was being a bitch. It's just that it would kill me if I found out that Jack had grown tired of me, and took up with another woman. Especially now."
"What do you mean by that?" Elizabeth asked, raising an eyebrow. Up ahead, they could see the faint outline of the secret door would lead them inside the topmost levels of the prison.
"I think I might be pregnant," Ana whispered.
"Really?!" Elizabeth squealed.
"Shh!" Ana hushed her, looking warily at the back of Jack, who was walking ahead of them. "I don't want anyone else to know yet."
"Are you sure, Ana?" Elizabeth asked, in a much quieter voice.
"I'm pretty sure," Ana admitted. "It's been almost two months now since my last course."
"That's wonderful!" Elizabeth beamed at her friend, squeezing her hand. "That explains your overreaction to the dream. Pregnancy will do that to a girl." Elizabeth grinned at her friend. "I'm so happy for you. Aren't you excited?"
"I'm more nervous than excited," Ana confessed. "Let's face it, I'm no spring chicken. I don't know if the baby and I will make it through the birth without complications. I don't want to do this unless Jack's behind me one hundred percent. He might not even want a third child-"
"Ana, you need to stop torturing yourself and talk to him," Elizabeth interrupted. "You can't let all of this worry continue to fester inside you – the stress might affect the baby." As they followed the men through the clandestine entrance, Ana promised to do just that.
"I'll discuss this with Jack sometime tonight, then."
"Good." Elizabeth approved, patting her arm as they walked down a dimly lit corridor. "Trust me, you'll feel better when you do." They were led into a spacious room with a long table. Upon the table sat a feast fit for a king! Ana heard William's stomach growl as the boy stared longingly at the food. Tearing her gaze away from the food, Ana took in her surroundings.
Rich golden tapestries and colorful banners that told stories hung on the walls. Intricately patterned rugs lay beneath their feet. The pirates couldn't help but be rendered speechless by the opulence on display. However, each was remembering what Captain Teague had said about how Faith's healing powers had doubled the man's wealth.
"Welcome, everyone, to my fair country!" The tall dark-skinned bearded man spoke with a heavy accent. Upon his head sat a jeweled turban. As he approached them, Ana was almost blinded by his dazzling white robes and glittering rings. "Allow me to introduce myself," said the man. "I am Sheik Abdi Al-Kadir, the owner of this prison."
"It's good to see you again, Sheik Al-Kadir," said Teague, giving the Turk a small bow of respect.
"Captain Edward Teague – it's been a long time," the sheik said fondly. "Is this your family?" Teague grinned.
"Some of them are." He went on to introduce Jack, Ana, Bootstrap, Will, Elizabeth, and William to the sheik. The powerful Turk was delighted to meet Jack and Will, as he'd heard of their legends. But when he introduced to Elizabeth, he was quite shocked to learn that she was the Pirate King.
"I can't understand why a woman would be allowed to have that lofty position," he said, frowning. Elizabeth was about to go off on him, but Will beat her to it.
"My wife is a great Pirate King," Will defended her, narrowing his eyes at the sheik. "Just because she isn't a man doesn't mean that she's not capable of OW!" Will whirled around in surprise, for Jack had just stepped on his foot. "What the...?"
"Shut it," Jack hissed, lowering his voice so that only Will could hear. "We don't want to insult him."
"But I won't let him get away with insulting Elizabeth," Will growled. "I don't think that-"
"Ahem!" A cough came from the far corner of the room. Everyone turned around to see who it was. A smartly-dressed man with pasty white skin stood up from his seat, and joined the group. He looked to be about Jack's age. Whoever he was, Ana was grateful to him for averting a potential argument.
"Where are my manners? Everyone, this is Simon DeBouvier," the sheik announced. He's a long-time business associate of mine. His family has long contributed to the funding of my prison."
"Charmed." Simon smiled at them, winking at young William. The sheik introduced him to everyone, saving Ana for last.
"AnaMaria, you seem so familiar to me," Simon mused, staring intently at her. "Did you ever live in France?"
"No," said Ana, smiling as she shook her head. It was then that she noticed how handsome this man was. His curly golden tendrils peeked out from underneath his tricorn. Simon's penetrating green eyes found hers, and Ana found herself blushing. What was the matter with her?
"Still, you remind me of a woman I once knew." Simon grinned flirtatiously at her. "Except that you are more beautiful than she." Out of the corner of her eye, Ana saw Jack glaring daggers at Simon.
"Thank you," Ana said graciously, accepting the generous compliment with a smile. She shot Jack a smug look. Ana was not above making him jealous, especially since he'd ignored her attempts to reconcile.
"Well, now that we are all introduced, let's eat!" The sheik announced.
"I like the way you think, mate," said Jack. Everyone moved closer to the table, which was quite low to the ground. It was custom for the Turks to eat on the floor, and the sheik had provided everyone with cushions to sit on. The pirates moved to sit down, but then the sheik coughed, catching their attention.
"I've set up another table for the women." He pointed to a smaller table that was much farther away than the main table. Ana and Elizabeth exchanged looks of outrage, and both turned to glare at the sheik. Will looked like he was about to intercede on their behalf, but he remembered his aching foot and thought the better of it. Jack was hoping that Ana and Elizabeth wouldn't do anything stupid to jeopardize their visit to see Faith. But then Simon saved them the humiliation of being sent to their separate table by intervening on their behalf.
"Please, Abdi. It may be your custom, but it is not theirs. Let the women sit with us." There was a tense moment, as the pirates didn't know how the sheik would react.
"All right, my friend." The sheik smiled at Simon, amused by his request. "If you insist."
"I do," said Simon, gazing directly at Ana when he said it. Ana gave him a grateful nod, and took a seat directly across from him. Jack, who had plopped down next to his father on the other end of the table, was not pleased in the least by the seating arrangements.
Everyone bowed their heads as the sheik said a quick prayer thanking Allah for the meal. When he was finished praying, the sheik clapped his hands and servants appeared, each carrying a pitcher of wine. Every guest's cup was then filled to the brim, even William's. But when William asked Elizabeth if he could drink it, she shook her head. Instead, Elizabeth passed William's wine glass over to Jack where she knew it wouldn't go to waste.
That night, everyone ate well. There were so many different ethnic dishes to choose from, one hardly knew where to start. Over several courses, they were presented with lentil stew, rice pilafs, beef and lamb shish kebabs, falafel, hummus, zucchini with tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, onion rolls, fish, shrimp, chicken with sesame sauce, flatbread with black cherry jam, and assorted cheeses. Ana was particularly impressed with the selection of exotic fruits. She was able to sample an assortment of dried fruit as well as dates, apricots, pomegranates, apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, persimmons, melons, bananas, and oranges.
All throughout the meal, Ana took much satisfaction in making Jack jealous. When she passed a dish to Simon, she made sure that their hands brushed longer than they needed to. She spent the entire night getting to know the Frenchman, enjoying his charismatic personality. Whenever Simon made a joke, Ana made sure to laugh, perhaps a bit more loudly than normal for Jack's benefit. She knew she was being immature, but at this point she didn't care. Ana had seen one too many women fawn over Jack, and it was time for him to know what that felt like to be in her situation. To Ana's dismay, Simon excused himself from the room as soon as he finished eating.
"I'll only be a moment," Simon promised her before he left. Ana longingly watched the handsome man go. She had rather enjoyed his company, for he'd seemed genuinely interested in her. It was not long after that before the servants cleared the table and came back out with dessert and coffee. (They brought apple tea for William, who was practically dying of thirst.) Ana was so full from dinner, she didn't know if she could eat any of the pies, honeycakes, custards, or pastries.
She looked around the room, hoping to catch Jack's eye, but he was engrossed in a discussion with his father and the sheik. She tried getting Elizabeth's attention, but she was too wrapped up in Will to notice their son stuff his face with pastries, much less notice Ana. She sighed dejectedly. She missed her children, and she missed being with Jack. Ana hoped that Jack would understand that Simon truly meant nothing to her, that he was just someone to entertain her for the evening.
"Did I miss anything?" To Ana's delight, Simon had returned.
"No, they just brought out the desserts," she told him, sipping on her coffee. He smiled as he watched her drink, and took a sip of his own steaming beverage.
"Do you like it?" He asked. Ana smiled at him as he moved to hold her hand under the table. As much as she hated to admit it, it was sort of exciting being admired by the Frenchman.
"It's the best coffee I've ever had," she said, taking another sip.
At the other end of the table, Elizabeth suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. She had been watching them flirt all night, and she didn't think Ana's behavior was helping matters between her and Jack at all. With a sigh, she turned back to Will and her son.
"Don't worry, love," Will whispered, turning his head so that his lips grazed her ear. "Jack and Ana will be fine, you'll see. She's just giving Jack a taste of what it's been like for her all these years when other women approach him." She gave him a worried smile.
"I hope you're right, Will."
"Hey Mum, try the figs!" William enthused, passing the tray down to his parents. Will picked out a fig covered in syrup, and popped it into Elizabeth's waiting mouth.
"Wow, these are amazing," Elizabeth gushed. "Will, you try one." She fed him a fig in return.
"What do think, Father?" William anxiously waited for a reaction, as Will chewed experimentally.
"It's rather delicious," Will admitted, giving Elizabeth a rather seductive grin. He leaned in to her and whispered, "I could have you feed me those all day." Elizabeth had to bite back a giggle as she imagined herself and Will all alone on a desert island with nothing to eat but figs. Thankfully, William brought her back to the present.
"They're not as good as the pastries," said William, smacking his lips as he finished one off. "I've had five of those!"
"Woah, that's enough dessert for you," exclaimed Elizabeth, scolding him for eating so many baklavas. "I don't want Faith to think she has to cure your sweet tooth."
But it had been partly Elizabeth's fault that William ate too many pastries, as she'd been in her own little world with Will all during dinner. There was just something incredibly sexy about watching that man eat, especially when he surreptitiously licked his fingers. So Elizabeth rationalized that it had been just as much Will's fault that she hadn't been watching how many pastries her son was consuming.
"Aw, Mum!" William whined. "Can't I have one more?"
"William," his father said warningly.
"Sorry," the boy apologized sheepishly. He didn't want to upset his father. "Can we go see Faith, now?"
"Almost," said Elizabeth, grinning. "Be patient, William. We must wait until everyone has finished." Luckily for William, it did not take long for the adults to finish their coffee. The pirates politely thanked Sheik Al-Kadir for the feast, and he beamed with pride.
"My guards will take you to see Faith, but I must ask you to leave your weapons behind in this room. They will be returned to you after your visit." Will, Jack, Bootstrap, and Teague weren't too thrilled about being parted from their swords, but they lay their weapons aside anyway. "Thank you," said the sheik. "It has been a pleasure dining with you all." And with that, the sheik departed. The two guards motioned for everyone to follow them out of the room, which the pirates did. To Jack's annoyance, however, it looked like Simon DeBouvier had no plans of leaving the group.
"Are you coming with us?" William asked the Frenchman the very same question Jack had wanted to ask. Simon smiled wryly as they walked down the corridor.
"No, little one. I'm just passing by this way." Sure, Jack wanted to say. What a bloody coincidence. He was sick of watching Ana flirt with this schmoozer. She'd had her fun at dinner. But now Jack wasn't going to stand by take any more of this. Before Jack could say anything to her, however, Ana doubled over in pain.
"Ana!" Both Jack and Simon cried, rushing to help her. She winced, clutching her stomach.
"Are you alright?" Jack asked her.
"What happened?" Simon added. The two men scowled at each other before turning back to Ana.
"I'm fine," she said weakly. "It must've been something I ate – some of those dishes were rather spicy." But her answer didn't placate Elizabeth, for she knew what was really causing Ana's stomach pains.
"Do you want to rest for a bit?" Elizabeth asked her, concerned for her friend. Ana shook her head.
"No, we should keep going." Bravely, she forged on after the guards. It was not long before the guards came to a halt in front of a door at the end of the corridor. One of the sheik's men took out a set of key from his pocket, found the correct key, and unlocked the door.
"This is it!" William said excitedly. "After coming all this way, I'm finally going to be cured." Elizabeth just about to remind her son that Faith may not be able to cure him, when Ana slowly sank to the ground.
"Ana!" Jack, Will, Elizabeth, and Simon cried.
"I'll be alright," she assured them, gritting her teeth as a wave of nausea passed through her body. "I just need to sit down for a bit. It's just my stomach, no big deal. You all go on."
"That's it, I'm staying out here with you," Jack vowed.
"Oh, you don't have to do that, Captain Sparrow. I can stay with her while you go inside to see the healer with the others," Simon gallantly offered. "I don't mind."
"Well I mind, savvy?" Jack growled. "I'm not leaving you alone with her, DeBouvier!"
"Jack, I'll be fine," Ana protested, rolling her eyes. "And he won't be alone with me, the guards are right there."
"Well, I don't trust him," Jack argued. "So I'm staying."
"Maybe it's really me that you don't trust," Ana said icily. "Either way, it doesn't matter. I don't want you to stay out here with me, Jack. I have nothing to say to you. I'm staying with Simon because he doesn't think I'm a bitch."
"Ana, no!" Jack cried. "You know I didn't mean that-"
"Jack, let it go," Will said quietly as Simon's fingers crept to his sword. "We don't want any trouble. There's no need for you to worry; we'll be just inside that door. If Ana needs us, she can just call." What Will said made sense, so Jack didn't press the matter further. But he was still perturbed that Ana had had chosen the Frenchman to stay with her instead of him.
"Ana, are you sure you don't want me to stay with you?" Elizabeth asked, feeling uncomfortable about the situation for some reason. Even though the man had been nothing but charming, he was still practically a stranger to them.
"Go with your family, Elizabeth," Ana urged her friend. "They need you right now. I'll be fine out here." Elizabeth sighed, and nodded.
"Alright. We'll be out as soon as we soon as we can." And with that Elizabeth, Will, William, Bootstrap, Jack, and Teague entered Faith's living quarters, leaving Ana right outside in the care of Simon DeBouvier and the Turkish guards.
333
Ana rested her head against the wall and groaned. As she closed her eyes and tried to block out the abdominal pain, her thoughts wandered. Perhaps she shouldn't have been so hard on Jack. She knew she'd taken this game a bit too far. She wasn't being fair to Jack, and she certainly wasn't being fair to Simon. She shouldn't have led him on like that. Ana didn't set out to play with the man's feelings, but that was exactly what she'd done. But she was going to have to tell him that this couldn't continue, and that their evening of fun was over. Because fight or no fight, Ana was still very much in love with Jack.
"How are you feeling?" Simon asked, gazing tenderly down at her.
"My stomach feels better," Ana realized aloud. Just then, out of nowhere, a wave of dizziness hit. "But I'm starting to feel faint," she admitted, her voice fading a little.
"Maybe you should lie down," Simon suggested. That sounded good to Ana, and she slowly lowered herself to the floor. Simon gave her his coat to use as a pillow. "Feel any better?" He asked her.
"Not really," Ana confessed, for the wooziness persisted. The dizzy feeling seemed to be gradually getting stronger, and now her vision was clouding.
"How much coffee did you drink, anyway?" He asked.
"Three cups," said Ana. "Why?"
"Because I had your coffee drugged," he said calmly. "That's why you're feeling dizzy." Ana's blood ran cold.
"What?" Ana whispered. She couldn't have heard him correctly, could she?
"You heard me," Simon continued speaking in that deathly calm voice. "You will soon fade into unconsciousness, while I take you back to my ship." He nodded at one of the guards, who clubbed the other on the head. The guard walked over to stand by Simon. "By the way, he works for me," Simon explained. "He, along with the others will help me slip out through the prison undetected."
Ana's eyes filled with tears, and she gave Simon the nastiest glare she could muster. "Don't even think about calling for help," he said, producing a dagger from his boot. "Or I'll slit your pretty throat." Ana's heart pounded in terror as she stared at the sharpened blade. What were her options? How was she to get out of this alive? The only thing that Ana could think of in her drugged state was to keep Simon talking, in hopes that Jack would come out of Faith's room.
"Simon, why are you doing this to me?" She whispered.
"If I couldn't have Eva, at least I can have you," came his chilling reply. "I recognized you right away, tonight. You look so much like your sister, AnaMaria. I would recognize her face anywhere." Ana whimpered in fear. She never suspected that the charming man she had flirted with at dinner was actually her beloved sister's rapist and murderer!
"You killed her," Ana spat, shooting him a venemous look. "You bastard!"
"I'm no murderer," Simon insisted, holding up his hands in protest. "I loved your sister. I loved her with my entire being. My associate was the one who knocked me unconscious, and then killed her."
"Why should I believe you?" Ana growled. "I know the details of what happened that night. I know that you raped her."
"I won't deny it," he said softly, and Ana had to fight to keep from vomiting. "I lost control of my lust for her, and I'm not proud of it. But she provoked me! I asked that she come back to France with me and be my wife, but she refused. The bitch actually refused me, even though she knew how very rich I was, and that much of those riches could have been hers! She turned down my proposal in front of the entire bloody pub, and she even joked with other customers about it."
"So you thought that it was alright to rape my sister because she refused to marry you?" Ana cried, repulsed by what this man had done.
"You don't understand," Simon said softly, the dagger trembling in his hand. "I loved Eva Saldana and only her. For over a year, I dreamed about us, and how it would be when we could finally be together. She became an obsession of mine, a craving if you will. So when she shattered my dreams, I had to take my revenge." Simon leered at Ana, his hungry gaze raking over her body.
"Eva was taken from me. But all these years later, fate had brought you here to me, and gave me a second chance at love." He caressed her face, causing her to flinch and pull away from his icy touch.
"Don't touch me," Ana cried. "I will never be yours, you monster! My heart belongs to Jack Sparrow, and I will never stop loving him."
"Ana, Ana," Simon soothed. "Forget about Jack. In time you will learn to love me, on our trip back to my home. And when we are married, I imagine that you will be every bit as good as Eva was. Perhaps you'll even scream like she did, pleading for me to stop." That did it – that was Ana's breaking point. She would not allow herself to be taken by this creature. She had a hunch that since she reminded the man so much of Eva, he would not kill her. Gathering all of her rapidly fading strength, she channeled it into a cry for help.
"Jack! Help me!" She cried, just before the guard gagged her. Before she succumbed to the dizziness, Ana prayed that Jack would hear her screams and would want to come and find her. If he didn't, then she and their child would be doomed to remain with Simon forever.
333
Meanwhile
The pirates stepped inside Faith's room, and Jack closed the door behind him. It latched with a resounding click. They found themselves in a dark room, with only a few candles burning on the windowsill.
"Hello?" Will called out tentatively. "Is anyone there?"
"Come in," answered a hoarse female voice. As their eyes adjusted, everyone was able to see the outline of a rocking chair that faced one of the windows.
"Faith Maladie, is that you?" Will asked.
"Yes." The weary reply came from the rocking chair. "Abdi told me to expect visitors tonight, and from the sound of it there are several of you. Please, tell me your names." Will thought it was strange that the woman did not wish to turn her chair around and face them when she talked. However, he was too much polite to bring it up.
"My name is Will Turner, and I've come with my wife Elizabeth, my son William, my father-"
"Wait," Faith interrupted him, her hoarse voice sounding eager. "You're not the Will Turner, Captain of the Flying Dutchman?"
"I'm the former captain, actually," Will admitted.
"I thought so," the healer muttered to herself. "I've heard a great deal about you, Will Turner," she said. "It takes a courageous man to right the wrongs of the underworld, all the while being separated from the woman he loves."
"Thank you," said Will, who shared a loving smile with Elizabeth. "It was difficult, but I managed to get by with my father's help."
"Will's just being modest," said Bootstrap. "I had very little to do with it." Will was about to protest that his father had saved him from Calypso's clutches, when Jack spoke up.
"I suppose you've heard a great deal about me as well," said the pirate captain, butting in to their conversation.
"Who are you?" Faith asked, ever curious.
"Why, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!" Jack announced with pride.
"I'm sorry, I've never heard of you," the healer said truthfully.
"What?!" Jack cried. "You haven't heard of me, but you've heard of Will? What is the world coming to! Will wouldn't even be a pirate if it weren't for me," he exclaimed. "I taught him everything he knows." William giggled.
"How about that, Uncle Jack? Father is more famous than you!"
"Oh you think this is funny, do you?" Jack glared at the boy. This only made William laugh harder. Jack didn't dare look at Will, who was trying to hold in his laughter as he savored the moment. Teague cleared his throat, to get his son's attention. Now was not the time for bragging!
"Faith, may I turn your chair around so that you can see us?" Teague asked. She didn't answer him.
"And you are?" She prompted.
"My name is Captain Edward Teague, ma'm. I'm Jack's father."
"Do they know my tale?" The healer wanted to know.
"They do, but I left out the most important part," Teague said solemnly. "I was hoping that you would tell them the reason for your appearance."
"Alright," she agreed. "But before you turn me around, I just want to warn all of you that I'm the ugliest woman you've ever seen." Elizabeth frowned; she wondered what had made the woman say such a thing like that. "You may turn me around now, Captain Teague," Faith said bravely. Teague gently pushed her rocking chair so that Faith could face her audience.
Suddenly it was clear to Elizabeth that Faith was telling the sad truth about her appearance. The elderly healer's wizened face was nothing less than hideous. Faith's right eye was completely swollen shut. Her cheeks were puffy and red, her nose was sunken, and what teeth she had left were yellow and rotting. Her thinning grey hair only grew in patches, leaving part of her scalp exposed. Red boils festered on her arms and legs. She had scars everywhere, and misshapen lumps sticking out from her neck. She was even missing an ear! Elizabeth didn't understand how she could still be alive, unless that was part of the witch's curse.
"How did this happen to you?" Elizabeth whispered. "Did the sheik let this happen?"
"I'll explain all in good time," said Faith, smiling. "Now, which one of you needs my services?"
"I do," said William, stepping forward. He had recovered from his shock at seeing the woman, who was obviously suffering from several different sicknesses. Faith smiled at the beautiful doe-eyed boy. If she had to heal someone, she would prefer that it would be a child, an innocent who deserved to live a healthy life.
"What can I do for you, young William?" She asked him kindly. But just what affliction William was saddled with, Faith never found out. William was about to answer when he heard a faint scream coming from outside the door.
"Jack!" The muffled voice cried. "Help me!" Everyone froze. They recognized the panicked voice as AnaMaria's.
"Ana, I'm coming!" Jack yelled, his voice filled with terror.
The pirate captain swore loudly as he flew towards the door with Will on his heels. Jack knew that his suspicions had been correct – he never should've left that DeBouvier character alone with his life-partner. That was stupid of you, Sparrow. Jack inwardly berated himself. If Ana was hurt as a result of his stubbornness, Jack would never forgive himself. If I wasn't fighting with her in the first place, she never would've tried to make me jealous by flirting with that Frenchman! Ana had never done such a thing to him before, and Jack knew then that he must've really hurt her. Jack prayed that he'd have another chance to patch things up with Ana after he rescued her from DeBouvier and caused him great pain. At last, Jack reached the door and he threw it open with all his strength.
But much to Jack's frustration, all he saw in the hallway was one of the Turkish guards lying face down on the dirty floor. He was either unconscious or dead, Jack couldn't tell. But Jack didn't care about the guard. What he did care about very much was Ana, the woman he loved, and the mother of his children. And as far as Jack could tell, there was no sign of her, the second guard, or Simon DeBouvier. Panic coursed through Jack's body as he thought of what that bastard might do to Ana now that they were alone together.
Jack wanted to go after Ana that instant, but he didn't know the first place to start looking. How was he supposed to save Ana if she had disappeared without a trace? But then his sharp eyes soon spotted a clue. A small golden earring that Ana usually wore in her left ear was lying on the floor in front of another door. Seeing that Teague and Bootstrap were right behind him, Jack raced over to the door and flung it open. It led to a stairway, and the only way to go was down. Normally, Jack would be quiet hesitant to descend into the bowels of the dreaded Turkish Prison. But not today. He would do whatever it took to save his beautiful Ana. As he was flying down the stairs, it occurred to Jack that he did not have a weapon. Too late, he realized that he should have thought through this plan more carefully when he was jumped by two of Simon's henchmen...
To be continued
End Ch. 26
A/N: I hope you liked this! It was so long, but I couldn't bear to cut it in half. Please send me a review and tell me what you think. Was the rape discussion too much for a teen rated story? I'm really trying to stay within the boundaries of the rating, so please tell me if I'm overshooting that rating. Thanks, mates! Oh and sorry for the cliffie.