Hey! I'm back again and sad to say I'm not getting very many reviews anymore. Please, read my other works if you like these, trust me, you won't be disappointed and don't forget to review! I have 5 other stories so...don't forget to review! Man this day is long! Hope yours is all going better then mine and enjoy!
Chapter seventeen- The Haunted Song
Fredrick Marco stepped from the rowboat and on to the sand, taking in the salty air deep into his lungs. The island around him was lush and green; the trees on the edge of the beach dappled the golden grains black and gray. He hadn't been on land in a long while and it felt slightly odd but he adjusted as he made his way past crewmembers and into the shelter of the trees.
He'd always been a cold man, never wanting to get to know to many people, never taking the time or energy to fall in love. Now he sighed and turned, watching through the trunks as the other two ships unloaded supplies. His ship, the unmarked vessel with no name, sat low in the water, glistening brown deck sending diamond water droplets rolling down the sides and back into it's watery bed. He was truly unhappy but soon, perhaps, he'd have a reason to be happy again.
"Sir?" A voice said behind him. Marko spun around and came face to face with a young, curly, brown haired short man, one of his crewmen. How had he gotten behind him like that? "Sir, the other two captains are estimated to be here in three minutes. What exactly is our goal?"
"None of your business Dodrant." Marko hissed, turning back to the ocean view. "Have you seen any sign of that ship that's been following us?"
Dodrant's face took on a quizzical look, Marko could feel it only because his back was turned to the idiot behind him. "I'll take that as a no then."
"Ship sir? There has been no evidence of a ship." Dodrant replied, coming up beside him and watching the men on the beach. "At least, we haven't noticed. Why? Has there been a ship following us?"
"Would I be asking if there wasn't?" Marko roared. Dodrant backed off a few steps, his ears going red and his face going white. (So he looked like the Canadian Flag! Yeah! Sorry, promoting my country! Forgive me...) He smiled embarrassed and shook his head. "It was a large ship. If you look now you may be able to see it."
"I'll tell Frost to look." Dodrant said silently and hurried off. Marko watched him go, sneering. If that man wasn't such an excellent spy and a wonderful thief he'd have killed him already. Another man, Seltis approached, his large bulk blocking all behind him.
"Sir, the plans are laid down." He said simply in a deep rich voice. Marko smiled and rubbed his hands together.
"Good." He said, looking over his shoulder through the trees as a light and silent whispering floated on the breeze to his ears. Female voices were singing a haunted song. "The plans are in action and it's time to set them on our destined course."
Frost climbed irritably up the ropes and rigging, climbing awkwardly into the crow's nest and thanking his lucky stars he wasn't fat. With sweat dripping down his face, he raised the telescope and scanned the horizon.
All he saw was open water, the waves tossing among their aqua stage, sandy beaches and forest mountains wreathed in mist. Other then that there was no sign of a big ship. Sighing irritably, Frost climbed back down the rigging and shoved little Dodrant.
"There was nothing up there!" He growled. "Next time, you go look. This blasted heat almost killed me."
"Yeah yeah." Dodrant whispered as Frost made his way across the deck to help unload a few more supplies. "Damn ugly oaf. Wait until we get what we need and I swear I'll kill you. But..." He smiled and opened his hand, revealing a few coins. "I'll steal from you first."
Will squinted at the sun as sweat trickled down into his eyes and he felt a sharp poke in the side from Bill who sat next to him in the rocking rowboat. "What?" He whispered, watching the rowing men in front of them and the guns on him from the men on the other side.
"You'll burn out your eyes doing that. What did Jack teach you child?" Bill hissed back nodding to the sun. Will sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, thinking about Elizabeth. Was she still alive after that explosion? If so, was Jack still alive and was he taking care of her?
"He taught me to trust no one, help no one...but yourself..."
"Of course." Bill added. Will frowned and continued.
"He taught me that revenge is sweet and you should get it no matter what you do to yourself and who you hurt in the process...threaten anyone you like, pick up strange men and a woman and feed them...steal ships the smart way. Basically, everything I need to know for my first class ticket to hell and also a whole bunch of other things." He squinted at the sun again, the light hurting not just his eyes but the sockets behind them (I'm really sorry DragonHunter200) and sighed, "Nothing about my eyes and the sun though."
Bill smiled and swore under his breath. "He also taught you to be a smart ass." Will grinned back but it was a short-lived joke.
"You two, keep it down." A man yelled, his gun rising. Will tried to hide his smile but he couldn't help but feel like he'd not only connected with his father but his uncle as well.
"You never really did explain to me why you never called Jack you're brother. I mean, I know protection and all but..."
"It's been mostly after the mutiny." Bill said simply. "Well, during the mutiny as well. I had to dissociate my feelings for a while so I could put aside my guilt. I still had it of course." He shook his head as if to clear it. "I had to or I'd go insane and we both would have been dead. This way was better though, don't you think? I mean, everything worked out all right in the end."
Will could feel the ropes cutting into his wrists and frowned. "Does this look alright to you? I'm having a damn good time having my uncle...that I didn't know about mind...come to my house drunk in the middle of a party and drag me on some wild adventure with my wife and unborn baby...have the ship beneath me explode, be put in a dungeon and tortured and now be hostages...I don't know what you classify as a better time then this." Bill smiled as the sarcasm. Will knew it was worthy of Jack and was slightly proud himself.
"Well, we could have burning coals being pressed to our skin." He pointed out. "We could be whipped. We could be pulled apart limb by limb our have our unimportant parts torn off slowly day by day. Or..." Will grimaced.
"Please, no more. That's to much detail." Bill snorted.
"My son, it could always get worse." The angry pirate with the gun coughed and then snorted, pulling mucus up through his nose and into his throat.
"I told you two to shut it. Do I have ta have some persuasion?" He raised the gun. The rest of the ride they went through in silence but in only lasted about three or so minutes. The beach was warm an inviting despite the fact that they were broken and beaten, they were wearing no shirts or boots, they were hungry and thirsty and their hands were tied behind their backs.
Two men grabbed Will and Bill's bonds and led them roughly over to the three captains who stood in a circle in the middle of working men, conversing in low whispers. When they got near enough to hear them, Will's heart skipped a beat at Marko's voice, "...the ship's been following us for a little while. It caught up fairly quickly. I'm sure it was a Navy, it was large."
Navy? Commodore Norrington's Dauntless was large...maybe just maybe it was him? Will glanced over at Bill who was watching Mulan, Marko and Barbossa and didn't seem to have noticed a thing unusual about what they were talking about.
"Are we so privileged as to be invited into this conversation?" He asked blandly. The three captains turned their heads to look at him. "I'm sorry but I didn't bring my formal wear. Will only pants suffice?" Marko smiled blandly, Mulan watched Will but Barbossa was the only one who found his voice. God he looked like his brother.
"Hello Bootstrap." He said pleasantly, looking Bill up and down before walking forward. "How lovely to see you outside in the sun and away from that prison. How long has it been now?"
"To long." Bill growled. "But I'll kill you soon and this whole fiasco will be over."
"Oh, you think so?" He nodded to the man holding Bill and the pirate kicked Bill in the back of the legs sending him onto his knees. Then Barbossa grabbed the back of Will's head by the hair and led him roughly to the tree line. Will didn't try to struggle. It was another thing he'd learned from his uncle. Wait for the opportune moment to act. To act before the opportune moment would be foolish and after would be to late. He had to wait and watch and...
"Listen." Barbossa growled, inclining his head to the dark forest. Will did as he was told and stayed silent, straining to hear over the noise of men on the beach. At first he head nothing and then a sound bean to rise...female voices echoing in the deep dark of the forest.
Their voices were so beautiful yet so haunting. They made him want to run...they sent chills up his spine yet he couldn't move...he felt oddly warmed by them. He wanted to scream and block them out...he wanted to listen to them forever and mute all other sound. This was the song of the female warriors and it permeated this place. Though they were speaking another language, however, Will thought they were calling his name through their song.
"Isn't that the most beautiful and haunting thing you've ever heard?" Barbossa asked quietly, breaking Will from his trance. He shook his head to clear it and then muttered a small sound of non-agreement. "What have you ever heard that was more beautiful?"
"My wife whispering my name in her sleep." Will said, his mind clouding over with thoughts of Elizabeth. If she was dead he had nothing to live for anymore and suddenly, his very own reason for the treasure of the Fated Parting came into play. He knew the right bottle if he could just get to it...if Elizabeth was dead...
"Well then, you won't be over come by their song." Barbossa growled, flinging Will backwards. He hit the sand and rolled over so he was staring at the sky, spitting sand from his mouth. Damn Ethan Barbossa and his little bottles to.
Norrington watched the few rowboats lower into the water. They were on the west side of the island and he and a few of his men were set to embark soon. Sparrow, damn him, had not been forth coming about where the treasure was yet and Norrington was losing his patients very quickly.
"I still think I should be in the first wave." Jack said gruffly from his inconvenient perch on the railing beside the rowboat's dropping place. Many Navy men mumbled at his spot, giving him a wide berth and making their jobs a little more complicated, especially the two men lowering the boat from his side. "Seeing as it's my treasure."
"Actually, Mr. Sparrow, the treasure is property of the queen until I say other wise and you are also property of the queen..."
"Until I'm laid to rest." Jack pointed out, interrupting him. Norrington ignored him and continued as though nothing had happened to cut into his spiel.
"...and there fore under my command. And yes, you are right, you are mine until you are laid to rest. Weather by my hand or another..."
"I'll be dead and you get a promotion." Jack smiled and examined his fingernails, picking at the dirt underneath them with an awkward look on his face. "That sucks." Norrington chose not to reply but simply returned to barking orders.
"Captain." Gibbs breathed, coming up beside Jack, his bearded face red. "Where is the treasure?" Jack raised an eyebrow and blew on his nails before polishing them on his shirt.
"I thought you knew me better then that Mr. Gibbs." Jack said, putting a hurt tone to his voice. "I'm not going to tell you that. Go ask Will if you want to know." He waved his hand absently in the island's direction. Gibbs sighed and tried to hike himself onto the railing to but failed so he took to simply standing there with his back to the rail, arms folded over his chest.
"I'll have to do that Captain." He said, eyeing Norrington, "When we get a chance. Where's Ana?"
"Her cabin I'm sure." Jack answered, looking up and hopping off the railing. "And, seeing as Norrington is leaving first, I'm going to see Anamaria about her little out burst." And he left, hardly noticing the calls of the crewmen behind him or the relieved grumbling at his departure from his unusual perch.
The room was silent when he came to the door and leaned against it, listening. He was unsure as to what to do so simply knocked and leaned against the opposite wall, waiting. After what seemed like an eternity, Anamaria's eyes appeared through the crack between the door and the frame, the light of the candles in the brackets along the corridor wall catching her brown eyes and making them flame.
"Hello luv." Jack said stiffly, moving from his wall and coming towards the door. He leaned against the wood and bent down so their eyes were level, faces only the door's width and a half apart. "What are you doing?"
"Getting ready to go." Anamaria replied coldly. Jack nodded and glanced over her head and into the dark room beyond.
"With all the lights off?" He asked. Anamaria didn't move but her dark eyes seemed to grow darker until she was shooting ice at him.
"What do you want Captain?" She asked. Jack shrugged. "Then go away." She made to close the door but Jack stuck his foot in the jam and held it there, the pain in the sides building as she still strained on the door. She was too strong to be a woman, Jack thought dully. If he didn't know any better he'd say she was a man in disguise.
"Look, darling, my crew is only as strong as it's weakest member. I can't have you screwing this up for me." Anamaria quit straining against his foot and stood impatiently in the doorway, her eyes still boring into his. "Now, if you can't do what you have to do, you will stay here."
"Look, Captain," Jack heard the sarcastic note in her voice and suddenly realized she was right. He wasn't a Captain anymore. His heart sank. That was brutal. "I can do my job and you will need me, so..."
"I don't want your feelings to get in the way of what you'll have to do. If you want to kill Fredrick Marco for what he did to your husband but you can't let that get in the way of..."
"I will kill him Jack." Anamaria said aggressively, kicking his foot out of the door. "As long as I get to kill him." And she slammed the door closed.
Anamaria moved across the room and flopped onto the bed, her hands over her eyes as tears streamed down her cheek. Jack was right, she couldn't let her emotions get in the way of their mission. She rolled over in the dark and huddled into herself, her shoulders shaking with surprised sobs as another thought came to her. How had Jack known about her husband?
Unwanted sobs pulled her into sleep. Unwanted images of her husband came into her mind. Unwanted feelings rose inside her. Unshed tears fell onto her already damp pillow. Again, she dreamed of the stranger.
Norrington walked slowly toward the edge of the trees, his ears pricked for any sign of movement or sound and suddenly, as his Navy senses kicked in and his foot touch grassy floor he heard it. Women were singing in the depths of the trees. It was a sweet haunting melody in a language he couldn't speak and didn't dare try to understand. Then men at his sides paused in fear and waited in silence to the eerie song until he pushed on into the trees.
The darkness around him was punctuated only by pinpricks of light able to squeeze through the branches in the leafy roof above them and the singing grew louder, drawing them to the enchantress's spot. There was a clearing and then entered it, the other voices dying away until only one remained.
There in the middle of the alarmingly bright clearing was a small altar, only waist high and, sitting on top was a red bottle. Norrington signaled his men to stay put and walked slowly forward, his eyes on the small oddly shaped bottle as the signing died off and all he could hear was a voice in his head, a raspy female voice calling his name...purring his name.
He seemed lost, he wanted to stop but couldn't as he came to the altar and stopped, reaching out a hand to touch the bottle. "Commodore!" Norrington snapped out of it and turned, ignoring the female voice in his head to look at his men. They were all ghostly white a thin sheen of perspiration stood out like a beacon on their foreheads. Gillette was standing in the middle of the group but he'd stepped forward in an attempt to get the Commodore's attention. "Careful Sir. We should consult with Sparrow before we touch any of the bottles." Norrington nodded slowly and turned his back on the bottle to join the others.
As they left the clearing, however, Norrington couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him and listen to the haunted song that chased him from the trees.
Hope you liked it! Please, tell me what you think! Your reviews make my day.
Corinne Sparrow: I didn't have a lot of room on my summery when I finished so I had to put as little as possible but thank you for pointing it out, I really never thought about it. Thank you for taking the time to read it and I hope you enjoyed it so far. Please read the rest.
DragonHunter200: Hey, love hearing from you. You had a lot of lines there, it was awesome and when my mom saw it she was like, "WOW!" It was cool. I miss summer to. I think we should get all the teens of the world to band together and get summer re-instated for another few months! I don't take Economics. The only weird ones I take are Psychology, Creative writing and journalism so...Thank you, we all miss her a lot. Good luck with your pillows, I really mean that! Mine usually end up on the floor with my blankets.
