Chapter 28
It was amazing to see these two skilled swordfighters for once fighting next to each other, instead of against one another. Kate watched the swordfight going on but as the dizziness had faded she quickly rose from her place on the ground, stumbling toward Emma still shaking in the corner of the office. Emma moved into her embrace and Kate lifted her from the ground carefully.
'Are you well?' Emma asked watching the blood drip from Kate's temple. Kate nodded slowly still staring at the men fighting against the pirates not paying attention to her own pains. Suddenly there was a yell of pain, Emma turning her sight to the men as well was screaming loud as one of the pirates fell down to the ground after Jack had impaled him with his sword. The large pirate still alive was watching in fear now having to face Cutler and Jack alone, he quickly took his pistol from his belt and as pirates never fought fairly he kept the two men in his shot.
'Kate, take yourselves to safety!' Jack spoke and saw Kate hesitating watching the pistol, but she nodded and started moving Emma from their place in the office. Kate noticed what Jack was doing, he was being held hostage and the only way out was to strike a deal with the pirate, but first, the men wanted Kate and Emma's safety. Cutler quickly moved his hand around Kate's wrist as both ladies just entered the corridor. Kate watched him in surprise as Cutler moved outside the room for just a moment keeping the door slightly open.
'Take these, the keys to the storage cabins, no one without them is able to enter. Stay there until we come for you' Cutler whispered gazing into her eyes, he had opened her hand moving the keys inside, after that moving his fingers around he kept holding it for a short while like he didn't want to let go of her. Kate nodded softly, not sure whether she was alright with leaving Cutler and Jack behind in danger.
'Please care for your own safety too, not just Miss Thorne's' Cutler watched her, for a moment striking a serious face, he knew her too well. Kate's eyes shifted to the ground.
'Kate, promise me' Cutler whispered so only the two of them could hear, softly raising her head into his hand so her eyes had nowhere to go but to his.
'Promise me you won't get harmed' Kate swallowed, Cutler quickly pressed his lips to Kate's before he left into his office shutting the door quickly.
Kate hastily moved Emma behind her further into the halls. After taking one of the stairs below, there were two large wooden doors on the ground that let to the storage below. Kate removed the chains, unlocking them with the keys and opened the heavy doors as quietly as possible. There was another short staircase that moved them down below. Shutting the doors Kate quickly relocked them.
It was taking very long. Kate had undone herself from the dirty apron still hanging from her body, now pacing up and down the storage cellar. Emma was watching her sitting onto some of the bags filled with spices.
'Kate calm yourself for a moment. There is nothing we can do' Emma whispered still shaking. Kate squeezed her fists, with her elbows standing against the wood of the ship's hull, resting her head on her arms.
'I can't sit around and do nothing Emma, everyone is in danger' Kate had raised her head and sight to her. Emma lowered her eyes to the ground. Suddenly there was a loud knock, both ladies watched each other in fear as Kate quietly moved in front of Emma, just in case someone uninvited was bashing in.
'Emma?' the voice of Greitzer whispered softly. Kate watched Emma's face lighting up and quickly she removed the locks. Greitzer opened the large wooden doors and helped both ladies out. Emma started sobbing uncontrollably inside Greitzer's arms and he watched Kate in surprise.
'I heard your voices searching the ship. Everything up deck is calm now as the fleet of Port Nassau has come for us' Greitzer spoke. It was her father's fleet that must have saved them and Kate felt glad, but she was concerned about Cutler and Jack's safety, if they had made it out of the office they would have come for them.
'Well, that's wonderful! Let's get up deck' Emma spoke a little too joyous.
'Have you heard any news of Lord Beckett and Captain Sparrow's safety?' Kate watched him back in concern. They heard footsteps from the back of the corridor. Suddenly both Jack and Cutler appeared from around the corner. Kate lifted her dress and quickly strolled into their direction, but she quickly came to a halt seeing the pirate from earlier still having the men as hostages. Kate wondered if they had struck a deal, but it didn't seem likely.
'Run Matthew. Get Emma to safety.. now' Kate hissed into Greitzer's direction staring at Emma in concern. He was hesitating for a moment but took Emma's hand and started running. The pirate keeping Cutler and Jack under his shot was confused and watched Greitzer and Emma pass quickly, there wasn't much he could do as he didn't want to lift his gun from the men.
'What is it you want?' Kate was standing in front of the men and watched the pirate. She saw Cutler's winded eyes watch her and Jack's were singing her to run as well in the amusing goofy way he always acted out anything.
'Ah, there we have Miss bravery herself again' the pirate was grinning widely, feeling all too powerful in this position.
'We were able to strike a deal, the only thing that's left is for me to escape' he hissed quickly.
'If you have what you so desire then leave..' Kate was confused as she still felt the weight of the compass inside her pocket. She knew it's what he wanted, he had told her.
'I know of the fleet that's waiting for me outside. Don't go all smart on me now missy' the pirate hissed between his rotten teeth.
'Well enlighten us with your plan' Cutler hissed back in a calm voice. Kate always admired Cutler for keeping a calmness about himself, even in the most fearful situations, he never panicked like some people would. It gave her hope and courage. She had seen it reflect on his men too once they needed a pep talk at the beginning of a fight, Cutler was a great leader and always knew how to encourage people. Kate raised her hand and shrieked a soft 'No' when she saw the pirate, still pointing the pistol at Cutler's temple, buried it deeper into his skin. Still, Cutler did not flinch.
'My crew made sure that this ship is filled with gunpowder. If anyone makes anything as much as a move we will all blow you to Davy Jones' locker. The fleet outside knows and will not act before we are able to escape' the pirate spoke. Kate saw Jack making a comical face of disgust as the pirate's breath was bothering him, squeezing his nostrils close Jack was with his other hand waving away the smell like he was holding a fan. She noticed Cutler's eye roll but soon Jack was pushed forward.
'Open the doors of the cellar.. now!' the pirate was moving Jack forward. Jack did as was told, Kate gave him a hand, helping to open the large wooden doors.
'Now hand me the keys' the pirate moved away from Cutler and suddenly embraced Kate from behind, forcing his arm around her throat. Kate did not see it coming and tripped into his holt. Cutler tried to move forward but backed up quickly as he saw the pistol on Kate's temple and the pirate waved the two men to step backward. Kate gave him the keys quickly and closed her eyes worryingly, not cause of the threat of the pistol, but she felt the compass inside her pocket press against his leg, afraid he might discover it inside.
'Get in!' the pirate yelled and commanded Cutler and Jack to move into the storage cellar Kate and Emma earlier had spent some time. Both men now at the end of the small stairs were both staring up at Kate in concern. For a moment Kate feared he might take her with them, an anxiety raged through her stomach, she did not want to be a hostile on a pirate ship again. Looking down at Cutler's eyes she knew he was thinking the same. But to her relief, the pirate kept pushing her forward. When the toes inside her heels were sticking out above the opening of the entrance, just before she wanted to move down to the first step, he pushed her roughly and Kate not being able to keep balance fell down with a gasp. Her eyes opened and she watched Cutler who caught her, saving her from the fall. For a moment they exchanged a loving glance. As Cutler moved her to her feet they watched the pirate still pointing his gun at them close the two doors.
'Enjoy' the pirate grinned just before his face disappeared behind the doors. As soon as the doors closed Jack climbed up and was trying to see if the pirate was dumb enough to have left them unlocked, but unfortunately, he didn't. Cutler holding Kate was watching her.
'I'm sure they will find us' Cutler ensured her. Kate nodded softly and moved down on the bag of spices Emma sat on earlier. Cupping her face in her hands she removed the air that she kept in her lungs as it all happened. Moving her sight up she smiled weakly at the two men, glad to see them save.
Minutes passed and Cutler too had moved down onto the bags next to Kate, waiting to be rescued.
'I'm so proud.. on the both of you' Kate smiled her eyes moving from Cutler to Jack and back again.
'But those bloody pirates escaped..' Cutler spoke angered and disappointed at the same time.
'Yes, but nonetheless you two make a great team' Kate whispered and took Cutler by his arm, she squeezed it loving. Cutler was grinning slightly, his expression told her it was probably a first and a last. Jack was smirking.
'I'm just a great leader' Jack spoke sarcastically.
'Oh please' Cutler spoke up. Kate started laughing lowering her head to Cutler's shoulder who quickly pressed a kiss onto her hairline.
After a while, Jack was pacing up and down nervously. Kate moved up and lowered her hand to Jack's shoulder.
'I'm sure my father took her to safety once they saved us' Kate was speaking of the Wicked Wench, she had sat through the whole attack still being towed behind the Endeavour.
'How can you be so sure?' Jack spoke as if his heart had been broken. Cutler had rolled his eyes, Jack noticed.
'What is your problem?' Jack moved into Cutler's direction, walking like he was ready for a fight. Cutler stood tall from the ground.
'She's just a ship Jack' Cutler tried to wound him with his words.
'Guys please..' Kate tried to prevent them from having another argument and she wondered it if had been really that rare, their fight alongside each other just some hours ago.
'She could have been killed.. ever thought of that?!' Cutler slightly moved his hand up, raising it at Kate. Jack's face now only inches away from Cutler's gazed at him.
'Do not make the mistake of thinking you are the only man here who cares for Kate' Jack spilled out, his face turned from anger to surprise like he didn't mean to say it out loud. On Cutler's face was an astonishing look, like Jack offended, confused and worried him all at the same time, he had no proper response. Jack turned his nervous face into a determined one.
'Uhm guys..' Kate not listening to the men fighting once again asked for their attention as she moved the tip of her heels into a small puddle that quickly got bigger as the water seemed to rise.
Both men moved into her direction and watched the corner of the room starting to fill with ocean water.
'It's the cannon blasts, it destroyed the hull down below. These
cabins will fill with water quickly' Cutler moved Kate away from the ice cold ocean water.
'You mean to say we're trapped?!' Kate watched up at Cutler embracing her sideways, all still staring at the rising water.
'We must do something. We need to open these doors' Jack raised his voice and started moving through the cellar. Moving away all the crates and baskets of food both Cutler and Jack started searching for something heavy to lift the doors with.
Kate cursed softly as she made way through the water that was now all the way to her hips. It was difficult walking as she kept trying to keep the fabric of her dress down beneath the surface of the water, it kept on bloating catching air underneath the skirt. She started opening her top silken dress, twisting the buttons quickly in her fingers. Once opened it revealed her corset and white underdress, lifting the blue fabric up she threw it to the side. Turning toward the men again she noticed them both staring. Jack's jaw was dropped and Cutler gazed into her direction.
'Carry on..' Jack spoke with his jaw still hanging loosely from his face. Kate rolled her eyes and moving between the men she too started looking for anything that could be helpful.
'That's all?' Jack lowered his shoulders, disappointed Kate did not remove any more clothing. He received a hard pound on his back.
'Keep your eyes to yourself Sparrow' Cutler hissed strictly, moving in front of Kate like he was able to protect her figure from Jack's stare. Jack shook his head coming back to earth.
'Why won't it open?!' Jack was screaming as he and Cutler were on the top of the stairs trying to open the door with a large beam. The thick wood didn't seem to move an inch. Kate was standing on the lowest step of the stairs and her eyes moved through the room one last time. Suddenly something caught her eye and she moved herself down into the cold seawater. It was deeper then she had anticipated as it now reached the stairs and it made her submerge underneath the water.
'Kate!' Cutler looking back noticed it and quickly he hopped into the water holding onto the ropes of the stairs to keep himself above the water level, able to keep his head up just bearly standing on his toes. A moan had slipped from his lips as the water was very cold. He dipped his head underneath the water and returned taking Kate along with him. She took a large breath once she was able.
'What was that about?' Kate watched Cutler whispering smiling nervously, probably glad he caught her. Kate did not speak and signed him she was alright. Swimming toward what she saw before submerging Kate moved all the way back to the large pile of stuff they tried to block the hole with where the water was coming from. Cutler turned to Jack continuing trying to open the doors as he saw Kate was alright.
'Would this help?' Kate had climbed up onto the stairs again and carrying something heavy she slammed it next to Jack's boots into the wood of the top steps. Both men turned around.
'Where did you find that? You're a genius' Jack spoke and his face lid up as he removed the axe only inches away from his right boot out of the wood. Jack started slamming into the doors without any warning, Cutler almost fell back but Kate tried to keep him on the top few steps as she was now sitting on the lowest one. She watched Jack slamming into the wood, there was little damage which proved that this was going to take a while.
'Jack.. the water is rising really fast' Kate spoke with worry in her voice. Cutler pulled Kate onto the top stairs, standing between the two men, holding her waist so she wouldn't fall.
'Let me' Cutler took over the axe from Jack's hands as he was out of breath. Jack took Kate by her waist to keep her up. For a moment she had noticed Cutler lower his eyes, but quickly he continued Jack's work, slamming the sharp iron of the axe into the thick wood.
'We're not going to be out in time.. we're not going to be out in time!' Jack was biting his fingernails repeating himself a few times, staring at the rising water. Kate watched him and tried to send him a sign he needed to calm down, but she would be lying to herself if she'd say she wasn't fearing for their lives.
Kate heard Cutler's moans, slamming the wood with all his might. He was going to have a severe back pain by tomorrow if they'd even live until then. But it was clear he was driven by adrenaline as he refused to give up on the stubborn wood.
'Hold me' Jack whispered close to Kate's ear as it was impossible to stand on the stairs any longer cause of the water reaching them now completely. Jack swam with Kate away from the wooden doors so that it was possible for Cutler to work some last force onto it. But it all seemed in vain. Before they knew it they were taking their last breath before the water reached the top. Kate opened her eyes under water and watched Cutler still slamming the doors, but now with his fists, out of despair. Jack was still holding Kate, he watched her in panic.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion. Kate and Jack watched Cutler being forced back by something that threw open the doors. The ocean water started streaming out of the filled cellar below. Kate took the largest breath she had even taken, her sight was vague and everything was surrounded by smoke caused by the explosion. She witnessed Jack moving up from the water inside the opening of the cellar doors, returning the air in his lungs as well.
'Where is Cutler?!' Kate started screaming for his name. Both she and Jack dove into the water again. As Kate opened her eyes under water she saw Jack swimming around Cutler's unconscious body. Moving up the water she helped Jack lift him up as soon as they returned to the surface. They moved him down onto the floor of the corridor. The smoke had cleared and Kate watched her father and some of his men move closer after they had blown up the cellar doors to set them free.
'Father?!' Kate was shaking, her trembling hands moved to Cutler's face where his eyes were closed. A fear ran through her body as she realized this didn't mean much good. Raising her sight on the men she watched her father ordering his men to take Cutler to the HMS Victoria as soon as possible. As his body lifted Kate stood there, trembling as her body was covered in goosebumps. There was a warmth that covered her slender shoulders, her father had moved his large dark brown coat over her small figure.
'His lordship was hit by the doors as soon as the explosion went off. Luckily he wasn't hit on the head. He will be alright, but he needs rest Milady' the physician onboard the Victoria had examed Cutler after some hours. Kate still wrapped in the far to big coat of Lord Florence was shaking, Jack next to her reached for her hand underneath the coat. She looked up at him.
'Let's get you warm' Jack whispered as the physician had bowed down in front of her and moved into the hospital ward again.
Jack took her inside the captain's quarters. The maid brought them spare clothing. Jack had taken one of the towels from the maid and ordered her to leave them. Kate watched Jack moving one of the towels around her shoulders, standing in front of her he looked down at her short figure, compared to him.
'He'll be alright, he's a tough one' Jack watched Kate. He rose the towel in his hands and tried to dry her cold body, rubbing her arms softly to get her warm. Kate smiled weakly the concern still written on her face.
'What did you give the pirate after closing a deal?' Kate asked still feeling the compass inside the pocket of her underdress. Slowly her hand moved inside it, she took out the compass lifting it within Jack's sight.
'This is what they wanted, was it not?' Kate asked carefully.
'A fake, one that looked like this' Jack answered, Kate watched him in surprise.
'He fell for it?' Kate raised the corners of her mouth while she tried to press the water from her long red locks.
'Yes he did' Jack whispered looking rather proudly, he moved back and watched her braiding her long wet hair at a quick pace, at the ends she tied a small dark blue ribbon.
After a little while, Kate was fully dressed, wearing a dark green gown she entered the dining room, she noticed her father sitting at the end of the long table. It was morning by now, Kate felt her eyelids to be heavy, but she couldn't rest as she had been waiting until she was allowed to see Cutler. She had decided to eat something as the physician had told her it might not be before the evening that she was allowed in. Kate had decided not to protest, she had been inside a hospital ward what felt like more than a thousand times. But this physician she hadn't met before, and some men where simply against women being around patients being treated.
'Ah, my dear. How are you feeling?' Lord Florence raised his wigged head from behind the newspaper.
'I'm quite alright father' Kate whispered. She noticed Jack eating at the other side of the table. His eyes had welcomed her in.
She decided to sit next to Jack, his surprised eyes raised to her.
'I reminded myself I have not informed you yet. But I have discovered what this compass does' Kate whispered her head close to Jack's. She had seen her father look up from the newspaper once again for a slight moment, surprised Kate was sitting next to Jack instead of next to him, as was expected of a lady. But to Kate's relief he seemed to ignore it, by now he must have been used to his daughter's stubborn will.
'You did?' Jack watched her, his eyes almost begging as he seemed curious.
'It points to what you want most' Kate continued, her body was bending over the table, leaning onto her elbows her eyes pierced Jack's, waiting for a response. Jack suddenly started laughing awfully loud, like he was making fun of her. Kate returned straight to her chair and looked at him offended. Lord Florence had lowered his newspaper and watched Jack in confusion.
'Your daughter is terribly funny, Sir' Jack spoke sarcastically, moving away a tear from the corner of his eye and was pointing to Kate. Lord Florence had rolled his eyes and returned to his reading after taking a sip of his tea. Kate had quickly moved her hand down onto Jack's arm.
'Are you crazy?! If he finds out he will destroy it, Jack. My father never liked my mother searching for supernatural artifacts as he was afraid for her safety, and so he won't like his daughter doing the same!' Kate whispered speaking rather quickly. Breathing in Kate moved back into her chair.
'Besides, I am speaking the truth. I will show you' Kate lifted from her place on the chair.
'Captain Sparrow is so kind as to escort me to the hospital ward, to see if we can visit Lord Beckett' Kate smiled softly at her father's confused eyes. He nodded softly before Kate forced Jack to take her arm, she was actually the one escorting him outside.
Kate lifted the lid and the red arrow inside started spinning, but as it had always done it immediately stopped. Pointing toward the closed doors of the hospital ward.
'See, it points to Cutler inside' Kate whispered staring at the compass with big eyes.
'What a shame.. I expected it to point to me' Jack spoke with a sarcastic tone teasing her and Kate quickly hit his arm.
'Be serious now Jack. You can see what it does right?' Kate started marching up and down the deck, it kept on spinning toward the doors.
'Let me try' Jack quickly took the compass from Kate's hands and stared at it. The arrow started spinning, looking for a new direction. But it kept on spinning long. Suddenly it did come to a halt and Jack raised his sight on Kate. She standing next to the opening of the galley as she had crossed the deck to show Jack it was pointing to Cutler when she was holding it. Jack swallowed and looked up at Kate, it was pointing in her direction. Kate standing in front of him not being able to see the inside of the compass watched Jack in expectation.
'Well?' Kate spoke up. Jack swallowed, he was not going to show her were it truly pointed to, even though he wasn't sure himself.
'Ah look' Jack stepped forward and quickly took one of the glass bottles behind her out of the pantry, in the meantime, he closed the compass with a loud snap and returned it into Kate's hands.
'You were telling the truth, this is all I desire' Jack started smirking and removing the cork from the top he started drinking the liquor inside the bottle. Kate rolled her eyes.
'Sure that can't be all you desire' Kate whispered.
'The simple things in life, love' Jack lifting the bottle offered Kate some as well. She shook her head and returned the compass in her pocket.
'Believe me now?' Kate asked and Jack nodded softly still grinning.
'I did from the very start. I have known the stories of this magical compass even before you were born. But I was curious what it was pointing to once you hold it' Jack's smirk watched her response. Kate's mouth was open and once again she slapped the side of his upper arm.
'You're despicable' Kate laughed softly. She strolled toward the rail of the ship and watched the orange sun hovering above the clear waters of the ocean. There was land in sight, Nassau. It wouldn't take long before they were finally home again. It made her feel warm inside seeing it from afar. Jack next to her raised his arm around her shoulder sideways, he too seemed happy to be back.
