Chapter XXVI: The Monster Wakes
Pintel guided the Black Pearl a little awkwardly alongside the isle's shoreline. "Cap'n, do yer fink we should anchor here? Bed's startin' to get a bit shallow. Don't wanna bring 'er too far in in case there's trouble and we needs to get away quickly, eh?"
Ragetti had to suppress a giggle as he helped Pintel guide the ship closer to the island. Leo was no more, and if all went well, neither would the girl with the Black Spot and their incompetent captain. He recognized the island as the one they dumped Jack on, but saying that out loud might tip the others off. He couldn't help but notice the lack of foliage since their last trip.
"Look a' the burnt trees! Wot in the blazes 'appened 'ere?"
Redbloom sneered a little upon seeing the burnt out island. Imbeciles! He hoped that Oaxacoco's hiding place was still here. He also hoped the Aztec would show up soon. He straightened his hat, and lit a cigar.
"Well, gentlemen! The ship is landed. I want you all off at the double." He brandished his cane wildly at Ragetti. "You, Serengeti, I want a full inspection of the ship. Kestrole, you aid him and could you come with me master Wingtel?" He thrust his cane into Pintel's back and pushed him foward.
True enough the isle had charred remnants where someone had burnt a considerable amount of wood some months back, however there were signs - which the crew of the Pearl were yet to see - that the rum trade had since revisited. Pintel cursed inwardly at being asked to leave the ship. "B-but sir, she's a girl! She probably won't know nuffink about tending to a scuppered ship," he protested, but not too loudly.
"Yeah!" Ragetti agreed, not wanting to be separated from Pintel. He took a step back lest Redbloom swing his cane at him again.
Kestrel straightened her hat back into position as she frowned at Redbloom. "You must be joking thinkin' I'll stay onboard this piece of scrap, especially with that...mess downstairs. Not that I'm ever going to be hungry ever again after seeing that but...did anyone think to bring any food?"
Redbloom had forgotten food in his hurry and flood of excitement. Oh well, he thought. It may be over.
"There is no food, at least not on my watch. Ha. I am afraid that we shall have to starve or eat each other pending rescue or repair." He pondered whether Oaxacoco had been and gone. "Alas, I think some of us shall die out here. Let us hope the rum business is still in affect on this island. As I say gentlemen and lady... let us work upon our problem and not dwell upon it, hmmm?" He advanced on the trio waving his cane ferociously. "Castrol, with me now... you two, on with the ship! I want it at least sound by daybreak tomorrow. Now, before I eat all of you. As a man with castaway experience, I know. So I would advise heeding my words carefully."
Wobbling in her unladylike boots, Kestrel clambered down to the sandy beach. "It could be that your friend found some food on this place and is having a hearty picnic as we speak," she grumbled to Redbloom. Glancing again at her marked hand, she muttered, "And I still want to know what this unsightly thing means and how I can get rid of it."
Pintel rubbed his hands together. "Firs' things first, we needs ter get rid o' that 'orrible stench below deck. If'n Cap'n Jack really is on this island, 'e won't be too pleased that 'is ship's sullied. Wossmore, if we are able to nick off wiv 'er, I ain't sailin' wi' that awful smell." He opened a crate on the deck, took out a mop and offered it to Ragetti. "I'd best be off ter look fer wood ter patch 'er up."
As he turned to disembark, the Pearl gave a disconcerting groan.
"What the -?"
Jack the monkey was not a happy bunny...but then, no one ever called a happy bunny is actually happy or a bunny...
*ahem*
Jack the monkey disapproved of his situation. After scrabbling out of the confines of a box he'd hidden in but with the lid weighted down by a dismembered knee-bone, he gagged at the terrible smell filling his cute little nose. Again he was alone, and it was getting him down. Damn these humane feelings brought on by the curse!
Squeaking in self-pity, he bounded up the steps of the hold and scampered right into Pintel's legs.
"SCREEECH!"
Pintel clamped his hands over his ears at the monkey's screech. When the noise had stopped, he made a grab for the beast's tail.
"Gah! C'mere you liddle fiend!"
Distracted by this seemingly normal creature, he did not sense the change in the winds, nor did he see the looming vessel that burst into the horizon's mists.
As the dull boom of the Kraken's wake-up call sounded beneath him, Jones glowered at the island far across the bow.
"Yew barrgained your way out of a lifetime of serrvitude. Your contract no longer stands. Let's see if yew can find mai chest without your beloved Pearl to sail."
Around him, the few crewmembers not slaving at the oars below nor crawling through the rigging echoed hideous laughter.
Something told Redbloom that his situation was only going to get worse. Alas, I shall have to rid myself of the ship and the two ragamuffins. He strode onwards into the island, eyes searching, trying to remember.
"Kastrol! It would appear I have entirely forgotten my way around this place. It has been an age since I have been anywhere but..." He shuddered "...that island. "There must be a way to remember. Alas I am all out of ideas it would seem. Ah! And I was improvising so well."
He pondered, straightened his hat, then his lapels... and finally gritted his teeth. "Well, young lady...hmmm? Any ideas?"
Trying to ignore the fact that she had been called something that sounded not unlike what people would call cough syrup in the far future, Kestrel squinted through the setting sun at the island. "Well it doesn't look a very big island. Maybe if we walk in a little way, you'll see something you recognise and trigger your memory?" Behind her, the Pearl gave another groan as the tide chopped eerily at its hull. She shivered.
There was a loud WHUMP as something bashed into the side of the Black Pearl. She lurched over and hurled Pintel flat onto the beach. Spitting out sand, he looked back to the ship's deck to see if his friend was all right. "What in the name o' Satan an' all 'is little devils was that?"
Albannon was annoyed slightly at the simplicity of Kestrel's reply. He grinned inanely, bowed down and said, "Well then, young lady, why don't you lead the way. Since you know so much, hmmm? I can see I am going to get tired and annoyed if we hang around here any longer." He lit a match, let it burn to his fingertip then blew it out. "I wonder who burnt this place. Oh Wishbone! I do like the smell of fresh fire..." He smiled and stood up and breathed in deep. "Well, Kastry, let us be off, and on our way...as they say. I am not sure who they are but there you go... "
From beneath the waves, the great leviathan, the Kraken, reared its grotesque head and roared. Realising its prey was not aboard the ship, it skirted the shoreline and shot two of its tentacles towards the girl on the beach. Several other of its arms slithered over the deck of the Pearl to give itself balance.
Kestrel heard a cry from the shore and turned at the sound of the Pearl groaning. She caught sight of the monster and gawped in terror.
"OHMYGOD!"
She bolted for the trees but a slimy tentacle snatched her ankle and tripped her up.
Despite being undead, Jack the monkey was terrified. With an ear-splitting screech, he flung himself to the shore and scampered off into the trees.
Ragetti had entered a state of panic, but something in him decided to fight back. If they didn't get the Kraken's tentacles off the ship, they would go down. Ragetti found an axe and looked to Pintel.
Pintel stood gaping at Ragetti's determination to fight. "Throw the girl into the sea! It only wants 'er!" he roared. He looked murderously across the shore at Kestrel.
Albannon fell flat, attempting to sidestep an offending tentacle tactfully. He crashed to the ground and sand fell in his eyes. "Arrrg!" he cried "Dash, flabber and curse it!" Up he got, and looked at the scene ahead. Win or Lose? The land or the sea? He gritted his teeth, dispensed with his jacket and secured his hat, before clasping his cane and charging on forth. "Ketol! Dettol, Metal, besta! KESTREL! HaHa! Yes! Raggamuffins! You have offended me! Ketreel! Get over here now!" He hurled his cane at the lashing tentacle. "Ha! Yes, you cannot falter! I am Albannon Redbloom and I command you leave. Take these ratty pirates with you!" He ran in and reached to grab Kestrel...
The Kraken roared underwater, spray blasting from the beach. It loosed its hold on the Pearl, springing it back upright. Its reaching tentacle missed Kestrel by a hair's breadth as she was snatched out of its grasp. Sulkily, the great monster ripped a charred tree from its roots and hurled it across the beach before it began skirting the island, waiting for its prey to get near enough.
The breath was knocked out of her, as Kestrel was dragged suddenly out of the path of the monster's grasp. She had not even heard Pintel's cries. Finally gaining her senses, she broke free of Redbloom and bolted headlong into the trees.
Redbloom was stunned by his unlikely success in the matter, and was confused as to how he was still alive. He let these thoughts go as he realised that a hasty retreat, regroup, re-plan and re-decide was in order. Alas he had lost himself amidst a train of thought and had barely noticed Kestrel's departure. I'm going to go somewhere that isn't here. He retrieved his cane and pondered a while, looked wildly around and charged headlong into the forest, knocking his head upon a tree. Bruised and indignant he got up, and walked slowly into the bushes trailing his coat behind.
Kestrel blundered out of the denser patch of trees and into a scorched clearing. She hadn't meant to veer closer to the shore again. Catching sight of the great sea-beast, she gasped and spun to escape to the trees. Her foot caught a hidden iron ring in the sand and she tripped, crashing headlong through a rotten trapdoor. She tumbled down into an ancient rum cellar and knocked her head on a not-so-dusty barrel.
Jones snarled as he peered through his spyglass at his furious but foolish pet. The Black Pearl had found land and the Black Spot bearer had drawn the Kraken's attention from the ship.
"Hwho was that gerrul?" he growled. "Ai've made no deals with a woman. Not foor the like of an age, at least." His tentacles bristled with annoyance. He slammed the spyglass shut. "Drop anchor and douse canvas. We wait here until our new friends move. Keep a lookout foor Sparrow, else foor Stevens and Rathbone returning with him captive."
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Meanwhile, aboard the Kaelas, Surreal sat with her head in a mystical book, reading up on some rituals. She had already tried quite a few but alas none so far had given her any idea on what kind of power they were heading to. The pendant was never very specific and Surreal was worried about the kind of danger lay ahead. After she tried yet another ritual she gave up. Angry and tired, she headed to her cabinet and withdrew a bottle of whiskey. She poured herself a healthy glass and downed it in one. When she poured herself another one, she just held it in her hand while she watched the liquid swirl around the glass.
"Bugger it." Surreal downed the glass in her hand.
The Kaelas was running low on supplies, so she decided it was best to stop off at the nearest port to stock up.
"Titan, I know that this a really stupid question, but where are we?" she asked once he had entered her cabin. Surreal had a feeling that they might be near Destiny Rocks, but the more she thought about it the more she changed her mind.
"Land Ho!" a member of crew shouted suddenly.
"What the-." Surreal was cut off as Titan ran out of her cabin. She followed closely on his heels.
As the Kaelas moored at the island, Surreal couldn't shake the forbidden feeling that she held as soon as they had seen it. She murmured to herself as she looked out into the forest. It seemed too quiet. "Well men, I recommend that we don't stay here long. Titan, I want you to separate the crew into four teams, one of which I want to stay about the Kaelas. The other three will need to go in search for food." Surreal stood back and watched Titan follow her orders.
Once the teams were assembled Surreal sent them off into three different directions so that they could look for food. She, however, made one more trip into her cabin. She removed Kaetien from the cabinet, and a few more swords and knives. Once she felt satisfied that they were well equipped, she set off with Titan into the forest.
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Mr Albannon Redbloom had fallen into some scrapes in his time, but none that came so far out of his control. He had no idea what was going on, why there were tentacles or what could have possibly happened to Oaxacoco. He had seen many things but today he had seen something new.
He slid his coat on and stroked his beard, carefully rolling his hat back atop his head. He had obtained a small leg wound in the tussle, which forced him to limp awkwardly onwards into the ash-bound woodlands.
The limp figure in the darkness of the rum cache roused. Kestrel looked about in the gloom, nursing the bump on her head. A small pool of light from the entrance showed the splintered remains of the stairs where the rotten trapdoor had come loose and smashed them.
"Fantastic." She got up, taking care not to smack into the barrels, and shouted up through the hole. "HELLO? Is anybody out there?" As she awaited a reply, she crept to the back of the store in search of an emergency shaft. Smugglers would think of those, wouldn't they?
Jack crouched low in the undergrowth, paws atop his furry head. What the hell was that thing with all the legs...arms...sucky things? He whimpered, wishing for a moment that his old master were here to sew up the tatters in his little pirate outfit. At that moment, the same pompous bearded man he'd seen on the Pearl blundered into the trees and stepped on his tail. Jack the monkey shrieked and leapt onto the man's upper arm, digging his claws in with anger.
Davy Jones was not always a patient character. His tumescent head pulsed with a greater intensity as he watched the Kraken milling uselessly about the isle.
"Any sign of Sparrow?" he growled up to the lookout.
"Nay, Captain."
Jones snorted. Ai cannot risk his survival, not hwhile he has both my key and the means to find my chest. A pirate can always find another ship, though he may prefer his own, he mused. "Ai will not lose more men tae pointless escapades. One o' yew get out tae that isle and watch the one with my mark. The rest o' yew, sail for the Isla Cruces!"
A stream of "Aye, aye, Cap'n"s replied. There was a splash as one elected monster swam towards the isle. The vast hull of the Flying Dutchman veered to the west and sped for its new destination.
A trip and a fall were the unfortunate future of our esteemed fellow, Albannon Redbloom as he stumbled through the woodlands, the ash sprinkling his hair. He fell upon his face and crashed through into a hole of which he was quite unaware. Wood fell and the ground shook. Albannon woke with a headache he could not quite deal with. He looked around his hole and scowled a little in pain. Then he passed out on the floor. Had his endeavours been in vain? He had seen a silhouette and noted it in his mind but now he was lost in the dreams throughout his thoughts. Perhaps he would awake, but he was jolly tired.
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After a long treacherous walk through the foliage Titan and Surreal came across an old broken down mill.
"Surreal, where the hell are we going?" Titan asked while he glanced around the opening to see what lay out there. "Wait...." he whispered as he grabbed Surreal's arm and dragged her down.
"What the hell was that for?" she hissed. Surreal wrenched her arm away from the Titan while she followed his gaze. There was nothing that jumped out at her that he should even be remotely wary of, but as it was Titan she felt like she owed him enough to find out what was wrong.
"What is it?" she asked, as her senses heightened.
"Look, something doesn't feel right about this island. It hasn't since we arrived. I know that you feel it too, there's something unnatural here. The place is too deserted. We should have run into something by now, but there's nothing. Not even a bird or an insect." Titan turned so that they faced each other. "Look, let's go back to the ship and make our way back out to sea. We can quite easily stop off at another island to get supplies." He watched her while she absorbed this information.
"You don't think that I haven't noticed that? Everything about this island has got my hairs on end. So don't you dare start criticising me," she murmured as she scanned the surrounding area. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed movement near the mill. "Wait here..." Before Titan could stop her, she disappeared into the forest and worked her way closer to the mill.
On the horizon, the Flying Dutchman sailed towards the mysterious isle. Jones peered through his spyglass and saw the vision of the Kaelas.
"There is a ship moored at Cruces. The same one we brought Sparrow from. If he was aboarrd, better pray he has not found mai chest, or ai'll take anyone ai can doon with me, contrract or not!" he roared at his crew. "Bring me the other captive. Ai would have him tell me what he knows of that vessel."
Meanwhile unaware of the danger that approached, Surreal made her way quickly through the underbrush with her sword unsheathed to make for an easier kill. Once she was within feet of the mill, she sensed something was not right.
"Damn," she hissed as she ducked so as not to be seen.
Suddenly a bullet flew past her. In an instant Surreal changed for an attack. She stopped her swing within inches of her target's neck, only to realize that it was one of her crew. "What the hell were you thinking, firing upon me!?" she growled. "I could have killed you!" She didn't lower her sword.
Titan had watched the scene unfold. He had realized that it was one of their crew only seconds before Surreal. He took off towards the mill.
"You took your time," she said to Titan as he arrived. When she glanced at her crewmember, he hung his head in embarrassment. "You will stay out of my sight for a while. Now go find the rest. I want them at the ship by nightfall." He left as quickly as he could so that he didn't suffer anymore of her displeasure.
Surreal watched him leave as she sheathed her sword. Once he was out her of sight she turned to Titan. "Let's get out of here," she said as she headed back to the ship.
Titan sighed. Sometimes he thought he would never understand her.
The Flying Dutchman had drawn alongside the Kaelas, blocking her escape from the isle. Jones waited at the rails of his ship as he watched the sibling captains approach. Nearby, a few crewmembers were restraining a bruised Stubleg Morgan. He had been more defiant than Jones had expected.
"Roll out the cannons. Ai will not be bored with hostility. No secrets are tae be kept frrom me," he said, only within earshot of his crew.
As they approached Surreal swore out of anger. She had spotted another ship drawn alongside the Kaelas. "Titan..." She stopped herself before she even started. One look on his face told her all she needed to know. Without another word they swiftly made their way over to both ships. As they moved through the underbrush Surreal couldn't work out why the crew hadn't sounded the alarm, or why she had such an eerie feeling about this new ship.
"Screw reason!" Surreal snapped as she broke into a full run towards this new threat. Her pace quickened; her senses sharpened. Once she reached her full speed, she drew out Kaetien and clashed with one of the opposing crew. In her fury she didn't even notice his waterlogged appearance. His finer details were to her growing fury as she tried to remove her opponent's head.
In the furious battle that followed, Surreal never spotted that she had been surrounded until it was too late. One of the other crew charged her from behind. She was thrown powerfully to the floor. In only a space of a few seconds she regained her footing as she ignored the growing pain in her side. The crew member that threw her to the floor charged yet again. This time, however, Surreal faced his charge and used his own strength against him, throwing him over her shoulder. As the crew member flew through the air, Surreal flew at him with a devastating blow, taking his head with Kaetien, which she somehow was able to keep hold of. Whilst this happened the first crew member that she had charged at grabbed her from behind. As Surreal started to struggle, the creature that held her knocked her out with one blow.
"Help me carry her to the captain," he muttered to some of his fellow crew.