Curses Never Cease

Chapter I

"Another rum lass." Jack ordered.

"Don't you think you've had enough?" She asked taking the glass from him.

"'Fraid not love, rums the only thing that can heal this mans heart, that and a couple-a kegs-a whisky." Jack replied setting a coin on the counter as she placed the foaming liquid in front of him.

"This ones on the house." She said going back to drying her dishes.

She peered around the room. No one was left besides Jack, which was very surprising considering that the Tortugian bar was normally filled with ruckus and brawls. She had to admit that the scene gave off a rather depressing aura as the downcast Captain sat sipping on his fifth rum of the night. She hadn't known him long but had heard many rumors blown in by drunken sailors and 'friendly' women who claimed to have had a most enjoyable time with him. Though of all the stories she had heard none had ever described him as the doleful man she saw before her. The few moments of silence felt like an eternity slowly devouring her from the inside out. She sighed and set a newly dried cup in its place.

"Alright out with it man!" She finally said slamming both hands onto the counter causing Jack to jump a bit.

"Out with what?" Jack asked emotionlessness staining his voice.

"This." She said referring to his condition. "Why are you so upset? You're the great Captain Jack Sparrow for heavens sake! Strong, powerful, fearless, exciting, bold, willing to go into places uncharted by any cartographer, and here you sit before me with more then five pints under your belt and a sad face to show for it all. I must admit I'm rather disappointed."

"Ah, you're a smart one I'll give you that. No doubt you've also caught wind of my recent dealings with the Pearl?" Jack inquired.

"I admit I had heard of the curse being lifted though most of what I hear is hardly ever true." She said.

"Well that you heard right love." Jack said leaning back in his chair. She looked at him for a moment and he sighed leaning forward again. "Though I suppose that still doesn't answer your question. Well then it seems that I should start from the beginning. It all began about four months ago if I remember correctly, the curse hadn't been lifted more then a few weeks when a new one was placed upon me…"

"Captain, we're pulling to port." A sailor said sticking his head into the Captain's quarters.

"Thank you Scurvy, and please, promise me you won't make such a big commotion with the ladies this time. We can't very well have miniature you's running amuck now can we." Jack said, two leather boot covered feet resting comfortably on his desk.

"Aye Cap'm." He said with a small smile out of both understanding and remembrance of the last port they had visited.

Jack took in a deep breath before walking up onto the deck. This was the first time he had been back to Port Royal since his almost-execution and he wasn't entirely sure that he wouldn't receive a welcome similar to the last one. He scanned the area, the people, the houses, the shops, all as he remembered.

"Surly Will would defend me, possibly Elizabeth. Hm, those two, probably off and married by now, little Jr. on the way, a nice cozy sea-side home." Jack sighed at the thought. "Such a shame."

"Captain shall we go ashore?" One of the crew asked knocking Jack out of his dream world.

"Oh, Aye. Uh, meet back here tomorrow by noon. Bring what ever supplies you can and if you get caught we're just going to leave you!" None of his words were heard due to the droning sound of feet against wooden planks and the crew of the Pearl scurried off the ship.

Jack stood there only for a moment before sauntering over to the near by pub. His boots made a slight tapping noise as the met the cold cobble stone road. It was nearing dusk and after being on a boat for close to three weeks Jack would give almost any thing for a rum. The sun set rapidly and by the time he had reached his destination many lights illuminated the windows of the sleepy homes.

As the door slid open his senses were overwhelmed. The stuffy room was difficult to see in due to smoke and lack of light. The smell of beer and men who hadn't bathed in a month hung rancid in the air. To most this smell would be revolting, but Jack simply inhaled deeply enjoying it all the more.

He walked over to the counter weaving his way in and out of fights, past gamblers, and drunken men. He sat down at the solid oak bar and ordered his drink. It felt good to finally be away from the crew. They had been getting on his nerves for quite some time now, with all their pushing, and begging, and whining. Not to mention constantly bringing up the fact that the 'great' Captain Jack Sparrow had to be saved by a sissy boy black smith. Jack sighed shaking his head. What he wouldn't give for a few new crewmembers who knew nothing of his past.

In all his thinking some one about three seats down caught his eye. He was dressed in fairly baggy black pants, a white shirt, a black over coat and black leather boots. His hair was stuffed into his hat and from where Jack was sitting he couldn't decipher the color. Jack watched as the man guzzled down far more rum then he had ever known any other to do. So much in fact that it soon became hard from him to lift his head off the table.

"Oh how easily the first timers get addicted." Jack chuckled to himself.

"My life…is over!" The man yelled jumping up and placing a rifle to his head.

There was a loud scream as the gun went off. The crowed parted and looked over just in time to see the entertainer fall. All was silent for a moment before the room broke out in wild applause. People began shouting things like 'Hillary's dead' and 'we can live at peace once more.' The boy let out an exasperated sigh and sat back down.

"Stupid gun. Why'd it have to be backwards," He mumbled. "Bar tender, get me another shot."

"Almost too easily." Jack smiled to himself.

"He had one shot..." The boy said holding the drink up to the light. He then drank it and slammed the cup against the bar. "…And then he died." With that he dropped his head onto the table and closed his eyes.

"Such a shame isn't it?" The bartender asked placing drying a cup and shaking his head.

"Hm?" Jack asked looking up whipping the foam from his beard.

"Wasting your life away drinking because of a lost love." He replied with a sigh. "Such a shame."

"So what's his story?" Jack asked taking yet another sip of his rum.

"Him? Oh you mean Swee? Well from what I could catch her boyfriend left her for some blonde. It's quite sad really, Swee's such a sweet lass." The tender explained.

"Lass?" Jack questioned.

"Aye. She chooses to hide it often. She's never really told me why though, something about idiotic men." He said.

"Aye. Well with a get up like that I suppose she doesn't get many of them." Jack said looking her up and down.

"Don't think that just because I'm drunk I can't hear you." Swee said lifting her hand off the counter and pointing her finger upward for effect.

"Does she disguise her voice to sound like a man's as well?" Jack asked merely teasing her as he was getting slightly inebriated himself.

"Be quiet lady. If you had fifty men chasing after ye, you'd try to hide to. Though ye look manly enough as it is." Swee said in turn teasing him.

"Oh is that so? Well…at least I'm not bald." Jack replied frowning at how his come back made him look worse than his opponent.

"Oh that hurt," Swee replied sarcastically. She then got right in his face poking a very threatening finger in his chest. "And for your information Mr. Manlady I am not bald."

"Prove it." Jack challenged cocking an eyebrow. Swee threw back her head and laughed.

"Psh. I don't have to prove any thing to you…you…you…person!" Swee shouted.

Jack sighed. "You really need to work on your come backs love."

"What ever." Swee rolled her eyes, put and coin on the counter, and walked out of the pub. "See you later Uncle Herman."

"You're related to her?" Jack asked.

"No. Me names not even Herman." With that the bar tender went back to tending more people.

Jack sat there finishing off his rum thinking about the strange girl. There was something about her though he couldn't quite place it. Several minutes later her paid for his drink and made his way out of the busy pub. Stars twinkled in the cloudless sky as he stepped onto the noiseless street. A cold breeze nipped at his nose indicating the imminent winter. He decided to head over towards Elizabeth and Will's though on his way a loud noise down an alley caught his attention.

He made his headed down the alleyway contemplating weather or not he had used his best judgment in deciding to wander though the dark, dank passage. Once he had reached the end he could vaguely make out two silhouettes, one several inches taller than the other, clearly a man and a woman. He quickly hid behind a barrel and listened to the heated conversation between the two.

"What do you mean you didn't find him?" A male voice bellowed.

"I mean just what I said, he wasn't there." The girl replied her voice never faltering despite the intimidating man before her.

"How could you tell, you were probably too drunk." The man snapped.

"I was NOT to drunk!" The girl retorted.

"Oh yes, that explains perfectly why you reek of beer." He said crossing his arms.

"If ye wanst to find him so badly why don't ye go do it ye'self." She asked putting her hands on her hips.

"Why should I when I can have you do it for me." He said a silky eeriness about his voice. The girl mumbled several things under her breath only to have the back of a hand collide her face. "You will show me respect you low-life, or have you forgotten our little deal."

He fingered a small trinket which hung around her neck. She pulled away from him until her back was touching the wall clutching the small charm.

"You have one more week to find him, and if you still can't you'll face the consequences." He tossed her a coin and then seemingly melted into the shadows.

"Ug! I hate him." She said slamming her fist into the wall and sliding down into the sitting position.

"Hate who love?" Jack asked coming out from behind his fortress. She gasped and looked up at him with surprise.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know you were back there." She said still startled.

"What was that all about?" Jack asked motioning towards the shadow where the man she had previously been talking to had vanished.

"That? Oh ye mean him? We were just…uh…practicing for a play called uh…in the alley way of…darkness. We figured it'd be better if we actually went into a dark creepy alley way to practice that's all." She lied with a smile.

"Ye know love, you aren't a very good liar." Jack said leaning on the wall opposite of her.

"I know." She replied hanging her head. Jack pulled out a bottle of rum and she looked up at him. "Is that…rum?"

"Aye." Jack said taking a swig.

"Do you mind?" She asked stretching her hand out towards him.

"You drink rum?" He asked holding the bottle out, filling the space between them.

"Ye sound surprised." She said taking a sip.

"There are very few women who take to the drink." Jack replied.

"And how awful it is. Women are far to often categorized as the tranquil, sober ones of the household. In my opinion they should be aloud just as much rum and idiocy as men." She stated taking yet another sip.

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Jack said pulling out another jug. "Cheers?"

"Cheers!" She said. The two clanked bottles and continued drinking.