CHAPTER 11: THE TREASURE
A month and a half later the Pearl docked in Northern Ireland. Jack dismissed the crew, knowing that they needed the break. But he held Will, Elizabeth, and Connor back on the ship. They stood on the deck, waiting for the crew to disappear onto the docks.

"What do you want Jack?" Will asked after the last crewmember left the ship.

"I want to know where we go next? We made it to Ireland, now where?"

They all turned to Connor, who stood on Jack's right looking nervous. "Well, I don't think your going to like it. See a few miles offshore there is a cave underwater. It is the lost city of Atlantis. We have to go there. How we get there I have no idea."

"How far out?"

"I don't know, you'll have to look." She turned around and moved her shirt off her shoulder.

Jack came over and looked at her back. "Looks like it's 5 miles out. How the hell are going to hold our breath that long?!"

"We can do like we did in Port Royal." Will suggested.

"Won't work. It's to far away, and we wouldn't be able to see where we're going."

"So what?"

"We'll just have to try to swim that far down."

The Pearl weighed anchor and Jack, Connor, Will, and Elizabeth sat in Jack's cabin discussing possibilities.

"Will and I will go."

"No Jack. I'll be going too and so will Elizabeth."

"Connor, I don't want to take the chance. There's a chance that we won't even be able to make it there."

"And if you do. I've carried this map my whole life, I have a right to see where it is."

"Luv. ."

"I won't get into any trouble, I swear."

Jack looked at her pouting face and smiled. "Okay, you can go. It's up to Will whether or not Elizabeth can come."

"I know I can't say no to Elizabeth. Do you want me to get killed Jack?"

"Course not whelp. Go get Elizabeth and get ready, we'll be going in a moment."

Will left the cabin to go find Lizzie. Jack watched Connor place her sword in her sash and tie her hair back. "Be careful love, please."

"I will be Jack. You should be careful to."

"Yes m'lady." He said bowing. He took her hand, "Seriously though, be careful."

"All right Jack, I'll be careful."

He kissed her and led her out onto the deck. Will and Elizabeth stood on deck waiting. The four of the them stood on the railing of the ship and Jack yelled orders for the crew to do while they were gone.

The four of them jumped into the sea and taking one last breath went under. They swam as far as they could, as deep as they dared. Their eyes were wide as they searched.

A faint outline of something came into view. Swimming toward it they recognized it as a cave. Running low on air they pushed as fast as they could toward the cave and entered it.

The water grew shallower just inside the cave. They came up for air, each one gasping for breathe The cave was huge, with water dripping off the walls, giving it a waterfall effect. There was no sound except for the dripping water and their breath. Purple, blue, and black lined the walls which glittered from minerals.

The water was held back by a steep hill made of sand that acted as a dam. They climbed the hill and stared in awe at the sight that met their eyes just over the crest.

A city, with huge white buildings that seemed to glow white. The buildings circled a palace set right in the center. While the buildings were white, the palace was gold. Rising up over the other buildings it sparkled in the little light that made it into to the cave.

"I'm betting that it's in there." Connor said, pointing to the palace.

They walked through the city. There was no dust, no cobwebs, no dirt. It looked as if people were still there, cleaning the place everyday. But there were no people, no signs of life at all except for the four pirates walking through.

"It's a lot more intimidating this close." Elizabeth said as the stood in front of the palace.

A movement over to the left caught Connor's eye. She looked quick enough to see a dark figure move behind a building. Jack turned to see her staring in that direction. "What is it?"

"I thought I saw something. I just don't know what." She turned back to face Jack who was looking over her head in that direction. "Come on, let's go get that treasure."

Jack shook his head and followed her into the palace with a bit more caution. They entered the palace and found themselves in a hallway that led to a throne room. A throne sat in the center of the room with a hallway on either side.

"Me and Connor will go this way, you two go that way. Meet back here in 30 minutes."

The groups parted. Will and Elizabeth disappeared into the hall on the left while Jack and Connor walked into the hallway on the right. The hallway grew darker as they went deeper in the palace.

"Jack I can't see anything. Where are you?"

"I'm right here lass." He searched out her hand and grasped it in her's.

The hall seemed to decrease in width and in time they could no longer walk side by side. Their footsteps echoed off the walls. "Something's not right Jack."

"What ye talking about? What is it?"

"I don't know. I feel like there's something or someone following us. I don't feel comfortable."

"Maybe it's Will and Elizabeth. It has to be, there's nobody else here luv."

"I know, but still."

They continued on for about 10 minutes. A faint spot of light began to grow as they approached it. The hall widened again and ended.

Jack and Connor entered a room glowing with light. When their eyes adjusted to the light they spotted the source. Mounds of treasure, gold and jewels that filled the entire room. The mounds reached up to the ceiling.

"There's more treasure here than at Isle DeMuerta." Jack said in awe,

More movement out of the corner of her eye caught Connor's attention. "Jack someone is here."

Jack turned toward the direction she was facing and saw the movement. More movement caught his eye behind them. He tightened his grasp on Connor's hand and reached for his sword.

Catching his hint she reached for her's also. The figures came toward them. "Jack."

"It'll be all right Connor."

"No it won't." A voice said from somewhere behind them.