Several days had passed in which Will had lost all hope for Elizabeth's situation. It was clearly an uphill battle and she was getting weaker by the hour.

Will had all but abandoned his work at the shop. Mr. Brown, however, hardly noticed that the profits were plummeting. Will didn't care anymore. He didn't care about anything but Elizabeth.

Two nights ago, Elizabeth had fallen into a coma. She had woken up that morning and Will had the privilege of shooing her nurse off to feed her himself. But she had slipped off again, and Will was unsure whether it was just sleep or...

He didn't allow himself to think about what would happen if she didn't wake up.

Will sat alone with Elizabeth in her room. The door was open and the windows. Will had hoped fresh sea air would help, but he had no way of telling. He sat at Elizabeth's bedside, in a cushioned but uncomfortable chair, resting his face in his hands.

The door creaked.

"Marie, we don't need anything. I'm sure the Governor would not be upset if you left early," Will said addressing the nurse.

"You're still here," a new but familiar voice told him.

Will stiffened, then spun round in his chair.

"If I didn't know better, I would think you wanted her to die," Dominuma said.

The mysterious woman was clothed as a maid carrying a tray of tea. She was petite, but kept the short dark hair and striking figure. She set the tray on the side table and poured him a cup. They both were silent.

Will rejected the offer of tea, but Dominuma pressed. "Marie would be insulted if you didn't."

"What do you want?" Will asked taking the cup.

"Want?" Dominuma was surprised. "I want something no one has dared offered. It is you who want something and your window of opportunity is narrowing, if it is not already to late."

"All I want is Elizabeth's health."

"And you have the power to ensure that."

"How?"

Stiffening and clearly annoyed, Dominuma answered, "I already told you."

Will sighed. "Tell me."

"Find Jack and make him return the Aztec gold before he gives it to someone else."

"What will that do?"

"Humans are hard of hearing aren't they?"

Will cut off a retort. He was still unsure of who this woman was, but her word choice was odd if anything. "Not so much as you might think." He thought awhile. "Not many people know of the curse of Cortez and from what you've said you're not human. So what are you?"

"I am Dominuma."

Will laughed in frustration. "I know you're name but that doesn't answer the question."

Dominuma glared at him. It took Will only a few seconds before realizing he hadn't taken a sip of tea. Once he did, Dominuma spoke.

"You're right. I am not who I led you to believe and I know the curse better than any mortal being...because I created it."

"You started this?" Will glanced at Elizabeth. "You're a god," he whispered.

"Goddess, if you don't mind."

"Then you must know how to stop this curse. You made it didn't you. Why can't you just lift the curse-"

"I already did." Dominuma snapped. "It didn't work. While in the depth of the inferno Cortez struck a deal with the wretched demons who control the fiery abyss giving him the power of hell. It is Cortez's curse now and no god nor goddess in the heavens can stop it. Cortez has found a way to control mortal beings, through the gold."

"So all I have to do is make Jack give up the gold," Will stated, watching Elizabeth's shallow breathing. He looked up to Dominuma, who had already gathered her tray. "And that will save her."

"If 'all' were all it was." Dominuma took his tea cup from him and placed it on the tray.

Will returned his gaze to Elizabeth and wished he didn't have to leave her.

"I'll go," he finally said and jumped out of his chair.

"Go where, sir?"

Will stopped and turned around.

"I'm sorry. I must have day dreamed. Did you already have some tea?" Marie asked, confused as she looked down at the used porcelain.

"Yes..." Will glanced around. "Tell the Governor that I must leave. I think I just found a way to help."

"Um...yes sir..." Marie watched as Will nearly ran out of the mansion. "Certainly a fine man miss," she said to Elizabeth, before taking the tray back down to the kitchen.