AN: From now the story continuous on a few months after At worlds end (in between pirates 3 and 4). Thanks again for the love and let me know what you think!

Chapter 10

A compass, it shows you the way, but what way and where to?

It wasn't just north inside a compass Cutler was looking for, no. It was something or rather someone that would only be found with the magical compass, showing you the thing you want most. Not only has a compass to show you what's there at the end of the arrow, but it also includes a route that's straight up to the thing you need in the quickest way possible.

So the quickest way, this mission, was the only thing on Cutler's mind right now. He needed to reach Jack, it was he who had the compass, still after all those years. Cutler was thinking about the deal they made and how he now regretted returning the compass to Jack. Cutler would have let the Pearl escape if Jack would help him to enter the Locker, that was their agreement. Cutler never planned to let Jack run away again though, he would have destroyed the Pearl and reach two goals in one final moment. Jack's dead, and the compass which would lead him to the Locker.

'He expects us to honor our agreement?' Cutler remembered himself blurring out just before the Endeavour saw her end. Cutler had been astonished by Jack seemingly upholding the deal they had made. Cutler had felt doubt and uncertainty at that point for just the slightest moment. He heard the soft comforting voice of Kate ringing in his mind, telling him that he needed to have a little more faith in Jack. But it did not take long before he felt that rage again, that anger at Jack for killing his fiance in the first place. Besides, Cutler couldn't just have let the Pearl run, to the Company that would have been a strange sight. So Cutler could only sense this emotionless feeling at the pit of his stomach again, the bond of a business arrangement with no strings attached.

'It's just good business' were his last words before he realized it was Jack who had been thinking the same, just before the Flying Dutchman together with the Pearl had blown all of Cutler's plans to pieces. And it was soon Cutler was left with nothing but Jack's promise.

The light, the light had been hurting his eyes for quite some time. But his hand kept on lowering his tricorne hat just a little more, so the sun couldn't touch his face. It had been the constant headache, this feeling of nausea, which probably indicated that he had a mild concussion, he had learned that from Kate. But Cutler's black boots kept on going faster and faster, walking down the streets and soon a small alley.

There was a dock in sight, the dock of a small town Cutler had fled to once drifting to the nearest beach after the attack on the Endeavour. They had searched for bodies and men still alive after the war against piracy had ended, just after the Pearl had fled. The Company had searched, but never found their Director's body, whether he was dead or alive. Cutler didn't want to be found. It was only after floating upon the waves of the ocean after the disbelieve of surviving the attack, that Cutler's mind went to solving his problems again. Like always it had been his talent to try and maneuver his way through destruction, probably something he had picked up when he was only a young boy, always cleaning up the mess his father left behind after destroying his family again.

But that wasn't important now. Cutler had been out of the reach of the Company, he had hidden himself from the world of the aristocrats and noblemen to make sure he had the time to execute his plan on saving her.

And so Cutler's eyes raised to the white sails of a passenger ship he had bought himself transportation to his destination after he had managed to get some of his belongings, including some money to make sure he got what he needed, from a place he had hidden some, in case of an emergency.

'Tortuga?' the tall man with the large glasses, making his eyes seem unusually big, watched down on Cutler, still covering his face, making sure he wasn't recognized as the Director of the East India Company. But his slightly grown beard and the shadow of his tricone hat made sure no one could watch him properly into the eyes, probably made him unrecognizable.

'You heard me' Cutler growled and for a moment realized he couldn't order people around to his liking anymore. For a moment he felt foolish having to explain this man in front of him his destination. But Cutler moved down a few coins up from his black cloak's pockets, and without speaking and looking rather surprised but pleased the tall man nodded shrugging his shoulders and let Cutler pass the gangplank to enter the ship.

'We will not port at this particular island you speak of, but we can help you ashore with one of the longboats' the man said just before Cutler entered the deck, one of the Company's smaller ships carrying all sorts of spices. Immediately Cutler recognized that familiar smell, it made him feel young again and reminded him when he only started working for the Company so long ago when he was sailing on spice trading ships most of the time. It reminded him of the day he met Kate for the first time where it all had started.

It took Cutler three days before he arrived at Tortuga. Cutler felt a stone inside his stomach thinking about visiting an Island he had sent Mercer, may his soul rest in peace, to more times than he could remember to spy on pirates, and what their next move would be. Cutler turned around in his hammock down below in a shared deck were all the passengers slept. He didn't sleep much that last night aboard, it surprised Cutler how quickly he had let go of being used to the riches he had been surrounded with over the last couple of years. Of course, it took some getting used to the food and not feeling the softness of a mattress at night, but Cutler soon felt like the young boy he had been so many years ago come back to him quickly. It had been the snoring of his neighbor that made him annoyed and sleepless all night.

It almost felt peaceful, as he was standing near the balustrade of the ship the next morning, feeling the drops of the ocean spray on his cheeks. It never occurred to him he had taken sailing for granted, the smells, the soft breeze touching your skin. Cutler had always been busy and never took a moment to realize the beauty of the world. It was strange, how peaceful he was at the most uncomfortable place he could be right now. But knowing that his plan had started, that the goal came closer within his horizon, that made him hopeful, and yes, even peaceful for just a moment.

'Bloody hell' Cutler softly mumbled within himself. That peaceful moment from earlier that day had vanished completely as Cutler had set foot on land again. His eyes had moved through a dock that seemed to be busier than he'd ever seen a dock. Men running around with weapons, shouting women and loose animals crossing the street like there was no order anywhere to be found on the Island. Cutler stood there with his bag in one of his hands, holding his hat in the other, quickly putting it on again as his face now completely disappeared into darkness even more besides the darkness of the evening that had just struck the island of Tortuga.

It was a good thing, the hat covering his face. Tortuga was of course the most known place for pirates to gather once they had nowhere to go, and it were exactly that kind of people that would gladly kill Cutler, he was a grand target for every single soul in this town. The famous pirate hunter himself, in Tortuga. Walking down these alleys was like walking on thin ice.

Cutler was drifting away in his thoughts of finding the person he was looking for, after some informants aboard the ship, he too bribed earlier, had given him the information he needed. It was for a moment his mind slipped away and he forgot to be watchful as a strong arm pulled him to the side and dragged him inside one of the side entrances of a bar. Cutler's eyes had been used to the darkness of the streets and he needed to pinch his eyes to see inside the room he just entered. Cutler tried to pull his arm away from the hold this person was having on him and before he knew it he was pushed down harshly. Cutler expected to feel pain but he landed on something that seemed to be a bed like round sofa, one of the many in a room full of people. This wasn't a bar.

'Aren't you one handsome fellow?' a creaking voice said and Cutler watched into the eyes of a large woman with a tall brown wig almost falling from her head, hovering above the sofa watching Cutler with eyes that made a cold shiver run down his spine.

'What?' was all Cutler could spell out as he watched the woman coming closer, he felt her weight push down on his lap once her large thighs surrounded his legs, her large breasts almost falling from her worn-out corset Cutler smelled a strong alcohol scent and something that reminded him of a wet dog. Immediately the feeling of nausea returned to him and he started kicking and pushing but she took hold of his wrists suddenly.

'For you, I can make a special price tonight darling' the woman's face came closer and Cutler started struggling ever harder, amazed by the strength she had, but it was then again no wonder as she was probably three times Cutler's body mass.

'Let me go you witch' Cutler hissed to the woman, but speaking made the nausea pressing his stomach. He quickly tried to see if there was something on the small table next to him and he saw a bottle of probably rum standing on the nightstand. Instead of struggling, Cutler started to stretch his arm. If he could only reach the bottle, smash it to pieces and use it as a weapon. Cutler felt the weight of the large female move close to his lungs and he started having trouble breathing. She tried to pull his face, squeezing his cheeks with her chubby fingers together, toward that of her, her lips coming closer and Cutler for a moment felt the panic of being discovered and her finding out who he was. But soon she removed her eyes from his lips and started pulling at the belt of his trousers. Cutler started to panic and felt the tips of his fingers just touch the edge of the bottle on the stand. Suddenly the woman started to move back, giving Cutler all the air back to his lungs and leaving his now unbuckled belt alone.

'Leave the man alone Patricia, he's not worth it, believe me. Eunuch, you know' suddenly the familiar voice of a man had moved the woman back with his hand, helping her large body to rise from the sofa.

'If you say so Jack. But I want my money, he must have had at least some pleasure from this' the woman winked at Cutler, whose face was green by now, both because of the woman and seeing Jack, the person he was looking for, now saved his life. The woman turned to Jack receiving a few coins from Jack before she turned around, looking for another customer.

Cutler quickly got up from the sofa, his face had turned from green to tomato red and he started buckling his belt back in place, doing that while turned away from Jack.

'How the hell did you end up alive.. and here?' Jack spoke surprised, even though his face didn't show any. Cutler on the other hand seemed speechless after turning around, straightening his clothes and correcting his wig. He had found the person he was looking for, and rather quickly, it was luck by his side, that or it just wasn't a very large island.

'Did you know I was here?' Cutler didn't know what to say, he watched Jack smirking and shrugging his shoulders, he probably enjoyed this, seeing Cutler at a pirate port.

'I heard a rumor of a man entering the town.. let's say, not really dressed like someone that would choose Tortuga as a destination, lurking around the docks, short figure but a confident posture, and I knew it was you' Jack started grinning like he just won a bet, showing his gold teeth.

Cutler was relieved to have found Jack so quickly, but he suddenly realized it took only one word from Jack, and Cutler would be ripped apart by probably every single soul on this island, would they find out who he is. And it seemed like Jack knew this as well. Jack confidently slapped Cutler on his back and dragged him along holding his lower shoulder sideways like they were mates, going for a drink.

'Was that a brothel?' Cutler tried to see the sign of the building once they moved outside on the streets again and the two men walked to one of the bars next to the building they left from. Jack started grinning looking down at Cutler.

'That my friend indeed was. Never been to one? What a shame' Jack was still playing this character of having all the strings in hand, Cutler didn't like it and with every eye watching him as they passed through a crowd once inside the bar, he felt that pitch of annoyance he always felt when Jack was tricking him.

'I can arrange a few ladies for you tonight if you feel lonely?' Jack kept on grinning and he pushed Cutler down on one of the chairs surrounding a small round table in the corner of the bar.

'You're mad' Cutler rolled his eyes and Jack started shouting something in a pirate tongue so strong that Cutler almost couldn't hear what he was yelling. One of the barkeepers came running and moved down two cups of rum and the liquid inside almost spilled on the table as the man serving them was drunker than probably the guests themself.

'I am only trying to help make your arrival here a little more pleasant' Jack shrugged his shoulders and kept on grinning as it seemed like he enjoyed to torment Cutler like this.

'I know every lady out there, and especially the ones you shouldn't go to, believe me..' Jack winked sarcastically and started laughing but turned his face to disgust as if he was thinking back about a certain experience he had.

'Jack, stop this' Cutler watched Jack almost already finishing his cup of rum. For a moment Cutler had raised the cup to his face, but the strong smell of rum turned his stomach.

'Oh! There's this woman, she's expensive, but I know you have the coins if you know what I mean' Jack grinned at Cutler who once against had the urge to roll his eyes. Cutler lowered his sight to the cup, hoping Jack would soon be done with his mocking and they could come to business.

'She's a redhead..' Jack was smirking so intensely that the corners of his mouth almost touched his temples. Cutler's eyes shifted from the cup he was staring at to Jack, who was now busy with making eye contact with a woman at the bar, and Cutler rose from his seat in a quick movement, shoving his chair back with a loud scrape sound.

'Don't you dare' Cutler hissed pointing his finger to Jack, feeling anger boil through his veins. He couldn't believe his ears and felt like Jack was mocking Kate now too, there he crossed the line.

'Alright, I'm sorry. It wasn't my place' Jack made a bowing gesture holding his cup. Cutler's tense arms holding him up from watching Jack in the eyes relaxed somewhat more.

'Not everyone enjoys a Eunuch' Jack quickly spoke before hiding behind his cup and sipping from his rum. Cutler now took Jack by his collar and almost dragged him across the table, his furious eyes warning him.

'I.. am not.. a eunuch' Cutler spilled out. Cutler remembered this was something Jack had teased him with years ago, Jack somehow found out about Cutler's physical state after the pirates' torture and he always found the need to tease both him and Kate, asking if she was with child already. And so Jack had formed his own little joke, calling him a eunuch, to torment Cutler with. For a moment Cutler remembered the feeling of Kate making him calm again after these jokes, telling him it was just Jack's silly behavior.

Jack moved his hand around Cutler's wrist holding his collar.

'Remember who holds all the cards now Cutler, remember' Jack moved his eyes upon a few pirates in the back watching Cutler holding Jack like they were about to fight, and Cutler quickly let go of Jack's collar, moving back into his chair watching the dark stares he got from the men in the back. Probably Jack's crew.

'Alright, let's just talk, what is it you're here for?' Jack seemed a little more serious now and crossed his arms in front of him.

'I need you to hold your end of the bargain we made Jack. I did mine, letting you and everyone on the Pearl run' Cutler spoke and Jack moved back into his chair, his elbow holding his weight, leaning on the back of the chair.

'Before, or after you found out that the Flying Dutchman wasn't on your side anymore?' Jack spoke sarcastically, signing the barkeeper to fill up his cup. For a moment Cutler wondered how many Jack had drunken already. Cutler decided to ignore his comment and tried some of the rum finally, after holding the cup for some time now. Cutler's face spoke volumes, the disgust was read from his face. Jack had to grin at the sight of Cutler probably wishing he had his expensive brandy.

'I guess you didn't make a promotion with the Company after that war, letting the Pearl get away' Jack was smirking by the sight of Cutler moving away the cup and Jack quickly took it and threw back Cutler's rum, like it was nothing.

'I choose not to return to the Company, for now. I needed to make them think I was dead' Cutler whispered like there could be a spy between the pirates surrounding them inside the bar.

'To start your plan of saving her without any distraction..' Jack whispered now too, it seemed like he had given up on mocking Cutler with every word he spoke, his face serious.

'So, now I found the person I was looking for. And don't tell me I've been suffering through this journey and this town, if you can even call it something civilized, for nothing' Cutler watched Jack in what seemed like hope, but his eyes were still dark and slightly annoyed. Jack moved up in his chair and finished his now third cup of rum, together with Cutler's.

'I will see what I can do. I will give you an answer when the liquor running through my veins isn't impacting my way of thinking' Jack acted out as if he was busy and moved up from his chair, standing it was clear it weren't just the first three cups of the evening and Jack swayed on his legs. Cutler did too get up, afraid Jack would make a run for it and that he would lose the chance of getting Jack to make a deal. But it was late and as the men moved outside Jack told to meet him at the bay tomorrow morning, soon Jack changed his mind and told Cutler the beginning of the afternoon would be a better fit, probably hungover from tonight. And before Cutler turned around to make his way to find himself a room for the night he heard Jack shouting after him walking away.

'I still think you're a eunuch!' Jack's voice hallowed across the busy streets of Tortuga, turning some heads. But Cutler ignored him and made way for the nearest inn that looked decent enough.