Title: Gypsy Revenge

Summary: Jack stumbles across a small band of rogue gypsy women, but has no idea that one of them is looking for *him*, with one thing on her mind – revenge.

Disclaimer: I own no part of Pirates of the Caribbean, the actors, or any of the merchandise. I've never even been on the ride! C'mon, do ya think I would have let them get through the whole movie without Jack takin' his shirt off? Seriously people!

A/N: I'm taking a break from "Life After Death" because I'm getting serious writer's block when it comes to sitting down and writing it, so I've started this one to get my mind away from the idea of that one, to give my brain a break! Don't worry, tho, because it will probably be finished before this one is!

~*~*~

Prologue: Gypsy Customs

The usual peaceful summer night was no more. A bonfire burned tall and strong, women and men alike danced around it, but it was not in celebration. The Priestess, dressed in a deep red skirt, gold top, much like a corset, and her usual gold armbands, necklaces, and headpiece, stood in front of the bonfire, arms outstretched.

"You all know the laws! You all know the punishments for those laws! As does she!" she finished, pointing to where a woman was bound against a wooden pole, head raised defiantly. The crowd went wild, throwing things at the woman, calling names and insults. The woman didn't move. She had dried blood caked to the side of her face, matted in her hair, her clothes were ripped to almost shreds, and her jewellery had been removed.

The Priestess held her hands up for silence. "You have one last chance to speak – say what you will." The woman looked past the Priestess, to where a young girl stood, also bound. "The laws..." she started, before coughing and beginning again, louder. "The law spares one, upon the other's death – my death, for her life." The Priestess smiled, "The laws also say that upon the death of one, the other, and those she lives with, will be banished – do you wish this upon your household?"

The woman nodded, feeling the tears fill her eyes. She would do anything to save her daughter, the one link to him she had left.... The Priestess nodded, "Very well. Cut her free – take her to the wagon, along with the others." The few men standing nearby jumped to obey, dragging the ten-year-old girl to the empty wagon that once passed as a home, and locking her inside.

The girl pounded on the door, tears rolling down her face, "Let me out! I wanna die wi' her! Please, let me out!" No one moved to let her out, no one blinked twice.

Back at the fire, the Priestess waited until the girl was locked away, and the other four were being dragged to the wagon before starting again. She looked at the woman, "You were my sister, and for this I give you one last chance to redeem yourself in front of our Gods...."

The woman said nothing as the Priestess shook her head sadly. She said nothing as the men started to take burning branches and position them around her. It was only as the fire caught onto her clothes that she yelled out two words, "Jack Sparrow!"

It was these two words that the child heard, and the child knew what they meant. She swore to herself that she would kill the man who'd killed her mother.

~*~*~

A/N: How's that to get you started??