AN// I have HALF a mind to keep Will dead... Haha... I averaged like... 6
reviews per chapter... I kill off Will and I double... *laughs*
And I want to give a thanks to EVERYONE who's been spreading Things Change by word of mouth. Two people I'm aware of have mentioned that they came by Things Change from a friend and I just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH!
One Feather= Thanks so much for taking the time to read this through! It's over 40,000 words now and that's long. Much props and kudos.
Maren L P=Will's handsome face might be the only thing that saves him in my mind... Haha.
Prissylilchica=*grin*It's threats like yours that make me LOVE cliffhangers.. Haha. iono.. Masochistic tendencies?
Youkai Yume=I am FAR from brilliant. Haha.. I just happen to have one REALLY sick mind.
alphaneon=Brave... haha.. You have to be to face the wrath of VERY angry readers. hehe. and yea.. Retelling.. I used to be hooked on star wars. I did a retelling of that one. *shrug* And retelling the Pirates story as it was? That should constitute as a crime! That story is perfect as it is told!
Jen = I'm a romantic! What can I say?! The whole dying for your one true love strings a chord with me!
Piratey Elf=okay girl... breathe... it'll be okay.. Just remember... This is all just a story.. One more year and Will's going to be back and kicking pirate booty in PotC 2 and 3.
Enelya = Ahhhh lurker!! Haha but then again... so am I to many stories.. so hehe.. you're excused from my hit list. Moreover, don't cry!
Orliandviggochic = I think I DID just kill Will.. *bites lip* hehe..
Mia = There is ALWAYS hope as long as the story isn't finished! That's my motto when one of the stories I'm reading pulls what I just did. haha
Stun04 = I'm hurt! Don't leave! I'll make it okay! Promise!
etheral_dragon = twists are fun *grin* haha... that's my hint to you.
Nevasaiel = character abuse?! I never heard of it that way before! haha.. funny... Hmm shall it be fixed though?
Elkengrove = sorry.. He REALLY had to die... makes things more fun!
Chapter 23:
No soul, no breath... The warmth was literally draining away at the neck. Her hands rested on his eyes, closing them from the world. Her tears mixed with the blood she was sinking deep into.
No soul, no breath... Patricia Taylor was now an empty shell, weeping over the body of another... Her life was taken the moment William Turner's life was taken from him.
She didn't hear the battle cries of her allies sound around her as they ambushed the village several minutes later. She didn't notice how Elizabeth fell to her side, her own tears falling for her friend. She didn't see the look on Banlu's face as Jack's sword ran through his side. She didn't feel the wheels of Mr. Gibbs' cart go over her toes as he rode by singing "A Pirate's Life for me."
.................... Wait.... can we back this up for a second?
Patricia's head snapped up and the world around her literally froze. She looked around and droplets of blood stopped in midair before splashing to the ground. Gibbs was indeed on a cart... a red one, at that... A duck in his arms, golden eggs surrounding him.
"Patricia..." the wind murmured. The voice sounded a lot like Will and her tears fell, thinking she had lost her mind. "Tricia-love..." The sound swirled around her as she knelt on the ground looking around. "Come, love..." The echo started to indicate direction and it came from below her. Will's ghostly face was staring up at her, stained with blood, his mouth opened and her name's sound escaped passed his lips. "Tricia..."
Patricia backed away terrified a scream reaching her throat....
... And spilling from her mouth as she snapped up in bed. The darkness surrounded her and her breath was coming out in labored gasps. A figure moved in obscurity in front of her and saw the silhouette of an arm move towards her waist.
"No!" she shouted as Patricia backed against the headboard, grabbing a load of sheets to her chest to cover herself. She had only just realized that she was naked except for a thin cotton nightgown.
"Another nightmare?" Patricia's muscles relaxed as the man's face came into view when moonlight shined down through the frosted glass of her windows. Tears of relief pricked her eyes and she threw her arms around him.
"Oh.... God... I just..."
"Shhh... It's all right... It's over now, Tricia," he whispered into her ear as she started to cry softly into his chest.
"I just can't get away from it though... all the blood..." The hair that grew on the man's face was long and the dark strands began to irritate her cheek but she couldn't care less. Patricia needed a physical body, something tangible to hold onto against the hauntings of her memories and imagination.
"It's all right now... I promise..." His head retreated for a second to look into her eyes for reaffirmation of the promise.
"Will..." Patricia whispered taking his face in her hands. "I'm just so afraid that THIS is the dream and that you're not really here..." Will bent down and kissed her softly and slowly, silencing her cries thoroughly.
"That real enough for you?" Will kissed away her tears and laid her down on the sheets. Her arms loosened their hold and relaxed. He lay down beside her and smiled, amused, when she rolled onto her stomach to half-lie on top of him. "Your dreams weren't real... They were nightmares... that's all."
"Are you sure?" Her fingers traced down the contours of his chest, her breath blowing across his skin. "Because I don't how I can be sure that at any moment, you'll disappear and I'll wake up..."
"Then I guess you'll just have to not wake up," he shrugged. She sighed against his chest, closing her eyes and dropping kisses on the warm planes.
"Then how'd we get away... How'd we get away from Adena?" Patricia murmured. "It was too hopeless. There was no way we could have escaped..."
"It's not as hopeless as you must have thought because we're here now, aren't we?"
"How though?" she pushed, wanting him to tell the story... just to make sure her memory was still intact.
^*^*^*^*^*^*FLASHBACK*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Adena had started her speech to her comrades and subjects. Patricia wasn't really grasping what was going on. Her mind couldn't process Will on his knees, tied and helpless on the dirt.
"Will, what are you doing?" Patricia asked as she was pushed beside him. She looked down as she said this, her tears forming behind her eyes.
"Don't cry, love," Will pleaded, seeing her watering eyes. "It'll be all right... I promise..." But she shook her head in skepticism.
"They're going to kill you, aren't they?" she continued fearfully. Will shook his head. "DON'T LIE TO ME!" At her outburst, one of the guards stepped up and slapped Patricia across the face.
"Have respect to our Lady, woman!" the man snapped as she fell to the ground with the force. The crowd tightened with the new drama unfolding in front of them, especially since they could see the new Sacrifice turning red with anger. The captain made a lunge for the attacker, his own indignant fury seething.
"What is wrong with you?!" Jack yelled. He was held back by another guard.
"This man is useless and a nuisance, Adena," the guard snapped. "Please let me have the honor of ridding us of such an irritation." At first, Adena looked down at Jack, hesistantly as if weighing the pros and cons of keeping him alive. It seemed there was too much at stake as long as he breathed so she nodded.
"We have no use for him. Kill him if you want to," Adena waved away the guard. He grinned and Jack looked up, understanding the gist of the conversation. He shut his eyes tight when the guard raised his spear about to strike his chest. Patricia and Will looked on in shock, unable to do anything. Jack waited for the blow but instead of feeling the spear go through his chest, he HEARD a blast off to the side. His eyes snapped open and he saw a man with a gun standing among the trees. Jacks' eyes focused and he realized it was AnaMaria! Evidently, so did Patricia.
"Ana!" In the heat of the moment, the guards had lost their hold on her. She fought her way to Will and using adrenaline for strength, she tugged at his bonds.
"Patricia! No!" Will snapped falling away from her hands. Patricia just looked at him, more confused than ever. His negative reaction to escape made her go pale and the adrenaline she had found useful drained away... so did the temporary medicine that Banlu had given her through the bread.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The shot went through the wrist of the man holding the spear. Blood spurted and fell to the dirt as the guard jumped back in pain.
"More of them!!" the guard yelled, not noticing the woman crawl away to the Sacrifice. "Attack! Don't let them reclaim anyone!" All the men and Adena took on their weapons, bows and arrows, spears and daggers, using them in defense of the new intruders. Though the defense was holding the pirates back to an extent, they knew it would only hold for so far. This time they were ready, guns and ammo at hand.
AnaMaria jumped to the fore, using her sword to dodge and kill any that stood in her way. Moments later, she got to Jack who was crouching under the maelstrom of battle.
"Jack!" AnaMaria cried out in relief. "Are you all right?"
"Ana?" He put his head up and grinned. "I just KNEW you wouldn't leave me behind!" He leaned in for an untimely kiss but AnaMaria just blushed and pushed him away, handing him another sword.
"Not now, Jack!" she thrust her sword over him, piercing the skin of a would-be murderer. "Haven't the time..."
"Right you are..." Jack jumped to his feet ready to take on anything and anyone.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Elizabeth was making her way, decently as well. Her marks were naturally skilled and now that she was prepared she could go through this crowd like a knife through butter.
"What took so long, Miss Swann?" Jack asked as he had swaggered his way towards her. They took a fighting stance, back to back, and Elizabeth grinned at Jack Sparrow's resolute cofidence even when he was literally two feet and adownward thrust away from dying.
"It took a bit of convincing," Elizabeth grunted, fighting off a new wave of defenders. Actually it took more than a BIT of convincing...
It seemed that the crew's confidence in the infamous Captain Sparrow was almost its fatal flaw. During the long hours of the night, Elizabeth had sat by the rails on the deck watching for any sign that their plans to rescue Patricia was finished and successful. Long into the dark, nothing stirred and Elizabeth felt in her gut that something was terribly wrong.
"Shouldn't we be going after them by now?" Elizabeth asked Alleretto, one of the crew.
"Nay, tis fine miss," Alleretto shrugged away. "Tis Jack Sparrow you speak of. If anyone can buy your freend back, it be him."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I be sure miss." He walked away, not in the least bit worried but a few ours later, Elizabeth was near falling off the ship in her effort to stay awake. It was nearing sunrise. She could see the sky fading from its navy blue to a cerulean color. Nothing new emerged from the trees and her instincts told her to convince them to go after them somehow.
"Don't give me all this bollocks about how they're all right!" Elizabeth cried out as the deck began to fill with more of the crew as they woke up. "It's only a few hours till sunrise! They've gone all night!"
"This Jack Sparrow we're talking about! He's fine!" DeMisse rolled his eyes.
"I can't believe this!" Elizabeth stomped off to where Gibbs was emerging from a door, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "We need to get to shore..."
"They finally showed, eh?" Gibbs yawned, walking off to the gigs. "'Bout time.. Couldn't sleep a wink last night, worry about those three..."
"Glad to know I wasn't the only one then," Elizabeth grinned triumphantly at the others.
"Huh?" Gibbs halted on his way and just looked at Elizabeth and the nervous faces around him.
"None of them have showed up yet," Elizabeth announced crossing her arms in front of her. "I can't believe all of you! I KNOW it's your beloved captain that's on that island but isn't it at all possible that he needs our help?! Right now it seems at that all of you are too cowardly too admit that such a thought is even possible!" AnaMaria was off to the side, biting her lip and looking at the island. The apprehension that could be seen in her eyes wasted away and became determination.
"She's right... We've been sitting here on our asses to long.. They might already be dead, for all we know," AnaMaria agreed. She began to shout out orders and a few minutes she had gathered a sizable cavalry and enough guns and ammo to take over another ship.
They got there without a moment to spare. AnaMaria was the one who took the first shot, making it just in time to save Jack from death.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Elizabeth fought her way over to where Will and Patricia were. Something was definitely wrong. She could see Will desperately working his way out of the bonds but she could find no sign of Patricia. She wuickly steppe dup and with a quick slice, Will's bonds were cut. He didn't even look up to thank his rescuer. He just lunged towards one of the bodies lying, motionless, on the ground. At first Elizabeth was confused. She thought that the body was just another casulaty of the battle but she immediately realized that the dark hair was not that of any one native to this island but of someone she knew well.
"Oh my god... Patricia," Elizabeth dropped to her knees, on the other side of her friend. "Will... what's with all this blood?" Her hand shook as she parted the tangled hair away from Patricia's face leaving a hint of blood on her fingertips. "What's wrong with her?!"
"She's..." Will choked. His eyes were half-covered and Elizabeth couldn't see what was gong on behind them. "She's dying..." Will looked up and Elizabeth almost fell back with how cold and stony his expression was. "Take care of her." He placed Patricia into Elizabeth's arms and stalked over to Jack Sparrow. He grabbed the gun and looked around. His eyes found what he was looking for.
There was an old man standing off to the side. He was watching the battle as an outsider though he knew he was very much a reason of it. Old and hunched over, he was weak and needed the help of a dark mahogany wood, headed by a glass sphere, twinkling in the firelight. His eyes narrowed and like that of a tiger, he went around his prey, not to be noticed until he had grabbed the old man's arm and twisted it behind him, a gun held to the temple.
Will swallowed his fear and shame in taking advantage of a man not even able to walk on his own. His heart was racing. His conscience was screaming at him to stop what he was doing but one glance at Elizabeth's horrified face as she carried Patricia on the ground... He knew what he had to do...
"Adena!" he yelled. Adena heard, for she was fighting a pirate near Will and his captive. "Stop your fighting!" Adena saw the man, at the hands of Will's mercy and immediately obeyed.
"Everyone drop your weapons!" The guards obeyed. The pirates, not understanding what was going on, stood back bewildered. "Drop Banlu, Mr. Turner..."
"Your Holiest, I believe?" Will replied sarcastically. His eyes glanced at the horizon... The sun rise was close. Though the giant ball of fire was still to show itself, its rays were already beaming from its source... If Banlu was all he was made out to be, then the moment the sun emerged it would mean... No, not thinking of that.. there's still a way to save her.
"Yes! Now let him go!" Adena ordered. "We'll do anything! Just please! Let Banlu free!"
"Everyone drop your weapons!" The guards hesitated at first and looked to Adena for permission. With a quick nod, they all slowly laid their weapons down on the ground. "Release Patricia..." That one Adena hesitated.
"I'm afraid I cannot... The sun rises in minutes... It's too late for her..." Adena replied. She stole a glance at Patricia, still lying still near the ground.
"No it's not... You said it yourself," Will said angrily. "Banlu can fix her... He can do anything and he can fix her!" Adena stayed silent, not wanting to deny what she knew to be true as well. "You take what's most precious to me, I take what's most precious to you...."
"Do not succumb to his wishes," Banlu growled. "We all die without the Sacrifice..."
"And we die without your magick," Adena replied. Her mind was torn. Adena knew that Will was quite serious about killing Banlu. The look in his eyes was bordering on insane so she had a decision. She knew that either way their village would die away. It was her choice to take what path. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Release him... Please Banlu... do as he says." Will wavered not knowing if Banlu would follow through but he felt the muscles in Banlu slump in defeat and he let him go, still pointing the gun to the man.
"Get to it then," Will ordered. Banlu took one of the bowls, ready made for Patricia when Will was going to die in her place. Silently, Banlu hobbled over to where Elizabeth was sitting. Everyone stared in wonder as Banlu began to mutter under his breath, his fingers mixing the herbs and grinding it together. Elizabeth sighed despite her heart racing at knowing time was running out. The smell of the herbs was relaxing and sweet-smelling.
Patricia lay immobile as she was covered with the green mixture. By the end, she looked like she was a moss-covered corpse, pale white skin beneath the dark crimson of her own blood and the forest green of medicine.
"Hurry," Will said impatiently, seeing the sun just at the edge.
"Patience, young one," Banlu whispered. "Make yourself useful and get me water..." He handed the pirate's son the bowl, empty of its contents. Will ran to the stream and filled it with liquid. Banlu reclaimed the bowl and slowly started to pour it over the tainted skin, starting from her legs. As the colors were washed away, her skin was revealed to be even more perfect than when she came to the island. As the water washed at her throat, Patricia inhaled deeply, moving in Elizabeth's arms.
"Patricia!" Will threw down the gun and took her back into him. He wiped away the moisture and shook her gently. "Why won't she wake up?"
"She'll be fine... She'll sleep as she recovers the life she had lost," Banlu murmured, standing up and away from them. At this point, Will was ready to throw a parade. His relief was beyond words. All he could do was just throw kisses on her face and sigh happily. He was just cradling her in his arms when Jack started to shake him.
"Will..." Jack was a little pale when Will looked up.
"What is it?" Will asked.
"Look..." Jack pointed to their surrounding. All the pirates were staring around them confused. Beside them were piles of ashes, smoking as if a fire was just extinguished. Will's eyes scrunched up in his own confusion.
"What happened?"
"They all just... They just fell to pieces... Didn't you notice?" Jack asked.
"No..." Will shook his head. He took Patricia up and carried her in his arms, grunting at the dead weight he was under. The stench was now reaching his nose and he realized that the ash wasn't from wood... It smelled more like dead remains. "That's disgusting... We need to leave... now..." Will pushed away Jack and made his way through the hedges but another caught voice caught his attention.
"Cap'n!! Cap'n!!" Will turned back and saw one of the members waving a leather pouch. Jack walked up to the man, carefully treading around what remained of the natives. It seemed that Banlu's words were true. When the tribe had failed in producing a sacrifice to their gods, their lives were taken instead... All of them... now just a burning pile of dust.
"What is it?" Jack had finally met with the man and he took the leather pouch.
"There's more in that hut over there!" The man's eyes was dancing merrily and Will stretched his neck to see what Jack was emptying from the bag. The sun caught the gleam of the contents and even from a distance Will could see that the contents was gold. "They have a whole room of 'em!"
Patricia murmured in her sleep and shifted, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her head in the crook, connecting his arm to his shoulder. Will just shook his head as he looked back at Patricia. To hell with the gold... he had his treasure right here. He turned back and saw Elizabeth waiting for him at the foot of the trail heading back to the beach, where all the gigs were waiting to return them to the Rouge.
AN// Guys!! I'm soooooo sorry for the delay. School has been banging on my door lately but I'll try to update as soon as possible.
And I want to give a thanks to EVERYONE who's been spreading Things Change by word of mouth. Two people I'm aware of have mentioned that they came by Things Change from a friend and I just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH!
One Feather= Thanks so much for taking the time to read this through! It's over 40,000 words now and that's long. Much props and kudos.
Maren L P=Will's handsome face might be the only thing that saves him in my mind... Haha.
Prissylilchica=*grin*It's threats like yours that make me LOVE cliffhangers.. Haha. iono.. Masochistic tendencies?
Youkai Yume=I am FAR from brilliant. Haha.. I just happen to have one REALLY sick mind.
alphaneon=Brave... haha.. You have to be to face the wrath of VERY angry readers. hehe. and yea.. Retelling.. I used to be hooked on star wars. I did a retelling of that one. *shrug* And retelling the Pirates story as it was? That should constitute as a crime! That story is perfect as it is told!
Jen = I'm a romantic! What can I say?! The whole dying for your one true love strings a chord with me!
Piratey Elf=okay girl... breathe... it'll be okay.. Just remember... This is all just a story.. One more year and Will's going to be back and kicking pirate booty in PotC 2 and 3.
Enelya = Ahhhh lurker!! Haha but then again... so am I to many stories.. so hehe.. you're excused from my hit list. Moreover, don't cry!
Orliandviggochic = I think I DID just kill Will.. *bites lip* hehe..
Mia = There is ALWAYS hope as long as the story isn't finished! That's my motto when one of the stories I'm reading pulls what I just did. haha
Stun04 = I'm hurt! Don't leave! I'll make it okay! Promise!
etheral_dragon = twists are fun *grin* haha... that's my hint to you.
Nevasaiel = character abuse?! I never heard of it that way before! haha.. funny... Hmm shall it be fixed though?
Elkengrove = sorry.. He REALLY had to die... makes things more fun!
Chapter 23:
No soul, no breath... The warmth was literally draining away at the neck. Her hands rested on his eyes, closing them from the world. Her tears mixed with the blood she was sinking deep into.
No soul, no breath... Patricia Taylor was now an empty shell, weeping over the body of another... Her life was taken the moment William Turner's life was taken from him.
She didn't hear the battle cries of her allies sound around her as they ambushed the village several minutes later. She didn't notice how Elizabeth fell to her side, her own tears falling for her friend. She didn't see the look on Banlu's face as Jack's sword ran through his side. She didn't feel the wheels of Mr. Gibbs' cart go over her toes as he rode by singing "A Pirate's Life for me."
.................... Wait.... can we back this up for a second?
Patricia's head snapped up and the world around her literally froze. She looked around and droplets of blood stopped in midair before splashing to the ground. Gibbs was indeed on a cart... a red one, at that... A duck in his arms, golden eggs surrounding him.
"Patricia..." the wind murmured. The voice sounded a lot like Will and her tears fell, thinking she had lost her mind. "Tricia-love..." The sound swirled around her as she knelt on the ground looking around. "Come, love..." The echo started to indicate direction and it came from below her. Will's ghostly face was staring up at her, stained with blood, his mouth opened and her name's sound escaped passed his lips. "Tricia..."
Patricia backed away terrified a scream reaching her throat....
... And spilling from her mouth as she snapped up in bed. The darkness surrounded her and her breath was coming out in labored gasps. A figure moved in obscurity in front of her and saw the silhouette of an arm move towards her waist.
"No!" she shouted as Patricia backed against the headboard, grabbing a load of sheets to her chest to cover herself. She had only just realized that she was naked except for a thin cotton nightgown.
"Another nightmare?" Patricia's muscles relaxed as the man's face came into view when moonlight shined down through the frosted glass of her windows. Tears of relief pricked her eyes and she threw her arms around him.
"Oh.... God... I just..."
"Shhh... It's all right... It's over now, Tricia," he whispered into her ear as she started to cry softly into his chest.
"I just can't get away from it though... all the blood..." The hair that grew on the man's face was long and the dark strands began to irritate her cheek but she couldn't care less. Patricia needed a physical body, something tangible to hold onto against the hauntings of her memories and imagination.
"It's all right now... I promise..." His head retreated for a second to look into her eyes for reaffirmation of the promise.
"Will..." Patricia whispered taking his face in her hands. "I'm just so afraid that THIS is the dream and that you're not really here..." Will bent down and kissed her softly and slowly, silencing her cries thoroughly.
"That real enough for you?" Will kissed away her tears and laid her down on the sheets. Her arms loosened their hold and relaxed. He lay down beside her and smiled, amused, when she rolled onto her stomach to half-lie on top of him. "Your dreams weren't real... They were nightmares... that's all."
"Are you sure?" Her fingers traced down the contours of his chest, her breath blowing across his skin. "Because I don't how I can be sure that at any moment, you'll disappear and I'll wake up..."
"Then I guess you'll just have to not wake up," he shrugged. She sighed against his chest, closing her eyes and dropping kisses on the warm planes.
"Then how'd we get away... How'd we get away from Adena?" Patricia murmured. "It was too hopeless. There was no way we could have escaped..."
"It's not as hopeless as you must have thought because we're here now, aren't we?"
"How though?" she pushed, wanting him to tell the story... just to make sure her memory was still intact.
^*^*^*^*^*^*FLASHBACK*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Adena had started her speech to her comrades and subjects. Patricia wasn't really grasping what was going on. Her mind couldn't process Will on his knees, tied and helpless on the dirt.
"Will, what are you doing?" Patricia asked as she was pushed beside him. She looked down as she said this, her tears forming behind her eyes.
"Don't cry, love," Will pleaded, seeing her watering eyes. "It'll be all right... I promise..." But she shook her head in skepticism.
"They're going to kill you, aren't they?" she continued fearfully. Will shook his head. "DON'T LIE TO ME!" At her outburst, one of the guards stepped up and slapped Patricia across the face.
"Have respect to our Lady, woman!" the man snapped as she fell to the ground with the force. The crowd tightened with the new drama unfolding in front of them, especially since they could see the new Sacrifice turning red with anger. The captain made a lunge for the attacker, his own indignant fury seething.
"What is wrong with you?!" Jack yelled. He was held back by another guard.
"This man is useless and a nuisance, Adena," the guard snapped. "Please let me have the honor of ridding us of such an irritation." At first, Adena looked down at Jack, hesistantly as if weighing the pros and cons of keeping him alive. It seemed there was too much at stake as long as he breathed so she nodded.
"We have no use for him. Kill him if you want to," Adena waved away the guard. He grinned and Jack looked up, understanding the gist of the conversation. He shut his eyes tight when the guard raised his spear about to strike his chest. Patricia and Will looked on in shock, unable to do anything. Jack waited for the blow but instead of feeling the spear go through his chest, he HEARD a blast off to the side. His eyes snapped open and he saw a man with a gun standing among the trees. Jacks' eyes focused and he realized it was AnaMaria! Evidently, so did Patricia.
"Ana!" In the heat of the moment, the guards had lost their hold on her. She fought her way to Will and using adrenaline for strength, she tugged at his bonds.
"Patricia! No!" Will snapped falling away from her hands. Patricia just looked at him, more confused than ever. His negative reaction to escape made her go pale and the adrenaline she had found useful drained away... so did the temporary medicine that Banlu had given her through the bread.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The shot went through the wrist of the man holding the spear. Blood spurted and fell to the dirt as the guard jumped back in pain.
"More of them!!" the guard yelled, not noticing the woman crawl away to the Sacrifice. "Attack! Don't let them reclaim anyone!" All the men and Adena took on their weapons, bows and arrows, spears and daggers, using them in defense of the new intruders. Though the defense was holding the pirates back to an extent, they knew it would only hold for so far. This time they were ready, guns and ammo at hand.
AnaMaria jumped to the fore, using her sword to dodge and kill any that stood in her way. Moments later, she got to Jack who was crouching under the maelstrom of battle.
"Jack!" AnaMaria cried out in relief. "Are you all right?"
"Ana?" He put his head up and grinned. "I just KNEW you wouldn't leave me behind!" He leaned in for an untimely kiss but AnaMaria just blushed and pushed him away, handing him another sword.
"Not now, Jack!" she thrust her sword over him, piercing the skin of a would-be murderer. "Haven't the time..."
"Right you are..." Jack jumped to his feet ready to take on anything and anyone.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Elizabeth was making her way, decently as well. Her marks were naturally skilled and now that she was prepared she could go through this crowd like a knife through butter.
"What took so long, Miss Swann?" Jack asked as he had swaggered his way towards her. They took a fighting stance, back to back, and Elizabeth grinned at Jack Sparrow's resolute cofidence even when he was literally two feet and adownward thrust away from dying.
"It took a bit of convincing," Elizabeth grunted, fighting off a new wave of defenders. Actually it took more than a BIT of convincing...
It seemed that the crew's confidence in the infamous Captain Sparrow was almost its fatal flaw. During the long hours of the night, Elizabeth had sat by the rails on the deck watching for any sign that their plans to rescue Patricia was finished and successful. Long into the dark, nothing stirred and Elizabeth felt in her gut that something was terribly wrong.
"Shouldn't we be going after them by now?" Elizabeth asked Alleretto, one of the crew.
"Nay, tis fine miss," Alleretto shrugged away. "Tis Jack Sparrow you speak of. If anyone can buy your freend back, it be him."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I be sure miss." He walked away, not in the least bit worried but a few ours later, Elizabeth was near falling off the ship in her effort to stay awake. It was nearing sunrise. She could see the sky fading from its navy blue to a cerulean color. Nothing new emerged from the trees and her instincts told her to convince them to go after them somehow.
"Don't give me all this bollocks about how they're all right!" Elizabeth cried out as the deck began to fill with more of the crew as they woke up. "It's only a few hours till sunrise! They've gone all night!"
"This Jack Sparrow we're talking about! He's fine!" DeMisse rolled his eyes.
"I can't believe this!" Elizabeth stomped off to where Gibbs was emerging from a door, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "We need to get to shore..."
"They finally showed, eh?" Gibbs yawned, walking off to the gigs. "'Bout time.. Couldn't sleep a wink last night, worry about those three..."
"Glad to know I wasn't the only one then," Elizabeth grinned triumphantly at the others.
"Huh?" Gibbs halted on his way and just looked at Elizabeth and the nervous faces around him.
"None of them have showed up yet," Elizabeth announced crossing her arms in front of her. "I can't believe all of you! I KNOW it's your beloved captain that's on that island but isn't it at all possible that he needs our help?! Right now it seems at that all of you are too cowardly too admit that such a thought is even possible!" AnaMaria was off to the side, biting her lip and looking at the island. The apprehension that could be seen in her eyes wasted away and became determination.
"She's right... We've been sitting here on our asses to long.. They might already be dead, for all we know," AnaMaria agreed. She began to shout out orders and a few minutes she had gathered a sizable cavalry and enough guns and ammo to take over another ship.
They got there without a moment to spare. AnaMaria was the one who took the first shot, making it just in time to save Jack from death.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Elizabeth fought her way over to where Will and Patricia were. Something was definitely wrong. She could see Will desperately working his way out of the bonds but she could find no sign of Patricia. She wuickly steppe dup and with a quick slice, Will's bonds were cut. He didn't even look up to thank his rescuer. He just lunged towards one of the bodies lying, motionless, on the ground. At first Elizabeth was confused. She thought that the body was just another casulaty of the battle but she immediately realized that the dark hair was not that of any one native to this island but of someone she knew well.
"Oh my god... Patricia," Elizabeth dropped to her knees, on the other side of her friend. "Will... what's with all this blood?" Her hand shook as she parted the tangled hair away from Patricia's face leaving a hint of blood on her fingertips. "What's wrong with her?!"
"She's..." Will choked. His eyes were half-covered and Elizabeth couldn't see what was gong on behind them. "She's dying..." Will looked up and Elizabeth almost fell back with how cold and stony his expression was. "Take care of her." He placed Patricia into Elizabeth's arms and stalked over to Jack Sparrow. He grabbed the gun and looked around. His eyes found what he was looking for.
There was an old man standing off to the side. He was watching the battle as an outsider though he knew he was very much a reason of it. Old and hunched over, he was weak and needed the help of a dark mahogany wood, headed by a glass sphere, twinkling in the firelight. His eyes narrowed and like that of a tiger, he went around his prey, not to be noticed until he had grabbed the old man's arm and twisted it behind him, a gun held to the temple.
Will swallowed his fear and shame in taking advantage of a man not even able to walk on his own. His heart was racing. His conscience was screaming at him to stop what he was doing but one glance at Elizabeth's horrified face as she carried Patricia on the ground... He knew what he had to do...
"Adena!" he yelled. Adena heard, for she was fighting a pirate near Will and his captive. "Stop your fighting!" Adena saw the man, at the hands of Will's mercy and immediately obeyed.
"Everyone drop your weapons!" The guards obeyed. The pirates, not understanding what was going on, stood back bewildered. "Drop Banlu, Mr. Turner..."
"Your Holiest, I believe?" Will replied sarcastically. His eyes glanced at the horizon... The sun rise was close. Though the giant ball of fire was still to show itself, its rays were already beaming from its source... If Banlu was all he was made out to be, then the moment the sun emerged it would mean... No, not thinking of that.. there's still a way to save her.
"Yes! Now let him go!" Adena ordered. "We'll do anything! Just please! Let Banlu free!"
"Everyone drop your weapons!" The guards hesitated at first and looked to Adena for permission. With a quick nod, they all slowly laid their weapons down on the ground. "Release Patricia..." That one Adena hesitated.
"I'm afraid I cannot... The sun rises in minutes... It's too late for her..." Adena replied. She stole a glance at Patricia, still lying still near the ground.
"No it's not... You said it yourself," Will said angrily. "Banlu can fix her... He can do anything and he can fix her!" Adena stayed silent, not wanting to deny what she knew to be true as well. "You take what's most precious to me, I take what's most precious to you...."
"Do not succumb to his wishes," Banlu growled. "We all die without the Sacrifice..."
"And we die without your magick," Adena replied. Her mind was torn. Adena knew that Will was quite serious about killing Banlu. The look in his eyes was bordering on insane so she had a decision. She knew that either way their village would die away. It was her choice to take what path. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Release him... Please Banlu... do as he says." Will wavered not knowing if Banlu would follow through but he felt the muscles in Banlu slump in defeat and he let him go, still pointing the gun to the man.
"Get to it then," Will ordered. Banlu took one of the bowls, ready made for Patricia when Will was going to die in her place. Silently, Banlu hobbled over to where Elizabeth was sitting. Everyone stared in wonder as Banlu began to mutter under his breath, his fingers mixing the herbs and grinding it together. Elizabeth sighed despite her heart racing at knowing time was running out. The smell of the herbs was relaxing and sweet-smelling.
Patricia lay immobile as she was covered with the green mixture. By the end, she looked like she was a moss-covered corpse, pale white skin beneath the dark crimson of her own blood and the forest green of medicine.
"Hurry," Will said impatiently, seeing the sun just at the edge.
"Patience, young one," Banlu whispered. "Make yourself useful and get me water..." He handed the pirate's son the bowl, empty of its contents. Will ran to the stream and filled it with liquid. Banlu reclaimed the bowl and slowly started to pour it over the tainted skin, starting from her legs. As the colors were washed away, her skin was revealed to be even more perfect than when she came to the island. As the water washed at her throat, Patricia inhaled deeply, moving in Elizabeth's arms.
"Patricia!" Will threw down the gun and took her back into him. He wiped away the moisture and shook her gently. "Why won't she wake up?"
"She'll be fine... She'll sleep as she recovers the life she had lost," Banlu murmured, standing up and away from them. At this point, Will was ready to throw a parade. His relief was beyond words. All he could do was just throw kisses on her face and sigh happily. He was just cradling her in his arms when Jack started to shake him.
"Will..." Jack was a little pale when Will looked up.
"What is it?" Will asked.
"Look..." Jack pointed to their surrounding. All the pirates were staring around them confused. Beside them were piles of ashes, smoking as if a fire was just extinguished. Will's eyes scrunched up in his own confusion.
"What happened?"
"They all just... They just fell to pieces... Didn't you notice?" Jack asked.
"No..." Will shook his head. He took Patricia up and carried her in his arms, grunting at the dead weight he was under. The stench was now reaching his nose and he realized that the ash wasn't from wood... It smelled more like dead remains. "That's disgusting... We need to leave... now..." Will pushed away Jack and made his way through the hedges but another caught voice caught his attention.
"Cap'n!! Cap'n!!" Will turned back and saw one of the members waving a leather pouch. Jack walked up to the man, carefully treading around what remained of the natives. It seemed that Banlu's words were true. When the tribe had failed in producing a sacrifice to their gods, their lives were taken instead... All of them... now just a burning pile of dust.
"What is it?" Jack had finally met with the man and he took the leather pouch.
"There's more in that hut over there!" The man's eyes was dancing merrily and Will stretched his neck to see what Jack was emptying from the bag. The sun caught the gleam of the contents and even from a distance Will could see that the contents was gold. "They have a whole room of 'em!"
Patricia murmured in her sleep and shifted, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her head in the crook, connecting his arm to his shoulder. Will just shook his head as he looked back at Patricia. To hell with the gold... he had his treasure right here. He turned back and saw Elizabeth waiting for him at the foot of the trail heading back to the beach, where all the gigs were waiting to return them to the Rouge.
AN// Guys!! I'm soooooo sorry for the delay. School has been banging on my door lately but I'll try to update as soon as possible.