Chapter Seven
Tha moonlight danced on the pools inside tha cave, treasure o' all sorts beggin' t' be conquered. I saw th' cursed Azetc chest back up on a heap o' gold n' silver. Tha coins nestled inside, tha ones tha' were stolen, leavin' tha owner under a retched curse.
Elizabeth followed me up t' Will who was fightin' a scurvy pirate. Bandana wrapped 'round his head an' a scraggly beard t' match his crazed demeanor. Will knocked 'im out, an' he splashed in tha water. I realized I was wit'out a weapon n' quickly scoured fer one. Buried beneath a pile of valuables was a platinum sword. Its handle was encrusted wit' rubies n' saphires. I smirked an' put it on me hand. Anutha man came up as Will tripped an' pathetically fell t' tha ground.
"I'm gonna teach you the meaning of pain!" he threatened, his sword ready t' slash 'im.
I stepped up behind him.
"Ye like pain, do ya?" I asked hotly.
He spun 'round an' I cut through his head wit' me new acquaintance. It went flyin' off as his body limped t' tha ground. I stared fer a moment, mouth open in me own shock. Elizabeth offered a hand t' Will an' he stood.
I was pulled outta me head when I heard th' clang o' swords an' shouts ova across tha cave. In tha moonlight's way, Jack attacked Barbossa in skeleton. Since when was he cursed? Th' bastard.
"Whose side is Jack on?" Elizabeth inquired.
Will scoffed.
"At the moment?"
I rolled me eyes. Footsteps approached from behind an' me sword met wit' me rival. We sparred. I racked me brain fer a way t' kill an undead man. I lunged at him, scrappin' a piece o' his shirt away. He returned an' went straight fer me stomach, which I blocked an' jumped back. I silently thanked Mr. Rory fer lettin' me learn th' way o' a sword back in Ireland. Will n' Elizabeth came t' push him back in wit' two otha pirates. Elizabeth slid a golden scepter int' their immortal bodies while Will inserted a bomb inside th' middle man. I pushed 'em back inta tha shadows.
We all ran from tha impending scene. Will darted fer tha mound o' Aztec as Elizabeth an' I sprung across th' pools. Th' bomb exploded an' I covered me ears. I saw Jack cut his hand wit' his sword an' threw it ta Will. Jus' as I looked up, Barbossa had his pistol aimed at me.
I stopped dead in me tracks, eyes wide when I heart a gunshot fire. I dodged t' tha side when a searing pain overtook me from me shoulder, tha' traveled like hot lava through tha rest o' me body. I screamed in agony, me opposite hand grippin' tha skin near me left shoulder. I collapsed t' me knees.
Then, a second gunshot.
Behind Barbossa, smoke rose from Jack's pistol. His face was th' most serious I've e'er seen. He stood confident n' angry. His eyes were like black holes, suddenly lookin' terrifying.
"Ten years you carry that pistol and now you waste your shot," Barbossa chuckled.
Will called from th' chest.
"He didn't waste it."
Tha two coins tha' belonged t' Will n' Jack fell from his hands an' landed wit' tha rest. Tha curse was lifted. Barbossa's chest instantly bled wit' red, seepin' through his shirt an' he grabbed at th' lapels o' his coat. He scoffed at Jack, then, wit' a tired voice moaned,
"I feel… cold."
He dropped ta tha cavern's floor, an' tha green apple rolled from his hand. Elizabeth rushed ova' ta me.
"Cora! Oh my God."
I moaned, takin' in tha sight o' me shirt. It was soaked in red, drizzlin' down ta tha rest o' tha sleeve. Tha bullet wasn't inside, it jus' grazed me, but it hurt like hell. Th' blinding pain made me feel dizzy, though I struggled t' stand. Elizabeth took me otha arm an' tried pullin' me up.
Then a thought struck me. In tha past times I'd gotten a physical wound, me scales would shimmer. I dunno why, I thought maybe it as a strange defense mechanism, though it couldn't save me. Me skin was tender n' when scratched, me scales would toughen it up so as t' shield me. Th' scales would show in water after a long time, or when hurt. But they always appeared too late, I was already shot. An' I shivered at thinkin' tha' they might realize what I was. Me body convulsed 'gain, an' tha' time I felt tha rain trickle through me veins. Tha cloudy winds blew through me hair an' I knew tha weather outside was nasty. Me shoulder screamed in red blood, th' skin 'round it hot n' burnt.
I felt th' skin around me eyes cool down, like water bein' splashed on yer face. Elizabeth's face grew in fear. Me scales were showin'. I cursed bein' a Maeve. I glanced down at me shoulder, n' surroundin' tha wound was more glittering scales.
"What's happening?" she asked, fearful.
Will came o'er t' tha scene an' hoisted me up.
"What is this?"
I stood in a hunch, ne'er lettin' go o' me arm. When I opened me eyes ahead o' me, me cap'n was there. I couldn't read his face. He looked angry, confused, worrisome, everything. I shut me eyes n' inhaled.
"'m a Maeve," I whispered.
When I looked t' him 'gain, Jack's eyes were widened as well. He took steps towards me, scrutinizin' me like he'd done when I first joined his crew. I kept me eyes on 'im through me lashes. But I was surprised when he spoke, his voice husky.
"The wound will heal, it's just scraped by your shoulder." I met his gaze. "As for keeping valuable information from your captain…" I held me breathe. "You're not in me good graces at the moment."
He left us then, goin' ta explore tha treasures tha cave had t' offer. Will and Elizabeth exchanged worried glances at eachother. They turned ta me, unsure o' wha' ta do er say. I merely bent down t' pick up me new sword. I put it through me belt an' walked away. I sat on a rock, me feet in tha refreshin' water. I tore off a piece o' me skirt an' set it aside. There was a beautiful chalice next t' me foot, which I filled wit' tha water t' pour it ova' me wound. I squeezed me eyes shut n' clenched me teeth at tha sting.
"Bloody hell," I muttered.
I then tossed th' chalice o'er me back n' picked up th' piece o' fabric, tyin' it around tha wound. I patted it wit' some pressure, n' stood up. Tha couple faced each other in what appeared t' be an awkward conversation. I smirked when she leaned inta kiss him an' he was caught by surprise. Lad was a whelp indeed.
Noise made me do a tiny jump. I spun on me heel ta meet Jack, 'o was rummagin' through pieces of treasure. He ignored me when I cleared me throat. He picked up a crown, embedded with sparkling jewels an' examined it. When he decided it was worth keepin', he placed it on 'is head.
"Jack," I said, a bit more loud.
He continued t' examine tha treasure.
"Aye?" he grumbled.
"I couldn't tell ye before," I explained, standin' up straight as I could. Jack poured strings o' beads an' pearls ova' his neck an' looked at me, scowling.
"You don't think that's a bloody important thing to divulge?"
I narrowed me eyes.
"Ye wouldn't'a hired me," I stated, me voice slightly more annoyed.
There was ne'er an opportune moment t' tell 'im. I couldn't risk it. I was desperate fer ways t' escape tha' blasted Tortugan lifestyle. I was desperate t' figure out tha bloody reason why me sisters kept leadin' me t' him. I had t' find out fer meself.
"Wouldn't I?" he tested. I put me good hand on me waist.
"I wouldn't've been o' same value t' ye if ye knew. I ain't evil, Jack. Ye know tha' by now. An' I ain't done nuthin' but follow along on yer bloody shenanigans since day one. Me bein' a Maeve don't really get in tha way much, 've proven tha' ta ye. So if yer gonna judge me solely on a role in life I didn't choose, then yer tha most dastardly, idiot, bloody awful man I've e'er met."
He didn't respond at first. I tapped me foot, anxiously awaitin' his reply.
"Ye gonna keep glarin' at me er what, Captain?" I spat.
He exhaled, it was exaggerated.
"Maeve or not, Cora Gallagher, I would've still bloody stood there and tried t' save that bastard from shooting you."
Then 'e walked away from me, nonchalant, various baubles n' stolen things in his arms. I 'eard him say t' Will as he waltzed past,
"Now, I'd be much obliged if you'd drop me off at my ship."
I stared at his back as he went farther away. Tha devil was a decent man after all.
"How is your shoulder?" Will asked.
I hadn't noticed he came up ta me. I winced when I tried t' move it.
"Fine," I muttered, "It's gonna take a hell o' a lot more than tha' ta take me down," I chuckled.
He gave a small smile, n' took me good arm t' escort me o'er ta tha longboat. I withdrew me arm.
"Thanks, but I'm capable."
Wit' a sheepish shrug, he carried on.
Tha ride back was a long one. I was right. Tha clouds hung low, an' ironically tha moon hid behind 'em. They were heavy wit' blackened rain tha' hadn't yet fallen. Fog encased us as we realized tha Pearl had set sail wit'out her captain. Jack seated at tha front, back hunched in, solemn. He still adorned all his new treasures, but his aura was less spirited. I sat beside Elizabeth, breathin' deeply as me shoulder ached in pain. Will silently rowed silently.
"I'm sorry, Jack," Elizabeth whispered.
Jack sighed.
"They've done what's right by them. Can't expect more than that."
I looked t' tha damp floor o' tha boat. Back t' tha noose it was fer me. They'd realize I wasn't wit' child n' I'd 'ave not much time ta devise an escape. But this new revelation 'bout me captain sparked an odd sense o' hope. Lookin' back, I pieced e'erythin' tagetha. He'd only done th' right thing, in nearly every situation. He hadn't gone back on me when I begged him t' play along wit' me lie in being pregnant. He tried t' save me from bein' shot. He went back an' saved tha whelp. He sufficed Elizabeth n' I wit' drink an fire on tha island. An' he kept me from bein' killed when we ran int' Barbossa fer tha first time we'd visited Isla de Muerta.
A new feelin' o' admiration washed o'er me fer him. He knew what he was doin', I'd give 'im that. Perhaps we'd find anutha way t' outsmart those wig-headed militants.