Jack fell back onto the deck of the Navigator in relief. They had defeated
Dova and his men and rescued Felicity and his and Anna's crews. He sat up
and looked over to the Devastator. Alex and a strange young man were locked
in a fierce fight. "Alex!" he called. "Time to go." The boy did not seem to
hear him. "Alex!"
"I heard you the first time, Jack!" Alex yelled, but it cost him. The other boy thrust his sword forward and it caught Alex in the side. He let out a yell of surprise and parried the next blow. Jack leapt up and over to the other ship. He pulled out his pistol and aimed it at James. The two boys stopped abruptly.
"Get back to the ship, Alex," Jack said stiffly. "And tell them to raise anchor and open canvas, I'll be along in a moment. And check on Anna for me." The boy nodded and, clutching his side, made his way back to the Navigator.
"What is a young man such as yourself doing with the likes of these filthy rogues?" Jack asked the boy who was standing point blank in front of his pistol.
"Trying to get revenge on Turner."
"Ah, I see. Well you'll be havin' no luck with that one, mate."
"And why not?"
"Because, you're dealing with the Sparrow's." And with that Jack turned away and headed towards the Navigator.
~*~
"Where be Jack?" the one named Gibbs asked Alex as he stumbled onto the ship.
"He'll be along in a moment. He said to raise anchor and open canvas," Alex muttered, sitting on a nearby barrel.
"Aye then. Ya'll heard the lad! Get to work! Now boy, I suggest you go an' see Anamaria 'bout that wound of yers there."
"Where is she?"
"In with Miss Anna I do believe."
"Thank you."
"No problem, mate. Get goin' now. I dun't think Miss Anna'd 'preciate yer blood on her decks."
Alex smiled and went to find this Anamaria.
~*~
Jack grabbed a rope and swung onto the Navigator just as she began to move. He landed with a flourish and was greeted by his ecstatic crew.
"Cap'n! So glad the see ya again!"
"Thank yeh fer savin' us!"
Jack smiled at all the compliments, but there was one thing on his mind. Seeing Anna.
"Gibbs!" he called.
"Aye, sir?"
"Where's my niece?"
"In her cabin, sir."
Jack nodded and headed to the lower decks.
~*~
Elizabeth and Felicity each sat on a chair on opposite sides of Anna's bed. Anamaria had just finished setting the girls wounds when Alex burst in. He was clutching his side and his shirt was stained with dark blood, but he seemed to pay no heed to it. He sat down on the bed and took Anna's hand.
"Alex," Elizabeth said softly, putting a hand on her son's shoulder, "she's sleeping, she needs rest."
Alex nodded, but did not move. "I don't want to leave her," he said quietly. Elizabeth put a hand on her sons shoulder.
"She is strong, Alex. Everything will be all right." She surveyed her son and noticed the blood. "Alex! What happened? You're bleeding!" she exclaimed.
"I'm fine, Mother," he answered.
"No! You are going to get that cleaned up right away," she said firmly. Alex sighed and began to unbutton his shirt. Carefully, he and his mother slid it off.
The wound was a small one, maybe two inches across and not very deep. Anamaria handed Elizabeth a cloth. It was soaked with a sweet-smelling substance. Elizabeth pressed it against the wound, and Alex bit his lip in both surprise and pain.
"It only stings fer a moment," Anamaria said, pulling out some bandaging. The two women carefully wrapped the cloth around Alex's midsection. Felicity, who was watching silently, spoke up.
"What happened, Alex," she asked, moving a piece of hair from Anna's face. Alex sighed and sat on the edge of Anna's bed, taking her hand in his. "It happened so fast, Lissy. Just after freeing you, we went down a bit farther into the ship, why I don't know, but we did. Anna seemed to have found something, because she sent me back up. She came up a few moments later, and Dova caught her and held a dagger at throat."
Felicity gasped. "Did-did the dagger have lots of diamonds on the hilt?"
"Yes, why?"
Felicity paled. "Lissy, what's the matter?" Elizabeth asked.
Felicity was about to tell them, when the door opened and Jack and Damien came in. Jack looked at Anamaria as Damien went over and knelt by the bed.
"How is she?" he asked softly.
"Weak," she answered. "Weaker than she should be. I cannot understand it."
"I can," said Felicity. "I can explain it, too. The dagger Dova had was poisoned."
The room went completely silent. Jack sunk into a nearby chair. Damien and Alex froze. Anamaria and Elizabeth grabbed each other's hands. Felicity took a deep breath and continued.
"He had showed me the dagger my second night on the ship. He told me what he was planning for Anna. She has got three weeks to live."
"No!" Alex said and stared at his sister in disbelief.
"There is more.
If one should be touched by my blade, Twenty-one days have those they love to find the cure within, Or forever shall the victim walk the world of death, Giving the holder their soul and strength. But if the cure be found, Half the time the holder has to cure thyself Or vanish from this earth."
It took a few seconds for everyone to process the poem. Alex was the first. "Let's go then! We've got to save Anna!"
"We have to be patient, Alex," Jack said. Alex stared at him. "Felicity, was there anymore?"
"Yes. there was:
To the Isle of Diamonds go thee, For there thee will find the answers thy seek."
Jack nodded, but said nothing. Suddenly, Anna's eyes fluttered open. "Did I miss something?" she asked softly.
"Anna!" Alex exclaimed. He leaned over her and touched her face. She smiled weakly up at him.
"Did I miss anything?" she asked again. "Besides the fact that I heard something about an island, is there anything else?"
Everyone exchanged glances and Felicity took a deep breath and retold everything.
After she finished, Anna simply nodded. "I know what's going to happen and I accept it," she said, looking at Alex. He shook his head.
"I'm not going to let it happen. I won't!"
"Alex, please."
He shook his head.
"Could Alex and I have a moment alone, please?"
The others nodded and left. Anna closed her eyes and leaned back into the pillows.
"What is it that you want, Anna?" he asked her. Taking a deep, she beckoned his face down towards her more. Grabbing his neck with both of her hands, she closed her eyes and laid her lips on his. Alex stomach jolted but soon untwisted and he started to kiss her more passionately. He snaked his arms around her waist, between her and the bed. Anna finally ended the kiss and stroked Alex's cheek.
"I've wanted to do that for a few days now," she said feebly. His cheeks suddenly reddened under Anna's touch. He grabbed a hold of her hand and laid it back on the bed still holding it.
"You should get some rest," Alex said. "It has been a long day for you." He smiled and started to leave, but Anna still held his hand. He looked back at her. She smiled and pulled him back towards the bed.
"Stay here until I fall asleep. I'd like to look at a smiling face before so I don't have dreams filled with Dova's face." Alex looked pained to hear Anna speak of such things and she could see it in his eyes.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Anna. I promise it." He leaned over and kissed her again. "Rest now. May your dreams be untroubled." Anna closed her eyes and fell asleep to Alex stroking her cheek.
~*~
Jack and Damien sat outside on the main deck. Jack looked simply depressed. "I failed her," he moaned. "I should have helped her, I should have done something. Now she's-" He couldn't bring himself to say it. Damien placed a hand on his shoulder.
"There was nothing any of us could do. Had we tried anything, she would be dead already."
"No. Dova didn't want that. He wants me to suffer. And Anna."
"What do you mean?"
"He could have gone for her heart, or her throat, but he didn't. There was a reason for it, there always is."
Damien nodded. "Well, then, what do we do?"
"We find this 'cure'."
~*~
When Anna awoke, she found herself alone. Shaking her head, she pushed down the blankets and looked at her bandages. They were more red then the crisp white she always remembered them being. Great. This is not good. She propped herself onto her elbows. Taking a deep breath, she began to undo the bandages around her waist. She did not expect to find what she found.
She gasped. There was nothing there! She sat up straight and looked around the room again. "Am I dreaming?" she asked aloud. No one answered. She pushed off the rest of the blanket and stood. She re-wrapped the bandages and grabbed a shirt that was hanging on the back of a nearby chair. It was a size or two too large, but it was no matter. She left it hanging open and went out onto the deck.
Everyone froze. Anna looked at them, confused. "What is the matter? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, this is not happening. She can't be dead." said Jack, shaking his head.
"I'm not dead!" Anna yelled. She slipped to her knees and began to sob. "Please, let this be a dream. please," she sobbed. Alex walked over to her and touched her face softly before taking her up in his arms.
"This is no dream, Anna. You are alive, but you should be in bed. That wound of yours needs to heal."
"But it has," she said forcefully. "Look." She undid the bloodstained cloth around her stomach. Alex stared at her in disbelief.
"This is not possible."
"Anything is possible when you're around Jack and me," she whispered. She stood and turned to Jack. "Well?"
"It's amazing," he said, looking her over.
"Maybe the curse is gone now," Damien said hopefully. Alex and Jack nodded in agreement. Anna shook her head.
"It's not."
"We will find the cure, Anna. I promise." She looked up into her uncle's eyes and a faint smile started playing on Anna's mouth. She rested her head on his shoulder, absorbing his warmth. She looked over to Alex and stared into his eyes. Her eyes softened when she saw that his eyes were glassy from unfallen tears. She let go of Jack and embraced Alex tightly. He caressed her cheek while she looked down to see his pure white shirt stained red.
"Oh my god! Alex, you're bleeding," Anna gasped out. She bent down on one knee and lifted the blood stained shirt to observe his wound.
"Anna, I'm fine. I swear." But she didn't listen and resumed to look at Alex's wound. She untied the cloth. It was a small wound, but for where it was placed, it bled twice as much as it should.
"Sit," she said sternly. He sat and she pressed the wadded bandage against his wound. "How did it happen?" she asked him.
"I-I got in a fight with James."
"James? James Aden? What do you mean? Why would he be out here?"
"He was with Dova's men. Anna, he's crazy about you. Literally."
Anna nodded solemnly. Alex placed his arm about her and hugged her close. She closed her eyes, taking in his warmth, but was still pressing on his wound.
"This is all my fault!" she said. "If I hadn't come to Port Royal, none of you would be involved in this. I'd probably be dead and out of the way. I wouldn't be able to hurt anyone again!"
"Anna Sparrow! If I ever hear you talk like that again I-I'll-"
"You'll what?"
Suddenly, Alex was no longer there. Dova was. Anna let out a soft scream and turned to Jack for help, but he was gone as well. No one was there.
"You know what I think I'll do? I think I'll kill you now, once and for all!" He raised a dagger and plunged it into her heart. All went blank
~*~
"Anna! Anna!" Alex pressed down softly on Anna's shoulders to keep her from moving anymore than she already had.
Suddenly her eyes fluttered open. "Alex? Is that you?"
"Yes, Anna, it's me. I never left you. And it's good I didn't. What's wrong? You've only been asleep a half-hour. And you nearly fell out of the bed." He caressed her cheek tenderly.
"It was so horrible. It was gone and Jack thought I was dead! You were there and you held me. Damien said the curse was gone, but it wasn't. And you were hurt and." she stammered out quickly.
"Hush, Anna, hush." He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
But she didn't listen. "And you. you turned into Dova and, and killed me."
Alex stopped cold. "Oh, Anna! I would never hurt you, ever! You mean too much to me. I couldn't live without you now." He lay down on the bed next to her, trying hard not to jostle her too much or make his own wound worse. She was shaking now and her put his arm under her head and stroked her face with the other. "I love you, Anna. Ever since I saw you that day in my home, a complete stranger to me, I knew. I knew there was something different about you. Something special."
Anna hadn't heard him. She had fallen back asleep and for that Alex was grateful. She was sick and weak and needed all the rest she could. As for him, he figured his mother wouldn't protest if he stayed for bit longer. He needed his rest as well. Closing his eyes, he settled into the bed and instantly fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
~*~
Jack stood at the wheel of Anna's ship. "I failed you, Sarah," he said to himself. "I am sorry, I should have protected her better. She's my sunshine in this bleary world. Dearest sister, if you can hear me, may you finally see your beloved daughter soon. Maybe she will finally be happy."
"Jack?" It was Will. "You were talking to yourself again."
Jack nodded. He seemed distant and depressed. "I failed them both, Will. Anna and Sarah."
"Come out of it, Jack," said Damien, who was coming towards them. "It's like Alex said; we can find the cure, the poem said so. And we only have three weeks." Jack and Will nodded.
"Let me go and get Felicity to write it down for us and we'll go from there." The others nodded and Will went off. Damien turned to Jack.
"Go and see her. Hopefully she'll be sleeping."
Jack turned and headed down to Anna's cabin without a word.
When he pushed the door open, he stopped cold. Anna was lying on the bed, fast asleep, but so was Alex! He looked at them for a moment before smiling and shutting the door. He took a deep breath and started for the deck.
~*~
"Commodore! I demand to know what is going on here!" Edmund Norrington was standing on the dock leading to the Dauntless. John Doran stopped for a moment and bowed to the former commodore before continuing on. "Doran!" Norrington called. Doran stopped and turned back around.
"Yes, sir?"
"What is going on?"
"Sir, the governor and his family have all but disappeared. And Jack Sparrow has been here, sir."
Norrington nodded. "And do you know that you will never catch Sparrow."
"Nay, sir, we will catch him."
"Did the governor leave anything behind?"
"Yes, a letter." Doran handed the letter to Norrington. He read it over and sighed.
"There is no need for anyone to go after Sparrow. He will come back." He handed the letter back to Doran, turned, and left.
Doran stared at the former commodore in disbelief.
"Sir?"
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Do we continue preparations, sir?"
"No. We wait."
~*~
Elizabeth and Felicity sat on the deck, in a rather secluded corner. Elizabeth had looked her daughter over twice, making sure she was perfectly fine. Once she was satisfied, she relaxed and looked out over the water.
"Mother," Felicity said softly. "Is there anything wrong?"
"Regret, darling, that is all." Felicity nodded.
"Was my grandfather truly Bootstrap Bill Turner?"
Elizabeth nodded. "So Anna was right. Yes, Felicity, you grandfather was a pirate."
"Does Alex know?"
"Yes. Anna told him."
Felicity looked down at the deck. "I owe Anna my life, Mother."
"We all do, Lissy. She has done so much for us all."
Without so much as a word, Felicity stood and walked away. Elizabeth watched her daughter disappear down below deck. Will came over and put his arms around his wife.
"We should return to Port Royal soon, Elizabeth," he said softly.
Elizabeth shook her head. "We cannot. not yet."
~*~
Benjamin Dova stood on the deck of his ship, surveying the damage. The Navigator had gotten away, much to his dismay, but he had succeeded in one thing- disposing of Anna Sparrow.
"Mr. Shore!" Dova called. Peter Shore, his first mate, came forth.
"Aye, sir?" he asked.
"Please invite Mr. Aden to join me for supper this evening. Tell him that if he refuses, he'll-" Dova paused, thinking of a just punishment.
"Be thrown in the brig, sir?" Shore suggested.
"Aye! Thrown in the brig! Wonderful thinking, Mr. Shore." Shore bowed and walked away.
~*~
James was sitting by the porthole, staring out into the water, when the door opened. Peter Shore stepped in.
"Can you at least knock?" James said in frustration. "What is it that you want?"
"The Captain invites you to join him for supper tonight," Shore said.
"And if I refuse?" James asked testily.
"You'll be thrown into the brig until the end of out little trip," Shore said happily.
"Well, tell the captain I accept his offer."
Shore glared at James for a moment before leaving to notify the captain.
~*~
Dova was sitting at a nicely set table when James arrived. James sat down and was served.
"Eat!" Dova said. James didn't touch anything. "What's the matter boy? Don't you eat?"
"Of course I eat, sir, but I do not trust this food."
"Ah. I see." Dova took a bite of the chicken and chewed it. "See. Nothing happened," he said after swallowing. James hesitated, but began to eat hungrily. Dova watched until he had finished in his fury.
"Now Mr. Aden, I have some questions for you."
"I heard you the first time, Jack!" Alex yelled, but it cost him. The other boy thrust his sword forward and it caught Alex in the side. He let out a yell of surprise and parried the next blow. Jack leapt up and over to the other ship. He pulled out his pistol and aimed it at James. The two boys stopped abruptly.
"Get back to the ship, Alex," Jack said stiffly. "And tell them to raise anchor and open canvas, I'll be along in a moment. And check on Anna for me." The boy nodded and, clutching his side, made his way back to the Navigator.
"What is a young man such as yourself doing with the likes of these filthy rogues?" Jack asked the boy who was standing point blank in front of his pistol.
"Trying to get revenge on Turner."
"Ah, I see. Well you'll be havin' no luck with that one, mate."
"And why not?"
"Because, you're dealing with the Sparrow's." And with that Jack turned away and headed towards the Navigator.
~*~
"Where be Jack?" the one named Gibbs asked Alex as he stumbled onto the ship.
"He'll be along in a moment. He said to raise anchor and open canvas," Alex muttered, sitting on a nearby barrel.
"Aye then. Ya'll heard the lad! Get to work! Now boy, I suggest you go an' see Anamaria 'bout that wound of yers there."
"Where is she?"
"In with Miss Anna I do believe."
"Thank you."
"No problem, mate. Get goin' now. I dun't think Miss Anna'd 'preciate yer blood on her decks."
Alex smiled and went to find this Anamaria.
~*~
Jack grabbed a rope and swung onto the Navigator just as she began to move. He landed with a flourish and was greeted by his ecstatic crew.
"Cap'n! So glad the see ya again!"
"Thank yeh fer savin' us!"
Jack smiled at all the compliments, but there was one thing on his mind. Seeing Anna.
"Gibbs!" he called.
"Aye, sir?"
"Where's my niece?"
"In her cabin, sir."
Jack nodded and headed to the lower decks.
~*~
Elizabeth and Felicity each sat on a chair on opposite sides of Anna's bed. Anamaria had just finished setting the girls wounds when Alex burst in. He was clutching his side and his shirt was stained with dark blood, but he seemed to pay no heed to it. He sat down on the bed and took Anna's hand.
"Alex," Elizabeth said softly, putting a hand on her son's shoulder, "she's sleeping, she needs rest."
Alex nodded, but did not move. "I don't want to leave her," he said quietly. Elizabeth put a hand on her sons shoulder.
"She is strong, Alex. Everything will be all right." She surveyed her son and noticed the blood. "Alex! What happened? You're bleeding!" she exclaimed.
"I'm fine, Mother," he answered.
"No! You are going to get that cleaned up right away," she said firmly. Alex sighed and began to unbutton his shirt. Carefully, he and his mother slid it off.
The wound was a small one, maybe two inches across and not very deep. Anamaria handed Elizabeth a cloth. It was soaked with a sweet-smelling substance. Elizabeth pressed it against the wound, and Alex bit his lip in both surprise and pain.
"It only stings fer a moment," Anamaria said, pulling out some bandaging. The two women carefully wrapped the cloth around Alex's midsection. Felicity, who was watching silently, spoke up.
"What happened, Alex," she asked, moving a piece of hair from Anna's face. Alex sighed and sat on the edge of Anna's bed, taking her hand in his. "It happened so fast, Lissy. Just after freeing you, we went down a bit farther into the ship, why I don't know, but we did. Anna seemed to have found something, because she sent me back up. She came up a few moments later, and Dova caught her and held a dagger at throat."
Felicity gasped. "Did-did the dagger have lots of diamonds on the hilt?"
"Yes, why?"
Felicity paled. "Lissy, what's the matter?" Elizabeth asked.
Felicity was about to tell them, when the door opened and Jack and Damien came in. Jack looked at Anamaria as Damien went over and knelt by the bed.
"How is she?" he asked softly.
"Weak," she answered. "Weaker than she should be. I cannot understand it."
"I can," said Felicity. "I can explain it, too. The dagger Dova had was poisoned."
The room went completely silent. Jack sunk into a nearby chair. Damien and Alex froze. Anamaria and Elizabeth grabbed each other's hands. Felicity took a deep breath and continued.
"He had showed me the dagger my second night on the ship. He told me what he was planning for Anna. She has got three weeks to live."
"No!" Alex said and stared at his sister in disbelief.
"There is more.
If one should be touched by my blade, Twenty-one days have those they love to find the cure within, Or forever shall the victim walk the world of death, Giving the holder their soul and strength. But if the cure be found, Half the time the holder has to cure thyself Or vanish from this earth."
It took a few seconds for everyone to process the poem. Alex was the first. "Let's go then! We've got to save Anna!"
"We have to be patient, Alex," Jack said. Alex stared at him. "Felicity, was there anymore?"
"Yes. there was:
To the Isle of Diamonds go thee, For there thee will find the answers thy seek."
Jack nodded, but said nothing. Suddenly, Anna's eyes fluttered open. "Did I miss something?" she asked softly.
"Anna!" Alex exclaimed. He leaned over her and touched her face. She smiled weakly up at him.
"Did I miss anything?" she asked again. "Besides the fact that I heard something about an island, is there anything else?"
Everyone exchanged glances and Felicity took a deep breath and retold everything.
After she finished, Anna simply nodded. "I know what's going to happen and I accept it," she said, looking at Alex. He shook his head.
"I'm not going to let it happen. I won't!"
"Alex, please."
He shook his head.
"Could Alex and I have a moment alone, please?"
The others nodded and left. Anna closed her eyes and leaned back into the pillows.
"What is it that you want, Anna?" he asked her. Taking a deep, she beckoned his face down towards her more. Grabbing his neck with both of her hands, she closed her eyes and laid her lips on his. Alex stomach jolted but soon untwisted and he started to kiss her more passionately. He snaked his arms around her waist, between her and the bed. Anna finally ended the kiss and stroked Alex's cheek.
"I've wanted to do that for a few days now," she said feebly. His cheeks suddenly reddened under Anna's touch. He grabbed a hold of her hand and laid it back on the bed still holding it.
"You should get some rest," Alex said. "It has been a long day for you." He smiled and started to leave, but Anna still held his hand. He looked back at her. She smiled and pulled him back towards the bed.
"Stay here until I fall asleep. I'd like to look at a smiling face before so I don't have dreams filled with Dova's face." Alex looked pained to hear Anna speak of such things and she could see it in his eyes.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Anna. I promise it." He leaned over and kissed her again. "Rest now. May your dreams be untroubled." Anna closed her eyes and fell asleep to Alex stroking her cheek.
~*~
Jack and Damien sat outside on the main deck. Jack looked simply depressed. "I failed her," he moaned. "I should have helped her, I should have done something. Now she's-" He couldn't bring himself to say it. Damien placed a hand on his shoulder.
"There was nothing any of us could do. Had we tried anything, she would be dead already."
"No. Dova didn't want that. He wants me to suffer. And Anna."
"What do you mean?"
"He could have gone for her heart, or her throat, but he didn't. There was a reason for it, there always is."
Damien nodded. "Well, then, what do we do?"
"We find this 'cure'."
~*~
When Anna awoke, she found herself alone. Shaking her head, she pushed down the blankets and looked at her bandages. They were more red then the crisp white she always remembered them being. Great. This is not good. She propped herself onto her elbows. Taking a deep breath, she began to undo the bandages around her waist. She did not expect to find what she found.
She gasped. There was nothing there! She sat up straight and looked around the room again. "Am I dreaming?" she asked aloud. No one answered. She pushed off the rest of the blanket and stood. She re-wrapped the bandages and grabbed a shirt that was hanging on the back of a nearby chair. It was a size or two too large, but it was no matter. She left it hanging open and went out onto the deck.
Everyone froze. Anna looked at them, confused. "What is the matter? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, this is not happening. She can't be dead." said Jack, shaking his head.
"I'm not dead!" Anna yelled. She slipped to her knees and began to sob. "Please, let this be a dream. please," she sobbed. Alex walked over to her and touched her face softly before taking her up in his arms.
"This is no dream, Anna. You are alive, but you should be in bed. That wound of yours needs to heal."
"But it has," she said forcefully. "Look." She undid the bloodstained cloth around her stomach. Alex stared at her in disbelief.
"This is not possible."
"Anything is possible when you're around Jack and me," she whispered. She stood and turned to Jack. "Well?"
"It's amazing," he said, looking her over.
"Maybe the curse is gone now," Damien said hopefully. Alex and Jack nodded in agreement. Anna shook her head.
"It's not."
"We will find the cure, Anna. I promise." She looked up into her uncle's eyes and a faint smile started playing on Anna's mouth. She rested her head on his shoulder, absorbing his warmth. She looked over to Alex and stared into his eyes. Her eyes softened when she saw that his eyes were glassy from unfallen tears. She let go of Jack and embraced Alex tightly. He caressed her cheek while she looked down to see his pure white shirt stained red.
"Oh my god! Alex, you're bleeding," Anna gasped out. She bent down on one knee and lifted the blood stained shirt to observe his wound.
"Anna, I'm fine. I swear." But she didn't listen and resumed to look at Alex's wound. She untied the cloth. It was a small wound, but for where it was placed, it bled twice as much as it should.
"Sit," she said sternly. He sat and she pressed the wadded bandage against his wound. "How did it happen?" she asked him.
"I-I got in a fight with James."
"James? James Aden? What do you mean? Why would he be out here?"
"He was with Dova's men. Anna, he's crazy about you. Literally."
Anna nodded solemnly. Alex placed his arm about her and hugged her close. She closed her eyes, taking in his warmth, but was still pressing on his wound.
"This is all my fault!" she said. "If I hadn't come to Port Royal, none of you would be involved in this. I'd probably be dead and out of the way. I wouldn't be able to hurt anyone again!"
"Anna Sparrow! If I ever hear you talk like that again I-I'll-"
"You'll what?"
Suddenly, Alex was no longer there. Dova was. Anna let out a soft scream and turned to Jack for help, but he was gone as well. No one was there.
"You know what I think I'll do? I think I'll kill you now, once and for all!" He raised a dagger and plunged it into her heart. All went blank
~*~
"Anna! Anna!" Alex pressed down softly on Anna's shoulders to keep her from moving anymore than she already had.
Suddenly her eyes fluttered open. "Alex? Is that you?"
"Yes, Anna, it's me. I never left you. And it's good I didn't. What's wrong? You've only been asleep a half-hour. And you nearly fell out of the bed." He caressed her cheek tenderly.
"It was so horrible. It was gone and Jack thought I was dead! You were there and you held me. Damien said the curse was gone, but it wasn't. And you were hurt and." she stammered out quickly.
"Hush, Anna, hush." He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
But she didn't listen. "And you. you turned into Dova and, and killed me."
Alex stopped cold. "Oh, Anna! I would never hurt you, ever! You mean too much to me. I couldn't live without you now." He lay down on the bed next to her, trying hard not to jostle her too much or make his own wound worse. She was shaking now and her put his arm under her head and stroked her face with the other. "I love you, Anna. Ever since I saw you that day in my home, a complete stranger to me, I knew. I knew there was something different about you. Something special."
Anna hadn't heard him. She had fallen back asleep and for that Alex was grateful. She was sick and weak and needed all the rest she could. As for him, he figured his mother wouldn't protest if he stayed for bit longer. He needed his rest as well. Closing his eyes, he settled into the bed and instantly fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
~*~
Jack stood at the wheel of Anna's ship. "I failed you, Sarah," he said to himself. "I am sorry, I should have protected her better. She's my sunshine in this bleary world. Dearest sister, if you can hear me, may you finally see your beloved daughter soon. Maybe she will finally be happy."
"Jack?" It was Will. "You were talking to yourself again."
Jack nodded. He seemed distant and depressed. "I failed them both, Will. Anna and Sarah."
"Come out of it, Jack," said Damien, who was coming towards them. "It's like Alex said; we can find the cure, the poem said so. And we only have three weeks." Jack and Will nodded.
"Let me go and get Felicity to write it down for us and we'll go from there." The others nodded and Will went off. Damien turned to Jack.
"Go and see her. Hopefully she'll be sleeping."
Jack turned and headed down to Anna's cabin without a word.
When he pushed the door open, he stopped cold. Anna was lying on the bed, fast asleep, but so was Alex! He looked at them for a moment before smiling and shutting the door. He took a deep breath and started for the deck.
~*~
"Commodore! I demand to know what is going on here!" Edmund Norrington was standing on the dock leading to the Dauntless. John Doran stopped for a moment and bowed to the former commodore before continuing on. "Doran!" Norrington called. Doran stopped and turned back around.
"Yes, sir?"
"What is going on?"
"Sir, the governor and his family have all but disappeared. And Jack Sparrow has been here, sir."
Norrington nodded. "And do you know that you will never catch Sparrow."
"Nay, sir, we will catch him."
"Did the governor leave anything behind?"
"Yes, a letter." Doran handed the letter to Norrington. He read it over and sighed.
"There is no need for anyone to go after Sparrow. He will come back." He handed the letter back to Doran, turned, and left.
Doran stared at the former commodore in disbelief.
"Sir?"
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Do we continue preparations, sir?"
"No. We wait."
~*~
Elizabeth and Felicity sat on the deck, in a rather secluded corner. Elizabeth had looked her daughter over twice, making sure she was perfectly fine. Once she was satisfied, she relaxed and looked out over the water.
"Mother," Felicity said softly. "Is there anything wrong?"
"Regret, darling, that is all." Felicity nodded.
"Was my grandfather truly Bootstrap Bill Turner?"
Elizabeth nodded. "So Anna was right. Yes, Felicity, you grandfather was a pirate."
"Does Alex know?"
"Yes. Anna told him."
Felicity looked down at the deck. "I owe Anna my life, Mother."
"We all do, Lissy. She has done so much for us all."
Without so much as a word, Felicity stood and walked away. Elizabeth watched her daughter disappear down below deck. Will came over and put his arms around his wife.
"We should return to Port Royal soon, Elizabeth," he said softly.
Elizabeth shook her head. "We cannot. not yet."
~*~
Benjamin Dova stood on the deck of his ship, surveying the damage. The Navigator had gotten away, much to his dismay, but he had succeeded in one thing- disposing of Anna Sparrow.
"Mr. Shore!" Dova called. Peter Shore, his first mate, came forth.
"Aye, sir?" he asked.
"Please invite Mr. Aden to join me for supper this evening. Tell him that if he refuses, he'll-" Dova paused, thinking of a just punishment.
"Be thrown in the brig, sir?" Shore suggested.
"Aye! Thrown in the brig! Wonderful thinking, Mr. Shore." Shore bowed and walked away.
~*~
James was sitting by the porthole, staring out into the water, when the door opened. Peter Shore stepped in.
"Can you at least knock?" James said in frustration. "What is it that you want?"
"The Captain invites you to join him for supper tonight," Shore said.
"And if I refuse?" James asked testily.
"You'll be thrown into the brig until the end of out little trip," Shore said happily.
"Well, tell the captain I accept his offer."
Shore glared at James for a moment before leaving to notify the captain.
~*~
Dova was sitting at a nicely set table when James arrived. James sat down and was served.
"Eat!" Dova said. James didn't touch anything. "What's the matter boy? Don't you eat?"
"Of course I eat, sir, but I do not trust this food."
"Ah. I see." Dova took a bite of the chicken and chewed it. "See. Nothing happened," he said after swallowing. James hesitated, but began to eat hungrily. Dova watched until he had finished in his fury.
"Now Mr. Aden, I have some questions for you."