CHAPTER 1
Jack bolt upright from his narrow cot and grabbed the sword that was leaning against the bureau. The room was cluttered with bits of maps, foreign fabrics, an assortment of coins from different islands, and an object from everywhere the Black Pearl had docked. To the observer's eye it would be hazardous just to maneuver around in the crowded quarters, but to Jack Sparrow, this was home.
Something wasn't right with the current and the wind. He took the pistol from underneath his pillow and hurried to the deck. There was a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach, no telling what the night would bring.
"Captain! Storm's coming up fast!" Annamaria called while tugging on a rope that held the sail.
"Hoist the sails and raise anchor!" Jack called as he steered the ship through the worst of the gale. The Pearl might not escape without injury, but he'd be damned before giving up without a fight.
"Someone's following us!" Gibbs yelled. Through the blinding rain the figure of another ship became clearer.
"And catchin' up fast," Annamaria said knotting ropes together.
"But that be…"
"Improbable. I've figured that much a'ready." Jack mused trying his best to keep to a steady course. The waves that hindered them did the same to the ship behind them. That thought gave Jack a sense of satisfaction. His smile faded as the ship caught up to them. The Pearl was the fastest ship in the Caribbean, how had they closed the distance between them so quickly? Bloods Revenge was already pulling up to The Black Pearl's starboard side.
"Lower the anchor and prepare to meet your maker, Sparrow! This is the end!" Came the threat from the other ship.
"Are ye daft? We're in th'eye of a bloody storm!" Gibbs yelled when another wave crashed against the Pearl's side nearly sending her toppling over.
"Be that as it may, I'm taking control of the Pearl and her crew." The sound of ropes hissing through the air whistled through the wind and Jack rigged the wheel in place before drawing his sword.
"You sound a bit familiar, have I ever pillaged your town? Escaped your jail?"
"You killed my father, the greatest pirate the world has ever known. The fearsome Captain Barbossa." The rain lessened a little making it easier for the pirates to see whom they faced.
"If that be the greatest pirate, pity the rest of us than, eh, mates?" Jack countered, a hard glint coming to his eyes.
"So than who're you? Barbossa had no namesake." Gibbs said lowering his sword a little.
"My name is Turak, I am the son of Barbossa and I'll have the head of any who doubts my word. Men, attack!" the rain was barely a drizzle now, but the ships' decks were as slippery as could be.
Jack easily dispatched three of the enemy and from the looks of things, Annamaria and his crew were doing just as well. Bodies were thrown overboard and swords gleamed with blood.
Jack faced Turak confidently, he parried, countered, finally shock and surprise cost him the fight. A sword at his throat caught him up short though, he looked over the top of the blade into Turak's cerulean eyes.
"Why'd you hesitate, boy? You tracked me down all this way, try to take my ship, and find that you can't deliver the blow?" Jack said thoughtfully, it was as he'd expected, he cursed Barbossa in his mind.
"I just wanted you to look into the eyes of the man who finally will kill you." Turak ran the blade lightly over Jack's throat, "and let it be known that my father's death is avenged."
"Then you shouldn't have hesitated." Jack grabbed the edge of the swords' blade and twisted it around sharply. His hands were protected by the cloth he tied around his palms for just such an occasion.
He then kneed the weapon out of Turak's hand. All eyes fixated on the two men, the wind itself seemed to stop it's howling to at last lay still. Jack pulled out his pistol and held it at Turak's temple.
"Now that you're in a position to listen, order your men down." Jack commanded.
"Do as he said." The order came hurriedly, as if it pained him to say the words.
"Very good. Now you are going to answer a few questions. Any surprise moves on your men's part and your brain will be blasted clear to the Barbados, savvy?"
"How did you know where the Pearl would be sailing?" Annamaria stepped up to ask the question first.
"I have a few 'confidantes' who keep an eye out." Turak sneered and obnoxiously looked the woman pirate up and down. Annamaria raised a hand and was about to smack him when Jack intervened.
"You'd best keep respectable thoughts in your head, else I'll be given you o'er to her. Not a man in the Caribbean would cross our Annamaria wrong and that's a fact."
"I'll keep that in mind before I kill you." Turak spit.
"A rather persistent lad, isn't he." Jack remarked walking around the captive.
"I have one thing that you don't." Turak grinned evilly, "I have the Letter of Marque, our ship and privateering are authorized."
"Isn't that interesting. So that makes you what? Legalized pirates? Bold talk for someone under flintlock."
"It would seem so wouldn't it? But look to the horizon, Captain, and you'll see that my revenge has just begun." Jack saw blue sails and the Navy colors, he knew that this round had gone to Turak, but in no means was this over.
Gibbs met his gaze steadily, he knew what his Captain was asking and though it pained him to do so, he'd follow the orders given to him. Jack was biding him time going through various options in his head. He could dispatch of Barbossa's whelp, gather his crew and flee… but if that ship was half as fast they'd be caught before they hit the reefs.
"What are you smiling about? You'll be hung before morning," Turak watched Jack carefully, Barbossa had warned him about the cunning of the bastard pirate.
The crew shifted restlessly. They were willing to follow Jack to the depths, but they'd rather that be later rather than sooner. The Navy ship had pulled close to Blood's Revenge, Jack could see the excitement of the men onboard.
"Jack Sparrow, you are now under the command of the Queen's Navy and as such, your ship and possessions are now ours." The captain of the other ship announced, reading off from a piece of paper.
Jack ran to the side of the Pearl cutting through one of the ropes. He saw the Navy ready their guns, but to their surprise he landed square on their deck. Jack wasn't surprised to feel Annamaria behind him.
He wanted to laugh as Turak left the Pearl with his men to board the Navy ship. Luck seemed to be on his side today.
"Sorry to interrupt, gentleman, but…" his gaze flickered over to the Black Pearl. Gibbs was getting the sails ready for a quick getaway and the rest of the crew had taken their positions. The ship was slowly picking up speed as it headed towards a complicated maze of coral. They knew the route by heart, could maneuver between the reefs, avoiding damage and scratches but it would be dangerous to anyone else who tried, "…seems to me that my ship is getting away."
"It's what? Damn and blast, men!" the officer exclaimed throwing his hat down on the deck. "Why weren't the other pirates brought aboard?"
"He… jumped, sir." This was said with a motion towards a pleased looking Jack.
"Some crew you have, Sparrow. They don't seem very loyal now, do they?" Turak smirked.
"Worry about loyalty from your own men, mutiny happens only in the dead of night." Jack grinned mischievously.
"Lock them in the brig.'" The officer said shortly.
"If I may suggest an alternative?" Turak interjected, "We're going back to Port Royale, it's no trouble to take them with us."
"Very well. We'll return to the Port as soon as we are able."
"Good, good. The pirates will be taken care of, I swear this to you, lieutenant."
"We're all men of the Queen's Navy. No promises are necessary."
"Thank you, then." Turak bowed and barely concealed the satisfaction in his eyes. An enraged scream drew Jack's attention. Someone had put a handkerchief over Annamaria's mouth that acted as a gag. She struggled to be free, quite a few bruises formed on the men's faces and other random parts of their anatomy.
"She's a bloody menace, sir!" One of the officers' exclaimed trying to defend himself against the enraged woman pirate.
"Get me two pair of irons." Turak commanded.
"At once, sir." A man disappeared below decks.
"I really would advise against that." Jack clarified.
"What are you going to do?" Turak sneered, "Absolutely nothing, pirate."
"Your funeral." Jack shrugged. The man returned handing the cuffs to Turak, then
stepped back as rank demanded he should. Jack held out his wrists and waited for what he
knew would happen next. Annamaria watched them through hooded eyes. There was an alertness to her expression that should have warned Turak. It took his second in command, Cilfre, to object.
"Excuse me, sir, but is it really necessary to lock her in irons, too? Seems… barbaric."
"Woman or not, she still willing took and endangered innocent lives. She freely engaged in piracy. Are you standing against me with these scalawags?" Turak demanded. Cilfre didn't answer, he just looked down to the tops of his black polished shoes.
"If you come any closer with those in your hands, it'll be me who'll endanger your life,
savvy?" Jack said calmly.
"I can have you shot for that." Turak stated nastily. Annamaria straightened too, but her
gaze didn't waver in the slightest. He moved closer to him on experiment and saw both of
the pirates brace for a fight. Turak saw the lieutenant watching and chose to back down.
If the pirates managed to win it wouldn't look favorably on him or his crew. He could do what he wanted to them later.
"Oh, very well." He sighed in disgust, putting the irons through a loop in his belt. "Take
them below, men." The other ship departed then and Annamaria and Jack were left to
defend themselves against whatever would come.