Christina glared fiercely at Violet as Elizabeth beside her struggled against her bonds with fury. Samuel smirked on as the final ropes were tied and the entire Pearl's crew was rendered helpless. The plan had worked better than either of them could ask. Samuel's grey eyes found Christina and his scars crinkled as he grinned menacingly, "Ah, Barbossa's lass. How I have missed ye since our last meetin'."

The scowl on Christina's face was instantly replaced with an expression of fear and loathing as she stared back at her captor's frighteningly calm face. He laughed at this, "Still as easily scared, I see." He sat down on a near by crate and cradled his very visible revolver carelessly. Violet moved over and sat beside him, smiling wickedly at Christina.

"So now we're just waiting for Jack t'show his cowardly self," Samuel grumbled. The name coming from the man's mouth sent chills down Christina's spine and she silently willed Jack away from the Pearl.

As Samuel drifted away and up the stairs, Violet smirked down at Christina smugly, "Comfortable?"

Christina glared at her, "Terribly." After a thought, she narrowed her eyes at her, "This is the fireworks?"

"I'm sorry?" Violet frowned.

"You said you were getting fireworks. For tomorrow night."

"Oh, yes. That was for your own benefit, lass. Wouldn't want y'gettin' in the way," Violet replied.

Christina stared at her in realisation, "You saw me. When I followed you. It was always supposed to be tonight."

Violet smiled, "Precisely."

XxXxX

"I didn't do it! I swear!" Jack cried in frustration at the women hot on his trail, his arms flailing wildly as he ran.

He thanked his very few lucky stars as his booted steps sounded onto the docks' wooden planks, encouragingly willing him on towards the Pearl. Mr Gibbs had dropped a notable distance behind, being out run by the angry female mob in Jack's pursuit. The Captain had had to accept that the lass' were in fact after him. He had clung to the faint hope that maybe Mr Gibbs had been bedding them all at once and they had somehow, simultaneously, found out.

... It had been a very faint hope.

Jack could hardly keep running for the relief that flooded his veins when the Pearl came into view. Arms still flailing, he sprinted on, only a short few feet ahead of the women. He quickly made the last few steps to the gangplank and skidded on to it, grabbing only air for support to stop him from plummeting into the waters below. He had not planned on the deck being deserted and cursed silently as he continued down the stairs in search of anyone who could save him from the women who threatened to catch up at any moment and tear him to pieces with no explanation given.

XxXxX

The crew's eyes followed where their Captain's boots thudded over their heads from the deck above. Christina frowned at the stampede of clicking heels that chased behind the booted footsteps, wondering what kind of reinforcment he had brought with him. She lowered her eyes slightly to see Samuel grinning at the noise and realised that this was no reinforcment at all. It seemed centuries before Jack and his pursuers could be heard clambering down the stairs towards them and their running feet came into view.

"Ye'll all be sorry when me crew gets t'ye!" Jack was yelping when he reached the lower decks, oblivious to the fact that his defense was clearly tied and bound. He slowed when the women stopped in a line, an inpenetrable barrier to the stairs from whence he had came. Turning slowly with a puzzled frown, his eyes widened when he spotted Samuel, Violet and the captured crew, Elizabeth, Will and Christina.

"Blast," he muttered in realisation. Samuel chuckled and Violet smirked.

"Ya don't seem t'pleased t'see me, Jack," Samuel commented, standing to his full height and towering over Jack in the same action.

Jack gulped nervously,shot a weary glance over his shoulder at the seething women and bared his teeth in a feigned pleasant smile. "Just suprised, s'all. Had I known ye were comin' I would've tidied up a little," he shrugged with a casual flick of his hand, "What brings ye here with me crew tied up an' all?"

"Oh, y'know. Stolen ships, ancient curses, that sort of thing," Samuel replied sarcastically.

"How nice fer ye," Jack nodded slowly, eyeing Violet, "Friend of yers?"

Samuel turned back to look at her then smiled back at Jack, "Y'could say that, I 'spose. Been helpin' her out, I hear?"

"Doin' our very best," Jack replied with testy cheeriness, "Not a bother in the least."

"You're really too kind, Jack," Samuel sneered, "Too bad it always backfires on ya, eh?"

Jack only put his hand to his heart in mock lament.

"Where's me ship?" Samuel demanded.

Jack's eyes widened with mock recognition, "Funny ye mention her, Sam. I was jus' thinkin' the other day that it was about time I return her t'ye. Considerin' I only borrowed her after all. Really only meant to take her out fer a short sail. But she's such a pretty boat- ship. Such a pretty ship."

Samuel's eyes narrowed murderously, "Bit late f'that, don't ya think, Jack?"

"Fer what?" Jack questioned innocently. He chuckled with realisation, "Ye think I'm tryin' t'get out of stealing yer ship-"

"That's exactly what I'm thinking," Samuel growled.

Jack looked back at the women and signalled at them not to kill him before stepping cautiously towards Samuel. Christina lowered her brows in confusion as he put a hand over the man's shoulders and bent so as to talk secretively to him with a lifted finger to make a point, "Now, Sam. What is a measly ship when it comes to friendship, aye? I say, we forget this little, insignifcant misunderstanding an' call a truce. I'll give ye yer ship back just as ye last saw her an' ye can take ye lady friends an' have a good old time, hm? Me crew an' I'll get ourselves straight out of London, I 'aven't really ever liked it here anyway t'tell the truth so it won't make a difference t'me. So... what d'ye say?" Jack pulled back with a wide grin and put out a hand, "No hard feelings?"

Samuel stared at him for a long moment before starting to laugh uncontrollably. It wasn't long before Violet and the rest of the women joined in, all laughing at Jack, whose confidence slowly faded along with his smile.

"Jack," Samuel said with tears in his eyes, "Jack, d'ya really believe I lured ye all the way t'London fer a ship?"

Jack stared at him ruefully as Samuel put his own arm around him and clamped his shoulder in rather painful grasp, "Well, it is very pretty..."

Samuel chuckled again as he whirled the shorter pirate to face the wall of women behind him who Violet now joined. Jack stared at them blankly as they glared back at him.

"Recognise the lass' Jack?" Samuel asked pleasantly.

Jack shot him a puzzled look, studied the women and shook his head.

"C'mon, Jack. Look closer," Samuel encouraged venomously.

Jack sighed, narrowing his eyes as he slowly drew his eyes over the faces of the twleve women, regarding each individually. Suddenly, his eyes widened with shock and he would've fallen backwards had Samuel's debilitating arm had not been around his shoulders threateningly. Regaining his balance, Jack pulled away from Samuel and looked at him with accusing anger, "What've ye done?"

"What you yourself were too much of a coward to finish!" Samuel spat fiercely.

Christina frowned in puzzlement as a wave of sickening realisation visibly hit Jack and his eyes found hers. She silently beckoned him to give her some kind of explanation but he seemed to horrified to give any and only stared blankly. Samuel watched his reaction with satisfaction in his cold eyes before he nodded at Violet and travelled upstairs. Violet in turn pulled out her revolver and smirked as she trained it on Jack, motioning for him to back up against the mast so she could tie him.

"On second thought," she mused, looking at Christina, "y'might have some explaining to do, Jack."

XxXxX

"This... is not good," Jack muttered as he paced the Captain's Cabin worriedly. Christina sat numbly on the bed, listening to Violet's footsteps echo away down the hall. Jack strode purposefully to the door and turned the handle forcibly. When it did not give, he shook it violently, rattling the door in it's frame futilely. Breathing a sigh of defeat, he informed, "We can't get out."

"I believe that's the idea behind locking us in," Christina pointed out sarcastically.

Jack whirled, pointing an authoritive finger, "Now is really not the time to be cynical, luv."

"Why not? Why haven't you told me what's so bad about all this?" Christina hissed, "Sure, we've been kidnapped but you know this ship better than anyone. You've got a plan, right?"

Jack shrugged noncommitally.

"Right?" Christina repeated more urgently.

"No!" Jack exclaimed, flinging out his arms in surrender, "I do not have a plan!"

Christina stared at him in suprise. She felt any slight security she might have had in the hope that there was an escape slowly drain, "This is worse than what I think it is, isn't it?"

Jack looked at her, searching his mind for a way to dodge the question, "... Exactly how bad do ye think it is?"

"Jack!" Christina cried.

"Just t'get an estimate!" Jack defended. Christina glared at him, crossing her arms impatiently and he flicked the air defeatedly, sinking down to sit on the bed beside her, "Where to start..."

"The women?" Christina prompted.

"They're known as the 'Terrified Brides'," Jack started slowly, "All twelve of them were murdered by the same man hundreds of years ago-"

"Murdered? But that would mean they're dead-" Christina interjected.

"Would ye let me explain it?" Jack frowned. Christina closed her mouth obediently and motioned for him to continue. Jack sighed, "The man went by the name of Sarbaous. After his father died and he found out that he had missed out on any inheritance, Sarbaous set about t'make his own wealth. Being handsome and young, he decided to marry into a rich family an' hence gain his bride's fortune. He married like he had planned but found that his greed was not satisfied. Filled with want for more, he murdered his first wife and moved onto the next. He became richer and had everything that he could ever want or need. But still he longed for more. His second wife became a victim much like his first and he moved on. Such continued until he was unfathomably wealthy, investing all of his money into priceless gold and jewels. But, when Sarbaous' twelfth wife died, the anger against him was so strong and powerful that it evolved into a curse. His wives were roused from their graves and walked the earth again-"

"The Terrified Brides," Christina breathed.

"Aye," Jack nodded. "Hungry for revenge, the Brides hunted furiously for their traitorous husband but he fled, ne'er to be found by even them. With the curse still unfufilled, the Brides took back their fortunes, now in the form of the enormous bounty that Sarbaous had built up through the years. They were satisfied wth that fer a while and were laid to rest once again. But legend tells that if a soul should e'er wake them and present them with a sacrifice of Sarbaous' blood, they would hand over the treasure out of gratitude once they were taken back to their tomb and permitted to kill the sacrifice. No one has ever succeeded," Jack finished.

Christina sat silently for a moment, trying to absorb the unlikely tale as fact. She lowered her brows and shook her head, "But, it doesn't make sense... Why would Sam wake them when he hasn't got Sarbaous' blood? Surely he died years and years ago? It would be impossible."

Jack eyed her, obviously having more to tell, "Improbable. Sarbaous' blood does not have to come directly from Sarbaous. The Brides will accept one from his bloodline."

Christina began to feel uncomfortable under his heavy gaze and shifted, "So, Sam found his Sarbaous' blood?"

Jack nodded wordlessly. Christina gulped, "Jack... surely... I would've known if it were..." She looked down at her lap and wrung her hands, "But, I thought we established that when you traded me for the Sapphire over to Sam that his intention was to kill me."

Jack shook his head, "But I never told you how."

Oh the mystery, eh? Pretty full on, I know. It's not really THAT much of a cliffhanger since I already gave ye the BIG secret... I thought tha' was rather kind of me, personally. Review, review, review...

Queen.Bowie.Jack.Sparrow.Lover: Aye, we're all glad tha' Jack isn't as clueless as he seemed! An' we all hate Violet too, so ye're not alone, lass. I'll try me best t'keep up with updatin'. I'm a busy girl! Cheers fer reviewin'.

Siriusly Sirius Lily Black: Aye, Jack fergot 'bout Chris fer a moment back there. Oops. He was drunk, he claims. I 'ave me doubts. I'm not sure if Chris will find out bout tha' lil incident or not. All depends on the Cap'n (sends pointed look at Jack). Thankye kindly fer reviewin' consistently. Really is a joy t'read fluid pirate.

BONANZA: Glad ye liked the description of the REAL Violet. I felt sorry fer the lass jus' writin' it! An' don't give up on the story, luv. It's really jus' gettin' started! Aye, Christina 'as yet t'find out 'bout Jack's session with one of the Brides... an' ye are very right tha' she won't be too happy about it. Cheers fer reviewin'!

The Flying Breadstick: (breathes a sigh of relief) So doin' nothin' did sound like Jack, aye? I thought so too but then thought it might be a bit too simple t'pull off. Glad ye liked the women chasin' Jack. I'm sure he would've greatly appreciated a change in the circumstances but ah well. (gasps) Jack a closet drag queen? Impossible... sort of... now I think about it... in a very abstract story, tha' woul' be plausible. Ah, ye don' like Will neither. Good. Sod 'im. (bites lip) I think I might use tha' idea later... could be very amusing. Ha. Aye, incense is takin' a terrible effect on ye. But ye imagination 'as a lot t'be said fer. Well done.

June Birdie: Aye, women tryin' to kill Jack is good fun. Ha. I think it'll 'ave to happen again some time later.