Chapter 12

The sails billow as the ship expertly navigates the rocky headland, catching a new breeze. The coast it is sailing along looks desolate, uninhabitable- there is no apparent reason for the vessel to stick so closely to it.

However, as the ship continues on its way- with the black hull cutting through the water so cleanly that almost no spray is thrown up at all- a gaping black hole appears in the cliff face, almost big enough to sail straight into. Around the edges of the hole are jagged rocks that stick out, making it dangerous for a ship of this size to go anywhere near it. Who knows what lurks beneath the surface of the water to catch out the unwary- many ships have been wrecked on coasts such as this one, when their foolhardy captains either did not have the sense or the experience to avoid the rocks.

The ship seems aware of the risks ahead, and seems to decide not to take its chances- or at least, not for now. Soon, the anchor is weighed and splashes down into the heaving seas below, holding the ship in a relatively safe place. All activity aboard ceases as the crew settles down to wait, but whether they truly know what for, only time will tell. One lone man seems to show any sort of anxiety- as he turns his face towards the entrance to the sea cavern, lines crease his forehead and he runs his hand through his grey hair in an absent-minded fashion. Presently, he draws out a small hip-flask, taking a quick gulp of whatever liquid is inside before turning to resume his watch on the cave entrance.

A tune echoes through the caverns under the surface of the Isla Del Espejos, softly bouncing off the walls until it seems to come for each and every direction. Then it dwindles and dies, making way for the man who appears from one of the many tunnels.

Apart from a quick glance round, he seems to be fairly confident that there is no-one else around to surprise him- certainly, the way his walk consists of a jaunty swagger suggests how at ease he is. The song he resumes humming, though simple, has a cheerful tune and the man seems to thoroughly enjoy it- occasionally breaking out into parts of the lyrics. These words and phrases, like all the noise that is produced down in these tunnels, bounces straight back off the walls towards the original source and makes it sound as though there are several of this distinctive swashbuckling character, instead of just the one.

"… And really bad eggs... Drink up, me hearties, yo ho!"

It could only be Captain Jack Sparrow.

He swings his head around to peer over his shoulder, causing a sudden flurry of noise from the beads and ornaments that adorn his hair as they collide with one another. Satisfied there is no-one there, he commences his tasks here by stepping over to a large plinth in the centre of the cavern, on which until recently had sat a large stone chest. This object has now disappeared, with only a few coins and such which escaped left over. However, it has given way to something apparently much more interesting, and, by the way the he stares at it intently, something very important to this man.

A large image of a falcon, head turned sideways and wings outstretched, is carved onto the black stone of the plinth. The eye is a large red stone- undoubtedly a ruby- which, from the scratches and markings around the edge of the setting, someone had tried to get out recently, only to fail. This gives the image of the bird an unyielding, piercing and mildly intimidating stare.

Even so, Jack does not seem phased by it. Indeed, from the way he bends to look at the markings surrounding the bird of prey, it is clear there are other things he finds far more captivating. He runs his fingers over the marks hewn from the surface of the rock, mouthing words silently to himself as he does so.

Then, sharply, he stands up and walks away, towards the pool and waterfall over in a far corner. Glancing down into the clear depths, he spots a glow coming from somewhere in the water- but how far down it is, he cannot tell.

The pirate bends down and takes off his boots, then proceeds to remove his hat and various belts with weapons attached, leaving them in a neat pile beside the water's edge. He straightens up, appearing to prepare himself for something.

Without warning, he takes a short run and dives into the freezing water of the underground pool.

Immediately, it seems, he is lost in the darkness of the water, following only his senses to keep him going in the right direction. Although he swims strongly, the light he is heading towards never seems to change position but instead stays just out of reach, impossible to gauge a distance to.

Swimming ever down, he starts to feel the pressure of the depth closing in on him. How long he has been going for, he does not know, but from the strain in his lungs he knows his time is almost up- he has to reach his destination soon.

However, this doesn't seem to be an option. The blue light still does not appear to be getting any closer, and by now the pressure is almost too much to bear. Bubbles escape from Jack's mouth, and he realises that he cannot go any further- he has to return to the surface.

Turning around in the direction he hopes is up, he fights against the water surrounding him to build up some speed. However, as he kicks out with his legs he feels as though there is nothing there- he does not feel the resistance of the water, but instead, a nonentity… Oddly, this feeling seems to spread up his body- the weight of the water appears to lift from his legs, then his torso, and heads up towards his shoulders. Jack knows he has not swum far enough up yet for the pressure to be returning to normal, and so looks down in confusion.

What he sees there is a whirling mass of blue light encasing his lower body, and spreading up towards his head. Above him, he can feel the water, and below him, he can feel nothing, but instead of struggling against the unknown, Jack gives a small smile which flashes gold even in the dim light at this depth of the water, and presses his arms to his sides to streamline his body and slide through the blue light faster. It is not long before his head is encased in it, and soon he disappears altogether.

Instantly it seems, his feet hit hard stone. Stumbling slightly as he attempts to regain his balance, Sparrow opens his eyes, which he had shut while passing through the blue light. Staring at his clothes, oddly he finds them completely dry- almost as though he had never swum down through a deep underground lake two minutes previously.

The chamber around him is lit with an eerie blue light. Looking up, Jack sees where he had come from- high on the ceiling is a strange, whirling mass of blue light, shaped almost like a whirlpool. It is in constant motion, changing shape and brightness so the light of the cavern flickers and shifts, never staying constant. It looks almost like the reflections of water.

In the light cast from this, he takes a good look round where he has emerged in.

The walls form a perfect circle, hewn out of the rock so perfectly the surface is completely smooth and glassy. The floor is also smooth, but not of the same material as the walls- finally, a much less unusual grey-flecked rock shows through, instead of the mirror-glass from which the Island got its name.

In one corner, almost blending in with the wall behind it, is a large black chest, identical to the one that had been standing in the cavern above- until it was liberated by Serpiente- apart from the shape, as this particular chest is much longer, flatter and thinner. Coffin-shaped.

Jack grins again, and heads over to this chest, or whatever it is.

The design is simple- completely black, with a small version of the falcon emblem engraved near the centre. Small letters underneath read;

DENVER FALCON

Jack walks right up to the side of the tomb, laying his hands on the top.

"Ah, Falcon. It's good to see you again, mate… Although you don't seem to be as lively as when we last met..."

Sparrow reaches down and fishes around in one of his pockets, and then draws out a long golden chain with a locket hanging from the bottom.

He holds it up to get a better look at it, admiring the way it glints even in the limited light down in this cave. The, looking back down at the coffin he continues his one-sided conversation.

"When I first met your daughter, I thought that it was going to be nigh impossible to… borrow… this locket without her knowledge- she kept a tighter hold on it than most Kings do their jewels. Still, she seems to be less needy of it now she's settling in to the life of a pirate- which she's done admirably well, I must say. In the end, 'twas easy to take it from her… all she needed was a little distraction." Jack winks at the coffin lid.

"No worries, I'll make sure it's returned safe at sound at the end of all this- although she'll probably be thanking me when she figures out what's gone on. Anyway, to business- I'm in need of your help. Or rather, Sierra is. I'm just here for the rewards at the end…?"

Jack places the now-open locket in a correspondingly shaped hole, previously unnoticed, in the lid of the coffin. Making sure it is properly inserted, he then steps back to wait.

For a while, nothing happens- all is completely still and calm as he waits patiently, as though he has all the time in the world to save Sierra.

All of a sudden there is a brilliant flash of white light, coupled with the crackle of static. The light seems to originate from the locket placed in the top of Falcon's tomb, and, as Jack watches, it detaches and becomes a floating ball, gently rotating in the air. Something about it gives the presence of a man with black hair and a pleasant personality- quick and intelligent. An image seems to build in Jack's mind, but whether this is just a memory of a previous occasion where he had met this man, or whether it is an image somehow being portrayed into his mind it is not certain.

Sparrow cracks a wide smile, looking as though he knows exactly what is going on.

"Falcon… Welcome back. Even if it's not permanent, I'm very glad to see you again. However, we have other matters to attend to other than catching up on news right now- namely your daughter. She's in danger… which, of course, had nothing whatsoever to do with me… Anyway, she needs your assistance and from the various texts scattered around this Island I'm guessing you'd be only too happy to oblige with this help. Am I right?"

The ball of light pulses, expanding and then contracting, seemingly in the same instance. Whether this is in agreement at Jack's statement or anger from what the other pirate is saying, there is no way to tell. As always, however, Jack seems to be completely clued into the goings-on.

"Excellent… Well, follow me mate… I'll outline what you need to do, although you've already got a pretty good idea, I'd imagine. Ah well, time waits for no man, not even a deceased spirit…one…like yourself…"

Jack waves his hands in midair while holding this conversation, as if to emphasise a point. Then, he picks up the locket from its hole in the coffin- being very careful to make the hinge does not snap shut and obscure the image of Falcon inside. Quickly, he walks over to the side of the room where there is seemingly a blank wall. However, when the glowing orb of Falcon's spirit reaches it, the wall cracks and splits to form a door, which opens up to reveal a narrow passageway.

Jack strides out with the orb bobbing gently above his head, which he is soon in a seemingly one-sided conversation with. It is not long before they reach a cave, half-submersed in water, which has an old and dusty rowing boat bobbing in it. Jumping in, Jack begins to row expertly towards the light of the exit, the open sea, and the Black Pearl, while the ball of light dives under the surface of the water and speeds off ahead, with a different destination intended.

88888

For the time being, I'll just say thanks for everyone's reviews!