Chapter 13: Sea of Blood

Morgan sunk backwards onto her cot and stared at the overhead. She fingered the chain around her neck that held the Pearl in place.

"I'm so lost…"

Why?

Morgan sat up suddenly. "Who said that?"

I did!

"Well, who are you?"

I am I.

Morgan rolled her eyes, "Well, that was helpful."

Close your eyes, Morgan.

"Why?"

If you trusted me in life, now you must trust me in death…

"Maryia…"

Morgan opened her eyes and found herself underwater.

"Maryia…I'm sorry."

"Don't be Morgan, I am happy here. I have no burdens."

Morgan looked around, her hair floating around her head.

"And where exactly is here?"

"The ship graveyard in the Sea of Blood."

Morgan choked. "Sea of Blood?"

"Yes, the Sea of Blood. Aptly named, as you will see."

"You're dead." Morgan said.

"Yes, I am."

"Then why am I talking to you? And how?"

"The Pearl," Maryia said simply.

"What?"

"While I kept the Pearl, a memory of myself was imprinted into it. That is what you are speaking to."

"Right…that made no sense."

Maryia smiled. "I know. It was not meant to make sense."

"So, why am I here?"

"The time has come for the power to be unleashed. You will be tested in extreme ways. Do not give up. After this time, we will never speak again. Remember Morgan, those you love you are always there for you. Never forget…"

Maryia's image was fading quickly.

"You are needed…" Maryia said, and vanished.

Morgan took a breath and choked. She was inhaling water! She looked around desperately. The pressure was building, the ships were disintegrating…she was dying…she closed her eyes tightly…

JACK!

Morgan's eyes flew open. She was breathing hard, lying safe in her cot on her ship. She collapsed backwards and clutched the Pearl.

The bell toned out eight times; watch was changing. She stood shakily and walked to the door. She unlocked it and stepped out into the sunrise.

She stopped and stared at the rising sun.

It was blood red.

She walked to the edge of the ship and looked over, staring into the depths of the water. It to, was as red as freshly spilled blood.

"Sea of red fills a sailor with dread."

She spun. "Jack…Commodore, sorry."

"Jack is fine." He swaggered forward and leaned against the rail, staring into the water.

"This is bad, love. I don't know if this ship can weather a storm like this."

"A storm?"

"Aye, love, a storm is coming, and fast. I've never seen the water that red before."

"A Sea of Blood…" Morgan whispered, briefly touching her chest.

"How do you know that term?"

"Why, what is it?"

"Sea of Blood is a graveyard full of ships, rotting, stinking, and disintegrating…"

"And it is guarded by two merpeople, guarding the Pearl for all eternity…"

Jack stared at her.

"Maryia?"

"Yes, Jack, Maryia."

"She's dead…"

"I know that." Morgan said crossly.

"Then how?"

"I have no idea; it made no sense to me whatsoever."

Jack arched an eyebrow. "Riight."

A gust of wind flared up. The sails caught and filled. Jack frowned.

"It starts."

Dark clouds billowed over the water. Seawater lashed the sides of the ship, stinging the crew. The ship groaned as the wind pushed her steadily.

Morgan held onto the rail and watched the water swirl around the ship. It was no longer blood red, but a slate grey color. Dead to the world. Empty of all life. It was unnerving how the sea could change her face.

"Cap'n! Land ahead! We're heading straight for her!" Gunnar called out, being forced to the crows nest.

Morgan cursed and ran ahead to the bow and strained her eyes to see. Yes, there it was. Breakers slamming up against a cliff.

Morgan looked back at her ship. This was bad, very, very bad. If the ship was driven into the rocks, they were all dead. She stumbled to the bottom of the mizzenmast and looked up.

"Gunnar!" She yelled. "Come down from there! You'll do no good anymore!"

Gunnar swung his leg over and began the tedious descent back to the main deck. She watched apprehensively as he swayed in the strong wind. She heard a loud crack like thunder and stared in shock as the yardarm snapped.

She gasped and screamed Gunnar's name. He was hanging from the ropes by one arm, which was bent at an awkward angle. He struggled to find his feet and grab the ropes with his other hand, but Nature was against him.

The other pirates stood around her, watching Gunnar, knowing there was nothing they could do. Sin watched the small man struggle for his life, and came to a risky decision.

He removed his shirt and handed it to a pirate. He spit on both of his hands and grabbed onto the rope. He slowly began the tedious ascent. He would reach up, wrap his arm in the swinging ropes, and climb. Then he would untangle that arm and reach up again and continue the process until he reached Gunnar.

"You crazy!" Gunnar hissed in pain, his arm broken.

"Crazy I may be, but you will soon be dead." Sin replied in his deep voice. He took his blade out of its sheath and cut some rope. With it, he fashioned a harness. He tied the harness around Gunnar, and then to himself.

Sin slung Gunnar across his back. He looked down and slowly began to climb down. He could feel the eyes of the entire crew on him and Gunnar. He knew if he fell from this height, they would both be dead.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the deck came closer. Morgan watched, tense and afraid, as the members of her crew slowly came closer and closer.

Another loud crack, and the yardarm began to drop…straight towards Sin and Gunnar.

"SIN! MOVE!" she bellowed, her voice carrying above the howls of the wind.

Sin glanced up and saw the yardarm falling slowly towards him. He shot a look at the deck, 12 feet below him. He unwound his hand and dropped. He bent his knees and absorbed the impact for both of them.

He swung Gunnar off his back and handed him off to other pirates. Jack swaggered forward.

"That was either insanely brave, or insanely stupid."

Sin just grinned.

Morgan had watched the proceedings with fear. Now, she stared at the incoming cliffs with even more fear.

"What good was that act of heroism, if we shall all die anyway?" she spat bitterly.

You do not have to die yet, young one.

Morgan's head snapped up. It was Maryia's voice.

You have the power Morgan, so USE IT!

Morgan's eyes were drawn to the main mast. She stared up its length and saw that it was still intact, still strong. She walked to it as if she was in a daze. She grabbed onto the rope and began to climb.

She didn't pause, she didn't look down. She was oblivious to the shouts of the crew below her. The only thing that mattered was the crow's nest….

Morgan's hair whipped around her face. She continued her slow climb, getting closer and closer to her destination.

She swung her leg over and landed lightly in the nest. She stared unseeingly out into the distance.

"The power…"

Jack looked up at her. "What in the hell does she think she's doing?" he snapped. He watched in shock as she, who had never climbed the mast rigging before scaled it with practiced ease.

When she reached the top, he saw as she caressed the Pearl. "What are you thinking, love?" he whispered to himself.

Morgan climbed onto the rail and balanced unsteadily in the wind. Jack's heart was pounding. What was she –

His train of thought slammed to a stop, as Morgan threw herself from the crow's nest.

AN: okay, sorry it's been so long, but I just haven't been in a pirate like mood. So here is the next chapter. I finally got some ideas going for this one again. Please R&R