Disclaimer: I do not own the movies or the characters that you recognize. I am making no money from this story.

Author's Note: Here's the next chapter. Some more characters come into play. Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven:

The Unwilling Ally

"Gibbs? Gibbs!" a man shouted from somewhere above him.

The old man opened his eyes and looked up. "William Turner? Is that really you?" he asked, blinking up into the sun. A rope ladder was lowered over the side of The Flying Dutchman and Gibbs quickly scaled the side of the ship. Will helped him over the railing.

"Wait," Gibbs said as he sat down on some spare rigging. "If I'm here with you…then I must be…"

"Dead," Will finished for him solemnly.

The confused pirate nodded but said nothing. He looked around the deck. The ship was in pristine condition, not covered in barnacles and other sea-life like it had been the last time he had been on board. Of course, the captain of the Dutchman had been the infamous Davy Jones himself when he had last seen this ship. Now Will commanded the ship and issued orders as its captain.

"Gibbs, what happened?" Will asked. "How is Elizabeth? Is she alright?"

The older man snapped back to reality, suddenly in a rush to tell Will everything. "Yer wife's in terrible danger. And yer son. Jack's with 'em, but he won't be much more help than I was…"

Will cut him off, "Son? I…I have a son?"

Gibbs realized just how much Will didn't know. "Oh dear. I suppose I'll have ta start at the beginning."

Will didn't interrupt as his friend told him everything that had happened, although his expression became more and more worried and angry. The old pirate finished his tale just as the black sky began to fade to a dull gray. Will already had a plan in his mind when Gibbs stopped.

"There might be a way to stop him," he told the other pirate.

"But he can't be killed. He has no soul," Gibbs restated, thinking Will had missed that crucial piece of information.

"Yes, but what if we gave him his soul back. Then he could be killed, correct?"

Gibbs mulled it over for a moment then said, "I suppose it could work. But how exactly are we going ta do that?"

Will's face turned grim and he stood up. "We'll need Calypso's help." He was reluctant to seek aid from her, but knew she might be their only chance.

Gibbs was appalled. "Ye'd go ta that witch fer help?" disgust laced his words, but Will was already instructing his crew to change course for Calypso's isle.

After he was done issuing orders and the Dutchman was underway at full-speed, he turned to Gibbs with a serious expression. "I'd go to Hell and back for my family."

"Well, ye're going awfully close by going ta that woman," he commented, then sighed and added, "But if ye're serious about doin' this, then I'm with ye 'til the end." He clapped Will on the back and then began helping the crew.

The ship's captain strode to the bow of the ship, gazing out over the water, but not really seeing anything. Waves crashed against the side of the ship as it sped through the water, faster than any vessel ever built. It was easily five times as fast as the Black Pearl whenever it was sailing at full-speed. But for Will, his ship couldn't make it to Calypso's isle fast enough. He needed her help now, and the time wasted sailing to and from her isle made him even more anxious. Elizabeth and Thomas could be hurt or worse right now. Not knowing if they and Jack were okay was driving him crazy with worry.

Then a terrifying thought occurred to him, making his heart skip a beat. What if Calypso refused to help him restore Eric's soul? She had no reason to, and she was notoriously known for being selfish. Since she had been betrayed by her ex-lover, Davy Jones, she had been untrusting and did not show compassion toward men. In fact, no man was permitted to step foot on her isle and the punishment for doing so was death. Why would Will be treated any differently?

He tried to shake the thought from his mind as the lookout shouted "Land ahoy!" from the crow's nest. Calypso would help him. He would convince her somehow. Determination slowly pushed the doubt out of his mind. He couldn't fail. Elizabeth and Thomas were in desperate need of aid and he was the only person who could offer that help.

God, I just hope they're okay, he thought to himself as the goddess' isle drew nearer and nearer. The sky had turned from a dull gray to a hazy orange. Please let them be okay.

In the early hours of the morning the small schooner anchored in the nearest harbor where Jack was not a wanted criminal. It was a challenge to find such a place. About halfway between Port Royal and Tortuga; however, they found a safe haven.

Jack and Elizabeth agreed it would be best to rest for a while before going ashore. Thomas was already slumping against the wall in one of the ship's corners, sound asleep. Elizabeth was worried about her son.

"Do you think he'll have nightmares?" she whispered to the remaining pirate.

"Dunno. But don't worry about it. Ye go an' get yer rest. I'll keep an eye on the boy," Jack offered.

"Are you sure?"

"Course."

Sighing, she voiced her true concern. "It's just that…the last time I went to bed…"

Jack knew where she was headed and stopped her before she could continue. "Hey now. It's not gonna happen again, ye hear? That monster's all locked up. No one else is going ta die." He rubbed her arms and looked deep into her eyes to assure she was alright.

Elizabeth turned her head away so Jack wouldn't see the tears that had formed there. "I feel like this is all my fault," she said, her voice quivering with disgust and sadness.

"Don't ye dare say that," he responded sternly. "If ye start blaming yerself fer this mess, then that bastard's won. He wants ye ta feel that way."

"But…" she stammered.

"No. No 'buts'. Ye aren't responsible fer any o' this. Now go on. Go ta bed," he said, pushing her in that direction.

Elizabeth turned back to the pirate and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him. Jack didn't respond at first, but then he gave her an awkward pat on the back.

"Are you okay?" Elizabeth asked.

Jack was silent for a moment, and then answered honestly saying, "Not really. Gibbs was a good man and a fine pirate. He's one of the only people I've ever trusted me life with. It's hard, but I'll be fine." He pulled back from her embrace and Elizabeth saw the raw emotion in his eyes. "Now go ta bed. I'm not going ta tell ye again."

Elizabeth smiled and wiped away the tears that had leaked out onto her cheeks. Then she walked down to the captain's cabin. She went inside and disarmed herself, laying her weapons within arm's reach from the bed. She collapsed onto the lumpy, smelly mattress without undressing.

Blissful, undisturbed sleep overtook her moments after she laid her head on her pillow.

"I was told by some of my water nymphs that a man was wading in my lagoon," a calm yet powerful female voice stated. "I did not imagine that man would be you, William Turner."

Will watched as the mysterious goddess wound her way down to the edge of the lagoon, her long royal blue dress flowing about her, reminding him of crashing waves. Her hair was no longer in dreads, but unbound and wavy. It was longer than he remembered, falling over her brown skin. She wasn't smiling, but her expression was not altogether unpleasant.

"Why are you here?" she asked him in a heavy accent, crossing her hands over her chest. "Don't you have a job you should be doing?"

"I come because I am in need of your help," he told her.

Calypso barked out a laugh, but didn't respond to his proclamation. Instead she played with a strand of her hair, and then cocked her head to the side. "Do you know what happened to the last man who didn't do as I told him?" she asked in a playful voice.

There was only one man Will could think of: Davy Jones. After the Dutchman's former captain had disobeyed her command to guide souls to the end of the world, she put a curse on him that transformed him and his entire crew into different aspects of sea life. Will nodded slowly.

She threw the hair she had been toying with over her shoulder and gave him a cross look. "Then the reason you are here better be extremely important. If it's not, you may end up like Davy Jones. Come with me," she ordered, gliding away to her temple in the center of the isle.

Will quickly followed her, but paused briefly when his feet were finally on firm ground. It had been seven years since he had stepped on land, and he savored the sensation. Apparently, Calypso had given him permission to come ashore. He trotted after her, entering a slightly unkempt temple.

It was still an imposing structure, with its mighty columns and high arches, and Will was careful to show his respect. Calypso was seated on a chaise couch and was being fanned by two servant girls. Her relaxed pose belied the seriousness of the situation. He knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

"Explain yourself," she demanded, "Why do you need my help? And why should I give it?"

Will cleared his throat and began to tell his story, praying that the goddess would help him in his quest. "My wife and son are being chased and tormented by a vampire. The creature has already killed one of their companions, and has come close to killing my family many times. They've attempted to kill him, but to no avail. It seems the creature has no soul, and therefore is invincible. I need to you help me restore his soul so that he can be stopped. Please…say you will help me."

A long silence filled the room after he was finished with his plea. He kept his head bent, afraid of what Calypso would say. With each passing moment, he knew he was losing time. Elizabeth couldn't run from the vampire forever, especially if she was traveling with a young boy and Jack. She couldn't fight him either since he couldn't die.

Unfortunately, Calypso was not in any mood to be generous. "I fail to see what I will gain from helping you with this problem," she said coldly. "What can you give me in exchange for my aid?"

Will should have known she would have expected some type of payment. His mind raced as he tried to come up with something, but he drew a blank. "I am already your eternal servant. I have no possessions of my own that would interest you, and you have no need of gold or other treasures. I must admit that I have nothing with which to bribe you into assisting me. You have everything that I can offer." He looked up at her, trying to gage her reaction to his confession.

To his surprise, she gave a small, satisfied smile. "Well, there is one thing that I don't have."

"And I could supply this 'thing' for you?" Will questioned, skeptically.

"Oh yes," she exclaimed happily, standing up. She waved away her servants so that they were alone. "I think you would be more than proficient at giving me what I want."

She walked forward, swaying her hips in a provocative manner. Her smile turned coy and she gazed into his eyes with such intensity that there was no doubt in his mind what 'thing' she had in mind for him.

Still, he had to be sure.

"What is it that you're suggesting?" he asked as she continued to draw closer.

"I've been a very lonely woman for a long time," she said. "I could use some…pleasurable company."

Without breaking eye contact, she skillfully undid the clasp that was holding her dress up around her neck. The water-like fabric fell to the ground, creating a puddle around her feet. Carefully, she stepped over the garment, coming to a stop in front of Will. He fixed his gaze on the ground.

"Do you not like what you see, William Turner?" she asked, forcing his chin up so that she could look him in the eyes again.

"Calypso…" he began, his tone sympathetic.

She became angry, knowing that he was about to reject her advances. "Do you want my help or not?" she asked.

He sighed. "Not if it comes at this price."

"So you would rather let them die at the hands of a vampire than sleep with me?"

"I won't stop trying to help them. I'll continue on without your help if need be…find a way to restore his soul myself," he stated.

"Just give me one night. Then I will help you," she promised.

He shook his head. "No. I won't betray Elizabeth like that."

Apparently the word 'betray' had a negative affect on the goddess' temperament. She turned away from him and snapped her fingers. The dress she had discarded rose up and refit itself to her body. "Ha! A man who won't betray. There is no such man!" She returned to sitting on her chaise.

"I would never hurt Elizabeth in any way. Just because Davy Jones betrayed you does not mean that all men are pigs," Will reasoned, standing up and advancing on her. "The wrongs done to you were horrible and unforgivable, but you can't judge every man based on the actions of one."

Calypso was silent for a moment. "Do you still love her as much as you did seven years ago?" she asked quietly her eyes staring off into the distance.

"More," he answered. "And I will love her until the day that I die."

"But you are practically immortal now. You'll live forever," she pointed out.

"Precisely."

The goddess looked into his determined gaze, searching for any hint that he was lying. But there was no sign of the sort. Reluctantly she sighed in defeat and snapped her fingers again. One of her servant girls came rushing into the temple and over to her mistress.

"What was the demon's name?" she asked Will.

"Eric. I don't know his surname."

"And you said he sold his soul to a black sorceress, did you not?"

"Yes," he replied, unsure why this was important.

Calypso whispered into her servant's ear, and then the girl exited the room and into the early morning sunrise.

"You will have three days to perform your task," Calypso began. "And that counts today. On the sunset of the third day, I will come to collect you."

"Why only three days?" Will asked cautiously, not wanting her to change her mind.

"Because, if you have not succeeded by sunset on the third day, you will be too late. Your wife and son will be lost to you forever."

"But…how do you know…"

"Do not question me," she warned. The servant girl returned, cradling a small glowing object. It seemed to be made of glass and inside was a silvery white mist. It reminded Will of a fortune teller's crystal ball.

"Now," Calypso said, handing him the delicate object. "This is what you must do…"

Author's Note: Well, I hope you liked Will's return. He will be doing a lot more in the next few chapters. Leave me a review so I can hear some of your reactions to what's happening. Are you liking it? Hating it? Indifferent? Thanks and keep reading.