Pirates of the Caribbean: The Devil Deals in Threes

Chapter 8: Just Returning the Favor

Chasing after Jack Sparrow she watched as he darted around buildings trying desperately to loose her. A few times he passed a glance back, resulting in a wide-eyed yell as he pushed to run faster.

"Curse you Jack we had a deal," she screamed amid heavy breaths.

"Sorry, can't hear you," he called back as he headed towards the dock in the distance.

The sun was just barely starting to peek over the horizon casting a yellowish hue across the blue sea. A collection of ships sat quietly silhouetted on the rocking shoreline by the coming rays. One of them was the Black Pearl. Jack was quickly closing in on his ship, but with her proximity she had no doubt she'd reach him well before he made sail.

Coming to the ramp she growled as Jack passed a gleeful grin as he immediately started to make noise.

"Wake up you scallywags we've a ship man," he yelled as he started to bang on the surfaces nearby.

Slowly frustrated calls began to echo over the vessel as the crew started to wake. She dropped her shoulders as she stared at him. Apparently she was about to fulfill another part of her deal.

"I didn't want to do this..." she remarked as she tossed two gold coins at Jack.

He caught them and stared down with puzzled brow, "You think this will buy you the map? Deary, this wouldn't even buy my company and that's usually free."

"No, I think it'll buy you passage across the River Styx," she explained as she removed her gun from her side.

Quickly staring up he exclaimed, "What?"

"I'm just returning the favor," she stated as she pulled the trigger.

The bullet cracked through the air and moments later Jack stumbled back in shock before he toppled overboard. A loud splash soon followed as the crew ran to aide him.

"For your sake, I hope you have some friends in the underworld," she whispered as she pushed passed Captain Sparrow's shocked crew and into his cabin.

Somewhere in the world beyond...

"You just shot me!" a voice called from nearby.

Slowly Will turned from the helm to see Captain Jack Sparrow topple over the railing as he quickly stood and looked around while frantically patting his chest.

"This is definitely not my ship..." he remarked as he wobbled around trying to regain his bearings.

Will secured the wheel as he walked down the steps to glare at the man he'd quietly hoped never to meet again. The presence of Jack Sparrow always involved trouble.

"Will?" Jack suddenly quipped, "Oh...oh...bloody woman killed me!"

"Well that took long enough..." Will remarked with pursed lips, "Though I doubt it'll last long."

"You're right. Death is only a minor inconvenience," Jack concurred as he waltzed around the deck.

"Whatever that means...I don't want to know," Will stated as he headed off to man the helm once more.

"Aren't you supposed to take me somewhere?"

"Why waste the trip? I'm sure you'll figure out a way to cheat death...again. Until that time...don't touch anything..."

"Why?" Jack asked with a raised brow as he quickly backed away from the railing, "Will I stay dead if I do?"

"No...I just don't want you to break anything."

Jack's nose scrunched, "I forgot how not funny you were. You're only redeeming quality was that you were a eunuch..."

"I am not..."

"I know..." Jack interrupted, "Makes you rather dull now, doesn't it? By the way, how's your fair bonnie-lass?"

Will rolled his eyes and took hold of the wheel again. For the first time, the thought of eternity seemed really long.

XXX

Eyes fluttered open, pulled from a dull sleep. Lucifer felt a new presence. His eyes narrowed, could it really be? He rose up from his throne in the fiery pits as he let out a crackling laugh.

"Little Black Donna, why did I ever doubt thee," he grinned as he traced along the magma flows.

Apparently his plans hadn't been as well placed as he'd hoped.

Heavy boots treaded up the walkway.

"Where's Jack Sparrow?" a gruff voice demanded.

Slowly the crew of the Black Pearl turned around. They had all been staring into the water, which seemed a trite bit odd.

"Barbossa?" Gibbs questioned with a raised brow.

"That's Captain Barbossa...just as soon as I take back my ship. Where's Jack I'm going to kill that ship stealing scoundrel?"

"Technically didn't you steal it first..." someone murmured as he passed them a dangerous glare, prompting their silence.

Suddenly a slew of fingers pointed to a woman as she edged towards the ramp.

"She killed him first," someone stated.

"Ah...he never paid me for my 'services' so I came to collect," she responded with a shrug.

Barbossa eyed her for a moment, "Get off my ship."

Not needing to be told twice she quickly ventured away. She'd apparently saved him the trouble of killing Jack himself, but he was rather looking forward to the deed. The man had cunningly doubled back to reclaim the Pearl after he'd stolen the map to the Fountain of Youth. With a scowl he'd tried to focus on the present, things had in fact worked in his favor for once.

"Ah, where was I?" he considered before he turned to the crew, "The Fountain of Youth...bring me the 'whole' map."

The crew stood in silence.

"That wasn't a request," he stated with a grimy grin.

Slowly Gibbs raised a finger.

"What it is now?" Barbossa questioned with an annoyed growl.

"I think you just let it get away..." Gibbs stated as the rest of the crew concurred.

"What?" he called as it slowly donned on him that they implied the woman he'd just thrown off the ship.

With a stamp of his boot against the wooden deck he yelled, "Don't just stand there! I want my map."