Mighty Pirate Hunter
Disclaimer: Oh how I wish I owned Captain Jack Sparrow and William Turner but alas Disney still has them.
A True Captain
The sun had long set but the heat still lingered down in the cell. Despite the temperature a shiver, like water, trickled down Elizabeth's back. She sat still and silent with Jack's head in her lap. He was now lying in a comatose state, he had lost consciousness hours ago. Before he drifted off he told Elizabeth of how Will had been shot and of his own history with Bartholomew.
Elizabeth looked down into Jack's black and blue face. His eyelids were so swollen he probably would not be able to open them. She shook her head as she ran her fingers over Jack's puffed-up lips, "Why is it you selected this life? Why did my William have to die? If you were not so bloody wounded, I would hurt you myself."
She ran her fingers though Jack's blood encrusted hair and started rolling a bead in between her fingers. "I told Will this was a bad idea. I knew coming with you and following one of your dreams would get us in trouble. I never thought it would get us killed."
She looked up at the low ceiling, trying to hold back her tears. As she looked up she heard a noise and thought she heard someone calling her name. She was about to get up when two men came running down the stairs. They had come down to take Jack to give him his salt bath but when they found he was unconscious they decided to wait. They wanted to make sure Jack was awake so he could endure all the pain that would go along with it.
Bartholomew himself came down and looked upon Jack's prone body. "So is he really out, or is he pretending?" He unlocked the cell and entered.
Elizabeth moved Jack's head from her lap and stood up. She smoothed her skirt and stepped back away from Jack and from him.
Bartholomew kicked Jack and Jack did not respond. Elizabeth ran to Bartholomew and struck him hard with both fists. She struck him multiple times. "Can't you see you have caused him enough damage? He will most likely die before the night is through. You, sir, are a monster."
He grabbed her hands and looked into her face. "My you are a pretty thing, and feisty too. I like women like that. Tell me, what is it Captain Jack Sparrow possesses that he can have such a fine woman? Are you his whore, mistress or dare I say wife? No, you couldn't be his wife. Captain Sparrow would not be fortunate enough to have someone as pretty as you."
"You know nothing of Captain Jack Sparrow or of me." She pulled away and backed up towards the open cell door.
"Love that is where you are wrong. I know quite a lot about Captain Jack Sparrow, but if you would like to enlighten me about yourself I would be much obliged." He pulled a bottle out from his pocket and held it up to her. "I am drinking a fine port wine and I could be persuaded to share it with the right company, in my cabin."
"You are a horrible beast and I wouldn't share anything with you." She spit at him and backed out of the cell and slammed the door. She turned the key in the lock, pulled it out and ran for the stairs.
"Tell me, do you want me to kill him now or after my men have their way with you?" Bartholomew asked nonchalantly.
Elizabeth turned to see Bartholomew had his gun pointed at Jack's head and Jack's eyes were now open. "Sir, my name is Elizabeth. Mrs. Elizabeth Turner. Jack Sparrow means nothing to me. You can kill him now or later, that is your option, either way he will be dead."
Elizabeth looked down at Jack whose eyes were very wide open even though they were swollen. He looked up at her and mouthed, "I love you too."
Elizabeth frowned at Jack and continued talking. "I myself am a big girl and I can take care of myself, I don't need Jack Sparrow." She turned to run up the stairs. As she turned she heard the gun go off and felt a sharp pain run through her arm.
She threw her opposite hand up to her arm to find blood seeping through her fingers. She turned and glared at him. He smiled which was rather hard to see since his face was so disfigured. "Did you really think I wouldn't shoot you, Mrs. Turner?"
"So you are a coward along with being a monster." As she spoke she felt hands grab her from behind. It was Bartholomew's first mate. He pulled the key from her hand and tossed her to some men standing behind him. He went and released the captain, making sure he locked Jack up again.
The men had pulled Elizabeth out onto the deck. They were all groping her and running their hands over her body and through her long auburn tresses. As Bartholomew came up on the deck he gave them all orders to leave her alone. They all backed up as he walked over to her.
He pulled out his knife and curled what could be called a lip. "Let's see what you've got." He pulled Elizabeth toward him grabbing at her dress. He was a big man, with hands like ham hocks.
"Get your hands off of me." Elizabeth ordered as she wrenched at his fingers, but she might as well have been trying to pull apart a knot in her hair. He was forcing her dress apart, ripping off the buttons. It made her furious to be manhandled in this way, to stand in nakedness in front of him.
As the buttons fell to the ground and Elizabeth's breasts were exposed, Bartholomew gave a heavy sigh. "My, it seems a shame to have such beauty go to waste."
"So are you going to tie me up like the rest of the crew or should I just walk the plank?" Elizabeth said with a stiff upper lip. She appeared to be fearless but inside she was scarred shitless.
He laughed. "I don't plan on either my dear. You will be taken to my cabin and you will become my property. What ever is good for Sparrow is good for me."
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide. "I told you, I am not the property of Captain Sparrow. My name is Elizabeth Turner. Mrs. Elizabeth Turner."
"A name means nothing to me." Bartholomew shouted. "A vision as beautiful as this," he glanced down at her voluptuous breasts and ran his fingers down the curve of her bosoms and then through her deep cleavage and over her pale bare stomach, just stopping above her panty line. He then ran his hand back up the same path, ever so slowly. "A vision like this is worth a thousand words."
He looked at his men and they all nodded in agreement. He then picked up a lock of Elizabeth's hair and twirled it between his fingers. "You see my dear you are not the only woman on this ship. I have had a welcoming committee for two other fair young lasses."
Elizabeth's eyes flashed with anger as she pulled her head back. Bartholomew began to laugh. "I understand one of the young ladies is Captain Norrington's wife, or that is what she claims. And then, there is that spit fire we found lurking about the ship. I know her to be Captain Jack Sparrow's daughter. Aye she is a pretty thing but her temperament is that of a rattle snake. I have a special plan for her. My own flesh and blood, my son Anthony, will deal with her. Aye, he knows how to treat a woman, even if she is a Sparrow."
Elizabeth spit in his face, turned and ran. By now all the men on the ship were thoroughly roused and they went after her. Elizabeth looked back into their faces and saw them leering at her and her bare chest. She had no idea where she was going she just knew she had to go. She ran for the rail and almost threw herself over but unfortunately she was immediately pulled away from the rail and tossed onto the deck. All the men gathered in around her. She nearly gagged on the hot animal stink of them, the stench of rum busting from their mouths. She struggled and fought but the struggle was useless. There were too many of them. Too many hands were upon her.
Elizabeth was about to give up all hope when the ship took on a shuddering motion and the rudder seemed to jam and there was a violent thudding from under the hull. An unsecured boom swung out, taking a couple of men with it. The rest staggered as the deck tipped and the great body of the ship groaned and shuddered under them. They looked around in confusion.
Just for a moment, the hands that held Elizabeth slackened their grip. Elizabeth twisted like a cat away from her captors and leaped on to the nearest grating, grabbing a flaming torch and a bottle of discarded rum.
Her sudden escape brought men clustering around her, their numbers threatening to overwhelm her, but the converging crowd reared back as she swept the flame around. The air was full of the smell of singeing hair and whiskers, then the reek of rum as she emptied the bottle through the grating. Directly underneath her lay the powder hold. She smashed the glass and held the burning brand hovering over the gaps of the hatch.
"Any closer and I'll drop it! I'll take all of us down to the bottom of the ocean. I swear it!"
The men looked at each other, wondering whether to believe her. They looked over at Bartholomew, he nodded his head and they all stepped back.
Bartholomew gave her an evil stare. "So missy you will send us all down to see Davy Jones." He waved his hand and a large dark man approached from behind him holding Josephine in his arms. She was unconscious and Elizabeth could see blood coming from her mouth. As Elizabeth looked at her daughter her guard was let down and several crew members doused her with buckets of cold salt water. This caused Elizabeth to scream from the shock of the cold water and it also put the torch out.
Elizabeth looked at the torch, looked at the men and then ran into the captain's cabin slamming the door and locking it behind her. She knew this action would only make Bartholomew mad but at least it would buy her some time and she could make up a new battle plan. She was not sure if Josephine were dead or alive but her survival instincts kicked in and she decided to save herself.
She turned and leaned against the door and that is when she saw Anna and Anthony.
A small amount of light from the cracks streamed down on the bed where Elizabeth could see Anthony hovering over Anna. He was a very large man, just like his father. Elizabeth paused as he was kneeling over Anna, his back was to her. He had her trapped on the bed. He was laughing as she tried to get away from him. She was lying flat on the bed, her head was up against the head board and her breathing was coming short and shallow. Her long, tan limbs bent awkwardly on the bed as she was pinned by his hulking body, like a deer caught in the grip of a bear.
Elizabeth picked up his gun which he had left on the desk. Anna saw Elizabeth before Anthony did, her eyes grew large, and she gasped when she saw her. He gave a whistling grunt, thinking her eyes flared in terror of him.
He was toying with her, enjoying the power he had over Jack Sparrow's daughter. Her fear fed his lust. Elizabeth grabbed him by his thick greasy tail of hair that trailed on to his shoulders, yanking his head back she jammed the barrel of the pistol into the base of his skull.
"A pirate should never leave his weapon where others can get it. Now, get off her," She ordered.
His head strained to the side, the lust dulling in his small set eyes.
"Don't turn around, just do as I say." The mechanism of the gun was near his ear. His head jerked, registering the click as she pulled the hammer back.
He tried to speak but couldn't. A dry croaking sound came from his mouth.
"Don't speak," Elizabeth whispered.
Elizabeth could see Anna, under his shoulder, her face as rigid as a mask. Once released from his weight, she moved fast. He used her movement to try to squirm away from Elizabeth. His arm shot out, reaching for a whip that hung in loose coils from the head of the bed. In a second it would be in his hand and he would be using it on her. Elizabeth without even thinking pulled the trigger.
Elizabeth had never seen so much blood. Acrid smoke drifted thick in the air and the sound of the shot in the small room rang in her ears as Elizabeth looked at Anna, unable to believe what she had just done.
"I didn't mean…" She started to say as she stared at Anthony. "I…I didn't mean to kill him."
Anna looked at the crumbled body. "You did mean it. You don't have to apologize, or feel guilty," Anna said, as she gathered up what remained of her clothes. "You saved my life this day, for I surely would have killed myself if he'd had his way with me. So you're not to feel bad. You hear me Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth nodded and swallowed. "I understand but we are still in trouble and we have to find away out of here." As Elizabeth spoke Bartholomew barged into the room with many of his crewmembers behind him.
Bartholomew just stood and stared at them rubbing his disfigured face. "Who struck the first blow?" he looked at both women and then his dead son. "Fighting on a ship is against ships rules."
Anna stepped forward. "What rules are you bound too?"
"Item Five of the Articles states none shall strike another on board but every man's quarrel shall be ended on shore with sword and pistol." He looked at Anna. "Do you understand, Sparrow?"
"Aye I do, but you may recall item eleven, any man offering to meddle with a prudent woman without her consent shall suffer present death."
He grinned seeing that she was only a girl. "You, Lass, are not a woman, and you are not prudent, you are a Sparrow. Do you really think your skin is safe? You, my dear, will suffer the keel haul."
At that moment Elizabeth saw Will standing in the back of the crowd. He had a blood stained shirt and he looked weak. He narrowed his eyes and mouthed. "Don't do anything stupid."
Elizabeth smiled and she pushed Anna aside. "No please, she is only a child. It is not her you want. As you said, what is good for Jack Sparrow is good for you. Let her go and I will be your property."
He looked at her skeptically and then at his men. "Very well, clean yourself up and I will send you a gown and a necklace that I insist you wear." Bartholomew ordered his men to dispose of his dead son's body. They did as they were told and they backed out of the room locking both Elizabeth and Anna inside.
It took Elizabeth quite a long time to dress after the gown was sent. Anna helped her as much as possible. Elizabeth told her she saw Will but Anna was convinced she was seeing things. Will was killed on the deck of The Black Pearl, she had witnessed it and when she went back to see him the body was gone. Bartholomew's men had disposed of it as they cleaned the decks of The Black Pearl and put the ship into tow.
"Elizabeth," Anna pleaded. "You don't have to do this, we can get help. I will go release my father. I know he is locked up below. I will sneak out and I will get him. I must go down and let him out."
Elizabeth placed her hand on Anna's arm. "Anna, after I have dealt with Bartholomew you can go rescue your father if he is still alive."
"Of course he is alive," Anna cried. "He is Captain Jack Sparrow, remember?"
"Anna, he has been severely beaten and I fear he is near dead. Jack Sparrow seems to be like a cat and he may have nine lives but there is nothing…nothing you can do for him now. We have to think about us. You and me."
Anna bowed her head. "I know, if you fall behind you are left behind." She looked into Elizabeth's eyes. "I'm with you."
Elizabeth hugged her. "If it means anything to you, your father is a good man and he endured his injuries saving me and keeping a promise to my husband."
As Elizabeth finished dressing there was a knock on the door. She was being summoned by Bartholomew. She looked gorgeous. The gown was low cut at the front and cinched in at the bodice as tight as it could go. Her face was powdered, her lips rouged and hair dressed and piled high.
"How do I look?" She whispered to Anna as she clasped the necklace about her neck.
"You look wonderful! He won't be able to keep his eyes away from you. Just think of Will!"
Gooseflesh rose on her arms as she slid her fingers under the necklace trying to loosen it from her throat. She felt as if it were choking her.
Anna took her hands away from the necklace and held them down at her side. "Don't touch it. He will know you are thinking of something else. Just let the necklace lie."
There was another knock at the door and Anna went to answer it. Several men came in and escorted Elizabeth to the captain.
He was seated in a grand chair situated on the main deck of the ship. His arms lying along the wide curved arms, his feet square on the deck and his eyes were focused on the ocean and the horizon. He waved a ringed hand, indicating for Elizabeth to stand in front of him. The men who had bought her were dismissed.
"Now I have you." He leaned back against his chair surveying her. "A prize taken from the sea, taken from Captain Jack Sparrow."
Elizabeth curtsied. "I hope you are not disappointed."
"On the contrary, my dear, I like you all the better since you are Sparrow's or should I say Turner's. Any relation to Bootstrap Bill?"
Elizabeth looked around the deck hoping to see William and not answering Bartholomew's question. Was she hallucinating? She could have sworn she saw Will. She just knew he would be near. She looked into Bartholomew's eyes. "What will you do with me now?"
"I intend to make you my wife and you will bare me many children." His smile grew wider. He knew Elizabeth would not relish in that thought.
Elizabeth looked at him. "And what of my companions?"
"You mean the pirate rabble you travel with?" He sat up and pulled out his knife. "They will go over the side to feed the fish and if I am not satisfied with you, you will join them."
His grip on the knife shifted and he smiled. She tried to keep the alarm of fear from her face but her eyes gave her away.
He sat back, straight in his chair, his eyes on Elizabeth, playing with the knife he had just taken up. It was narrow, double-bladed and perfectly balanced he could hold it on the tip of one finger at the point where the blade met the hasp.
He threw it up, catching the hilt and holding it like a drumstick, tapping the needle tip against the palm of his hand.
"That necklace looks magnificent on you, even if your skin is a little tawny. But you lack one thing." He looked at her critically. "Let your hair down it has a lack of symmetry."
She did as he told her. Her hair fell down upon her shoulders like a cascading fall. Elizabeth kept her eyes on his. He kept his on hers but all the while the knife he held balanced on his finger.
"You know I put my trust in stones and the ones around your neck betray you my dear. Very much like whores, in fact. It's a fine sort they only shine on and they do not shine on you. I'd say you are tainted, you are damaged treasure."
"So you plan to use me and kill me at your leisure?" Elizabeth questioned with a quivering voice and then she saw Will. He was moving on silent feet behind Bartholomew. He attempted to hide himself behind the objects on the deck. Elizabeth kept here eyes away from him, allowing more fear to flare in her eyes. Her lips started to tremble, as she started pleading with Bartholomew. She would do anything to keep his and the crew's attention focused on her.
Will slowly pulled his sword. He knew he would have only one chance at this. He took it in a double grip since his weapon was heavy and he had lost quite a lot of blood. The hilt was long and the wide blade was razor sharp. As he pulled the sword back past his left shoulder some of Bartholomew's men yelled out. It was too late, Will brought the sword forward in a scything motion, and a wide blurring arc of grey metal fell, taking Bartholomew's head off at the neck.
It was the only way. Will looked at the crew and leaned on the back of the chair, taking a deep shuddering breath. Then he reached down, grasped the head by the hair and held up the bloody trophy. The men fell to the deck at Will's feet.
Will smiled slightly and then yelled out. "He is dead and I killed him. Now you will be commanded by me, Captain William Turner."
"Will?" Elizabeth looked at him in horror and shock. He looked at her and smiled.
Will wasn't quite sure he wanted to take command but he knew he had to say something, as all the men knelt down to him and looked up to him.
Will was getting ready to address them when there was a sudden call from a familiar voice, Jack.
"Attack! Attack!" Jack shouted as he ran over to Will and backed up slightly as he looked at the bloody head in Will's hand.
"Look over the starboard bow," Jack pointed toward a large ship. Everyone crowded to the rails.
A ship was indeed heading straight for them. A ship in full sail. She had already loosed off one shot, now she let go another across their bow. She was showing a British flag. The captain of the vessel stood on the quarterdeck, his face set and determined. Elizabeth looked up and to her surprise it was Commodore James Norrington.
Those who had been so brave in leading the attack on Elizabeth were fast melting away. The men looked about them as if waking from a dream, knowing that they should take action, but as a loss as to what they should do.
Cowardice and confusion gripped their hearts and they did nothing. Will looked about and he knew they were in trouble since he had released Jack and Jack had conveniently damaged the rudders. Will's ship was dead in the water.
James Norrington's ship closed in and his men were getting ready to leap aboard the ship. Will was not going to hand over the ship, he couldn't. He had just become captain of his own ship. If it was going to be taken, it would have to be with blood shed and many bullets.
Will yelled out. "Men take your posts defend the ship."
While Jack was untying his men who were stilled trussed together, he looked at Will with admiration. Jack smiled at Elizabeth who was standing with her mouth wide open.
"Will you can't…you can't," Elizabeth yelled.
Jack sauntered to Will and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Boy, the Lass may be right."
Will gave Jack a stern look, "It's Captain, and you would be dead if not for me. You best be fixing this ship and use your weapons. There really is no other option."
Jack put his hands together and bowed, "My apologies, Captain."
Jack looked out at the on coming ship and then back at Will. He squinted his eyes and talked in a low concerned voice. "Captain Turner, begging your pardon but I think you may 'ave been out in the sun to long."
Will pulled his sword and pointed it at Jack. "Are you questioning me?"
Jack backed up and bowed again, "Do you think it wise to take on the Royal Navy?"
Will looked into Jack's kohl rimmed, bruised eyes. "Pirate."
Jack smiled showing his golden teeth and pulled out his sword. "Pirate."
Elizabeth could not believe her eyes. She looked around at the crew and then back at Will. "Will, you can't be serious. Will? Will!"
He was not listening to her. He and Jack started to throw orders around and the men scurried to their posts like rats. Elizabeth knew that Will was going to get himself killed. She looked about and she saw Jack swinging over to The Black Pearl and standing on the quarter deck with his sword drawn on Norrington and Norrington had his gun pointed at Jack's head. Obviously the man still had it out for poor Jack.
Elizabeth jumped onto the rail and yelled, "Stop!"
She had no idea what she was doing she just wanted somebody to listen. She put her hand to her head and fainted.
A/N Yes, finally a new chapter. As you can see captaincy has gone to Will's head. I wonder how long that will last? What happened to Elizabeth? She was on the rail and fainted. Did she fall on the deck or into the sea? Will Jack and Norrington battle it out on the quarter deck? All this and more will be answered in the next chapter. Please send me your reviews.
TA FOR NOW
Lovely Raven Sparrow