The night was dark, an awaited eclipse was to set in, and lanterns were lit here and there. Gibbs placed what he considered to be the last necessary candle into a lantern. He tucked away the tinderbox and glanced at the woman across deck. She was dressed in plain white cotton and her extraordinarily long black braid rested neatly upon her shoulder. Despite her peaceful appearance, there was something about her, Gibbs thought to himself, something unsettling.
"What do you make of her?" Camilla asked William in a hushed manner as they eyed Jivanta secretively.
"I don't know." He said, puzzled.
"Well I wouldn't trust a woman who hold' a grudge against Mr Sparrow."
"How do you know she does?"
She rolled her eyes. "Isn't it fairly obvious? She sees red every time that man is within range. Let me tell you, there's nothing as dangerous as a woman scorned."
William raised one brow. "You think she's not here to help then?"
"I don't know what she wants, but she's planning somethin' for Jack, I'm certain."
"Well whatever it is - I do hope they sort it out quickly because I'm not feeling well." William confessed. "And don't think I haven't noticed it in you as well."
Camilla looked almost ashamed at this. "I feel like I'm being pulled somewhere, like the depths are ready to bring me where I belong."
He nodded solemnly and she gently took his hand in hers.
Suddenly the doors flung open, making them jump. They turned their eyes to Jack, who was making an entrance from his cabin; he seemed rather cheerful.
He looked around for only a moment until he spotted Jivanta on the quarterdeck. While mastering the stairs he appeared a bit unstable, and as per usual he was quite drunk; the refilled rum supply had served its purpose. Of course, no one thought this to be out of the ordinary.
"Are we to berth before dawn would ye say?"
"We're here." Jivanta said.
Jack raised his brows "Huh."
Will, who was guarding the helm by constantly having his coarse hands upon it, overheard them. "Lay anchor?"
To which Jack responded "Lay anchor."
Mister Gibbs soon followed his orders and yelled "Lay anchor!" to which the crew took serious notice. They were quick to follow command, somewhat eager with the thought of that they might get a taste of the life-giving-drink.
Everyone onboard took notice of the sudden stop and many gathered around the main mast where Jivanta placed herself and Jack followed like a former stray dog follows a new caregiver. Elizabeth and Will glanced at one another, and in silence noting that this was it.
"Let us begin." She said and there was a dead silence amongst the crew. The eclipse took form and all that was not brightened up by the lanterns went completely dark.
Jivanta stepped closer to the rail and gazed about the open sea. Elizabeth, Will and Jack were the ones who dared to follow up behind her. And squinting their eyes, they saw nothing in the black waters. The sky was darkened by the night. Mild waves brushed against the sides of the ship in the mild wind.
"Is there something out there I'm supposed to be seeing?" Will said rather sternly, thinking this to be another hoax.
"This is its habitat." Jivanta explained without giving an explanation. "We need a bait." She said, in a low tone, mostly to herself. Before either Will or Elizabeth had even begun to understand what she could be wanting, Jivanta grabbed a hold of a man, targeting him easily as if she had eyes placed in her neck. He had the misfortune on standing a little bit closer to them than the others within the crew. It went about so quickly that no one managed to interfere before it was too late, and the man was in the water without a scream – only a splash was heard, then dead silence.
Elizabeth gasped and looked down in shock. The man's dark curls was the last of him she saw, and replacing his body was blood. It created a broader and broader circle in the water. She turned to Jivanta with a furious look on her face.
"Why did you do that?" Will demanded and looked her in the eye. He was as furious as Elizabeth, perhaps even more, since he knew the true meaning of death better than any other on the ship. Jivanta met him with a dangerously casual tone.
"You'll see, Captain." She said simply and turned her gaze to the open waters once more. Camilla and young William had joined the scene as well, and had watched the brutal sacrifice from afar. They knew better than to scream, instead they stood silent and observed the events that followed.
Suddenly, they felt the ship tremble, and not merely the ship but the entire ocean around them seemed unstable. The wind became present and seemed to have caught anew energy. Something was meddling beneath the water for the surface of the ocean began to move with unsettling movements. It became a swirling motion, and appeared as a small dark maelstrom. Jack held onto his hat. Camilla held onto her mass of hair.
"They churned the ocean." Mister Gibbs repeated silently as they all watched the growing swirl.
Elizabeth widened her eyes. Mister Gibbs made the cross. Men aboard recoiled. Will simply turned his head to Jivanta and then back to the swirl. Camilla felt curious and meant to peak, but William pulled her back.
"Now what?" Captain Turner asked.
"Patience, Captain." Jivanta responded.
This time Camilla's curiosity took a large hold of her, greater than Will's grip, and so she rushed to the railing and stood on her toes, to peek over their shoulders, despite them being, at least, a head higher than her.
Jack felt his trinkets dangling about his hair and body, creating a ringing noise in his ears. He then saw something slither beneath Jivanta's cotton sleeve, making his brow rise, but before he could take further notice Jivanta turned to Will and Elizabeth.
"There'll be something else I want from you." She said. "It calls for a sacrifice."
Will laid a hand on his sword's handle, and Elizabeth took a step forward to shield Camilla and her son behind of her. Jack remained nearly without reaction, the only thing he did was to lean his head back a little to watch Jivanta in a different angle.
The woman smirked like she was the mistress of the devil as she walked closer to Jack.
"I'll simply use Jack." She said and looked him in the eye. "It calls for the sacrifice of a mortal – the blood of someone on the verge of death."
Jack appeared in disfavour of this as his brows closed in on each other. "As per usual." He muttered. "And as flattered as one would be, I must decline thy offer m'afriad.
"Now do you not wish to save the lives of people you've forsaken?" She asked and made Jack glance in Elizabeth's direction. Which she could have perceived as a look of guilt towards the young ones, yet she managed to see it exactly for what it was.
"I understand you do indeed care for saving the boy and the girl, yet you care even further for what appreciation you might receive from the anxious mother."
At this, Jack did not look at Elizabeth, but Jivanta did. Elizabeth met her black piercing eyes.
"It's only fair." Will said. "You give your one life to save the two others you robbed."
To this Jack had a lot to say "I'm disinclined-"
"Well I insist." Will interrupted. "It's about time fate gets a hold of you as well. You've cheated death far longer than you ought to have. I say, you've run out of your nine lives, Jack…"
"One who cheats death is not necessarily cheating one's fate. Besides, you're death now, why don't you outsmart me then?"
"Stop it!" Elizabeth said, already weary of their talentless argument; besides, they did not have any time to waste on bickering. "This is about Camilla and William, none other."
"Elizabeth." Will pleaded to his wife. "He killed them - it's only fair."
"You've grown cold keeping company with the dead." She said.
"And you've certainly warmed up to Jack."
Will thought she might strike him after unleashing such a phrase, instead, she simply revealed pure hurt in her eyes; It struck him harder than a slap ever would have to see himself fall from grace in her eyes.
"All I want is to save their lives." She said.
"Then choose." Jivanta said with a pressing tone.
Elizabeth's eyes flashed as she turned to Jivanta. "I want to save lives, not take them."
"Sometimes in order to save, one needs to make sacrifices."
Jack now managed to glance at Elizabeth and as he saw the torn look in her eyes, he gave in.
"Do what you will of me then." Jack said gallantly, not letting Elizabeth go with his sight before all words were on the table. He then turned to Jivanta who laid a hand on his shoulder, pushing him down onto his knees before the cup. The rock-hard surface clashed against his knees unmercifully due to her hand, yet he let it happen.
Elizabeth looked upon the scene before her as if it were a surreal dream. Her knees became weak at the sight and she felt her being tremble slightly. Jack could not be sacrificed, she told herself. This was not the way it should be. Here he was, willingly on his knees…
Jivanta grabbed her necklace. It glowed delightfully in the moonlight where it lay in her hand. She tossed it into the opened pot and it began to glow from the depths and within the minute it reached the surface.
Jack felt Jivanta's hands reach about his waist and her long shiny braid fell down upon his shoulder. She pulled out his sword and as her braid was pulled back from his neck's side it was the sword which replaced it; He certainly preferred a woman's braid to being executed by his own sword.
"Don't!" Camilla said all of a sudden.
Jack rolled his eyes. "You've been yearning for this for months, now let her get on with it!" Jack said, rather annoyed.
"How could you be this cruel?" Camilla asked Jivanta.
"I'm merely trying to help." She said innocently. "I'm here to give you life."
"By taking life?"
"That is how the world turns." She told. "You catch a fish, you eat it, to survive – this is the same principle."
Camilla could not hide the feeling of revulsion as it expressed itself by twisting her facial features.
Jack felt the smell of steel dangerously close to his neck. "Aren't you going to inform us we're in the presence of a god?"
"I'm no god." She snarled – precisely as Jack had counted for.
"Ahh.." he said, nodding slightly; while carefully avoiding the sharp blade which, as he did, became pressed against his neck. The cold steel sent a shiver through his spine; yet he remained still in spite of it. "That's right, you're the other kind then."
"Asura, is what I am – no god."
"Demon, ain't that the correct translation?"
"They have polluted our name for centuries, stomped it into the dirt and poisoned the minds of people to think us evil." She began in a lethal tone. "There is no good or evil, only survival – and those who have the power to influence others and imprint the minds of people of what is good and what is evil."
"Which are those you refer to as they?" Elizabeth asked softly, yet with a steady presence.
"Devas." She hissed, as if the word itself was an abomination. "Gods."
Sparrow felt the steel lighten a bit from his exposed neck.
Elizabeth kept her eyes steadily on Jivanta, and if not the night was tricking her, the eyes of the woman were turning darker and darker; as if the pupil was expanding towards the corners framing the eye.
"Devas tricked us! We agreed to help them with gaining immortality, we helped them churn the ocean and create the drink of amrita. However, they had never possessed the intention of sharing the drink with us, and so, they tried to destroy us." Her voice was utmost grave now, speaking low, she looked into the gleaming ocean. "They almost succeeded, and certainly managed to scare off most of us from ever trying to obtain it… I survived, and snatched a little of what rightfully belonged to me. And I kept it here ever since, guarded by a strong creature."
In the split of a second Elizabeth comprehended it all, it became crystal clear and she felt her own breathing quicken. She had no intention of giving them life, she would take theirs to gain life for herself.
"and now you're taking us." The words came out of Elizabeth's mouth in no more than a whisper. Jivanta's eyes rapidly interlocked with hers, and Elizabeth saw they were as black as chole. She saw the demon's hand tightening on the sword.
Elizabeth reached for her own sword, but she knew what was about to happen next, therefore she knew it would be too late before she could reach them. "Jack…" Elizabeth breathed in quiet desperation.
It had been almost none hearable, yet Jack had heard and he knew it was the opportune moment to strike; when the demon was thirsty for Elizabeth. A thick piece of cloth had been hiding in his hand and so he ferociously grabbed the blade and bended backwards as the demon tried to slit his neck. Somewhat confused by the sudden deflection she hissed in anger. Before she could turn, Jack sent Elizabeth a glance and she struck the creature through without hesitation. In pure shock, the demon's eyes widened. She dropped the sword which made a tinkling sound when reaching ground that rang in the other so silent night.
Will took a step forward, as if to interfere or protect, instead he hesitated while watching; it all went about very quickly. He should have known of Elizabeth's heart.
Elizabeth pulled out the sword, the sharp blade was coloured in blood. The demon's body fell down onto the floor and went limp slowly as it breathed its last rattling breaths. Its blood flowed from the open wound and not before long it dripped into the water; colouring it scarlet.
Elizabeth let out a sigh of distraught relief and looked at Jack as he rose to his feet. His sun kissed hand went to the place on his neck where the steel had rested while his eyes went to the already cooling body below his feet.
"What nasty creatures, demons…" Camilla said quietly. A small breeze reached them in the darkness. Jivanta's, now expressionless face, was calmly lit by the crimson pool beside her lifeless form.
Jack stared, until he felt a soft hand upon his upper arm. He swallowed and glanced into Elizabeth's warm honey-brown eyes. His face reflected nothing of his true feelings, yet he felt it as if Elizabeth could still read him as if it all laid bare.
"We ought to hurry now, luv." He said solemnly.
"And how do you prefer we go about it?" Will said. "Unless you've got an inkling of what should be done?" He almost did not finish the sentence before something shot out of the depths straight onto deck; the everything went still. Not a sound, no one dared to breathe. It was an object.
"What is it?" Camilla asked.
"It's a pot." Elizabeth said with eyes fixed upon the golden object.
"It's the nectar of life." Jack said and strutted across to take it in his hands. "The blood of the dying." He murmured as he eyed the object carefully before opening it; to which everyone drew in a startled breath in fear of what it might bring.
Then he looted Jivanta's body for the crystal and placed his ear to her mouth; still, she was drawing her last breaths – meaning, there was time still. Suddenly a snake hissed at him, resting within her garments. He jumped back but held onto the crystal. "I hate snakes." He said before throwing the crystal into the milky liquid and watched it turn as golden as its pot. Then, minding the snake, he placed the pot to Jivanta's wound to catch its blood.
"Now that only counts for one, mate." Jack said as Will reached out to grab the pot in order to give it to his son. "One life, provides one other."
"Both needs to be saved." Elizabeth said determinedly.
Jack met her hard stare with boldness. "Indeed." He told. "Luckily, I brought material."
"A sacrifice?" Will asked, with no other than distaste for the matter.
Elizabeth felt her insides twist at the thought, yet she could not bring herself to fully believe that Jack would sacrifice an innocent.
"I'd rather you think of it as a gift." Jack told, and glanced in Elizabeth's direction. The cocky glint in his eye made her look away.
"Bring the material." She said. There was nothing she would not sacrifice for her own son.
"My god..." She said as Theodore Groves was dragged forward and placed beside the pool of blood. His red-edged eyes widened slightly at the sight of Jivanta; however, he recollected himself in an instant and appeared nothing other than weary.
"Murdering me in cold blood." He grunted. "What other could one expect from pirates?" he said the last word as if it were a curse.
His clothes were unkept, his facial hair had grown out quite a bit, a wig no longer covered his head which was full with a tangled mass of brown hair. He reminded Elizabeth somewhat of Norrington in that very moment, yet James had been remorseful, this man revealed nothing close to James Norrington's nature. This man had imprisoned her, presumably killed her off if she had been in his grasp longer than she had been; the only reason for keeping a certain distance on the subject of torture, seemed to be because of what part Elizabeth had played in Norrington's life; his fondness of her.
One thing she knew, was that if she asked him for the truth of his intentions, he would be true and speak of the truth. He would look upon it as his duty to do so.
"Would you have let me hang if Jack Sparrow was not captured?"
"I would have." He said.
"Would you still have prosecuted me if Jack Sparrow was captured and hanged?"
"I would, as my duty to the crown requires – Mrs Turner, you are a criminal in the eyes of the law – it bares consequences."
"Even for my son? He does not share my sins."
Groves sighed. "I did what was necessary."
"As will I." She said and grabbed her sword once more. And it seemed as if Groves days were numbered, only Elizabeth did not slit his throat, instead she grabbed his hand and slit his palm. The blood poured down into the pot.
"That's it?" he said, quite astounded. "That's it." Elizabeth said.
Jack did not look at her in shock, but rather in a perplexed manner. "Drink up me hearties, yo ho." He said as he met her stare.
William and Camilla took their turns to drink out of the cup. "This is barbaric." Camilla commented.
"I'm sure cannibalism suits yer very nature." Jack said. Camilla shot him a dark look and before she could reply, she felt something happening within her. Colour slowly returned to her face and the weight was lifted from her. William appeared as thrilled as her.
"How could it work? Does one not need the blood from the dying?" Mister Gibbs asked.
"He is dying. I expect he has a few days to live." Elizabeth said. "His eyes are yellow which is a sign of bilious fever, he's rashes are spreading evidently and his body isn't lean of starvation, it's shrinking away to cancer."
Groves stared at her with wide eyes. "How did you know?" The only other person to state his condition had been his doctor.
"I saw the early sign of your eyes beginning to turn yellow and the rash peeking from beneath your sleeve." She said, and there could have been sympathy in her voice but there was none. "I worked as an assistant to the town midwife for a while, since she helped deliver William – I was eternally grateful since I had no one at the time – and tried to help her as best as I could from thereon – and she knew a great deal about all sorts of ailments and I picked up a few things…"
"Fancy that." Jack said, rather astounded that this whole hassle had indeed worked.
"Now does this means that we are… immortal?" Camilla asked, not knowing if to be anxious or glad.
"No." Jack said. "I haven't quite wrapped my head around to it yet, but unfortunately, this does not grant eternal life – that is why demonica here…" He made a sloppy gesture towards her body. "needed many souls to fill her belly. She could only live on as she fed herself the lives of others – that kept her eternally youthful. Now she is cursed with being mortal, and you rather were cursed with being nonmortal and that a dead one bound to the dutchman…" Jack knit his brows together as if he realised he wasn't making any sense, but somehow he knew what he was saying was true and there was logic somewhere in there. "yeh see this nectar lifted said curse, lifting away whatever bound you." He said, raising his brows as he felt astounded to his own conclusion – which seemed to be true – in accordance with the children's newfound state.
The young William blinked at this. His heart began to race.
"So, there's nothing to collect for you in all of this?" Elizabeth asked Jack, feeling rather astonished.
He gave her a sincere but bitter look. "None."
For the first time since she was informed of Jack's wrongdoing – condemning her son to death, that is – there was a twinkle in her eye that revealed something akin to forgiveness. It was the last thing Jack saw before the eclipse passed completely and something giant leaped out of the water and snatched the pot from deck – making the floorboards snap beneath its weight and power. It resembled a very large long snake which now left with its treasure down into the depths again. Jack lost his balance and fell over, Will grabbed onto Camilla and Will to safeguard them and Elizabeth held onto the rail as water splashed in large all over deck.
"That must've been her blasted pet" Jack said as he rose to his feet again, wiping away saltwater from his face. He eyed her damaged deck with distress and carefully glanced towards the depths once more. Young William soon rushed to his side. "No!" he cried, appearing as if he was ready to jump in after the giant thing. "Didn't you say the nectar could lift curses. Then could it not have lifted father's curse?"
Jack appeared dumbfounded. "I have no idea." He said. "Perhaps…"
"Perhaps?" Will repeated, growing further anxious. "Then what are we waiting for? We need to get it back!"
"Son, the eclipse has passed, its master is dead, and Jivanta had been waiting for an opportune moment for a hundred years when all moon, sun and stars were in proper positions. I'm sorry, lad." He said.
"You're just giving up?" William asked, now growing angry. "Why didn't you tell us there wasn't much time?!"
"Well, I was a little busy with fendin me'self from bein' cut open m'afraid, and saving your hide or your mother would have mine."
William was ready to yell some more but his father placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "It's alright." He said. "Truly."
The boy calmed down a bit but remained unconvinced.
"I believe Jack is as stunned as me that this actually worked. We were lucky." Will said and shot Jack a look. He was not forgiving him – he never would – but he did not need to kill the bastard, he thought to himself, yet.
Now Will could have called upon the Flying Dutchman but resisted until he knew that Elizabeth and his son were safely returned to their home. He did not trust Jack to take them back.
Shortly, they casted off and sailed into the sunrise...
I'm thinking the next chapter will be the last! Thank you for reading, following and staying on till the end. It's nice to know what you think so feel free to review as well. I wish you all well and stay tuned for next chapter. I'll try to finish it asap.
/Fondofreading
