A/N: 50! Throw the balloons, let go of the confetti, I have reached 50 reviews! I have got to be the happiest person in this galaxy! This a great honor for me and firstly, I would like to thank my loyal reviewers who have been with me from the beginning and all the reviewers that have put in a review, however small…and I sound like I just won an Oscar. lol! This chapter is for you guys, you deserve it!

Vampirehelsing: Okay, let´s just say that I did imagine it sounds like a seal and not what it looks like. lol! You really were hyper! I completely agree with you as you saw in the last chapter that Will would die if Elizabeth did. I mean, he seriously loves her too much...well...I wouldn´t mind if someone loved me that much but... :) Pat yourself on the back; we made it to 50!

Mysterious-muse: Man, 50 reviews feels great, when you reach it in a couple chapters you´ll agree with me :) Your stories are really good, and I am enjoying them a lot. So don´t you dare even think of stopping:) You got it right about the deep emotions, I´m glad you understood it and didn´t think that everyone just lost it. Jack is the only one who appears not to be very emotional, but as we saw the end, he is hiding a lot of feelings inside him...um...how much time until he explodes? Hehehe...

Rose of Shade: I can imagine you lauging your head of in the most intense moments of the last chapter, you´re just special that way :) I´m sorry I can´t call you, but I kind of don´t have your phone #, yeah, kind of a stupid problem, but that is my life; I break open my head with a plate and twist my ankle tripping over a maniquin. Anyways, next time you see Ricky, tell him I said hi, and if he doesn´t remember who I am, remind him :) Have a great summer and hopefully I´ll see you before band camp when I get back!

Smithy: You´re a lot like me, I love happy stories too, but the problem is that there needs to be tension :) These 50 reviews are thanks to you, so pat yourself on the back and go eat some choclate...if you don´t like chocolate you can eat something else, as long as you like it:) Enjoy this chapter!

Uscrocks: NEW REVIWER! It seems like the new reviewers never stay very long, or they find that writing reviews is boring and stop, don´t let that happen to you, your comments are very appreciated! By the way, go buy yourself something, beacuse you are the person who pushed the 49 to 50! Yeah, sorry, I´m a little too obsessive with reviews, but don´t worry, I´ll shut up and let you read this chapter after a quick disclaimer :)

Disclaimer: How could I own Pirates of the Carribbean and be writing this story instead of scuba diving in Fiji? Come on, be realistic, however, the Incas, Miriam, André, Chris and other things you have never heard of before. Now, I present, chapter 10, even though technically it is chapter 11, but I´ll solve that later.

Chapter X: Whispers in the Dark

The sun rose early, its rays of warmth flowing through the valley. The Andes breathed easily as the moon faded in the sky to nothing. Shimmering stars lost their glimmer and disappeared before the moon had begun to fade. Life arose from the Inca city, the tall temple that stood proudly in the center retracting the sun's light into various homes. Llamas were taken to the hills to graze, passing once at the silver river to drink from the icy waters. Men left on the Inca trail, to look for food in the Amazon. Swooping down from the ancient mountains, the condor silently crossed the city, his beady eyes tenderly overlooking his charge as he landed on the temple top. Through all this waking life, the slaves worked. Women cleaned the Inca mansions, followed the llama herders, traded for fruit and food in the market, and swept the streets. Men labored under the powerful sun, their picks, hammers and chisels rising in unison before they fell harshly against the rocks that surrounded them. The sun climbed its way up the dome of the sky, fearful it would pass noon too soon.

Miriam sat opposite of Moonstone. The chicha room was small. It was a bare room, a small open window off to one side. In the center stood a giant terracotta jar, as tall as Miriam's shoulders. To either side of each young woman was situated a woven basket, filled to the rim with maize kernels. Moonstone took her radiant long hair and tied it in a knot to keep it out of her eyes before turning to Miriam.

"So, do you think someone is going to show up and tell us what in the hell we are supposed to do with this huge jar and these baskets of…yellow things?" Moonstone wrinkled her nose at the maize kernels.

Miriam leaned back on her hands, "Maybe they expect us to figure it out by ourselves."

"That wouldn't be surprising, as we are supposed to possess immense knowledge about everything," snorted Moonstone.

"Don't start," warned Miriam.

Moonstone laughed, her green eyes dancing, "Afraid that the old matron is going to show up and take away or next ration?"

"Remember that she didn't take away mine," cleared Miriam.

Moonstone rolled her eyes, "Yes, I am aware of the old angry nurse with no life hates me for no reason at all, apart from the fact that I am twenty million times more attractive than her ratty black hair and beady black eyes. With a face like that she looks like an angry cockroach!"

"That was cruel. You are lucky that she didn't walk in when you were finishing," commented Miriam, nodding towards the hide covered door.

The white haired young woman didn't look disturbed as she curiously poked the maize kernels, "Changing the subject, how did you sleep?"

Miriam turned to look out the window, towards the Andes, "Oh, very well."

"Was there anyone is your room?" commented Moonstone casually, but Miriam could heard the eagerness behind her comment.

"Yes, actually, there was."

Moonstone perked up, "Male or female?"

"Was that really necessary?" asked Miriam

"There was someone in my room as well, but unfortunately only one bed, how about you?"

Miriam resigned to looking out the window and turned to face Moonstone, "You really aren't going to give up until you know everything that happens in this valley, aren't you?"

Moonstone's flawless face broke into a grin, "No."

Miriam frowned, "There isn't anything important to say; I was in the same room as André. He slept on the mat, as he was not in the best of conditions, and I slept on the floor. It wasn't that bad though."

Moonstone' emerald green eyes glittered, "André?"

"The one that got beat at the quarry…" Miriam murmured, feeling hot all of the sudden.

"That was one handsome young man and if you are not interested in him I might just have a go at him…but you two are together, aren't you?" asked Moonstone relaxed.

"We absolutely are not together at all. You can go at him all you like, he's only my friend, and that is what he will always be," retorted Miriam, angry at Moonstone's suggestion.

"Hey, is he alright after what happened to him yesterday?"

"Yes, he's fine. But what about you? Who was your roommate?" asked Miriam, directing the conversation away from her.

"Um…well…you see…"

But Moonstone was saved from answering by the swish of the hide door. Cuva stepped into the chamber, setting her wrinkled hands on her stocky figure. Her small black eyes, hidden under the wrinkles on her forehead, traveled around the room, stopping on Moonstone and Miriam at last.

"What is this?" Cuva asked, waving her hand to compromise everything in the room.

"We were awaiting instructions," explained Miriam before Moonstone could open her mouth.

It took Cuva a minute to answer, "You not know how to make chicha drink?"

This time, Moonstone was faster than Miriam, "Nope."

Cuva glared at the white haired young woman, her lips stretching into a thin line. "Insolent girl, you shall have half a ration today also for your arrogance!" came her sharp reply.

Moonstone's muscles tensed, but then something happened behind her eyes and she smiled, "Very well, I shall inform them of this restriction."

Cuva swelled with fury, "No ration at all today, for you."

Moonstone's face remained content, "As you wish."

The elderly Inca didn't move as she analyzed the situation. Her black eyes sought Miriam, resting on her face for treachery. Finding none she moved forward and turned her glare towards the inside of the great terracotta jar.

"Chicha drink easy to make. Must chew handful of maize and then spit into jar when it is pulp in your mouth. When sun sets, there must a whole jar of chicha drink. It needs to be left a few days before drunk on Inti Ramyi," finished Cuva, resuming her position of control. Her glare traveling over the two slaves to see if they understood, she waddled out of the small room. The sound of the soles of her feet hitting the ground was heard walking away as it faded into the distance.

Satisfied that the Inca had left, Miriam turned on Moonstone, her eyes hard, "What were you thinking? If your pride will step in the way of your necessity to eat, I suggest you escape, as you will not live very long."

Moonstone ignored Miriam, looking around her at the large basket of maize kernels beside her.

"Why this madness?" pressed Miriam.

The knot of straight white hair undid itself as Moonstone turned, shoving a handful of maize into her mouth, "I have another way to feed myself, alright? Now work, the sooner we get this done, the sooner we can talk all we want."

Miriam didn't seem convinced by Moonstone's answer, but nevertheless tossed a handful of golden yellow kernels in her mouth and began chewing. The terracotta jar ringed as Moonstone regurgitated the kernels, now a pulp of maize and saliva.

o o o

The day passed slowly, the sun inching its way across the sky. Slaves milled through the streets and women washed clothes at the river bank. The soft trickling of the crystal stream was overpowered by the cry of the lone condor that perched on the top of the temple, offering the city to the gods. Shadows grew as the sun descended down the sky slowly. Clouds crawled lazily over the whispering city, momentarily offering views of the sun. The valley spoke in an ancient language, the mountains conversing through the earth and hiding their offspring from the view of those who would have them dead.

Miriam could no longer feel her jaw. Only the subtle crushing noise informed her of the kernels disintegrating her mouth. The red afternoon sun shone through the small open window, turning Moonstone's hair a radiant orange. Through the poor lighting, Miriam could see the large terracotta jar. Hours and minutes had passed and finally the jar was full of regurgitated maize.

"Oh, god, I can't feel my mouth," moaned Moonstone.

Miriam let herself fall on the floor, her wavy hair spreading around her. "I think that your reasoning this morning was not in vain; I hardly think I'll be able to swallow anything tonight," she commented, staring at the ceiling.

"I still can't believe that someone is going to drink our spit."

Miriam let out a chuckle, "I find that idea repulsing. Remember not to drink anything but water on Inti Ramyi."

"You got that right," commented Moonstone and lay down on her back, coping Miriam.

They didn't move for various minutes, their mouth aching too much to talk. The red sun colored the room a red-orange, luring the two young women to sleep. A shadow passed the window momentarily as the condor flew by, to disappear into the Andes for the dark night.

"We should go to barracks," came Moonstone's voice.

"I know," responded Miriam, not interested at all in getting up.

"I'm getting up now."

"Sure you are."

"This time I'm not joking, I really am getting up."

"So am I."

They stood, with a little difficulty. All day they had sat cross-legged on the sandy floor, now leaving their lower body and back cramped. Moonstone shook herself like a dog out of water and strode to the door. Miriam followed, adjusting her coarse brown dress as she walked.

The halls of the mansion were deserted; Miriam and Moonstone walked alone. They passed many chambers. Music flowed softly from one, and upon looking through the open doorway they found Acahuana's eldest daughter playing serenely on the pipes. Miriam smiled as the girl trilled a high note. Her flowing black hair fell like a river on her back and her beautiful brown eyes closed peacefully as she emitted the eerie ancient music. She was tall and Miriam found herself wondering why the girl, who must have been 16 or 17, was not yet married off to a rich lord. With her being the second eldest of all Acahuana's children she was sure to be a very eligible bride. They left the slender girl and walked on, Moonstone tying her amazingly straight, white hair into a knot at the back of her head. The chambers were silent and the music could still be heard faintly as they turned through the stone halls. Clamor reached their ears and Moonstone pointed mutely towards another room. Laughter and cries erupted from the chamber. When Miriam looked in, her wavy brown hair swishing, her eyes opened wide. Acahuana's younger daughters played together, dolls and llamas of terracotta their toys. Two smiling young Inca women sewed happily by, watching the children play, talking rapidly to each other and laughing often. While she was still looking at the children, Miriam felt as Moonstone grabbed her arm, dragging her away from the room.

"Moonstone, what the…" whispered Miriam.

But her answer came in the sound of male voices. Both young women started retreating down the hall, quietly and deftly. They didn't want to be caught somewhere they shouldn't be; André's beating yesterday had served lesson enough to what might happen. The voices drew closer and closer, Miriam and Moonstone walking quickly away. Suddenly Moonstone halted, Miriam pausing beside her and looking down the length of the hall. Three young men emerged from the intersecting hall, all Incas and, as far as Miriam could tell, all lords or rich heirs by their many jewels and brightly colored dress. Moonstone gasped beside her, "Acahuana!"

Miriam turned to look at Moonstone, confused, as none of the men coming towards them were lord Acahuana, "Who?"

"Acahuana, the eldest son of Lord Acahuana," explained Moonstone rapidly as they began walking down the hall towards them, towards the door to the outside.

"Who are the other two?" asked Miriam, amazed at Moonstone's sudden knowledge of the Inca.

Moonstone shrugged, "How am supposed to know? They are probably rich lords, either way they are really handsome but not as…"

The three Incas were drawing nearer, and Moonstone cut off her sentence. Miriam thought her wise; being lords, the young men would surely know their language. Unlike many Inca, Acahuana was tall, his shoulders broad. His jet black hair was drawn back with a brown leather strap, and his brown eyes so like his sister's now playing on the pipes looking at Moonstone apparently in shock.

"Miriam, I want you to go to the barrack alone, I need to do something," whispered Moonstone in her ear.

Miriam looked at Moonstone, frowning, "What do you need to do?"

Moonstone smiled, her green eyes sparkling, "Beg the old matron for my ration."

Miriam turned her glance back at the young men to find that only Acahuana remained, the other two lords disappearing outside, "Why do this alone?"

Moonstone laughed, "Cause that cockroach hates me, and I will probably have to beg; I really don't fancy you seeing Captain Moonstone on her knees begging for food."

Miriam nodded, but was doubtful of Moonstone's excuse. Nevertheless, she left towards the door, while Moonstone disappeared beyond the moss covered stone hall.

Darkness had claimed the high valley, the mountains dark silhouettes against the dark blue sky. The waning moon shone silver light over the stone houses of the Inca, partially hidden by the imposing peak of Huayna Picchu. Miriam emerged from the stone structure into the vast gardens of the ayllu. Vines hiked the low stone fences, erupting in bloom with a mix of white and blue. Small trees hid the private area of the garden from unwanted eyes while red hummingbirds rested the night inside the small twig nests. Miriam halted, closing her eyes to let the sound of the night surround her. The cicadas chirred, their loud music creating a backdrop of constant droning. The soft wind billowed through the trees, shaking the leaves. The soft sound of whispers filled the dark.

Miriam opened her eyes, turning her head slightly at the sound of soft voices. She strained her ears to hear what they whispered about in the dead of night. Eavesdropping was a practice her mother would advise against; if two people spoke together in whispers, they wished not to be disturbed, and in doing so, you infringed their right for privacy. However, thought Miriam smiling, her father would press her to listen. He would agree that to live longer, your knowledge must be wide and whispers in the dark were things which might help one survive. Miriam pressed her face against the bushes of the gardens and remained immobilized as the voiced drifted towards her waiting ears.

"Why must we speak in this filthy language used by only the slaves?" asked a cold female voice.

"Precisely for that reason; no one will hear us. These things we discuss are things which we do not wish to fall into the wrong ears. Furthermore, I am your husband and you will do as I command, there is no argument in this," proclaimed a male voice, which sounded familiar to Miriam's ears.

"You may command everyone, but never me," hissed the female voice.

"Silence, we do not have much time, the plan must be carried out before Inti Ramyi. Only then can we be the sun, as the gods have proclaimed it."

"He stands in your way, and he does not trust you, my husband," the female spoke words like ice that chilled Miriam.

"He will not stand very long, I have the person for the job designed and the deed is a question of time."

"They will suspect you before all, with no gain, as his son will rise, not us."

"There are many ways to manage a man his age," the male voice insinuated.

"Don't be too sure, he is stronger than he appears," countered the eerie female voice.

"With his father dead he is nothing. I will rise, and we will become the sun."

"Do not plan to manage it all, there are many ways your plan can fail."

"You forget your place, Chic'ya! I will not fail; I have waited too long for this moment, and it has finally come," the male voice rose.

Miriam gasped. Chic'ya was Urcon's wife. The two talking were Urcon and Chic'ya. She felt as cold gripped her body, freezing her in place at Urcon's next words.

"Quiet! Did you hear that?" Urcon demanded of his cold wife.

Miriam quickly put a hand over her mouth and attempted to slow her breathing.

Chic'ya's voice was hesitant but icy, "No."

Miriam knew that she had to move, but her body was frozen, and there was nowhere to hide. The wind brought to her the sound of Urcon's whisper. Her ears strained to make sense of the whisper, but failed. The cicadas seemed to cease their chirping in the night as Miriam heard the soft sound of feet on the ground coming towards her.

Urcon appeared from behind a tree, his black eyes slits in the dark. Chic'ya backed him, her magnificent beauty enhanced by the moon's silver light. They listened, aware of ever sound that broke through the silence that the still cicadas had created. Urcon leaned forward, his eyes looking over the bushes and trees. No one could have seen them, no one could have understood him; no one should have been in the gardens.

Miriam felt her heart skip a beat as Urcon stared directly at her. His black eyes passed over her hair, eyes, nose, mouth, neck, shoulders and body. She closed her eyes, not knowing what to expect from a man who worried to keep his words in secret. If he suspected she had heard, she might keep the secret in her grave. Urcon's eyes bore into her, and she braced herself for what would follow.

Urcon turned his eyes from the bush and shifted them up into the trees. Chic'ya was silent, not even her quiet breathing could be told apart from the night. They waited for two minutes, the moonlight casting their long shadows on the bushes and trees in front of them. Then, the cicadas once again resumed their nighttime chant. Urcon turned back with a sweep of his cloak, motioning Chic'ya to follow.

"Did someone hear?" asked Chic'ya coolly.

Urcon looked around him once more, as if to clear from his mind any doubts, "No, I mistook the wind."

"You are tense," noticed the young woman, her beauty ice.

"I will decide what I am or am not," retorted Urcon with the same hostility.

"What will we do with him?" asked Chic'ya, a red glint appearing in her eyes.

Urcon lifted his face to the moon and Miriam saw a thin lipped smile stretch on his lips, "Kill him."

o o o

Miriam's brown hair whipped in the wind. She did not remember ever having run as fast as she did now, the carefully kept grass flying below her racing bare feet. Death was not something new to her. Carefully planned murder was. She was a pirate, not a killer; treasure and freedom where her goals, not the end of someone's life. Yet, out of all the conversation, Urcon, himself, frightened her the most. His face as he spoke those two simple words was etched in her mind. The lifeless smile that had stretched on his pale lips, his upturned face, offering himself to the gods above. Miriam shook her head, begging the wind that bellowed in her ears to erase her mind of the words she shouldn't have heard. If Urcon was to murder it was not her affair. He was cold-blooded, and if murdering a governor for power or a rich uncle for money was what he did, then she would forget those words and turn her head if news of the murder ever came to her ears. She knew that Urcon had murdered before. It was his way of talking, his silent smile that was more frightening than death; he had killed before and would do so again.

The barrack hummed with whispers as Miriam barged through the door, careful, however, not to attract attention. Her precautions were not necessary. The many slaves milled around the center of the barrack, their faces full of fear in the firelight. Inca guards stood imposing, keeping the slaves from the fire and from their hide closed chambers. As soon as she entered, a guard pushed her roughly into the crowd. A voice roared over the barrack. Curious, Miriam fought through the crowd finally emerging to the front.

She didn't expect the scene before her. André stood in the middle of the barrack, his hands tied behind his back while two strong Inca guards held in tightly on both sides. Miriam felt her stomach drop as she saw the fire held a hot poker.

"This man has infringed upon the confines of his slavery," boomed a large Inca. André didn't move, but continued instead to watch the hot embers of the fire warm the poker warily.

"He has attacked an Inca and will therefore be punished for his audacity."

The Incas holding André neared him to the fire. He struggled in vain, his bright blue eyes wide as he approached the hot fire.

"Let this serve as a lesson to all slaves. You will not rebel, for the first to lift a finger will receive, as this low slave here, the mark of the sun."

The room was quiet; as everyone leaned forward to see the Incas drag André forward, oblivious to his protests.

"Whoa, steady with that thing," André's eyes were locked with the white-hot poker being brought towards him.

The Incas glared at him for silence. Miriam inched forward, attempting to get pass a guard without success. The guard warned her not to approach, attracting the attention of the room towards her. André's coal black hair swished as he turned to look at her. When their eyes met his face broke into a grin, white teeth flashing in the light. Yet his attention was once again distracted from her as the poker drew nearer to him and he struggled more forcefully, attempting to reduce the heat of the poker by blowing on it. The slaves around Miriam stared as André suddenly kicked an Inca guard, causing him to bend over in pain. André rushed to escape, but didn't get very far as he was tackled by three guards. They struggled for a moment, but André was outnumbered and with his hands tied behind his back the fight was lost before it even began. André was immobilized. They stood him up, ripping off this white blouse to expose his tan chest. The poker advanced slowly, waiting for André to cry, scream or beg mercy. But no words emerged from André's mouth. His handsome face was impassive, only his wide eyes showed any emotion. A young slave woman beside Miriam shed a tear for him.

"He will be reduced to a crying screaming child before they are done with him."

Miriam turned on her, hazel eyes flashing, "Never. He will not give them that pleasure."

The young woman looked surprised at Miriam before her face regained its serious lines, "I wish it were so."

The Incas cackled, causing Miriam to whirl back to look on their treatment of André. The poker hissed as it touched his unmarked skin on his chest, melting his flesh around the mark on the tip. André didn't scream, nor did he cry. He had closed his eyes and Miriam could see that he had bit his tongue in an effort not to show his pain.

The torture lasted two minutes. Two minutes during which Miriam couldn't keep her eyes off the hot poker deforming André's flesh. His black bruises that had awarded him this treatment shone in the fire. He didn't utter a single sound; he blinked repeatedly to keep the tears at bay while the fire burned his skin. Finally the Incas gave up, kicking him in the stomach as they released him, knowing he would be too weak to fight them. The slaves fled to their chambers, not wanting to attract the wrath of the disappointed Incas. Only when no one remained in center of the barrack did André collapse, breathing heavily, his hands covering his new mark.

Miriam rushed to his side, setting her arm around him so he wouldn't fall. André's eyes watered, the tears no longer held back. His knuckles turned white as he sheltered his mark from the sting of the air. Pain enveloped his body as he wheezed, attempting to stop the flow of tears that flew from his eyes.

"Miriam…it…it burns…" he breathed, bending over in pain.

Miriam's face flooded with concern as she stabilized André, preventing him from falling to the sandy floor beneath them. André forcefully closed his eyes, trying to drown out the aching throb that pulsed from his under his hands.

"Let me see," pressed Miriam, trying to take André's hands off his wound. André consented, removing his hands as he winced. The sun was placed in the middle of his chest, causing André double over in pain as the burnt skin was exposed to the air around them. It was a great Inca sun, the skin burned to an angry red. Miriam felt her brow furrow in sympathy as her eyes settled on the injury; André was branded for life.

"Never was… one for scars," André muttered weakly, the water stopping its flow from his eyes.

Miriam helped him to his feet, allowing him to lean on her, his head resting on her shoulder, "What happened?"

"They came for me at the quarry…" André winced, "I…I… was too surprised to fight back."

Miriam shook her head, "I didn't think this would happen."

"And you think I did?" asked André, attempting to cover his pained face with a mask of a smile.

"Careful," whispered Miriam, as she pushed the hide aside. Their chamber was dark, the same mat and hard cushion to one side, and their pail of water to the other. She sat down, aiding André onto the mat, resting his head on the hard cushion.

André looked at her gratefully, his hands once more protecting his scar, "Thanks."

Miriam smiled as she settled herself onto the hard sandy floor. She closed her eyes attempting to gain the sleep she so desperately needed, but she was plagued. In the darkness of the small quarter, Miriam heard the words echoing off the wall, the floor and the ceiling. An inhuman voice that whispered in the dark:

Kill him.

A/N: I really like this chapter, especially the ending. And…I would like to inform you that…um…well…I won't be able to post for a while, probably until the 10th, or 11th (the airplane thing isn't very clear because there was a mistake) because I am going to visit my family in France now. Anyways, bear with me, I know that I live in a stone age and never seem to have the internet, but, it isn't that bad. You know, it is really weird, but I am leaving you with another cliffhanger, this time a really meaningful one…um, that should give you a lot to think about :) Hey, okay REALLY IMPORTANT: As you probably noticed, my author's note chapter is still up, that is because I was wondering if you delete a chapter; do you still keep the reviews you received? And what if you replace it? Please answer this if you know, because I really think I should get rid of that author's note and it would really help me. You know, now that I have received the big 50, I really don't want to lose them :) Have a great first half of August!