Ah, 'ello loves, Kitsune 'ere again. Thank you so much, my lovely reviewers! I've gotten my 5 reviews, and I am working on the next installment, although, I shouldn't say that, because when I publish this I won't be working on it anymore. Oh well! Now, on to the reviews!!
To Galasriniel, I'm sorry, but I cannot count your review as five. It's just not technical math, 1 does not equal 5, hoever, 5 + 1 equals fish. There you go. I believe I'm inclined to acquiesce to your request, so I will honor that. Here is the new chapter, savvy?
To Moony, I agree, Davey needs some love, but this is somewhat different from things I've written before. I needed a different idea for this, so I thought of a plotline for Davey's love for Marina (which is the surprise one-sided DaveyOC pairing).
To galita, I whole-heartedly agree. I haven't seen too many DMC fics, but that's probably because the movie just came out. I haven't checked out many PotC fics, meself, but those I have seen were good. I'm particularly fond of ones about Jack's 'last moments' with the Kraken, or about the Kraken, because I love Squids, but not to eat. I don't like much seafood. Just shrimp'll do. :D
To unprettyprincess, thank you very much for taking the time to review and compliment the story. I hope you find it to your liking. Please also check out my other PotC fic, if you haven't done so already. Thank you very much.
To Phantom's Bride, does your name refer to the Phantom of the Opera? The newer version? I liked that one, and I have the soundtrack. Very good. Also, I am updating, so I hope you like!
On a note, I made a mistake on the first chapter that I may wish to fix, but I'm too lazy to do it, so I'll leave it. When Gibbs met Marina, he asked her, "And what be yer business here, Mrs. Blackheart?" The Mrs. should be Miss. Marina is not married. Oh well, you get it, right?
For reviews, it's the same. 5 reviews gets an update! Okay? Unless, if I'm in a generous mood, I may settle for 3, but it depends on if your reviews are more constructive than last time. Okay? 25 'Cool, I liked it's is worth 1 constructive review.
And with that, I give you, Chapter 2 of Call of the Sea! Enjoy, me hearties!
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Call of the Sea
Chapter 2: Unsettling Surprises
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The boat rocked on the waves as it ploughed through the choppy waters of the Caribbean. The sky was grey and unsettling. The sea churned and writhed. It looked as though a storm would soon approach. It was very dangerous to be in the presence of the rough seas during a storm. Things tended to happen that should never happen.
Marina sat on her hammock in spare room on the ship. She was . . . completely alone. None of the crew shared quarters with her, not even the Captain, himself. But that was how it should be. Men and women should stay in separate rooms, if not properly acquainted.
She netted her fingers together, resting her chin atop them as she hunched over in thought. Whenever she got to Tortuga, she'd search for her ship, and explain to her crew as to what happened over the unfortunate days she'd been away. Ah, yes. That she would do.
And yet . . .
It wasn't so bad here, either. The crew was friendly to her, so was the Captain, er . . . well, maybe he just ignored her. She sighed. Jack Sparrow. She'd actually met the infamous Jack Sparrow.
She smiled faintly, recalling every one of the adventures her father had told her of Jack Sparrow, before his untimely death. How Jack had come to acquire the Black Pearl, and how he'd been marooned on the small island.
She frowned. And then her father had died in a tragic accident at sea. That was when she'd decided to pick up a crew and become a true pirate. It was time she continued her father's legacy.
And now?
Jack was shipless, more-or-less. No more Black Pearl. The ship she'd so desperately wished to see. Gone.
Another thought lingered on her mind. If Jack had supposedly gone down with his ship, how was he alive and well now?
A sharp knock on the door. Marina snapped out of her thoughts as her head snapped up, making something crack at the back of her neck. She went to the door. Gibbs stood outside.
"Yes, Mr. Gibbs?"
"The Cap'n wishes to speak with ye," he said, one eye slightly squinted, and a rusty smile on his face.
Marina quirked and eyebrow.
"Over dinner," Gibbs finished, laughed, and walked away, taking a swig of liquor from his trusty little bottle.
The door closed, and both of Marina's eyebrows shot up. Jack wanted to talk. Over dinner? Was she supposed to interpret this as a sign of, oh, say, attraction?
She shook her head, sternly. No. No one would do something . . . so quickly. No, he probably wanted to talk about matters that . . .
On second, thought, curiosity overtook her, What did Jack want to talk about?
Putting on her scabbard, and upholstery, she donned hat and strode out of her temporary quarters, towards the Captain's quarters. She knocked briskly. There was a bang followed by a sharp cry of pain, and a "Bugger!" Marina held back a laugh, looking away a bit. She listened. Bottles and papers and other assorted items were heard being moved about, accompanied by random mutters and such.
Boots thumped against the wood, striding towards the door. Keys, he was fumbling with keys, jamming it into the lock, and opening the door.
There stood Captain Jack Sparrow, a red tinge in his cheeks and rum on his breath. "Eh? Oh," he put on a smile, "It's ye, Miss Blackheart. Come in, come in, I was just, eh, doing a bit of cleaning up. Can't live in a pig-stie, can we?"
Marina nodded, walking briskly into the room. She surveyed her surroundings briefly, before turning at the sound of a lock. Jack had locked the door. He looked at her, then realised she was looking at him, then quickly put on an innocent smile. "Just a bit of protection."
Marina raised an eyebrow, dismissed it, and walked further into the room. She took a few steps, and heard a few more being taken, behind her. She glanced at Jack, who'd moved when she did, then stopped when she did. He seemed a bit . . . jumpy tonight . . .
"Jack, are ye, perhaps, drunk?"
"Eh, what?" Jack looked at her, then shook his head, "No, I've just had a bit to drink. I'm, eh . . . perfectly fine."
"Whatever ye say, mate," Marina shrugged. Jack gestured to a seat at table, loaded with various foods and drinks. "Have a seat, will ye?"
Marina nodded, taking a seat at one end of the table, while Jack sat at the other end. They stared at each other awhile, before Jack got irritated. "Well, eat, it's not poisoned."
Marina seemed to snap out of her little trance, and picked up a piece of food similar-looking to a chicken leg. She ate with small bites, which, she noticed, Jack took full notice of. Or was he staring at her mouth for another reason? He suddenly looked into her eyes, smiled, and took a swig of his drink.
He leaned forward a bit. "So, Captain Blackheart," he said, putting a bit of emphasis on her name.
"Jack, please, call me by my first name," Marina said, "It wouldn't kill ye, would it?"
"No, no, perhaps not, Marina," He took another swig of his drink, "I'd fancy to know what ye'd be planning to do once yon ship has been reclaimed."
"What I plan to do?" the lady pirate repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Do you plan to stay or not, to be blunt." Jack looked at her with a bit of a dull expression.
"Stay? Why stay, Captain Sparrow? I have a ship to run, and we are neither allies, nor enemies, more of rivals of piracy, wouldn't you say?" Marina leaned back in the chair. However, she frowned, upon noticing the sudden soberness of the captain. He'd begun to stare intently into the remainder of his drink, a frown fixed upon his face.
He swished the contents of his drink around in the bottle. "So . . . which way would ye be headed once yer gone?" he said, somberly.
Marina knit her eyebrows together. "Jack, I have no mean to offend you," she said, "It's an honor to meet you, truly it is. But I am a pirate, a captain of a ship, same as you, and--"
"Captain?" Jack put on a whistful smile, still staring down at his drink. He frowned and looked to the side. "I am no Captain. I have no ship."
Marina stayed silent as she listened, wonder shining in her brown eyes.
"The pearl is gone," Jack said, strongly, looking up and away, towards the back of the room, "Davey's beastie saw to that, no doubt. What ship have I to Captain, Miss Blackheart?"
Marina leaned forward, "Jack, you've a crew, loyal and true to your every word. And I believe you'll find a way." She slowly glanced down him, stopping to rest on the filthy handkerchief that bound his right palm. She gazed at it in curiousity.
"What is that?" she asked, pointing to his hand.
Jack snapped his head up to look at her. "Huh, what?" He glanced at his bound hand, then quickly tucked it away. "Oh, it's nothing, just cut meself when fumbling with me sword is all. Nothing to be worried 'bout, Miss Blackheart." However, his smile was false, almost saying, "I'm telling a big, fat lie, Miss Blackheart, and I wish I could tell you exactly what happened to me hand, but I don't want to risk your endangerment."
Marina mentally quirked an eyebrow. He was definately hiding something from her. However, she shrugged it off and they continued with their meal.
Jack opened his mouth to speak again when they were done. "Miss Blackheart--"
"Marina," the lady pirate corrected. Jack nodded.
"Marina," he said, softly, "I--"
A knock on the door interrupted his speech, and he growled in anger, going to answer. Gibbs appeared as Jack swung the door open with a force backed by irritation.
"What is it, Mr. Gibbs?!" Jack snapped.
Gibbs seeemed pale, and fidgity. He shuddered as he spoke in a low voice, "Captains, I think ye'd better take a gander at what we found off the starboard bow . . ."
Jack turned to Marina, curiosity evident in both of them. Marina nodded, getting up from the chair and following Jack, who followed Gibbs. As they approached starboard, Marina had a feeling in her gut that this would not be good. Her suspicions were, unfortunately, correct.
Her eyes widened in horror.
Broken pieces of a ship were scattered about in the water. Also, the bodies of men—pirates—floated on the surface of the water. Dead. The water was tinted red with blood. A rather large piece of wood floated up from the depths. On it, was the name of the unfortunate ship.
White Raven.
Marina gasped, hands flying to her mouth. "My . . . my ship!! My crew!!" She glanced feverishly over to one sailor who was scrambling on a piece of wood, life still in him. Marina threw caution to the wind as she jumped overboard, ignoring Jack and the crew's pleas to come back, and swam to the injured man.
She reached him and turned him over. It was a young man with wild blonde hair. He coughed up seawater and sputtered, getting the nasty water out of his lungs.
"Vic!" Marina cried, "Vic, what happened?" The man, Vic, sputtered again, this time not only coughing up sea water, but blood as well.
"M-marina? Is'at you?" Vic asked, his eyes semi-glossed.
"Yes, Vic, it's me," Marina said, softly. She moved to help him, but he groaned in protest.
"No, don't, it's too late," Vic said, "We were attacked . . ."
"By who, Vic, who?"
" . . . Twas . . . the Kraken . . ."
Back on the ship, Jack stared at the pirate, a horrified frown appearing on his face. Will's face mirrored that of Jack's as he glanced at the Captain's expression. Jack suddenly became caught up in staring at the surface of the water near Marina and the other pirate.
"Um, Marina . . ." Jack said, after a moment.
Not hearing him, she continued to put her attention on the pirate.
"Marina, ye need to be careful . . ." Vic said, his voice dripping with dread, "Davey Jones . . . does not like to have what's his taken away . . ."
"Marina, I think you should get out of the water . . ." Jack continued to remind her, but the stubbornness of the woman was astounding.
Will turned to Jack. "This was not Davey Jones's work, Jack," he said, gravely soft. "It was Norrington's. Norrington wants all enemies dead, so he's trying to take out the top pirates who would likely rebel against him." He turned, slowly, back to the water, "And that included the White Raven."
Vic's grip on her arms was slowly loosening as he spoke his last words, "He'll keep coming, Marina . . . my Captain . . . my love . . ."
Both Jack's and Marina's eyes widened somewhat. Vic's eyes rolled back and his lids closed, his grip becoming limp and his head falling down. Marina nearly burst into tears, holding back the most of it. A couple tears escaped, rolling down her cheek.
"Vic?" She shook him. "Vic, wake up, please . . ." She sniffed. It was too late, and now she'd broke out into a sob, burying her head in Vic's wild hair.
"Marina!!" Jack called, diving into the water. Marina turned, watching as Jack swam towards her, calling, "Get away!!" Turning back, she noticed that something moved beneathe the water, brushing past her legs. Jack had now reached her, and pulled on her arm.
"C'mon, love, let's go," he said, sternly, his voice beginning to shake. Marina turned back to Vic's body.
"But--"
"WE HAVE TO GO!!" Jack bellowed, flinging his arm around her chest and dragging her with him, "THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME!! WE HAVE TO HURRY!!"
"BUT VIC!!!" Marina cried, glancing back. Jack continued to swim towards his nameless ship, as his crew and Will were lowering a rope ladder for them to climb back up on.
"FORGET HIM!!"
"I CAN'T!!" She reached out to Vic, "VIC!!" But his body was suddenly pulled underwater. It was not natural, either. He hadn't become so limp as to lose his grip on the piece of wood he'd been floating on. Something dragged him beneathe the depths. And that was when Marina realised that something was still here.
Jack fought to keep both his and Marina's heads above the water, but as far as he swam, he didn't seem to be getting anywhere near the ship. He could feel the Kraken's presence—he sensed it was still here. And it was angry. Not only had he escaped, but he knew Norrington wanted Marina dead, as well. He'd heard legends of the White Raven and it's cunning captain. Maybe she'd eluded the E.T.C. for too long, but she wouldn't stand a chance against a 60-foot-long (or maybe even more!) monster. A ship could only go so fast. Easy prey for Davey's grand beastie.
It was then that he noticed he was starting to sink, although he knew not why. As far as he could see, the ship was at least twenty feet away. With a final push, he flung Marina away from him, and she braced herself as she hit the side of the ship, grasping onto the rope ladder. But, she turned back, crying, "Jack!"
Finally, he felt something slimy grip his leg, and drag him underwater. He fought to get away, but it was useless. He felt the pressure of the water curshing against him. He'd drown if this kept up! What were his options?
A: Drown.
B: Get crushed to death by the water.
And, as it turned out, he had a third option, which he realised as he saw the great eyes and maw of the Kraken.
Option C: Get eaten. Again.
Air bubbles flew from his mouth as he struggled. So this was it, then. He'd eluded death one, two, maybe three times or more. But this would be the end. If the Kraken's teeth didn't see to it, then the Caribbean's waters would.
Above water, Marina pulled herself up a little, to see what was happening. However, the most she could see were the air bubbles spouting a little behind the spot where Jack had last been. She craned her neck to glance up at Will, Gibbs, Cotton, and Anamaria. "What's going on?" she shouted to them.
"It be the Kraken!" Gibbs shouted back, "Jack be doomed now, unless he manages another miraculous escape . . ."
Marina turned, focusing on the water. The air bubbles . . . suddenly stopped. Gasping with fright, she dove back into the water and swam down into the depths, ignoring the pleas of the rest of Jack's crew. The cold water stung her body; she hadn't let herself get used to it while she was in, and she'd been shivering slightly when Jack drew her back. Jack had possibly saved her, and now it was her turn to save him. If he had any time left . . .
She sighted his white shirt, recognized his face, his eyes closed as he drifted from unconsciousness into death's cold embrace. Hang on, Jack! she cried in her mind, swimming towards him. It wasn't until she was up close to him that she saw a great big eye open behind Jack, recognizing the long, thick, dark tendrils that resembled an octopus's arms, waving in the underwater currents. Glancing down, she saw the ivory fangs of the mouth, and saw the water rushing into that mouth.
Frightened, she thrashed away, but, remembering her task, swam back to Jack and grabbing him under the arms. She took a close inspection of his face. It seemed green under the murky water, and his dreadlocks floated around his face like tentacles of the Kraken. Even near death, he was handsome.
Wasting no time, she kicked at the tentacle grasping Jack's foot, her oxygen supply quickly running out. It didn't seem to be working, and the more she stayed down here, the more of a chance they both had of perishing. The Kraken would get two victems for the price of one.
However, she grabbed Jack's sword, jabbing the blade into the Kraken's arm, making the water shake from the violence of the creature's supersonic, underwater screech. The tentacle let go, and for a moment, Marina and Jack were floating, carelessly, through the water. She saw him, saw the peaceful look on his face, and thought—no, knew—this was not his time.
She heard the screech of the Kraken again, and turned her head. She saw more of the creatures tentacles darting through the water, all closing in on them. Holding Jack close, she knew, she wouldn't make it. Please, help us! she prayed.
Just when the creature was going to close in, Marina kicked her feet, sending a fast spurt of water jetting behind her, and proppelling her and jack upwards. The tentacles rammed into each other, getting themselves stuck before diving back at them. Marina continued to kick her legs, sending unnatural amounts of speed rocketing them through the water. And just then, they broke the surface, shooting up into the air a good ten feet.
The crew on the ship watched in amazement as both captains, Marina and Jack, were shooting out of the water, and almost flying through the air. They shot up like a rocket (even though rockets didn't EXIST in those days, but, hey, it's just a comparison, right? Okay, I'll shut up.) and five thick tentacles shot after them, bringing the Kraken's body dangerously near the surface of the water.
Just as Marina looked down, she saw those thick arms, lunging for her and Jack, ready to rip them to shreds before the crews very eyes. It hadn't even registered to her that she could take a breath. She prayed that they would survive, but deep in her heart, she knew.
NOW it was their time . . .
No-one even realised that the storm clouds were gathering above their heads, swirling about dangerously. The water became choppy, even more so with the Kraken stirring underneathe their depths. The crew readied the ship, they had to leave now, now, NOW!
Marina closed her eyes, feeling gravity do its work and dragging her back down into the Kraken's embrace. It's mouth surfaced and revealed its pointed, ivory teeth, ready for the kill.
But, just as they were about to close on the two captains, the wind picked up. Not only that, it picked up the water as well. A waterspout had formed, suddenly, taking both pirates with it. The Kraken dove down under the water, deep down, where it would be safe.
Meanwhile, the two pirates had once again broke the surface of the water as the waterspout tossed them both back into the Caribbean waters. The spout had disappeared, making the water it sucked up rain back down on the ocean. The grey clouds cleared, showing clear blue sky and radiant golden sun, making the waves and foam sparkle.
Will commanded the ship to sail closer to the spot where Marina and Jack had last been. Neither pirate had surfaced as of yet, and the entire crew waited with dread for news of their captain. Suddenly, the water churned in one particular spot, and Marina's head broke the water again, and she gasped for air, blinking the salt water from her eyes. She struggled to keep afloat, as she also brought up Jack Sparrow's head above the water, although he didn't seem to be breathing.
While she treaded water, she spotted the ship, calling to Will and Gibbs, "Get yer sorry behinds over here and get us out of here!" The crew scurried about, preparing the ship again. It began to sail closer to Marina, and she grabbing onto the ladder with the hand she thrashed about to help tread water. Her other hand was wrapped under Jack's arm and around his chest. She dragged the comatose captain with her as she used every muscle, sore as they were, to climb the flimsy rope ladder provided for her.
She finally flopped Jack's body over the side of the rail, making him crash onto the deck, before flipping over and sprawling out on top of him. She breathed heavily, and the crew gathered around her and Jack. Gibbs held a hand to his heart.
"By the Gods! That'd be the fourth time we've escaped the wrath of Davey Jones's beast," he said. Marina held up a hand as she sputtered and coughed up water from her lungs, trying to get them to pump air once more. Once she'd regained somewhat of a control of her breathing, she gasped and focused on Jack.
He was deathly pale, his lips slightly parted and his head hung limp to the side. Jumping to him, Marina put her hands on his chest, pressing down sharply to force water out of him. Nothing happened. She bent over, pinching his nose with her right hand and forcing his mouth open with the left as she breathed into him. She resumed pumping his chest up and down, and she suddenly became hysterical.
"Come on, Jack! Breathe!" she cried, "Jack! JACK, GOD DAMMIT! BREATHE!!" With a final thrust to his chest, Jack sputtered, coughing up way more water than Marina had. His body convulsed as he turned over to help force the water out. He got, shakily, to his knees, and looked around him when he was done. He caught the worried stares of his crew, before he was knocked down once more. A body had flung itself onto him, and, as he struggled to keep what consciousness he had left, he recognized the body as that of a woman's. Marina.
"You're alive!" she cried, sobbing into his chest. "Don't ever do that, ever again!!"
"What'd I do?" Jack slurred, not quite remembering exactly what had happened. The world around him slurred as Gibbs pulled Marina gently off of him.
"I think the Captain might like to rest now," Gibbs said, "We'll go to the nearest port and dock there. Will, will ye help me get Jack into his quarters? There's a bed in there that'll do nicely." And so Gibbs and Will helped carry Jack into his quarters, setting the pirate captain down on his bed, while his conscious drifted in and out. Later on, Marina came and sat next to him after Gibbs and Will had left.
"Are you okay?" she asked, softly. Jack's head fell limply to look at her, a lazy, exhausted look in his eyes.
"I'm fine, love, don't worry yer pretty head," Jack slurred. "A bit o'rest and I'll be in tip-top shape in no time . . ."
"You scared me back there," Marina said. She looked away. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have tried to go back for Vic. I knew he would die, but . . ."
"Just what is your relationship to Mr. Vic?" Jack asked, curiously. Outside, Gibbs, Will, and the rest of the crew listened in.
"Well," Marina looked down, "Vic's father was a close friend of my Dad's, and a fellow pirate. So the two of us became close friends. Eventually, when my Father passed away, I took it upon myself to continue in his footsteps. Vic's father was his first mate, and so Vic was mine." Her tone became quieter with each word. "We were close friends . . . I never knew he harbored those feelings for me . . ."
"Did you . . . feel the same about him?" Jack asked, on the brink of unconsciousness. Before he went out, he needed to know.
Marina shook her head, putting her hand on his. He was wrapped in extra blankets, but he was still cold and shivering. "No, I didn't. We were close friends, but I never felt anything but brotherly love towards him." She put her fingers inbetween his thumb and his palm, smiling somewhat when his hand closed on hers.
Jack sighed, somewhat relieved. Marina couldn't help but noticed this. Of course, being in the weakened state Jack was in, he couldn't hide much. Not that it mattered. He wouldn't have to worry about it until he woke up again. "That's a relief," Jack added on to the sigh.
"Hm?" Marina asked, her eyes shining with curiousity. But it didn't matter. Jack was finally out. Marina got up and walked solemnly out of the room, glaring at the crew as she passed them. She grabbed Gibbs by the shoulder. "You need to tell me about Jack." was all she said before she pulled him away from the crew. Gibbs sighed. He knew this would be coming.
"Jack didn't cut himself with his sword, did he?" Marina asked.
"It's not a cut, Miss Blackheart," Gibbs said, "It's . . ." He shuddered. "The Black Spot."
Marina's eyebrows quirked. "The 'Black Spot'?"
"Aye, you see, way back when, Jack got himself in a bit of a twist with ol' Davey Jones, and swore rights to his soul if he captained the Black pearl for 13 years. And Davey's been tryin' to catch up with 'im ever since his time ran out . . ." Gibbs explained. "Davey sent young William's father, 'Bootstrap' Bill Turner, to inform Jack of his debt, and he gave him the Black Spot."
"And what is the Black Spot?"
"It's the mark that means ye're being hunted by Davey Jones," Gibbs shuddered. He quickly got up. "It's best that I retire fer the evenin'. I'll be seeing you in the mornin'." With that, he left to his quarters. Marina stared after him a long time before retiring, herself, climbing into her bed and falling asleep.
All night long, she dreamed of Jack and the Kraken, but a mysterious figure haunted her dreams . . .
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Wow. O.O That was a long chapter! YAY!! Now, please review! 5 more reviews get an update! Thanks to the people who reviewed, who were mentioned at the top of the page. -hands each of them cookies shaped like the Black Pearl or the Kraken with POTC written on them in icing-
Remember, 5 REVIEWS 1 UPDATE!!!
Ye savvy?