Chapter 2: Where is Your Heart?
The day wore on, and there was still no sign of Barbossa or the rest of the crew. Cleo became impatient and fidgety. As night fell, the remaining crew members lit the lamps and retired to their beds below decks. Cleo emerged from the captain's rooms and stood at the bow of the ship. She glowed in the lamplight like an angel of the sea. The angelic face stared into the dark cavern ahead; a light glowed in the distance. The light swayed as if from a small craft. Cleo called out to the crew, who responded almost immediately. She informed them of the approaching craft and allowed them to do their jobs. For the most part, they left her alone.
They pulled the inhabitants of the small boat aboard. "So, another mutiny foiled again, aye, Barbossa?"
"Jack! How did you get here?"
Jack pointed towards the bow of the Black Pearl. Barbossa turned to look at what Jack indicated and his jaw dropped a bit.
"You don't mean…"
"Go see for yourself, why don't you?"
Barbossa glared at him and began to approach the woman. He seemed to recognize her; he seemed to want to touch her to assure himself that she was indeed real. He stopped just short of the angelic looking pirate woman. She turned to him and just looked into his eyes. Neither spoke for fear that speech or any noise at all would cause the dream to shatter. After a while of silence and stillness, Cleo stepped forward. She got close enough to touch him; she extended her hand and touched his cheek softly. He noticed the way her hand shook and took it in his gently.
"Cleo…"
"Hector…"
A small animal dropped down onto the man's shoulder and made a noise of curiosity. He was ignored by the reunited companions.
"I thought you had been killed, Hector. I was sure Jack was lying to swindle me into helping him."
"I thought ye had been killed as well, Cleo. I knew the royals had captured you and planned to hang you."
"I escaped like I always do. But you, I was sure you had left me forever."
"I was brought back by Tia Dalma, the human form of Calypso. I've craved your presence for the longest time."
"Oi, Love birds! You'll have plenty of time for touching reunions later! Let's go find that tree!" Jack yelled. Cleo stalked towards him and whacked him over the head. "What was that for?"
"Jack, this is your ship. Do whatever you want. As for me, I'll be in the cabin there, and hopefully Barbossa will join me. If he does, there will be no more interruptions. Do you understand?"
Jack smiled sheepishly and brushed past her. Cleo straightened herself and drifted into the large room. Barbossa and Jack stood outside the doors and quarreled for a while. It was the same old argument over who was the real captain of the Black Pearl. The woman wished they would act like the men they were and one of them would just captain another ship. She thought of a way to temporarily stop the quarrel, and finally got it. She poked her head out the door and said, "Hector, why don't you come back to my ship with me? My crew is in need of a new captain."
"Ye would give up your position on yer ship for me?"
"I would. The Weeping Angel is all yours."
"Why is it named so?"
"That used to be my nickname. I would stand on the bow at sunset and sunrise and weep. I wept for you, Hector."
Barbossa nodded and followed her to the dingy that she had come in without argument. The ride back to Cleo's ship was a silent one. Barbossa stared at the woman before him, still wondering if this was real. It could have been a dream. He never expected to see her again or be so taken with her even after all those years.
"There she is. The Angel; just where I left her."
Barbossa seemed not to hear. She looked back at him with her sparkling crystal blue eyes and found him looking back at her. She smiled and held out a round object to him. He took it and looked it over. "An apple…" Cleo turned back around and raised the lantern to signal to her crew. When they got close enough, a rope ladder was dropped over the side of the ship. Barbossa, being a gentleman of sorts, allowed the lady to ascend first.
"Oh, Miss Cleo, yer back. We was worried abou' you we was."
"I didn't mean to worry you, dears. I just fetched the captain."
"But, Miss, yer the cap'n."
"Not anymore, Reah. Meet Captain Barbossa, you'll be answering to him from now on." She said, turning to him. "What are your orders, sir?"
"Miss Velastras, there be no need to command ye. I don' need to babysit ye. I say ye should be me first mate."
The rest of the crew agreed, as did the little monkey on Barbossa's shoulder. The tall pirate laughed and pet the little creature on the head.
"It seems I've got Jack's vote."
"Aye, ye do. He likes pretty ladies, and so do I"
Cleo laughed and retreated into the new captain's quarters. Barbossa followed quickly and shut the doors behind him. He watched Cleo walk around the room. He remembered the time when he was not welcome in her rooms; the time when she hated him with all her heart.
"Tell me something, Hector."
"Anythin' ye be wantin' to know."
"Was what you said true? The last letter you sent me was in your hand, but it did not sound like anything you would ever say."
Barbossa drew back, wondering how to answer. He looked out the window in thought, not knowing if the inquiry was a trick. The crystal-eyed woman hung her head. She took his silence to mean that he hadn't meant the words he had written to her. Cleo opened the door to the cabin and whispered, "I suppose I was foolish to think a pirate like you could ever love me."
Then, she left and boarded a longboat. She rowed her way back to the Pearl in deadly silence. She heard the voice of Barbossa calling her name into the darkness, begging her to return to the ship. Tears ran silently down the female pirate's face. She had never felt more betrayed or alone. Cleo stopped rowing and drifted the rest of the way. She looked back at her ship sadly as she was taken aboard the Pearl.
"Where is your heart, Hector?"