Chapter Seven

She fled through the city as fast as her legs could carry her, the skirts of her dress a bustle amongst her legs as she held them up over her ankles to keep from falling over them. Though she ran through streets she'd always thought were safe, her heart pounded in her chest so hard that its beating rang in her ears and her chest ached as her lungs fought her fear to take what breaths they managed to gasp.

Her terrified mind whirled. She could not believe what had just happened. She had always known that her father had never approved of Will, but she had never dreamed that he would sink so low as to even hurt her beloved, let alone have those gruesome guards, the two she knew he only used for his dirtiest, most secret missions and who she had seen talking with him the day before, sell poor Will into slavery! Even now, she knew her own father's guards were after her, and she fully believed that not only Will's but her own life as well were in danger. If they were to catch her, she would never make it to Jack and Will would never be saved. There was no telling what would happen to her.

Her thoughts blinded her to the ground ahead, and Elizabeth suddenly found herself spiraling forward, having tripped over a rock. She reached out and, groping desperately, managed to catch hold of a hard piece of wood. She used it to regain her balance before she could fall the rest of the way but only looked at it after she was standing full and erect once more. What she saw made her gasp in shock and her blood run cold for before her stood a huge bonfire with stakes in its center.

A voice answered her gasp, startling her even more. "It's a beaut, isn't it? The men worked hard on that one."

Elizabeth looked over to the portly woman, and her fear and surprise grew as she recognized her. She could scarcely believe that the woman who now looked at this horrid construction with such awe was the same woman who taught the church's children their Bible studies, the same woman who Elizabeth herself had often gone to as a child for she had known she'd always have a plate of cookies and a glass of milk waiting for any child who wondered into her shop.

"It's going to be lovely to see them fry."

Elizabeth struggled to find her voice but finally succeeded enough to ask in a hushed whisper, "W-Who?"

"Why, the Witches, of course. Those daughters of Satan have been a disgrace to our town ever since they started coming here, and it's long past time they paid for their sins."

Elizabeth had studied the woman's eyes and face as she had been talking, and she now felt faint at the realization that Mrs. Brown, who she'd always thought was such a kind and gentle woman, was truly looking forward to seeing human beings burned alive. "Don't you think so, Miss Swann?" Mrs. Brown asked, but though her tone was gentle, her eyes were narrowed in suspicion. Elizabeth's mind whirled as she tried to think of some response that would not place her into even further danger, but a sudden shout made both women look up.

"There she is!" a guard called, pointing at Elizabeth whose hood had fallen off when she'd fell forward moments before. Elizabeth did not look again at Mrs. Brown; instead, she took off running with the guards in hot pursuit. It was a long time before she managed to elude them again, but finally she did, turning onto an empty street and ducking into a dark alley before they could round the bend. She watched from where she had plastered herself to the wall, not even daring to breathe, as they ran past.


As Jack followed closely behind Brendan, his attention was drawn to the bustling activity going on in the town square. For a moment, he wondered if perhaps they were in response to the skirmish that had just taken place aboard his ship, but upon noticing their clothes, he realized that they were part of the Governor's soldiers and not the Royal Guard. What could be afoot? Then he saw that they were building what appeared to be a huge framework for a gigantic bonfire. Recalling what he had seen earlier, he figured that either the Governor planned to barbecue Witches or Pirates. It didn't matter which for Jack had no intention of letting either happen.

"Brendan," he whispered, "don't do anything to draw attention to us." He had barely gotten the words out when somebody ran into him, and he began to fall. Brendan had already been realizing the same thing that his Captain had when a blur of black and white collided with Jack. Quickly reaching out, Brendan's hand caught Jack's back, steadying him, even as a familiar voice lashed out at them.

"Watch where the Hell yer -- " she started but stopped abruptly upon seeing exactly who had been in her way. "Sparrow?" she asked, already wondering what he and the Pearl's doctor were up to.

"Faith? Where? What?" With her, Jack knew it could be anything. She had activities that he didn't want to know anything about. Recovering himself rather quickly, he thanked Brendan for the swift rescue. "We are off to rescue Will who is in danger of being sold in auction," he told Faith in a low, quiet voice. "Whatever you do, do not draw attention to yourself. The Governor's planning a huge barbecue," he said the latter with a tinge of anger. He hoped she'd pick up on what he was trying to tell her.

"Why should you care?" she asked before feigning a look of shock. "Oh, yeah. I forgot. You actually do care." She shook her head, then returned to the business at hand. "As for your boy, I just had my victory, so I guess I can help you there." She shrugged, but there was a dangerous glimmer in her eyes as she added with a dark, mischievous grin, "I can always use a bit more action."

"Lead on, Brendan," Jack said. "I hope it will not take us much longer. I don't want to linger here. There is danger all around, and I feel as though it's closing a noose around my neck." His left index finger snuck up and loosened his shirt around his neck as though to prevent him from choking.

Faith rolled her eyes at the Pearl's Captain. "There's always danger. Long as you're living, there's shitt just waiting to hit the fan." She quirked a brow at him as she added, "I'd think you'd be used to that by now, Captain."

Brendan just shook his head at the girl's attitude. He knew better than to try to speak to her. Faith never seemed to get along with any one, and they didn't have time to get into an argument over the ethics, manners, and respect she lacked. Instead, he resumed the path that the guard had told Angel to take.

Jack was remembering when the noose had been tightened around his own neck and Will had saved him. It still gave him nightmares. "I know we live in danger constantly, Faith," he replied, "but I am never one to consciously seek it out unless there is booty to be gained. There is no booty this time. Just death, and a wise man knows when to walk away. If you don't want to go with us, you can return to the ship. We will be sailing within a couple of hours. If you want to come, we will welcome your assistance." He knew not what lay before them, but there was no way he was going to walk away and leave Will. This time, Will was coming home with him.

"Good thing I'm not a man then, ain't it, Cap?" she smirked up at him even as she fell in step beside him. Despite the attitude she cocked even with him, Jack Sparrow was the only man to ever have won her admiration. However, that was just one more secret she kept to herself as she treated him the same as every one else. The only one on either ship she actually showed respect to was her own Captain, Xena. "You know I never turn down the chance to kick butt," she added.

"You're one Hell of a woman, Faith, and I hope we never cross blades. I admire you and would hate to have to kill you one day." They had been walking the entire time they had been talking, and they had now gone outside the sight of the guards.

She chuckled deep within her throat, a sound that made her enemies cringe with fear of what this insane woman was going to do to them next. "Keep telling yaself that, Sparrow, but you're right. I'd hate to have to kill you."

She had just glanced over at Jack to see the reaction her response took from him when she saw a hand suddenly reach out from an alley they were passing. The hand was headed for Jack, but before either man could move, Faith had not only slapped the hand away but had dived into the alley, slammed the cloaked stranger against the wall, and had the blade of her dagger already pressed against a delicate, white throat.

"It's me!" the stranger cried out in a panicked voice that all three instantly recognized.

"Oh, it's Little Miss Priss," Faith snarled, clearly disgusted, as she released Elizabeth. "Better watch that. Next time you touch the Captain, you're bound to lose your life."

"I already have," Elizabeth spoke quietly as she turned toward Jack. She looked up at him with tears swimming in her blue eyes. "It's Will. Father . . . " Her sentence hung unfinished as she was having trouble bringing herself to admit the horrible thing that her own father had done to her beloved.

Jack had taken Faith's comment in stride. He knew deep down, she was loyal to him, and he was glad of it. Elizabeth, however, had taken him by surprise. He had not expected to find her out here, on her own, disguised as a peasant. "I know what your father has done to Will. We're on our way to rescue him now. Elizabeth, when I get him, I'm taking him away from here. He's not going to want to go, but I'm taking him any way. It's not safe for him here any longer. Your father seems to have become a raving lunatic. Have you noticed the activity in the square?"

She nodded, choking down the emotions that welled in her throat as she did so. "I will not try to talk you out of taking Will from here, though we were to be wed today. I have only one request." She tilted her face so that her begging eyes looked directly up into his. "I want to go too. Please, Jack! I can not stay here!"

He took a deep breath. He didn't hate Elizabeth. In fact, he had to admire her courage. He did resent her, however, for she was the one that had Will's love, something he longed for but knew he'd never have. "I'll take you, Elizabeth, under one condition. You leave here and go straight to my ship. Do not follow us, and do not return home. Whatever you have there can be replaced. If you go back, your father will capture you, and I will not endanger Will to rescue you, savvy?"

She nodded slowly. She had had no intention of ever returning home, even if Jack had not agreed to take her. She wanted to see Will, though. She wanted to know that he would be okay. She wanted to be there with them so that she would be certain they would not fail to rescue her beloved. As she looked into Captain Sparrow's eyes, however, she remembered how deeply he cared for Will. The two were closer than brothers, and she knew that he would stop at nothing to rescue him. She took a deep breath before answering simply, "Agreed."

"Go swiftly, and let Angel know when you're there. Right now, he's the only one aboard. He will keep you safe till we return." He caught her chin and lifted it to look into her eyes. "I mean it, Elizabeth. Do not follow us in there. You're not a fighter. You can endanger Will. I want your absolute promise on this. No tricks." He knew she was fully capable of saying one thing and doing the other. He didn't want her endangered, and he didn't want to have to tell Will that she was dead because she followed him. "Do I have your promise?"

"Yes," she agreed a second time without hesitation. As much as she hated to admit it, she knew he was right. She could not help them to fight, and her presence would only distract them from rescuing Will. It might even place them all in even greater danger. After all, what man would not want to bid on her beauty?

Jack released her. "Go quickly." She did just as he said, taking her skirts in her hands and rushing off. She did her best to keep to the shadows as she headed swiftly for the dock.

As soon as Elizabeth was out of sight, Jack continued walking toward the tent that he could now see. "This is it," he said. "Good luck to all of us." Upon reaching the tent, he lifted the flap and walked through the tent into a street crowded with filthy, stinky men commingling with clean men who appeared to have some money. He glanced around, realizing that there truly were all kinds of buyers on the street.


Meanwhile, back at the ocean's edge, Xena was getting antsy. She knew their time was running out. She knew that soon they would be overrun by the townspeople looking for their friends who had not returned. She moved closer to Gabrielle. "How long do you think it can be before we can move every one to safety?" she asked.

Gabby sighed softly, a small breath of air that told Xena she shared her feelings but was also still concerned about the survivors and those who had yet to awaken. "They're not even all awake yet, but the ones who are, even if they're still too weak to walk on their own yet, should still be able to be carried."

"We have to do something to move them to the safety of the ships soon, Gabby. You and I have both seen this kind of mess before. We did what we could then, but we have never rescued so many at one time. I am going to look for transportation. I will return as soon as I find something." She leaned forward and kissed Gabby's lips gently. "Love you. See you soon."

"I love you, too, Xena, but be careful," Gabrielle told her as her green eyes gazed into the baby blues of the woman she loved. "The townspeople are probably already on the look-out. The group we took care of were just the ones who were sent after them. They'll be getting the bonfires ready, and they'll be just as happy to barbecue pirates as they are Witches."

She smiled one last time at Gabby even as she headed off in Wolf's direction. She soon reached his side. Wolf came to attention in front of the Captain; he knew she had something of importance to tell him. "I am going to find something we can use to transport these people to the ships. Stay alert, and don't take any chances. You know how the crew is. They've just had a fight. Now they're ready for other things. Their minds are not as alert as ours." She hated to leave Wolf alone, but she knew he was quite capable of handling it. He nodded at her, and she turned and left, heading in the direction she thought she had seen a farm earlier.

No sooner had she left than the strange poodle with the stranger haircut appeared in Wolf's face. "What do you want?" Wolf asked in canine language.

"Elvira," Gonk yipped. "I can't talk to her, but you can and she has to have some one who can tell her what's going on." His dark eyes shone with determination as he looked up at the wolf who was much larger than he in his poodle form. "I saw you. You have man form. You can talk to her."

"I am a man-wolf," Wolf said proudly. "I will be more than happy to talk to your mistress." He had seen her earlier and was definitely attracted to her, but one thing stood in the way. What if she was mated already? "Is she mated?" he asked.

Gonk cocked his head to one side as he studied the wolf, unsure of why he asked such a question. "No forever mate," he finally yipped in reply.

"Good," Wolf replied. He changed quickly into his man form and walked over to where the woman was standing just in time to catch her as she fell.

To Be Continued . . .