Chapter Seven: Anything
Adrianna sat in the dank, dark corner of some cell. Her knees were brought up to her chest and her head was resting on them. She was not crying, just cursing her own foolishness. In hindsight perhaps the eccentric captain had a reason for her to not leave his ship. Perhaps he was actually telling the truth about the dreadful port and that he would possibly have kept her safe if she would have excepted his offer to come ashore with him. The lot of good this reasoning was doing her now.
The men that cornered her in the alley made no threats or even spoke to her. It was not until the man with the monkey showed his face that anything was spoken at all. "What ye be waiting for, I want me ship back!" he had exclaimed and the next thing she knew she was tied, gagged, and thrown over one of the men's shoulder.
The wooden door to her cell opened letting in the bright light of a lantern. "I'll thank ya now missy for aiding me in the return of me ship." the older man said while his monkey climbed up onto his shoulder.
"What are you talking about?" Adrianna whispered. She was not going to let her fear rule over her anymore.
The man approached her and rolled his yellowing eyes, "Are you as daft as Jack?" when there was no answer he finished in irritation. "The Black Pearl."
"Forgive me, but I do not understand." Adrianna said forcing herself to stand up and regain some of her confidence.
"Well their be no need for you to understand anything anyway. You will do as you are told if you want to survive this." He finished while grabbing hold of her arm and hauling her out of the cell.
Adrianna was astonished to see that it was not a cell, but a cellar she was in. They were in some run down home somewhere, that looked as if the only thing that inhabited it any length of time were the rats scurrying about.
"Now, my lady," the man said mockingly while leading her out into the night air again, "if you meet your end in the hands of I, Captain Barbossa, the fault will lay solely on Captain Jack Sparrow. If he gives me the Pearl, you will be well."
Adrianna forced him to stop, "He will not, I am of no value to him. He will keep his Pearl. I am of no value to you!" She wept trying to break free of the man but he held her tighter.
"Oh, see that is where ye be wrong. Ye be of more value to Jack." When she continued her tirade Barbossa simply knocked her in the back of the head. The blow was only hard enough to make her falter, but not render her unconscious. It was enough time however for one of his brutes to get hold of her again.
"Captain, do we have to kill her, she is such a pretty thing." The man had said with a slap on her rear end that sent her to squirming again.
"Shut yer yap Dev." Barbossa said angrily as he continued to lead the way. They were going to kill her regardless! Adrianna began to panic and struggled to hold on to her consciousness.
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Jack laughed. It was amazing what information one could gain when threatening pirates with death. Especially Pintel and Ragetti. Jack didn't really know what they were still doing on the Pearl, but they were there none the less and proved their usefulness.
Apparently one of the crew, Dave or Dev or something or other left the Pearl back in the Colonies and followed Jack and Gibbs. They said they were glad to be rid of him. Jack was pleased with himself with he ability to put two and two together and link Dev with Barbossa.
Now all that remained was to put his plan into action. Barbossa knew that Jack needed Adrianna to become immortal. So Barbossa would come looking for him. There was no need for Jack to search for him. Instead he had prepared a little trap for him at the docks where the Pearl was anchored and if all went according to plan, there would be some extra benefits.
Just before dawn, Barbossa appeared on the dock with Adrianna in tow. Jack stood face to face with him and mockingly asked, "I suppose ye be wantin' the Pearl mate." then he flashed a smile to Adrianna.
"Jack please.." Adrianna started but Barbossa cut her off by grasping her arm even more tightly.
Jack frowned when he saw pain flash across Adrianna's face but quickly caught himself before Barbossa could see. "Who's the lass?" Jack asked looking her over as if he had never seen her before.
"Ye know who she is and yes I will be takin' me Pearl." Barbossa said. Jack continued to study her and stepped closer to her.
"Smells like a cellar." Jack said aloud and quickly whispered in her ear. "Trust me."
"Enough Jack!" Barbossa yelled frustrated. "Will ye be giving me the Pearl then? Or do I kill the lass?"
Calmly Jack responded, "Why would you kill the lass? She seems pretty enough. Just take her along with ye and walk right back the way ye came." Jack said and at that point in time is loyal crew, what their was of them stepped out of the shadows.
Barbossa laughed, "Expecting me were ye." and about that time Barbossa's men stepped out of their hiding places. There was a few more than Jack expected.
"Well then perhaps we should ask the lady." Jack said and looked to Adrianna. With a devilish smile on his face he asked her, "What would you do to be free of this man luv?"
Adrianna was shocked for a split second and responded without thinking. "Anything!"
Jack then attacked Barbossa causing him to release Adrianna for a second. "I'll be holdin ye to that luv!" Jack shouted while parrying a blow. Around him all his men where fighting and he thanked the heavens that Adrianna had the sense to run aboard the Pearl to the waiting Tommy.
Once she was aboard the Pearl his men, one by one, disengaged battle and prepared the Pearl to set sail. By the time Jack left his battle with Barbossa they were already under way leaving Barbossa and his men on the docks.
"Nice seeing ya mate!" Jack yelled waving to him. It was not until the Pearl was out to open ocean that Jack noticed the blood on his shirt. It was not until he noticed the blood that he felt the pain of the wound. "Bugger" was all he said before he fell in a heap on the deck.
