Chapter Five
A Curse Broken
Zigana's tent was made of thick material, which allowed the heat to stay inside. There was a large amount of candles, all lit up and shimmering in the otherwise dark tent. In the far left corner was a small cot, just big enough for one, because whatever else she was, Zigana was not a whore. There was incense burning on a small round table with a crystal ball in the middle. All around where jars of all manner of things. There was anything that could be used for her spells. Everything from cat's eyes, to fish tails. Zigana herself was examining her face in a mirror and sighing. She was getting old. She hated to admit that, but it was the truth. She was not the young girl she used to be. And it seemed her latest spells were taking more energy than she had planned. Sighing, Zigana lowered the mirror and lay herself down on her cot. One leg dangling over the side, she put her hands behind her head and sighed. Her foot swung from side to side, allowing her bangles to jingle in the quiet. Outside, the other members of her Gypsy party were drinking and laughing and telling stories. Zigana was in no mood to join them tonight. They were only in port here for a few days and there was no one interesting here. In fact, the last person she had found interesting was Commodore Norrington.
A small smile played across her face. Ah yes, the Commodore had fascinated her. She had expected his first move, after the spell had been cast, to run after some woman, possible that Mrs. Turner. But instead, he had paid some ship to take him away. She wondered what had become of him. She reached over to a small box she used as a bedside table and took hold of a small pendant. She swung it back and forth and sighed. "Sometimes I wish I actually could see the future," she said to herself. "Instead of just casting spells."
"You and I both, Ziggy." Came a hard voice. Zigana knew that voice very well and she sighed, closing her eyes. She had a headache already.
"Mister Sparrow," She said sitting up her cot and crossing her feet at the ankles. Sparrow stood at the entrance of her tent, looking around and taking it all in. "Come for me to read your palm?" She stood and made a show of lowering herself into a chair by the table. "First one is free."
"Sure, why not?" Jack sat down, crossing his legs and sticking out his hand. "Knock yourself out, Ziggy."
She slowly took his hand in hers and pursed her lips, studying the rough hand. "I see…" She said in a dark and enchanting voice, ignoring the eye roll from the pirate, "a very short life. You will die alone and full of sorrow. Your soul will be doomed to roam the earth, never finding rest."
"Well, I guess I'll spend my after life haunting you."
"Very funny." She hissed and dropped his hand, whipping her palm against her skirt. "Now what the hell do you want, Jack Sparrow, that you would dare come into my tent unannounced?"
"I'm here for a friend of mine. Who happens to be on the receiving end of one of your little… what is it you call him?" Jack raised a cold eyebrow.
"Gifts," Zigana hissed. "And they are gifts. I have never given anyone anything they were not happy to receive."
"Uh huh.." Jack pulled his shirt to the side to show two scars from bullet wounds. "And what do you call these?"
A small smirk played across her face. "Well, I shall rephrase that. I have never given anyone a spell that they were not happy to receive. Now, what friend have I gifted that you seem to want to return to their old life?"
Jack stood up and walked over to the entrance of the tent. He disappeared for a moment and Zigana waited, tapping her fingernails against the table. Her eyes went wide at the man Jack brought with him back in the tent. "Commodore!" She smiled and stood up, rushing over to him.
"How very wonderful to see you again!" She grabbed James' hand and dragged him over to the table. She sat him in a chair and then sat in his lap. Jack growled, but Zigana ignored it. She smiled and touched James' Face. "Tell me, are you enjoying your gift."
"Oh yes," James said, nodding. "Except…"
"Except? What except? What's wrong with it?"
James glanced at Jack and sighed. "He won't take me."
"He won't—" She blinked and then looked at Jack who shrugged slightly. She smiled brightly. "So that is what James sees in his heart of hearts. How interesting. I was thinking it would be something more… Noble than a pirate such as you, Sparrow."
"Very funny," Jack hissed. "Now turn him the fuck back."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Jack. I told James that he had to be the one to ask for the gift removed. Also, I don't take orders from you. Unless you want another bullet through you."
Jack opened his mouth to yell at her but James spoke before he could.
"I want to go back," he said in a small voice, making Zigana turned to look at him. "Jack wants me to be back to normal. If that is what Jack wants… I'll do anything for him."
Zigana looked at Jack who looked down at his shoes. She sighed. Well, she had no choice. She was bound by her code to lift any spell she was asked to. She stood up and dug around in her things until she found a small bag. She walked back over to James and sighed. "You really love him, don't you?" She asked.
"Yes…" James said. "I really do."
With a nod, Zigana blew a thin layer of silver dust into his eyes. "James Norrington, your gift has been removed."
There was a pause as Jack held his breath. Then James blinked and looked around. "What the hell?" He asked and stood up. "Sparrow!" He hissed with bitterness that broke Jack's heart. "Where the hell am I? Why did you take me here? What are you going to-"
He was cut off as Zigana blew another layer of silver dust onto him. He fell over into Jack's waiting arms.
"Thanks for that," Jack said as he adjusted James so he could carry him properly.
"The sleeping spell will not last long. He'll be up and about before you get to Port Royal." She sighed and dusted off her skirt. Jack started to leave. "Sparrow," she said and he stopped. "I didn't make him love you. He already did."
"And I hope he can figure that out on his own," and with a heavy sigh, Jack left. Zigana lowered herself back into her cot. There was something to be said for Sparrow. She had never seen that side of him. She wondered if it was possible for the pirate to love. And if it was possible for the Commodore to come to his sense without her help. She guessed she would never know.
--
TBC… one more chapter to go! I'm on a roll, though!