A/N: I've decided to put all flashbacks in these: ~ flashback~ so it'll be easier to follow. Also…this chapter is rated PG-13/R for some gore farther on in. You have been warned. Oh…another thing. Mad props to my friend Cerinnae! I apologize for soiling the name Jamison…but it seemed to fit perfectly.
Chapter 7: Revelations in Writing
"Damn…" A harsh voice snarled as he slammed the scope into the palm of his hand before sliding is closed and turning to his crew. "They have Bootstrap. That damned Jack Sparrow." His crew visibly shuddered as the enraged man threw the eyepiece across the deck, shattering into several pieces before coming to a sudden halt.
"Captain…we fought other ships before. Wot makes this one any differn't?" A filthy sailor asked lightly, daring to talk to the enraged man.
"Hold your tongue, you speak out of place. Bootstrap has the vial. Sparrow has Bootstrap. I did not foresee this Turner's son though…nor did I think he'd have the gall to bring his wife and child. They may yet be useful to us…" A sadistic grin slowly curved his thin lips upward as he watched the Pearl list in the wee hours of the morning.
"We may just have what we need on that ship, my good men. The vial is there, as well as a participate. Soon…I'll be rid of this and my days of sailing will come back full circle." He laughed, lifting the single piece of gold into his hand and he flipped it through his fingers gracefully. "Bill will pay for taunting me with the location of the cursed treasure… Barbossa didn't know what he had gotten into." He grinned as he recalled finding the mutinous first mate's skeleton laying before the stone chest, the faithful monkey still seated on his arm as if waiting for his master to rise.
~ "Captain, I don't fink this is a good idea." His first mate squeaked and looked down into the large stone chest as the Aztec gold of Cortez winked up at him them both. Reaching out for a piece of the treasure, the captain slapped the hand away quickly before kneeling next to the monkey.
"Hello there, little friend." He smiled, moving down and lifting the small creature up. The monkey happily sat on is shoulder before picking up the piece of gold from his small tattered coat and chewing on it.
He squeaked as his sharp teeth bit into his tongue; removing the medallion from his mouth, a bit of blood appeared on the skull. Dipping his shoulder into the moonlight, the men jumped back at the horrid skeleton before them, the decayed monkey dropping to the floor quickly. Cradling the gold against his chest, he jumped to the edge of the chest, tossing it back with the rest as his body reappeared and he sat quietly before them.
"How is that possible?"
"It's a curse!"
"Silence!" The captain ordered, his voice echoing through the catacombs, making his way over to the ornate stone.
"Surely he wouldn't think I would be so eager to fall into an obvious trap." He questioned himself more than his crew, the primate climbing back to his shoulder as he chattered nervously. "Don't touch it; bring me the bags." He ordered, feeling the burlap against his legs as he reached down, opening one of them up. With a deep breath he began lifting handfuls of the round golden pieced from the stony dwelling before it was empty. Three large sacks were filled to brimming as they were loaded back into the ship.
"Captain!" The men shouted as they spotted the skeletal version of the gentleman as he stepped onto the deck.
"Worry not my friends…all is not lost. We find Bootstrap, I'm cured of the curse. Then we're free to spend all the gold we wish." He laughed, the small animal accompanying him below deck as the gold was placed in the corner of his cabin. ~
"Tavington? Should we make for Tortuga, sir?" His first mate called, dragging him from his memories as he nodded silently, and the sails were drawn.
* * *
"Calm yourself William; Bill will take good care of them, they'll be perfectly safe. We need supplies." Jack commented, placing a hand to his friends shoulder as the blacksmith once again turned to stare at the Pearl before returning his eyes to the path in front of him.
"I don't like leaving them alone, Jack."
"Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?"
"Do you recall what happened after you asked me that the last time?" Will stopped, intending to return to the ship as Sparrow yanked him forward, into a small shop to his left.
"Why do we need more supplies if we're just going back to Port Royal?" Will question made Jack flinch slightly, but he regained his composure before ignoring the smithy and chatting with the owner of the shop.
"Jack…"
"We're making a pit stop…okay? Turner needs to get some things…" he commented from the side of his mouth as he looked around the store for several items and lifted them into his arms.
Asking the owner politely to run in the back and grab something, Jack waltzed from the store with the merchandise in tow, leaving Will face to face with the angered elderly shopkeeper. With a small sigh he reached into his pockets and paid for the Captain's items before joining Sparrow out on the street.
* * *
"She's a lovely little lass, if I do say so myself. Turner blood in 'er as well." Bootstrap Bill commented as he held the squirming Emily in his lap, Elizabeth smiling over at the two as she eagerly awaited the return of the crew.
"Yes, unfortunately I see more of her father in her than myself. Though Will is such a wonderful man, I would only hope to see her turn out with a compassionate heart such as his." She smiled gently, hearing footsteps from above as she turned and looked to the ceiling.
"Seems like they're back already; I'll take Emily. She needs her nap before we start out." Taking the child from the pirate, he rose and closed the door behind him.
Elizabeth sat in the recently vacated rocking chair, cradling the infant in her arms. A soft song filled the room as she lulled the baby into a calm sleep, rocking until she was sure Emily was out completely before placing her into the crib beside the bed. Thumping and laughing drifted down to her ears as she smiled up at the ceiling before she tucked the large heavy blanket under the baby's chin. Leaving the hallway quickly, she made her way up the wooden stairs as a hand was firmly clamped over her mouth. Her startled cry was muffled as blow mixed with a searing pain ran through the right side of her face; blackness consuming her.
* * *
"Jack, come on. We've been away two hours and half the crew has probably returned by now." Will tapped his foot in annoyance as Jack purchased yet another glass of rum and pulled Will into a seat at his table. Gibbs smiled back at him, as did many other members of the Pearl's crew, and Will was left to another fifteen minutes of exaggerated stories before everyone rose and made their way back to the ship. The rest of the crew was waiting at the docks and followed the captain onto the gangplank and up to the deck as they set about undoing ropes and storing their many items as they prepared to set sail.
Will made his way down below as he heard Emily's crying going unheeded. With a frown he looked in his father's quarters and spotted nothing missing but the pirate himself before making his way to his own room. His hand strayed to the hilt of his sword as he pushed open the door; quickly seeing nothing wrong he made his way to the cradle and pulled the blanket away from his screaming child's face.
Crying out, he stumbled away, seeing the infant's hair matted in some places with blood, the soft curls sticky and hard as fingerprints were left on her cheeks. The tears left red streaks down her face as his breathing quickened. Anamaria knocked lightly, hearing his cry as she walked to his side with her sword drawn, seeing the note pinned to the child's light yellow dress. Written in blood, the words set a coursing rage through the blacksmith as he ordered Anamaria to watch the baby, ripping the note from the dress. His eyes had all but turned black as he stormed through the hallway and back to the deck, seeing Jack at the helm giving orders.
Without thinking, his fist slammed into the captain's jaw, sending Sparrow to the ground instantly. Will bent over him, shoving the letter in the startled pirate's face.
"You swore she'd be safe." He snarled as Gibbs dragged him away, and Cotton helped Jack to his feet.
The captain blinked a few times before focusing his eyes to the words before him.
~We meet again Sparrow. If ye's ever wish to see the two alive, ye'd better hurry. Isla de Muerta is waiting. – Captain Jamison Tavington~
Jack sighed as he set the note down and reached into his pocket. Pulling out the compass, he met Will's eyes over the upturned lid.
"Hoist the sail, weight anchor!" He shouted, the crew jumping to obey his commands. "We've a ship to catch."
* * *
A/N: My chapters will be getting longer…I promise. But for now…I figured that was enough DUN DUN DUN moments to last a lifetime! Hopefully, all of you who have fallen asleep are now awake…and are still interested!!!
Jean