Disclaimer: I don't own half the characters in this story, but I do own the plot.

SHE WAS A PHANTOM OF DELIGHT

Chapter 8: Not Such a Bad Egg

"And just what exactly is that supposed to mean? Look, do you want me to get out of this or not?" Camille asked, sounding hurt.

"Well it's nothing to take too personally, love. I just don't think you have the necessary skills needed in just such an operation."

Camille stood up, taking the key with her as Jack reached for it. She locked the cell behind her before she exited without a word. "You'll see, Captain Sparrow," she said to herself, dropping the key back into her pocket. "When I lack certain skills, I happen to make up for them by my place in society."

She went back to her cabin, found and ink bottle and a piece of parchment, and began writing a letter.

Mr. William Turner

72 Kipling Square

Port Royale

Dear Mr. Turner,

I am writing to you about a very important matter that concerns you. I would be delighted if you would arrive at my mansion in Celebros as soon as possible after maintaining this telegram. I will be most grateful for your prompt reply.

Sincerely,

Miss Camille Quartermaine

When Camille had arrived back into her father's arms, there had been a huge commotion ever since. Camille just wanted to avoid it all, but she could not go anywhere in her own household (which she was now confined to) without hearing about those dreaded pirates, and how they all should get what was coming to them by her father. Jack's sentence was to be carried out the following day.

"Annie, I just don't want to be protected this much. It's ridiculous, it really is. They didn't even leave a scratch on me," she was explaining to her servant.

"This time," Annie said. "There could be things much worse than pirates, m'dear. The Master is only lookin' out fer ya, ya know that."

"Annie, you must understand that this fearsome pirate that everyone loathes is not such a bad egg, really," she tried to explain.

Annie put her hands on her hips. "A bad egg? They e'en got ya talkin' like ya was one o' them!"

Camille cleared her throat. "I didn't want to have to tell you this way dear Annie, but I met your niece aboard the Pearl."

Annie's eyes seemed to harden. "I ain't got no niece."

"Her name is Ana Maria."

Annie's jaw dropped open, staring at Camille in disbelief. "Ana Maria's alive? Ye ain't pullin' my leg, are ye child?"

"No, no, Annie I would never! She spoke about wanting to meet you and the children. Now do you understand that it was not so bad being on a pirate ship?"

Annie was done being emotional for the moment, and sighed. "Camille, there's nothin' ya can say to make yer father believe otherwise. Nobody messes with 'is only daughter. Everyone knows that," Annie reasoned.

"I know, but I just wish-" she was interrupted when Benjamin appeared, rapping on the doorframe.

"I beg your pardon Lady Camille, but there is a Mr. Turner here who wishes to speak with you about an urgent matter."

Annie gave the redhead a weird look as she stood up. "Thank you, Benjamin," she said as she hurried out of the room.

There was a thin gentleman standing patiently by the doorway, looking around at the chandeliers and breakable items in the mansion. He didn't look like a blacksmith with his well kept hair and suit. After all, he did live in the Governor's house.

She bowed. "Mr. Turner, thank you for coming so promptly. I was beginning to worry that you would not receive my letter."

Will took her hand and kissed it courteously. "I came as soon as I could arrange the trip, Miss Quartermaine."

"Please, come this way," she instructed him, leading him into the library. He looked a bit perplexed as she hurried through the bookshelves and made sure the place was empty. Then she shut the door and locked it.

"Miss Quartermaine," Will began, but she interrupted him.

"Captain Jack Sparrow is in trouble," Camille said abruptly.

This caught Will off guard. He hesitated for a moment, wondering how the lady knew of his pirate friend. "And may I ask how you know this?"

"He is the pirate who kidnapped me. I saw the letter you wrote to him and decided that I could contact you about getting him out of his predicament. Did I assume too much?" she asked, hoping she hadn't.

Will stroked his chin. "You may have, Miss Quartermaine. What exactly is Jack's predicament?"

"He is sentenced to be hanged tomorrow morning."

"That really doesn't surprise me."

"Nor I, really. But we must help him. Oh, forgive me. Please, have a seat."

Will sat down, nodding. "I agree that we must help him. But it seems you have caught me in a bit of a tight spot, Miss Quartermaine."

"Please, call me Camille."

"Very well, Camille. Not long ago, Jack happened to be in this same predicament. As you know, pirates are not at all well thought of in these parts."

"Yes, do go on," she urged.

"Well, I am afraid that I am already responsible for assisting him in an escape attempt from the gallows."

Her eyes widened. "Really?" She pictured him and Jack, running from the King's Navy, Jack with his coat on and Will in his big-feathered hat and fancy cloak. It made her almost crack a smile in front of the blacksmith.

She sighed. "Well then, I suppose the Governor and Commodore Norrington are keeping their eye on you."

He nodded. "Indeed. They look somewhat down on the fact that I have once myself engaged in an act of piracy."

"Have you now?" She bit her tongue, forgetting her manners. "I apologize, Mr. Turner, that was incredibly rude of me. It seems that I have been on the Black Pearl far too long."

But Will only chuckled. "It's quite all right, Miss Camille. You remind me of my wife, Elizabeth."

She smiled. "You're married to Governor Swann's daughter, I see. I must admit that I was curious as to how you lived in the Governor's house."

"You are a very smart girl, Miss Camille."

She smiled. "Yes, Jack has told me that before."

Will's expression hardened, thinking of a plan to get his friend out of another tight spot he had put himself in. He certainly couldn't act out of line unless he wanted to face getting thrown out of Governor Swann's house.

She gasped, remembering the key in her pocket. "One more thing, Will." She pulled it out and set in on the table. "This key was given to me by-"

"Silver!" Will exclaimed, reaching for the key. "Jack entrusted you with this?" he seemed disgusted as he said so.

She shook her head, confused at Will's reaction. "Not at all. Jack never had possession of the key in the time I was with him. Silver gave the key to me before he died."

Will looked at her, holding the key in the palm of his hand and looking from the key to Camille. "Miss Camille, I think you may have gotten yourself in over your head this time."

Apparently, according to Will, the key belonged to an ancient race of people down near the Peruvian Gulf. It was merely a legend that whoever returned that key to its rightful chest would find the chest full of gold. But the treasure was buried deep inside caves and ancient ruins left behind of the race of people.

"I'm a bit confused, Will. Why am I endangered if the key is safe with me? The treasure will not be opened," Camille insisted.

"Because Camille, the key and its possessor are not as secret as you would like to think. Here, in Port Celebros and Port Royale barely anyone knows any tales of ancient gold and pirate medallions or things of that sort. You must give that key to Jack."

"But then won't Jack be in danger?"

Will shook his head. "Jack knows what to do with it. Long John Silver was his brother, Camille. And he died protecting the key. Jack knows what he must do. What he also doesn't know Camille, is the second part to the legend: Whoever opens that chest of gold will be cursed."

"How do you know that if he doesn't? Surely you are no pirate?"

Will hesitated. "I can't say that I am a pirate, but I do have pirate blood in me. My father was one."

"I see," she said, fully intrigued. "So what are we going to do about Jack and his key?"