Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 9 of Jaded. Thank you to all of those who have left reviews for this story, it really does mean a lot to me. I hope that you guys enjoy this next chapter. Without further ado chapter 9. Enjoy.
Chapter 9
The tunnel was illuminated by a lantern on a pole. Jack rowed back away from Will and Rose.
Will looked down into the water seeing a skeleton, face-down and half buried with sand, its rib cage partially stove in, a sword stuck in its back. A crab clicked its claws in the light as they drifted past.
Rose swallowed the lump in her throat as she wrapped her arms around herself nervously. This place truly was scary to her. Perhaps she should've stayed on the ship with everyone else where it would be safe, but no she wanted to save Elizabeth from whatever she had gotten herself into.
"What code is Gibbs to keep to, if the worst should happen?" Will questioned looking up at Jack.
"Pirates' code. Any man who falls behind is left behind." Rose said softly, looking up at Will.
Jack pointed his dirty finger Rose's way. "Aye."
"No heroes amongst thieves, eh?" Will questioned, shaking his head.
"You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates, you're well on your way to becoming one. Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga…"
Suddenly, several small bright circles appeared on the cave walls, and roof, and then dozens more. They were everywhere.
Will glanced down, beneath the water, thousands of coins reflect light onto the walls.
"...and you're completely obsessed with treasure."
They passed through, approaching the landing area where the pirates' boats were moored.
Will pulled the boat ashore.
Jack hopped out and Will helped Rose out of the boat.
"That's not true. I am not obsessed with treasure." Will said, defending himself.
Jack led them up a short rise. "Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate."
They climbed to a cave opening and beyond it was Elizabeth, being shoved to the top of a central treasure pile by Twigg and Koehler, where Barbossa waited beside a stone chest at the top.
Pirates surrounded the base.
Rose swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Gentlemen, the time has come! Our salvation is nigh! Our torment is near an end."
Will's eyes landed on Elizabeth. "Elizabeth."
Rose gripped her hands tightly at her sides in fear.
"For ten years, we've been tested and tried and each man-jack of you here has proved his mettle a hundred times over, and a hundred times again!"
Some of the pirates voiced their approval.
"Suffered I have!" Ragetti yelled.
"Punished we were, the lot of us." Barbossa said as he pound his fist into his hand to prove a point. "Disproportionate to our crime!"
Another louder response was Aye.
Barbossa kicked off the lid to the stone chest causing Rose to jump a little bit.
Rose could see down to where they were and saw what was inside of the stone chest. Inside of it were hundreds of gold coins. A stone knife laid on top of them.
"Here 'tis, the cursed treasure of Cortés himself. Every last piece that went astray we have returned – save for this." Barbossa said pointing to a coin that matched the others in the chest that was around Elizabeth's neck.
Rose swallowed the lump in her throat as she listened to everyone cheer.
Will scrambled for the cave opening. "Jack!"
Jack suddenly restrained him. "Not yet!"
Rose looked at Jack with wide eyes. "Not yet, you got to be bloody joking me…" Rose said softly. "We're here to save my sister, no?"
Jack put his finger to his lips, shushing her.
Rose scoffed a little, shaking her head lightly.
Jack moved away from the cave opening. "We wait for the opportune moment."
Will hesitated for a moment then followed Jack slowly.
Rose followed slowly, catching up to Will and Jack.
"When's that? When it's of greatest profit to you?" Will questioned looking at Jack wanting to know what it was that he wanted out of this whole ordeal.
"May I ask you something? Have I ever given you reason not to trust me? Do us a favor, I know it's difficult for you but please, stay here… and try not to do anything...stupid." Jack said moving away leaving Rose and Will behind.
Rose swallowed the lump in her throat looking back at Will.
Will looked at her and saw the worried look across her face. "Don't worry, Rose. We'll get Elizabeth back." He said softly, admitting the truth. He could only hope that he was right.
Rose turned her attention back to what was going on with her sister. Her hand grasped Will's nervousness.
Wills squeezed her hand softly to let her know that everything would be alright. He was going to make sure that Elizabeth and Rose would get out of there safe and sound and nothing would happen to either woman.
Barboss picks up the stone knife, raising it high. "And who among us has paid the blood sacrifice owed to the heathen gods?"
"AYE!"
"And whose blood must yet be paid?"
"HERS!"
Rose watched Jack come around the cave wall. She gripped Will's hand tighter.
"Rose, everything will be alright."
Rose swallowed the lump in her throat looking at Will with wide scared blue eyes.
Barboss stepped toward Elizabeth.
Elizabeth shrinks back but is held by Twigg and Koehler keeping her in place.
Barbossa leaned in close to her. "You know the first thing I'm going to do after the curse is lifted?" He grinned at Elizabeth. "Eat a whole bushel of apples."
Pintel and Ragetti grinned at that.
Barbossa raised the knife and Elizabeth turned away, shutting her eyes. "Begun by blood, the blood undone!"
Rose felt Will's hand release hers and she turned around seeing that he was now right behind Jack. She swallowed the lump in her throat nervously. She watched Will hold onto an oar. She watched as Jack turned and it was too late for him to defend himself as Will smacked Jack across the head with it causing Jack to slump. Rose crept towards the scene, her hands clammy from the fear that was scorching through her veins at that very moment.
"Sorry Jack - I'm not going to be your leverage." Wills said as he slipped away.
Rose slowly followed him knowing that she wouldn't trust Jack after everything that he had done. She caught up to Will fairly easily, being careful to not make much noise as she walked.
Will slowly got into the water and went swimming closer to the scene.
Rose quickly followed him thanking the fact that AnaMaria helped her find a more suitable attire for her to move around in a lot easier than what she even had on prior which was a very mismatched uniform that fit ill on her body.
Will slowly put his hand on Elizabeth's mouth.
Elizabeth looked over to see Will and her sister soaked to the bone from being in the water.
Will nodded towards the water trying to be as quiet as he possibly could.
Elizabeth saw the medallion on the water's edge and she quickly grabbed it.
They quickly made their way to get out of the area and back to the boats.
A loud screech could be heard causing Rose to look back. "Oh bloody hell." She muttered as she followed Will and Elizabeth to get away from the area.
They made their way out of the cavern quickly as the monkey continued to screech and howl. They quickly boarded one of the boats and made their way out of the cavern.
Rose swallowed the lump in her throat feeling Elizabeth's eyes on her. She knew that she was probably going to be yelled at for coming to save her.
"Rose, what in the devil's name were you thinking?" Elizabeth questioned looking at her older sister with wide brown eyes.
Rose's blue eyes locked with Elizabeth's brown ones. "You allowed yourself to be taken… and who would be to blame for you being taken by those bloody pirates? Father is sending a search party for you…"
"Rose, he'll be looking for you too."
"Commodore Norrington and father will be looking for you…"
Elizabeth swallowed the lump in her throat knowing that Rose had feelings for James and James didn't take interest in her older sister, but herself. Elizabeth's hand touched her sister's hand. "I'm lucky to have you as a sister."
Rose gave her sister a small soft smile. At least Elizabeth was grateful that she had come to help rescue her.
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This is the end of Chapter 9. I hope that you enjoyed it. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. I'm excited to see what you guys think of Rose and if Rose should end up with Jack, Norrington, or someone else. Please review and let me know who you'd like to see her with. I hope to update very soon with the next part. Until next time.