A Gilded Cage: Sequel to Broken Wings, Part II of the Fallen Sparrows Trilogy
A Pirates of the Caribbean story by Merrie
Disclaimer: They're still not mine. Although if they were…they'd probably all hate me for what I do to them, so I suppose it's just as well.
Summary: Captain Jack has been possessed by a demon god by the name of Lorelac who's used Jack to become the most infamous, hated, and wanted pirate in the ocean. Can Jack reclaim his life back? Will Elizabeth and Will be able to help while encountering problems of their own? And what about Chief Norrington? Sequel to Broken Wings.
Characters: Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Chief James Norrington, Captain Zachariah Kruler
Author's Note: This was a fun chapter that I had outlined in my head long ago. I hope you all like it.
Rating: R for violence, language, and much much angst.
Chapter 5: Story Telling and Suffering Time
"1673," Jack said, becoming lost in memories once again. "And who says I survived?"
"Jack, don't be foolish. Of course you survived. You wouldn't be sitting here talking to us if you hadn't," Will pointed out with a slight frown, not liking the brooding mood Jack seemed to have slipped into. He liked it even less that Norrington seemed to be a half a step away from joining him.
None of the three men noticed Elizabeth moving closer to hear Jack's story. She was still beyond mad at him, but it was a cold, emotionless anger and she wanted to hear what he had to say. She, like Norrington had heard stories of Captain Zachariah Kruler; enough to know how rare it was for people to survive his presence. That Jack had was nothing short of unbelievable, and she wanted to know how.
"I don't think he means physically survived, Will," Norrington said softly. "A man can be made to endure quite of a lot of things and come out alive but not whole. Do you understand?" While Norrington's words were to Will, his gaze was firmly locked on Jack's still form. If the pirate captain noticed the attention he gave no sign.
"No, I don't," Will said with a slight frown.
"I pray that you never do, Will. No man should," Jack's voice floated up to him.
"So do I," Norrington whispered, exchanging a knowing glance with Jack. The two men seemed to have shared something incredible in that single glance alone, but it wasn't something Will or Elizabeth could ever hope to understand. They simply did not know. They hadn't seen the things these two men had.
"Tell us about it Jack. Please," Will asked softly, wanting no needing to know what had put that bleak light in Jack's eyes when he spoke about someone Will had never even heard of before.
Jack didn't want to. He didn't want to let the group of overeager friends into his soul. He didn't want them to know the darkness that he kept inside; the horrible things he had seen in his lifetime. He knew that just by his telling each and every one of them would be plagued by nightmares for many nights to come. He himself had grown used to the constant waking up in the middle of the night gasping for breath or when they were especially horrible-screaming. There was no need for them to be exposed to his personal little hell. But the look in Will's eyes forced the words to flow from his lips. The young blacksmith looked so earnest; so willing and needing to know what haunted his friend. He wanted to know how to help, Jack could tell. But how could Jack tell him that there was no help? That he was beyond all help and that there was nothing anyone could do to change that? But still he spoke.
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Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Spain, merchant ship The Intrepid, Captain Sebastian Sperling, 1673
Jack didn't dare give up his hiding place for two reasons: one, he didn't want to be found by any of the pirates that had seemingly taken over the ship, or were about to, and two, Emmett.
Emmett lay shivering and bleeding beside him, clearly wanting to charge in the face of all danger and single-handedly reclaim the ship-the tension in his right hand as he gripped the hilt of his sword made this obvious-but lacking the energy to do so. He had been gravely wounded and Jack feared that if he did not gain the help of a surgeon soon, he would surely die.
Jack could still hear some fighting above decks, which oddly reassured him that his cousin Sebastian was still alive. Perhaps this was foolish, but Jack couldn't help think that only when Captain Sperling drew his last breath would the battle be ended and the Intrepid truly lost.
"Jack?" Emmett whispered desperately, speaking around bloodied lips and tongue. "What the bloody hell is happening up there? Are we winning?"
Jack did not think so, damned himself for thinking such thoughts, and told Emmett the truth: "I do now know," he whispered back, praying that they were not overheard.
"Do not lie to me, Jack. You aren't any good at it," Emmett managed to say dryly despite his circumstances.
"I simply lack proper practice," Jack responded, trying to lighten the somber mood a little.
"You'll not be getting that practice now. Tell me the truth, Edward." Emmett hacked out the syllables of Jack's proper name to let Jack know he was being serious, but the effect was wasted. Jack could do nothing but fear for his friend-his only-'s health when he saw a thin trickle of blood slide past Emmett's parted lips.
"Stop bloody looking at me as if I were about to keel over at any second, Jack. It's bloody irritating."
"Sorry." The sounds of fighting above them had ceased. Jack and Emmett both grew very quiet and very still. There were no more whispered conferences after that.
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Jack paused, the telling of this particular tale clearly weighing heavily upon him. Norrington didn't bother asking the pirate captain if he was alright; it was clear that he was not. Jack's skin had gone pale beneath his still dark tan, and he seemed to be staring intently at the lines of the tattoo-or whatever it bloody was-upon his left hand. A hand which Norrington noticed was trembling. No one dared speak.
"They found us of course; the pirates." Jack's sudden speaking again seemed to startle the occupants of the room even though each of them had been waiting for him to continue. "We weren't hidden very well, and Emmett… He was bleeding heavily. They just followed the trail. We fought, but it was no use."
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Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Spain, pirate ship The Hangman's Knuckles, Captain Zachariah Kruler, 1673
Jack wanted to weep as he saw the Intrepid burning in the distance as he was being rowed over to the much larger pirate ship, his arms bound behind his back tighter than was necessary, but he didn't dare. He didn't have anywhere to go but to David Jones' if he escaped, and he couldn't feel his arms to swim with any longer anyway. He didn't bother asking them to loosen his bonds though. He knew they wouldn't.
Emmett leaned heavily against his right side, and Jack could feel his friend' blood soaking through the once pristine linen of his shirt. He didn't care. He chanced a quick look to see how his friend was faring, and upon seeing him, was inclined to speak up and damn the consequences. "My friend needs a surgeon. We're of no use to you dead. You cannot receive a ransom for a corpse." Jack knew that Emmett's family, if he had one, likely had no money with which to pay such a ransom, but the pirates didn't, and Jack was sure his mother would be more than willing to pay to get them both free. His family didn't have a lot of money per se, enough to get by, but Katrina Sperling was a good woman who wouldn't let innocents suffer. The pirates however didn't seem to take this into account.
"He's no use to us at all." By the time this statement became clear to Jack, Emmett's body was being pushed out of the boat, nearly taking them all into the drink with it as the boat rocked alarmingly. Jack hadn't heard the pistol shot, and he hadn't really understood just what it was either until he felt a hot spray of Emmett's blood coat his right cheek and chin. Jack managed to close his eyes before it happened, keeping his vision clear of the red wave, but he could taste Emmett's life on his lips and almost retched. But he didn't. He couldn't. He couldn't show weakness in front of these pirates. If he was about to die, it was going to be as a man. He watched the sea claim Emmett's body and wanted to join him, but it seemed as if it wasn't his time to die quite yet. His eyes followed his only friend's last movements and shed not a single tear, filled with the grim feeling that Emmett had been the lucky one.
The pirates just laughed at the sight of the well-dressed young man in front of them spattered with blood like a sloppy butcher-Jack didn't bother wiping any of it away, not that he had hands free with which to do so-but he paid them no mind. His only thoughts were of his mother and sister. What would happen to them after he was dead? Would they even know what fate had befallen him? Would they come looking for him? He hoped not.
The pirates were still laughing as they practically carried him up the rope ladder hanging over the side of the ship, still not untying his hands. Jack could hardly feel his fingers anymore. Once he had reached the deck he was shoved hard from behind, the intent being to force him to he knees or send him crashing down chin-first without free arms to brace himself, but he managed to keep his footing by sheer force of will. The pirates stopped laughing.
"You're either very brave, or very stupid. Since you allowed yourself to be taken alive, I'm leaning toward the latter." The pirate who whispered this was shaking his head in a manner that seemed almost regretful, the silver bells that he had strung through his hair ringing softly as he did so.
Jack just stood and started at him for a minute, his eyes fixed on the chain of bells that ran from the pirate's left ear to his left nostril. He couldn't help but thinking as he lost count of how many bells the pirate had attached to his face in some manner that it must be difficult to sneak up on people with all of those bells making noise. Then again, the man was quiet large; he probably didn't need to sneak up on people. Jack didn't know what possessed him to be thinking such banal thoughts about one of his captors so soon after Emmett's death, but he couldn't seem to stop himself.
"No matter. If you're still alive once the Captain's through with you, you'll either be insane or wish you were, but you won't be dead." The belled pirate paused before continuing. "You won't be alive either, but you won't be dead. The time for such mercies has passed." With this, the pirates were finally able to push Jack forward down onto the deck, but he managed to turn himself before he hit, so he saved himself a broken jaw but not a sound knock to the head which sent him spiraling into unconsciousness.
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"I'm sorry, Jack. To lose a friend like that… It must have been awful," Will whispered when Jack had paused again.
Jack looked up at the sound of Will's voice, his hand going for a pistol that wasn't there as he was startled. Once he seemed to remember where he was he relaxed a little and gave Will a humourless smile that must have pained him, for Will could see how swollen Jack's mouth had gone, and remembered that Jack was missing yet another tooth. A wave of guilt passed over him as he realized that while listening he had forgotten about the people around him and their ailments: Jack's missing tooth, Norrington's swollen throat and injured hand, and Elizabeth… There were too many ills stacked against Elizabeth to name. He spared a glance in Elizabeth's direction but quickly looked away again as he met her eyes as she stared back at him. He didn't know quite why he had done it; his eyes had been turned in another direction before he could think to look away. Jack's voice interrupted Will's thoughts.
"Don't be sorry for Emmett. I'm not. He was better off." Jack voice had grown bitter and filled with more than a little hate at talk of Emmett's fate which made Jack's audience-save Elizabeth-shudder to hear. Elizabeth didn't react because her mind was currently going over the comparison between the man who had…raped her, and the man she was currently listening to and nearly feeling sorry for. At first, there had been almost none save appearance. The more Jack spoke however, the more the list of similarities between him and Lorelac grew. It was this sudden realisation that truly caused Elizabeth to shudder. The shuddering only increased when Jack began to speak again.
"It was then that I met Captain Kruler for the first time." Jack's voice was clipped and emotionless, and while his eyes met Will's, it was clear he wasn't looking at the blacksmith. "Captain Zachariah was a singular man. I was fortunate to have met him."
"Fortunate? From what I know of the man, I doubt that very much Jack," Norrington said softly, frowning at Jack's words.
"No, I was fortunate. He taught me everything I know about being a pirate," Jack responded softly. It was Norrington's turn to shudder. He almost didn't want to hear what came next, but he couldn't turn away.
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Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Spain, pirate ship The Hangman's Knuckles, Captain Zachariah Kruler, 1673
Jack wasn't quite sure what was happening any longer, but from the way his captors had grown deathly silent, he knew it couldn't be good. He could only assume he was about to meet his death, and oddly enough that knowledge reassured him. It was hard to be afraid of something that was inevitable. That he hadn't been killed already gave him pause, but he didn't let it bother him. Perhaps they just wanted to find out who he was and what he could give them before they killed him. "Going to see the captain, am I? You should have told me. I'm not properly attired for such a meeting," Jack muttered dryly under his breath as he was led to what he assumed was the captain's cabin. The comment earned him a sound knock across his jaw that loosened a few of his teeth.
"If you want to keep that tongue of yours inside your head you'll learn to speak civil," the same belled pirate hissed at him. He had been the one that had hit him and Jack could still hear ringing, although he didn't imagine it was coming from the pirate anymore.
Jack figured that speaking now would only earn him another blow to the head so he settled for a nod as he was pushed into the large cabin. The cabin was plush but simply furnished in dark colours. Jack scanned it quickly for its occupant, but if the captain of the ship he was currently held hostage on was in there, he didn't see him.
"Untie him," a gravelly voice whispered out from the darkness, giving Jack a start. "I like them able to run." To Jack's increasing confusion and fear, the two pirates guarding him did just that before moving to stand behind him like stone pillars. "Leave us. We have much to talk about," the voice spoke again. The pirates left without a word and closed the door behind them, casting the room in utter darkness.
"What are you going to do to me?" Jack called out into the darkness, sounding braver than he felt. He gave a start at the scratching sound of a match being lit and his eyes immediately focused on the small flame as it moved throughout the room to land on a candle wick. Its bearer, however, remained a mystery to him until the lamp was lit and the room was filled with muted light. Jack looked up to meet the eyes of his host and let out a gasp at the pair of extraordinarily strange eyes staring back at him. One-the right one-was normal enough; of a pale blue or grey, but the other… Captain Kruler's left eye was a mass of the purest black, seeming to stare right through him and into his very soul.
"The crew are afraid of it. They seem to think that I use it to see into their souls," Captain Kruler commented off-handedly when he noticed Jack staring at his eye. That his words echoed Jack's thoughts made him shudder. "I don't deny them this superstition." Captain Kruler moved about the room in front of Jack, but came no closer to him; something Jack was extremely grateful for. "I saw you fighting my men on board your ship earlier, boy. Very impressive. Those were good men and you took them down with a minimum of difficulty."
"I only defended myself. I'm sure any man here would have done the same," Jack insisted, worried that Captain Kruler was angry about the loss of his men.
"Oh no, boy. You see, my men are ones to defend themselves. They like to be the offenders, you see? They like to take lives, not save them. If they die, they die. But there's not a man aboard that wouldn't take out more than twice his number before he went. But you've left me at a bit of an impasse. You killed good men and I've no one to replace them with."
Jack froze, not liking where this was going. Captain Kruler's black eye seemed to glow menacingly as it caught the candlelight. "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously, his eyes darting around the room for a possible escape. There was none.
Captain Kruler gave him a look. "Not yet. You and I have business to attend to first."
Before Jack could ask what he meant by that, Captain Kruler had called the pirate guards back inside the cabin and Jack was led once more to the main deck, only his hands were left free this time.
In the bright light reflected off the sea, Jack was able to get a good look at his captor for the first time. Captain Zachariah Kruler wasn't a large man, but he was clearly imposing. He had jet black hair and a pointed face that looked as if it had seen hard times. If the false eye was any indication, this was certainly the truth. When he spoke, it was through a thick Irish brogue that reminded Jack of home. It was then that he realised just how much he missed England, his family, his home, all of it. He missed knowing what was happening there. He had no idea if Charles the II was still king or someone else; no way of knowing if England was currently at war with France or Spain, what religion was in fashion, or most importantly, what was happening to his family.
"This man dared go against us, men!" Captain Kruler's voice echoed through the eerily silent ship. For an instant, Jack thought Kruler was talking about him, but when he saw his cousin being led forth; his hands tied behind his back and his face swollen and bloodied, he knew he was here to witness, not stand accused.
"No… Sebastian," Jack whispered in horror. If former captain Sebastian Sperling heard or saw him, he gave no sign. Jack made a move as if to run to his cousin, but was held back by a strong arm. It was attached to the same belled pirate who had seemed to have become a permanent fixture at Jack's side.
"You're here to watch, boy. Nothing more. Interfere, and you'll be sorry," the pirate hissed.
Jack wanted to argue, but something told me an argument, no matter how well worded, wouldn't get him far with this group. He had nothing else to do but watch in silent horror, fearing what was about to take place.
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Jack needed to take a breath and clear his thoughts. He knew his audience would be dying to know what happened, but he just couldn't do it. He couldn't go on digging the past out of him in shattered shards without at least taking a break now and again. He was fortunate that his listeners seemed to understand this at least.
"Take as much time as you need, Jack," Norrington said softly. Will inclined his head in agreement.
"Why are you telling us any of this?" Elizabeth spoke up suddenly, startling them all. "No one asked you to."
"I know. I…want to. I haven't told anyone about this…not even," Jack paused and took a breath. "I didn't even tell Anamaria."
"It's alright, Jack. We're not going anywhere. We'll listen to what you have to tell us," Will said, casting a glance in Elizabeth's direction. Things were strained between them, and between Elizabeth and Jack; everyone in the room could feel it, but no one knew what to do about it.
Elizabeth didn't say a word, but shot both Will and Jack that couldn't be called 'kind' in any sense of the word.
Will had the grace to look chagrined, but Jack just looked resigned and sorrowful. He knew he would pay for what he had done to Elizabeth. It was only a matter of time.
"What happened next, Jack?" Norrington asked after a few minutes of complete and awkward silence had passed. "They killed your cousin, didn't they?"
Jack gave him a bitter smile. "Yes they did. Before my very eyes. But not before they had made my presence known, that is. They thought it would be amusing to see Sebastian's reaction."
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Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Spain, pirate ship The Hangman's Knuckles, Captain Zachariah Kruler, 1673
Jack was pushed forward into Sebastian's line of sight, unbound and uninjured, a striking contrast to his cousin.
"Edward? Is that you?" Sebastian asked in a quiet, broken voice that made Jack's stomach lurch.
"Yes, Sebastian. It's me," Jack said softly, moving closer to his cousin. The pirates surrounding them had gone quiet; wanting to know what was happening.
"Edward…you're ok," Sebastian said with relieved sigh. The two of them had never really gotten along, but family was still family. A small smile made its way to Sebastian's face as he searched Jack for injury. It faded a little when he found none. Jack had blood on him, but after a moment's examination it was clearly not his. Jack didn't have a scratch on him. And he was unbound. He was moving about the pirate ship as a free man, unharmed by any of the pirates surrounding them while Sebastian was bound and beaten. Sebastian took a step back from him and his face dissolved into a mask of hate. "Traitor! You fucking bastard! What did they offer you to betray your own blood, you snake?!"
Jack recoiled as if he had been slapped. "I-I didn't," he stuttered out, unbelieving that Sebastian could even think such a thing. He wouldn't betray his family. Surely Sebastian must know that.
"Liar!" Sebastian roared, spitting toward Jack viciously. The glob of saliva and blood hit its mark on Jack's cheek where it remained. "If I have to make my way through hell itself to find you, I will and I will make you suffer," Sebastian hissed. "You're life is forfeit. You're no family of mine. Your mother and sister will die cursing your name, of that I'm certain."
Jack could only stand there at this point, utterly bereft and unable to speak a word through Sebastian's tirade. Just when he was about to make a reply-he wasn't sure what he was going to say, but he had to say something-he was covered in a spray of blood as Sebastian's throat was slit from behind.
"I must say, he had some rather intriguing ideas," Kruler commented as he watched Sebastian sink to his knees, cursing Jack with every glance even as his life blood escaped him. "We'll do as he wished of course. It wouldn't be right of me to deny a dying man his last request. It will be known in every corner of the known world that you betrayed your family and your ship to us."
"No, that's not, not true," Jack moaned, rushing to his cousin's side as the former captain grew still, his eyes staring up at Jack with hate even in death.
"Soon enough, you'll even come to believe it. Welcome to the Hangman's Knuckles, Mr. Sperling."
TBC
A/N: I'm evil. This, I know. Sorry this took so long to post. I've been suitably chastened, I assure you. Next chapter will be up in a week or so.
Reviewer Responses:
FIRST OF ALL, TO ALL REVIEWERS I AM A MILLION TIMES SORRY FOR THE LENGTH BETWEEN POSTING!!!!
A very special thanks to Jackfan2, Holliday1081, ellenar, BURN THE R.U.M.., Gaze, FalconWing, SS, Shwankles, Otherhawk, OpraNoodlemantra, Mistress of Destruction, Bules and Typically Head Over Heels. Sorry I can't respond to you all individually like normal, but I figured you'd forgive me this once in the knowledge that I got the chapter out just a little sooner. At least, I hope so. Hope to see you all again, you guys are the best!!
-Merrie