A single seagull sat atop a wooden bar, its white feathers pushed back from the flight through the air. Its eyes, though not so much as an owl, were wise and stern, the small dot of red on his beak that symbolizing THE Blood that was to spilt this day.
The early morning air bit my face and exposed forearms, the shackles around my ankles and wrists doing no favors for me.
I stood tall and erect, my hair pulled back and held up wth a feather that I had found in my cell the night before. The P brand on my arm stung painfully and the tears that still rested on my face made my face stiff.
The sight before me was that of one that I will always remember. A crowd of people stood on the square before me, some setting their children on their shoulders for a better look. My voice seemed not to be functional for otherwise I would have screamed at them. I raised my tied hands and touched the dolphin necklace on my neck again gently. I made a mistake... I thought, and this time no one's going to help me...
I was barely aware of the readings of the man next to me of my charges, no matter how few they were, one of them completely untrue. How dare they accuse me of murdering my own father? I thought furiously, What would my profit be? The noose was slipped over my head and tightened behind my neck.
"Therefore sentenced to hang by the neck until dead." The executioner's hand closed over the handle... I closed my eyes...
- - - - - - - EVA SHAPIRO'S POV - - - - - - -
The island of Tortuga was clearly visible over the water, only about an hour away from where the Black Pearl sailed. Eva held onto the wheel, sincerely missing the feeling of being Captain of a grand ship. From below she could hear voices and instructed the mute man, Mr. Cotton, to take over the wheel for a moment.
"- Jack! How could you let her go like that?" It was the angry voice of one of the new passengers. William Turner she believed.
Jack Sparrow spoke next, "She wanted to go mate!" he said defensively, "What else could I have done?"
"Hmmm, I don't know, Jack, not betrayed her to Eva Shapiro?" Elizabeth Turner said.
"I was there, Jack Sparrow " Ana-Maria said forcefully, "I heard you with her along with Christian. You didn't see the look on her face like I did! You broke her bloody heart!"
"Jack," Glenn said as a friend would another in his calming but stern voice, "She loves you." Eva chose now to knock on the door. She opened it slowly as the stream of voices suddenly stopped.
"Captain," she said stepping inside. Her eyes swept over the room quickly. Elizabeth, dressed in her nice lovely dress stood in the corner of the room, leaning on Jack's desk. William stood just in front of Jack, and Ana-Maria and Glenn stood by his bed, next to each other, their hands linked. Eva turned her attention back to Jack, "We're coming up on Tortuga." She saw Elizabeth's eyes narrow at her, surveying her with an air of distaste.
"Alright, Eva." Jack said tiredly. Eva nodded and closed the door, walking away as the stream of angry voices came again inside Jack's cabin.
As the Black Pearl docked on one of the many docks of Tortuga Eva felt a stinging feeling in her heart and a sick one at the bottom of her stomach. She linked her hand with Jack's... was it guilt?
Another bottle of rum was set down on the table and Eva picked it up, bringing it to her lips. Her eyes surveyed the bar, the usual fights here and there, pirates laughing and whores hovering over the men in the bar. The pirate woman put down her bottle as her eyes rested on Jack, standing in the corner of the bar, having a word with a few pirate mates that he had known for a while. Eva Shapiro frowned.
"Christina..." she whispered, "What did I do to her?" She shook her head, "What do I mean what did I do to her? Jack loves me! Not her anymore... still... I wish Hen-" Suddenly, something... someone rather caught her eye. She froze, standing up, her rum bottle falling to the ground with a smash!
"Henry!"
- - - - - - - END EVA'S POV - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - JACK'S POV - - - - - - -
"Henry!" Jack turned quickly, hearing Eva's yell, fearing the worst. It did not come, however, but the confusion did. He frowned to see Eva rushing into the arms of a man standing by the door. She was laughing into his chest, clutching him tightly. This "Henry"'s eyes widened and he smiled broadly.
He was tall, taller than Eva and Jack, with jet black hair and blue eyes. Jack looked upon him as the male version of Christina as far as his face and hair went. He shook his head again, willing himself to rid her from his thoughts. He, like was said, looked surprised to see Eva Shapiro and held her tightly, saying something that sounded like "I thought you were dead! Thank God you made it!" over and over again. Eva looked up at this man named Henry and brought her lips to his, making Jack's eyes widen.
When the two separated, Eva looked over and caught Jack's eye. "Oh!" she said in surprise and grabbed Henry's hand, dragging him over to the Captain of the Black Pearl.
"Jack," she said, smiling up at Henry, "I want you to meet my fiancee."
- - - - - - - END JACK'S POV - - - - - - - -
"Wait!" my eyes shot open at the familiar male voice, calling out like an echo from another time through the crowd. I looked down at the crowd to see the Governor Swan of Port Royal pushing through the crowd. Behind him ran the man that had shouted out... a man that I had not seen in a long time, a lifetime it seemed... John Walker.
"John!" I exclaimed as they rushed up to the stand, "Governor Swan!"
"You cannot hang this woman!" Governor Swan said fiercely, "She has done nothing wrong!"
"How dare you believe that she killed her own father?" John demanded roughly, his bright eyes meeting mine with a twinkle and a glint in them. I smiled at him. How wonderful it was to see a kind familiar face. His smile back sent a sting through my heart though. "She went out to look for him and found that a group of pirates had taken him hostage and killed him!" I did not know if John knew this for certain or if it was just coincidence and he had guessed the situation right. For now I did not care as I nodded to Norrington, who stood at the side of the stand.
"I followed them and found that my father had been taken by Captain Richards of The Seagull in efforts to find the island of Isla Draconia." There was a murmur in the crowd. "I tried to save my father." Norrington frowned.
"That may be so," he said, "But that still does not obscure your other crimes. You killed two of the King's Royal Navy."
"In self defense." I said. "I just went to see William and Elizabeth." It was a lie... but I was not going to die, not like this! "They were going to kill all three of us. Drunk they looked. What else could I do?" Norrington shook his head.
"Piracy "
"Yes," I said, "I did travel with pirates and engage in some of their ways." I thought of the rum on the crows nest and smiled slightly. I could almost taste Jack's lips on mine... his hand... No! I willed myself to stop thinking about him again.
"You see then," Norrington said, "She sailed under a pirate flag and wears a pirate brand. She must be hung! Nothing but a pardon from the King-"
"I have one." Swan held up a slip of parchment, "It was to go to Elizabeth, but, due to the circumstances, I believe that Miss Ricci is to have it." my knees went weak with disbelief, "I grant Christina Ricci full clemency of the crimes accused against her of." The noose was taken mercifully off my neck as the Governor finished his sentence, a disbelieving smile on my face. I could see John rushing past the governor and up the stand, rushing across it as the shackles were taken off of my wrists and ankles. He put his arms around me. I smiled and embraced him back, letting go quicker than I wished too, though. John made to take my hand and take me down the steps but I put up my hand, leaping off of the front of the stand and rushing over to the Governor.
"Thank you," I said sincerely, fighting tears, "You saved my life." I only now realized how scared I had been. The governor only gave me a short nod and a smile before walking away, no doubt trying to avoid tearful thanks in public. As he walked away I could hear him distinctly say:
"You saved my daughter, my dear." Suddenly, I felt a hand in mine and I was suddenly being pulled through the crowd, everyone making a path for John and I, their smiles radiant. I was disgusted to know that just a few moments ago they were having their children go up higher for a better watch at me dying... despicable.
"Where are we going?" I asked John. He smiled.
"To the opera house, of course." He replied simply, "Monsieur Chapal will be so happy that you have returned. And then when the day is closed to we will go to my home and celebrate your return." I smiled as the opera house came into view.
Yet I couldnt help but wonder... was I making the right decision? I reached up and touched the dolphin necklace around my neck again but lowered it abruptly.
I had no choice. . .