6 years of servitude above Blackbeard's ship felt like a much longer time for Artemis. There was this weight on top of the ship and it followed it everywhere it went...darkness. The crew there was either zombified or forced to work, never truly enjoying life or the trophies.
This was not a true pirate life; it was much worse.
With no freedom at all and the constant reminder of sudden doom by the sadistic Captain, simply made everything much darker than it was.
Yet, Artemis would not lie if she said she did not benefit from her presence on the ship. Blackbeard was an experienced man, having spent many and many years travelling and studying.
He studied the ways of the old, the dark magic of Voodoo and Hoodoo. He was almost an expert to them by now. He seemed to know more about Artemis's true gifts, but he still kept her in the dark. Telling her bits of information; ensuring she stayed loyal just because of her need for answers. He focused his time on teaching and training her in different arts.
Surprisingly, she was very natural to them. The more she studied and understood them, the clearer certain things were to her.
However, she was not on top of the ship just for that. She was officially the navigator of Queen Anne's Revenge. She had travelled many seas with both Jack and Barbossa. She remembered every route, every port, island, and loot.
The stars and the winds guided her like how Jack's compass did.
This was the key for Blackbeard and something he used to its fullest. Navigating across the waters, trapping ships for his private collections, and enslaving crew or killing them without a drop of remorse.
Yet, all changed one day.
One day when Blackbeard messed around too much with the gifts of his latest protégé. For Artemis blacked out during one of her 'lessons', and chanted something that scared the merciless Pirate.
'The one-legged man is coming...it is your destiny to die by his blade. He will end your reign, with his touch...of destiny.
Artemis was shocked, remembering fully what she had seen and unfortunately, it was not a lot. What she had chanted was what she had seen in this little vision and she knew that justice would come and take revenge for her and all those lives that Blackbeard had destroyed.
When she was not sure but she knew that vision was not a mistake. Although, it had terrified and surprised her that she had managed to dig deep enough to unlock what has yet to come. She had only, mostly accidently, seen glimpses of things that happened and almost all those times she had Tia Dalma's help.
After her passing and Artemis' near-death experience at the hands of Davy Jones, things were different and complicated for the redhead. Some things just made sense to her and the connection she had with the ocean seemed to have intensified.
Yet, no longer did she have those visions but she did often have strange dreams that simply did not make sense to her. She never truly paid them any mind, not wishing to fill her head with questions she might never get answers to them.
During the travels, she did try to ask or look around for anything that could offer some enlightenment to that messy life of hers; but she had only ended up with very few things and most of them did not even seem to relate to her unique case.
That of course changed upon making a deal with Blackbeard, for he found ways to unlock and use her gifts to their fullest. But after that last vision, he did not seem to chase that path again; for once worried about his life.
He knew his life would eventually end but until that were to happen, the mighty Captain would make sure to delay it as possible. He stopped the lessons with hers and instead made her turn her focus elsewhere.
They searched for the map and the ultimate destination...
Aqua De Vita
The special waters granted almost immortality, by increasing the years of someone who drank from two special golden chalices. They spent months searching, looking for the ritual and all the ingredients they needed. The more Artemis searched and learnt, the more impossible it felt to her.
That was until a rumour reached their ears.
Jack Sparrow had appeared and according to words on the streets, he had visited the sacred place and even drunk from its waters. Artemis knew Jack, and she suspected that to be true. For she kept a big secret hidden from Blackbeard, and that was the piece of the map she had left at Jack almost 20 years ago.
She had her chance of studying it with him before they got carried away during the night. She remembered seeing small parts about the special waters and she knew, that if there was one person capable of finding it; was Jack.
This did not sit well with Blackbeard or his first mate and daughter; Angelica.
That was, considering that the latter had a history with Jack, as young lovers. When Artemis learnt it, it made things complicated and kept her own true relationship a secret. Angelica was not stopped by that and often commented and criticised Jack's character, flaws and bad habits.
The redhead only listened, not wanting to get into an argument with anyone on the ship.
As long as she kept her head down, followed orders and tried to stay in her little world; she would survive the prison she had ended up in. The prison only got worse; when a plan was formed to not only find a new crew to use for the ritual but also to drag Jack out.
Angelica would dress as Jack; copying his manners and even his style to an unrealistic perfection. Almost a twin and that was something that surprised Artemis. To make the plan work, the two women always showed up together; since Artemis was known to be a companion to Jack.
With her around, it made the lie more realistic and with the rumours spreading, men threw themselves at their feet to join their crew; unaware of what they were signing for.
One night though, when they were in a city where Jack was last seen; she backed off. Instead, she ended up watching from the door as Angelica finished wearing her disguise.
"You should come" she argued once again, trying to change the mind of the redhead.
The relationship between the two of them was strange and distant, most of the time. It was nothing compared to what she had with Anna Maria or Elizabeth. Heck, she even had a better relationship with Barbossa after all those years on board with him.
They were more like acquaintances, with Angelica never truly showing how she saw Artemis.
Sometimes, Angelica was thankful there was another woman on the ship and she would often comment, or rumble about things that bothered her; mostly having to do with Jack. Other times, she was jealous of the attention her father was giving to Artemis.
Because in his eyes, she was special...special like him and she could never understand or tell what he had in mind with all those plans.
"I will pass. Either way, the plan will not fail. And after that, we can start the voyage" she commented, leaning on the frame of the wooden door that was closed behind her.
The plan, this time, was not only to get more crew but to get Jack as well. Artemis deeply hoped that they would fail, even if it meant the plans had to change. It was not that she had no happiness to see the man that was in her heart and mind for 20 years...but she did not want him on board.
She did not wish for him to be imprisoned and threatened by Blackbeard, ordered around like a fresh sailor. But most importantly, she did not wish to see him being used for a plan and a mission that would only bring more darkness above the Pirate world.
She had not even started to plan on what would happen when they would be meeting face to face, although she had to be very careful not to give anything away. If, of course, there was anything left to give away.
For she might have kept him close in her heart, but she was unsure that Jack did the same. She expected him to have moved forward and spent the rest of his years chasing after prostitutes and tricking rich women.
"Very well... Be on standby. We will set course once he is brought on board" Angelica said and walked towards her, letting Artemis first step to the side before she exited her cabin, leaving the redhead alone.
She let out a sigh and grabbed the shell necklace that was hidden under her clothes. Well protected, she made sure to keep it secret from Blackbeard, as it was the only thing keeping her sane. The music that was coming from the special necklace often gave her more questions than answers.
As promised, Blackbeard had shed some light on what she was looking for, but many things remained unknown. Making her question whether he truly had the answers or he was faking it, to keep her close and interested.
She slid down on the floor and opened the upper part of the shell, allowing the familiar music to reach her eyes.
It had been so long since she had a moment of peace to listen to the music, hum quietly the words of the song she was taught as a child; memories of a certain woman blurry and still locked away.
Mostly
For she had started to remember and understand, she had started to get some things and find the proper answers. But she still felt so far away from the truth.
She enjoyed this small moment, letting the music play and her eyes stayed glued on a very familiar red stoned ring on her hand. 20 years now, she never took it off and served as a painful but also happy memory of times she wished she could return to.