Author's Note: Sorry for the short chaps, guys, it's not on purpose, I swear!  It's just the way that this story is working out.  Anyway, I got a review today from "Willette aka Belle" today (formerly "Jingle Bells' Jack) asking where the name Ahriman came from, so I wanted to take a minute to let all of you know my crazy little system for choosing names for my OCs.  I like to think of a trait that the character will have, or something that they represent, then look up names and meanings and see what I like.  Here's a little list for this story:

Cordelia: Daughter of the Sea (Obviously)

Ahriman: Evil Spirit (Self explanatory, taking after his father and all)

Dolon: Trojan Spy (he spied on Jack and Cordy)

…and in case you're curious about our dear Captian Sparrow, Jack means: God is Gracious (One can take that in so many ways in his case *s*).

O.K., that's my lesson for today – enjoy some more story!

******

Jack was at the helm of The Black Pearl when Lyon came back into view.  Anamaria stood beside him, a very worried expression on her face.  "I ne'er thought she'd fit in so well, Jack," she said softly.  "It's like she was meant t' be 'ere."

Jack's response was soft.  "Well, tha's done now, she can' stay on the ship."

"I can' wait t' see ye try an' tell 'er tha'."

"About tha', Ana, there are a few things we 'ave t' discuss before we dock."  Jack's face bore an expression that she'd never seen before.  She'd seen him happy, angry, drunk, indifferent…and what she had seen when she found him in his cabin earlier, but nothing like this.  He looked like he could fall apart at any moment, and without warning.  His eyes met hers, and they were pleading with her as he spoke.  "Ana, I'm goin' t' ask ye t' do somethin', an' I don' want any arguments."

Anamaria's worry increased.  "Jack, I…"

"Ana, please," Jack begged.

"All right," she reluctantly sighed.

"When we reach shore, I'm goin' t' find out where Ahriman took Cordelia, then I need ye to take a few o' the crew an' go get her."

"Isn' bein' 'er hero yer job?  Especially after…"

"No," Jack said sternly, interrupting her.  He then softened his tone.  "Ana, I don' know where Ahriman is…if Cordy really is a Barbossa, an' if 'e sees me with 'er…I'm willin' t' bet 'e'd rather see 'er dead than with me – I can' risk tha'."

Anamaria understood Jack's point.  "So, we go an' get 'er.  Then wha'?"

"Ye get on The Pearl an' take 'er t' Port Royal an' ye make sure tha' she gets t' Will an' Elizabeth."  Jack then handed her a folded piece of paper; she tried to open it, but Jack stopped her.  "Eunuchs only," he said with a shadow of a smile.

"Jack, why do I 'ave the feelin' tha' yer not goin' back with us?" she asked softly.

"Tha' would be due t' the fact tha' I'm not," Jack replied, his voice solemn.

Anamaria's eyes were wide in disbelief.  "Wha'?  'Ave ye gone crazy, Jack?  Yer not makin' a bit o' sense!  Ye love 'er!"

"Aye, an' I can' forgive meself for lettin' tha' bastard take 'er…besides, I bet I'm the last person she wants t' see."

Anamaria was getting angry.  "An' jus' wha' am I s'posed t' tell 'er when she's askin' fer ye, Jack?"

Jack turned away.  "Ye tell 'er I'm dead."

"I wha'?"  The female pirate leaned against the rail of the ship.  "Well, it finally 'appened – tha' damn rum got t' yer brain!"

"S'not the rum, Ana!" he yelled.  She watched him lose the fight with his tears.  "It's me.  I'm a bloody pirate.  I…I couldn' trust 'er, Ana!  I 'ad no reason t' think she'd lie t' me, an' much as I love 'er, I couldn' trust 'er – an' now she 'as more than enough reason not t' trust me.  She's better off without me, an'…I'm better off on me own.  I can' hurt anyone when I'm alone.  Pirates aren' s'posed t' love anythin' but their ship and treasure…an' pirates…pirates can' be loved."

Ignoring the last of his comments, Anamaria said, "She's a bright lass, Jack, wha' if she doesn' believe me?"

Jack slowly removed his bandana from his head.  His hands shook as he handed it to Anamaria.  "Give 'er this."

She gently took the item of clothing that never seemed to leave Jack's body under any circumstance.  "She's gonna ask what 'appened t' ye."

"An' tha's when ye tell 'er tha' I fought with Ahriman – an' we both lost."

"Wha'?" 

"Oh, I forgot t' mention tha' I'm killin' 'im, did I?"

"Ye are?"

"Aye.  Look, take the ship an' crew t' Tortuga after ye take Cordy t' Port Royal.  I'll meet ye there by the end o' the week."

"How?"  Anamaria was growing tired of her one and two word questions.

"I 'ave me ways," he replied.  His eyes drifted back to the water.  "Ana, tell 'er tha' the last thing tha' I said was tha' I love 'er."

"Why not skip the dramatics an' tell 'er yerself, ye coward?"

"This is better for 'er – jus' do wha' I asked, Ana!"  With that, Jack began to shout out orders for docking in Lyon.

Anamaria went to tell Gibbs and a few others about what they were to do once they hit land.  She's gonna wan' you, Jack, not us.  Ye better hope I keep yer bloody secret.