Chapter 11

Pain

Jack lay sprawled on the ground; the wind had been knocked out of him from the fall. "Damn woman didn't 'ave te go so fast," he grumbled as he tried to get his bearings. He moved his hand to his head, rubbing the sore spot.

"On your feet pirate," a man yelled, making him wince. His head hurt.

"Keep it down a li'l, me 'ead 'urts mate," he grumbled, looking up at three guards standing over him.

"You are under arrest for the attempted kidnapping of Princess Saihrena, and for piracy," another guard said as he pulled Jack to his feet and clapped him in irons.

"Damn woman," he grumbled. One of the guards grabbed him by the chain and pulled him to a group of horses. They tied a rope around his wrists and then secured it to a saddle.

"If you do not come quietly we will drag you back to Baga," the guard said.

"God damn woman," Jack cursed again.

Saihrena had continued to Oporto. She couldn't free Jack herself, she had to get help. Hopefully she wouldn't be too late. She reached Oporto around midnight and went straight to the docks. The Black Pearl was anchored a ways off, moonlight was shinning off the deck. She was suddenly reminded of the months she had spent on board with Jack and the crew. Tears came unbidden to her eyes, and she wiped them away absently as they rolled down her cheeks.

"Rena? What are you doing here, where's Jack?" A girl asked her in Indian, and she turned to see Rakasha. "What's wrong Rena, what happened?"

"It's Jack," she whispered, falling into her friends arms.

"Let's get 'er back te the Pearl," Jack's helmsman, the one they had picked up in Spain, said. He swept her off her feet and brought her to the large rowboat tied to the docks. After setting her down softly and helping Rakasha in he hopped in and rowed them to the Pearl. Saihrena sat in the bottom of the boat quietly sobbing, and trying to get a hold of herself. When they reached the black ship Jack's helmsman, who's name she didn't remember, handed her up to Gibbs. He then did the same with Rakasha and climbed up himself. She sat on the deck of the Pearl, trying not to think about how Jack should be here instead of her. She hated herself for getting him involved.

"Where's Jack lass?" Gibbs asked, kneeling down beside her.

"He got caught," she whispered, and then when everyone looked at her awry she told them the story, starting with the guards at the palace, her brother's death and ending with their escape. She was completely drained by the end of it. Gibbs picked her up and carried her to her old cabin that she had shared with Gabriella and Rakasha. It seemed like years since she had been aboard the Pearl, when it had only been a little over a week. Gibbs laid her down on her bed and pulled the covers over her.

"Dun' worry none lass, 'e's Cap'n Jack Sparrow. We'll get 'im back," Gibbs said, and left her alone. Saihrena laid there, thinking about Jack. Her last thoughts before she fell asleep were that it was her fault, if she hadn't asked him to take her home, he would be here, on the Pearl. He would be safe.

"So this is the pirate that kidnapped my fiancé," King Morgead said as he pranced around Jack, who was being made to kneel on the cold, stone floor of the dark, dank dungeon he was in. After he had been apprehended Jack had been taken back to Baga and into the resident palace there. He had picked up some bits and pieces while on his way below to the dungeon. While he pretended not to know Portuguese, he spoke a little. He wasn't fluent but he could understand a little over half of what was said. From what he gleaned after the King had realized Saihrena was missing he had concocted a note that demanded ransom and had sent his guards out to find them. He had journeyed to Baga as well, though at a slower pace than the guards, and was now staying at the slightly smaller palace that he used when in town. Jack was pulled out of his reverie by a kick to his stomach.

"His Highness was speakin te ya maggot," a guard said.

"Where is your ship, who has the Princess?" Morgead asked. Jack glared at him, willing the man to burst into flames, it didn't work. Jack sighed silently and waited to be hit again for not answering. He wasn't disappointed as a guard backhanded him. Jack continued to glare for a moment before conjuring up his patented smirk. Morgead's face fell into a frown and he kicked Jack in the stomach again, Jack kept his smirk, narrowing his eyes briefly at the man in front of him, still hoping for instantaneous combustion.

"Set him up on the rack, he'll speak," Morgead said, smiling cruelly down at Jack as the guards picked him up and laid him on a long piece of splintering wood. Jack's arms and legs were tied to wheels, and he knew what they were going to do, he hoped he could withstand it.

"Turn it," Morgead ordered, and the wheel turned once, pulling his arms in one direction and his legs in another. Jack made no noise. "Tell me what I want to know pirate." When Jack didn't answer Morgead's hand came up and he gestured for them to turn the wheel again. They did, his arms pulled in agony, stretching him further apart. He smirked up at Morgead, he was Captain Jack Sparrow after all, he had been whipped, shot, almost drowned, and stabbed, granted he was a skeleton when he was stabbed, but it still bloody hurt. This was nothing.

"Speak you loathsome creature, where is your ship?" Morgead demanded. Jack's smirk never faltered. "Stretch him until he screams," Morgead smiled at Jack as the wheels began to turn again. It felt as if he was being torn in half. Jack kept smiling up at Morgead, he didn't make a sound as the wheels continued to turn. He blacked out.