The last seconds of sunlight seeped through Danielle's cell, making the room full of dark reds, oranges and yellows, making the sky look beautiful before it could go to sleep. Danielle turned away from the small window, and let out sigh. The sigh telling the iron bars, she missed the sunset and dawn, the beautiful thing life could offer, she missed breathing the free air and feeling free. Even if she got away from the monster, she would never be free, not as long he was alive, causing havoc and she was away from Ragetti.
Thinking of Ragetti she lowered herself to sit on the floor, she missed him so much. Each and every day she thought about him, thinking what he would do if he was alive, she would like to think he would be after her, fight until he found her, to over come his fears and confront Beckett. A smile formed on her face, her thoughts made her heart beat, and her insides felt warm, as she thought about her love. Her mind went on to her old life, the one that seemed a life time ago. Chains of events forced change in her life, ones she hated, wished she could erase but some she would choose to keep, meeting Ragetti, working and falling in love with him, meeting and growing towards Charlie, to feel something special to them but also to other people; those she would not change. Those which she would change...well you can guess on what they are and who they involved.
She lifted her legs to her chin and rested her arms on them, then rested her head on them. Years had quickly gone past, one minute she felt like she was nine, on the Wicked Wrench with Jack, her dad and his crew, sailing the open waters for the first time, to an unknown destination. She remembered feeling the excitement, of not knowing where she was going, to be on the open waters, to be with her father and feel free. Yet she felt like the next minute she was no longer a child, but an adult, to feel fear, anger, hurt and guilt, all excitement, hope, joy and happiness vanished with a click of the finger. She had to grow up fast, to learn how to be indepenant, how to be top of the world without bringing attention to herself. With the help of her friends Theodore Groves, Governor Swann, Elizabeth and Will, she made it, she was thankful for them to keep her secret, and watched her blossom as it were. Now all that was lost, she had lost everything once again, all her family was gone, her uncle was back on the Flying Dutchman, quickly losing himself, soon she feared he be not himself at all, Will was maybe gone from the word, she did not know; all she knew she was alone once again, she had no one to turn to.
Raising her eyes from staring at the floor, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs and nearing the door of the brig. She stared in the dim light confused, however she lowered her arms and clenched her hands into a ball, ready to hit if it was the monster.
Quickly she flattened her hands, thankful it weren't the monster or his men, as Governor Swann and Theo walked into the room. She smiled seeing the men, though she knew dark days laid ahead for them all, she was happy to see them. Theo stayed by the door, he seemed he was on the look out, which made Danielle stare at Swann with confusion as she heard her cell door being unlocked.
"What are you doing?" Danielle asked.
"Getting you out of here." Swann replied while opening the door. "Come on."
Danielle quickly stood up through her heart was pounding against her chest, she had doubt in the old man's plan. She knew she wouldn't be able to escape not alive, not without them being hurt, which she couldn't let happen.
"I have a rowing boat waiting below, you get on it and row yourself away from here." Swann informed Danielle, as they walked up the stairs. "It is not safe around here, I fear the worse for you Danielle."
"I've faced a lot in my time Guv, I think I can face what the monster has planned for me." Danielle stated quietly, as they walked onto the main deck, it seemed weird that hardly any men were up, which sent a shiver down her spine. She didn't like this, she knew the monster would have thought about everything. "Guv, thank you for everything, but this won't work."
"It sounds like you have faith in Beckett or lost faith in me, or maybe both." Swann stated.
"None of those, but he will soon know I've escaped and he would put everything together and know who helped me as I couldn't escape myself." Danielle explained.
Before Swann or Theo could say anything, they heard voices coming down the stairs. Theo grabbed Danielle's hand and pulled her through double doors and ran down a long hallway, doors were placed on both sides of the wall. Quickly Theo opened an unlocked door and pulled her into a room. There they both caught their breaths in the silence. Danielle took the time to look around her, she was in a room, it seemed it had been inhabited by someone, she looked over to Theo and watched him open a rucksack on the bed. She guessed she was in his bedroom, he kept it tidy, more than she did with hers back at home.
"Why are my in here?" Danielle asked.
"Don't want to get caught." Theo replied, while putting food in the bag. "We don't need Beckett's men to know you are escaping."
"What about the Guv?"
"He can look after himself."
"Are you sure about that? You didn't see him back on the Dutchman, I was scared he was going to kill Jones."
Theo carried on packing the bag with a bottle of water, and a compass. Danielle watched with confusion, she hadn't seen him act like that before, to keep everything professional, to keep stuff to the minimum. She guessed he was afraid, afraid of her, and of himself, knowing what would happen if he got caught.
She slowly stepped forward, but before she could bring any comfort to her friend, the door behind her slammed open and hurried footsteps entered the room, revealing EITC soldiers. Two quickly grabbed Danielle, harshly making her groan in pain.
"Get off me!" She said angrily, trying to get free from their grips.
"Ah, Miss Turner, I thought the brigs was what you be used to, but it seems not." The cold, harsh Scottish voice hit Danielle. She watched with a glare as Mercer walked through, he glanced at her and then to Theo, who stood at the end of his bed. "Want to explain why a prisoner is in your bedchambers Lieutenant?"
"It is nothing you are suggesting." Theo stated.
"And what are my suggesting?" Mercer asked. Danielle knew what he was suggesting, but Theo instead lowered his eyes and not answer as he could not say it, as it would be awkward. He walked around Theo, and picked up the bag and walked back in front of him. "Planning to escape Lieutenant or help her?"
Danielle watched with fear as Mercer threw the bag on the floor, an apple rolled out the bag. He raised his arm and punched him in the stomach, which made Danielle lean forward; wanting to run to her friend's aid. However the soldiers tighten her grip and pulled her back.
"Answer my question Lieutenant, were you planning to escape or help Miss Turner to escape? It is a very easy question to answer I am sure." Mercer added in a low, harsh tone, to the bended Theo.
"It is obvious that he was helping me escape!" Danielle said out loud in anger, which caused Mercer to stare at her, she was unsure if that was the right thing to do but she couldn't let Theo get hurt because of her.
However Mercer turned his attention back to Theo and punched him in the face, and then kicked him in the stomach; making him fall over in pain.
"No!" Danielle yelled in fear, as Mercer kicked him hard in the ribs many times. "Leave him be!"
He looked up from Theo and stared at Danielle, darkness, she could see in his eyes, and her fear reflected in them. He kicked Theo one more time and stepped over his injured, aching body to Danielle. He grabbed her arm, as the soldiers let go of her and turned her away from the scene. He pulled her along down to the hallway and to two wooden doors, which held glass in the middle, fear filled her as she knew who was in the room behind them. Mercer opened the doors and pulled her through, there her eyes looked around her, she was in some kind of office, a table was on the far side, a big globe stood on it, beside it maps, and small figures laid in perfect positions. However her eyes lastly landed on a small circle table in the middle of the room, two plates of food laid on the white cloth, two chairs stood facing toward it, showing two people were going to eat.
Two soldiers quickly grabbed her again, as Mercer let go and walked over to Beckett who sat at his desk. The soldiers walked her over to the table but turned her around so she was facing the monster. She lowered her eyes in fear, she felt his gaze on her but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear.
'You're becoming more tricker Danielle aren't you?' She heard the monster ask, she felt his evil smile upon his face. 'By your hand one of your friends is injured and the other is now in a cell waiting execution. Could you live with that on your shoulders? Another death?'
Danielle continued to stare at her feet. "They done no wrong." She stated. "If you are looking to kill someone then it should be me, they are too caught up in this already, just let the Guv go."
"How dare you think you can order..." She heard Mercer say harshly but he quickly fell silent.
"Ian, leave us, we have some business to attend to." Beckett stated.
Danielle was pulled to a chair and was made to sit on it, facing the small table. The soldiers grabbed her wrists, and held them against the chair but Beckett stopped them but saying: "I think she be more useful with her hands free." And then ordered them to leave, leaving her alone with him; something she weren't planning on doing or listen to him.
"Aren't you tired of doing this Danielle?" She heard the monster ask, before standing up from his chair and walked towards the table she sat at; still she looked down. "Or do you enjoy hurting those who want to help you? To be left alone, to drown in the heartache and feel empty?"
Danielle didn't reply instead folded her arms. She felt his eyes on her, however he didn't act upon his annoyance instead sat down.
"It is weird, how close you and Charlie had grown and you haven't even asked a question about him." Beckett stated. "As my brother has put in his letter, that he is doing fine, but hasn't said anything about when he lived with me for that week. Also that he was confused on why he arrived in England on a different ship he was meant to be on, and none of my men weren't with him, that no one was with. Care to explain that Danielle?"
Still Danielle kept quiet, though she felt like smiling, knowing Ragetti kept to his promise to her, he took him back to England so Charlie could carry on with his education and be a better man than his uncle. That Charlie was still alive and well, and her hope of her seeing him soon still held inside her, and seeing Ragetti too.
"After everything you done, I should be used to your behaviour." Beckett stated before pouring whiskey into two small glasses that was placed on the table. "But letting my nephew go with you to find Jack and ending up hurt that takes it to a new level."
"I had no choice." Danielle stated breaking her silence. "Don't dare criticize me Beckett, he is your nephew who you were meant to look after but you didn't." She added while looking up to show her anger. She unfolded her arms and picked up her glass of whiskey, she stared at the warm liquid. "I was the only one there for him, he came to me and not you. He looked up to me, and took in what I said. I wanted him to go back to England, to stay in education to be a better person but he told me if he weren't coming with me than he'll run way. It seemed you didn't care for your nephew, you weren't out looking out for him, nor did you care that was gone, you were glad that he was out of your hands."
"You actually believed an eight year old would run away?" Beckett stated, after watching Danielle down the whiskey and placed the glass on the table.
"Yes. You didn't know him like I did." Danielle simply replied. "You know nothing. All you see is yourself and your business. No one else matters. If someone stood in your way, you hurt them. If they tell you different; you hurt them. You think you are different, unbeatable and powerful but you are no different to the rest of your kind. You are predicable, cruel and pathetic." She raised her gaze and dared herself to stare at him. "But thank you for the information, now I know he is alive and safe; something I wanted for him. At least he will get a future and see the world. He is a good kid, has a good heart, something we are all missing."
Danielle lowered her gaze again, she knew the monster could see her fear that she was trying to hide, but she kept her voice calm though inside was a different story. She was too tired to fight. She was too tired to attack. She was tired of everything, she had been hurt enough, could anyone see that?
"To your first question, no I don't enjoy it." Danielle stated breaking the silence, she heard him pouring more whiskey into her glass. "But what choice do I have but to fight? I don't mean to hurt people, which leaves me in heartache, to be left by everyone and guilt. Certain events changes people, more than any everyone thinks. The past makes the person they are, but the present they live in and try to change their future. It is something we all do, except some make it and some don't."
She raised her gaze again and grabbed her glass and downed her whiskey.
"Marry me?"
Danielle stopped herself from choking on her whiskey by quickly swallowing it. She coughed to clear it and then looked at Beckett, unsure if she had heard him probably. "Excuse me?"
"Everything against your name will be cleared. You be safe from the gallows if you marry me." He replied, his eyes staring into hers.
"You really do know how to pick your time." She said sarcastically, she lowered her glass and placed it on the table. "My answer is no, I don't care about what is against my name and you really think I fear death? I rather die than be anywhere near you. Everyone knows that, Mercer does, the Guv, everyone, except you because you are blind. Nothing lasts forever."
"What about your friends and Ragetti? Wouldn't you want them safe, and out of danger? If they are alive." Beckett asked, making Danielle stare at him with anger, something she tried to hide but he knew how to push her buttons. "All you have to do is say one little word; then everything will change."
"You lock me in shackles. Ordered your men to drag me here, and be forced to sit near you, it sounds like you can't trust me. But what about the other events? I can't forget about those. Defiantly the ones that still haunt me to this day. I don't care what you said- what your bloody excuse was that doesn't matter. You hurt me, your branded me, forced me to make love to you, made to live with you and treated like a prisoner. You have Jones on your side, ordering him about, I wouldn't be surprised if you ordered him to keep me locked up until you came. You just want me to yourself. I cannot be who I want that is why I can't say yes." She said slowly her words laced with anger, yet inside she felt fear. She stood up from her chair and started to walk towards the doors: "How can you even look in the mirror? You judge so easy without an excuse and it is everyone in the wrong. You are coward. You use people to get your job done." She stopped walking as Beckett quickly walked around and stood in her path; stopping her from escaping. "I hate you and I will never even like instead of love you."
She frowned as he stepped forward, which she took a step backwards. However he quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her near him. "I'm sorry what I've done. I know its years too late but I love you Danielle." He confessed, he looked up from her hand and into her eyes, with his arm he wrapped it around her waist. "Nothing will change that. I know it is improper for a man to show his feelings but you are special. I rather lose everything to be with you than have everything and be without you." He quickly let go of her hand and raised his to her face, he cubed her chin and caressed her cheek with his thumb. "I just want to help you. I can help you."
Danielle stared at him with fear, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Quickly she reacted with anger and pushed his hands away from her, and stared at him with anger. "That must took you a long time to figure out. Yet you think I am stupid to fall in love with a monster?"
"A monster?"
"Yes. Don't act innocent, it doesn't work." She spat. "Death is the easy way out but some die without seeing the light; died worthless. You say sorry but do you mean it? Its all too late. I can't forgive. I can't forget."
She began to walk past him but he quickly grabbed her arm pulling her back in front of him. He turned her around so she was facing the room, he wrapped an arm around her body, holding her against him.
"You still live in the past." He whispered into her ear. "You still fear me and the past."
"You think I have a choice? You made my life a living hell!"
Instead of answering, Beckett loosened his grip on her right arm, but kept her tightly pressed against him. Lightly his fingers brushed over her brand, which made Danielle lower her eyes to it. Fear showed in her eyes, her chest raised and fell more than normal. She felt the monster's breath rolling down her neck, making a chill travel down her spine. She knew his eyes were lingering over body, full of pleasure and darkness.
"You and I are not strangers of betrayal, are we Danielle." He stated slowly. "Both by lovers and people who we thought we could trust. You know it be easier if you agreed to marry me."
"It be easier if everyone got what they wanted, but life does not give us that." Danielle stated fighting her fear. "So my answer is still a no, and you will not be able to change my mind. I am no coward. I fight for what is right and fight for my freedom, something you wouldn't be able to do. Working alone is the best way to work, but you wouldn't know that because you are that stupid." She was cut off as he harshly pressed her against the wall behind them, anger she could see in his eyes, yet she carried on. "Your the one who was got a dead end in your plan, not me. Have you even figured out what will happen if Jones decides not to obey no more? Who's heart to cut out and replace it, to be cursed themselves? I don't think no one will be willing to the job, to ferry the dead souls to the other side, to be ordered by you, to be cursed and live forever with a curse. Not a pretty thing you see. I don't even think Mercer be willing or Norrington who has become your new pet. You are just hanging by a thread, held by hope itself, hoping the said captain won't disobey, so you won't have to face that decision."