Dead Men Tell No Tales

Disclaimer: All major characters belong to Disney all minor ones belong to Lovely Raven Sparrow.

Cursed

Late that night I came awake with a start. "Who's there?" I questioned. My heart was thumping against my breastbone and I was straining to see into the dark room. I looked down to see Jem's head on my shoulder and her arm was draped across my chest. Her hair was lying smoothly down her check and flowed over onto my shoulder. I was surprised to see her there. Usually I could feel her warmth against my body and her hair always tickled me, but tonight, I felt nothing. The information I had learned earlier and shared with her left us both frozen. I gently removed her arm and to my surprise I did not wake her. I slowly reached under the pillow and pulled out my pistol. "I said, who's there?"

"It's all right Jack. It's just me."

I put the pistol down when I realized Will was standing just to the side of the bed, his lean body silhouetted by the faint moonlight that spilled in through the windows.

"Is something wrong whelp?" I asked unwrapping myself from the blankets, wondering what was so important. It was not like Will to come to Jem's ship and our bed in the middle of the night. "You almost got yourself shot."

"I thought almost never counts." Will remarked. "You almost died on an island, you almost got hung, and you almost lost your ship." The room went completely dark as the moon went behind the clouds. Will went over to the desk and lit a small candle. "You almost killed Barbossa."

"Ah so you've been listening to the gossip of Jem's motley crew." I rubbed my eyes, sat at the edge of my bed and pulled on my breeches. I now looked over at Will and observed him more closely as he sat in a chair propping his feet up on a table. The dim light played on his features. He did not look like himself; he looked tired, hungry and in an odd way, sad.

"What's bothering ya William? Is it Lizzy, Kat, the young babe?"

He reached for the fruit bowl that was sitting on the table. I had never noticed the bowl before but why should I; this after all was Jem's cabin. Taking an apple and examining it carefully in the faint light, he took a bite.

"You know Jack. OH GOD!" Will sat up and spit the piece of apple out of his mouth and onto the floor. "Jack, the fruit has gone bad. It is soft and rather tasteless." He then picked up a bottle of rum to wash the dry apple out of his mouth. He pulled the cork out with his teeth, raised the bottle in my direction and took a swig. He then spit it out and looked at me alarmed. "This is horrid too. The water from Elizabeth's bath would taste better than this."

I shook my head wondering about Will and his sanity. "William it is late and I am sure there is nothing wrong with the rum or the apple. A good nights sleep should take care of you and cuddling with Lizzy will help immensely." I gave him my golden grin. "I speak from experience mate." I quickly stopped smiling and bit my tongue.

Will frowned at me and then looked over at Jem. "She really is beautiful isn't she? Is she really Barbossa's daughter?"

I curled my lip at Will and then glanced at Jem. "She says she is, so why should I doubt her? Would you claim to be related to Barbossa if ya weren't?" I waved my hands in the air and gave a slight snort. "But she no longer belongs to Barbossa, she is mine."

I stood up and walked to the head of the bed. I pushed the soft auburn tendrils out of her face and bent down to kiss her. She felt cold, or was she warm? I couldn't really tell. I did know I wanted to climb back into bed with her and rid myself of Will. I turned to face him. "Now William, don't be getting any ideas about you and my Jem. I don't want to appear rude but would you please state your business and leave so I can get back to sleep? The sun will be rising soon and with it I must get up. I have been informed by Jem and Gibbs that it is my bloody duty as the captain, and we all know I am the captain." I smirked and could tell I was only amusing myself. "I am to wake up the crew and to make sure they are working. Savvy?"

Will kept looking at the rum bottle and wiping his lips. "Jack, if Barbossa isn't dead, perhaps my father isn't dead. Stranger things have happened. He would have been cursed to walk the world as a man who was half dead and half alive also. He could have released his bootstraps from the cannon and—and," Will picked up another apple and looked at me, he put it back down and lowered his head.

"Jack, have you ever felt lost and alone? Have you ever been searching for something but not exactly sure what it is you are searching for? I don't know Jack, I have been feeling very strange for the past several hours and I felt I had to come talk to you. It's odd, because now I feel nothing. I'm not happy, sad, fearful or remorseful. I just feel numb. What's wrong with me Jack? Is this the way pirates live their lives?"

I sauntered over and put my hand on Will's shoulder. "Will, Captain Barbossa is dead. Don't listen to the tales of Pintel and Ragetti. I killed him. You were there and so was Elizabeth. As for your father, I cannot say if he is dead or alive. Bootstraps was on The Black Pearl with Barbossa when I was marooned. Barbossa hated your father. He was jealous of Bootstraps and our friendship. In a way Lad, your father met his death because of me, I am sorry for that. I miss him also Will, I really do." I picked up the apple Will had put down; I tossed it several times in the air and then bit into it. I pulled a face and also spit it out. "I will have to admit Will, the apples are bad."

"Jack, you and my father, worked well together and you were best friends?"

"If I were ever to have, as you say a close friend, yes, I would say your father was mine. He did not like how the crew treated me and marooned me and he stood up for me, so I am told. Just like you would, I am sure."

"But how can we be certain Barbossa is dead?"

"Will, we watched him die!"

"Jack, you gathered up your gold trinkets and had us out of that cave rather fast. What if he was still alive when we left? What if he has recovered? Jack if he is still alive, he will not rest until he gets revenge. You know he will come after you and he will take Jem from you. She, as you just said, is his daughter; his only daughter and you know deep inside she will want to see him. It is only natural for a child to want to see their father, especially if they thought they had lost them." Will pushed his hair from his face and stared into the candle. "I know I would. If she is anything like me she will want to be with him and I am sure he will want to have her." He now looked up at me with his sad brown eyes. "If she were your daughter wouldn't you? I am sure they would like to get the time back that they missed."

I looked over at Jem. The light flickered on her sweet face as she slept. "Aye Will, I am sure Jem would realize that her father betrayed me and marooned me. Not just once but twice. She would not pick her father over me. I can say without flinching, Jem loves me with all her heart, and she would never do anything to harm me. You asked me if I feel alone and am I looking for something. Well yes Lad, I was. But I have found it. I have my Jem and I have my ship, The Black Pearl."

Will looked at me and then began to laugh. "Jack, Jack. Hector was your first mate. You killed him and Jem came after you for revenge. Yes, retribution for killing her father. You paint a pretty picture but I think you should open your eyes a little wider. Jem may just get smart and leave you, or better yet get her vengeance. She may realize there are smarter fish, excuse me pirates, in the sea and definitely more gentile men then you. Also, think about it Jack the Black Pearl could be destroyed in battle or by storm. You have seen many a ship go down. Grant it Jack they are not as infamous as The Pearl but eventually everything has its limit. Yes Jack, eventually everything--- dies."

I pulled Will up out of the chair and escorted him over to the door. "It is Captain, Captain Jack, and if you came here seeking information about Barbossa I cannot help you. I would advise you mate to go get some rest and not believe everything you hear. Savvy? Maybe we should go for an amble on the deck." I was beginning to feel somewhat annoyed with the Whelp. "You look warm and flustered Will, I think you could use a walk."

"No Jack, I'm quite fine, thank you." I furrowed my brow with obvious concern. He was not acting like himself and I was about to contradict Will's objection when the door itself flew open and a large gust of wind blew in.

I turned to look at Jem. She had not moved an inch. The strong breeze blew into the room scattering papers and maps all around the table and the floor. The beads in my hair began to rattle and the noise was becoming louder and louder. I pushed Will out the door and immediately followed, quickly closing the door in order not to disturb my sleeping beauty.

"Jack, why would Pintel, Ragetti, Twiggs and Bosun say Barbossa isn't dead? What do they have to gain from it?"

The answer to the question silently hung in the air between us. "Well, it's evident, isn't it?" I cringed slightly and gave Will a slight smirk, waiting for him to tell me why it was.

Will looked at me confused. "NO."

I put my arm around his shoulder. "Well ya see, Jem saved them from the gallows. They told her they had information she was seeking. She must have asked them where Barbossa was buried, for my sake, I am sure. It seems they know about the treasure I am looking for and I would say they want in on the booty. They most likely told her they could show her where her father's remains are and that is why she has taken them on as her crew. I can see no other reason why she would have. Now, it has become evident they don't know a thing so they will go with the story that he is not dead. Brilliant I must say, even if I did not think of it meself. For how can you find a grave if there isn't one? They just built up a story for Jem to make her happy and to save their scrawny necks. In the long run it will make her mad and she will make them walk the plank in due time.

"Jack, no one has any proof he is dead." Will spoke somewhat louder than he had intended. "You shouldn't assume things before you know the whole truth."

"William, you're right, perhaps they do speak the truth but they are bloody pirates and I don't trust the lot of them. Do you? Nobody ever trusts me, why should I trust them?" I dropped my hand from Will shoulder. "Look at you, you don't even trust me." I looked deep into his dark brown eyes. "I think Jem's motley crew wants to put out to sea with me in order to get my piece of the map and maroon me on some spit of land again." I put my face smack into his and spoke candidly. "If ya think about it Will, no one has any proof he is alive either."

Will rolled his eyes and went to stand by the rail as I leaned against the wooden door of Jem's cabin. The clouds in the sky parted to reveal a full, bright moon. It lit up the sea. Closing my eyes and giving a heavy sigh, wondering when Will would retire for the night I looked back at him. "Will, I don't know---" I halted immediately upon seeing the image of Will.

"Oh, not good. Not Good." Retreating back into the shadows. I shook my head in disbelief. Will jumped and stared at me as I pointed at him with a quavering finger. Elucidated in the moonlight, Will moved his eyes down his body, reacting in almost the same manner as I.

Will's body had vanished. In Will's spot stood a familiarly gaunt, decayed body, clothed in filthy scraps of aged clothes. "Jack, I have no feeling in my body at all and—and I can't feel the wind against my face." Upon the impact of seeing his own bones staring back at him. Will began to shake and the bones began to clatter.

"You – you're - you look like Barbossa, Will!" I was now breathing heavy and my eyes were staring at him with pure terror. I know the color must have drained from my face and I was most likely the same color as Will's exposed bones. I leaned heavy on the door to keep myself from falling over in a dead faint.

Will finally found his voice. "What happened to me?" His voice cracked and then he became silent.

I shook my head wildly; still leaning on the door and feeling my legs slip out from under me. As I slowly watched, Will step into the shadows, regaining his original body. Curiously, Will stepped back into the moonlight and watched his shape transform before his very eyes. He continued this several times until I looked up at him from where I was now sitting.

"Stop it! Will, just stop it!"

Will realized I was close to breaking down and ended his examination of his body to come over to me. He reached out his arms to help me up but I shunned back.

"It isn't contagious." Will looked at me rather dejectedly.

"You don't know that, Will." I hoisted myself up to my feet. "You don't know anything about this! You don't even know when it started - Will, you're cursed!"

"That explains why I thought the apple and the rum were awful."

"How, how could this happen?" I glanced at Will and surveyed him from head to toe. "Will the last time you were in the cave did you take one?"

"Take what?"

"Did you take a bloody coin?"

Will was silent for a moment before answering. "No, I did not take one."

"Then how did this happen?" I threw my arms up in the air in despair. "How are we ever going to explain this to Lizzy?"

Will stepped into the moonlight again. He gazed over at me with his fleshless face. "Jack will you come here for a moment?"

"Will nothing personal but I think I'll decline to your request." I now put my hand on the latch of Jem's door. The moon was sinking into the western sky and the shadows were disappearing on the side of the ship.

"Will, we can't tell anyone your cursed, not even your wife. Knowing her she will somehow make this out to be my fault."

I reached for Will and I just missed him by inches. I was trying to pull him in from the moons glow but I could not bring myself to touch him. "Mate, if I were you I'd stay out of the moonlight. Let me put some thought to this situation and I promise ya I'll come up with something. Savvy?"

I gave him a quick glance and then looked up into the sky, it was a beautiful full moon. It was now illuminating the whole side of the ship and the ocean. I turned to go back into the cabin, not knowing what else to say to Will, or what to do. As I grasped the latch with my hand I closed my eyes. I couldn't bear to look at Will anymore and for the first time in my life; I was at a loss for words. When I opened my eyes, my heart nearly stopped at what I saw.

Bones. There were bones. Not fingers. Bones wrapped around the doorknob. I turned to Will and I was now raising my shaking hands. I turned them over and saw the same thing as what was on top; skin-less, muscle-less bone, tattered clothes on my arms no feeling anywhere on my body. I remembered how those fingers had looked when I had removed a medallion from the chest those many years ago.

"Will!" I froze, my hands still held up into the air. "I am cursed too."

XXXXXXX

I was laying face down on my stomach in Jem's bed trying to shut out the memories of last night. I told Will there was nothing we could do about it and it was best to get out of the moonlight. I had my ideas of what was going on but I needed time to figure out what was happening and I had to come up with a solution.

I woke to find the gray light of morning shining in the window. Jem was already dressed for the day and was standing by the door. I got the impression she had just come in.

"Oh, you're awake, Jack." She said, seeing me lift my head from the pillow. "Captain Sparrow, the sun is high in the sky and I can't believe your still lying in that bed. Gibbs has been asking for you and so has William. I have to say Will does not look well. I think he is having problems with Elizabeth, or maybe the baby is keeping him awake." She gave a slight snigger, sauntered over to her desk and laid her weapons down. "If you're not sick Captain, I'd advise you to get your lazy arse out of the bed this instant before I join you and you won't see the light of this day." She winked at me as she sat down and looked over her charts. "We are closing in on Tortuga, are you ready to ride another horse?"

I glared at her and then immediately looked at my hands. The sweatiness of my own palms and the drum like beating of my heart were testimony to the unsettling effects of last night. I rolled over on my back and held my hands out in front of me, moving my fingers slowly through the air. Maybe it was just a dream. Yes, just a dream. Was I dead or was I alive?

Jem came over and grabbed my wrists as I was lying there examining my digits. I tightened my fingers into a fist and then looked up into Jem's dark loving, playful eyes. I wanted to tell her of the curse, but then again maybe it was a delusion of mine. I pulled my wrists from Jem's grip and sat up.

"Captain, have you been making a night of it. Are you inebriated? You look awful, your flushed, untidier than normal and your eyes are bloodshot."

Jem placed her hand on my forehead, I felt like screaming. I could not feel her touch. I had to do something. I closed my eyes and sighed slowly. "All right I'll get up, I must of consumed more rum last night then I should have."

I took her hand in my hand and held it tightly. I started to squeeze her hand. Unconsciously I was squeezing it so hard my nails dug into her and blood started to seep through me fingers. I was trying to feel it's warmth but I couldn't.

"Ouch! Jack please your hurting me." She yanked her hand from mine. "Forgive me for worrying about you Captain. I think it is time for you to head for The Pearl. Gibbs has been asking for you and so has the rest of the crew." She wrapped her hand with her bandana and looked at me scornfully. "You look…awful. Are you sick?"

I slowly climbed out of the bed, apologizing profusely for hurting her and constantly looking over my body and feeling myself to make sure I was truly there. "Jem does my body look the same to you. I mean do I appear gaunt pale and almost skeletal?"

Jem stood beside me and hesitatingly placed her arms around my neck. "Really Jack you are acting stranger then usual. Your body is to die for. You are drop dead gorgeous. Captain you are just as beautiful, er handsome, as the first day I set eyes on ya." She smiled, smacked me on the buttocks and went back to her desk, shaking her head and giving me a sideways glance.

I continued to look at myself and I even stood in front of the mirror. I felt strange but I did look normal. Sucking in my stomach and pulling myself upright I did notice I was firm and trim. I stood there for a while twisting my lean body back and forth. I then ran my hands through my thick dark hair, trying not to envision myself without skin. I drew my brow together and bared my golden teeth.

"Grrr." I said to my reflection.

"Jack?" Jem looked at me and started to laugh. " I have seen you intoxicated before, but this is ridiculous. Stop that right now or I will have you tested for rabies. I think you may have a touch of something and you should lay low for the day. Go back to bed Luv, and I'll bring ya something to eat."

"No Jem, thank ya for your concern but I'm not hungry and rest won't help. Fresh sea air will take care of me." I finished dressing pulled on my boots and placed my hat on my head. I was beginning to feel slightly self-conscious as Jem kept on staring at me. I kissed her on the top of her head and went for the door.

As I reached for the knob I quickly turned around. "Jem, before I go I would like you to ask Pintel, Twiggs, Bosun and Ragetti to meet me in my cabin on The Pearl. It is imperative I talk to them. I would also like to have you and Mr. Turner present. There is something you have to know. Savvy?"

Jem, placed the papers down that she held and then looked at me seriously. "Jack we have to talk before you gather up my motley crew. After your announcement last night I had to know. I sought out Ragetti early this morning and asked him flat out about my father. I had so many mixed emotions last night and I had to find out the truth."

Jem stood up straight, walked over to the window and looked out on the horizon for a few short moments. "You didn't kill him. Jack you didn't kill him, but you wounded him. You wounded him badly. It did take a while for him to recover, and his mind left him for awhile."

Suddenly, I saw again in memory that last scene. I had seen the bullet go in him. I had seen the blood and the sudden red stain that darkened the fabric of his shirt and his eyes rolling back into his head.

"Jack, are you listening to me? You didn't kill Captain Barbossa you didn't kill my father. He is alive and I have to say I am---" She turned and ran over to me throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me hard. She then grabbed my shoulders and swirled me around with her causing me to stubble backwards and fall on the bed. "I am sooo happy. My father, my daddy, he is alive and I do want to go see him. I want to hold him and hug him and tell him how much I have missed him. Jack he is my father and I know he must think of me. I am his daughter, his flesh and blood." She became quite, looked straight at me and then averted her gaze around the room. "Only nobody knows where Barbossa is."

To her puzzlement I didn't seem shocked or surprised. Will warned me of this. I shook my head as I tried to look at her; the morning sun was striking-spars from her shinny buttons on her jacket and her hair was glistening in the passionate glow. She was so beautiful the light blinded me and I had to gather my composure.

"I know Jem. Well, I think I know. No it can't be. No Jem your father is dead. He has to be."

"No Jack he doesn't. He isn't. I believe Ragetti." She climbed on my lap and pushed me down on the bed.

A cold feeling crept over my body; despite the fact the suns warm rays were now hitting the bed and heating the room. "I'm not sure I'd believe them Jem." I was now pinned down on the bed and Jem was straddling my waist and looking down into my face. "But then again some things have occurred that could certainly change my mind."

"Like what?" Jem questioned as she started to unbutton my shirt.

I chewed my lowered lip, eyeing her reluctantly. I took a deep breath and before I could answer Jem jumped back and grabbed a rag from the table.

"Jack your bleeding will you stop biting you lip? It must hurt you idiot."

I stopped biting; she sat down next to me and put the cloth to my lip. I saw the blood but I could not sense I was biting myself or taste the blood. I took the cloth and stood up slowly looking at her and then became terribly aware of everything I had lost. I couldn't feel her. Damn, I couldn't even feel myself. "Jem I must go, please report to me within the hour and bring your men with you."

"Jack before you meet with my crew I think I should tell you something odd that they and I did last night before you came. I know you want the other half of the map. I also know you want my father's remains or as you put it his hat. You know Luv I would do almost anything for you." She stood up took the rag from me and handed me a bottle of rum. She grabbed herself one and took a swig. "Jack, I will not let you sink my ship and I won't let you dominate me but I will help you and I will love you, always."

She went over to the far corner of the room and pulled out a rather large ornate bowl.

"Jack I called Twiggs, Bosun, Ragetti and Pintel in here yesterday to seek information for you. You told me you would get the treasure with or without my help so I figured I would help. I know you tricked and practically threatened poor William to come with you in order to get information from me, really Jack you wouldn't take Will's head."

Jem placed the large bowl very carefully on the table and removed the cover that was on it. I could see there was some sort of dark liquid in it.

"Jack, William and I are very close and I do confide in him, probably more so than I should. I have seen the error of my ways. You are the one I should share everything with, hence I will start now and tell you everything I know."

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes on her. I was beginning to feel very uneasy and I knew what ever I was about to hear was not going to be good. I looked at the bottle of rum and by habit took a large gulp but it did not satisfy me. "Go ahead Jem, tell me. Tell me what you know and what you and your crew did." I sat myself in the large desk chair and attentively gave all my attention to her and the mysterious bowl.

"Jack, yesterday Pintel and Ragetti told me that my father was dead." She cringed slightly and looked into my dark eyes. "Obviously, they lied and I will square with them later but if you think about it they did come clean and told me the truth this morning."

Jem gave me a questionable smile and continued. "However, they told me they were not sure of his burial spot but they had heard stories and yes, they would help me, us, if they could have a share in the Treasure of Reverie. As you have always claimed the crew always has an equal share in the spoils so I agreed, if they helped us and they were true to their word they could have a share. Well, Jack yesterday was the day my father had died and strange things can happen on the anniversary of a death."

Jem plunged her hands down into the bowl and pulled from it two Aztec Medallions, they were dripping with blood. I sat up straight in the chair and began to choke on the tasteless rum I had just consumed.

"WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE?" I shot up out of the chair and reached for them. She pulled them back with haste.

"Not so fast Captain Sparrow."

"Jem answer me now!" I drew my lip back and looked into the bowl. "My god, whose blood is this? Jem what have you been up too?"

"Jack this is what I call the Well of Death. It tells you who is alive and who is not. In this bowl is a mixture of yours and Williams's blood along with the two medallions you and he tossed into the chest those many years ago. I got them from Bosun yesterday afternoon before you arrived. He told me in order to find my father's body I had to call upon the Heathen Gods who put the curse on the coins. We had to perform a blood ritual and we needed the blood of the last ones who touched the coins. It was a toss up of who was the last, so we needed the blood of William and you."

I now looked at her in total disbelief. My eyes were large and filled with terror and my mouth was wide open. I was beginning to feel slightly faint. "Jem, you did not take my blood." I examined myself for any fresh wounds and William said nothing about this to me last night." I narrowed my eyes, and my voice took on a sinister tone. "Where did you get the blood?"

I was now standing in front of Jem and jerked her roughly towards me. She pulled back, and slapped me hard. I did not flinch since I couldn't feel it. "Jack I told you, I will not be dominated by you or any man. I did this for you. Just sit down and let me finish."

Jem stepped back a few inches. She did not want me grabbing at her again. "These medallions were in the possession of my father's monkey Jack. You were right you were the last to see my father but his faithful friend his companion must have gone back and pulled these out of the chest. Why he did, still remains a mystery, you see he isn't talking." Jem gave a slight laugh.

Looking at me and seeing I was not amused she lowered her eyes to the bloody bowl. "Why? Why you ask. I'll tell you why." I was almost screaming. "The monkey was told to take them out by his master, Barbossa, so he could get revenge on William and I. This seems to be a common characteristic with you Barbossa's"

"Jack not everything is about you and my father." She rolled her eyes and picked up a sketch she had been working on. "Many months after the fight in the cave Bosun told me he and some of the crew had escaped the clutches of the Royal Navy and they took refuge in Tortuga. They heard talk of a man named Daniel Bone. He was an old pirate and a good friend of Barbossa's. They also heard Danny had half of a map and my father had the other. They like you, decided to go after the treasure so they sought him out. Half a map was better than no map they concluded. They found good old Danny. He had been horribly injured and he talked nonsense. He was said to have been in the sun to long and his mind was numbed with too much alcohol. He told them he knew nothing of a map. Obviously he lied, since you got it." Jem smiled at me.

"I can only imagine how you got it, I know Pirate. Well, as you can surmise this did not go over very well with Boson and he threatened to kill Danny. He instead of giving them the map gave them my father's monkey, Jack, whom I have to say, did go to my bother Jeffery. I do remember the first time Jeffery met Elizabeth he had the monkey on his shoulder. Jeffery was never as fond of the little guy as my father was." Jem walked over to me and ran her fingers through my hair, and gently shut my opened mouth.

"That Luv, is a different story but as far as Danny he claimed he found an apple floating in the cove and when he picked it up there was a monkey attached to it. Yes, it was Jack and he had those medallions clutched in his tiny paw. Now how the monkey got there nobody knows but Pintel, Ragetti and Bosun, like the pirates they are, took Jack and the medallions from Danny. They finally believed that Daniel did not possess half of the map, since he had told them of Jack and the medallions. You should consider yourself lucky darling. Danny let you have the map."

"Lass, I paid a hefty sum to Daniel for that piece of parchment and he never once spoke of Barbossa or his monkey to me. Please Jem tell me of this, Well of Death and what type of ritual you did."

Jem sat down on my lap and stared into my bloodshot kohl rimmed eyes. "Jack I took some blood from Kat and from Bill. Since your blood flows in her and Will's flows in his sons, I was told it would work."

I shook my head and closed my eyes. "What would work?"

"Jack, please, I am trying to tell you. I did not have to take the blood from either one of you. You see I was trying to find out the truth for you but I did not want to get your hopes up. Like I said, Will and I are close but he does tend to confide in you. He has the tendency of being to honest and he is a very poor liar. I figured I would get the truth from my men and then tell you all." She pulled her sleeve up and showed me a large slash across her arm. "I also had to add some of my blood since I was looking for my father's bones."

I grabbed her arm and observed the nasty wound. She pulled away and replaced her sleeve to where it was previously.

"I mixed the blood of all involved and then placed the medallions into it. I was told I had to call upon the gods who cursed the coins. When I dropped them in the bowl the blood became a pool of bright colors and a serpent rose out of it. A coldness filled our bones and a voice filled the room. Jack, it was one of the most frightening experiences I have ever lived through. Pintel, Ragetti Twigs and Bosun were frozen with fear. It was horrible yet fascinating at the same time. It said, 'The captain of the pirates for whom you seek, is a man by the name of Barbossa and his ship is The Black Pearl, he himself was feared throughout the Caribbean Sea. Finding the chest and taking the coins was his downfall and we set a curse upon him to torment him and his crew. Two broke the curse and the pirates now live. The body you seek I cannot find, but you have made the gods happy for now the curse lives on and revenge will be sought. Your answers will come to you tonight. Wait and you shall see.'

"Jem, can you not see, are you blind! They knew Barbossa needed Will's and my blood to curse us. Ragetti and his mates have known all along Barbossa was not dead. They had no intentions of helping you find his body. They have known where he is and he put them up to this wicked task. They are here only to get the map I am seeking in Tortuga and they will take it to Barbossa."

Jem shook her head. "Jack Sparrow, are you that insecure that you truly believe my father is after your map?" She tilted her head and looked into my face. "What do you mean by curse us? I did not put a curse on you or anyone, I performed a blood ritual to find my father's body."

I slapped myself in the head, rolled my eyes back into their sockets and started to curse. "I can't believe I have been such a fool. Once again your father has taken away my possessions. I should have known he was behind it all. Oh he is good…he is very good. He is evil and he must die. I swear I will get even." I looked into Jem's eyes and deep into her soul. "Jem I vow I will kill your father and I must have those medallions. Hand them over to me, NOW!"

Jem shivered and climbed off my lap. "Jack, why must you always jump to conclusions like that? My father is not after you and if he is indeed alive he is not well. You must promise me you will not kill him. Promise me Jack!" Jem glared at me with fire in her eyes.

"Jem, give me the medallions."

"Jack Sparrow, I will not give you anything when you are in such a fowl mood and being extremely domineering. If you can't promise me that you will not harm my father I will not give you the medallions. Savvy?"

I held my hands up as if I surrendered. "So did ya get your answer or not? Did ya find out where he was? Did ya crew help ya?" I had to answer her question with a question for I was not about to make a promise I knew I could not keep.

Her eyes took on a humble glow and she knelt beside me. "The colors dissipated and the serpent vanished. The room became warm again. After that we were all out of sorts so we all started to drink rum. Bosun, Pintel, Twiggs and Ragetti were more than happy to drink."

I rolled my eyes. "Why does that not surprise me Luv?"

"As you observed we all became rather drunk. We could not believe what had happened. I had heard of curses and spells and of the Heathen Gods but to actually witness this. Jack my heart almost stopped." Jem placed her hand on her heart and dramatically swooned back and forth.

"While we were drinking I had to bathe Bill and get him back to his crib before Elizabeth realized he was missing. The water was already there from Kat who had bathed earlier. You will notice her ears are now pierced and she does have a slight wound on her arm, I accidentally slipped with my knife. I needed more blood then her ears would provide."

She kissed me softly on the lips. "I'm sorry Jack, for hurting your daughter but like I said, I did it for you, for us. I'm sure I will be hearing something from Elizabeth. That is probably why Will is looking so poorly today." She ran her fingers down my chest and stopped when she reached my waist and the laces of my breeches.

"After me crew left I myself had to wash. You came early my trusty friend and Ragetti had to give me warning so I could place the blood in a safe place. You see the medallions had to soak and if the blood had been discarded I would never have received my answer."

Jem smiled at me and began to unlace my breeches. The gleam in her eyes were that of a child's on Christmas morning getting ready to dive into her stocking that was hung by the chimney with care. I grasped her hand, not wanting to stop her but I had too. "So my dear, did you receive your answer?"

"Yes, last night in a dream the serpent came to me and told me I saved the life of my captain, my friend. He owes me his life and all that he can give me." She smiled at me wickedly. "So my captain, my friend. What can you give me?" She opened her eyes wide and gave me a seductive smile.

I pulled her close to me and hid my head in her bosoms. "Jem, I love you and I know, I really do know you love me and you did what you did for me." I pulled back and looked into her dark innocent eyes. "Jem, my darling, you will have to make a choice. Pintel, Ragetti, Twiggs and Bosun are all under the command of Captain Barbossa. They tricked you my pet and everything you did was for the wrong Captain, the wrong friend."

A/N As you can see Barbossa is causing troubles for Jack again and he isn't even around. Thanks for the previous reviews. I love reading your comments. Let me know what you all think or I will have to send The Heathen Gods after you. R/R

TA for now, Lovely Raven Sparrow.