Killing Mary Sue
~Part 5~
Anamaria stalked her Captain for the better part of the day. She stayed out of his way, she accused him of nothing, and she uttered no threats. The inactivity nearly put her to sleep, but this was for Jack's own good, and she knew that for him she could do it.
The worst of it was, he didn't even seem to notice. He seemed lost in a completely different universe, and it didn't even occur to him to be on edge after issuing the orders to make yet another coarse change to Isla Du Muerta. No one questioned him, and he seemed content with that. On a normal day the crew questioned and grumbled at every command he made, how could he not notice the abnormal level of compliance and not be paranoid by it?
And that lack of healthy paranoia, if it weren't for mysteriously healing wounds, disappearing shirts, and endless nightmares, convinced Anamaria once and for all that her Captain was under some strange influence. Well, so far as Anamaria was concerned, that influence was about to come to a halt.
Right now.
Jack entered his cabin, and Anamaria walked in after him. She locked the door behind her, and faced her Captain woman to man. "I already told the crew t' stay course for Port Royal. That's where we'll find her, isn't it?"
He barely even blinked. "I believe so." Not at all unsettled, he sat at the table and propped his boots up on the polished surface. "But ye may as well go ahead and tell 'em t' change course back again. We'll be headed, where I say we're headed, and naught elsewhere."
"No, Jack. Did you not notice? We've been headed to Port Royal all the while."
That news made him sit a little straighter. "All day?"
"The entire day." She stepped a bit closer, slow, and cautious, as though approaching a wild animal. One hand strayed behind her back, her fingertips played with the hilt of the dagger stowed in her belt, just in case. "Look at ya." Her voice softened. "You're so tired ye can barely think, never mind run a ship."
"Be that as it may, this is still my ship, and it will be my orders the crew'll be obeying. Not yours."
"No one's debatin' that with ye, Captain. But ye told me yer own self, ye feel like somethin's got a grip on ye. This is yer ship, and it is you the crew's loyal to. But, we'll not sit idly by and let ye lead us t' hell just cause that's where yer wantin to go."
For a long time, he did not answer, and finally Anamaria dared to take another step closer.
"I was warned this might happen." Jack murmured.
That didn't sound good. "What would happen?"
"You. She warned me to be ware of you. That you'd turn against me, just like Barbossa did." He sounded like he was remembering something once forgotten, something barely recalled.
The rapid beating of her heart kept pace with her concern. This defiantly did not sound good, but she didn't dare back away from him now. "I'm not going to give up on you, Jack," She took a deep steadying breath before continuing. "Captain, listen to yourself."
With a shrug and he raised his eyebrows slightly. "An' what would listenin' gain? What should I be hearing, according to you, seeing as you know me so well, Anamaria."
Another step closer, she now felt like a mouse stepping into a trap. Gently she reached out and touched the back of her hand to his cheek. That familiar spark coursed through her at the contact and judging by his quick intake of breath, she was relieved to see he felt it too. He was not completely lost to her. "Us, Jack. That's who you are, and who I am. I know you feel it too, come, and be with me. I'll help you sleep, I'll keep away the nightmares."
Hand in hand, she drew him towards their bunk, and lay beside him. "Stay with me, Jack, trust me. Who ever this is, who ever's doing this to you, we'll find her. I'll find her."
"She needs more treasure." The words were softly whispered, eyes blinking slowly.
"She needs a swift kick in the ass." Anamaria amended, and at Jack's answering grin, she felt a measure of relief.
Jack lay on his back, Anamaria's hand held in his own, and he studied her fingers. "Us." He repeated her earlier words and closed his eyes.
….elsewhere…
Mary breathed deep the incense burning on the table beside her. Sleep. Feel me in your dreams Jack Sparrow, and be mine…
Nothing happened. She could feel him within her reach, but she could not grasp him. Mary screamed with rage against whatever magic kept her from her quarry.
It wasn't fair. She was the one who worked so hard to claim him; she was the one who held the thread of his soul in her hand. It had to be the dark woman who was interfering in her plans; she could feel it. Whatever magic the other woman held over Jack Sparrow, Mary vowed to make her own magic stronger.