Chapter 5

"Annamaria, love?" Jack whispered coming awake in an instant. Something was wrong, there was a change in the air current. There was no response from her and ice settled in Jack's stomach. He untwined the shawl from around his torso and looked into Annamaria's face. "You have to wake up, Annamaria. C'mon." he shook her shoulders gently so that when she woke it wouldn't be so much of a shock. She had to still be alive, he'd kill Turak with his bare hands if she wasn't.

"Is t'storm o'er?" she yawned and opened her eyes to stare directly into Jack's deeply worried golden-brown eyes.

"Storm's far from over." Now that she was awake he could breathe again. It had been

foolish of him to let her drift off to sleep without knowing what was wrong. "You're

going to have to tie the shawl around your waist, love. Someone's bound to come in soon,

if they notice what we did yesterday no doubt they'll take them away."

"Are you alright, Captain? What's wrong?" she could feel the tension in his muscles, see

the concern written on his expression.

"Nothing. Are you feelin' any better than you were yesterday?"

"Aye, a little. I can breathe easier at least. D'you think they plan on killing us?" she asked

abruptly.

"That'd definitely be their plan. Fortunately, I know how to counter it." He paused, "I just

have yet to plan the rest out." They both stood to stretch out unused muscles and

Annamaria tied the white shawl around her waist. A door slammed somewhere in the

house and muttered curses and stomping could be heard.

"Ah, so you're still here." Ruyifor sneered nastily at the pirates from the doorway.

"And where did you think we'd be?" Jack leaned casually against the wall and regarded

Ruyifor calmly.

"Best watch how you speak to me, Turak sent his orders yesterday." He swaggered into

the room, "And none of it bodes well for you."

"The room has a bit of a draft, don't you think?" Jack motioned towards the pane less

window.

"And you," Turak came close to where Anamaria stood, "feelin' any better?"

"How did you know about that?" the casual pose was gone, now alertness and the

beginnings of deep-seated anger resided in Jack's eyes. Ruyifor took out a handkerchief

never letting it come above his waist. "Remember this?"

"What--?" then her eyes widened in fear, when they had gagged her on board Blood's

Revenge. It all made sense now, the sickness once they reached the brig, it had all

concluded in a horrifying result.

"You cowardly son of a dog!" Jack bellowed and lunged at the bars forgetting himself. Rage raced through his veins as red mist clouded before his eyes. He had poisoned Annamaria, he was the one that had made her suffer, he was the source for all the pain she went through. Annamaria stared at Jack in shock, she had only seen this side of him once before, when Barbossa took over the Black Pearl.

"Better watch what you say, pirate, or else she won't get the antidote." Ruyifor crossed his

arms gleefully, it was another matter of leverage. One that he would push to the limits

before making Jack beg for her life.

"What be you asking for it?" Jack knew that nothing in life came free especially not from

the enemies' side.

"You'll see soon enough, but until then I'll need cooperation from you on the whereabouts

of the Black Pearl. As man of the Navy, I have as much claim to the Pearl as the next

man. I intend to collect what's my due."

"So you want me to tell you where the Black Pearl is headed when I don't know where 'tis

meself, when you made me abandon it to the open sea and my crew as well? Why do you

think Id know where it is not to mention if it's even still afloat?" a calculating light came

over his expression. He was Jack Sparrow, mate, and if he couldn't beat his opponents out

by physical strength he'd beat them with a match of intellect.

"You're the bloody captain of the ship! You're telling me you don't know where it's

headed?" Ruyifor roared at the end of his patience.

"Shoulda asked me bout that when I was first brought aboard the Navy's ship." Jack

grinned a gold-toothed smile, "For I don't know where it's going to set port, savvy?"

"Take care of your whore for she'll not last much longer." Ruyifor was once again in

control of his emotions. He still had the upper hand here and his hand was not yet entirely

played out yet. "Think on that, I'll be back later."

"You still haven't addressed the little problem of the window." Jack sighed as the door

shut again. "I'm telling you, love, they just don't make a prison like they used too."

He knew he was putting Annamaria's life at risk, but he saw no point in giving the rest of his crew and the Pearl to the Navy. They'd all be hanged and Annamaria would be no better off.

If they believed him, which was doubtful considering the short amount of time he'd had to concoct a story, they'd be desperate to find the Pearl. They would dispatch men, which would leave less of them to guard him and Annamaria. Jack would then plan their escape, assuming his plan worked as it should.

His plans never worked as he expected them to, but this time it needed to. Annamaria's life wasn't something he could play with forever, he needed to get them out of there and he needed to do it quickly.