Chapter 22
(ELIZABETH'S POV)
As the Flying Dutchman moved fast, almost supernaturally, Elizabeth leaned over the railing, one hand protecting her belly, her face worried… She knew that if her plan hadn't worked, Ana María would have been right and she would have found herself with Will sooner than she thought she would have done. Was she supposed to thank the gods? Thank Calypso?
But, how could she be thankful when she had lost not only a possibly magical little seashell against Vane, but also had managed that Ana María lost her ship?
She sighed and looked a little over her shoulder. Almost by the time they had boarded the cursed ship, Ana María and her first mate had started arguing in Spanish and were still at it… Whereas, on the other hand, Jìng Yì was helping the other crew member (the one who had stayed with them) with his wounds.
She searched with her eyes for Will, finding him talking to his father at the helm before he went to her. Unintentionally, she straightened up and he half smiled at her, standing next to her.
"I still want to know how you ended like that, Elizabeth." Will said.
"I was going towards Shipwreck Island, Will." Elizabeth shrugged "I didn't precisely mean to find myself against Vane."
"You're still determined to live this life, then?" Will sighed "You know that it won't be easy, Elizabeth… Wouldn't it be better for you and the baby live a normal life?"
"A normal life?" This one seethed "What, you mean like a sailor's wife?" And huffed at the next "Well, not even that since technically you're dead, aren't you?"
"Why not marry someone else, then? Although I hate to even propose it, you could marry Norrington…" he grimaced at the name.
"I won't live my previous life, Will." she said furiously "If I go to Port Royal and, let's say my crimes are forgiven and forgotten, I would only be a daughter of a former governor married to James in whatever position he would obtain for himself. I won't do that."
Will took a deep breath and exhaled "Not even for the baby?"
Elizabeth turned, almost glowering "How dare you?! You think I wanted to put the baby in danger?!" She raised her hand but put it down, grabbing her own shirt "My idea was to stay in Singapore and come back here when the time arrived… Things simply didn't go well and I had to change my plans."
"Obviously." he pointed out and before she could raise her voice, he stopped her "I don't want to fight with you, Elizabeth, and I can understand your desires… But you haven't been careful anyway."
She pursed her lips, but kept quiet, her hands still grabbing her shirt when she suddenly remembered Vane's words: 'Send regards to Jones' new replacement and tell him I'll find his heart… One way or another.'
She opened her eyes, almost breathless, and reached out to grasp one of Will's wrists, cold to the touch. She managed to control a shiver as he turned to frown at her and focused on his eyes, the only part of his body that seemed warm.
"Wait, Will! Vane said that he was looking for your heart." She managed to confess and he looked at her with some fear; Elizabeth calmed him "It's safe, Will. In that you can trust me, but you still have…"
"The key?" he interrupted and she nodded "Of course, I always have it with me, hidden."
"Good." She took a deep breath "In any case, I have no idea how he would manage to do it… It's impossible… I'm the only one who knows which island I put it on and without the key…" Will frowned a bit, almost on the verge of saying she was right and not to worry, but he seemed to think something and groaned. Elizabeth looked at him strangely "What? What's wrong?"
Will sighed "Jack… He still has his compass, right?" Elizabeth opened her mouth in a little 'oh' and closed her eyelids, knowing that Jack was the only one that could find it if he so desired. She gulped "Where is he, by the way? Jack?"
Elizabeth took a step away, letting her hands rest on the railing, staring at the horizon.
"I imagine he's with James in Port Royal, if he hasn't wreaked havoc."
Will smiled, his eyes teasing "When Jack doesn't get in trouble?" And he passed a hand through his hair "I would never have imagined him with the law, though… Last time, he stated quite clearly what he thought of that, didn't he?"
"Yes…" she nodded "That's why I can't exactly be calm, even when he's helping me. His plans always get us in more trouble than it's worth and James is with him… I can't help but worry."
"It's Jack we're talking about, but Norrington isn't precisely stupid and he already knows that he can't exactly trust Jack." he shrugged "I don't think there will be any danger."
"I hope you're right." she said.
The rest of the weeks passed as in any other ship… The crew of the cursed ship didn't need to sleep and neither did Will, so the two men of Ana María's crew slept in the cabin of Will's first mate. As for the three women, they shared the captain's cabin in shifts… Elizabeth, who hadn't cared much about which shift she would get for sleeping had obtained the afternoon turn.
Regarding the rest, only Will, his father and Elizabeth seemed to speak more…
Will had confessed to her one day that he was also worried, since he had heard from many men that piracy had its days numbered and felt that they were right, even if he hated to say it, because it was something that he (and many, probably) had heard from the late Lord Cutler Beckett.
They had also talked about the fact that the baby was a gift from Calypso… Elizabeth thought that was worrisome, but didn't admit anything more out of fear, although Will could sense that she was scared that the baby would be involved in future problems.
"Maybe she's being generous." Will tried to say, shrugging.
"Will, she's a goddess." Elizabeth stated "A goddess who has hated the Brethren Court, the same place I belong to. I'm sorry to tell you this, but I can't believe that she's simply being generous."
"What about Norrington, then?" he asked, raising an eyebrow "She sent him here, to the living world, when I asked her."
"Maybe she has plans for him or she intends to use him somehow…" Elizabeth shrugged "I have no idea, Will. She's a goddess. I'm just saying that we should be careful with anything that comes from the gods. Do you remember the Treasure of Cortes?"
Will grimaced but nodded anyway, remembering quite well the crew of the Black Pearl the first time he had seen it.
"You're right," Will admitted "but we can't do more than protect ourselves and our baby as much as possible, if that time comes."
Soon, almost a month later, they reached Shipwreck Island. As Will had explained, the ship couldn't get any closer and his crew couldn't go there, as it was apparently protected by magic, so they had to row there.
Entering the boat one by one, Elizabeth turned to Will, her eyes filled with tears. It was the second time they had to say goodbye and most likely the last time she would be able to see him until the curse allowed it.
He kissed her first on the forehead, then on the cheek and only kissed her lips gently. He also wore a pained expression, but he only kissed her one last time on the cheek again before helping her into the boat.
"I'll see you in ten years." he said, though there was also there in his tone a hint of a question.
"Yes. In ten years." she nodded, her tears still falling freely.
Will nodded once and the crew of the cursed ship left the boat over the sea.
In a matter of hours, the Flying Dutchman disappeared and a little later, they managed to reach the docks of Shipwreck Island, to the relief of the rest. They found some men Elizabeth recognized as part of Captain Teague's old crew and they helped them moor the boat without question. If they did, they were kind enough not to ask and Elizabeth appreciated that.
Of course, it could not last, as Captain Teague appeared in front of them and practically everyone, with the exception of Jìng Yì and herself, stood upright in what Elizabeth considered to be some fear and some respect.
"Yer majesty…" he said with a nod "We didn't expect ye to come back so soon."
Elizabeth straightened as tall as her height allowed, but was careful not to show how "bulky" she had become over the past few months. If the old captain noticed something, he didn't say.
"Some complications arose."
This one laughed a bit "It seems that this is the only thing we'll have for quite some time, apparently." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, questioning, but this one shook his head "Come with me, we need to talk. The rest of yer… friends can enjoy the place withou' ye for a while, surely."
Elizabeth was surprised by that, but decided to nod, told her friend to stay with Ana María for the moment, and followed the old captain around the city.
Although she partly expected to be guided into the Hall they had used for the assembly when Barbossa had summoned the last one, the old captain seemed to be heading to his own home and she wondered what this was about.
Luckily, she didn't have to wait long since, once they entered, Teague led her into the living room, offered her a chair, and pulled a piece of paper from the corner. It was a white piece of paper, with no address or means of contact, but Elizabeth recognized the handwriting in a second.
"Jack? What about him? Is he alright?" she asked, looking up.
Teague just sat on a chair, with a pipe in hand and pointed to the paper "Read it."
Elizabeth took the paper in her hands, turning it over to see if there was something else behind it, but it was only a short letter. Breathing deeply and with some fear, she read it.
Hello dad,
The logic part of my brain tells me that I shouldn't even write you, but I figured it was better for you to know this from me than from other sources.
The first thing is that you should know that Captain Eduardo Villanueva has recently died; his piece eight, as far as I know, was obtained by someone in his crew. You will have to find out who he is on your own.
The second is more related to our dear King of the Pirates: I gave her a symbol as a way to give her my piece of eight, which I'll deliver as soon as I can. But, in general, she is rightfully now lord of the Caribbean. Or is it lady?
Oh, and a few last things that might interest you both: One, that Liu might have something that's of interest to Vane and someone else that I'm investigating with our mutual friend. You should probably all be careful about that, because it didn't sound good or bode well. And two, our dear friend Captain Vane seemed interested in William's heart as well as my compass to find this one. I can't say I'm very happy knowing that.
Until next time,
Jack.
"Whose side is Jack on?" Elizabeth said, more to herself than to Teague.
This one laughed a bit at that "Jackie always has been on his OWN side, lass." he replied "Although I'm surprised by his acts, this time. No matter wha' he gets into, I would never have imagined tha' he would give up his position."
Elizabeth didn't know what to say to that, but she took the hammered coin out of its hiding place and put it on the table. Teague nodded to that, pleased to see it and probably recognized it as something from Jack.
The silence extended for a while, but Elizabeth decided to break it, clearing her throat.
"Do we need to do something with whoever has Villanueva's piece of eight?" she asked "And what about this Liu guy? Do you know him or do you know what he has that could be a threat to us?"
"We need to get in contact with the Frightening Victory and meet Villanueva's stand-in." he answered leaning on the chair "I guess that I'll send a ship to obtain information before makin' his ship come… As to the other, I do know someone called Yang Liu… If I remember well, he used to have somethin' called the Philosopher's Stone. Apparently, it had the powers of life, either makin' someone immortal or raisin' someone from the death."
"More supernatural things?" she asked, almost huffing "Excellent."
"Ye've said it, yer majesty… And if things get worse, we'll be forced to another meeting." he commented.
"If by some power Vane obtains Jack's compass, that meeting will happen much sooner than we think." Elizabeth sighed "That man is horrible... As if the fact that he attacked and almost killed us before we got here was not enough…"
"He did what?!" Teague got up.
"Well…" Elizabeth started.
"That's it. I'm definitely killing him, so God help me."
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&&& A.N.: Poor Will and Elizabeth hhahaha And it looks like Vane will be in trouble if he encounters Teague :)
As always, thank you for leaving kudos, for following, etc. Please comment if you have a little minute and lots of love to everyone! Hope you have a great day! I'll see you next time ^^ &&&