Curse of the White Jewel: Chapter Two
For all other notes: See previous chapter.
***********
Chapter Two: Trapped with a Pirate
Fog.
Fog swept through the town like a silent predator. It enveloped every nook and cranny. In the distance, Alex could see a faint outline of a ship. There was a deep, booming voice calling out a name. Elisha. The ship was moving surprisingly fast. It was like a ghost: it's sails and sides like glass. A hole on the side was opening, and something jutted out of it. And then... thunder.
Alex woke up to the sound of thunder. He looked outside. The sky was black and rain was pouring down heavily. Occasional thunder and lightning interupted the pounding of rain on the roof.
Alex took several deep breaths to calm himself before he got dressed and went downstairs. Will and Elizabeth were already having breakfast.
"Good morning mum, dad," Alex greeted.
Elizabeth smiled and gave her son a kiss on the cheek. "Good morning Alex. How was your sleep?"
"I slept well," he said. "I kept having dreams about pirates and the White Jewel."
Will chuckled softly. "And what happened?"
"The Jewel came to Port Royal looking for someone," Alex said. "But the thunder woke me up so I couldn't see what happened next."
"Well, it's a good thing it started to rain. Everything here has been dry for the past few weeks."
Alex nodded, not really paying his attention to what anyone was saying. He was thinking about his dream and wondered what it meant. Who was Elisha? Why was the White Jewel in Port Royal, looking for her? And who's voice was that?
**************
Elisha looked out the window, fingering her necklace. She watched the turbulent sea with concern. She knew the Black Pearl was as vigilant a ship as any, but she hoped it was alright. The storm was growing steadily worse and it didn't look like it would end any time soon. It would be hard to come to port in weather like this.
Her fingers lingered on the diamond pendant fastened to the chain. It was round, with very detailed lines carved on it. In the middle of it was a face with wide, open eyes and an open mouth. The face looked horrified and surprised. When she first found it, it had scared her. But now she simply laughed at it.
A huge flash of lightning was quickly followed by a loud clap of thunder. The lightning was getting closer by the second, and may get too close.
And it did get too close. A lightning bolt hit the palm tree next to the inn. It caught fire immediately, and fell on top of the inn. Around the same time, several other lightning bolts hit other trees and houses, starting fires throughout the town.
Elisha made her way to the door and scrambled to open it, but the doorknob was burning hot. The tree landed in the corridor, blocking her way out and causing the building to catch fire on the inside.
Elisha was trapped.
***********
One of the lightning bolts hit a tree just behind Will's shop, where he and Alex were. It made a huge noise as it fell on top of the building next to the shop.
Will and Alex rushed out to see what happened, as did several other townfolk. They were greeted with heavy rain and fires. They immediately grabbed wooden buckets and rushed to find water to douse the flames.
The innkeeper ran down the street, colliding with Will. They both fell to the ground.
"Harry, are you alright?" Will asked, standing up.
"A tree fell on the inn an' some people are trapped!" he blurted out.
Alex suddenly got an idea. "Father, you go back to the house and make sure mum is alright. I'll go to the inn."
"Are you sure?" Will asked. Alex nodded, and broke into a run.
***********
Elisha banged on the door, trying to break it. But it wouldn't budge, and after a while it started smoldering. Elisha tried to open the window, but it was stuck, and it had bars on the other side anyway. There was no way out.
She felt the walls for some kind of weak spot, but they were made of hard wood. She almost panicked when smoke started coming under the door. She heard pops and cracks and knew the door finally caught fire.
'No,' she thought to herself. 'I will not panic. I'm a pirate. I'm Elisha Sparrow. I will not panic, I will think. I will get out o' this or my father isn't Captain Jack Sparrow.'
She looked out the window. The entire town was panicking and running around, trying to put out fires and escape the lightning.
In the distance she saw a boy running towards the inn. She smiled: some outside help might help alot.
She looked at the door. Now it was burning at an alarming rate, and the fire was beginning to spread to the walls. Smoke was beginning to fill up the room. Elisha coughed, smoke filling her lungs. She had to get out of here soon.
**********
Alex went inside. The tree was on fire and it was spreading throughout the inn.
He went to the main desk and searched around for anything he could use. He spotted a sledge hammer and grabbed it.
On his way around, he saw the list of people staying. There were only two, and fourtunately they were in the first rooms on either side of the corridor.
Alex started hitting the wall next to the desk. The wood was hard, but the fire was beginning to weaken it. Finally, he made a big enough hole to go in.
There was a man inside. The minute he saw the hole he struggled through it, gave Alex a hug, and left.
Alex made his way to the other side of the room, and started hitting the wall there. The hammer made a small hole, and smoke billowed out. The room had caught fire quicker than the other one. He made the hole bigger, and quickly went in the room.
He immediately started coughing from the smoke.
Elisha heard a smashing noise, but had no time to register where it came from, she couldn't see anything because of all the smoke. She felt a pair of arms support her and they stumbled over to the hole in the wall, and clambered through.
Just then, a creaking was heard, and the floor caved. Alex and Elisha fell through it to the cellar. Then that collapsed. They fell into a completely different room, with the fire roaring above them.
**********
Alex woke up to a throbbing in his head. He glanced around. They had fell into an abandoned room under the cellar.
He glanced around. A few feet next to him was Elisha. He immediately checked for a pulse, and was relieved to find one. He took a good look at her.
Her face was slightly tanned from years in the sun, and a trace amount of kohl outlined her eyes. Alex was perplexed by her clothing, but couldn't help but find her beautiful.
His fingers were still on her slender neck. They grazed over her necklace. Alex took it. At the end of it was a pendant. He let out a gasp.
He saw pictures of this pendant before, and Ern had described it and the legend perfectly to him.
Many, many years ago, the Incans revolted against their Gods, but lost. To punish them, the Gods cursed them so when they died their spirits would stay in the real world and never find peace.
The Incans hated this, so they created ten identical, magical diamond necklaces and separated them. Years later, a few of the Incans created a non-corporeal ship which they could bend at will to become solid. They used black magic to draw spirits of dead sailors and sea-farers to the ship to wander and find the ten necklaces for them. People who believe in the legend simply calls them "the necklaces o' the White Jewel".
Whenever a necklace was found, there had to be a blood sacrifice from the first person who touched the necklace with their bare hands after it was hidden at a hidden island. If anyone on the Jewel brought them together on the island, and did all ten sacrifice there, they could become immortal gods, get their revenge, and control the Earth. The only way they could be killed is if their heads are separated from their shoulders.
When the Jewel isn't solid it can only be seen by those who believe it's real, and the island can only be found by those who believe it exists. In day the Jewel appears as a pure white ship, with white wood and red sails, with a seemingly normal crew. But at night, it transformed into a transparent ghost ship, and the crew turned into crystal skeletons that can pass through anything that's solid. Sometimes, during day or night, the Jewel could become invisible completely, and the only way you could tell if it's there or not is the faint line of water being transformed into crystal as the Jewel passed over.
"Like my necklace?" Elisha muttered, her eyes opening.
"Oh..." Alex hastily dropped the medallion and helped Elisha into a sitting position. "Well, I couldn't help but see it... are you alright?"
"My head hurts," Elisha admitted, "but other than that i'm fine, because o' you. Thanks."
Elisha gazed into the hazel eyes of her rescuer. His brown hair was tied in a ponytail and he had the faint beginnings of a moustache. Elisha found him rather handsome.
Alex blushed. "You're welcome."
Elisha smiled, and wobbled as she stood up. "Do you need any help?" Alex asked, holding Elisha so she wouldn't topple over.
"I'm alright. But I would like to know your name."
"Alex Turner. Yours?"
"Elisha Sparrow."
For a moment they stayed silent until they both grinned.
"It seems our fathers are very old friends, then," Elisha said.
"Yes, my father told me all about Jack."
And my father doesn't stop talking about Will. Is he really as good a blacksmith as my dad says he is?"
"Well, the buisness is going very well. My father has is own shop. And is your father as crazy as I heard?"
"More than you know," Elisha replied. "Honestly, it seems he's gotten crazier over the years."
Alex chuckled. "I would like very much to meet him."
Elisha grinned. "Good! 'Cause he's comin' to Port Royal tomorrow."
"Really?" Elisha nodded. "What for?"
"I'm afraid I can't be tellin' ya that, Alex," she replied. "'Tis a secret."
"Please? I promise I won't tell anyone."
Elisha shook her head. "Sorry, but my dad made me promise I wouldn't tell until the opportune moment."
"When is that?"
Elisha only smiled in reply.
Alex sighed in disappointment. "Alright, then," he said. "You know, this is hard to believe, but I kinda had a dream about you last night."
"About me?"
"Yes. The White Jewel came to Port Royal, looking for you."
Elisha blushed. "Well, I could see why they were looking for me... but why did you have a dream about me?"
Alex shrugged. "I don't know, but maybe we should discuss it later. We should get out before the fire finds a way down here."
"Aye," Elisha agreed. "Do you know a way out?"
"Yes I do. Come on." Alex took Elisha by the elbow and led her to a door behind a bunch of barrels.
****************
When they finally got out, Will and Elizabeth were waiting for them. "Oh, Alex, you're alright," Elizabeth exclaimed in relief. "And who is this?"
"This is Elisha Sparrow, Jack's daughter," Alex introduced. "The Black Pearl is coming here tomorrow."
"What for?" Will asked.
Elisha smiled slyly. "'Tis a secret."
"She can't say. At least not yet." Alex explained.
"Oh. Will Jack be coming ashore?"
Elisha nodded. "Aye. One thing I can be tellin' you is that he'll be wanting to have a little visit with you. To talk about the good ol' days, savvy?"
Will nodded. He had a feeling Elisha was letting on more than what she was saying.
"You know, you really remind me of Jack," Elizabeth commented.
"Aye, i'm getting that alot lately."
"Well, would you like to stay with us, since the inn burned down?" Will invited.
Elisha blushed. "Oh... I don't want to be no trouble..."
"None at all," Will replied. "We would be glad to have you with us for a while."
Elisha reluctantly nodded. "I suppose so."
Elizabeth grinned. "Good. Come on, then."
TBC
I hope I made the legend clear enough. If not, just tell me.
Next chapter: Jack! :D
For all other notes: See previous chapter.
***********
Chapter Two: Trapped with a Pirate
Fog.
Fog swept through the town like a silent predator. It enveloped every nook and cranny. In the distance, Alex could see a faint outline of a ship. There was a deep, booming voice calling out a name. Elisha. The ship was moving surprisingly fast. It was like a ghost: it's sails and sides like glass. A hole on the side was opening, and something jutted out of it. And then... thunder.
Alex woke up to the sound of thunder. He looked outside. The sky was black and rain was pouring down heavily. Occasional thunder and lightning interupted the pounding of rain on the roof.
Alex took several deep breaths to calm himself before he got dressed and went downstairs. Will and Elizabeth were already having breakfast.
"Good morning mum, dad," Alex greeted.
Elizabeth smiled and gave her son a kiss on the cheek. "Good morning Alex. How was your sleep?"
"I slept well," he said. "I kept having dreams about pirates and the White Jewel."
Will chuckled softly. "And what happened?"
"The Jewel came to Port Royal looking for someone," Alex said. "But the thunder woke me up so I couldn't see what happened next."
"Well, it's a good thing it started to rain. Everything here has been dry for the past few weeks."
Alex nodded, not really paying his attention to what anyone was saying. He was thinking about his dream and wondered what it meant. Who was Elisha? Why was the White Jewel in Port Royal, looking for her? And who's voice was that?
**************
Elisha looked out the window, fingering her necklace. She watched the turbulent sea with concern. She knew the Black Pearl was as vigilant a ship as any, but she hoped it was alright. The storm was growing steadily worse and it didn't look like it would end any time soon. It would be hard to come to port in weather like this.
Her fingers lingered on the diamond pendant fastened to the chain. It was round, with very detailed lines carved on it. In the middle of it was a face with wide, open eyes and an open mouth. The face looked horrified and surprised. When she first found it, it had scared her. But now she simply laughed at it.
A huge flash of lightning was quickly followed by a loud clap of thunder. The lightning was getting closer by the second, and may get too close.
And it did get too close. A lightning bolt hit the palm tree next to the inn. It caught fire immediately, and fell on top of the inn. Around the same time, several other lightning bolts hit other trees and houses, starting fires throughout the town.
Elisha made her way to the door and scrambled to open it, but the doorknob was burning hot. The tree landed in the corridor, blocking her way out and causing the building to catch fire on the inside.
Elisha was trapped.
***********
One of the lightning bolts hit a tree just behind Will's shop, where he and Alex were. It made a huge noise as it fell on top of the building next to the shop.
Will and Alex rushed out to see what happened, as did several other townfolk. They were greeted with heavy rain and fires. They immediately grabbed wooden buckets and rushed to find water to douse the flames.
The innkeeper ran down the street, colliding with Will. They both fell to the ground.
"Harry, are you alright?" Will asked, standing up.
"A tree fell on the inn an' some people are trapped!" he blurted out.
Alex suddenly got an idea. "Father, you go back to the house and make sure mum is alright. I'll go to the inn."
"Are you sure?" Will asked. Alex nodded, and broke into a run.
***********
Elisha banged on the door, trying to break it. But it wouldn't budge, and after a while it started smoldering. Elisha tried to open the window, but it was stuck, and it had bars on the other side anyway. There was no way out.
She felt the walls for some kind of weak spot, but they were made of hard wood. She almost panicked when smoke started coming under the door. She heard pops and cracks and knew the door finally caught fire.
'No,' she thought to herself. 'I will not panic. I'm a pirate. I'm Elisha Sparrow. I will not panic, I will think. I will get out o' this or my father isn't Captain Jack Sparrow.'
She looked out the window. The entire town was panicking and running around, trying to put out fires and escape the lightning.
In the distance she saw a boy running towards the inn. She smiled: some outside help might help alot.
She looked at the door. Now it was burning at an alarming rate, and the fire was beginning to spread to the walls. Smoke was beginning to fill up the room. Elisha coughed, smoke filling her lungs. She had to get out of here soon.
**********
Alex went inside. The tree was on fire and it was spreading throughout the inn.
He went to the main desk and searched around for anything he could use. He spotted a sledge hammer and grabbed it.
On his way around, he saw the list of people staying. There were only two, and fourtunately they were in the first rooms on either side of the corridor.
Alex started hitting the wall next to the desk. The wood was hard, but the fire was beginning to weaken it. Finally, he made a big enough hole to go in.
There was a man inside. The minute he saw the hole he struggled through it, gave Alex a hug, and left.
Alex made his way to the other side of the room, and started hitting the wall there. The hammer made a small hole, and smoke billowed out. The room had caught fire quicker than the other one. He made the hole bigger, and quickly went in the room.
He immediately started coughing from the smoke.
Elisha heard a smashing noise, but had no time to register where it came from, she couldn't see anything because of all the smoke. She felt a pair of arms support her and they stumbled over to the hole in the wall, and clambered through.
Just then, a creaking was heard, and the floor caved. Alex and Elisha fell through it to the cellar. Then that collapsed. They fell into a completely different room, with the fire roaring above them.
**********
Alex woke up to a throbbing in his head. He glanced around. They had fell into an abandoned room under the cellar.
He glanced around. A few feet next to him was Elisha. He immediately checked for a pulse, and was relieved to find one. He took a good look at her.
Her face was slightly tanned from years in the sun, and a trace amount of kohl outlined her eyes. Alex was perplexed by her clothing, but couldn't help but find her beautiful.
His fingers were still on her slender neck. They grazed over her necklace. Alex took it. At the end of it was a pendant. He let out a gasp.
He saw pictures of this pendant before, and Ern had described it and the legend perfectly to him.
Many, many years ago, the Incans revolted against their Gods, but lost. To punish them, the Gods cursed them so when they died their spirits would stay in the real world and never find peace.
The Incans hated this, so they created ten identical, magical diamond necklaces and separated them. Years later, a few of the Incans created a non-corporeal ship which they could bend at will to become solid. They used black magic to draw spirits of dead sailors and sea-farers to the ship to wander and find the ten necklaces for them. People who believe in the legend simply calls them "the necklaces o' the White Jewel".
Whenever a necklace was found, there had to be a blood sacrifice from the first person who touched the necklace with their bare hands after it was hidden at a hidden island. If anyone on the Jewel brought them together on the island, and did all ten sacrifice there, they could become immortal gods, get their revenge, and control the Earth. The only way they could be killed is if their heads are separated from their shoulders.
When the Jewel isn't solid it can only be seen by those who believe it's real, and the island can only be found by those who believe it exists. In day the Jewel appears as a pure white ship, with white wood and red sails, with a seemingly normal crew. But at night, it transformed into a transparent ghost ship, and the crew turned into crystal skeletons that can pass through anything that's solid. Sometimes, during day or night, the Jewel could become invisible completely, and the only way you could tell if it's there or not is the faint line of water being transformed into crystal as the Jewel passed over.
"Like my necklace?" Elisha muttered, her eyes opening.
"Oh..." Alex hastily dropped the medallion and helped Elisha into a sitting position. "Well, I couldn't help but see it... are you alright?"
"My head hurts," Elisha admitted, "but other than that i'm fine, because o' you. Thanks."
Elisha gazed into the hazel eyes of her rescuer. His brown hair was tied in a ponytail and he had the faint beginnings of a moustache. Elisha found him rather handsome.
Alex blushed. "You're welcome."
Elisha smiled, and wobbled as she stood up. "Do you need any help?" Alex asked, holding Elisha so she wouldn't topple over.
"I'm alright. But I would like to know your name."
"Alex Turner. Yours?"
"Elisha Sparrow."
For a moment they stayed silent until they both grinned.
"It seems our fathers are very old friends, then," Elisha said.
"Yes, my father told me all about Jack."
And my father doesn't stop talking about Will. Is he really as good a blacksmith as my dad says he is?"
"Well, the buisness is going very well. My father has is own shop. And is your father as crazy as I heard?"
"More than you know," Elisha replied. "Honestly, it seems he's gotten crazier over the years."
Alex chuckled. "I would like very much to meet him."
Elisha grinned. "Good! 'Cause he's comin' to Port Royal tomorrow."
"Really?" Elisha nodded. "What for?"
"I'm afraid I can't be tellin' ya that, Alex," she replied. "'Tis a secret."
"Please? I promise I won't tell anyone."
Elisha shook her head. "Sorry, but my dad made me promise I wouldn't tell until the opportune moment."
"When is that?"
Elisha only smiled in reply.
Alex sighed in disappointment. "Alright, then," he said. "You know, this is hard to believe, but I kinda had a dream about you last night."
"About me?"
"Yes. The White Jewel came to Port Royal, looking for you."
Elisha blushed. "Well, I could see why they were looking for me... but why did you have a dream about me?"
Alex shrugged. "I don't know, but maybe we should discuss it later. We should get out before the fire finds a way down here."
"Aye," Elisha agreed. "Do you know a way out?"
"Yes I do. Come on." Alex took Elisha by the elbow and led her to a door behind a bunch of barrels.
****************
When they finally got out, Will and Elizabeth were waiting for them. "Oh, Alex, you're alright," Elizabeth exclaimed in relief. "And who is this?"
"This is Elisha Sparrow, Jack's daughter," Alex introduced. "The Black Pearl is coming here tomorrow."
"What for?" Will asked.
Elisha smiled slyly. "'Tis a secret."
"She can't say. At least not yet." Alex explained.
"Oh. Will Jack be coming ashore?"
Elisha nodded. "Aye. One thing I can be tellin' you is that he'll be wanting to have a little visit with you. To talk about the good ol' days, savvy?"
Will nodded. He had a feeling Elisha was letting on more than what she was saying.
"You know, you really remind me of Jack," Elizabeth commented.
"Aye, i'm getting that alot lately."
"Well, would you like to stay with us, since the inn burned down?" Will invited.
Elisha blushed. "Oh... I don't want to be no trouble..."
"None at all," Will replied. "We would be glad to have you with us for a while."
Elisha reluctantly nodded. "I suppose so."
Elizabeth grinned. "Good. Come on, then."
TBC
I hope I made the legend clear enough. If not, just tell me.
Next chapter: Jack! :D