Chapter Two

Anna met no one as she fled down the road that led from her house into the town of Port Royal. She stopped abruptly before entering the crowded streets, remembering that if the Black Pearl sailed into the harbor today, it wouldn't do so at the wharf patrolled by the British soldiers. Her mind racing, she turned around and searched for a path that led around the town and out to a hidden cove she knew well. Finding no such path, she bit her lip and began walking through the brush that surrounded the town.

After a long while weaving her way around bushes, she thought she'd at least cleared the town. Her heart dropped when she looked around and saw that she hadn't quite bypassed the town. With her head down to shield her face from the glances of anyone in the town, she kept walking, thinking of what adventures she might have on a pirate ship. It was then that she began thinking of the contrary; of the things that could possibly go wrong with her plan. The sensible part of her mind listed of all the bad choices she had just made.

She had brought no food, water, supplies or money. If the pirates did happen to let her aboard the Black Pearl, they might not treat her as the daughter of two people who once walked its decks. And they might not let her on the boat! That was a possibility she hadn't thought of when she made her daring escape attempt. Not to mention when her mother found out she was missing, she would most likely send an entire army of soldiers or other people to look for her.

Finally, she had cleared the town, and only the remainder of the land before the sea lay in front of her. She grinned and walked towards the sea, knowing that a cove was hidden there. Picking up her pace, she did not see a young man begin following her towards the cove. He gained on her rapidly, walking fast with his long, sturdy legs.

He was right behind her, matching her footsteps with his to make sure that she didn't hear him. The noise of the town could still be heard somewhat, so he didn't expect her to whirl around and face him when he had caught up with her.

"Why are you following me?" Anna asked the man, her eyes glittering dangerously. She looked him over, taking in every detail of his appearance. He was taller than she was by about six inches. A mop of brown hair was just long enough to fall over his playful, green eyes, and his devilish grin revealed a row of relatively straight, and surprisingly white, teeth. A straight nose complimented his strong cheekbones and eyes. He appeared to have a slender build under his clothing, but Anna could make out muscles on his arms and legs.

Anna fought to put aside the fact that he was alarmingly handsome and continued to analyze him.

"I'm merely a traveler wanderin' on the same road as you," he said in a pleasant tenor voice. "Might I ask where you're headin', lass?"

She had initially guessed his age to be around twenty, but it was difficult to tell from the mature way he appeared to act. She thought hard before she answered, being careful not to give any information about herself away before it was necessary.

"This isn't really a road I'm walking on, have you noticed?" She dared a look into his eyes, immediately regretting it. He seemed intrigued and willing to follow her all the way to the cove.

"I have noticed," he told her after he laughed. His green eyes, ever playful, seemed to study her just as she had done to him, taking into account every aspect of her appearance. Anna blushed, suddenly self conscious of her appearance. "What's your name, lass?"

"I'll tell you mine, if you tell me yours first." She smiled at how quickly her mind was working to come up with witty remarks. The stranger laughed again.

"All right then. They call me Damien," he said, crossing his arms. "We had a bargain, now I need your name."

"Anna," she said, having to stop herself from saying her last name out of habit. Damien uncrossed his arms and began walking again in the direction of the cove.

"Well, then, Anna, I ask you again. Where are you headed?" He didn't seem to mind her walking beside him at a slow pace.

"The cove," she said carefully. "I'm hoping to find something there."

Damien grinned. "Would that thing happen to be ship?" he asked, stopping and looking her in the eye. Anna tried not to let him see her mortified state. How could he have known she was seeking a ship?

"No, sir," she said awkwardly.

He crossed his arms again and raised his eyebrow. "Lass, I've spent many a year interrogatin' prisoners. I can tell when someone is lyin' to me."

Anna swallowed hard. Had she just run into a royal spy, or soldier in disguise as a commoner? "I…" she began, but was unable to finish.

"I knew it. You're looking' to catch the Pearl, aren't you?" Anna looked away from him as his laugh echoed in her mind, forever mocking her. "If you're wishin' to barter passage on that boat, don't get your hopes up. They won't let a woman aboard."

She looked up at him again, her cheeks crimson with both embarrassment and anger. "Damien, I'll have you know that I will get onto that ship, for I know the captain, and he'll surely let me on."

Damien's face went blank. "How is it that a land lubber like you is familiar with Captain Sparrow?"

"He's a good friend of my parents," she said, realizing too late that might not be the right thing to say.

"Turner?" he asked, his voice quiet.

Anna blinked, wondering how he knew her surname. "I might be." At that moment, an unearthly wind picked up, blowing her tawny hair into her eyes and making Damien search the sea with feverish eyes.