Chapter 4

Two weeks past and we continued to sail to God knows where. I had made friends with the crew and realized that I couldn't go on being rude to Jack forever, no matter how much I wanted to, so I finally acknowledged his presence and didn't snap at him. I must admit, I felt oddly at home on the Black Pearl. She's a very beautiful ship and I see why Jack takes such pride in her. I think Jack was happy to see me take a change of heart to him and he smiled at me whenever our eyes met.

Anamaria taught me how to fight with a sword and I must say, it's really a lot of fun. It gave me something to do when I wasn't sleeping, eating, cleaning the ship, or up in the rigging. Yes, I climbed up into the rigging every day, all the way up to the Main Royal Yard, which is all the way at the top of the mainmast. It's the highest point on the ship and I got to go up there to fix the sails. If I wanted to escape somewhere to be alone, I went up there. It stood around 20 or more feet higher than the crow's nest, which is in front of it. The height of the Main Royal Yard provided a great view of the ocean and of the world around me. I won't deny it though, when I first went up there, it was so high I got so dizzy I almost fell out of the rigging. But after a while, the height didn't bother me anymore. I went up there every morning to watch the sun rise and every night to watch the sun set.

One day, when I was up on the Main Royal Yard fixing a torn sail, I saw heavy fog ahead. I finished what I was doing and, using my black bandana, slid down a rope to the deck below. Talk about an adrenaline rush! Nothing like making your own zipline.

"Anamaria! It looks like we're sailing into heavy fog!" I shouted across the deck.

"Don't worry, Jack sees it," Anamaria replied casually as she walked over to me.

"Then why aren't we trying to get around it?" I wondered. I thought that Jack would want to get well away from the fog in case another ship was in there that could cause us trouble.

"Because that's the entrance to the Bermuda Triangle. That's how we're gettin' home," Anamaria responded. I couldn't believe it. Everything Jack had told me weeks ago was true. We really were sailing to the 18th century by way of the Bermuda Triangle!

"Look, you belong in the 18th century, I belong here in the 21st century," I said, trying not to lose it. "So can you please let me off somewhere so I can get home?"

"You are going home." I turned to see Jack standing behind me and looking at me with a smile.

"What are you talking about, Jack? I belong here!" I wailed.

"That's what you were brought up to believe, but it's not true," Jack replied, looking into my eyes. It was strange, but when I looked in the mirror, I saw how much I looked like him. And looking into his eyes at that moment, I felt like he realized it too. It scared me.

"What…?" I couldn't figure out what Jack was trying to tell me, if he was trying to tell me anything at all.

"Come with me, we need to talk," Jack said, turning toward the door that led down to the cabins. I followed him in a bit of a dazed state. I had no idea what was about to happen, but it couldn't possibly be good. I followed Jack all the way to his cabin at the back of the ship. We entered through the twin cherry wood doors into his gorgeous cabin that spanned the width of the ship. The entire back wall was windows with a window-seat beneath. I had no idea that he lived in such splendor. As I was looking around his cabin, he put two golden goblets on the long cherry wood table and filled them with water. He pulled out a high-backed chair for me and I sat down at the table. He sat across from me and looked deep into my eyes. I could tell something was troubling him, so I broke the silence.

"Jack, there's something bothering you. Its been bothering you ever since I first came on the ship. I saw it in your eyes then, and it hasn't left. Please tell me what the problem is."

"Angel, you are so beautiful. And you look so like me, it's unnatural," he said, still looking into my eyes.

"Well, I did notice that when I looked into the mirror in my room the first time," I replied.

"I'm amazed that you haven't figured it out yet," Jack said.

"What am I suppose to figure out?" I was getting nervous now. What was he about to tell me?

"Angel, I doubt you'll believe what I'm about to tell you. You're my daughter."

Author's Note:
Whoa! Bet ya didn't see that one comin'! How's Angel gonna take the news? Reviews are welcome – Artemis