"...The soul and the soul alone should be immortal, not the human body. If she will not die immense detriment will occur to the catholic church. Such is not affordable, Ferdinand. You have one month to find her; one month," Benedict finished.

It was a long oration and Ferdinand had just reached the brim finality of it in his mind. He received ordinance to kill senorita Angelica while she still denied her conversancy with Henry Morgan's treasure that allowed to rule the winds and tides, preventing a pragmatic approach to the situation.

"Time is ahead of us. Do what you must, force them into divulgence... In one month the one who gained eternal life through assistance from the devil should be publicly hung by the neck until dead. By then, I desiderate control over the winds and tides," Ferdinand said and Charles bowed, making his leave.

"With your permission, sire," he said and left through the door.

With a sense of urgency he coldly walked to the dungeon, and looked at Jack and Angelica silently whilst they had a heated argument about on whose behalf they escaped the noose in Haiti three moons ago. He cleared his throat and put an end to the confabulation, two pairs of eyes now on him.

"Señor Alfaro, escort them to the torture chamber. Make haste!" Charles addressed the warden of the dungeon and Jack grimaced.

"Is that really necessary?" he asked and was hauled to his feet and shoved out of the cell.

Angelica did not desire to be manhandled by the warden whose stench of piss and rotten flesh induced her vomiting reflexes and followed them without engagement in a fight which otherwise would've happened.

They were led through a long corridor and Jack glanced at her protectively. Would they go as far as torturing her? Jack was many things but he would never lay a finger on a woman.

Charles had to take Angelica by the arms and keep her on her feet when a lifeless body with dislocated joints and a crushed ribcage was carried out from the threshold of the torture chamber.

"You do not need to feel faint, señorita. We have not started," she was told.

The executioner waited in the chamber, his face was completely covered apart from two holes for the eyes in the garment. He had a diabolical touch to him and that with the blood covered walls made her feel horror and despair but Jack who had a strong mind and nerves of steel maintained a straight face.

"Indue me with a minute and upon my word I will loosen her tongue," Jack pleaded and the warden smirked.

"Look at her... It is more a chance that we will get this señorita killed before we can even properly commence the torture. Her skin is delicate and her bones and joints are brittle. She will divulge upon your welfare," he said and thrust Jack into the executioner.

His shirt and vest were ripped off his body and his boots were discarded until Jack was left clad in his breeches. He got manacled to a chain and was lifted off the floor which made the metal to dig into his wrists and his joints to strain under his own full weight.

"Angelica," Jack said hopefully but she did not respond and continued to stare at him.

Charles placed a chair in front of Jack and the warden pushed her into it and kept her in place by holding onto her shoulders.

"You may begin," Charles mentioned and Jack clenched his teeth together when he received the first blow from a steel bar onto his back. She winced when he made a cry of agony and her breath began to quiver, however when Charles looked down at her he did not see any emotion on her face. A few droplets of Jack's blood landed onto her face which felt exceptionally warm against her cold skin.

Charles held his hand up and halted the bashing that by now cost Jack a lot of blood. The only body part that was not touched was his head, the rest of Jack's body was recognizable as a freshly slaughtered animal.

"You can put an end to his suffering," Charles whispered and leaned down to Angelica's ear from behind, "You are not obliged to disclose anything. We require your participation in negotiation. You need to be prepared to accept an agreement between yourself and his majesty."

Angelica hesitated but nodded. "Take him off," she said weakly and Charles gave the executioner a nod and Jack's body fell to the floor.

"Sir?" the warden said, his inquiring gaze asking if he should dispose of the body or return it to the cell.

"I believe he needs to seek a physician's helping hand. After we had to endure some manner of ill-conceived escape attempt the unfortunate bloke dropped from the window. Will you not agree, señorita?" Charles asked her.

"Yes. It was a great fall," she answered and looked at the revolting man.

Jack's fate was to be hanged until dead and it was against the church's rules to torture him without the court's agreement and the church's permission. The monarchy of Spain had to share his authority with the court and his advisers that are chosen by a public vote.

Jack's body was taken away by the warden and she was accompanied to the servant's quarters where her hair and skin was cleaned to get rid off Jack's blood and a new silk gown was produced too reimburse the stained one. She was then taken to Ferdinand.

"Your majesty, the señorita is ready to speak," Charles announced and the king looked up from the papers in his hands.

He saw a static woman at the door that was covered in cold sweat and was held tightly by his agent by her arm. Her expression was scandalized and her eyes did not hold the fierce spark anymore and Ferdinand smiled in triumph.

Please tell me what you thought. Why do you think Angelica allowed Jack to be tortured and did not speak in his defense?