Chapter 29: Journey to the Locker Begins with a Little Thump Thump
For the most part of a week Keira waited patiently to come up on Davey Jones' Locker. She spent countless hours staring out at the open sea, brooding on the fact that she was inching ever closer to rejoining her husband. Will kept his distance as much as possible, knowing Keira's mood was sure to brighten the moment they found Jack.
"Lass, could I have a word?" Barbossa brought Keira out of her thoughts as she stared blankly over the side of the junk.
She started, looking up at him with bleary eyes, "Aye Barbossa?"
He looked slightly annoyed at the fact that she refused to call him captain but the feeling past quickly, "We might need a bit of assistance in the Locker, you see, the Island is guarded by tings of strange nature. They are undead pirates, like Jones' crew, but they are also one with the sea. You might recognize them as crabs," he explained, his deep voice holding Keira's attention fast.
"And how do you know this?" she asked quietly, her green eyes dull in the looming darkness.
"Remember, Lass, I was rescued from the Locker myself. I know what awaits us," he informed her and Keira nodded.
"Than what do you suppose we do?"
"I plan to use the crew as a decoy. We fight them off while you find Jack and the Pearl. When you find it, fire a single shot from your pistol. This will at least frighten the guards enough for us to board the Pearl and raise it," Barbossa muttered.
"And how are we supposed to raise it without Jones?" Keira pressed, her eyes narrowed.
"James Norrington," Barbossa said shortly and Keira looked taken aback.
"He's dead!"
"No, Lass, he's not and he has something that we need," Barbossa growled.
"Jones' heart," Keira whispered. "But how do you know? I mean, we haven't—"
"Tia Dalma has a number of resources, Lass. I happen to know that the Royal Navy picked him up adrift not far off Isla Cruces. He is currently under the employ of Lord Cutler Beckett," he explained.
"And how are we supposed to find James if we're on a course for Jones' Locker?" Keira demanded impatiently.
"We're not on a course for the Locker…yet," he grinned and Keira frowned.
"If you lie to me again Barbossa I promise you, I'll kill you, long and slowly," Keira growled. You better get Norrington fast or it'll be ell to pay," she growled.
Barbossa chuckled at her and left her to her own. Keira growled angrily and started throwing loose pebbles on the deck into the dark water, her temper threatening to spill over at the slightest nudge.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Admiral James Norrington sat comfortably on the H. M.S. Dauntless. A pulsing black velvet bag sat on the desk before him. He chuckled to himself at his luck in having such success gaining Lord Beckett's approval. He moved through the ranks quickly in the Navy because of Beckett and his small possession that now sat before him on the desk.
"Now that I have Jones at my fingertips, Beckett is mine to manipulate," he smiled, the ambition glowing in his blue-grey eyes.
There was a scuffle outside the cabin door and his attention alerted. He quickly grabbed the pulsing bag and shoved it in the desk drawer just as the door opened. A young woman stepped into the cabin, her waist length chestnut hair in her face, her piercing green eyes on him.
"Keira Turner, so good to see you," James smiled and Keira blew the hair from her face.
"James," she nodded shortly and took a seat across form him.
"To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?" he asked casually, his eyes roaming over her figure as she sat before him
"You have something that I want," she growled, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the desk.
"And what would that be?"
"Don't be stupid, James," Keira snapped and he smiled.
"How did you even know I made it off that island? I did not contact anyone after I was rescued," James asked.
"A little mermaid flopped up on deck and told me the whole story," Keira said sarcastically. "You have Jones' heart, James, and I need it."
"You must be daft, woman, Sparrow took it, I was just carrying and empty chest," James sneered and Keira drew out her father's knife.
"James Norrington, I know you have that bloody heart," she growled. "Do you know why?"
James looked intrigued and he shrugged, "Why?"
"Because Jack Sparrow is dead," Keira growled furiously and James felt a sudden fear course through him. He knew Keira meant business and decided to cut his flirtation with her short.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Keira," he muttered softly and she scoffed.
"Just give me what I want, or I'll drag you off this ship," she threatened.
"How can you? I have an entire crew of trained Navy soldiers," James chuckled confidently.
"Actually," Keira stood up and opened the door to reveal the entire crew tied to the mast, Will, Elizabeth, Gibbs and Barbossa standing guard.
She glared up at James, who paled and held her free hand out to him expectantly, "The heart, James."
"Keira, you wouldn't," he muttered nervously.
"Ah, but I would, and I will," she muttered before turning to Will. "Clap him in irons and search the cabin, I want the heart now."
Will nodded and Elizabeth drew out the heavy irons. She handed them to Keira before following Will into the now empty cabin. Keira glared up at James as she finished clapping the irons on and he looked helplessly down at her.
"Now, will you make this easy for us? Or do I have to torture you until you tell me where the heart is?" she asked silkily.
James sighed in defeat and shrugged, "It's in the top drawer on the left in the desk," he grumbled.
"Thank you," she nodded and Will rushed out of the cabin, a black velvet bag clutched in his hand. He handed it to Keira who examined it carefully, noting the pulsing coming from inside. "Well done, let's go, bring him."
James watched as Keira nodded at Barbossa and moved down the side of the ship into a waiting longboat. Will grabbed him from behind and pushed him down as well, the rest of the crew following closely behind.
XOXOXOXOXOX
"So how did you find me in the first place?" James asked grumpily as he watched Keira pace in front of him.
The two were now back on the Hai Peng, Keira pacing in front of the brig that James was being kept in for the time being.
"Barbossa," she said shortly, her tone final.
"And why do you need this heart so badly all of a sudden?" he asked cautiously, knowing he was hitting on a touchy subject.
Keira stopped pacing and glared at him, "To get my husband back."
James looked stunned and he got to his feet, leaning on the bars of his cell, "Is this for Jack or the Pearl?"
"I am only doing this for my husband, Norrington!" she snapped. "Will needs the Pearl to free our father and I need my husband back!"
James cautiously reached out a hand, cupping Keira's cheek gently. She stiffened at his sudden movement, her eyes brimming with tears. She seemed to come to her senses and she drew away from him angrily.
"Do not try that on me, James. I have already sacrificed enough of my marriage to get what I want. I will not submit to your taunting gestures," she chocked, making sure she was out of Norrington's reach.
His blue-grey eyes narrowed when she said this and his curiosity spiked instantly, "What do you mean?"
"Why should I confide on you? For all I've been through I have learned not to trust anyone!" she shot heatedly.
"Keira, look at the mess you're in, you're drowning in your own grief, what have you done?" James insisted and she backed further away form him.
"I wouldn't have done anything if Elizabeth hadn't killed my husband. It's her fault I am the wreck you see me as now. If you want to know anything talk to her," Keira growled and stomped away, flicking her long hair out of her face as she went.
Will noticed Keira stomp onto the deck, her face twisted in fury. He figured Norrington had pushed her buttons the wrong way and moved toward her cautiously as she leaned over the side of the junk.
"Will, I'm really not in the mood," she grumbled, sensing his presence as he approached her.
"What did Norrington do this time?" he asked, ignoring her comment.
"Nothing, William, I told you, I'm not in the mood."
The two stood silently for a moment, Keira gazing down at the blue waters of the Pacific while Will watched her as she fiddled absently with the rings around her neck. The silence between them was broken at the sound of footsteps behind them and they both turned to see Barbossa looking grim.
"We should be nearing the Locker in a few weeks. I'll have Gibbs on the lookout as we get closer. I'll brief the crew about the plan, Will, keep an eye on Norrington," he growled and Will nodded, walking away.
Keira glanced at Barbossa and he nodded curtly down at her. She looked unsure of herself for a fleeting moment before she sidestepped him and made her way to her small room beside his cabin.
