A/N: I'm terribly sorry for the long wait. I especially apologize to Cactus Cat. I had no idea I had a devoted fan. Makes me smile, hehe. Anyways, I apologies again. Finals are coming faster than I'd like (that's what I get for wishing the semester was over). Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 8: Nearing Death

They were close. She could feel it, smell it, and even taste it.

Isla de Muerta… Isle of Death.

It was a very foreboding name and the stench of death that drifted across the waters as they neared it assured anyone that the name was fitting. Her dreams had increased as they neared as well, more images of blood and drums pounding in her head causing her to toss and turn at night. This annoyed her bunk mate, Anamaria, to no end. They had been moved to the commodore's quarters together after a vehement refusal from each to share a room with the crew of dirty, smelly men. Anamaria seemed to respect her more for that, but after the first night of fitful slumber the respect was replaced by annoyance. She had asked Buffy several times about her vision filled nights but Buffy would just brush the question off. Anamaria eventually stopped asking, but the question always burned in her eyes when she looked at Buffy. This was why Buffy had now taken to patrolling the ship at night. She knew it was a fruitless action, seeing as none of the crew was vampire or demon, but it allowed her to keep away from the visions for a little longer and allow Anamaria to rest. It was one of these nightly rounds that brought her to the attention of Jack once again.

Buffy had moved above deck, hoping the night air would help clear her head. She was alone, save for the night watch. They ignored her though and she did likewise. Her senses took in the cool breeze and the blue shadows of a moonlit night for the moment and she drank it all in with delight. As soon as her eyes would close though, images would flash across her eyelids and she would soon be back to where she'd been trying to escape. The tranquility was shattered and she'd find herself pacing again, up and down the ships' length. She soon stopped in her tracks though, the sound of boots following behind her making her whirl around and crouch warily. There stood Jack, fully decked in his pirate clothing with his highly prized hat tilted to the side as he grinned drunkenly at her. Buffy straightened, sending him a withering glare. This didn't seem to faze him.

"You look like a caged cat, Buffy," His voice would have sounded almost… affectionate if it weren't for the subtle undertones of drunken slurs. Buffy grumbled an insult under her breath and turned away from him. Jack laughed, as if it were a game and stepped closer to her.

"We're not even to the island yet and you're drinking?"

"Of course, helps me concentrate." He didn't sound convincing. Buffy sighed and leaned against the railing in front of her. It was no use talking to a drunken man. Everything was a joke or their intoxicated minds just couldn't fathom what you were saying. The next words that came out of his mouth though, were very convincing.

"You can feel it, can't you?" She turned to him in surprise. The swagger was gone and the look in his eyes told her exactly what he meant.

"Yes."

"Then you know that we're very close."

"Why is it so strong though," Buffy asked, looking out at the sea as if she could already see the island. "I've never felt something like this before."

"It's how the curse works, or so I'm told…"

"Curse?"

"You don't know?" She shook her head in answer. Jack's eyes closed after a moment as he seemed to slip into a stat of reverie.

"I'll tell you a little story then, eh?" Buffy waited, watching Jack's expression turn more somber by the minute.

"There once was a captain; good, strong man who commanded a ship with black sails."

"The Black Pearl." A smile graced Jack's lips for a moment.

"Aye, the Black Pearl. One day that captain and his crew sailed in pursuit of a treasure, Aztec Gold…" She listened carefully and believed every bit of the tale he told. The slayer now found she understood the dreams that assaulted her every night as things seemed to click into place. She realized something else too.

"Is that the reason why you're helping us?"

"Eh?" He still hadn't opened his eyes.

"To get your ship back?" Jack's lips curled into a smirk and he opened his eyes a fraction to look at her.

"You're very sharp."

"And you're lucky. If they hadn't kicked you off the ship, you'd be cursed just like the rest of them."

"I'm cursed either way, love," he mumbled. The tall pirate left her then, not before giving her one last smile that didn't convince her.

Buffy found her thoughts coming back to that smile every time her mind became idle. It bothered her even if she tried to deny it. What she found even harder to deny was the reason why it bugged her. She was coming to like the crazy pirate. Her own personal restraints were keeping her from saying anything further though, and she was grateful for that. Times like these were not productive to a relationship; she'd learned that the hard way.

"Oi, girl! Stop yer day dreamin'!" She turned to find Gibbs to be the one to shake her out of her thoughts. Buffy grimaced at the man. She still didn't like him after his comment in Tortuga. The man was too superstitious about the most ridiculous things. Her eyes turned to the rope that he and a few of the other shipmates were busy with and she rolled her eyes. The man wanted her help after calling her bad luck? She slowly made her way over to help though, despite her displeasure in assisting the man. The men's burden became immediately lighter as soon as she joined in and they were able to do, well whatever you do when you pull a rope on a boat, with ease. She still didn't know that much about sailing even though she'd been at see for quite a while.

How long had she been on this boat? She'd lost count after awhile, once those dreams had started harassing her. It had been awhile though. She could tell by watching everyone. Will became more impatient, anxious that they wouldn't make it there in time. Jack seemed to smile more as they neared their destination though. Buffy had an idea of what the reason was too. To him, this was only a treasure hunt and the prize was the Black Pearl; the ultimate prize.

Will was worrying her though. She found him staring at Jack several times, his eyes cloudy with thoughts. Buffy had asked him several times what was on his mind but the young black smith never gave her a convincing answer. He'd just quickly avert his eyes and the haze of his previous thoughts would be gone. Had something happened in Tortuga, she wondered. Whatever it was, it was bothering Will and it was bugging her to see him like that. She felt tempted to smack the man, hoping that the action would beat some sense into him, but she refrained. She still had her own secrets, and her friends were allowed their own. Buffy just hoped that this one didn't jeopardize their mission.

"Miss Summers," Buffy looked up to see Anamaria. At some point she had sleep back into her reverie and by the annoyed look on the other woman's face, she'd been very deep into it.

"I thought I asked you to call me Buffy."

"The captain wishes to see you." There was no acknowledgement of her words, as was expected from Anamaria. The female pirate still hadn't warmed up to her, and at the rate she was going it would never happen. She mentally sighed and followed the other woman, towards the ship's wheel where Jack stood. He had barely allowed anyone one else to touch it since their departure, which didn't surprise her. Jack stood there, one hand on the wheel to steady it and another holding his compass. She'd overheard a conversation between Will and Gibbs a while back about it and it's interesting abilities. Ever since then, she was able to recognize a strange vibe coming off of it. There was no doubt that it was magic.

"You wanted to see me?" The compass was snapped shut in a second and stowed away. Jack looked up, a small smirk already on his lips. Buffy resisted rolling her eyes at that look. It always foreshadowed mischief.

"How are those dreams, Buffy?" She froze, her eyes only darting to where Anamaria retreated. So, she'd been tattled on then? Buffy had intended to keep that to herself, but it was no use denying it now. Her back straightened as she brought her gaze back to Jack.

"There becoming more frequent; not long 'til we arrive."

"Aye." They fell silent, letting the hiatus in their conversation hold until Buffy glared.

"Is that all you wanted to see me for?" Jack's lips twitched and he arched an eyebrow in amusement.

"You don't appreciate my concern?"

"That was concern?" Any seriousness that the previous subject might have brought was shattered in that moment. She back to bantering with the swaggering pirate. They had been doing so since they'd met, and she didn't think it would end. They continued like that for the next several minutes, the crew eying them until either one sent a look their way. It all stopped though when what had been tickling the back of Buffy's mind intensified in a moment. She spun with the surprise of it, crouching as if an attacker was already there.

"Jack."

"Isla de Muerta." It stood off in the distance, a black shadow against the blue water about it. Buffy glanced around at the crew. Even though they couldn't feel what see did, she could tell it still had some affect on them. Their faces were a mix of worry and determination. It was the determination, bordering on madness, which kept them from high-tailing it out of there at the sight of the death island. Buffy found herself smiling for this reason, feeling her muscles slowly relax from her previous tension.

"It's time," she said, to no one in particular. She hoped that those words reached her dream world though, an answer to the still unknown entity that was pulling her strings. Buffy hoped it was somewhere frowning now. She was finished with waiting.

A/N: Phew! I hope you're all at least satiated for the time being. Isla de Muerta is in the next chapter. Reminder, I'm currently trying to keep up with my classes and the finals my teachers are throwing at me so don't expect much from me for the remainder of the month. I'll be free after the first week of December though, yay! And then things will start all over in January/sigh/. Review please!