Drama! Tension! Phoenix kidnapped! Arg!

***

A Hard Man To Predict

'Why didn't you just take the ship when you had the chance?'

Santos ignores her, and tickles the small dark skinned boy under the chin.

'The Black Pearl could be yours now! Are you mad?'

Santos gets to his feet.

'I'm not mad. It's not just the Pearl I want.'

'What else is there?'

Santos's eyes narrow.

'I want Jack Sparrow on his knees, begging for his life. I want him to watch his daughter die. I want to see his face when he knows what you've done.'

His words make Anamaria's blood run cold. This man is the purest evil; the stuff of nightmares.

'What have I done?'

'You betrayed him to me for a ship, Ana. This ship.'

'I had no choice,' she whispers, her voice barely audible.

He moves towards her, full of malice.

'You sold yourself to me for a ship, you gave him to me on a platter, and you put your son's life in danger, all for a ship.'

'I had no choice! You took my son, you threatened to kill him, I didn't want to do any of it you bastard!'

She raises her hand and makes to hit him, but he catches her hand before the blow connects.

'Be careful, Ana. You wouldn't want any harm to come to the little one now, would you?'

He is too close; she can feel his hot foul breath on her face. She has to fight down the disgust she feels for this vile, despicable Spaniard, but he can sense it in her. She hears a giggle, and on the rug in the corner her son is playing with his toes. He looks up at her, a big smile on his face.

'Mama, look!' he says, and giggles more.

She feels a rush of love for him, and sheer loathing and hatred for Santos, who has destroyed her. She would like nothing more than to see his plot fail, but her fear for her son prevents her from taking any action.

'Why don't you go and see to Miss Sparrow? I'll take care of little James here.'

Ana wants to spit in his face, but she does as she is told.

------

Phoenix is slowly returning to consciousness. She has been tied to a chair in an empty storeroom, which is bare except for a table, with both of her long daggers on it, and a very large man leaning on the door. He never takes his eyes off of her, and she is beginning to find it rather unnerving.

There is a knock at the door, and the giant opens it, cautiously. A dark woman who looks oddly familiar steps inside.

'Get out,' she says to the giant, and he hurriedly makes his exit, closing the door behind him.

The woman meanders over to the table, and picks up one of Phoenix's daggers, examining it.

'This is very good workmanship, Phoenix. You have good taste in weaponry.'

Phoenix doesn't know what to say, so she says nothing.

'I saw you the night you fought with your father at Scarlet's,' she continues. 'I'd been there before, and I thought you were familiar, but I didn't realise until that night exactly what was so recognisable about you. You're very good with these,' she says, indicating the daggers. 'Jack must be very proud.'

Phoenix registers the woman's use of her father's first name.

'Who are you and what do you want with me?'

'My name is Anamaria. I don't want anything with you, but Captain Santos has some very interesting plans for you. Your father is going to give Santos the Pearl in exchange for you.'

'What's in it for you?'

Anamaria smiles broadly, although the smile is fake. 'I get this ship, naturally. I did have one of my own years ago, but it was stolen by the inestimable Captain Sparrow. This is...payback.'

'Isn't that rather petty?'

In one smooth step Anamaria is in front of Phoenix, with Phoenix's cheek stinging from the blow she has just delivered.

'In your position, it would be unwise to annoy me. Just sit tight and be a good girl, and you'll be back home before you know it. If you're not a good girl, then you can expect a trip to the ocean floor. Is that clear?'

Phoenix nods, wishing her hands were free.

'Good.'

She spins around, and leaves the room. The guard is standing in the corridor, and she motions for him to go back to Phoenix.

Anamaria leans against the wall outside. That girl reminds her of her when she was young, full of fire and certain of her path in life. Just you wait, Anamaria thinks to herself, just you wait until some dog with a grudge against the man you love steals your son away and uses him to blackmail you. Then see where all your certainty goes.

***

I know this is a shorter chapter, but trust me, there is a higher plan! Plus it's late and I'm tired and I'm falling asleep at the keyboard....zzzzzzzz.....