Last one for this story for tonight. Sorry it's so super short and so mysterious. Hopefully I'll be updating soon, but like I said, this is only a sneak peek into what's to come!

Check out my other stories perhaps as you're waiting for the next chapters to come out and let me know what you think over there too. xoxo

CHAPTER 2

Amen

Once Jack had fallen asleep his head against the pillow snoring softly and his arm around my shoulders, I crawled out of bed, pulled on his long shirt, and made my way out the door of our cabin, stooping on the way out to grab the violin that he had given me so many years ago. I walked out onto the deck of the ship that would never replace the Pearl, which Jack and I had been spending the past two years searching for, before all trace of her had gone missing. The Hammer was a monster of a ship, and carried its name well. The intimidating ship was huge and plowed through the water like... well, like a hammer. I was glad for the satisfied feeling in my body that was hardly present, stemming from my thighs to the warmth in my chest. I had pulled my bandanna back into my hair, to keep the soft mid-morning wind from blowing my long curly brown hair from my face.

At almost 39, I liked to think that I still looked as young as the moment that I had met Jack as a young woman, but I knew that that was not true. Jack was only a few years older than me, but both of us knew that we were getting older with every passing dawn. To be honest, it scared us both. The plague in my chest was cutting my life short, I was sure of it, and it angered me beyond belief. With a glance over my shoulder, I walked down the gangplank to the dock, making little noise under my bare feet. With the mask in my hand, I crossed into the tiny town on the coast that we had all docked at. There was not a soul in sight, and I was happy for that as well. Lots of reasons to be happy this morning, except the dark red stain on the cloth beside my bed.

The forest floor scratched and poked the bottoms of my feet as I crossed into the shelter of the trees. She had to be waiting for me, and within a few moments of walking into the forest, I had removed the shirt that covered my body, leaving me completely naked, and donned the mask that covered my eyes and extended to the sides of my face.

"Masquerade... paper faces on parade..." I mumbled in song and crossed to the tiny pond that lay in the clearing only a minute's walk ahead of me. I stood at the side of the lake, staring into the dark water even in the sunlight. I was sure she would be here...

"Young one..." the voice made me turn around, and I watched as another woman, just as bare as I was, came walking from the shore. She had not been there a moment ago. I bowed my head and curtsied before rising my bright eyes back up at her. "I did not t'ink you would come."

I stood there for a long moment, before I extended my hand to her. "I wouldn't miss it on my life, Tia Dalma."

"Call me Calypso."