-Talia-

I knew the Flintlock Pub was seedy, but it seemed to increase in seediness whenever I stepped foot in it. This particular morning, I was seated peacefully at a table, when I found meself completely surrounded by glowing-faced, heart-eyed, chattering men. Arg. Several of them made horrid pick-up lines and scurried away to buy drinks or something. Fools. Anyway, one bigot approached me and grinned after hearing me announcement of me occupation as captain of the Death Lily.

"So you're the captain of the Death Lily?" He said. I sneered unpleasantly.

"Aye."

"Well! I feel bad for them men! Everyone knows women are bad luck on ships! Except if they're a captive from a raid, and even then they're only good for one night!" He seemed to find this uproariously funny and began to laugh as if it was some sort of royal joke. So I ripped out his eye. What's the difference, he didn't need it in the fir's place. While he agonized over the loss, I debated cleaning off me knife with his shirt, but decided to decline.

"Yer welcome to share yer opinion, and I'm open to it, but only if yer ready and willin' to lose both o' yer eyes." He probably didn't hear me, seeing as he was making the ruckus of the century, but the other man clearly did, and a few of them slowly backed away. Wonderful. I turned to leave.

"Cap'n." I heard that as I emerged from the building. Oh, right, I should probably introduce meself. Me name is Captain Talia Frost, and, as I mentioned before, I be the captain of the Death Lily. Moving on. I turned to face the one who addressed me, fully aware of who it was. "I thought I'd find you here."

"Didja now?" I narrowed me eyes and smiled. "Asher."

"Cap'n." He smiled, too. There was a long pause as we stared at each other, then one of us blinked and I looked away. Dem Asher. Wasting me time while I stare at him and he stares back. I inquired on news of the whereabouts of me brother, of which he had none, then we went on our merry way, if ye could call it that.

"Your knife's bloody," He commented. I grinned, nodding slightly. "'been fighting again?" I glanced at him, but something caught me eye first, so I held up me hand to silence him.

Near me ship, staring up dumbly, was a figure, blonde, wearing a jacket and looking slightly uninterested. And.

They needed to get away from me ship.

I charged forward, dragging Asher along with me, and tapped them on the shoulder, startling them, and bringing them to turn around. A woman. Good, fine, whatever.

"You, wench." I glared. She raised her eyebrows. "What're ye doing by me ship--" Her overly bright smile interrupted me. "What?"

"Talia!" She exclaimed. Before she could say anything else, I held up me hand and silenced her, like I had done with Asher. I took a brief moment to ponder why she would address me by me first name. I'd never met her, she didn't look familiar. So there was only one excuse--she was stupid. Very, very stupid.

I grabbed her by the collar. "Where do ye get off, callin' me by me first name, huh?" She should have looked surprised, but she didn't. She looked a little worried, though.

"You don't know me?" Solution--she was crazy. Yep.

".I've never seen ye in me life." I said plainly. Right as the words came out of me mouth, something flashed before me eyes.and it looked like the woman in front of me. I said nothing.

"Oh." The woman looked downcast, then a bit frustrated. I heard her mutter, "demmit." but still I said nothing. After a few moments of silence, I let her go and crossed me arms. I was still wondering why I saw that flash.

"Why are ye staring at me ship?" I finally asked. She looked up, seemingly remembering that she was standing in front of me, making a fool of herself. I mean, did she really think that she knew me? Personally?

"Oh." She paused, looking around, then got a look of suspicion on her face, a smile unfurling. Now what? "I can prove that I know you, but you may not like what you hear." What did she mean" I narrowed me eyes and raised me face slightly. I wasn't sure if I she accept or not. I looked at Asher, who raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

".Fine." Of all the people I had met, who knew who I was, she was the least afraid. I wondered why.

"Your name is Talia Frost, captain of the Death Lily. Your brother, who you are looking for currently, is named Adrian and he is your twin. He has an eye patch on his right eye. Your first mate, the man behind you, is Asher, and he hates swimming. Your doctor is Chess, sometimes called Mr. Chess, and he often plays cards with Ryan, your quartermaster." I stared. Stalker. She needed to be killed immediately. But she evidently saw me hand inching toward me knife and held up her hand. "Wait, wait! Hear me out!" I sneered. Maybe. What else did she have to say?" ".You aren't going to want to hear this.but maybe if I tell you, it'll jog your memory."

"We'll see." I highly doubted that. She was more likely crazy than correct. But I'd listen--after all, I still was stumped about why I had that flash of this woman.

".Well.as much as I hate to say this.near the middle of this year, you'll find your brother.and a few months after that, he'll die of Consumption." I inhaled slightly and narrowed me eyes. A prophecy? And about me brother, no less. But she wasn't finished. "And.shortly after that." She glanced at Asher warily. No way. "er.Asher.will die of an attack from a man who stalks you.and finally," I could not believe meself! I was actually letting her finish! ".that same man will kill me."

There was a resounding silence among us. Somehow this woman knew a load of information about me ship and it's crew, plus she knew the fate of me brother, Asher, and herself. Did that mean she was dead? Or something? I didn't reach for me knife--probably because Asher had just dropped his hand on me shoulder to prevent me from doing so.

"How did ye know all that?" I demanded. As I said it, a voice echoed through me head, sounding like me own, only quieter. "How's Adrian?" Another voice. "He's." I shook me head slightly. What was going on?

".Because I traveled on your ship, the binding factor in a deal between you and Jack Sparrow."

Without a second thought, me hands flew to her collar again. "How do ye know him!?" She stared at me, looking somewhat frightened now. Good. Making progress. "What do ye mean a deal between me and.Jack Sparrow?" She had no idea what a mess she was getting herself into. She hesitated.

"Well.it's really very difficult to explain.an-and even I don't know how to say it." She flinched slightly. "S-something has happened.and.I guess the past has changed. We shouldn't even be having this conversation." What was she talking about? "What do you have against Jack?"

I narrowed me eyes further and me lips curled over me teeth. "He fought me uncle and tried to take 'is ship," I spat, releasing her. "Leastaways, he's dead now." I turned slightly, me eyes on the ground.

".Jack.didn't try to steal your uncle's ship. Your uncle stole it from Jack and he was trying to reclaim it. Jack was supposed to have won that fight.and your uncle's supposed to be dead."

It seemed me hands were getting accustomed to her shirt collar, for there they were again, grasping her shirt tightly, instruments suppressing a beast. me face was now so close to hers, I could smell her fear. me voice was barely a whisper, but was forced in rage. "Say that again, why don't ye."

"You heard me the first time."

It struck me as a bit odd when she said this. She seemed, at that time, so afraid I'd kill her, yet she replied with such confidence. Perhaps it was her intention to catch me off guard. Perhaps not. In either case, I let go, shaking with anger, mostly out of anger with her. ".So what do ye want?" I asked at length, after fuming for a few minutes.

"Let me join your crew." She said. I sneered. I was deathly afraid of that.

"Why?" I snapped. "What reason have ye?" She did not even flinch--she must have known I would ask that. I hoped she wouldn't have a good reason.

".I'll help you find your brother." I turned all the way toward her (as opposed to looking away from her but having me body facing her). That was a very good reason. I clenched me fists. Pressing me lips tightly together, I glanced halfheartedly at Asher for guidance--but he gave me an equally helpless look and shrugged. I turned back to the woman and glared. With a touch of sarcasm, I snipped, "Anything else, miss?"

"Actually, one more thing." She didn't miss a beat! I hadn't been serious! I gave her a furious look that said, "What is it??" ".Give what I told you a chance. I know I wasn't dreaming or anything." I did not reply. I merely stared at her, wondering what I should say. ".In return, I'll do whatever you want on your ship, I'm just asking, please. Try to remember."

Another long silence, then I crossed me arms and looked away, shifting me jaw. "Fine." I growled. "Name?"

"Sarah Warren, but I prefer Pandora."

"Oh, prefer. Ye prefer Pandora, lovely." I wondered if allowing her to join was a wise decision or not. She could be an enemy.something seemed vaguely.villainous about her.but I wanted to find me brother--and I wanted to know what those flasher were about, and it seemed this."Pandora" was the only resort.

Great.