I clutched the necklace in my hand as I threw my lightweight but still remarkably warm cloak over my shoulders and upon my head, a solid black. I pushed open my door and rushed onto the streets, my father's gun tucked into my skirt... I would need it.

Irrationally, I rushed to the docks, my shoes thumping onto the wood, ignoring the confused look from the dock keeper and began to inspect the outside of each and every ship for any signs of it being a pirate ship. My hair hung in a mess around my white face.

"Christina what are you doing?" I suddenly thought and stopped in my tracks. "Think rationally do you really think that they would have stayed for very long?" I forced myself to hold back tears.

"How am I supposed to find my Papa then?" I asked myself out loud, a wave of hopelessness overwhelming me, bringing me to my knees. "It could take weeks to track him down!" Try as I might though to stop it I felt a tear run down my cheek. I touched it and looked at my wet finger with disgust.

"Ma'am?" A mans voice startled me and I and stood up from my position to face him. The man wore a white wig with a black and gold hat over it. He was a Navy officer and I recognized him at once as Commodore James Norrington. His eyes widened when he saw me. "Miss Ricci?" he asked, "the opera singer? What are you doing here?" I paused to wipe away tears, debating whether to tell him or not about the situation at my house... but I didn't want the pirate who took my father know that I was looking for him. I displayed the most dazzling smile I could and laughed lightly.

"Oh, Commodore." I said, "I'm sorry, I was taking a walk on the beach when I thought I saw something! I just had to see it for myself." The Commodore frowned.

"I see." He said in his deep voice, "but you were crying." I hesitated, wondering how I was going to get out of that

"No I wasn't," I said charmingly, brushing my hand off on my red and black dress, "Commodore, It must have been the sea air."

"Yes quite." Norrington replied, "Yes, I see..." there was an awkward silence.

"How has your opera performance been coming along?" he said obviously trying to direct the conversation elsewhere. I nodded my head absently, my fist still clutched over the necklace, creating imprints in my skin.

"It's fine, thank you. I should be ready when the time comes." Norrington nodded again,
"And your father?" with that question an aching feeling came into my heart and I yet again forced a smile.

"He is well." I managed to lie.

"Ah, good! He has gotten over his illness then." I nodded and absently wiped my eyes as if I was tired, though in reality I was wiping tears from my eyes.

"Well, Commodore." I said, "I must be going. My father will be waiting for me at home for our supper." I curtsyed shortly, and gave him a wave of my hand. And with that I strolled past, off the docks, and into the city, leaving a very confused Commodore staring after me.

Port Royal bustled around me as I walked through the heart of town. The cool air didn't nip my face as much as it did before, as I was determined not to let anything stand in my way. I was feeling dangerous. Not Hell or high water would stop me from finding my father. He was all I had left and I couldn't lose him. I paused behind an alley, my thoughts racing. Who would know anything about pirates here? Not how horrible they are, I could have gotten hours of that from Norrington but what their nature is like... how they act... where they go. I sighed and pulled up from my leaning position on the wall. I was going to see the one person who I could think of who would know anything about pirates:

William Turner.