CHAPTER THREE: BACK AT PORT ROYAL
Elizabeth rolled over in bed and shook her husband awak. "Will. . . Will," she whispered. "Someone's at the door."
The couple shook off their sleep and hurried downstairs to the front door. Will checked the peephole. "It's . . . your father," he said, confused.
Elizabeth threw open the door. "Father!" she cried. He was surrounded with two of his aids and an officer of the British Navy.
"Elizabeth, something terrible has happened!" he exclaimed, charging into the house.
"What?" she demanded, leaving the others to close the door. She followed after him with Will close behind.
"I can't believe I let her talk me into it, I can't believe I could be so stupid!" the Governor muttered, making his way into the kitchen.
"Father, who are you talking about? What has happened? Did you do something illegal?"
"No!" the Governor cried, turning from the cabinets that he was searching.
"Well, what happened? Why are you so frantic?" Elizabeth turned to the aids and the officer. "Will someone please tell me what is going on?"
"Governor, you're worrying your daughter," Will said, taking Elizabeth's shoulders. "Please explain."
The Governor let out a cry of triumph upon finding a bottle of rum. Will nearly objected, claiming it was for Jack when he returned, but held his tongue.
"Father," Elizabeth scolded, wrenching the bottle from his hands.
The Governor sighed. He turned to his aids. "Perhaps you gentlemen should stand guard outside while I burden my daughter with the news. Give us some privacy."
Without a word, the three men nodded and proceeded to leave without a word.
Elizabeth watched as the men walked out and then turned to her father with a look that threatened physical harm if he didn't speak.
"Your sister. You, of course, know that she has requested to take a sea journey along with Norrington's men for the week."
"Of course, she practically begged on all fours to go," Elizabeth said, her eyebrows knitting with worry.
"Her-her ship. It caught ablaze from lightning from the storm. It sank."
Elizabeth felt her knees give out. Luckily, Will was standing behind her to catch. He lowered her into a chair. "Are you telling me," Elizabeth whispered. "That Sunni is dead?"
"Now, Elizabeth," Will soothed her, shooting a panicked look at the Governor, "They were traveling with the Dauntless. I'm sure that everything is fine, they just boarded that ship."
"The ships were separated during the storms. However, the lifeboats have made it to shore," the old man in front of the rum continued.
"There, you see? Sunni's fine," Will said.
"But she wasn't in any of the lifeboats," the Governor sighed, deflatedly. "The men said she refused to take any of the other sailor's place on the lifeboats, so she stayed behind."
"She WHAT?"
"The men in the lifeboats said they saw a pirate's ship heading toward the burning ship as they rowed away. They sent word as soon as they reached shore."
"Pirates?" Will pondered.
"Has Norrington been informed?" Elizabeth asked.
"They sent word to him. He is to return to Port Royal immediately."
"Pirates," Will said again, under his breath.
"Please," the Governor interupted Will's thoughts. "When is Jack Sparrow due to return?"
"What? Father-" Elizabeth gasped.
"Elizabeth, I know that he visits you two every time he is in Port Royal. Last time he was here, did he say when he was to return?"
"You think Jack picked up Sunni?"
"No- I don't know. I'm just thinking he may know something of Caitlyn's whereabouts." The Governor stood from the chair and paced. "I won't give Sparrow any trouble for coming here. I just. . . I just need to find my daughter!"
"I think Jack said he was planning a trip back here in less than a month," Elizabeth said slowly.
"A month? A month!" he cried. "Who knows what could happen to my baby in a month. Especially with a group of fiendish pirates. . ."
After the Governor finally left the couple to their own thoughts, Elizabeth turned to Will, her blue eyes wide. "We have to find Jack."
