Author's Note-

:Glances down at watch ... then at calendar: Okay, yes, I'm late again ... its been crazy lately and truly, I'm sorry for it. Don't murder me, just read the chappie and please review. (I'm planning a ginormous thanks section for the next chapter, which will be out ON the Monday after this coming one.)

Last time-

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" a deep male voice bellowed through the house.

He was alive, the screams told me that ... but what had happened? I pounded on the door again, screaming myself. "JAAAAACK!"

Silence ...

Silence ...

Earsplitting silence ...

A-

Beyond the Horizon

Chapter 23 - Draw the Tendrils Back Together

Jack woke up some time later. It took him a while to realise why he felt so terrible, to remember why he felt so sore and his throat felt raw. And then everything clicked - the whip, the man behind him, Juaquiem ...

He looked around his surroundings. This was not where he was before. Definitely not where he had been.

"Bloody bastard ..." he groaned as he tried to push himself up off of the floor but failed.

A-

"All right, gents, everyone know the plan?" Colin asked.

"Aye!" the crew answered spiritedly.

"We move at sundown ... until then, make sure yer pistols are ready and knives ... but remember - first order of business is to get Jack and Christy, not to destroy the place. NO killin' if ye can 'elp it. Got it?"

"Aye," came the less spirited response.

A-

Three hours had passed since the screams had stopped and my nerves were raw. There was no way out of the room, no way to get to Jack. I was trapped and ready to kill something ... when I heard the lock on the door unclick and before I even knew what I was doing, I had my mind made up as to what to do.

As the door swung open, I rushed forward and even as I felt the arms wrap around me to force me back, I continued struggling forward. A sharp shove drove me back into the room and since I had been struggling so hard, I landed forcefully on my backside.

Glaring angrily up, I met Juaquiem's eyes. "Where's Captain Sparrow?"

"No where that you could help him, seniorita," he replied coolly.

"What have you done with him? Where is he?" I said again.

He ignored me.

If looks could kill, he would be dead five times over ... but unfortunately for me, looks couldn't.

"Such anger, seniorita. Why?"

"Hmm ... I wonder why I would be angry. Let's think about this, shall we? You took me away from the ship I was on and the man who rescued me. I wonder why I'd be upset."

"Seniorita, I must confess something. Will you permit me that?"

I ignored him but unfortunately he continued on.

"Seniorita, I see so many similarities with you and me ... I think that we have much in common and I think we should spend some time together. You had a pirate for a father, I had a pirate for a father. We both have no living parents. There is much we share. Do you find it as interesting as I?"

I rolled my eyes like an indignant child. "No," I spat. "In fact, I don't find you interesting either. So, how about you just leave because that would be much more interesting than you being here."

"Whore! I offer you a place in my house ... I keep you from harms way! And when I try to extend my hand in friendship, you reject me. Fine, have it your way, seniorita ... but say goodbye to your pirate captain!"

Apparently I had touched a nerve. Although, what he said about Jack did strike me ... and I realised that if I didn't play my cards right he could do something to Jack. I needed to tread lightly. "Juaquiem," I began quietly, after taking a deep calming breath. "Forgive me for my outburst. I am sorry ... it is just that I have a lot on my mind at the moment ... and my temperament is not suited well to this closed space and the stresses upon me right now." I really hoped that I sounded as sincere as I intended ... because if I hadn't and I actually sounded the way I felt, then we could be worse off.

A slight smile spread across Juaquiem's face. "I knew you'd warm up to me, seniorita," he said as he crossed the room to offer me a hand up.

My heart gave a painful pang as I remembered the time Jack had said that to me so long ago but I forced myself to take his hand and allow myself to be helped up.

He offered me his arm. "Will you walk with me, seniorita?"

Inwardly grimacing, I nodded and allowed myself to be lead away.

A-

Colin's eyes flashed as he took in the entirety of his surroundings. He was at the hacienda of the man who had Jack and Christy and he, as well as the other men in the party, knew that this had to be good because they'd probably only get one attempt. Inwardly, Colin was fighting the urge to give this off to one of the other men ... he hated having this responsibility ... he hated having to think of all the numerous possible scenarios that could occur if he had miscalculated by one tiny nuance. "Be quiet wif the guards. We don't need noise. Follow?" he instructed.

Silently as shadows, part of the crew stole away, moving swiftly out of sight and Colin hoped that they would not fail Jack.

After what seemed to be an eternity, Colin heard the signal, an owl's hoot, and motioned to his remaining group. Just like the other men had done, they moved silently into the dark.

Every once in a while, there would be a muffled scuffle as some of the guards that the first group had missed were put out of action ... temporarily.

However ...

'WHO'S THERE!' a voice called loudly in the night.

"Damn," Colin swore under his breath.

There was half a second of silence before all hell broke loose.

A-

I allowed Juaquiem to lead me away, through the winding cooridors of the home as he gabbled about his life, his family, his past thinking that I, the proper young English woman, must be listening eagerly. He couldn't have been more wrong. I would have paid more attention to the nonsense talk of children than I did to him.

Needless to say, I was more than slightly surprised when he led me outside and took both my hands in his own. I stayed silent, hoping that I hadn't missed something during my mental lapse and waited for him to speak.

"Seniorita ... may I call you Christina?" he asked stiffly.

Restraining the urge to roll my eyes, I nodded.

"Christina, I have been thinking since I first saw you-"

"Today," I interrupted.

"Yes, today ... but I have never been a man to do things slowly," he stated nervously and I noticed a thin gleam of sweat on his face. I looked away, repulsed, only to have a hand cup my chin and draw my eyes back to his. "Well ... I have an offer for you."

'Oh my God ... he can not be serious,' I thought, my mind spinning frantically into action.

"Stay here with me. If you find you do not like it here, you will be free to go. But, please, try staying. Just for a month. Maybe two. Will you?"

I stepped back but he, still having hold on my hands, pulled me back in. "NO."

"Ahh ..." he said, a slight smile curling his lips. "Rion warned me that this might happen. Seniorita, if you do not stay with me, I will kill Captain Sparrow."

"WHAT?" I gasped, praying that I had not heard what I thought I had.

"Exactly."

I jerked backwards and began slowly walking away. But, much to my misfortune, Juaquiem snapped his fingers and I felt a set of fingernails dig into my upper arms. My head snapped back to see Rion leering down at me. Juaquiem snapped his fingers again and started walking back into the house, Rion following behind, like an obediant lap dog, practically carrying me.

Our less than merry little entourage made our way down a set of stairs and into what seemed to be a prison built beneath the house. It was dark, dank and had a humid, moldy smell. I shuddered slightly as we walked along, past empty cells until suddenly we stopped.

I glanced into the cell, afraid of what I might see but even more afraid of what I might NOT see. As I had expected, Jack was in the cell. However, I had not expected to see him lying prone on the floor.

Juaquiem fiddled with the keys for a moment before swinging the door open. "How are we feeling, Captain Sparrow?" he asked cheerfully.

"Go to hell," Jack groaned throatily.

My heart twisted painfully in my chest as he pushed himself up, his eyes settling on me but I shook my head.

"What-" Jack started to ask but didn't have time to finish the question as, so often occurred, a loud disturbance cut him off.

Everyone turned to see ...

A-

Author's Note -

Okay, new chapter on the Monday after this coming one. Savvy?

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