Hello everyone! Well here is the next chapter! It's a little shorter than
usual but I think it is really good! It's still going to leave you all with
a lot of questions but I think you can hold on till the next chapter! I
probably won't be updating again till Monday because I'm going away for the
weekend so I have all day Monday off and I promise to update! K? And you
can also look for a sneak preview of my HP fanfic I'm going to include that
in the next chapter—well read on!
Chapter Twelve
Fifty paces southwest of the stone arch their group of ten or so came to a stop on a cliff over looking over a small cove where the water sparkled teal in the late morning sun.
"Where do we go from here?" Will asked immediately, always and forever impatient. Jack raised an eyebrow and didn't answer. Will scowled, "Is someone going to answer me?"
Kate scowled right back, "Impatient often? Do you ever shut up?" Will sneered at her and turned his gaze elsewhere. Shaking her head Kate turned to Jack as well as read the next direction on the map. "Thirty paces moving west as you go along the face of the cliff until you reach the Fae Glen."
Kate stared at the words for a moment soaking it in. Jack who still hadn't said anything was watching her intently. When she looked up she caught his eyes and glared, "You need some rum. It's been far to long since you've had a good drink. I think you're starting to become delusional."
Jack frowned, "In what way."
Kate sneered, "You were staring at me."
"Would you two give it up already?" Will said frustrated. "Which way are we going and how far?"
Kate glowered at him and snapped fiercely, "Thirty paces west along the face of the cliff."
Jack held up a hand, "We can't go yet."
Thoroughly angry now Kate whirled to face him, "Why not?"
Jack pointed to the ship that had just entered the cove, "That's why."
"What are they doing here?" Kate snarled her eyes narrowed maliciously at the rumrunners.
"It would appear that they know quite a bit more about the treasure then we thought," Jack replied.
"Thanks for the insight," Kate sighed sarcastically. "We need to keep moving, why would you suggest we stay here?" Once again Jack raised a hand and pointed towards the ship which and had weighed anchor. A small rowboat was already making its way to shore in the opposite direction of the way they had to go to get to the treasure.
Bemusedly Kate looked back at Jack, "That's good they're going in the opposite direction of the treasure. Once again we need to keep moving."
Jack sighed, "It's a wonder you've stayed alive all these years. There are only six or so men in that boat going ashore which means there's probably still at least fifty on the ship and—" He paused and pointed to the opposite shore in the direction they were supposed to be going. "They already have scouts ashore and combing that area."
Kate's eyes suddenly with realization, "They know we're here."
Jack nodded, "Not only do they know we're here but they know where the treasure is and I have a feeling aren't just dealing with legends anymore, we're dealing with pirates."
"I agree for once," Kate replied. "We still need to make more progress before nightfall. We don't want to be stranded in the middle of this bloody jungle when it gets dark and Pandora decides she wants to play some more games. I don't know about the rest of you but it would not be my idea of a good time to end up all alone and having a mythological goddess or whatever wreaking havoc with my imagination."
All of the surrounding crew nodded their agreement, Jack among them. "What do we do if we find them?" Will asked.
Kate smirked, "We're pirate's son. What would a pirate do in that situation?"
Jack grinned, "Now this is what I live for. Thirty paces west it is." He took off in his customary swagger made even more comical by the long strides he was taking as paces.
***
"Creepy night eh?" Ana Maria asked Elizabeth as they stood together at the helm in the dark.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement, "That island has a bad look to it. I just have this awful feeling that I'm never going to see Will again."
Ana Maria grinned, "Don't worry he is in the best of hands as Jack said. No matter what Jack says he has a soft spot for the kid even if he is a bit of a stick."
Elizabeth frowned but nodded, "I still will feel better when he's back in my arms."
A shout came up from the lower decks bringing both their attention back to the ship. Ana Maria peered into the dingy darkness of the low decks but saw nothing. "Maybe I should—" she was cut off by Elizabeth's strangled scream. Whipping around she found herself surrounded by a circle of pirates she more then recognized.
"It's not possible," Ana Maria said looking in desperation at Elizabeth's captor and the encircling pirates. "Bill Morgan is dead and his crew is scattered. This has to be a trick."
An older man stepped from the shadows to come face to face with her, "No trick is this but a cruel twist of fate."
***
"Thirty," Jack said stopping and turning to face the rest of the crew behind him. They were all looking around curiously because their thirty paces had taken them to no place in particular.
"This can't be right," Will said exasperated. "Jack must have counted wrong."
Gibbs glared at the boy, "Shut yer mouth ya slack jawed idiot! And pay attention maybe you'll learn something."
Will scowled angrily but nonetheless turned and saw Kate walking softly through the surrounding trees. "What is she looking for?"
"The Fae Glen," Kate replied. "It said thirty paces to the Fae Glen. We haven't found it yet. We need to keep going."
Will rolled his eyes and threw his hands up in aggravation, "What the hell is a "Fae Glen" and how will we know we've found it?"
Kate turned to smile wryly at him, "We will know of that I am sure." With those words she turned and kept heading west along the face of the cliff doing her best to ignore the frustrating crowd behind her.
Her mind was filled with thoughts running every which way and her eyes felt they were crossed. The tension at the base of her neck was feeding the headache behind her eyes and as they moved farther and farther west it seemed to grow.
As the pain worsened she slowed and she noticed that the colors around her seemed brighter almost surreal. Squinting she looked up and saw a wall of vines. As she burst through it the pain in her head erupted and was gone leaving a blissful calm and relief in her head. Shaking her head she turned to Jack and saw the same look of relief on his face although the relief seemed coupled with awe.
When she turned she was shocked into astonishment. They were in a small ring of oaks and the air was peaceful and serene.
The light slipped around seemingly ageless trees and shadows danced on a soft whispering breeze. It seemed to Kate a place for faeries to gather, a place to tempt only those mortals who dared. The whole ring seemed filled with an ethereal magic and she tread carefully on the ancient ground. This was indeed a picture straight from a fairy tale. It was, she realized, a safe place that Pandora couldn't touch. The Fae Glen.
"This is it," Jack said his slurred voice sounding strangely out of place in the dreamlike surroundings.
Kate turned and noticed for the first time the rest of the crew stood dazed and confused behind Jack. She frowned and nodded her agreement, "This is the Fae Glen and this is where we will be staying the night. There is nothing that can hurt us here, Pandora and rumrunners alike."
"How do you know that?" Will snapped. "And it will be daylight for at least another hour, we should keep going."
Truly fed up with him Kate tread lightly over to get in his face, "This was my venture, mine long before you came along. I was the one meant to do this, not you, not Jack, not anyone else here. If you don't like that you can leave, and if you don't want to stay by all means be on your merry way but if you're staying here with us, with me, then let me make one thing clear. I make the rules and you play by them, so far my instincts have gotten us this far." As Jack gave her a dark look she added, "And you just go without saying Sparrow."
The side of Jack's mouth lifted, "Naturally."
Humbled Will nodded and unable to stare into Kate's dark eyes looked away.
With satisfaction Kate looked around at the circle of oaks and decided it would do just fine.
***
Somewhere on the island---
"Captain we lost them," a pirate stood looking at his captain.
The captain turned to face his first mate, "What do you mean we lost them Shaw?"
Shaw growled, "We can't find them. We found their trail but after a while it fades off and then disappears altogether."
The captain slammed a fist of the table in front of him, "Run out a search. I want men everywhere on this island."
Shaw frowned, "But Captain what about the fiends?"
The captain looked at him incredulously, "What about them?"
Shaw nodded, "Of course Captain I'll get them on it right away." Backing away Shaw grinned into the darkness, oh what fun they would have when they found Kate, granted after she had found the treasure for them.
***
Dreaming---
Her heart pounded as she raced through the woods. An unknown terror was ripping at her chest causing her to take gasping breaths of air. Her time was running out and she knew it. She had to find the treasure before that man, she had to get there alone.
No not alone, there was another. A dark mysterious man with a smooth, comforting voice. He was there running alongside her, running for his life as well.
"There's not enough time," she thought, a thought that had been racing through her mind for an eternity. "I need more time!" she shouted. But it didn't matter the clock was ticking and if she didn't do something fast it would all be over. It would just end.
Grinding her teeth she pushed herself to run fast. Behind her she could hear the crash of their pursuer drawing nearer with every second. Her heart raced her mouth was dry and bitter with panic. It wasn't going to end this way. They had to get to that treasure, they had to there was no question. But was the treasure really what they were after or was it something else---
She screamed in alarm as a hand closed tightly on her shoulder. She turned sharply and came face to face with---
She sat straight up her heart still pounding and her entire body covered in sweat. The terror that had clawed at her chest in the dream had yet to cease raking her body. Her entire being shook from exertion and her head was pounding like a drum.
With some dread she realized that something was still holding onto her shoulders. Her mouth dropped open in a scream before she realized that it was Jack.
He grinned at her, "Some dream, eh?"
Taking a few steadying deep breaths she nodded, "You're not kidding."
"What happened? You were screaming like a mad woman," he said hunkering down next to her.
Kate looked at him desperation in her eyes, "We're running out of time."
"Time?" Jack looked at her skeptically. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Kate nodded distractedly, "Yes, yes I'm fine. But we have to get to that treasure or I have this horrible feeling something terrible is going to happen."
Jack looked at her surprised, "This sounds serious."
Kate nodded, "This isn't just a treasure hunt anymore."
***Woo! That's another cliffhanger for you! Well actually I guess there was more than one but hey that's what keeps you guys reading right? Well okay just tell me what you think of this chapter and I promise to work on the next one over the weekend and get it up sometime Monday! Alrighty then—
Anaknusan – hey! You get a kiss from Jack!! Yay I just made all your reams come true!! haha! Sorry bout that I'm done! I'm so glad you like my story it really helps keep me going when I have support like that and I'm sorry I haven't "really" answered any of your questions. All I can tell you is that you'll find out about the rumrunners in the next chapter and I will unveil everything about Kate and Jack in the following chapter K? and I haven't seen Dead Man, is it good? What am I saying? Anything with Johnny Depp in it is good! hehe! Oh well I'll have to see that one!
Jessi Lupin – hey there! You get a kiss from Jack! Although you might want to run and hide he's a little over zealous to put it nicely! Anyways you kick ass too! I loved your marauder story when you travel back with your friends that was great!! Anywho! Yeah I check out your cousins stuff on devianart and it was really good but what's your penname on there? Either I'm to stupid to figure it out or---I'm just to stupid to figure it out! haha! Oh well! I'm glad you like my story and I love yours!
TheSiriusSparrow – YAY! You get a kiss from Jack too! I don't know if that's a good ting or bad thing. *considers and shrugs* OH yeah! I did read your bio! Even before you told me to! haha! Thanks very much for that by the way! And yes I quite agree Aragorn is one of the main reasons I watch those movies and Orlando Bloom isn't to bad in those either! lol! But yea I have to read your new chapters but I don't know how soon I'll be able to do that because I'm going away for the weekend so maybe Monday or something I dunno! And yes you'll be getting a little preview of my HP fanfic in the next chapter so watch for that! I gotta go! Ta!
And to everyone else I'm really sorry I can't respond to you but I'm running out of time so I have to go! I love you all and thankies for reviewing! If you review you got a kiss from Jack! Yay! I mean who wouldn't want to kiss him! Ta everyone! *smooches*
Chapter Twelve
Fifty paces southwest of the stone arch their group of ten or so came to a stop on a cliff over looking over a small cove where the water sparkled teal in the late morning sun.
"Where do we go from here?" Will asked immediately, always and forever impatient. Jack raised an eyebrow and didn't answer. Will scowled, "Is someone going to answer me?"
Kate scowled right back, "Impatient often? Do you ever shut up?" Will sneered at her and turned his gaze elsewhere. Shaking her head Kate turned to Jack as well as read the next direction on the map. "Thirty paces moving west as you go along the face of the cliff until you reach the Fae Glen."
Kate stared at the words for a moment soaking it in. Jack who still hadn't said anything was watching her intently. When she looked up she caught his eyes and glared, "You need some rum. It's been far to long since you've had a good drink. I think you're starting to become delusional."
Jack frowned, "In what way."
Kate sneered, "You were staring at me."
"Would you two give it up already?" Will said frustrated. "Which way are we going and how far?"
Kate glowered at him and snapped fiercely, "Thirty paces west along the face of the cliff."
Jack held up a hand, "We can't go yet."
Thoroughly angry now Kate whirled to face him, "Why not?"
Jack pointed to the ship that had just entered the cove, "That's why."
"What are they doing here?" Kate snarled her eyes narrowed maliciously at the rumrunners.
"It would appear that they know quite a bit more about the treasure then we thought," Jack replied.
"Thanks for the insight," Kate sighed sarcastically. "We need to keep moving, why would you suggest we stay here?" Once again Jack raised a hand and pointed towards the ship which and had weighed anchor. A small rowboat was already making its way to shore in the opposite direction of the way they had to go to get to the treasure.
Bemusedly Kate looked back at Jack, "That's good they're going in the opposite direction of the treasure. Once again we need to keep moving."
Jack sighed, "It's a wonder you've stayed alive all these years. There are only six or so men in that boat going ashore which means there's probably still at least fifty on the ship and—" He paused and pointed to the opposite shore in the direction they were supposed to be going. "They already have scouts ashore and combing that area."
Kate's eyes suddenly with realization, "They know we're here."
Jack nodded, "Not only do they know we're here but they know where the treasure is and I have a feeling aren't just dealing with legends anymore, we're dealing with pirates."
"I agree for once," Kate replied. "We still need to make more progress before nightfall. We don't want to be stranded in the middle of this bloody jungle when it gets dark and Pandora decides she wants to play some more games. I don't know about the rest of you but it would not be my idea of a good time to end up all alone and having a mythological goddess or whatever wreaking havoc with my imagination."
All of the surrounding crew nodded their agreement, Jack among them. "What do we do if we find them?" Will asked.
Kate smirked, "We're pirate's son. What would a pirate do in that situation?"
Jack grinned, "Now this is what I live for. Thirty paces west it is." He took off in his customary swagger made even more comical by the long strides he was taking as paces.
***
"Creepy night eh?" Ana Maria asked Elizabeth as they stood together at the helm in the dark.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement, "That island has a bad look to it. I just have this awful feeling that I'm never going to see Will again."
Ana Maria grinned, "Don't worry he is in the best of hands as Jack said. No matter what Jack says he has a soft spot for the kid even if he is a bit of a stick."
Elizabeth frowned but nodded, "I still will feel better when he's back in my arms."
A shout came up from the lower decks bringing both their attention back to the ship. Ana Maria peered into the dingy darkness of the low decks but saw nothing. "Maybe I should—" she was cut off by Elizabeth's strangled scream. Whipping around she found herself surrounded by a circle of pirates she more then recognized.
"It's not possible," Ana Maria said looking in desperation at Elizabeth's captor and the encircling pirates. "Bill Morgan is dead and his crew is scattered. This has to be a trick."
An older man stepped from the shadows to come face to face with her, "No trick is this but a cruel twist of fate."
***
"Thirty," Jack said stopping and turning to face the rest of the crew behind him. They were all looking around curiously because their thirty paces had taken them to no place in particular.
"This can't be right," Will said exasperated. "Jack must have counted wrong."
Gibbs glared at the boy, "Shut yer mouth ya slack jawed idiot! And pay attention maybe you'll learn something."
Will scowled angrily but nonetheless turned and saw Kate walking softly through the surrounding trees. "What is she looking for?"
"The Fae Glen," Kate replied. "It said thirty paces to the Fae Glen. We haven't found it yet. We need to keep going."
Will rolled his eyes and threw his hands up in aggravation, "What the hell is a "Fae Glen" and how will we know we've found it?"
Kate turned to smile wryly at him, "We will know of that I am sure." With those words she turned and kept heading west along the face of the cliff doing her best to ignore the frustrating crowd behind her.
Her mind was filled with thoughts running every which way and her eyes felt they were crossed. The tension at the base of her neck was feeding the headache behind her eyes and as they moved farther and farther west it seemed to grow.
As the pain worsened she slowed and she noticed that the colors around her seemed brighter almost surreal. Squinting she looked up and saw a wall of vines. As she burst through it the pain in her head erupted and was gone leaving a blissful calm and relief in her head. Shaking her head she turned to Jack and saw the same look of relief on his face although the relief seemed coupled with awe.
When she turned she was shocked into astonishment. They were in a small ring of oaks and the air was peaceful and serene.
The light slipped around seemingly ageless trees and shadows danced on a soft whispering breeze. It seemed to Kate a place for faeries to gather, a place to tempt only those mortals who dared. The whole ring seemed filled with an ethereal magic and she tread carefully on the ancient ground. This was indeed a picture straight from a fairy tale. It was, she realized, a safe place that Pandora couldn't touch. The Fae Glen.
"This is it," Jack said his slurred voice sounding strangely out of place in the dreamlike surroundings.
Kate turned and noticed for the first time the rest of the crew stood dazed and confused behind Jack. She frowned and nodded her agreement, "This is the Fae Glen and this is where we will be staying the night. There is nothing that can hurt us here, Pandora and rumrunners alike."
"How do you know that?" Will snapped. "And it will be daylight for at least another hour, we should keep going."
Truly fed up with him Kate tread lightly over to get in his face, "This was my venture, mine long before you came along. I was the one meant to do this, not you, not Jack, not anyone else here. If you don't like that you can leave, and if you don't want to stay by all means be on your merry way but if you're staying here with us, with me, then let me make one thing clear. I make the rules and you play by them, so far my instincts have gotten us this far." As Jack gave her a dark look she added, "And you just go without saying Sparrow."
The side of Jack's mouth lifted, "Naturally."
Humbled Will nodded and unable to stare into Kate's dark eyes looked away.
With satisfaction Kate looked around at the circle of oaks and decided it would do just fine.
***
Somewhere on the island---
"Captain we lost them," a pirate stood looking at his captain.
The captain turned to face his first mate, "What do you mean we lost them Shaw?"
Shaw growled, "We can't find them. We found their trail but after a while it fades off and then disappears altogether."
The captain slammed a fist of the table in front of him, "Run out a search. I want men everywhere on this island."
Shaw frowned, "But Captain what about the fiends?"
The captain looked at him incredulously, "What about them?"
Shaw nodded, "Of course Captain I'll get them on it right away." Backing away Shaw grinned into the darkness, oh what fun they would have when they found Kate, granted after she had found the treasure for them.
***
Dreaming---
Her heart pounded as she raced through the woods. An unknown terror was ripping at her chest causing her to take gasping breaths of air. Her time was running out and she knew it. She had to find the treasure before that man, she had to get there alone.
No not alone, there was another. A dark mysterious man with a smooth, comforting voice. He was there running alongside her, running for his life as well.
"There's not enough time," she thought, a thought that had been racing through her mind for an eternity. "I need more time!" she shouted. But it didn't matter the clock was ticking and if she didn't do something fast it would all be over. It would just end.
Grinding her teeth she pushed herself to run fast. Behind her she could hear the crash of their pursuer drawing nearer with every second. Her heart raced her mouth was dry and bitter with panic. It wasn't going to end this way. They had to get to that treasure, they had to there was no question. But was the treasure really what they were after or was it something else---
She screamed in alarm as a hand closed tightly on her shoulder. She turned sharply and came face to face with---
She sat straight up her heart still pounding and her entire body covered in sweat. The terror that had clawed at her chest in the dream had yet to cease raking her body. Her entire being shook from exertion and her head was pounding like a drum.
With some dread she realized that something was still holding onto her shoulders. Her mouth dropped open in a scream before she realized that it was Jack.
He grinned at her, "Some dream, eh?"
Taking a few steadying deep breaths she nodded, "You're not kidding."
"What happened? You were screaming like a mad woman," he said hunkering down next to her.
Kate looked at him desperation in her eyes, "We're running out of time."
"Time?" Jack looked at her skeptically. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Kate nodded distractedly, "Yes, yes I'm fine. But we have to get to that treasure or I have this horrible feeling something terrible is going to happen."
Jack looked at her surprised, "This sounds serious."
Kate nodded, "This isn't just a treasure hunt anymore."
***Woo! That's another cliffhanger for you! Well actually I guess there was more than one but hey that's what keeps you guys reading right? Well okay just tell me what you think of this chapter and I promise to work on the next one over the weekend and get it up sometime Monday! Alrighty then—
Anaknusan – hey! You get a kiss from Jack!! Yay I just made all your reams come true!! haha! Sorry bout that I'm done! I'm so glad you like my story it really helps keep me going when I have support like that and I'm sorry I haven't "really" answered any of your questions. All I can tell you is that you'll find out about the rumrunners in the next chapter and I will unveil everything about Kate and Jack in the following chapter K? and I haven't seen Dead Man, is it good? What am I saying? Anything with Johnny Depp in it is good! hehe! Oh well I'll have to see that one!
Jessi Lupin – hey there! You get a kiss from Jack! Although you might want to run and hide he's a little over zealous to put it nicely! Anyways you kick ass too! I loved your marauder story when you travel back with your friends that was great!! Anywho! Yeah I check out your cousins stuff on devianart and it was really good but what's your penname on there? Either I'm to stupid to figure it out or---I'm just to stupid to figure it out! haha! Oh well! I'm glad you like my story and I love yours!
TheSiriusSparrow – YAY! You get a kiss from Jack too! I don't know if that's a good ting or bad thing. *considers and shrugs* OH yeah! I did read your bio! Even before you told me to! haha! Thanks very much for that by the way! And yes I quite agree Aragorn is one of the main reasons I watch those movies and Orlando Bloom isn't to bad in those either! lol! But yea I have to read your new chapters but I don't know how soon I'll be able to do that because I'm going away for the weekend so maybe Monday or something I dunno! And yes you'll be getting a little preview of my HP fanfic in the next chapter so watch for that! I gotta go! Ta!
And to everyone else I'm really sorry I can't respond to you but I'm running out of time so I have to go! I love you all and thankies for reviewing! If you review you got a kiss from Jack! Yay! I mean who wouldn't want to kiss him! Ta everyone! *smooches*