Disclaimer: Still don't own the wonderful Jack Sparrow, or anyone/anything
else associated with Disney. I wish I did, though.
AN: Please note that I know nothing of witchcraft/wiccan practices or of herbal remedies, so don't flame me and tell me that I'm completely wrong. This is a fictional story, and as such, so are the abilities of my own character(s), savvy?
Chapter 2: Catching a Thief:
Jack's POV:
Jack frowned as he steered his ship into Port Cain. Lately, the crew of the Black Pearl had started getting a bit rowdy from too much time at sea, so he had decided to give them a short break before heading for Tortuga. After being without land for three months, the crew deserved that much.
An hour later, the Pearl was docked in the harbor of the quaint town of Port Cain and the crew was gathered for the usual meeting before heading into town.
"Alright, mates!" Jack yelled, waving his arms around to get their attention. Silence followed and Jack proceeded. "Ye all know the drill: ye have the three days to drink, eat, or do whatever ye want, but be back mid-afternoon on that third day! I want ye all ready to sail before dusk settles in, savvy?" The crew raised their fists in the air in agreement before filing off the ship. Watching the last man (and single woman) leave the deck, Jack began to check things over in his head. Everything of value was locked down below, with Jack being the only one holding the keys. The crew's quarters were left unlocked in case they forgot something or were too cheap to rent a room, but Jack's large quarters and Anamaria's small cabin were locked, both of them holding the only keys to their rooms.
Giving his mental list one last thought, Jack headed down the gangplank and out into the town. The Pearl seriously needed new supplies, and Tortuga was over two weeks away. If Jack didn't buy some food soon, the crew would go mad from eating too much hardtack bread and drinking stale water. Then, only one word could describe what would happen after two weeks of tasteless rations: mutiny. In his opinion, a full crew was a happy crew, and Jack had every intention of providing for his crewmates. That's why, after a fairly large shopping spree, Jack realized that his purse was a great deal lighter. Fruits, vegetables, meat, and rum for an entire ship was necessary, but that didn't mean that he liked spending that much on his crew, especially when the merchants here were ripping him off. The pirate frowned; he hated it when they docked in proper towns like Port Cain, mostly because the residents always thought that they could raise the prices on anyone who wasn't a local. Oh, well, as long as the crew was happy, that was all that mattered to him. Either way, he still had some money left over; why not get a drink from the local taverns? Grinning widely, Jack headed down the street.
As he walked down the street, a sparkle caught his eye. Stopping for a moment, he pulled over to inspect a jeweler's stall, admiring all of the lovely gems locked securely in a glass case. Personally, Jack felt that he had bigger, brighter, more expensive jewels in his cabin, but these were still nice. Inwardly shrugging, he headed down the street and rounded a corner. Pausing to reach for his purse, the pirate captain froze when he found that it was missing. Looking down, he saw that the leather string looked like it had been pinched or cut off.
'That's not probable!' he thought, eyes wide as he held the cut leather. This purse had been made to repel any and all pickpockets; the tough leather strap could only be cut by the finest, sharpest knife a person could buy, and pickpockets couldn't afford knives of that type no matter what! Jack had bought this pouch from a former pickpocket who made purses and sold them to customers who hated getting robbed; there was no way for his purse to be missing!
Turning around, Jack headed back towards the market, keeping his eyes open as he retraced his steps. As he scanned the crowd, he spotted a woman in a large straw hat and a plain gray dress picking up her basket. There, inside of her basket, was Jack's purse! However, before he could move so much as an inch, the woman disappeared into the crowd. Internally, Jack cursed his bad luck as he tried to follow her with his eyes and with his feet.
It was no use; the woman was gone, and so was his purse. What was worst was that he hadn't even seen her face, her had had covered up her face. Growling in frustration, Jack turned around and headed for the Pearl, intent on getting some money so that he could get some rum and forget what had happened today!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Angela's POV:
After arriving home, Angela undid her hat and set it on the table, along with the basket and the fairly-empty purse. Changing into a thinner blue dress, she kicked off her shoes, letting her feet wiggle in the dust that made up the hut's floor.
'At least I don't have to clean the floor all the time,' Angela thought, bitterly. She really wished that she had a decent home, one with a real floor and a roof with no holes, but that wouldn't happen anytime soon.
Shrugging, Angela went over to the table and dragged a chair up to it, thankful that her few furniture pieces were all in good condition. A middle-class family moving back to England had sold the table, chairs, and small bed to her, asking for nothing more than a two months supply of a sea- sick remedy for their family. The hut had been abandoned by its owners for who-knows-how-long before Angela's arrival in Port Cain, as evident by its run-down appearance. Angela couldn't even light a fire in the fireplace for fear of burning the place down! Sighing, Angela took up the pouch and dumped out its contents, gasping at the sight that greeted her.
Silver and gold sparkled up at her from the tabletop. Three gold coins and six silver coins, all for her!
Angela couldn't believe her luck; not only was this more than expected, but the number nine was significant in her family. A 'nine' popping up to a Sharp woman usually meant that something good was going to happen to that person. Excitement swelled up in her chest as she looked at the coins. Sweeping them up in her hand, she placed them in a large bowl. Then, picking up a pitcher of water, she poured the contents over the coins until they were completely covered by the water. When this was finished, Angela looking into the bowl, trying to See what these coins could mean for her future.
The water rippled slightly before revealing the vague image of a man in a tri-cornered hat. A second later, the image cleared, showing the man that she had robbed earlier that day. Angela leaned in closer and saw that he was very handsome. She hadn't noticed that before, since she had been so intent on robbing him, but now that she could observe him in a different perspective, the young witch decided to take a closer look. His eyes were a dark, intense chocolate brown, both thickly lined with kohl. His beard was divided into two braided strands, each holding a bead at the end. His lips were lush and thick, looking very inviting and very kissable.
Angela blinked. Where had that come from?! She shook her head to clear her thoughts before returning to the water. The lips she had been admiring were turned down in an unhappy frown, which could be a very bad thing. Angela immediately got up and retrieved a small twig of dried herbs. Crushing the tiny leaves between her fingers, Angela sprinkled them into the water. This herb would allow her to hear what was being said, as well as see what was happening. An instant later, she could hear his voice through the water.
*~*~*~*
"Bloody hell!" he cursed as he rummaged through a desk drawer. "How did this bloody happen?! That purse was theft-proof, I tell ye, theft-proof! If that pickpocket/purseseller has cheated me, he'll wish that he'd never met Captain Jack Sparrow!" He found a large box that 'clinked' as he shook it. Opening it up, he pulled out a small leather pouch and stuffed several silver coins in, tucking it into his sash and returning the box to his desk when he was finished. "And if I ever find out who that thief-woman is, I'll haul her down into the Pearl's brig myself!" He then turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
*~*~*~*
Angela felt her face pale as the water rippled and the image faded.
He knew! He knew that his purse had been taken by a woman, and he was angry! Not only that, but he was THE Captain Jack Sparrow! Her mother had warned her about him, about his grand adventures all around the East India Company and other British ports. She had even heard about his latest adventure with undead pirates and the Royal Navy! No, she definitely did not want to mess with the famous, deadly pirate captain. She would just have to stay out of his way until he and the Black Pearl left, that's all. Easily done, nothing to it, right?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next day, Angela walked around her hut, trying not to go mad. Sharp women were not meant to be caged; they were free spirits, which was why few of them ever married or stayed in one place their whole lives. The women of her family usually stayed in a relationship long enough to have a child or two (legitimate or not) before taking their daughters and running off somewhere else. Sons (usually proving non-magical and were rarely born into her family) were left with their fathers. If said fathers proved unwilling to care for their offspring, the son would remain with their witch mother until seeking independence. This was how Angela knew that there were other Sharp men and women out there, other than herself. The other family members and witches were out there, they just never kept in touch because too much witchcraft and too many witches in one spot attracted unwanted, deadly attention.
She shook her head. 'My mind is drifting again,' Angela thought. She needed to get out of the house, but how? Jack Sparrow was out there looking for her, she knew that. Groaning in exasperation, Angela pulled out the bowl, the nine coins, and the water pitcher, setting them up as she had before. Once more, Angela sought out the pirate captain, and was amused by what she saw.
A drunken Jack Sparrow was passed out on a bottle-littered table at the Night Bandit Tavern, located in the slums of Port Cain. He was face down, his head tilted to one side, and, even though she couldn't hear it, the young witch could tell that he was snoring, a happy grin on his face.
Chuckling to herself, Angela let the water ripple and the image fade. With Captain Sparrow out of commission for a while, she would go out today, buy the things she needed for a few days, then be home before the captain even woke up from his drinking spree. Hopefully, he would be gone within the next few days, before her supplies ran out. After all, pirates never stayed on land for very long, so they would probably leave in a day or two, three at most.
Still smiling over the image, Angela put on her purple dress, picked up her basket, and left.
*~*~*~*
Angela shook her head again as she walked around the marketplace. Once again, the inhabitants of Port Cain had tried to rob her with their prices. Tried, of course, was the key word. As a very experienced bargainer, Angela knew every trick there was to get the best and cheapest price for the goods that she wanted. The young witch came from a long line of shrewd bargainers, and her family had not survived centuries of living on their own for nothing! This is why, after a long afternoon of arguing with various merchants, she was on her way home with a basket full of food and herbs, a small smirk on her face. The fact that her purse was still heavy also helped to lighten her mood a bit as well.
After reaching her home, Angela placed her hat, basket, and purse on her table before pulling off her dress and changing into her light nightgown, even though it was only afternoon. Still, Angela had no reason to leave the house until Sparrow had left, and none of her customers would need any medicines anytime soon, so all Angela could do now was sit and wait for the pirate captain to leave.
And that would be boring as hell.
Angela frowned. Sharp women did not *do* boring! They always had something to work on, but currently there was nothing for her to do: her clothes didn't need to be mended, she had enough food to last until the Pearl left, and she couldn't hire someone to repair the roof until she had saved up enough money to do so. Sighing in frustration, Angela walked over to her bed and collapsed on top of it. Since she had nothing better to do, why not take a nap?
And that's what she did, though the peacefulness of sleep did not last long.
~(Dream Sequence)~
Angela found herself standing in a world of fog. The air was chilled, and the whole place had a golden tint to it. As she looked around, the fog parted into the shape of a circle the size of a large mirror, showing the young witch a vision.
Jessica Baker, elegant in a green gown that matched her eyes, sat at her dressing table in her room, primping her hair and smiling, her green eyes sparkling with something cold and arrogant. Her rosebud mouth moved, as though she were talking to herself aloud. Angela leaned in closer and gasped at what she heard.
"Only a little bit longer, and the old woman will be dead," the blond smirked, patting her pinned up blond hair. "A good thing I slip that bit of belladonna into her tea every morning. I don't think I could stand her being alive much longer!"
Angela saw red. "Belladonna in her aunt's tea!" she cried, clenching her fists tightly. "Belladonna can cause relaxation and sleep, but could slowly poison someone to death if used too often! What is that girl thinking?!"
As if to answer her question, the teenager laughed. "Stupid old fool!" she said, powdering her face. "She's the only thing standing between me and my parents' fortune. As soon as she's gone, I'll be able to collect my inheritance as well as her immense fortune. Then I'll be free to marry anyone I want, and do whatever I want without anyone telling me what to do!" Jessica laughed again as she continued to powder her nose.
Angela reached out to strangle the teenager before being pulled back towards real life.
~(End Dream Sequence)~
She woke up with such a jolt that she fell out of bed. Getting up and glancing about, she saw that it was pitch-black outside. Shaking her head, Angela walked over to her workbench and began gathering herbs from her newly bought bundles and from already gathered and dried bunches from around the hut. She had some serious work to do before dawn came!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Angela had just finished her work when the warm Caribbean sun beamed through her window. Rubbing her tired, red eyes, she yawned and stretched. She could sleep if she wished, but she dared not; Mrs. Baker needed her, and she had to get there before the old woman took her morning tea!
Angela quickly dressed, packed up her basket with her prepared supplies, and headed out her door, racing towards the wealthier part of town. From the position of the sun, it was just after seven in the morning, and breakfast was served around this time at all parts of town. She had to hurry!
Twenty minutes later, Angela was pounding on the front door of the Baker home, and a flustered-looking maid answered the door. Angela wasted no time before going into the white sitting room, interrupting Mrs. Baker and Jessica's breakfast. Before anything could be said, Angela went over and took Mrs. Baker's tea out of her hands, dumping the contents into the fire burning in the fireplace.
"What are you doing?!" Jessica cried, jumping up in her fury.
Angela looked at her calmly, her violet eyes hard. "I have a new medicine that your aunt needs to take at once," she said, her voice as smooth as silk. She then took her herbal packet out of her basket and poured some of its contents into her friend's empty cup. A stream of hot water from a canteen, also from her basket, followed. Carefully, Angela took up a small, clean spoon and mixed it all together before handing it to Mrs. Baker. Without a single question or comment, the old woman drank down the entire thing.
This whole sequence had taken only a moment, and it took about that much time before the medicine took effect. The old woman's face began to have a healthier look and color to it, and she seemed to straighten up a bit more. A moment of silence followed before Jessica began screaming.
"NO!" she cried. She turned towards Angela. "What did you do? What have you done?"
The young witch simply shrugged. "I figured out that her sickness resembled some sickness I had seen previously, so I made up the medicine to correct it," she lied. No one would believe her if she told the truth anyway.
Jessica fumed before stamping her foot. "You won't get away with this!" she screamed as she raced out of the room.
Mrs. Baker blinked in puzzlement before shaking her head. "She always was an odd girl," she said. She looked up at Angela, curious as the young woman handed her a small package. "What's this?"
Angela smiled. "This should tell you whether or not you should eat or drink something," she vaguely stated. "You can't be too careful about what you eat, after all." Mrs. Baker's eyes widened as Angela nodded towards where Jessica had raced out.
"I see," the elderly woman whispered. Unwrapping the package, a small white stone lay in the middle.
"The stone will have a black spot on it whenever something tainted comes near it, so keep it close," Angela forewarned. Without another word, she turned and left the house. She desired no payment for this; the fact that she had defeated Jessica and warned Mrs. Baker about her niece was enough for her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AN: Well, I'm glad that some people like my story! It's based on my love for the WB show "Charmed," and my love for Jack Sparrow. Good combo, no? And I know that this might seem like a weird chapter, but I needed to tie things up in Port Cain for future chapters. Anyway, show your love by reviewing! Thanks!
AN: Please note that I know nothing of witchcraft/wiccan practices or of herbal remedies, so don't flame me and tell me that I'm completely wrong. This is a fictional story, and as such, so are the abilities of my own character(s), savvy?
Chapter 2: Catching a Thief:
Jack's POV:
Jack frowned as he steered his ship into Port Cain. Lately, the crew of the Black Pearl had started getting a bit rowdy from too much time at sea, so he had decided to give them a short break before heading for Tortuga. After being without land for three months, the crew deserved that much.
An hour later, the Pearl was docked in the harbor of the quaint town of Port Cain and the crew was gathered for the usual meeting before heading into town.
"Alright, mates!" Jack yelled, waving his arms around to get their attention. Silence followed and Jack proceeded. "Ye all know the drill: ye have the three days to drink, eat, or do whatever ye want, but be back mid-afternoon on that third day! I want ye all ready to sail before dusk settles in, savvy?" The crew raised their fists in the air in agreement before filing off the ship. Watching the last man (and single woman) leave the deck, Jack began to check things over in his head. Everything of value was locked down below, with Jack being the only one holding the keys. The crew's quarters were left unlocked in case they forgot something or were too cheap to rent a room, but Jack's large quarters and Anamaria's small cabin were locked, both of them holding the only keys to their rooms.
Giving his mental list one last thought, Jack headed down the gangplank and out into the town. The Pearl seriously needed new supplies, and Tortuga was over two weeks away. If Jack didn't buy some food soon, the crew would go mad from eating too much hardtack bread and drinking stale water. Then, only one word could describe what would happen after two weeks of tasteless rations: mutiny. In his opinion, a full crew was a happy crew, and Jack had every intention of providing for his crewmates. That's why, after a fairly large shopping spree, Jack realized that his purse was a great deal lighter. Fruits, vegetables, meat, and rum for an entire ship was necessary, but that didn't mean that he liked spending that much on his crew, especially when the merchants here were ripping him off. The pirate frowned; he hated it when they docked in proper towns like Port Cain, mostly because the residents always thought that they could raise the prices on anyone who wasn't a local. Oh, well, as long as the crew was happy, that was all that mattered to him. Either way, he still had some money left over; why not get a drink from the local taverns? Grinning widely, Jack headed down the street.
As he walked down the street, a sparkle caught his eye. Stopping for a moment, he pulled over to inspect a jeweler's stall, admiring all of the lovely gems locked securely in a glass case. Personally, Jack felt that he had bigger, brighter, more expensive jewels in his cabin, but these were still nice. Inwardly shrugging, he headed down the street and rounded a corner. Pausing to reach for his purse, the pirate captain froze when he found that it was missing. Looking down, he saw that the leather string looked like it had been pinched or cut off.
'That's not probable!' he thought, eyes wide as he held the cut leather. This purse had been made to repel any and all pickpockets; the tough leather strap could only be cut by the finest, sharpest knife a person could buy, and pickpockets couldn't afford knives of that type no matter what! Jack had bought this pouch from a former pickpocket who made purses and sold them to customers who hated getting robbed; there was no way for his purse to be missing!
Turning around, Jack headed back towards the market, keeping his eyes open as he retraced his steps. As he scanned the crowd, he spotted a woman in a large straw hat and a plain gray dress picking up her basket. There, inside of her basket, was Jack's purse! However, before he could move so much as an inch, the woman disappeared into the crowd. Internally, Jack cursed his bad luck as he tried to follow her with his eyes and with his feet.
It was no use; the woman was gone, and so was his purse. What was worst was that he hadn't even seen her face, her had had covered up her face. Growling in frustration, Jack turned around and headed for the Pearl, intent on getting some money so that he could get some rum and forget what had happened today!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Angela's POV:
After arriving home, Angela undid her hat and set it on the table, along with the basket and the fairly-empty purse. Changing into a thinner blue dress, she kicked off her shoes, letting her feet wiggle in the dust that made up the hut's floor.
'At least I don't have to clean the floor all the time,' Angela thought, bitterly. She really wished that she had a decent home, one with a real floor and a roof with no holes, but that wouldn't happen anytime soon.
Shrugging, Angela went over to the table and dragged a chair up to it, thankful that her few furniture pieces were all in good condition. A middle-class family moving back to England had sold the table, chairs, and small bed to her, asking for nothing more than a two months supply of a sea- sick remedy for their family. The hut had been abandoned by its owners for who-knows-how-long before Angela's arrival in Port Cain, as evident by its run-down appearance. Angela couldn't even light a fire in the fireplace for fear of burning the place down! Sighing, Angela took up the pouch and dumped out its contents, gasping at the sight that greeted her.
Silver and gold sparkled up at her from the tabletop. Three gold coins and six silver coins, all for her!
Angela couldn't believe her luck; not only was this more than expected, but the number nine was significant in her family. A 'nine' popping up to a Sharp woman usually meant that something good was going to happen to that person. Excitement swelled up in her chest as she looked at the coins. Sweeping them up in her hand, she placed them in a large bowl. Then, picking up a pitcher of water, she poured the contents over the coins until they were completely covered by the water. When this was finished, Angela looking into the bowl, trying to See what these coins could mean for her future.
The water rippled slightly before revealing the vague image of a man in a tri-cornered hat. A second later, the image cleared, showing the man that she had robbed earlier that day. Angela leaned in closer and saw that he was very handsome. She hadn't noticed that before, since she had been so intent on robbing him, but now that she could observe him in a different perspective, the young witch decided to take a closer look. His eyes were a dark, intense chocolate brown, both thickly lined with kohl. His beard was divided into two braided strands, each holding a bead at the end. His lips were lush and thick, looking very inviting and very kissable.
Angela blinked. Where had that come from?! She shook her head to clear her thoughts before returning to the water. The lips she had been admiring were turned down in an unhappy frown, which could be a very bad thing. Angela immediately got up and retrieved a small twig of dried herbs. Crushing the tiny leaves between her fingers, Angela sprinkled them into the water. This herb would allow her to hear what was being said, as well as see what was happening. An instant later, she could hear his voice through the water.
*~*~*~*
"Bloody hell!" he cursed as he rummaged through a desk drawer. "How did this bloody happen?! That purse was theft-proof, I tell ye, theft-proof! If that pickpocket/purseseller has cheated me, he'll wish that he'd never met Captain Jack Sparrow!" He found a large box that 'clinked' as he shook it. Opening it up, he pulled out a small leather pouch and stuffed several silver coins in, tucking it into his sash and returning the box to his desk when he was finished. "And if I ever find out who that thief-woman is, I'll haul her down into the Pearl's brig myself!" He then turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
*~*~*~*
Angela felt her face pale as the water rippled and the image faded.
He knew! He knew that his purse had been taken by a woman, and he was angry! Not only that, but he was THE Captain Jack Sparrow! Her mother had warned her about him, about his grand adventures all around the East India Company and other British ports. She had even heard about his latest adventure with undead pirates and the Royal Navy! No, she definitely did not want to mess with the famous, deadly pirate captain. She would just have to stay out of his way until he and the Black Pearl left, that's all. Easily done, nothing to it, right?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next day, Angela walked around her hut, trying not to go mad. Sharp women were not meant to be caged; they were free spirits, which was why few of them ever married or stayed in one place their whole lives. The women of her family usually stayed in a relationship long enough to have a child or two (legitimate or not) before taking their daughters and running off somewhere else. Sons (usually proving non-magical and were rarely born into her family) were left with their fathers. If said fathers proved unwilling to care for their offspring, the son would remain with their witch mother until seeking independence. This was how Angela knew that there were other Sharp men and women out there, other than herself. The other family members and witches were out there, they just never kept in touch because too much witchcraft and too many witches in one spot attracted unwanted, deadly attention.
She shook her head. 'My mind is drifting again,' Angela thought. She needed to get out of the house, but how? Jack Sparrow was out there looking for her, she knew that. Groaning in exasperation, Angela pulled out the bowl, the nine coins, and the water pitcher, setting them up as she had before. Once more, Angela sought out the pirate captain, and was amused by what she saw.
A drunken Jack Sparrow was passed out on a bottle-littered table at the Night Bandit Tavern, located in the slums of Port Cain. He was face down, his head tilted to one side, and, even though she couldn't hear it, the young witch could tell that he was snoring, a happy grin on his face.
Chuckling to herself, Angela let the water ripple and the image fade. With Captain Sparrow out of commission for a while, she would go out today, buy the things she needed for a few days, then be home before the captain even woke up from his drinking spree. Hopefully, he would be gone within the next few days, before her supplies ran out. After all, pirates never stayed on land for very long, so they would probably leave in a day or two, three at most.
Still smiling over the image, Angela put on her purple dress, picked up her basket, and left.
*~*~*~*
Angela shook her head again as she walked around the marketplace. Once again, the inhabitants of Port Cain had tried to rob her with their prices. Tried, of course, was the key word. As a very experienced bargainer, Angela knew every trick there was to get the best and cheapest price for the goods that she wanted. The young witch came from a long line of shrewd bargainers, and her family had not survived centuries of living on their own for nothing! This is why, after a long afternoon of arguing with various merchants, she was on her way home with a basket full of food and herbs, a small smirk on her face. The fact that her purse was still heavy also helped to lighten her mood a bit as well.
After reaching her home, Angela placed her hat, basket, and purse on her table before pulling off her dress and changing into her light nightgown, even though it was only afternoon. Still, Angela had no reason to leave the house until Sparrow had left, and none of her customers would need any medicines anytime soon, so all Angela could do now was sit and wait for the pirate captain to leave.
And that would be boring as hell.
Angela frowned. Sharp women did not *do* boring! They always had something to work on, but currently there was nothing for her to do: her clothes didn't need to be mended, she had enough food to last until the Pearl left, and she couldn't hire someone to repair the roof until she had saved up enough money to do so. Sighing in frustration, Angela walked over to her bed and collapsed on top of it. Since she had nothing better to do, why not take a nap?
And that's what she did, though the peacefulness of sleep did not last long.
~(Dream Sequence)~
Angela found herself standing in a world of fog. The air was chilled, and the whole place had a golden tint to it. As she looked around, the fog parted into the shape of a circle the size of a large mirror, showing the young witch a vision.
Jessica Baker, elegant in a green gown that matched her eyes, sat at her dressing table in her room, primping her hair and smiling, her green eyes sparkling with something cold and arrogant. Her rosebud mouth moved, as though she were talking to herself aloud. Angela leaned in closer and gasped at what she heard.
"Only a little bit longer, and the old woman will be dead," the blond smirked, patting her pinned up blond hair. "A good thing I slip that bit of belladonna into her tea every morning. I don't think I could stand her being alive much longer!"
Angela saw red. "Belladonna in her aunt's tea!" she cried, clenching her fists tightly. "Belladonna can cause relaxation and sleep, but could slowly poison someone to death if used too often! What is that girl thinking?!"
As if to answer her question, the teenager laughed. "Stupid old fool!" she said, powdering her face. "She's the only thing standing between me and my parents' fortune. As soon as she's gone, I'll be able to collect my inheritance as well as her immense fortune. Then I'll be free to marry anyone I want, and do whatever I want without anyone telling me what to do!" Jessica laughed again as she continued to powder her nose.
Angela reached out to strangle the teenager before being pulled back towards real life.
~(End Dream Sequence)~
She woke up with such a jolt that she fell out of bed. Getting up and glancing about, she saw that it was pitch-black outside. Shaking her head, Angela walked over to her workbench and began gathering herbs from her newly bought bundles and from already gathered and dried bunches from around the hut. She had some serious work to do before dawn came!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Angela had just finished her work when the warm Caribbean sun beamed through her window. Rubbing her tired, red eyes, she yawned and stretched. She could sleep if she wished, but she dared not; Mrs. Baker needed her, and she had to get there before the old woman took her morning tea!
Angela quickly dressed, packed up her basket with her prepared supplies, and headed out her door, racing towards the wealthier part of town. From the position of the sun, it was just after seven in the morning, and breakfast was served around this time at all parts of town. She had to hurry!
Twenty minutes later, Angela was pounding on the front door of the Baker home, and a flustered-looking maid answered the door. Angela wasted no time before going into the white sitting room, interrupting Mrs. Baker and Jessica's breakfast. Before anything could be said, Angela went over and took Mrs. Baker's tea out of her hands, dumping the contents into the fire burning in the fireplace.
"What are you doing?!" Jessica cried, jumping up in her fury.
Angela looked at her calmly, her violet eyes hard. "I have a new medicine that your aunt needs to take at once," she said, her voice as smooth as silk. She then took her herbal packet out of her basket and poured some of its contents into her friend's empty cup. A stream of hot water from a canteen, also from her basket, followed. Carefully, Angela took up a small, clean spoon and mixed it all together before handing it to Mrs. Baker. Without a single question or comment, the old woman drank down the entire thing.
This whole sequence had taken only a moment, and it took about that much time before the medicine took effect. The old woman's face began to have a healthier look and color to it, and she seemed to straighten up a bit more. A moment of silence followed before Jessica began screaming.
"NO!" she cried. She turned towards Angela. "What did you do? What have you done?"
The young witch simply shrugged. "I figured out that her sickness resembled some sickness I had seen previously, so I made up the medicine to correct it," she lied. No one would believe her if she told the truth anyway.
Jessica fumed before stamping her foot. "You won't get away with this!" she screamed as she raced out of the room.
Mrs. Baker blinked in puzzlement before shaking her head. "She always was an odd girl," she said. She looked up at Angela, curious as the young woman handed her a small package. "What's this?"
Angela smiled. "This should tell you whether or not you should eat or drink something," she vaguely stated. "You can't be too careful about what you eat, after all." Mrs. Baker's eyes widened as Angela nodded towards where Jessica had raced out.
"I see," the elderly woman whispered. Unwrapping the package, a small white stone lay in the middle.
"The stone will have a black spot on it whenever something tainted comes near it, so keep it close," Angela forewarned. Without another word, she turned and left the house. She desired no payment for this; the fact that she had defeated Jessica and warned Mrs. Baker about her niece was enough for her.
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AN: Well, I'm glad that some people like my story! It's based on my love for the WB show "Charmed," and my love for Jack Sparrow. Good combo, no? And I know that this might seem like a weird chapter, but I needed to tie things up in Port Cain for future chapters. Anyway, show your love by reviewing! Thanks!