The smoke cleared and Carina found herself on the shore of an island she didn't recognize. Thankfully, Henry and his parents were close by. A screech to her left made her jump, and Jack the monkey climbed onto her shoulders. Somehow the witch had sent him along with them, as they had left him back home. She gave a sigh of relief and dusted off the sand from her dress.
A small harbor and a handful of buildings showed signs of habitation. A short distance farther into the island was a tavern, as the witch had said. But this didn't rid Will of his uneasy feeling. If this was a trick, there was no way to get his family home.
"So, we start at the tavern?" Henry asked.
"Aye. But whatever happens, keep a sharp eye." Will said.
The tavern was a Spanish style building, with no flag or sign to give it a name. They knew it was a tavern mainly because of it's drunken inhabitants inside and out. It reminded Elizabeth of Tortuga, and she hoped that there was no one inside she knew.
Merging through the moderate crowd, they looked for someone decent to speak to. Will, who was leading the group, noticed a boy in the back carrying in crates. He seemed to be the only sober person in the room.
"Excuse me, boy," he said when he reached him. " Where might we find the owner of this place?"
The boy gave a small laugh and set down the crates. "Well, you're looking at one of them. Haven't seen the other all morning."
"You?" Will asked. This boy had to be at least five years younger than his own son. His accent and olive skin identified his as a Spaniard. Dark hair messily pulled back fell to his shoulders.
"We were sent by Shansa. Do you know her?" Elizabeth asked.
"Unfortunately." the boy groaned. "Follow me. We can have a better conversation with less noise."
He led them up a flight of stairs and into one of several rooms. This one seemed to be a sort of office. A small bookshelf to the right and one behind a large desk. There were only two chairs, so Will and Henry let Elizabeth and Carina have them. The boy crossed to the other side of the desk, a large red armchair waiting for him. He rolled up his dirty sleeves in an attempt to look presentable.
"Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Miguel. Burdened with running this place for the past three years."
'Three years?' thought Will. "How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"You've run a tavern since you were thirteen?" Elizabeth asked, concerned. Where on earth were this boy's parents, and who were they to make him run a tavern?
"Not alone." said a voice behind them. They turned to find a girl leaning against the door.
"Ah, there you are." said Miguel. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to sleep all day."
The girl laughed as she closed the door. "And leave you to have all the fun? Not a chance."
"May I also introduce my twin sister and partner in crime." He said.
Carina held back a scoff. Twins? The two looked little alike. While the girl seemed to be his same age, she was much shorter, shorter than Carina even. The color of her skin was more tan from days in the sun than olive by birth. Her hair-thick, long and curled from the humidity-was a deep brown, while her brother's was inky black. True, they had the same accent, and dimpled chin. And their eyes, a warm brown and full of mischief. Perhaps they were serious. Though, Carina didn't have a sibling herself to compare to, so she wasn't one to judge.
"Call me Marisol." she said, crossing the room to stand next to her brother. "What can we do for you?"
"What do you know of the Ilsa de Muerta?" Carina asked.
"I know you only travel there to find death waiting for you. Hence the name." Marisol said.
"That was the original story." Miguel said, standing. He went to the bookshelf to the side. "But, with it being reclaimed by the sea.." he pulled out a small book and dusted it off. "It's purpose has changed."
He flipped through the water stained pages. " Here." he said, placing it on the desk. Tracing a finger along the lines, he seemed to be intently studying it. But then he stopped, suddenly confused. Marisol looked at him worried.
"What's wrong? What does it say?" Carina asked.
Miguel flipped the book to face her. "Perhaps, uh, perhaps you should read it."
"Why?" she drew out the word, slightly skeptical.
"Because if it says something you don't like it's not my fault."
Marisol smirked. " Just read it, you'll be fine."
Carina carefully took the book and began reading aloud. " All things that touch the sea will learn to follow its rules, or be claimed by it." She stopped for a moment, the memory of her father falling into the crashing waters coming back. She shook it off and continued. "But not all things are lost to the depths. The former Isla de Muerta contains some of these things. At a full moon, It's caves will permit visitors to find what once was lost."
She breathed heavily, taking in the information. "Full moon. Full moon!" She shot up."There will be a full moon tomorrow night!"
"Can you get us there by then?" Henry asked.
"It is possible, yes." Marisol replied. " It's a day's journey with a fast ship."
"But this is all the information we have of the island. We know nothing of any consequence of removing the treasure." Miguel warned.
"I'm not going for the treasure, I'm going for my father."Carina argued.
"Father?" Marisol asked. "You believe a person is there?"
Will stepped in. "He often made port at this island, prior to it being reclaimed."
Miguel looked at Carina concerned. "What was his name, senorita?"
"Hector Barbossa." she said with pride. " I am his daughter, Carina."
Marisol drew a quick, sharp breath. "We had heard he died three years ago."
"You knew of him?" Elizabeth asked.
"Only by stories." Miguel replied. "Why would you wish to bring him back?"
"He's my father!" Carina snapped.
"He's a friend." Elizabeth added quickly, half regretting it.
Marisol tilted he head slightly, looking to Will and then Elizabeth, back and forth. "Are you..." She started, her tone calm, almost scared. " Are you Captain Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann-Turner?"
They nodded, and she squealed, making Henry jump and Miguel groan. "Marisol..."
"You are the Pirate King of the Brethren Court and Captain of the Flying Dutchman!"she beamed, nearly jumping off the ground. She turned to her twin. "They are in our tavern!" she stage whispered.
"I'm aware of that." He said, annoyed.
"I... this is...you...you're here!" She struggled to find the right words through her excitement. She ran one hand through her hair and the other she drummed on the desk, her long fingernails clacking against the wood. "I...I'm sorry, but, I've heard so many stories! I have to know: did you really chain Captain Jack Sparrow to the mast of his own ship to be met by the Kraken?"
'Of all the stories..."Elizabeth thought. Save for her husband dying, that was her least favorite story. But she smiled and said "Yes, I did."
Marisol squealed again. Her brother stood and put a hand on he shoulder. "Take a breath, and a seat." he said as he half pushed her into the chair. "On the topic of Captain Sparrow, should we expect him to travel with you on said journey?"
"NO!" They all said immediately. Even the monkey screeched a protest.
"No, we will not be having Jack along with us for this journey." Will said, calmly.
The twins looked at each other and shared a mischievous smile. "Excellent. This trip will go much smoother without him." Miguel said. He took a ring of keys from his pocket. "If you will follow us, por favor." He began to lead them down the stairs.
"Wait, so, you are going to help us?" Carina asked.
"Of course." Marisol said over her shoulder. "And not just because I know you from stories. We also would do anything for our family."
"We're also not doing anything else at the moment." Miguel added, and his sister growled at him.
"So where are you taking us now?" Henry asked.
"To get your ship...young senor Turner, aye?" asked Marisol, walking at his side.
"Aye." Henry said. "My name is Henry."
They led behind the tavern, where the foliage was dark green and overgrown. A simple trodden path seemed to lead to a large shelter.
"So if your mother is the king," Marisol said. "Then that makes you a prince, yes?"
"Marisol, if you fancy the man, just tell him straight forward." Miguel called.
Marisol scoffed, appalled. She pulled up her skirt a bit to walk faster through the brush. She made her way to her brother. " I do not fancy him, Miguel." she protested.
"Then stop embarrassing yourself in front of him."
"I can only be embarrassed if I choose to be." She replied, raising her chin as if it would make her taller.
"Then stop embarrassing me in front of them!" he said through his teeth.
"You said you have a ship." Will interrupted as they reached the shelter. Miguel grabbed the keys and unlocked the giant doors.
"Aye, we do." he said.
"You have a shelter for one ship?" Elizabeth asked.
"Oh, no. Not one ship." Marisol mused as her twin pushed open the doors.
The sight made jaws drop. The trees had been hiding the shelter's true size, but now they saw that it stretched out to the shore, and built to contain dozens of ships.
"Thirteen vessels, ready to sail when you are." Marisol said, gesturing to it all. "All you have to do is choose one."
"Which one will get us there the fastest?" Carina asked.
"Our three fastest ships are the Corona, Delphinus, and the Tesaro."
Carina knew the first two names, but had never heard the last. "What does tesaro mean?"
Miguel smiled. "In Spanish, it means treasure."
Carina tried to hold back tears, but couldn't contain her smile. "That one."
"Good choice." Marisol said. "We'll leave tomorrow morning. We can discuss a proper fee then."
"You'll need to find a few more crew members as well." Miguel added. "But they won't be hard to find."
" I have extra clothes that you may borrow, ladies." Marisol said. "And you can stay in any empty room you can find. Or I can kick a few men out. Either way."
"Thank you." said Elizabeth.
"Return here at first light." Miguel said. "We will be preparing the ship if you need anything."
As the Turners and Carina left, the twins climbed aboard the ship.
"Not doing anything else, eh?" Marisol asked when they were gone.
"They don't need to know about our other mission." Miguel answered.
"But they will help us with it nevertheless, aye?"
"Aye. You know the stories; where there is a Turner, there is soon a Sparrow. They will lead him to us, and we will finish what was started."