Hello everyone! I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter up! I was
busy during the weekend and this ended up being a little longer then I had
planned. Hehe! Here it is I hope you like it!!!
TheSiriusSparrow - YOU are awesome! Not to mention hilarious! Your stories are so funny! Anyone who reads my story needs to know your stories are hilarious! And there's no such thing as being on the computer too much, I agree!! lol!! I have to read the new chapters on your story to! SO much to do so little time. lol!!
Jessi Lupin - YAY! A new reader! Haha! I love it when new people start reading my story! YAY! And you are a very good writer! Your story is great!
Kai-Sparrow - HEHE! Another new reader!! Woo HOO! Okay sorry I'm done! Okay the last chapter was Kate dreaming about her past. The rest of the story is after Jack got the Black Pearl back from Barbossa. Does that help? Oh well if you want to know more just ask!!! Thanks so much for reading (an reviewing! Of course)!
Anaknusan - I'm glad that you think I've kept Jack in character! He's a really hard character to write so yeah thanks! I hope you like this chapter!
To anyone I may have missed I apologize mates and I'm glad you like the story as well!! Read on!
Chapter Ten
Will leaned against the railing of the Pearl looking at the island in the early morning sun. The day before, they had gone back to the ship upon discovering the stone caveat and had decided to wait one more day to start their venture into the unknown island.
Jack was in much the same position as Will but his mind seemed to be wandering elsewhere. Will looked at him, "Jack?"
Jack turned to look at Will, "Aye?"
Will laughed, "Sorry you just seemed so deep in thought. It's not like you this early in the morning."
Jack shrugged, "I was thinking about the first time Kate and I had what you might call an adventure together. Although I'd call it more of a nightmare to her."
Will frowned, "What happened?"
Jack shook his head, "It was before I had met you and come to Port Royal. I was still in search of Barbossa and I had enlisted the help of Kate. We were in search of an infamous crew of pirate's called the Night Raiders." Jack paused.
"Did you ever find them?"
"Aye," Jack replied. "Find them we did but not without a price. They discovered us and I was knocked unconscious. While I was unconscious they took Kate and held her captive. Before I could get to her or back to her ship though they had tracked down her first mate and brought her back to their camp dying."
"Who was her first mate?" Will asked.
"Galena Pitney," Pitney responded. "My older sister." Will looked surprised at Pitney. "Galena died that night."
"How?" Will asked.
"Well the pirate's told Kate that they were going to torture Galena till she was dead and Kate couldn't handle it," Jack replied. "They told her that she only had one other option and that was for Kate herself to kill her."
Will looked up in amazement, "Did she do it?"
Pitney nodded, "Aye Will. That she did and there isn't a finer pirate in all the seas. I can't say that I would have been able to do it myself but Galena had already been wounded and was dying. Kate didn't want her to suffer and decided it would save them both pain if she died quickly. I don't think Kate will ever forgive herself for that."
Will turned back to stare at the island, a new respect for Captain Kate Morgan in his eyes. "What happened to you Jack? Didn't you say you were unconscious?"
"Aye." Jack said. "But just as the Night Raider's captain was about to kill me I woke up and it's lucky for me I did because I saved both our lives."
Suddenly from below decks they heard a scream issue. The three looked at each other bewildered. Ana Maria came rushing up the stairs followed closely by Elizabeth, "Jack! 'Tis Kate! Somthin's amiss with her! She's screamin' and thrashin' about in her bed."
Jack nodded and followed Ana Maria below decks to where Kate had disappeared the night before. They found her asleep on a makeshift bed and seemingly in hysterical tears. "Galena! No!" she shouted.
Jack rushed forward and grabbed her shoulders. "Kate? Kate?" she tried to pull away from him but he wrapped his arms around her to calm her down. She stopped struggling but seemed unable to stem the flow of tears. Somehow when she looked up at Jack her eyes were open. Jack looked at her surprised, "Kate?"
She blinked once, and then again. "Jack? What happened? Is something the matter?" she was struggling to remember what had just happened.
"Only having a mild heart attack," Jack replied remembering himself and releasing her. "What was going on? You were raving like a mad woman."
Kate frowned, "I don't remember." Then suddenly she did and it hit her full force. The memories she had forced into the back of her mind under lock and key had somehow escaped to haunt her once more. All present saw her dark eyes glimmer with tears. "It was a dream," she paused. "A nightmare."
Pitney moved forward to crouch down in front of her. "You were shouting about Galena."
Kate shook her head, "Please Jule I can't talk about this."
Pitney looked surprised at her. It was the first time since her sister had died that she had called her Jule. "You dreamed about that night didn't you?" Pitney asked. "You lived it again."
Kate nodded holding back her tears now. "Oh god I'd forgotten how terrible it was. I can't believe that ever happened," she sighed. "It seemed like so long ago."
"It wasn't long ago," Jack reminded her. He scowled, "Was only weeks before I got the Pearl back."
Kate frowned up at him, "Thank you kindly for the reminder." She sighed and looked at the worried faces of the people in front of her. "I'm fine really," she shook her head. "Old ghosts have a way of sneaking up on you like that."
"When you least expect it," Jack replied. "Or when it's meant to happen."
Kate sighed, "The meaning of that statement would be?"
Will answered for him, "Would you find it ironic if just minutes before we heard you screaming we were talking about the night you were dreaming about?"
Kate looked up speechless. She looked from Jack to Pitney wordlessly. "Tis true," Jack replied. "I was thinking about it just as you were dreaming about it."
"The island?" Elizabeth asked. "Is it because of the island?"
"There's something not quite right about all this," Will said and nodded agreeing with Elizabeth's suggestion.
Kate scowled, "Something is trying to scare us away."
"Or that something is giving us a warning," Jack said. "It's like you said before, it was all to easy. Every guess we made was right, every clue led us exactly where we needed to go. It was almost like someone set us up to find it."
Kate shook her head, "But like *you* said before it could just be coincidence."
Jack nodded but gave her a serious look something she rarely if ever saw. It was a face Will and Elizabeth recognized from the moments after Jack had shot Barbossa. "Too many coincidences mean that something is rotten about this."
"So are we just going to give up on the treasure?" Will asked. "I mean we've come this far."
"Son," Jack replied. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow I never give up."
"That means we're still going after it," Kate replied watching him intently. "Although I'm beginning to think that maybe there is more behind this then first we thought."
"Well there's only one way to find out," Jack replied.
"Aye," Kate agreed. "We'll leave for the island this morning."
***
"Twenty paces south of the waterfall," Kate announced to the small band of people following her and Jack. Kate watched amused as Jack counted out the twenty paces. As if his swagger wasn't enough it was hilarious to see him stick one leg out in front of the other again and again. She ran to catch up with him. "Jack you really look like an idiot when you do that."
"It's one of my many charms luv," he replied and kept walking. She grinned and walked along next to him silently.
"Captain!"
"What?" Jack and Kate both said simultaneously.
Gibbs looked curiously between the two of them and with a shrug said, "We've lost two men."
"What do you mean?" Kate asked.
"There's two missin'," Gibbs repeated. "They jus' disappeared, no one knows where they went."
Jack raised his brows, "Really. How long ago?"
Gibbs shrugged, "Don't know. We just noticed a few minutes ago."
Kate sighed, "Wonderful, now we have to look for them."
Jack looked from Gibbs to Kate, "Not today we don't."
"Why?" Kate asked.
"It's almost sunset," he replied. "We should have a camp set up before dark. We don't want to risk losing anyone else."
Kate looked at him surprised, "Who knew you would be the voice of reason on this venture."
The crew around them laughed and Jack smiled at Kate, "Anything to help, luv."
"Naturally," Kate replied. "Now on with the paces." They followed Jack for another ten feet or so when they came to a clearing with a stone arch in the middle. Only half of it was standing, the other half lay in ruins at its feet. To the left there was a clear path through the trees that gave them a small view of the setting sun.
Jack turned around to look at Kate, "Are we in the right place?"
"Aye," she replied with a nod seeing the drawing of the half destroyed arch on the map.
Jack grinned, "Then this is where we'll make camp for the night. Make yourself at home gents."
Later that night Kate lay awake listening to the silent night forest. It was quiet as the dead and nothing seemed to move about. She squinted into the darkness as if to spy a small animal but saw none. It was yet another thing that was strange about their little island. There were no birds chirping at night, no animals running through the underbrush. It seemed that after the sun went down every living thing on the island went into hiding.
"But why?" she murmured. She turned her head sharply when she caught the movement of something out of the corner of her eye. "Who are you?"
"Captain Jack Sparrow," he replied. "Are you still awake?"
Kate sighed, "Aye. It's to quiet to sleep."
She heard him chuckle in the dark, "That's a first. To quiet to sleep?"
Kate shrugged mostly to herself seeing as no one else could see her, "It's odd. I mean there's no sound at all."
Jack nodded in agreement even though he knew she couldn't see him either. "Can't even hear the ocean," he said.
"You can't?" Kate asked in surprise. She listened and indeed she could not. How strange. She heard Jack settle back down to sleep.
"Best try to get some sleep," he replied. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Before Kate could answer she found herself drifting off to sleep. But Jack found that he still could not sleep. The quiet was disconcerting at the least and it seemed to almost distract a person from sleep, or knock them out cold as it seemed had happened to the rest of the people he was with.
Suddenly out of the stillness of the night there came a soft, seductive song. Jack looked about thinking it to be Kate awake again but didn't see any movement in the darkness. The song seemed to be coming from off in the trees from the part of the island they hadn't explored yet.
"Hello?" he called not caring if he woke anyone.
No one answered but the song seemed to grow louder and he felt his eyes start to droop. He shook his head and his eyes snapped open again. He frowned and looked into the darkness where he saw a light swinging. There was someone walking in the woods with a lantern.
Jack jumped thinking it was the lost crewmembers. But as he drew closer to the light the thought was driven from his mind. The singing was so calming and beautiful. As he stepped into the circle of light the lantern cast. He looked into the face of its owner and saw before him a sweet vixen, a beautiful specimen of woman.
She stood facing him her clear blue eyes alight with laughter and mischief. She laughed and her laughter tinkled like bells in the still night air. Jack was enchanted. He watched her soft pink lips form the beautiful singing filling his head. His eyes traveled over her raven tresses that glowed in the light of the lantern. "Come," her whisper reached his ears on the wind. "Come and follow."
Jack did not hesitate as the woman walked on ahead of him. She took up her singing once more and the lantern swayed hypnotically in front of him. He was vaguely aware of a warning signal in his head before it was ushered away by the singing. She pulled a curtain of vines aside to reveal a bathing pool.
More musical laughter reached his ears and he saw to his delight many more women equally as beautiful as the first, most only half dressed. He turned to his escort who smiled seductively at him.
"What's your name luv?" he said his words slurred as though he were drunk.
She bent down to whisper in his ear, "Pandora."
"Pandora," he murmured as though it was a familiar name. "Beautiful name."
She smiled and giggled like a bashful virgin. She set the lantern down and held her hands out to lead him to the bathing pool, "Come in, the water is wonderful."
Jack let her lead him towards the water. He looked around as the women, beautiful as goddesses, waved and played, innocently merry. "This is a paradise," he told Pandora.
Pandora grinned malevolently though he could see it not, "Indeed it is. We are only here to please."
***
Kate sat straight up looking around. Something wasn't right. Something had purposely woken her up. "Is someone there?" she whispered into the dark.
"Hurry," a whisper floated to her on the breeze. "He is in peril."
"Who is there?"
"He needs your help." A young woman stepped from the trees. She was more beautiful then any other Kate had ever seen. She had hair of gold and her eyes were soft, glowing amber. Her ivory skin was flawless and she wore a flowing gown of sparkling white. There was a soft glow about her and she smiled. "He needs your help."
Kate looked at her confused, "Am I dreaming?"
The woman shook her head, "Indeed not. But you must hurry the man you love needs your help."
Kate frowned now completely lost in her confusion, "I don't know of who you speak." She did not reply but just looked at her serenely as though willing her to understand. "I really don't understand. Do you need help? Who are you?"
"I am Hope." Her reply was short and simple and she looked again once more as though her very soul was at peace with the world.
"Hope then," Kate said nervously. "Erm, I don't know who you're talking about."
She smiled and pointed a finger at where Jack should have been sleeping. Kate looked at it astonished, "Jack?"
She nodded, "He needs your help. Hurry."
"Where?"
"Follow the light," she replied simply and disappeared.
"Wait what-" she stopped as she saw yellow and white lights playfully making their way through the trees. She jumped to her feet and grabbing her sword and pistol followed the lights. The forest was as she had observed earlier that night, silent and still. Not a living thing moved about, at least nothing that was visible to the naked eye.
Of a sudden the lights stopped moving and spread out in a curtain of lights and then disappeared. Frowning Kate listened to the sounds of laughter and the deep voice that answered it. "What is he doing?" she wondered aloud. She parted the screen of vines in front of her and looked out.
What she saw amazed her. Everywhere there were women and they sat splashing in a bathing pool most of them barely dressed. Her eyes traveled to where a bunch of them sat looking adoringly at someone else.
"Jack?" she whispered unbelievingly. Jack sat surrounded by women, one sat on his lap. "What does he think he's doing?" Kate was surprised to find that it annoyed her immensely to see Jack like that.
"You remind me of someone," she heard Jack slur.
"Really?" the woman on his lap purred and ran a hand down his chest. "Who?"
"A woman by the name of Kate. Good pirate, beautiful woman," he said absently.
Kate watched in astonishment as the woman's face darkened with jealousy, "Who is she?" The woman traced a finger around his ear and across to his lips.
A blank look came into his eyes and he said, "Who?"
She smiled silkily, "Exactly my handsome, brave little man."
Jack grinned, "Why thank you luv."
She pouted, "Will you not kiss me?"
Jack frowned, "Of course luv."
Jack leaned in to kiss the dark haired woman. A feeling of dread came over Kate and she jumped from her cover sword drawn and pistol loaded and ready. "Jack!" she shouted.
Both Jack and the woman on his lap looked up sharply. Jack looked at her curiously, "Do I know you?"
Kate gaped at him, "Of course you know me."
The woman on his lap grinned maliciously and whispered in his ear. He smirked, "What do you want?"
Kate could only stare, "I'm Kate Morgan. You've known me since I was fourteen."
Jack smirked again, "Doesn't ring a bell luv. But you know if you want to join my adoring circle here you're more then welcome."
Kate grit her teeth, "Adoring? I would never grovel at your feet like some whore! Jack what's wrong with you?"
Jack grinned lazily a look Kate used to find amusing, "And how do you know my name?"
"Yes," the woman on his lap agreed. "Do tell."
Kate raised her eyebrows and looked sardonically at her, "Well maybe I could tell you if you would be kind enough to tell me your name, hmm?"
"There now," Jack replied. "The lady is being polite. Tell her Pandora."
"Pandora?" Kate asked her eyes going wide.
Pandora scowled and hissed at Jack, "Fool. She didn't need to know my name."
Jack shrugged, "It is of little consequence to me."
"Consequence?" Pandora spat. "Well it is of great consequence to me and you will suffer for it." She flew into the air her long fingers reaching for Kate's throat.
Jack simply shook his head, "Women and their petty fights."
Kate held up her sword in defense and Pandora wrapped her fingers around it drawing blood that dripped to the ground. She sneered in Kate's face, "The treasure you are after is heavily guarded. You will never make it in without Jack and he is already dying."
"What?" Kate whispered.
"The trance he is in," she replied. "He listens to only me and my Sirens. They hold him under a spell that none can break but himself and because he has such a foolish mind he will never break it. He will remain forever trapped in his own world slowly dying but never fully."
Kate's eyes narrowed, "Not if I have anything to do with it." She pushed the sword deeper into Pandora's hands and she shrieked in agony.
"Ignorant fool of a girl," Pandora snarled. "Don't you see? We are here to protect the treasure from those who would unleash its terrible power before the chosen one comes. The pain and destruction that wreaks havoc across the world is because of my demons. Ones I set free and control but the power still locked in that box is beyond any you can comprehend."
Kate glared, "So you would kill innocent people?"
"Don't you?" Pandora replied silkily.
"I may be a pirate but I am not completely without morals," Kate replied. "There may have been times that I have killed without thought as to who my victim might be yet I do believe that every bloody person I've murdered has died deservedly so."
"Ah so it seems you are an angel compared to me?" she snapped.
Kate grinned, "If that were true I would not be here."
Pandora smiled and snapped her fingers at the surrounding women, "Kill him."
Kate gasped, "No!" She ran forward throwing the snarling women off Jack.
Pandora looked mildly surprised, "You would save this man?"
Kate nodded, "He once saved my life it is only fair that I return the favor."
"The man is completely lost in himself, narcissistic fool," Pandora replied. "Even if I were to let you both go he would not survive anywhere off this island."
Kate snarled and turned to plead with Jack, "Come on! We have to get out of here!"
She shook him hard and he looked at her bewildered, "Why would I want to leave with you?"
Kate growled, "I have not come this far to have it end like this. I will find my treasure and I'll be damned if it's you who stops me."
Jack grinned up at her, "What treasure luv?"
"Damn it Jack!" Kate snapped. Without another thought she pressed her lips to his pulling him forward by the collar of his coat. When she pulled back her eyes were dark with anger and frustration.
Jack was however looking at her in complete and utter astonishment, "What the hell was that Kate?"
Kate could hardly hold back her delight when she saw the look of horror come onto Pandora's face. "This isn't possible," Pandora declared. "From my seeings I discovered you both had a strong dislike for one another. The only way that kiss could have woken him from his trance is if-"
"We'd kissed before?" Jack asked lazily. He looked rather pleased with himself. Kate was sitting in astonishment on his lap and he couldn't help but notice the hundreds of half naked women around him.
Pandora looked at him and scowled at him, "Indeed. But she has never kissed you before."
Jack shook his head, "Not true."
Kate turned to look at him wide eyed, "I would never have allowed it."
Jack nodded in agreement, "I tell you about it another time luv."
Pandora sneered at Jack, "Now seems as good a time as any."
Jack nodded again in agreement, "Any time is a good time for me but it seems your time has just run out, luv. The sun is coming up."
Pandora hissed through her teeth and whirled to face the line of trees to the East. She turned back to them, "This is not over. 'Ware for I will finish this."
Jack tipped his hat to her, "Naturally."
Pandora shrieked in rage and as the sun appeared over the horizon of trees so to did Pandora and her Sirens disappear.
"Well I think that went rather well," Jack said after a long silence from both of them. As if she had forgotten she were sitting on his lap she jumped up and away from him. Jack raised an eyebrow disappointed that she had left. "I don't bite luv."
Kate turned around, "When did you kiss me?"
Jack shrugged, "Is it so bad that you can't stand the thought."
Kate rushed forward so that she was in his face, "How is it that you remember this kiss and I don't?"
Jack grinned and with a quick movement he was standing up with his arms about her waist. "Would you care if I refresh your memory?" He dipped his head and caught her lower lip softly with his teeth.
She made to pull away but found that it only made him pull her closer. With a grin he kissed her full on the mouth and she found to her surprise that she didn't want to pull away. That she was very comfortable where she was. She smiled against his lips and he pulled back and released her.
Kate could only stare at him. He grinned charmingly and said, "Last time you kissed me after I saved your life. It only seems fitting that I do the same." With that he turned and walked back the to their makeshift camp leaving Kate staring after him slightly mystified and slightly annoyed.
***Well how was that? It was kinda long I got a little carried away! Hehe! But it turned out good I think!
Sirius: Very well done Katie Jack: *frowns* why is he here? Me: *sighs* because he's going to be in my new story and I was just about to tell everyone about it if you must know. Jack: *nods* okay then lets hear it!
Okay everyone! Yes it's true I may be starting a HP fanfic in the near future but I think I'm going to wait till I've finished this one so I only have one story on my mind at a time! Something to think about anyway!
So! I promise I'll update as soon as possible but I can't say for sure when that will be! Kay! So I'll talk to you all later! Please! Please Review! Thanks very much!
P.S Anyone who is a Johnny Depp fan watch Once Upon a Time in Mexico! Hottie alert! lol Sorry I'm don!
Ta all! 3 Kate
TheSiriusSparrow - YOU are awesome! Not to mention hilarious! Your stories are so funny! Anyone who reads my story needs to know your stories are hilarious! And there's no such thing as being on the computer too much, I agree!! lol!! I have to read the new chapters on your story to! SO much to do so little time. lol!!
Jessi Lupin - YAY! A new reader! Haha! I love it when new people start reading my story! YAY! And you are a very good writer! Your story is great!
Kai-Sparrow - HEHE! Another new reader!! Woo HOO! Okay sorry I'm done! Okay the last chapter was Kate dreaming about her past. The rest of the story is after Jack got the Black Pearl back from Barbossa. Does that help? Oh well if you want to know more just ask!!! Thanks so much for reading (an reviewing! Of course)!
Anaknusan - I'm glad that you think I've kept Jack in character! He's a really hard character to write so yeah thanks! I hope you like this chapter!
To anyone I may have missed I apologize mates and I'm glad you like the story as well!! Read on!
Chapter Ten
Will leaned against the railing of the Pearl looking at the island in the early morning sun. The day before, they had gone back to the ship upon discovering the stone caveat and had decided to wait one more day to start their venture into the unknown island.
Jack was in much the same position as Will but his mind seemed to be wandering elsewhere. Will looked at him, "Jack?"
Jack turned to look at Will, "Aye?"
Will laughed, "Sorry you just seemed so deep in thought. It's not like you this early in the morning."
Jack shrugged, "I was thinking about the first time Kate and I had what you might call an adventure together. Although I'd call it more of a nightmare to her."
Will frowned, "What happened?"
Jack shook his head, "It was before I had met you and come to Port Royal. I was still in search of Barbossa and I had enlisted the help of Kate. We were in search of an infamous crew of pirate's called the Night Raiders." Jack paused.
"Did you ever find them?"
"Aye," Jack replied. "Find them we did but not without a price. They discovered us and I was knocked unconscious. While I was unconscious they took Kate and held her captive. Before I could get to her or back to her ship though they had tracked down her first mate and brought her back to their camp dying."
"Who was her first mate?" Will asked.
"Galena Pitney," Pitney responded. "My older sister." Will looked surprised at Pitney. "Galena died that night."
"How?" Will asked.
"Well the pirate's told Kate that they were going to torture Galena till she was dead and Kate couldn't handle it," Jack replied. "They told her that she only had one other option and that was for Kate herself to kill her."
Will looked up in amazement, "Did she do it?"
Pitney nodded, "Aye Will. That she did and there isn't a finer pirate in all the seas. I can't say that I would have been able to do it myself but Galena had already been wounded and was dying. Kate didn't want her to suffer and decided it would save them both pain if she died quickly. I don't think Kate will ever forgive herself for that."
Will turned back to stare at the island, a new respect for Captain Kate Morgan in his eyes. "What happened to you Jack? Didn't you say you were unconscious?"
"Aye." Jack said. "But just as the Night Raider's captain was about to kill me I woke up and it's lucky for me I did because I saved both our lives."
Suddenly from below decks they heard a scream issue. The three looked at each other bewildered. Ana Maria came rushing up the stairs followed closely by Elizabeth, "Jack! 'Tis Kate! Somthin's amiss with her! She's screamin' and thrashin' about in her bed."
Jack nodded and followed Ana Maria below decks to where Kate had disappeared the night before. They found her asleep on a makeshift bed and seemingly in hysterical tears. "Galena! No!" she shouted.
Jack rushed forward and grabbed her shoulders. "Kate? Kate?" she tried to pull away from him but he wrapped his arms around her to calm her down. She stopped struggling but seemed unable to stem the flow of tears. Somehow when she looked up at Jack her eyes were open. Jack looked at her surprised, "Kate?"
She blinked once, and then again. "Jack? What happened? Is something the matter?" she was struggling to remember what had just happened.
"Only having a mild heart attack," Jack replied remembering himself and releasing her. "What was going on? You were raving like a mad woman."
Kate frowned, "I don't remember." Then suddenly she did and it hit her full force. The memories she had forced into the back of her mind under lock and key had somehow escaped to haunt her once more. All present saw her dark eyes glimmer with tears. "It was a dream," she paused. "A nightmare."
Pitney moved forward to crouch down in front of her. "You were shouting about Galena."
Kate shook her head, "Please Jule I can't talk about this."
Pitney looked surprised at her. It was the first time since her sister had died that she had called her Jule. "You dreamed about that night didn't you?" Pitney asked. "You lived it again."
Kate nodded holding back her tears now. "Oh god I'd forgotten how terrible it was. I can't believe that ever happened," she sighed. "It seemed like so long ago."
"It wasn't long ago," Jack reminded her. He scowled, "Was only weeks before I got the Pearl back."
Kate frowned up at him, "Thank you kindly for the reminder." She sighed and looked at the worried faces of the people in front of her. "I'm fine really," she shook her head. "Old ghosts have a way of sneaking up on you like that."
"When you least expect it," Jack replied. "Or when it's meant to happen."
Kate sighed, "The meaning of that statement would be?"
Will answered for him, "Would you find it ironic if just minutes before we heard you screaming we were talking about the night you were dreaming about?"
Kate looked up speechless. She looked from Jack to Pitney wordlessly. "Tis true," Jack replied. "I was thinking about it just as you were dreaming about it."
"The island?" Elizabeth asked. "Is it because of the island?"
"There's something not quite right about all this," Will said and nodded agreeing with Elizabeth's suggestion.
Kate scowled, "Something is trying to scare us away."
"Or that something is giving us a warning," Jack said. "It's like you said before, it was all to easy. Every guess we made was right, every clue led us exactly where we needed to go. It was almost like someone set us up to find it."
Kate shook her head, "But like *you* said before it could just be coincidence."
Jack nodded but gave her a serious look something she rarely if ever saw. It was a face Will and Elizabeth recognized from the moments after Jack had shot Barbossa. "Too many coincidences mean that something is rotten about this."
"So are we just going to give up on the treasure?" Will asked. "I mean we've come this far."
"Son," Jack replied. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow I never give up."
"That means we're still going after it," Kate replied watching him intently. "Although I'm beginning to think that maybe there is more behind this then first we thought."
"Well there's only one way to find out," Jack replied.
"Aye," Kate agreed. "We'll leave for the island this morning."
***
"Twenty paces south of the waterfall," Kate announced to the small band of people following her and Jack. Kate watched amused as Jack counted out the twenty paces. As if his swagger wasn't enough it was hilarious to see him stick one leg out in front of the other again and again. She ran to catch up with him. "Jack you really look like an idiot when you do that."
"It's one of my many charms luv," he replied and kept walking. She grinned and walked along next to him silently.
"Captain!"
"What?" Jack and Kate both said simultaneously.
Gibbs looked curiously between the two of them and with a shrug said, "We've lost two men."
"What do you mean?" Kate asked.
"There's two missin'," Gibbs repeated. "They jus' disappeared, no one knows where they went."
Jack raised his brows, "Really. How long ago?"
Gibbs shrugged, "Don't know. We just noticed a few minutes ago."
Kate sighed, "Wonderful, now we have to look for them."
Jack looked from Gibbs to Kate, "Not today we don't."
"Why?" Kate asked.
"It's almost sunset," he replied. "We should have a camp set up before dark. We don't want to risk losing anyone else."
Kate looked at him surprised, "Who knew you would be the voice of reason on this venture."
The crew around them laughed and Jack smiled at Kate, "Anything to help, luv."
"Naturally," Kate replied. "Now on with the paces." They followed Jack for another ten feet or so when they came to a clearing with a stone arch in the middle. Only half of it was standing, the other half lay in ruins at its feet. To the left there was a clear path through the trees that gave them a small view of the setting sun.
Jack turned around to look at Kate, "Are we in the right place?"
"Aye," she replied with a nod seeing the drawing of the half destroyed arch on the map.
Jack grinned, "Then this is where we'll make camp for the night. Make yourself at home gents."
Later that night Kate lay awake listening to the silent night forest. It was quiet as the dead and nothing seemed to move about. She squinted into the darkness as if to spy a small animal but saw none. It was yet another thing that was strange about their little island. There were no birds chirping at night, no animals running through the underbrush. It seemed that after the sun went down every living thing on the island went into hiding.
"But why?" she murmured. She turned her head sharply when she caught the movement of something out of the corner of her eye. "Who are you?"
"Captain Jack Sparrow," he replied. "Are you still awake?"
Kate sighed, "Aye. It's to quiet to sleep."
She heard him chuckle in the dark, "That's a first. To quiet to sleep?"
Kate shrugged mostly to herself seeing as no one else could see her, "It's odd. I mean there's no sound at all."
Jack nodded in agreement even though he knew she couldn't see him either. "Can't even hear the ocean," he said.
"You can't?" Kate asked in surprise. She listened and indeed she could not. How strange. She heard Jack settle back down to sleep.
"Best try to get some sleep," he replied. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Before Kate could answer she found herself drifting off to sleep. But Jack found that he still could not sleep. The quiet was disconcerting at the least and it seemed to almost distract a person from sleep, or knock them out cold as it seemed had happened to the rest of the people he was with.
Suddenly out of the stillness of the night there came a soft, seductive song. Jack looked about thinking it to be Kate awake again but didn't see any movement in the darkness. The song seemed to be coming from off in the trees from the part of the island they hadn't explored yet.
"Hello?" he called not caring if he woke anyone.
No one answered but the song seemed to grow louder and he felt his eyes start to droop. He shook his head and his eyes snapped open again. He frowned and looked into the darkness where he saw a light swinging. There was someone walking in the woods with a lantern.
Jack jumped thinking it was the lost crewmembers. But as he drew closer to the light the thought was driven from his mind. The singing was so calming and beautiful. As he stepped into the circle of light the lantern cast. He looked into the face of its owner and saw before him a sweet vixen, a beautiful specimen of woman.
She stood facing him her clear blue eyes alight with laughter and mischief. She laughed and her laughter tinkled like bells in the still night air. Jack was enchanted. He watched her soft pink lips form the beautiful singing filling his head. His eyes traveled over her raven tresses that glowed in the light of the lantern. "Come," her whisper reached his ears on the wind. "Come and follow."
Jack did not hesitate as the woman walked on ahead of him. She took up her singing once more and the lantern swayed hypnotically in front of him. He was vaguely aware of a warning signal in his head before it was ushered away by the singing. She pulled a curtain of vines aside to reveal a bathing pool.
More musical laughter reached his ears and he saw to his delight many more women equally as beautiful as the first, most only half dressed. He turned to his escort who smiled seductively at him.
"What's your name luv?" he said his words slurred as though he were drunk.
She bent down to whisper in his ear, "Pandora."
"Pandora," he murmured as though it was a familiar name. "Beautiful name."
She smiled and giggled like a bashful virgin. She set the lantern down and held her hands out to lead him to the bathing pool, "Come in, the water is wonderful."
Jack let her lead him towards the water. He looked around as the women, beautiful as goddesses, waved and played, innocently merry. "This is a paradise," he told Pandora.
Pandora grinned malevolently though he could see it not, "Indeed it is. We are only here to please."
***
Kate sat straight up looking around. Something wasn't right. Something had purposely woken her up. "Is someone there?" she whispered into the dark.
"Hurry," a whisper floated to her on the breeze. "He is in peril."
"Who is there?"
"He needs your help." A young woman stepped from the trees. She was more beautiful then any other Kate had ever seen. She had hair of gold and her eyes were soft, glowing amber. Her ivory skin was flawless and she wore a flowing gown of sparkling white. There was a soft glow about her and she smiled. "He needs your help."
Kate looked at her confused, "Am I dreaming?"
The woman shook her head, "Indeed not. But you must hurry the man you love needs your help."
Kate frowned now completely lost in her confusion, "I don't know of who you speak." She did not reply but just looked at her serenely as though willing her to understand. "I really don't understand. Do you need help? Who are you?"
"I am Hope." Her reply was short and simple and she looked again once more as though her very soul was at peace with the world.
"Hope then," Kate said nervously. "Erm, I don't know who you're talking about."
She smiled and pointed a finger at where Jack should have been sleeping. Kate looked at it astonished, "Jack?"
She nodded, "He needs your help. Hurry."
"Where?"
"Follow the light," she replied simply and disappeared.
"Wait what-" she stopped as she saw yellow and white lights playfully making their way through the trees. She jumped to her feet and grabbing her sword and pistol followed the lights. The forest was as she had observed earlier that night, silent and still. Not a living thing moved about, at least nothing that was visible to the naked eye.
Of a sudden the lights stopped moving and spread out in a curtain of lights and then disappeared. Frowning Kate listened to the sounds of laughter and the deep voice that answered it. "What is he doing?" she wondered aloud. She parted the screen of vines in front of her and looked out.
What she saw amazed her. Everywhere there were women and they sat splashing in a bathing pool most of them barely dressed. Her eyes traveled to where a bunch of them sat looking adoringly at someone else.
"Jack?" she whispered unbelievingly. Jack sat surrounded by women, one sat on his lap. "What does he think he's doing?" Kate was surprised to find that it annoyed her immensely to see Jack like that.
"You remind me of someone," she heard Jack slur.
"Really?" the woman on his lap purred and ran a hand down his chest. "Who?"
"A woman by the name of Kate. Good pirate, beautiful woman," he said absently.
Kate watched in astonishment as the woman's face darkened with jealousy, "Who is she?" The woman traced a finger around his ear and across to his lips.
A blank look came into his eyes and he said, "Who?"
She smiled silkily, "Exactly my handsome, brave little man."
Jack grinned, "Why thank you luv."
She pouted, "Will you not kiss me?"
Jack frowned, "Of course luv."
Jack leaned in to kiss the dark haired woman. A feeling of dread came over Kate and she jumped from her cover sword drawn and pistol loaded and ready. "Jack!" she shouted.
Both Jack and the woman on his lap looked up sharply. Jack looked at her curiously, "Do I know you?"
Kate gaped at him, "Of course you know me."
The woman on his lap grinned maliciously and whispered in his ear. He smirked, "What do you want?"
Kate could only stare, "I'm Kate Morgan. You've known me since I was fourteen."
Jack smirked again, "Doesn't ring a bell luv. But you know if you want to join my adoring circle here you're more then welcome."
Kate grit her teeth, "Adoring? I would never grovel at your feet like some whore! Jack what's wrong with you?"
Jack grinned lazily a look Kate used to find amusing, "And how do you know my name?"
"Yes," the woman on his lap agreed. "Do tell."
Kate raised her eyebrows and looked sardonically at her, "Well maybe I could tell you if you would be kind enough to tell me your name, hmm?"
"There now," Jack replied. "The lady is being polite. Tell her Pandora."
"Pandora?" Kate asked her eyes going wide.
Pandora scowled and hissed at Jack, "Fool. She didn't need to know my name."
Jack shrugged, "It is of little consequence to me."
"Consequence?" Pandora spat. "Well it is of great consequence to me and you will suffer for it." She flew into the air her long fingers reaching for Kate's throat.
Jack simply shook his head, "Women and their petty fights."
Kate held up her sword in defense and Pandora wrapped her fingers around it drawing blood that dripped to the ground. She sneered in Kate's face, "The treasure you are after is heavily guarded. You will never make it in without Jack and he is already dying."
"What?" Kate whispered.
"The trance he is in," she replied. "He listens to only me and my Sirens. They hold him under a spell that none can break but himself and because he has such a foolish mind he will never break it. He will remain forever trapped in his own world slowly dying but never fully."
Kate's eyes narrowed, "Not if I have anything to do with it." She pushed the sword deeper into Pandora's hands and she shrieked in agony.
"Ignorant fool of a girl," Pandora snarled. "Don't you see? We are here to protect the treasure from those who would unleash its terrible power before the chosen one comes. The pain and destruction that wreaks havoc across the world is because of my demons. Ones I set free and control but the power still locked in that box is beyond any you can comprehend."
Kate glared, "So you would kill innocent people?"
"Don't you?" Pandora replied silkily.
"I may be a pirate but I am not completely without morals," Kate replied. "There may have been times that I have killed without thought as to who my victim might be yet I do believe that every bloody person I've murdered has died deservedly so."
"Ah so it seems you are an angel compared to me?" she snapped.
Kate grinned, "If that were true I would not be here."
Pandora smiled and snapped her fingers at the surrounding women, "Kill him."
Kate gasped, "No!" She ran forward throwing the snarling women off Jack.
Pandora looked mildly surprised, "You would save this man?"
Kate nodded, "He once saved my life it is only fair that I return the favor."
"The man is completely lost in himself, narcissistic fool," Pandora replied. "Even if I were to let you both go he would not survive anywhere off this island."
Kate snarled and turned to plead with Jack, "Come on! We have to get out of here!"
She shook him hard and he looked at her bewildered, "Why would I want to leave with you?"
Kate growled, "I have not come this far to have it end like this. I will find my treasure and I'll be damned if it's you who stops me."
Jack grinned up at her, "What treasure luv?"
"Damn it Jack!" Kate snapped. Without another thought she pressed her lips to his pulling him forward by the collar of his coat. When she pulled back her eyes were dark with anger and frustration.
Jack was however looking at her in complete and utter astonishment, "What the hell was that Kate?"
Kate could hardly hold back her delight when she saw the look of horror come onto Pandora's face. "This isn't possible," Pandora declared. "From my seeings I discovered you both had a strong dislike for one another. The only way that kiss could have woken him from his trance is if-"
"We'd kissed before?" Jack asked lazily. He looked rather pleased with himself. Kate was sitting in astonishment on his lap and he couldn't help but notice the hundreds of half naked women around him.
Pandora looked at him and scowled at him, "Indeed. But she has never kissed you before."
Jack shook his head, "Not true."
Kate turned to look at him wide eyed, "I would never have allowed it."
Jack nodded in agreement, "I tell you about it another time luv."
Pandora sneered at Jack, "Now seems as good a time as any."
Jack nodded again in agreement, "Any time is a good time for me but it seems your time has just run out, luv. The sun is coming up."
Pandora hissed through her teeth and whirled to face the line of trees to the East. She turned back to them, "This is not over. 'Ware for I will finish this."
Jack tipped his hat to her, "Naturally."
Pandora shrieked in rage and as the sun appeared over the horizon of trees so to did Pandora and her Sirens disappear.
"Well I think that went rather well," Jack said after a long silence from both of them. As if she had forgotten she were sitting on his lap she jumped up and away from him. Jack raised an eyebrow disappointed that she had left. "I don't bite luv."
Kate turned around, "When did you kiss me?"
Jack shrugged, "Is it so bad that you can't stand the thought."
Kate rushed forward so that she was in his face, "How is it that you remember this kiss and I don't?"
Jack grinned and with a quick movement he was standing up with his arms about her waist. "Would you care if I refresh your memory?" He dipped his head and caught her lower lip softly with his teeth.
She made to pull away but found that it only made him pull her closer. With a grin he kissed her full on the mouth and she found to her surprise that she didn't want to pull away. That she was very comfortable where she was. She smiled against his lips and he pulled back and released her.
Kate could only stare at him. He grinned charmingly and said, "Last time you kissed me after I saved your life. It only seems fitting that I do the same." With that he turned and walked back the to their makeshift camp leaving Kate staring after him slightly mystified and slightly annoyed.
***Well how was that? It was kinda long I got a little carried away! Hehe! But it turned out good I think!
Sirius: Very well done Katie Jack: *frowns* why is he here? Me: *sighs* because he's going to be in my new story and I was just about to tell everyone about it if you must know. Jack: *nods* okay then lets hear it!
Okay everyone! Yes it's true I may be starting a HP fanfic in the near future but I think I'm going to wait till I've finished this one so I only have one story on my mind at a time! Something to think about anyway!
So! I promise I'll update as soon as possible but I can't say for sure when that will be! Kay! So I'll talk to you all later! Please! Please Review! Thanks very much!
P.S Anyone who is a Johnny Depp fan watch Once Upon a Time in Mexico! Hottie alert! lol Sorry I'm don!
Ta all! 3 Kate