Note: A chapter by Marvel.

Chapter 4

Deep Chocolate instead

I'm seven, crouched outside one of the upstairs bedrooms of the Dancing Maiden. As a resident myself I know a thing or two about sneaking around to overhear things. I've sold more pirate's secrets than most cabin boys over the years. It's a profitable business.

Jack is inside, and that's reason enough for me to be here. The fact is, I'm smitten with him. It seems to be a talent he has with women. But I have more right than most. He's my father. He's claimed me as his own, given me his last name. It's the first time in generations beyond count a woman in my family has received her father's rightful name.

He's going to take me out of here. Away from the endless future of selling my soul one piece at a time, of rotting away of some stinking disease and sitting always on the edge of starvation, of birthing daughters bound to the same fate. Women have died for this opportunity. Have died for the meanest possibility, however unlikely.

He's taking me to the sea. The endless ocean that calls me. It's like the novels the tavern owner reads. I'll be like the women in those stories, brave and proud.

Well, life isn't like the stories. Jack's told me. It will be hard work. I'll get ill and tired. But I don't care. I'll work hard as I have to. Harder. If I take ill and die the first day it will be worth it.

The reason I'm taking special interest in the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow tonight is the man with him. The scarred man who accosted me on the street. My uncle, or so Jack says.

There's something I don't like about him. The way he looks at me. Like I'm competition. As if he'd shrug me off first opportunity he gets. I don't trust him, instinctively. Mama always said never go to a room with a man you don't trust on sight. Sometimes instinct's all as keeps you alive, and the alley's far harder to kill you in.

They're in the room together now, and I want to know what they're talking about. I slip closer, crawling on the ground like a worm. The floor boards creak, but if you lay down and distribute your weight they only give slightly.

"Jack, have you lost your mind?" The man's voice is harsh. He's trying to keep it low and yell at the same time. I smirk. I know what the answer to that will be.

"Years ago, mate. I'm surprised you didn't notice."

"Jack, could you please be serious for five minutes? A woman on a ship is dangerous. But a girl? Seven years old? That's just plain foolish. Just remember what you've seen happening to girls on ships in our life!"

I clench my fists, finger nails drawing blood on my palms.

"I'm no fool," Jack says, voice studiously calm. He's been insulted.

"You're doing a fair impression."

"You'd be amazed what the girl can do, Hal. She can handle a sword if she must. She's amazing with those daggers of hers. And her mind, Hal. She's a genius. And she's eager to learn. She's obviously blood. I can't leave her to rot here."

"A pirate ship, any ship, is no place for a sweet young thing." My hand grips one of my many hidden daggers. I should kill him now. If it weren't for Jack's love for him ... .

"She's been raised by a Tortuga harlot, Hal. By Diamond. She's anything but sweet and innocent. And Tortuga's no place for a child to grow up either. I can protect her on the ship."

"Not all the time. You can't, Jack. And I don't need to remind you that there are men that would get as many ideas around a seven-year-old as an adult, and could do her far more harm. It isn't fair to her, what you're doing."

"And what would be fair? To leave her here, crush her dreams, forget about my own daughter?"

"You know that she's not yours."

"No, she's yours. But I don't see you volunteering."

I'm hardly surprised by this. Honestly, the idea entered my head the moment I learned who he really was. I'm not worried about it. Jack's taken me in. I have no need of him.

There's a tense moment, a beat between them. "Jack, Diamond was a prostitute. Services rendered, services paid for. What she does with children is her business. She'd not have it if she didn't want it. I was given no such choice. I can't offer a child a father. I don't want the responsibility, because I have no way to offer her better."

"So turning your back on her is better?"

He sighs heavily. "I'm not saying that. Take her where she can be looked after. You know we have friends who would take her in. Nobles even."

"That child is no noble, and never will be. They'd beat it out of her, or society would. Her genius would be ruined."

Short silence.

"A convent then."

Jack laughs at that, loud and deep. "My daughter? A nun?"

"Convents are fair places, Jack. They're dry, and warm. Clean. She'd be well fed, and loved. Educated, probably. Cared for properly."

A nun? My head is spinning. Me? A nun. I should kill him now.

"She loves the sea, Hal. It's the place for her. You should understand that."

My hand aches from clutching the dagger so tightly. I draw it, counting on the weight to calm my nerves. I forget about my numb fingers. The dagger slips. I attempt to catch it but my fingers won't cooperate. It clatters across the floor.

I hear the sound of naked feet on the floor, the clear ringing of a sword drawn. No time to run.

I lunge toward the dagger, closer to the door. I snatch it up, and turn just in time to catch Hal's decending sword. With both my hands I turn the dagger in an arch, pushing the sword away and settling back into a defensive pose. He pulls back as well.

"Hal!" Jack cries, running up behind him with that dizzying walk of his. "Pearl! You're supposed to be in bed."

I shrug, not breaking my pose.

"Hal, put it away," Jack orders. "Pretty impressive for a seven-year-old, isn't she. As for you, little one, you're supposed to be in bed. We set sail early tomorrow. I'd suggest you get to it."

I shrug again, eyes cutting toward the man who is sheathing that odd curved Asian sword.

Jack draws close. Takes a knee before me. "He's not changing my mind, luv. Not in a million years. You set sail with me tomorrow morning. Savvy?" He grins.

The devil can't be this charming. If he is the world is doomed. God will surrender the throne willingly.

I nod. "Yes Captain." That makes him grin.

I turn without looking at the other man, taking the stairs up to the next floor to my room. As I fit the key in the lock I hear steps on the stairs. I turn to find Hal there. I glare at him, putting hands on my hips. "What now? Come to suggest I take an oath of celibacy now?"

"No," he answers as if I were serious. I snort. "I wanted to apologize. If I had known you were listening I wouldn't have-"

"Spoken your true feelings?" I suggest. I look into his eyes. Deep chocolate instead of the lighter caramel of Jack's. Darker than the eyes I see in the mirror. Please, let Jack be my father. I don't have any way of knowing, and Jack's doing everything that matters, but please ... .

"Spoken so bluntly," he corrects.

I wave a hand. "Semantics. You would have been playing games. And I'm bloody glad you didn't know I was there. Better I know you for what you are now."

"Better you know the future ahead of you," he says.

"I know the future ahead of me if I stay here," I answer. "That's more than enough."

He nods. "You're angry. You have every right to be."

"I don't need your permission to be angry!" I snap.

"I understand, and for what it's worth, I'm sorry. I wish I could be the sort of father for you Jack is. That doesn't change the fact that I can't, and I don't believe this is the best path for you."

"It doesn't change the fact that my path is my own to chose," I answer. "And for what it's worth, I'll never trust you again. I see you for what you are, whether your brother does or not." I twist the key in the lock, swiftly enter my room, and slam the door in his face. Then I throw myself onto the bed and weep. I weep for lost trust, and fear, and opportunities I'm holding to with both hands, and fear for the future, and love of my father. Whoever he may be.