Hello there faithful readers (and new ones!!!) Well here's the next chapter! This one turned out a little longer then I had planned but I've heard people prefer longer chapters but I don't know, lol! So yea here goes nothing tell me what you think and I promise the next chapter will be more interesting (not that this one isn't lol!!) So read on faithful readers! HA HA

Bballblondie: hola chica! I'm glad you liked my story (I like it to lol!!) this chapter might take you a little longer to read ha ha ha!! So yeah enjoy and tell me how it goes! It's called giving me a review! lol! Anyways enjoy and I'll see you soon!! Luv ya lots!~ Kate

Chapter Five

"Wake up wench," Kate was woken the next morning by the jail keeper. She sat up squinting in the bright sunlight.

She glared up at him, "I'm awake but what the hell do you want?"

The huge man grinned revealing a mouth full of ugly green teeth, "There's a hangin' this mornin' and I think you're scheduled to be there."

Kate looked around and discovered that Jack wasn't in the cell anymore. She turned back to him, "Is that so? Well lead the way." She got to her feet and he slapped irons on her wrists. He leered at her and she smiled sweetly back.

As they walked along the corridor towards the sound of a jeering crowd she spoke to the jail keeper, "Where's the man they brought in with me?"

"The other pirate ya mean?" he replied. "He's already at the gallows. Didn't want you two makin' any trouble."

Kate nodded but didn't respond. The sunlight was near blinding as she was tugged through the crowds of people. Squinting she spotted Jack already standing placidly under the noose. He grinned good-naturedly at her when she was placed from him under another noose.

"Beautiful mornin' eh luv?" Jack said.

Kate frowned and growled at him, "It would be if I knew what has put you in such a bloody good mood!"

Jack raised and eyebrow and turned his gaze into the crowd. Following it she spotted Will's unmistakable hat and with Will she saw Ana Maria and Pitney. Kate's eyes grew big, how had Jack known they would come?

Turning back to her he winked, "That would put anyone in the gallows in a good mood."

"Hear now what are you two lovebirds jabbering about?" a guard snapped.

"Lovebirds?" Kate spat. "Not hardly."

Jack pretended to look crestfallen, "Ah luv you've hurt me deep, ya have."

"Shut yer mouths both of ya," he said as an announcer started reading off their last rights.

"Jack Sparrow has been convicted of...."

"Captain Jack Sparrow," he muttered.

Kate rolled her eyes but was almost dying with laughter by the time the announcer had finished Jack's convictions. Some of which were rather comical.

"Kate Morgan has been convicted of...."

As her convictions were read she lost interest as she was closely following Will's feathered hat. They were moving closer to the daises they stood upon. As the executioner gave his final call, "Hence the pirate's Morgan and Sparrow are condemned. May God take mercy upon their souls," Will shouted and the crowd parted. Kate barely saw the flash of steel as all at once he threw two swords and the floor beneath her gave out.

Her heart skipped a beat before she realized that her feet had landed on one of the swords. Grinning she twirled herself around to find Jack in the same position. "They've done this before," she thought and rolled her eyes, "There'll be no living with him after this."

She watched as Will kicked the executioner head first into the crowd and cut down Jack. She heard him land with a muffled thud and then heard him yank the sword free. Will quickly moved to Kate and he talked to her as he fought off two or three soldiers.

"When I cut you down take the sword 'neath you and follow Jack," he shouted as he gave the last soldier a nudge of the platform with his foot.

"Get me the hell down already!" she replied and Will grinned as he cut the rope she all but dangled from. Kate felt herself fall and before she knew it had landed gracefully on her feet. Slicing her bonds on the sword she shed the ropes and yanked the sword from the wood.

Looking about she caught sight of Jack fighting his way through some soldiers and all the time grinning like a drunken fool.

"His brain is probably permanently damaged from all the rum he drinks," she muttered to herself as she ran forward to join Jack.

"How did you manage that?" Kate shouted as she ran full force into the wall of soldiers Jack was fending off.

Jack merely grinned and replied, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

Sighing exasperatedly she plowed forward making a path for her through the soldiers into the street beyond. Soon to follow were Jack, Will, Ana Maria, and Pitney. Rushing forward they made their way to the docks.

Kate turned sharply into and alleyway that led to the docks. Once safely hidden in the shadows she stopped and turned to the rest of them. All four were looking at her curiously. "What about the clues?" she asked. "We have to get back to The Deep and figure out if there is anything there that will help us figure out that bloody map."

Ana Maria threw her hands up in annoyance, "This is ridiculous. If we stay they will find all of us and throw us back in jail." She looked unbelievingly at the rest of her companions.

"Kate's right," Will said. "If we don't go back to The Deep we won't ever figure out that map."

"Will wasn't there with us the first time," Jack mused and proceeded to tell them how they were going to get into the tavern.

Minutes later Will was striding into The Deep (without his hat! hehe), Kate close behind disguised as a man. Turning Will grinned arrogantly at her, "Get me a drink boy."

Kate raised an eyebrow and gave him a disgusted look but made her way to the bar anyway. "Rum," she said her voice deep and low. The man behind the counter, a different one from the first time, nodded and went to retrieve her drink.

She turned to glare at Will, who taking the hint, came to join her. "Found something?" he asked.

She shook her head and leaned closer to whisper in his ear. "Stay here and keep a sharp eye," she frowned. "And don't do anything stupid to draw attention to yourself." Will shook his head irritated and opened his mouth. "Ah ah ah," she smiled. "Later."

When the bartender came back with the drink Will spoke with him. "We need a room," he said. "Any available?"

He nodded and reached under the bar for a key, "First one on your left mate."

"My thanks," Will said his tone monotonous and uninterested. Turning he looked at Kate and saw her grin.

"Aye that's the room we need," she said. "Thank the gods we didn't run into any trouble getting it."

Will nodded and followed her up the stairs. They entered the room before either of them spoke again. Looking around at the small, grimy room he had a hard time believing this was where they were going to find anything concerning a treasure.

But Kate seemed to believe otherwise. She was snooping around the room seemingly occupied with her search.

Will sat down in a nearby chair and stretched out his legs, "What exactly are you looking for?"

"Shut up," she said without looking at him. Now she started muttering to herself, "Past the dead man's threat, past the dead man's..." She froze as her eyes came to rest on the window. Looking out into the distance she saw two corpses swaying in the sea breeze. Their faces were small but still leered eerily towards the window she looked at.

She whirled around to look at the other side of the room. There straight across from the window hung the portrait of a man long dead. She moved swiftly across the room and snatched the picture from the wall.

Will stood up immediately, "How did you know that was there?"

Kate grinned at him, "It's not true what they say you know." She gestured towards the window, "Dead men have plenty of tales to tell." She turned her attention back to the wall and the words written upon it.

Not everything is what it seems. Ye be warned.

"What does it mean?" Will asked.

"Shut up," Kate said again and turned her gaze to the room. "Not everything is what it seems, past the witch's eye. Of course!" She stalked to the bed next to the window and threw open the drawer of the bedside table. She withdrew a card the held the strangest symbol Will had ever seen. It seemed to be a maze of lines interlocking and twisting together to form a foreboding resemblance to an eye.

"What the hell is that?"

"It's the witch's eye," she replied. "The pirates that sailed with my father had a habit of leaving one wherever they went. It was a sign to other pirates that they had been there." She lifted her sleeve to reveal a tattoo much like the sparrow on Jack's arm but the tattoo on her arm was the witch's eye engulfed in flames. "See," she replied and turned the card over to read aloud. "Be warned the blood that hath been spilt."

"The blood that hath been spilt," she murmured. "Past the blood red." Will watched in silence as she concentrated on the room. "Something's different about it. It's been changed."

"What do you-"

"Shh," she said and closed her eyes. She let her mind go back to the night when her father had died. She saw the room filled with pirates, could smell and see every detail. She could clearly see her father lying on the bed. "But what's different?" she sighed frustrated. Suddenly her eyes flew wide.

"What?" Will asked.

"The bed," she said. "It wasn't here against this wall. It was centered in the middle of the room," she paused her eyes alight, "As if to hide something." Both she and Will looked down to find a deep red rug in the middle of the room.

Bending Kate threw the rug aside revealing yet another witch's eye but this time it was drawn in blood. She drew a breath in sharply, "We walk on dangerous ground."

"Why?"

"Tis a warning," she replied. "That sign is made of blood and it is a sign of death to see such."

Will sighed, "Well that makes me feel better about all this. And what does it have to do with anything?"

"My father and his crew used blood warnings to guard things," she replied with a smile. "Pirate's are very superstitious."

"I don't-" he stopped as she started to feel for a loose board around the design on the floor. "This is pointless-" Yet again he stopped as her fingers came to rest in a crack and popped the floorboard up. He rubbed his neck, "It's scary how much you and Jack are alike."

Kate scowled at him and gestured towards the lamp by the door. "Light that and bring it over here. It's to dark to see what's under here." Will lit the lamp and set it on the floor next to her.

She bent over and peered into the dark space beneath the floor. She frowned and stuck her hand inside, "This is disgusting."

He grinned, "Aye that's why you're doing it."

"Such a gentleman," she said sarcastically. "Oh I found something." She pulled her hand out and revealed a black box that was dirty and slimy from years below the floor.

Will sighed, "You were right again."

"There's someone coming," she said and pressed a finger to her lips so they could listen.

"Aye we had some travelers come through 'ere not to long ago," someone said coming up the stairs.

"That's the bartender," Will hissed. She nodded and hushed him.

"We're looking for two pirate's, male and female," someone replied.

"Damn it," Kate breathed. "Let's hope they didn't find the others."

She paused as the bartender spoke right outside their door now. "It was only a respectable young man and his servant. Probably just arrived and need a place to stay."

"Doesn't matter," the other man replied. "We need to question any and all that might know something. If their strangers they might be in league with the pirates." The man started banging on the door. "Open up by order of the Royal Navy!"

"Just a moment!" Will shouted. He turned to Kate, "The window?"

She nodded, "I'll wait for you. When they leave come down through the window and we'll go find Jack and the others." He nodded and she hurried to the window climbing out. He watched her land gracefully on her feet and at her nod strode to the door to open it.

He smiled good-naturedly, "What can I do for you fine gentlemen tonight?"

The soldier peered into his room, "I was told you have another with you? Where is he?"

Will pointed absently out the door, "I sent him on an errand. We've only just arrived at the docks and I needed a few supplies."

"I told you he was nothing to worry about," the bartender said. "But I'll leave you two to the talking." He turned and went back down the stairs.

"What seems to be the trouble?" Will asked.

"Two captured pirates were supposed to be hung today but escaped. We're searching for them," he replied. "One male, one female. Have you seen anything suspicious Mr.?"

"Mr. Smith," Will said and paused pretending thoughtfulness, "Well I've only been here a short time but nothing seemed out of the ordinary."

The soldier looked around the room once more and nodded, "You're cooperation was appreciated, sir. Report anything you think might be suspicious. Good night Mr. Smith."

Will nodded as he moved to the other rooms, "Goodnight." He shut the door behind him and turned the lock silently. Quickly he moved to the window and look down. Kate waved for him to come so he slithered out the window and landed softly next to her.

"They bought it," he said.

"Good," she replied. "Now we have to get back to the others without getting caught."

"What about the box? Don't you want to know what's in there?" he asked.

"It can wait till we get back to the ships. Besides it's locked and I have nothing to break it with," with that she crept around the side of the tavern and without much hindrance made it back to the others waiting in a nearby alleyway.

When they turned the corner they found Pitney and Ana Maria talking quietly and Jack brooding silently, all ensconced in shadows.

"We got it," Kate called softly.

Jack looked up from his pensive state and grinned, "Tonight's just full of surprises isn't it?"

Kate smiled sardonically back at him, "We have to get back to the ship, this place is crawling with soldiers."

Jack nodded, "Let's go." He gestured to Pitney and Ana Maria and they followed. "Have you opened it yet?" Jack spoke softly as they crept through the docks.

She shook her, "It can wait." Once more silent she followed Jack as they climbed into the small boat they had come on shore with. The Night Flame and the Black Pearl were hidden off shore away from curious eyes.

As they rode in silence, the only sound the soft splashing of the oars, Kate thought how eerily quiet it was. She looked around as though expecting to see someone or something watching them but there was only the gently rolling sea and the soft hum of the city off shore.

Instead her vision came to rest on Jack who again seemed deep in thought, something she didn't often associate him with. Turning she saw Will in the same state, as though he was lost and drifting through his mind.

Suddenly the sound of shouting brought them all out of their silence. "What was that?" Ana Maria asked.

"Quiet," Jack hissed. He had stopped rowing and looked around intently trying to locate the source of the sound. "There," he pointed into the darkness towards a line of trees that was only just blocking their view of the Night Flame and Pearl. "There are four men."

"Soldiers?" Kate asked moving up to sit next to him.

"No," he replied. "But they could be trouble."

"Well we can't just sit here," Will said.

"We're not going to," Kate replied. "We should go on shore and follow them. No doubt they've spotted the ships."

Jack nodded and started rowing again, all the time keeping his eyes on the exploring men. Minutes later they were scrambling onto the sandy beach. "Silence is key here," Jack said looking pointedly at Will and Ana Maria.

"Let's go," Kate whispered and they set off following the sounds of people crashing through underbrush.

Suddenly Jack came to a very abrupt halt. Kate who had been following him nearly knocked him down. He turned to frown at her. "What?" she whispered. "Why did you-" She didn't need to finish her sentence, she could see what.

On the beach there stood four rough looking men who were laughing gleefully if not slightly drunkenly over their discovery of the two pirate ships.

"Oh we're going to be rich!" one of them exclaimed.

"Doesn't look like there's anyone on 'em though does it?" another one commented.

"Maybe they belong to those pirate's that escaped the hanging today," the first one said. "Might be around here somewhere. And there's bound to be a price on their heads."

Jack stepped out of the cover of trees before anyone could pull him back. "Evening gents," he said and swaggered towards them. All four turned to survey the man who had seemed to appear out of nowhere. "Seems you stumbled upon a little secret here doesn't it?"

A third man spoke up, "And who are you then?"

"Me?" he grinned and drew his pistol. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

The man's face went slack with surprise and the rest of the men narrowed their eyes. "All alone, eh Captain?" one of them asked and drew his own pistol.

Jack turned towards him, "Put it away man. You wouldn't want your friends here to tell everyone you got beat by a pirate."

"It's four against one," the man sneered. "How could I possibly lose?"

Kate grinned, Jack was very good at his job but she wasn't about to miss out on all the fun. She turned to the others and whispered, "Stay put." Standing she drew her sword.

The noise of the sword brought the four men's attention to the smaller figure that emerged from the trees.

"Looks gents," one of them laughed. "It's a little woman."

"Come to steal out glory have ye lass?" another asked.

"On the contrary," she said with a smile. "Quite the opposite."

They all looked at her curiously. "What would you be meaning by that?" the first man piped up.

Kate smiled, "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Captain Kate Morgan and that," she paused pointing at the Night Flame, "is my ship. The Night Flame."

The biggest of the four men took a step forward and sneered in her face, "Do you mean to tell me that a woman like you captains a ship and calls herself a pirate?"

Kate growled under her breath and Jack chuckled, "You don't want to be doing that mate."

He turned on Jack now, "And why is that. The daft wench thinks she's a pirate. Wouldn't you find that amusing?"

"Not when she really is a pirate and has the temper of a hellcat," he replied.

The big man raised an eyebrow and turned back to her, "A hellcat. She doesn't even reach my shoulder what could she do, eh? Probably doesn't have the guts to kill, ARGH!" He shouted in pain and the rest of his companions looked up startled.

The pistol in Kate's hand was still smoking and the big man looked unbelievingly at her. "You shot me," he said and passed out cold.

"Damn right," she said silkily. She looked up at the three other men, "Anyone else care to play games?"

Jack laughed, "Always knew that temper would come in handy someday."

Kate rolled her eyes, "Aye and what are we to do with the rest of them?"

"Send them out to sea," Jack replied.

A short while later they were all standing on the beach watching as the four men gagged and bound floated away on the tide.

"Good riddance I say," Kate said watching after disgusted.

"Stupid blighters anyway," Pitney said.

"Fools if they thought to capture out ships with just the four of them," Jack replied.

"Question," Will said suddenly. "If we just sent them off in our boat how do we get back to the ships?"

Jack shook his head and let out a low whistle that seemed to echo through the surrounding trees. "Daunting that call is," Kate said shivering.

"Aye it's scared away a few in its time," Jack replied with a sinister grin.

"I wouldn't doubt it," she replied and proceeded to follow them as they headed off towards the ships.

*****

Well that was that chapter! I hope it wasn't to long or you didn't get bored! The next chapter will be up sometime this week! I have exams coming up so I have a lot of studying to do but I swear I will get the next chapter up this week so you all can find out what's in that black box Kate found! Anyways hope you all enjoyed it and if you have any comments, criticism, praise lol please feel free to REVIEW! and tell me! I love you all ~ Kate Sparrow