DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. It belongs to Walt Disney. Adrian, however, is mine, so do not touch, or I will go all Jackie Chan and karate chop you! Hi ya!
Adrian stood in the fort, feeling helpless as the pirates swarmed about the town. She was about to settle herself next to a sleeping Meg when she heard one of the maids talking to the governor.
" What did you hear?" the governor was asking. The maid looked down at her toes, obviously still terrified.
" I heard her ask for parley and to be taken to the captain, then the pirates said she would go without a fuss as they led her away," she stammered.
" Commodore Norrington, they have taken my daughter!" the governor wailed as the commodore approached him. Both grew very pale. Adrian could bear the scene no longer. She began to turn, but stopped short. Something was drawing her upward, toward the battlements. Calling her. She followed her instincts and began to ascend the stairs. Men tried to stop her, but she shoved them aside. What could they do to her? Adrian reached the top and looked out across the dark bay. The Black Pearl formed a dark blob in the waters. Elizabeth was on that ship. Adrian pulled herself up onto the wall and looked down into the dark blue waters. She closed her eyes and sprang out from the wall, far enough, she knew, to avoid the rocks below. Wind whipped through her hair and her stomach dropped as she fell. Water closed in around her, dark and penetrating. Adrian struggled to pull herself to the surface, but her skirts were to heavy. She began to tug and rip at her dress, but then realized that, although she had been down for a while, she was not running out of air. Then she mentally slapped herself, thinking why would a dead person need air? Still, she would have rather been on the surface, so she freed herself from the dress and petticoats and swam strongly to the surface, her only article of clothing being a thin underdress. Frantically, she whirled about in the water, trying to see the ship. When she saw it, she began to swim toward it, hoping it would not begin to sail anytime soon. Thanks to her strong arms, she was soon at the boat and pulling herself up a rope that was dangling over the side. It was a long haul, but she made it.
" Welcome to the Black Pearl, Miss Turner!" Barbossa was saying cruelly as Elizabeth struggled against two pirates. Miss Turner? Why did she tell them that was her name, Adrian wondered. Then she looked at Barbossa, the father who left her alone all those years ago. Her blood boiled. She was angry for him having interfered with her life, which was finally beginning to go her way. She was angry that he would hurt innocent people. The people of Port Royal didn't deserve to be attacked, and Miss Swann didn't deserve being taken like this. And she was angry at him for getting her mother killed, the only person who had ever shown her an ounce of love. In a blind rage, Adrian pulled herself up onto the side of the boat and clung to a rope.
" You let her go!" she shrieked wildly. All the pirates turned to stare at her, and all went silent as Barbossa turned.
" And who might you be, missy?" he asked, obviously amused at the sight of a water soaked girl challenging him. Adrian may have gotten her looks from her mother, but she got her temper from her father.
" What right have you to go ruining people's lives like this?! You let her go and leave these waters!" Adrian continued to snarl. Now the pirates were beginning to laugh, a cruel sound to Adrian's ears.
" Come down from there and let me talk to ye," Barbossa said, trying to calm her. Much to his surprise, Adrian leapt to the deck and began walking toward him. One pirate reached out and caught her dress. She whirled and, swift as a striking snake, struck him on the side of his face. The pirates all made way for her from then on. Barbossa watched her approach with a hint of respect. Adrian stood in front of him, her arms crossed across her chest.
" Now what is it you be wanting?" he asked.
" I want you to leave Port Royal and let her go, then sail away from these waters and never return," Adrian replied, her voice still tight with an anger that she could barely control. Barbossa cocked his head and studied her for a moment.
" Who are you?" he asked again. Adrian's blue eyes burned into him.
" I am surprised you would not recognize me, father," Adrian said coldly, spitting out the last word. Barbossa visibly paled and the crew began to whisper. Adrian heard Elizabeth gasp.
" Although I do not think you have any right to claim that title," she continued. Barbossa stared hard at her, then began to laugh as the color came back to his cheeks.
" So ye are my daughter, Adrian! I see you have gotten your mother's looks and my temper, which you have made obvious by that little display!" he continued to laugh. Adrian stared coldly at him.
" Do you have any idea how I have lived these past years?" she asked quietly.
" No, that I do not," Barbossa answered, not bothered by the matter at all.
" You left me," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
" What is that around your neck?" Barbossa asked suddenly.
" Oh, that!" Adrian laughed ruefully," this is a little token I have borne with me since I last sailed on this boat." The pirates gasped as she drew forth the gold coin.
" How did you get that?" one of the crew asked.
" I stole it from the chest. Like father, like daughter," Adrian answered simply, her voice edged in irony.
" So you know of the curse?" Barbossa asked.
" Haven't you heard a word I have said? I am the curse!" Adrian yelled as she pulled herself up onto the railing just as a ray of moonlight shone down on her. The pirates recoiled. There, up on the railing, Adrian made and eerie sight, all skeleton with a white dress flapping in the breeze and straggly hair blowing in her face.
" I got more from you than just your temper," Adrian said as she twirled her necklace from one hand, her bare joints creaking and snapping. The moonbeam vanished and she turned back to normal.
" Nobody is to lay a hand on either of these girls. Lock them in my cabin!" Barbossa roared. Elizabeth and Adrian were hustled into his cabin, and the door was shut and locked behind them. Elizabeth looked at Adrian, a glint of terror in her eyes. But Adrian had only been acting.
" Don't worry, milady, I won't do that again!" Adrian said with a light laugh.
" Is it true? Are you his daughter?" Elizabeth asked.
" Yes, it is true, milady, but only by blood," Adrian answered. Elizabeth relaxed.
" Please, Adrian, call me Elizabeth," she said. Adrian gave her a little smile. As the boat drew away from Port Royal and into the ocean, Elizabeth and Adrian talked about happier times and became friends, for when one is captive on a pirate ship, it is good to have someone there for you.
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"I am disinclined to acquiesce you request. Means no."
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Just a short little chapter to make your spine shiver! Yeah, it was a bit spooky, but so much fun to write! It took me a while to get it up because we went to Glamis last weekend, which was totally awesome as usual! And I was kinda stuck because I wasn't sure of what to write. Oh, okay, so I lied. Jack isn't in this chapter. I was going to have her go with them, but I like this arrangement better. Let me know what you think!
Movielvr: here is your next chapter! Hopefully it won't take as long to get the next one up
Elf with a Lightsaber: Lord of the Rings rocks! Actually, my little brother's Gollum impressions aren't half-bad (don't tell no one), but he always decides to do them late at night, so I fell like killing him. They are very annoying in general, though, but especially at nine o'clock at night!
Pandagrrl: Adrian dug into her STOCKING and There, I fixed it! Hey, chill with the rum )