Author's Notes -

Okay, so, I'm overdue. BUT, Happy New Year all! Things have been kinda crazy here for a while so, my writing has been slightly neglected. Although there is a bright side. There will be a new chapter on Sunday because I leave ... well, Sunday for Florida. We're gonna spend a week down there using the plane tickets and stuff that we were supposed to use last year but I ended up in the Emergency Room ... long story. So, a chapter today (Wednesday) and another on Sunday.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE-

I DO NOT SPEAK SPANISH. I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND WHO OFFERED TO TRANSLATE EVERYTHING FOR ME BUT I FORGOT TO SEND HER THIS UNTIL TOO LATE. EVERYTHING WAS TRANSLATED BY AN ONLINE TRANSLATOR. DON'T MURDER ME FOR POOR SPANISH.

-A-

Author Thanks -

Since I'm soo far behind, I'll be doing my 'Thanks' for last chapter and this chapter together. Sorry guys. I'm a bit stressed at the moment.

But, I truly and fully appreciate you all so much. I really am glad that you take time to read my story (whether you like it or hate it) and you really give me motivation to make everything good.

Please feel free to ask me any questions that you might have about anything and I am always open to constructive criticism or suggestions.

-A-

Last Time -

I listened for a while, hearing him bellow orders to the crew as he walked. 'Yes, that was,' I knew without seeing, 'That was Jack in his element.' Deciding that MAYBE he had a point and bed-rest might do me some good, I grudgingly sunk back into the pillows and slowly I drifted off.

-A-

Beyond the Horizon

Chapter 14 - The Informer

Unfortunately for all of us, my condition grew steadily worse through the night and the following morning. I stayed in bed the entire day, not even protesting at Jack's insistence. I could feel myself beginning to get a fever and I knew that it would only get worse. Throughout the day, I sipped at the bitter tasting cinchona tea that Colin brought me and truly hoped that my fortunes would improve.

Jack returned several times to check on my condition but it was hard for me to meet his eyes, for mine showed guilt at falling ill and his revealed a mixture of guilt and worry. Neither of us could face what it likely was ... we both knew that ... but it was our stubbornness that kept us from admitting that perhaps one of us (me) was at risk.

I drifted in and out through the afternoon and evening. Colin had left Tad in his stead while he prepared meals and I was able to occupy the boy by playing a round or two of dice before lying back down again. I may have been sick but I could still pretend that I wasn't. I could still fool a person who didn't have the keys to my soul.

Tad brought me some dinner that evening, telling me that Colin had asked him to make me eat it all and drink the entirety of the tea that I was learning quickly to hate. But I drank it for I knew there was no point in arguing with the tenacity of an eleven-year-old.

As I followed orders myself and ate, I managed to coax out of the boy the fact that Jack, Gibbs and Colin were meeting to discuss something of extreme importance. Tad didn't know exactly what it was but he thought it had something to do with a ship. I shrugged this information off, believing it only meant we would raid the ship in future. Actually, that the men would raid the ship while I was confined to the cabin, cursing Jack's avid denial of my ability to help.

I should have paid the snippets of information that I got from Tad more heed ... I should have but I didn't, assuming, however incorrectly, that all would work out in the end. My own wishful thinking.

He did tell me, in certain words, that Colin was steering the ship during the late watch that evening because Gibbs was overly stretched. The man wasn't as young as he once was. Jack himself would be on duty until midnight.

With that information successfully stored in my brain, I slowly fell back to sleep again.

Tad retired sometime after I drifted back to sleep, I assumed. Because, it was high past midnight by the time I woke up, no light in the cabin save for that coming in and no noise save for the breathing of my lover. I could feel the warmth behind me and settled around my waist that told me that Jack lay behind me. I was slightly chilled and nestled back into him, always thankful of his presence.

I rolled over in the bed to look at him, there was just enough light streaming in the cabin from the moon and the stars that I could see the faintest silhouette of his face. "I love you, Jack. I love you more than I could ever say in words. More than I could buy or sell or barter. I don't know what I'd do without you ... you make my heartbeat and my soul rest at ease. I only hope that we can live to enjoy it. That's my most fervent prayer. Well that and the one that one day we can actually marry and live the perfect fairy tale life. Actually, fairy tale endings always end up the same. I do, however, wish that we could marry and live. Live till the end of our days. Maybe not always happy but not always sad, either. Not a fairy tale, just life. With all luck, we can both see that through to the end," I whispered before I kissed him gently on the mouth.

Beside me, Jack stirred slightly and pulled closer to him, murmuring something in his sleep as I drifted back into slumber in my own warm, happy shelter, never knowing that something drastic was about to change.

It didn't seem that I slept long after that. I woke to a scuffling noises coming from outside the cabin. I had always been a light sleeper since everything that happened five years ago ... I think if was a defense tool on my part.

When I woke, though, I soon learned that I was not the only one awake. Jack had pulled me even tighter to him and when he felt me stiffen in his arms, he knelt his head down beside my ear, "Quiet, love. Stay quiet and pretend to sleep."

There were faint voices outside our door and I felt Jack shift in the bed as he reached for his pistol. I felt the cool weight settle down behind my back as Jack laid back down, positioning himself between me and the door.

The voices steadily grew in volume and I could hear the faintest traces of frustration in the inflection.

"What's going on?" I whispered, unable to hide my own fear.

"Ssh, it'll be all right. Just stay down."

I nodded although I couldn't help but be afraid. Granted I had a right but I didn't like not knowing what was going on. That scared me as much as knowing might have, had I known.

I leaned my head back down and tried to ignore the intense pounding of my head and the noise of the blood rushing to my ears and limbs. The noise of everything seemed magnified and I felt as if, if I needed to, I could spring from the bed and run. Behind me, Jack twitched slightly and I knew that his senses were fine-tuning themselves to exactly what was occurring outside the door. I only wished that I could be as calm as him.

Inside my head a mantra of 'This is bad, this is very, very bad,' kept repeating itself as if someone was whispering in my ears.

"El puerta , abrir la puerta!" (The door, open the door!) I heard said.

"Spanish," I whispered quietly to Jack.

"I know. Lay quiet, Christy. No matter what happens, lay quietly," he whispered back.

I nodded silently and lay as still as I could.

From outside, I could hear the lock being jimmied and then finally, the click that echoed in my mind for a long time. The click of the lock succumbing to the force of those outside before the door swung quietly open. Feet entered but I didn't count the number ... all I heard were the steps.

Seconds elapsed and I felt Jack grasp the pistol, ready to shoot.

I kept my face in as sleep-like a position as I could, my eyes sealed shut even though I could see the faint light from someone at the doorway holding a lamp.

It was only a few more seconds before all hell broke loose.

In a flash, someone had slammed the door shut and brought illumination into the cabin. Jack sat bolt up the moment that the slightest noise had been made and his gun was pointed at the ready, one arm protectively over me.

Flurries of Spanish cursing assaulted my ears ... apparently this was meant to have been impercievable. Clearly they had failed on that respect.

Soy aqui traer usted hasta my capitan Jauquiem Santos El Vena quien tiene un agravio contigo. Usted lata ea facilmente o no pero vosotros vendreis," I heard said as I lay as still as possible. (Captain Sparrow, I am here to bring you to my master Jauquiem Santos El Veindo who has a grievance with you. You can come easily or not but you will come.)

"Veis , material , yo hacer no pensar ese yo albedrío yo haber jamás oído de Jauquiem Santos El Viendo antes de y yo haber no deseo dejar my buque," Jack answered in his usual confident air, albeit in Spanish. (You see, mate, I don't think that I will. I've never heard of Jauquiem Santos El Viendo before and I have no desire to leave my ship.)

"Capitan Sparrow , alli are diez conmigo y un de su. Yo would odio contar my capitan ese el esta ser negado el placer de su compania. El ha estado aspecto atrevido hasta sesion el saco suyo buque , El Guardianes." (Captain Sparrow, there are ten of us and one of you. I would hate to tell my master that he is to be denied the pleasure of your company. He has been looking forward to meeting the sacker of his ship, The Guardians.)

Jack's arm stiffened and I knew that he recognised the name. But I did nothing to give away my position, though I knew that they could see me, I prayed that they took no heed.

"Obtener le arriba," the voice said gruffly. (Get him up.). There were faint noises and then the weight of the bed shifted drastically as Jack was wrested from me. His arm, still wrapped around me, flipped me over to my back as he was taken away.

I could hear Jack cursing under his breath, knowing that his anger was seething.

Footsteps were beginning to leave now, I counted as I listened. 'One, two, three gone. There went a fourth and a fifth. Finally a sixth, closely followed by a seventh. Three more to leave ... and Jack.'

But then …

"Capitan. El chica." (Captain. The girl.)

"Que?" I heard who I know knew to be the captain ask. (What?)

"El chica. Que are nosotros hacerlo con ella?"(The girl. What are we to do with her?)

Jack murmured something under his breath that sounded like, "Es nadie. Ha sido enfermo. Died en su dormir esto muy nocturno." (She's no one. She's been ill. Died in her sleep this very night.)

I struggled to make myself look as if I was not breathing ... but someone came over to me and shook me fiercely. I didn't move that time.

Roughly, I was shaken again and I fought all reflexes that begged me to respond, to kick out, to scream, to do something. But I remembered what Jack had said about staying still and obeyed.

I heard a person moving around to the edge of the bed closest to my face and felt a hand being placed before my mouth. Not touching me, just checking my breathing.

I struggled to hold my breath as long as I could but no one can hold their breath forever. When I couldn't take the suffocation longer, I let out the softest breath that I could, hoping whoever had their hand near me wouldn't feel it.

I was wrong.

"Capitan. Es vivo" (Captain. She's alive.)

Jack swore quietly and said, "Arrendar ella ser , material. Es no uso hasta usted. Arrendar ella ser." (Let her be, mate. She's no use to you. Let her be.)

"Mas evidencia hasta su crimenes , Capitan? Es ella otro cuyo vida you've estola y ahora usted buscar hasta cuero ella? My capitan hacía no pensar usted un rapido pero pareja él puede ser mal. Obtener ella arriba.." (Further evidence to your crimes, Captain Sparrow? Is she another whose life you've stolen and now you seek to hide her? My master did not think you a rapist but even he can be wrong. Get her up.)

The hands pulled me over to the edge of the bed relatively gently. "Levantese, chica. Usted es seguro, ahora." (Get up, girl. You're safe, now.)

I opened my eyes and looked up at the man standing nearest to me. "Yo nunca estaba en cualquier dano," I whispered in perfect Spanish. (I never was in any harm.)

"Usted habla espanol?" he asked in shock. (You speak Spanish.)

I sat up, knowing that in this situation, cooperation would be best. "Si." (Yes) I glanced over at Jack. He was unharmed but I could see in his eyes that he feared something.

The man beside the bed pulled me up and set me on my feet. I was marched out of the cabin with Jack but unlike Jack, my hands were not bound and I had no gun to my head.

Outside, the cool breeze of the sea whipped at me, waking me up the rest of the way from my slumber. I kept my eyes locked on Jack, walking straight-backed and proud to the ship we were being led to.

"Mi tripulacion? Y mi barco?" he asked. (My crew? And my ship?)

"Su tripulacion tiene no el interes de mi maestro. Ni hace su barco. Es usted que el quandry esta con. Y la chica viene a mantenerle en línea por el momento y quizas nosotros le daremos su espalda de vida tambien" (Your crew holds not my master's interest. Nor does your ship. It is you that the quandry is with. And the girl comes to keep you in line for the moment and perhaps we will give her her life back as well.)

When I heard this float back to me, I froze. "Mi vida no ha sido tomada por este hombre. Yo le mendigo vayamos. El es un hombre bueno y no me ha hecho dano." (My life has not been taken by this man. I beg you to let us go. He is a good man and has done me no harm.)

We were at the gangway between the ships now. The captain turned to look at me. "Eso no es lo que nuestro delator dice, chica" (That is not what our informer says, girl.)

My heart jolted and I knew before I asked who it was. "Eso no es lo que nuestro delator dice, la chica" (Informer? What informer?)

My escort pointed over to the adjacent ship and said gently, "Mire alli, chica. Ve? El ha estado en el barco por varios meses y esta noche, la noche que nuestro ataque se planeo para, ofrecio tomar el timon para otro miembro de tripulacion. El supo que el tuvo que obtener a los otros miembros del equipo distraidos tan el mandolos otros lejos. Tuvimos un bote de remos con varios miembros ato en ello lejos al fondo del barco y ellos subieron en la plataforma cuando nuestro delator dio el todo claro. El les dijo toda informacion importante como nuestro barco se acerco y cuando estabamos listos, ayudo la etapa el ataque" (Look over there, girl. See? He has been on the ship for several months and tonight, the night our attack was planned for, offered to take the helm for another crew member. He knew that he had to get the other crewmen distracted so he sent the others away. We had a rowboat with several members in it tied off to the bottom of the ship and they climbed onto the deck when our informer gave the all clear. He told them all important information as our ship approached and when we were ready, helped stage the attack.)

I nodded my understanding and looked to where he pointed.

Standing bathed in moonlight was Rion.

For being a prisoner, I was treated remarkably well. I was taken to a cabin where there was a woman, the wife of the captain, I assumed and left in her care.

"Relajese. Usted es seguro ahora," she said quietly. (Relax. You are safe now.)

I glanced around, feeling as if my world was closing in around me. All I could hear in my head was a repetion of 'not again, not again, not again.' My previous experiences led me to fear what would happen next ... what would happen to Jack.

"Como te llamo?" (What is your name?(

"Christina Delcot."

The woman glanced at me. "Usted es un preso?" (Are you a prisoner?)

"Parece que soy ahora. O por lo menos de donde yo me paro." (It seems that I am now. Or at least from where I stand.) In an adjacent room, I could hear the muffled grunts from Jack as questions were bellowed and he was 'interrogated.' I could hear his muffled grunts as well so that told me clearly that whoever these people were, they weren't friends. I also felt the shifting and slow movement of the ship that signified the lifting of the anchor.

"Parece que soy ahora. O por lo menos de donde yo me paro." she said. (You are free now.)

"Usted puede encender un farol? Yo no puedo ver." (Can you light a lantern? I can't see.)

She did and the room was thrown into sharp relief. It was definitely the captain's cabin, relatively lavishly furnished. My eyes turned to the woman. She was my age. Perhaps a year or two older but my age.

"You are British," she said. It was clear that she had been studying me as well because she switched to English. "Your Spanish is very good. I would have assumed that you were from Spain, Mexico, perhaps."

I nodded my thanks. I did not know who exactly this woman was but I had the hope that she could be trusted somewhat. Or at least that I could glean some information from her. "You are from ..." I let the sentence hang.

"Cadiz."

"Where are we going? Back to Cadiz?" I asked inquisitively. I had a feeling that I wasn't going to get very much information from her husband so maybe I could get something out of her.

She nodded.

"And Jack? What is to happen to him?"

"I do not know. My husband does not tell me everything. I was just told to keep you."

I closed my eyes, steadying myself mentally. "Could you please tell me if you find out? I care for him greatly."

"You care for your captor?"

I shook my head. "He's not my captor. He was once. A long time ago. But not any more."

"But Rion ..."

I shook my head again. "Rion knows nothing. He holds the fact that Jack and I have a child against me."

"Where is your child?" she asked slowly.

"Port Royale."

"Are you sure? You have family there keeping her, yes?"

"No, she's staying with friends of mine."

The woman stared at me for a long time, no doubt trying to gauge whether or not I told the truth. "What is her name?"

"Rhiannon Isabella."

"How old is she?" the woman asked gently.

"She is five years old."

"My husband and I have no children. We can not bear to be separated from that which we love."

"I understand. I typically don't stay on the Pearl. I live in Port Royale with Rhiannon and Jack comes when he can."

"But your family?"

I shook my head. "My family is all gone, it is just me, Rhia and Jack."

"You miss them? Your family?"

"Very much so," I replied quietly before taking my head in my hands. The pounding headache that I had earlier was coming back full-force, reminding me that in my moments of extreme stress, it had vanished but now was going to make me pay.

"Are you well?"

I looked up at the woman slowly and shook my head. "Not very," I whispered.

"I'll get my husband," she said before exiting the room quickly.

The door snapped shut behind her and I walked slowly over to the bed to sit down. I felt shaky but I convinced myself that it was only nerves. I leaned down, put my elbows on my knees and cradled my face in my hands, trying to remind myself to keep calm.

I heard the door creak open and looked over to see ...

-A-

Author's Note -

So ... I hope this satisfies your appetites for a bit. No murdering me, please, though. I like my life quite nicely.

Have a great New Year!

Mange Klemmar

CrazyCanoeingGIT