"Fallen angels at my feet/ Whispered voices at my ear/ Death before my eyes/ Lying next to me I fear/ She beckons me shall I give in/ Upon my end shall I begin/ Forsaking all I've fallen for I rise to meet the end."

Evanescence; Whisper

Demon Called Deception

Chapter Twelve: Knowing

"So yer tellin' me that this man, this Skinner, was the guy you guys faced over twenty years ago?"

"Aye."

"An' 'e's also the guy Lor Adams killed over twenty years ago?"

"Aye."

Emory sighed. "Then 'ow the hell is he the one we're after now?"

Jack shrugged. "Don't know, but 'e is. I'm guessin' 'e's tied to the treasure jus' like the rest o' us."

"Then he's part of the Prophecy?" Tristan asked.

Jack grinned. "I take it ya read the book." He stated.

Emory nodded, her hand going to the chain around her neck. She frowned at it slightly, not remembering when she had put it on the night before. She knew it had been her moth-Lor's. She had felt that it was special when she had first touched it, first held it between her fingers.

"So then where do we go from here?" she asked.

"We don't know yet," Will answered. "We're still trying to figure that out."

Emory studied Jack for a moment, taking in his disheveled appearance. His hair was messed up, as usual, his clothes rumpled. Dark bags had formed under his eyes, revealing how little sleep he'd had. She still did not know enough about him to fully trust him. There was too much that she knew he was still hiding.

"Why do you want the treasure?" she asked finally.

Jack's eyes narrowed. "I don't," he replied. "But I don't want to see it in Skinner's hands either. I need ta get me daughter out o' 'is 'ands as well. After what 'e did ta Lor . . ."

"What exactly did 'e do to 'er?" Emory cut in harshly.

Jack's gaze darkened. "The kindest way ta put it love," he replied, "is he tortured her. Burned her. Beat her. Even went so far as ta skin her ta get what he wanted. He did things ta her that even I don't know about; things that she wouldn't even tell me."

"For all we know," Will broke in, "he could be doing the same thing to Rebecca. Although by now I am sure that he has discovered that she does not bear the map."

"Which means he'll be tryin' ta find us." Jack stated.

"Or lead us somewhere." Tristan added.

Jack's gaze flicked to him. His eyes traced over Tristan's rugged features, taking in the small scar cutting through one of his black eyebrows. Jack's eyes locked onto Tristan's haunting, grey orbs, seeing in them something familiar, something that he could not quite put his finger on.

For some reason, Jack seemed to almost remember him, as if he had known Tristan before their first meeting all of those weeks before. A feeling nagged at him, burning in his gut. Something trying to tell him something; or perhaps try to warn him. But of what, Jack knew not.

"Why would he be doin' that?" Jack asked, the nagging sensation not leaving.

Tristan met his gaze dead on, not blinking. "How should I know?"

Will glanced at Jack from the corner of his eyes and did not like what he saw there. Jack's eyes had become steely and dark; his gaze almost cold from his hidden suspicion. Will knew that look and he knew that it was time to intervene before Jack did something that they would all regret later.

"I believe," Will began, "he means that you seem to have a lot of the answers to our questions."

Tristan shrugged. "I've been around," he stated simply.

"I'm getting a headache," Emory muttered. "I think I need a drink."

A grin that did not reach his eyes lit Jack's face as he reached under his desk and withdrew a flask. He tossed it to her, his concentration once again going to Tristan. "I think yer still hidin' somethin'." He said bluntly.

Tristan's eyes flickered slightly. "I could say the same for you."

He stared down at her still form, a cruel smirk twisting his face. She was so calm, so peaceful, sleeping there on the rough cot. His fingers played with one soft curl on her forehead, careful not to wake her.

"It is going to be so much fun," he whispered. "I have so many plans." His grin widened. "Maybe not for you. But for your sister . . . ah yes. For your sister I will have some fun. Perhaps she will play it right."

He paused, one finger trailing lightly over her lips. "But I doubt she will scream like you would. No, she is too strong, too hard." He laughed quietly. "You are all my pawns. Who, you ask? All of you. Yes, including our dear Captain."

Rebecca stirred for a moment, rolling over onto her side, her breath escaping in a quiet sigh.

He brushed a tendril of hair away from her forehead, the tips of his fingers tracing lazily against her slowly healing bruises.

"Everything is going as planned," he whispered. "The world as you know it will be over, and my reign shall begin again." He leaned into her, his hot breath brushing against her ear. "Do not worry, my dear. Your nightmare is only just beginning."

The sun had set long ago, although Jack had not really noticed. Even though his eyes had seen it, his mind was elsewhere. His thoughts had turned to the mysterious man he had come to know as Tristan Connors; a man who seemed to have all of the answers that they needed. A man who also seemed to harbor a secret that he did not intend to share with anyone.

Jack's instincts told him that there was more to Tristan than met the eye. There was just too much that he was hiding. Granted, Jack had his own little secrets; things that he kept even from his closest of friends. There were things that Jack could never tell anyone. Partially for fear that they would use it against him, and partially due to the fact that he'd sworn never to tell.

And yet, somehow, Tristan knew what it was. Jack would have to remind himself to ask Tristan about it later, even if he had to beat the answers out of him.

A shiver raced down Jack's spine, causing him to look over his shoulder. By the light of the moon, Jack could see the faint outline of the ship anchored closely behind his Pearl. If he strained his eyes he could make out the dark form of someone standing at the Whisper's helm. A flicker of flame flashed in a pair of eyes, illuminating a hardened, feminine face.

Jack knew instantly who it was. No one had eyes like that; so cold, so distant. And only two others had a face like hers; one of them had died twenty years ago while the other was now being held captive by a man who was supposed to be dead. Emory was watching him, her mismatched eyes taking in his silhouetted form.

A crooked smile crossed his face as he lifted one arm in her direction, giving her a slight wave. Emory did not react at first but then lifted her arm, returning his gesture.

Jack knew that she did not trust him and he could not blame her. Not really. He had not been entirely truthful with her. It was not his fault really. Jack was one to always honor his promises. Even if they were promises to someone who had already died.

Jack would tell Emory one day. He really would. He would tell her the rest of what he knew about the map, the curse, and everything else. He sighed. But not now. Jack could tell she was not ready to learn all of it yet.

"One day." He whispered, turning back around to face his dark, quiet ship.

Tristan splashed cold water on his face, feeling the water drops drip from his chin onto his bare chest. He sighed, dipping his hands once again into the washing basin and running them through his dark hair. He trailed his hands down his face.

Tristan wondered, for a moment, if he was doing the right thing. If perhaps he should not have gotten involved in this again. Last time it had almost gotten him killed. But then he remembered why he came back, why he risked his life once again.

It was because of her.

Even though she was the one that had almost killed him, he found he could not stay away. She intrigued him too much. Granted she hated him, or so she said. But Tristan could see something echoing in her eyes, the same thing, he knew, that was hidden in his. An emotion that she would never admit to and neither would he.

Tristan sat down on the edge of his bed, wiping his still dripping face with a dry cloth. He and Emory were two sides of the same coin. Neither one would ever admit anything to the other. Tristan knew that Emory would sooner shoot him then tell him anything.

Tristan lowered his head into his hands, rubbing his eyes. Things were going to get complicated. Not as if they aren't already, he thought. Emory was like a sin to him; something that he knew he should not get involved with, but something that he could never stay away from.

Of course, Tristan knew that he would never allow him to stay away. His life depended upon it.

A soft creak startled him, causing Tristan to jerk his head up quickly. His eyes widened for a moment as he noticed who stood there in front of him. Emory stood in his doorway, leaning calmly against the doorframe. Her loose, scarlet shirt was un-tucked and hanging limply off of one shoulder, revealing darkly tanned skin. Her feet were bare; one foot crossed casually over the other.

Emory's hair hung in her eyes, two small braids framing her face. A small scar underneath her left eye stood out from the rest of her skin; a small bit of pink against the bronze of her face. Her eyes, her oddly mismatched eyes, stared down at him, a strange glint buried in them.

"Speak of the devil," he muttered.

One side of her mouth turned up slightly as she stepped fully into his room, shutting the door behind her. Emory walked up to Tristan slowly, stopping just in front of him.

"May I help you with something Captain?"

Emory smirked again. She leaned down slightly, brushing her lips lightly against his. Tristan's eyebrows furrowed.

"Captain?"

Once again Emory did not reply. Instead, she trailed the tips of her fingers down his right cheek, stopping at his chin. She hooked one finger underneath his chin, raising his face up to hers. Emory leaned into him again, pressing her lips against his. Tristan was hesitant at first, unsure if she was trying to trick him. When she showed no sign of breaking away, he leaned into her, returning her kiss.

Tristan reached up slowly, wrapping his hands around her slim waist and pulling her down to straddle his lap. He could taste something on her lips, something familiar, but a substance that he could not place at first.

Minutes later he pulled away, panting from lack of air.

"I thought you hated me," he stated.

"I do," Emory whispered. "Now shut up before I change my mind," she finished, kissing him again.

Tristan pushed her away slightly, finally realizing what the taste on her lips was. "You're drunk."

Emory laughed softly. "Not yet. But I'm workin' on it," she replied, kissing the edge of his jaw.

Tristan closed his eyes, fighting for control over his body, willing it not to respond to her caresses. "You'll hate this in the morning," he whispered.

Emory looked up at him, hovering just over his lips. "Maybe," she answered. "But don't think about tomorrow. It's only just tonight."

AN: I'm back!!!! Wow has it been a long time. I am so sorry about the wait, but I had the extreme displeasure of writer's block. It was terrible, but I finally found a breakthrough and was able to write. I was so excited! It has taken so long to write this chapter and I hope you all like it!

Special thanks to PineAppleLint for her input on part of this chapter! It really helped me write even more!

ObsetressThank you! I'm glad that you liked the chapter. I like to make twists and turns (if you couldn't already tell!), so I'm glad that you're enjoying it so far. So, did you like the scene between Emory and Tristan? Don't worry! More is on the way!

Dawnie-7: Wow. Thanks! I'm glad that you liked it!

The DuTchess of Doom: I think I can live with a shorter review, but I do so love to read your long ones! Anyway, I'm glad that you like the prophecy. It took me forever to write it. But I finally did. I hope you liked the update!

AreinThanks! By the way, AU stands for Alternate Universe. Can I ask why you wanted to know? Just curious.

NazgulGirlYay! You're back! I'm glad that you liked the chapters! I hope you enjoyed this one as well!