Mighty Pirate Hunter
Disclaimer: All the evil things in this chapter belong to me. I guess I am just evil.
Another Pirate Hunter
Jack closed his eyes and smiled. "You know boy, I don't think you know what ya want. There are always two sides to everything. Take a coin mate." Jack reached into his pocket and tossed Will a gold coin.
"You're mad at my one side but the other side does have your best interest in mind. Yours and Elizabeth's, savvy? You know I really do like that lass and I wouldn't let a hair on her pretty little head get hurt."
Will rolled his eyes. "No, but you would let the skeletons track her down so you could make a profit."
"William, remember, that's in the past. If you stick with me and go back to the Devil's Russ, I will show you gold and silver held in great chambers. Coins and ingots as much as a ship can carry and possibly weigh her down."
Jack sat up and looked over at Will. Will stared up at him, his eyes wide open. Jack could see the anger in Will's dark gaze. Jack's eyes, on the other hand, were as bright as the gold coin he had tossed.
"What do you want lad?" Jack asked him. "What do you want from this piratical way of life? Why did you and Elizabeth come with me?"
Will looked at Jack with a puzzled gaze, like a schoolboy who did not know the answer to a question. "I came to protect my daughter from you."
Jack twirled his mustache, stood up and looked down at Will. "Freedom, that's the answer mate. Freedom."
Will now stood up and looked Jack straight in the eye. "Aye, that's right enough but I did come for something else. I came for gold, wealth and…and…"
"Treasure?" Jack sneered evilly as he glanced at William who was now frowning.
Will looked around and lowered his head. "I guess I am no better than you or my father. His blood does run in my veins."
Jack parted his legs and stood square to Will, placing his right hand on his cutlass hilt. "That, Lad, is true enough." Jack started walking circles around Will, making sure Will's eyes were on him. "Now you can go down the beach and find Captain Norrington, your daughter and wife, or you can follow me."
Will placed his hand on Jack's shoulder. Watching Jack was making him dizzy. "Jack, no matter how you look at it, we will be hunted down. If not by Norrington then by those damn skeletons. Sure, we may lead Norrington and men like him on a dance but they'll likely get us in the end and then there'll be a different sort of dance. The kind that happens at the end of a rope."
Jack looked at Will as a shiver went up his back. "That, Will, is a nice fact. Many a good crew and captain have done that jig, but remember, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?" He gestured, arms wide. "I did not take up this way of life for that. I'll warrant you didn't either. We want gold and silver, to make our fortune not a jig on the end of a rope."
Will narrowed his eyes. "And you know where we can get this gold and silver?"
"I know where we can get it." Jack smiled and his infamous gold teeth glittered in his mouth. "Trust me Will, I'll lead you to it."
His voice grew quiet and somewhat inviting. "All you got to do is trust me and you'll never live in want again. Neither will your children or their children after that, I shouldn't wonder. Now, what do you say? Are you for or agin?"
Will stared hard at Jack, turned and walked to the waters edge. He knelt down and ran his fingers through the cold sand, looking out at the dark ocean. Before he could turn around Jack's hand was on his shoulder.
"I'll let you sleep on it. The moment the sun shows herself like a great pearl on the horizon you will give me your answer." Jack lay down beside Will, closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Will stared at Jack for the longest time and then looked intently out at the sea, knowing that he should run as far away and as fast as possible. Will knew he should follow his first instinct. Will was going to give Jack his answer now. There was no reason to sleep on it. When he looked upon Jack, his eyes were closed and he was fast asleep. Hearing Jack snoring, he just laid himself down next to his sleeping Captain, closed his eyes and went to sleep.
When Will woke up he heard a new and different sound. His ears rang with the roar of cannons and the screams of men. Will smacked Jack hard. "Err Jack! Jack!" Will yelled his name.
Jack waved his hand in the air. "It's Captain Sparrow." Jack said with a groggy voice. "Ave ye come to your senses? Are you willing to sail under the command of a pirate or are you not?"
"Jack, I think Norrington is attacking The Pearl and I fear the Mighty Pirate Hunter is winning."
Jack opened his eyes and he now heard the cannons and looked up at Will as he too heard men yelling. Jack jumped up and looked out on the horizon. As he and Will looked they saw three ships. One was indeed The Black Pearl, the other was Norrington's ship, The Sea Lion and the third was a large bristling ship loaded down with guns. The ship was black and had dark sails.
"Bloody Hell! Just what we don't need." Jack shouted.
Will looked at Jack with concern and then back at the sea. "What? Who is it?"
Jack shook his head. "Do you see her flag?" Jack asked Will, as he squinted trying to see it himself.
"Yes, she is flying a solid black flag. Why? Who is it?"
"Captain Vincent Bartholomew," Jack said as he pulled his upper lip back. "Several ships have been frightened by him. They think he is the Dutchman."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Now I myself don't believe in those kinds of stories but I know he is a nasty piece of work. He once captained a ship that was riding so low in the water just from the weight of her treasure that she was bound to drag her hull on the bottom of the ocean. He promised his crew an even split when they came to port but he was sly and would never drop anchor. He would let them look at, touch and even sniff the gold, but when it came time to divide it, the gold fevered his brain." Jack tapped his forehead.
"To much gold is worse than too little. He feared everyone was plotting and calculating on how to get the treasure and, worse, he feared mutiny. So in order to relieve himself of this fear he started killing off his own crew as they slept. He claimed there was an angel on his ship killing all those with mutinous thoughts."
Will looked out at the large looming ship and then back at Jack.
"Bartholomew's big mistake was attacking a young buccaneer who slept light. This young pirate fought for his life and over powered the captain. In doing so he became captain and ordered the most dreaded of all punishment, the keel-haul. This did show the darker side of this mate but it had to be done. I think this was the point the young buccaneer took up drinking rum."
Jack started walking in circles again. Looked out at the sea and then back up onto the sand.
"Well," Will questioned Jack. "What happened?"
"The cry went up, keel-haul him. They were to drop him into the sea and drag him from prow to stern, ninety feet under water, having his flesh ripped to shreds by the barnacles that clung to the hull like clusters of razors. Death was almost inevitable. He was like to bleed to death if he did not drown. No one could survive such an ordeal. Bartholomew would be taken out lifeless, if the sharks didn't get him first." Jack looked at Will and gave a slight smile.
"Did he?" Will asked turning his head slightly and looking into Jack's dark rimmed eyes.
Jack laughed. "Evidently not, or we would not be seeing him now, yet I hear he is a sight you do not want to see. His face and body are a mangled mess. It is hard to tell if he is man or beast." Jack scrunched his face trying to make himself look hideous and waved his hands in the air.
"Whelp, he is a real pirate hunter. Aye, he did survive the keel-hauling and then he was tossed into the sea for the sharks to have a feast. Luck was with him that day or the beasties were not hungry."
Jack stared at the three ships and started walking into the water. "Pirates took his ship and treasure and left him to die. He is not out for pleasure, he is out for blood on all pirates. He hunts all pirates and gives no quarter. As soon as he spies a pirate ship he attacks with all guns. If he takes any alive, they're killed on the deck and dumped overboard. He's killing more pirates than the Navy. The story is he is searching for just one crew, who served on just one ship, under just one young captain."
"Oh?" Will raised his brow and looked intrigued by this as he grabbed Jack's arm, stopping him from going into the water. "And who might he be?"
"Captain Jack Sparrow."
"After you, you say?" Will gave a slight laugh. "I guess pirates are used to being hated and hunted but to be singled out like this…" Will looked into Jack's seemingly clam face. "Are you sure that is him?"
"Yes, that is his ship. I can tell by her build. His ship is old, black and has dark sails. The sails use to be black but are now bleached to a rusty hue, like blood dried on to linen. He has a black hoist with no design upon it."
Jack pulled away from Will and started for the water once more. "Come, I must go defend me ship and me crew. We will go and meet him."
Will shook his head and grasped Jack again. "Jack, aren't you concerned that he will kill you? If not, I am concerned he will kill me. I really have no desire to meet him. I'd say that out of all your damnable ideas that one should stay at the bottom of the barrel."
"William, I would rather take my chances with Vincent Bartholomew than with our skinless friends." Jack pointed his long skinny finger down the beach from where they had come just the night before.
Will turned around to see the skeletons running down the beach. They had their guns and swords out.
"Jack, we could stay here and fight them. We do not have to go face to face with that hideous man." Will now crunched up his face and started waving his hands around. "I really do not wish to encounter him."
Jack looked at Will, looked at the skeletons and then out at the sea. The skeletons started to shoot and one of the bullets grazed Will's shoulder. He immediately let go of Jack's arm. "Forget that idea, swim, swim!"
Will ran into the water and started to swim. Jack was right behind him.
As Jack and Will swam out to the Pearl the black ship was closing quickly on The Sea Lion. It was possible to see men in the rigging of all ships. Jack stopped and took in the sight. To his surprise nothing was happening. No orders were being shouted, no men jumping, there was nothing. As Jack and Will approached the rudder of the Pearl, the only sound was the hiss of water hitting off the ship.
Jack and Will climbed up onto the deck to see that Bartholomew's men had taken over The Sea Lion and they were now heading towards the Pearl. Jack broke the spell of quietness.
"Gibbs, turn her! Bloody hell, turn her!" Jack was now yelling at the top of his lungs. "We don't want to meet her beam on!"
The Pearl groaned and shuddered as Gibbs strove to do Jack's bidding. Beam on, the Pearl presented an open target.
"I can't budge her Captain," Gibbs yelled. "We are dead in the water!"
"She is approaching from the windward side. We are giving our whole starboard side to the advancing ship. This is not good! Not good!" Jack yelled as he ran to take the helm.
The boom of a cannon and a puff of smoke came from Bartholomew's gun port. The ball splashed into the water. It had fallen short, but not by much.
"Gunners!" Jack yelled. "To your posts! Give em hell!" Jack turned to Will, "Have they hoisted any other colors?"
Will stood on the rail with a spyglass. "No Jack, the flag is still black with no design."
"Well get ours up! We'll show those wharf-rats who we are. They'll know what it means to attack the skull and crossed bones. Men, prepare to fire," Jack yelled.
"Hold up, Captain! Hold up!" Will grabbed Jack's arm, once again.
Jack pulled away. "Bloody hell William, stop grabbing me. Why should I stop? Why? What for? She is almost on us."
"Look there, on the bow." Will handed Jack the spyglass.
Elizabeth was bound to the underside of the bowsprit, her arms wrenched back. "Jack they have taken over Norrington's ship and they have strapped my Elizabeth, my wife, on their ship and made her the figurehead."
Bartholomew's ship was bearing down, threatening to ram The Pearl. The wind died down mysteriously. The rusty sails dropped and became limp and the two ships glided together.
Bartholomew stood on the quarterdeck. He was as ugly as Jack had said, maybe even uglier. He pulled his sword and pointed it at Jack. "I have found you at last. You have led me a dance." He nodded towards Elizabeth. "Do you enjoy my little scene?"
"It's me you want. Let her go," Jack said with authority in his voice.
"All in good time," Bartholomew said while leaning over the rail. "First you must put down your weapons. Throw them on the deck. Any man who thinks to disobey is dead."
Men flocked about him with guns, others hung from the rigging, all with long muskets aimed at Jack and his crew.
Jack slowly shook his head. "Men, drop your weapons."
Will looked at Jack and saw that he meant it. Jack was surrendering his ship and his crew. Pistols, cutlasses, sword and knives clattered on to the deck. Bartholomew himself shot Will in the leg as he was fumbling with his weapons. Will gave out a yell and fell to the deck.
"You, boy, are being too slow. Unbuckle that belt." Bartholomew pointed his gun at Will's head.
Will looked up at him with hate in his eyes. As he unbuckled the belt, he pulled his gun and shot Bartholmew. His shot was true but the captain had also shot. This time, Will fell silent on the deck and a pool of blood was forming around him.
Bartholomew's men were streaming down the sides of his ship and over onto The Pearl. They scurried about the deck, collecting the weapons up into sacks.
Jack looked away from the men and from his crew. His eyes seeked a stain on the deck, a knot in the planking, something, anything. He wanted something to look at to hide his shame of having his weapons and his ship confiscated. Taken without a fight.
Bartholomew's men rounded up Jack's crew. He forced them off The Pearl onto his ship at the point of gun and cutlass. Men went among Jack's crew binding them in pairs, back to back, like chickens waiting for market. He took Jack and tied him to the main mast. He stripped Jack of his shirt and whipped him with the cat-of-nines.
Elizabeth was cut down from the bowsprit and brought to Vincent on the quarterdeck. He made her kneel before him and seized her by the hair. He took out a long curving knife and held the blade under her jaw, the point angled into her ear.
He looked over at Jack who, with all his might, tried to hide his pain. "What will you do to save her life?" Bartholomew asked.
"Anything," Jack replied. "Anything you ask of. Anything at all."
"Very well," He let Elizabeth go and pushed her toward Jack. "Remember your promise, Sparrow."
Jack looked at Elizabeth. She was trembling with terror, but she tried not to show her fear. "Elizabeth love," Jack asked quietly. "Are you alright?"
She nodded. "I think. Not that it matters now. He is mad."
Jack was untied from the mast and taken to Bartholomew. He grabbed Jack by the hair and pulled him close. "Jack Sparrow, you took my ship, my treasure, my crew and my good looks."
Jack tried to pull away and found it fruitless. He looked into Bartholomew's hideous face. "Well I may 'ave done all that, but I'd say your looks 'ave improved."
Bartholomew struck Jack across the face. Jack just looked at him and smiled when he saw the blood seeping from the wound William had given him. "Mate, I think you should worry about your own fortunes and forget about me."
Bartholomew struck Jack again. "I will toy with you for the moment Sparrow, but you will regret the day you crossed me. I intend to insult you in front of your crew, and in front of your woman. She must mean a lot to you. She is a pretty little thing."
Bartholomew looked over towards Elizabeth and the thoughts going through his head were purely evil. He then looked back at Jack. "Men, strip Captain Jack Sparrow to his birthing suit and beat him until every inch of his body is covered with blood, then throw him into a cell along with his whore. I do not trust her and I will not have her wandering about. When he has had time to commiserate with his lady, we will give him a salt bath and then tie him upside down from the crow's nest."
Bartholomew gave Jack an evil smile. "We will dangle your nude body from the highest point of the ship so your crew and everyone who sails past will see the great and mighty Captain Jack Sparrow get pecked by the birds and then fed to the sharks."
His men followed out his orders. Jack was beaten unmercifully and then thrown into a cold dank wet cell with Elizabeth.
Elizabeth ran over to Jack and tried to comfort him. Jack saw the tears in Elizabeth's eyes as she spoke. "He will kill us. He will kill us all."
"A man who would use a living woman as his figurehead is capable of anything, Love." Jack moaned as she held him to her. "But we are not dead yet, there is still hope. I promised your husband I would not let them hurt a hair on your head, and I intend to keep that promise."
"Jack, it is not my head I am concerned about. It's yours." She attempted to push his blood encrusted hair, back away from his swollen bruised face. "Jack," Elizabeth spoke after a few moments. "I have been afraid to ask, but I must know. Where is Will?"
Jack attempted to focus on Elizabeth's face but he was having a very hard time staying conscious. "I fear, my fair lass, that the whelp is dead. He was shot down in his prime. He was the only one to put up a fight. He, lass, was the last of a dying breed."
Elizabeth pulled Jack closer and buried her face into his thick dark hair and began to sob. Hard, unrestrained, from the gut sobbing.
Jack knew her heart was breaking; he managed to wrap his arms around her and stayed like that for a long time. He wanted to embrace her and share her grief.
A/N Well there you have it. Jack is caught by The Real Pirate Hunter. What will happen? Only I know. Did Bartholomew kill everyone from The Sea Lion? Did he kill Josephine and John? I know, I know, who cares, right? Will Jack end up as crow food? What will Elizabeth do? Read, review and then I will let you know. Savvy?
I want to thank all my loyal readers and reviewers. I know I can depend on you guys.
TA FOR NOW
Lovely Raven Sparrow