That stopped Erik cold. "Danger?"

Silently, Raoul handed Erik the note. Erik read each word slowly and carefully, his eyes hovering over 'Barbossa'.

Erik let out a low growl. "Of course he'd be behind this," Erik muttered. He walked into one of his back rooms. Meg shrugged, following him. When neither came back out, Raoul followed them both.

Erik was standing at his desk, rummaging through a large wooden trunk. The name "Armadeus Destler" was engraved on the front, and a pirate symbol, a gleaming gold skull and crossbones, lay underneath the name.

"My father was a pirate," Erik explained. "He died before I was born, but I managed to recover most of his belongings. This," he said, gesturing at the trunk, "contains most of his pirating possessions. Maps, compasses, spyglasses, and other similar things."

"With the map," Meg said, "we can try and figure out where the Black Pearl is going."

"We?" Erik asked.

Meg rolled her eyes. "Of course. You two are going to find yourselves a ship, but what about a crew? If you let me come along, I can get the old stagehands to work for you."

"And how exactly will you manage to accomplish that?"

"I have my ways, monsieurs."

Raoul shrugged. "It couldn't hurt."

With a sigh, Erik agreed.

"Just keep in mind how dangerous this will be, little Giry," Erik said. "This is not fun, nor is it a game. We're dealing with pirates here, and some of the most notorious, and they are notorious for their plunders and murders. Barbossa doesn't spare lives if your simply a pretty face. You have to be of some worth to him. Though we do have the upper hand here; I know his plan."

"You do?" Raoul asked.

"It was simple," he said. "He's kidnapped Christine, and expects me to save her. Christine is being used as bait. When I come to rescue her, he plans to kill all of us."

Meg shuddered. "But we can't let Barbossa keep her there any longer. He'll kill her."

Erik nodded. "I'm afraid so. That's why I've got this." Erik opened the trunk, pulling out a particular map.

"The Caribbean?" Meg asked.

"He's most notoriously known there," Erik answered. "If I'm correct-"

"You usually are," Meg noted.

Erik smirked. "If I'm correct, they're sailing to the Isla de la Muerta. Long ago, when the crew of the Pearl was cursed with immortality, they took the last living pirate there and were freed from the curse by his blood. That island has been a sort of headquarters for them since, that and Shipwreck Cove, so we'll try both. They'll need to make port somewhere, and one stop will definitely be Tortuga. If we time everything right, we'll dock at Tortuga right around when they do, so we can get more information, locate Christine, and other things. We wouldn't be able to save her just yet, though. I have a plan for that."

Raoul nodded. "One problem. Where in the world are we getting a ship?"

Erik grinned. "Have you forgotten that my father was a pirate, de Chagny?"

"This is insane," Meg whispered as the three of them snuck into the harbor of Wimereux, France. Their objective; steal a ship.

Meg had kept her promise, and had rallied up the unemployed stagehands from the opera house, who were eager for some sort of job, even if they worked for the Opera Ghost. In return, she was the second mate of Erik's crew. Reluctantly, Erik had given Raoul the position of first mate.

"Do you want to save her or not?" Erik hissed, making sure the coast was clear. He gestured for the rest to board his ship of choice, the Vengeance, a large, sturdy ship. Erik didn't know who it belonged to, but he'd most likely figure that out soon, when the owners watched them sail away.

Erik and Raoul kept guard as the stagehands and Meg boarded the Vengeance. After all had boarded, the two men followed.

Inside the captain's cabin, Erik laid out his father's map, studying it. Two of the stagehands, brothers Marcus and Levi, followed, along with Raoul. Meg and the others readied the ship for sailing.

"That's a Caribbean map," Marcus said. "We're going to the Caribbean?"

"What did the little Giry tell you?" Erik asked.

"That you needed a crew, and Mrs. De Chagny was in danger," Levi answered.

Erik nodded. "Are any of you familiar with Captain Barbossa?"

Elizabeth paced on the bow of the Black Pearl, waiting. She had sent word to the Dutchman via Will's father, Bootstrap Bill, another crewman of Will's ship, of Mrs. de Chagny's kidnapping, and her plan to help the woman escape. Any time now, a small rowboat with a crew member inside would appear.

"What are ye doing, Mrs. Turner?" Barbossa asked, walking up to her, settling to lean against the rail. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"Nothing," she said, searching again for a rowboat.

"I know of ye'r plans to help our little friend," he said. "And let me tell ye now, none are going to work all that easily."

"Oh?" she said, pretending to be surprised. "Remember, Hector, I still have the title of pirate king, and my husband is the captain of the Flying Dutchman. That gives me quite a bit of power, don't you think?"

Barbossa nodded solemnly. "How about we have a deal. As soon as Destler's son shows up to save her, I let her free, and kill the rest."

"No," she said. "I'm going to help her escape now before you do anything rash. And there's nothing you can do about it."

Barbossa smirked. "Isn't there?"

Two burly pirates appeared behind several crates of water, grabbing Elizabeth's wrists and holding them behind her back. Elizabeth glared.

"Take her to the brig," Barbossa ordered. "I'll tell the Vicomtess that her little alias has been conquered."

Elizabeth struggled against the pirates. "You'll regret not letting her go early on," she hissed. "Destler is a dangerous man. He was the Opera Ghost; don't you know how many people he's killed? How far he'd go for her safety?"

Barbossa ignored the pirate king as the crewmen dragged her to the brig. With a smirk of contempt, the captain walked below decks, knocking on the Vicomtess' door.

"Yes?" she answered, her voice thick from crying. Barbossa felt a small wave of pity. The poor girl. But the pity disappeared as soon as it came, and Barbossa walked through the door.

"You're little plan of escape has been foiled, my dear," he said simply.

"What?" she asked. "Oh no…"

Barbossa gave her a wicked smile. "And before you know it, your precious husband and your little ghost friend will come to rescue you! And to think, they'll all be dead before you know it."

"You're lying!" Christine shouted. "Elizabeth promised…"

Barbossa walked out the door, a sneer spread across his face. As soon as the door shut, Christine crumpled to the floor, dissolving into tears.

Why did he have to fall in love with me?