Chapter 9: De-ja Vous
Cannon fire filled the next few minutes before the cell door was thrown open and Elizabeth and Bootstrap were gathered, tossed over rough shoulders and blind folded.
"Get them to the boats." Tavington snarled as the monkey chattered about on his shoulder, wrapping its prehensile tail around the pirate's neck.
The throbbing at Elizabeth's temple was dizzying as the blood rushed to her face. She dimly recalled being set against cold, wet wood as they were lowered to the churning waters of the ocean and rowed into what smelled to be very dank and large caverns. A strange recollection settled into her stomach as the sound of cannon fire and swords clanging together began to fade; the echoing of the oars strokes the only sound reverberating off of the cold stone walls.
Rough hands hauled both her and Bootstrap to their feet as they were pulled along with the small group. Stumbling more than once due to the cumbersome piece of cloth that obscured the vision of both captives, until they were finally tossed to the slimy stone floor.
It felt like an eternity before footfall echoed through the chambers. Most of Tavington's pirates led a very reluctant Jack Sparrow and an almost calm Will Turner into the main room as the material was removed from Bootstrap and Elizabeth's faces.
"Will…" She started when she saw him, but was pulled back quickly by a large muscled hand.
"Ah Jack, we meet again. So good to see you." Tavington stood tall, his hands behind his back and rocking back on his heels as he took the sight of the two in stride.
"Captain Jack. If you please."
"Shut up. Seems to me like you and Mr. Turner Junior have gotten yourselves into a trifle bit of trouble, doesn't it?"
"Look, if we can skip the fancy talk mate, less get down to business. You've got somethin' we'd like returned." Jack spoke casually, as if he weren't at gun point as his hands moved together beneath the ties in front of him.
"I don't like you Jack, I've never liked you. Serving you on the Pearl was a complete waste. Fortunately for you, you have fantastic contacts. For me? I have power. Unfortunately, those around me are not quite as lucky." He stated and turned to trace a finger across Elizabeth's cheek, catching the fire that burned in young Mr. Turner's eyes.
"A fine specimen if I do say so myself. Well, I am a pirate. Shall we make a deal Mr. Turner?" He turned his eyes to Bootstrap as the man behind him hauled him to his feet. Reaching a hand out to follow the thin leather necklace into the elder's blood-stained shirt he pulled out the small green and white vial attached firmly to the end.
"Mr. Turner Junior, I apologize." He chuckled at the confused looks from both brown eyed men before using his knife to cut the bit that held it around his neck as he palmed the object of his desire, turning back to the men before him.
"You know what this is?"
"Yes." Will's reply was curt as a loose curl escaped with the jaunty flick of his head.
"You know what is required to make this potion work do you not?"
"Yes…." His answer was no less curt, but cautious as his mind tried desperately to work around the pirates way of thinking.
Tavington merely cracked a grin as he strode to Elizabeth's side and fondled the small jar between his fingers.
"I have no problem with killing her and using the blood to my own whim; but…" he paused, looking over at Jack.
"You can't do that…they have to be willing." Bootstrap's voice was raspy and laced with pain and his breathing was slightly labored with the effort of speaking.
"Willing. They have to be willing, exactly. She doesn't look very willing, does she, Turner Junior."
Will's mind was running a mile a minute, his deep brown eyes focused on the pirate before him.
"Come now William, your decision should not be that hard."
"Less just negotiate. I'm sure we can reach some sort of….understanding, as it were. C'mon mate, what use is the vial to you anyway?" Jack's voice entered the tension filled room catching everyone's attention.
"Recognize this Sparrow?" Tavington tossed a single gold coin to the ground before the two, the moon light catching and beaming off of the skull's prominent curves and hollows.
"I know you do, Jack. One of 882 identical pieces from this very chest." Tavington traced his hand over the intricate designs of the stone chest before pushing the lid away with a single shove. The dark chest was empty, every single piece of gold missing as Jack tossed him a trademark grin.
"You know it won't work…"
"Don't bluff Sparrow, you know it will. I take my sacrifice and mix they're blood in this very pool. A single drink and I am alive once more, with more riches than anyone could ever imagine. It be fool proof. But we seem to be at an impasse, one that only Mr. Turner here can assuage." Tavington lifted the gold into his hand next to the vial and looked up at the contemplative William Turner Junior.
"If I agree…will you let them go?"
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"Will no!" Elizabeth struggled against the man holding her back as she looked over at him, her eyes frantically searching his face for a hidden goal, a plan of some sort.
"William Turner; the blacksmith that fought so hard to obtain what he has, is willing to let it all go?" Tavington questioned, sliding his sword from its sheath as he walked a light footed circle around the boy.
"If you let them go, no questions asked, no harm inflicted upon any of my friends and family in this room, I shall agree. Only if you place them safely aboard the Black Pearl and let her sail for Port Royal before your ship leaves this island. I'm not a simpleton, Tavington. I want this done right, and I want it done now."
"You are absolutely correct my lad. You aren't a simpleton. Do we have an accord?" He placed his sword into his left hand while extending his right, waiting for the pirate holding Will to untie the blacksmith's hands.
"In order to have an accord, I must be a pirate." Will commented, his fist snaking out to slam into the man's cheek as he kicked the sword from his wobbling hand.
Catching it into his palm he turned and matched his blade with the pirate that had previously held him captive. Knocking him to the ground, he watched dimly as the others went for their downed captain, taking the precious moments to untie Jack as he moved to Elizabeth and his father's sides.
"Get off of me, you idiots! Get them!" Tavington snarled as he pushed the aid away, standing on his own as he pulled out his short sword and lunging at Will. Calmly sidestepping, his years of practice wielding a blade came into play as he parried and dodged, making sure he showed the pirate his dexterity with a blade while taking an inventory of Tavington's own skill. A firmly planted hand to his jaw knocked Will back into the present as the blacksmith barely dodged the swift strike to his chest.
"Keep focused William!" He heard his father's voice ring out as he drove one of Tavington's men into the cave wall, his sword hitting stone as he thrust it through his gut. The effort he made was extensive as he sagged, falling to the ground. Crude yellow eyes and gnarled teeth grinned at him as the other deranged sailor stalked toward him. Raising his long dagger high above his head he went to deliver the killing blow to old Bootstrap Bill.
He stopped suddenly, his eyes flying wide as he toppled to his side landing with a muffled thud. Elizabeth stood with bated breath as blood shone from the long rapier she held firmly with both hands. Turning, she took in the sight of Will and Jack alternately sparring with Tavington.
"This is a fight they neither can win, lass." Blood had begun to form at the corner of his mouth as he accepted Elizabeth's help in standing on his own. "I felt…felt the gold in the boat. As we… as we were brought in…I was sitting on it. C'mon. If we can get all the pieces b…back into the chest along with a bit 'o' is….his blood…." He stopped, falling to the ground as he clutched the wound at his shoulder.
"Will!" She cried, catching his attention as he turned to Jack with a small nod. Making his way quickly to his wife's side, his eyes attached immediately to his injured father. "The gold is here, we have to get it." She ordered, grabbing his hand as she all but yanked him from the large center room into a long winding passage.
"We cannot just leave them Elizabeth, Tavington has some skill. And this time Jack isn't immortal."
"Trust me." She grunted as she found the small boats, ripping away a tattered garment as three large bags were found resting underneath.
"Why wouldn't he take it to his ship?"
"Let us not ask questions Will, just use what he gave us." She snipped as she drug one bag out on her own, half carrying it half pulling it next to her as she caught Will's amused chuckle from behind her. She turned her head lightly, seeing him raise a sack and deftly place it above his shoulder to aid with leverage and heft another beside him before falling into step next to her.
"Curse you William Turner." She grumbled as they made their way back into the cave. The sight they were greeted with was much the same as when they had left, catching sight of Jack desperately sparring with the fellow pirate and Bootstrap slouched in the corner.
Dragging one bag after the other to the abandoned stone chest, Will poured their contents in as he wiped the sweat from his brow. The only problem left to them was finding a way to add the pirate's blood.
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A/N: I'm so so sorry for making you guys wait. I really haven't been able to figure this chapter out. I knew what was going to happen before in chapter 8, and what's going to happen in chapter 10, but I was at a complete loss of how to get there. I kinda made things go rather quickly, and for that I'm sorry. But hey, here it is.
Jean