Disclaimer: Captain Jack Sparrow, the Black Pearl and her crew, none of them are mine. Much as I might like for the captain to be mine, he's not, and I'll return him to those who do own him in much the same shape I borrowed him in.
Author's Note: Isabella Raven, the Nevermore, her crew, and the other members of the Raven family are mine. So is the song 'Captain of the Nevermore' that Isabella sings, and the verses of poetry that begin each chapter. Oh, and please send reviews to my e-mail: captainisabellaraven@yahoo.com. Thanks!
~~~ ~~~
Curst Waters o' Hell (con't)
Only when thae night be dark
Or thae skies be spittin' sterm lights
Can I be real as any other
And feel thae heart lost ter me
Only when thae fog be thick
Or the moon be hiding 'er face
Can I hunger, thirst and feel
Want an' pray ter die
Can there ever be any rest
Fer a curst soul o' the likes o' me
Can there be anyone
Ter say they care fer me
~~~
Jack frowned as they rowed out to the Nevermore. "Your crew..."
"They not be comin'." Isabella interrupted him with a preemptory gesture. "They tain't be fool enough ter be aboard thae Nevermore in thae sunlight." Her dryly amused smile made it clear what she thought of his simple acceptance of her invitation.
He shook his head, looking up at the clearing sky. The clouds were bright with the sunlight hidden behind them, that would soon break free. Isabella gave all the appearance of being unconcerned, as she hauled on the oars, sending the small boat cutting through the water towards the black bulk of her ship. It bore the heavy armorment and broad outline of a galleon, though the raven that adorned the prow with its glittering diamond eyes was certainly not like any one Jack had ever seen on any ship.
"Why a raven for a figurehead?" He regarded it with curiosity, wondering where the resemblance to life had come from the last time he'd looked at it. Now the eyes glittered like the treasure they were, with no signs of the hellish light he'd seen before.
"Me name sake, an' me favorite bird." Isabella shrugged. "It be what I wanted, an' so it be what I 'ave." She reached up for the rope ladder that dangled against the side of the ship, leaving the boat to float next to the Nevermore as she hauled herself up towards the deck. With a shake of his head, Jack followed.
Isabella was resting a hand on the wheel as he came over tha rail, her eyes turned to the brightest portion of the clouds, a frown of concentration on her face. She turned her face away to lock his eyes with her own as the sun broke through the clouds, spilling over them in a wave of golden heat. For a moment, at least, before it was hidden again behind a haze of smoke, though it still beat down, the temperature rising as the light took on a hellish hue, casting red highlights through Isabella's hair and unholy fire into her eyes.
Jack's eyes widened as the island vanished, replaced by barren, jagged rocks, the wreckage of a ship scattered on the water around them.
"That's thae Nevermore, truth ter tell. Thae ship yer on is a demon ship, tain't me Nevermore, or least it weren't, nae till verra recent." Isabella shrugged. "I hope ye nae be regrettin' comin' aboard, Cap'n Jack. Until thae sun goes down, we be sailin' thae waters o' hell."
Jack turned slowly on one heel, looking at the ocean that surrounded them, before coming to stand across the wheel from Isabella. "Than we're here for the whole day?" His lips twitched, curling up at the ends in a seductive smirk, and Isabella laughed, flashing surprisingly white teeth.
"I'll be thankin' ye not ter be thinkin' tha' I be doin' somethin' as ye seem ter be thinkin' when I be thae only one ter sail me ship 'ere." A sparkle of amusement lit her eyes, banishing the hellish red light from them for a moment. "Iffen ye be up ter helpin' me, I be thinkin' there be work enough."
Jack grinned, bowing broadly. "What would you have me do, Captain?"
~~~
Shane watched the two from where he leaned against the main mast, high in the crow's nest. Did you think I would have left, Captain? Even in his thoughts he couldn't get rid of the accursed habit of referring to Isabella as Captain. No other captain had commanded his respect, and when he'd had a ship of his own, the first thing he'd done was get caught by Norrington. The man is quite good at his job, I will give him that. But I would not have been caught if I'd still been aboard the Nevermore. Had the ship never sunk. I will not sail aboard a demon ship.... I wouldn't when I lived. And somehow, I will live again, and you will greatly regret your words to me, Captain. I'll have your soul, and your ship, resurrected from the depths. Properly, this time.
Leaving his thoughts, Shane made his way back down to the main deck, swinging out of the rigging to land on the solid wood with a thump, his feet quickly finding purchase on the rolling deck. He smiled, a sinister little smile that had made his reputation since leaving the Nevermore as a man never to cross. To his surprise, it had no visible effect on the man who'd turned when he'd hit the deck. Well this is a surprise.
Shane met the man's eyes, his eyes flickering once over his face, noting the kohl lining his eyes, the trinkets braided into his hair, the braids in the beard. He kept silent, observing the man, preferring to wait for him to speak first, to gather more information on him.
"Shane." Isabella's voice was flat. "I be hopin' ye tain't plannin' on stayin'. I be wantin' yer ugly mug off o' me ship, one way or 'nother, an' iffen ye be not gettin' off me ship on yer own, I be puttin' ye off me ship by force."
"I'll not be leaving any time soon, I'm afraid, Captain. You see, I don't have the option of leaving anymore. More's the pity." Shane shrugged indolently. "Who's your companion? Some poor sod you've convinced to come on the trip?"
The other man frowned. "You don't recognize me?"
Shane looked him up and down, a sneer on his face. "I should say not."
The black brows shot upward in a show of surprise that nearly had Shane rolling his eyes. You do have a sense of the dramatic. You are likely better suited for the stage than the sea. His thoughts were cut off by the man's reply.
"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Ah." Shane suppressed a sigh of sheer annoyance. "Well, Sparrow. I never did think you'd be so much of a fool as to sail on the Nevermore, no matter what misfortune may have befallen you. It seems I have overestimated your intelligence."
He noticed Isabella's sudden tension, knowing how much his tone of voice irritated her. Curious, though was the other man's lack of reaction. Is the man truly daft? No one would allow themselves to be insulted so. Not... His thoughts trailed off as he looked down the barrel of a pistol held by Jack, and a smirk spread across his features, a cold laugh welling up to chill the broiling heat.
"What good do you think a pistol will do you against a dead man, Sparrow?"
"It's Captain Sparrow to you." The man traded pistol for saber, and Shane's mirth vanished, beneath a hard mask of icy cold arrogance.
If you wish a fight you are guaranteed to lose, I will not hesitate to give it to you." Shane drew his own sword, still hanging at his side here, his face giving away nothing of what he was thinking. "You will regret coming here, Sparrow." He spat the name, giving it a slur that made Isabella frown, as Jack leapt over the rail and onto the main deck, leaving his coat crumpled on the quarter deck in front of the wheel.
