DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl or any of the characters included in the package. I do like to play with them and often end up giving them back worse for the wear. (Especially Captain Jack Sparrow!) ;
CLAIMER: I do, however, own the plot of this story and all my OC therein. Some stay around, some don't. That's life, ne?
Part 14: Anauu of Water
Jack's eyes opened a crack when the clear echo of a tinkling bell reached his ears. Despite the intensity of the light that was nearly blinding him, he opened his eyes all the way and before the light dimmed, he caught a glimpse of the others sinking into the chamber's depths. Looking up at the dimmer light, he was shocked to see a white fox-like animal before him, decorated with blue diamonds on its tail and forelegs. It wore a collar with a crystal bell around its neck and its eyes were clear and aquamarine.
The creature's eyes widened as they locked on Jack's fading gaze as if it had just remembered something. In a flurry of bubbles and a momentary undercurrent, the fox-like animal disappeared and Jack found himself shoved against the chamber's wall.
Everything faded to total black as the lack of oxygen overcame him.
- - - - -
Drearily, Jack opened his eyes and as the fog of unconsciousness lifted from his vision he realized that he was in the same chamber that had been filled with water at his last recollection. But now the chamber was illuminated by torches along the walls and only a few puddles remained from the unusual flooding. The chink was in its proper place and the others were lying motionless around the floor, still damp from the experience.
Jack dragged himself up and away from the wall on which he had been leaning and shakily stood. Stumbling more than on occasion he made his way over to check on the others. Looking them over carefully he was pleased to see that they all still drew breath and would probably recover shortly.
A high-pitched squawk came from the chink and Jack spun to face it, hand on the hilt of his cutlass. All he found, though odd, was the eagle that had been their companion in the desert. The magnificent bird sat awkwardly on the ground, wings folded and deep golden eyes locked on Jack.
"What're you doin' here, bird?"
Another high squawk was his only answer as the bird unfurled its wings and waved them in the air before refolding them and hopping into the crevice.
Not really wanting to wait around for the others to wake, Jack shrugged to himself and followed the bird. As he crawled through the cramped tunnel Jack was able to keep track of the bird by its calls and was surprised when they turned sooner than he thought. Thinking nothing of it Jack followed faithfully and soon found himself somewhere very different from where he'd imagined he would end up.
Standing to his full height he looked around the torch-lit room in awe. The walls were clad in solid gold and supplemented by rare stones the likes of which he had never before seen. But what really drew his attention was a solid gold pedestal with four differently colored stones imbedded in its base. The stones were cut into small arrows, each pointing in one of the four directions: an amber arrow pointed north; a golden arrow pointed east; an azure arrow pointed south; a silvery arrow pointed west.
Just above each arrow, on the pedestal's shaft, were rather primitive carvings of four different animals: a wolf or dog for north; a horse for east; a fox for south; an eagle for west.
Atop the pedestal rested a large, lavishly ornamented pillow. In the center of the pillow rested a midnight black stone attached to a solid gold chain. The black gem sat as if it were the greatest thing in all the world, placed exactly in the center of the huge, soft pillow adorned with various tassels and other jewels made to pale in comparison to the glimmering stone. Flakes and specks of red, gold, blue, and gray shimmered within the crystal and were constantly changing their intricate pattern of light.
Jack stepped forward slowly, almost in awe of the stone. The faithful eagle leapt off the ground and found a perch on Jack's shoulder. However the pirate was too immersed in the stone's ever-shifting beauty to notice even as the talons dug lightly into his skin.
- - - - -
Slowly, ever so slowly, Ana's eyes fluttered open and she found her vision was still fuzzy. So was her memory. Apparently, since they were not dead, the water had been drained from the chamber but she had no recollection of how that had come to pass. Weakly she dragged herself off the cold stone floor and cringed as air-cooled bits of her clothing rubbed against her skin, sending shivers through her.
Hazily she looked about the chamber and took an inventory of the others. Dozell, Chelsea, the whelp and the dogs were all at about the same point of recovery as herself. Her eyebrows came together as she searched her mind for what was nagging her.
Jack!
Where was Jack!?
Ana shot off the ground with a speed she didn't think she possessed and glanced frantically around for any sign of Jack. All she saw was that the chink through which they had entered was open and there were some claw marks engraved in the stones at its base.
Setting her jaw determinedly she crawled over to and through the chink.
"Ana?" Chelsea inquired, sitting up and watching the other woman disappear in the darkness of the small tunnel. "Where are you going?" she called a bit louder.
"To find Jack."
The others looked around the chamber in confusion and discovered that Jack was not there indeed. After exchanging quick glances they scrambled through the chink after Ana.
All rejoined company in the corridor on the other side. The hall was lit with torches and both the strange creatures were gone. So was Jack.
"Where is he? Surely he wouldn't have gone off on his own…"
"I didn't." Jack's voice came from behind them and was accompanied by a high-pitched shriek.
The group whirled around and was happily surprised to see Jack standing in the corridor…with a feathered visitor.
Ana smiled slowly and advanced toward Jack with a delicate air. Jack returned her smile with a slow grin of his own which was extinguished when the back of her hand met his cheek. As Jack reeled from the blow, the eagle perched on his shoulder flapped its wings wildly and dug in its talons to maintain its balance on Jack's shoulder.
"Ouch," Jack muttered, wincing away from the bird and rubbing at his tender cheek. "Care t' tell me why I deserved tha', luv?"
"You must be utterly daft to have wondered off on yer own!" Ana hissed, trying to keep her voice low enough for only Jack to hear.
"I think we've established that I'm daft enough fer all of us," Jack returned with another slow grin.
Ana fixed her gaze squarely on his and glared with all her pent-up anger. A movement on Jack's left side caught her gaze and she allowed it to wander to the eagle. "Where'd ye git th' bird?"
Jack shrugged, making the bird shift to reclaim its space and balance. "Not rightly sure. I found it. Or it found me. Whichever you prefer. Shall we continue?"
As Jack turned his back on the group Ana thought she caught a glimmer of gold around his neck but quickly passed it off as a play of the flickering torch light. Dozell quickened his pace to take the lead and often glanced curiously at the falcon sitting contently on Jack's shoulder. There was something very strange about that bird.
Soon the group came upon a small channel that turned sharply away from the main passage. Around the frame's edges several figures were carved into the stone. Most were painted black but some were highlighted in red, setting them apart from the monotony of the others.
"Wait," Dozell muttered, slowing to a stop just at the threshold.
"What's wrong?" Will asked from the back of the procession.
"These pictures…they read out a warning." Dozell answered, tracing the figures etched in the stone with an index finger. "I don't think it is wise to pass."
"Since you seem t' be an expert let's hear it," Jack ordered gently.
"This is where our leader vanished the last time but I do know exactly what it says. These symbols are derived from an ancient text that is said to predict the future."
"Well, c'mon Dozell lad, speak!" Jack ordered more forcefully.
"Very well. It reads:
'Take not the Black Treasure,
Trade not your power for measure,
She is home, leave her be,
Or else, fall you to the sea.
Wind will rouse the first sparks,
And fire will consume all,
Only to be doused by water,
Which will be struck by lightning.
The skies will darken
The seas will churn
The Guardians will roam
Destroying land and life
Turn to the Sparrow
To endure the storm.
Take not the Divine Stone,
Lest suffering change your tone,
You are not rare,
Only proceed if you dare.'"
"How poetic," Jack muttered sarcastically.
"But what does it mean?" Chelsea questioned slowly.
"Only one way to find out mates," Jack said stridently starting down the narrow corridor.
"Tread carefully; these halls are said to contain traps and once ensnared they define certain death." Dozell warned, taking his own advice and inspecting the floor before taking each step whilst following the pirate captain.
"Sorry mate, but e'en though I tread carefully where curses are concerned, plain ol' superstitions don' affect me." Jack moved forward without a care, walking quickly to reach his destination.
"Wait," Dozell called, continuing when Jack stopped moving forward. "Even though we have not yet encountered such traps, we are drawing nearer to the Treasure's chamber. We must be very cautious from now on."
Jack rolled his eyes and swished to the side so he was facing the other, ignoring the fact that the toe of his boot clipped a stone. "Fer th' last time, there's no workin' traps-" Before Jack could finish a light release echoed to a fro along the corridor.
The eagle screeched and took flight, disappearing around a corner.
Ana, Dozell, and Will cocked their heads in different directions in a futile attempt to locate the source of the simple, yet eerie, sound. Having no success on their venture their eyes returned to where Jack had been standing. This time they found their query, but in a worrisome state. He lay deathly still on the ground, sprawled in an unnatural position. His skin was practically white and he wasn't breathing.
"Jack!" Ana nearly squealed with alarm, ignoring Dozell's previous warning and skittering to kneel beside her fallen captain.
[a/n: Thank you so much to those who reviewed the last chapter! JackFan2, kungfuchick, mich, Ferntree, and Lykosdracos! And, of course, thanks to all who have reviewed before and will review!]