Cold As Glass

Sequel to Heart of Glass

A Pirate Lord's Adventure

Chapter 15

Warily I starred around myself, as we ventured deeper down the Pantano River, with Jack's boat leading the long boat Gibbs, Pintel, Ragetti, Marty, Will, and I shared.

I spotted another random child, just sitting upon a rock starring at us, with an emotionless face, as her eyes followed our every movement. It was becoming harder and harder to see, as more and more trees sprouted up, blocking the sun. Even the twisted roots of the trees seemed to be growing taller than our boat.

The air had gotten more humid and gained a nasty and foul smell, while animals echoed all around us.

But our concerned silence had been broken, with Will's whisper," Why is Jack afraid of the open ocean?"

Will looked over at me then over at Gibbs and Marty.

"Well," Gibbs began, sounding like he was going to give one of his long speeches about his superstitious," if you believe such things, there's a beast does the bidding of Davy Jones-a fearsome creature with giant tentacles that'll suction your face clean off."

Gibbs then theatrically reached towards Ragetti and motioned like a tentacle, sucking his face off.

Ragetti flinched slightly, reaching up to touch his face in a nervous manor, while Pintel rolled his eyes and continued to row the boat.

Will looked over at me-since I sat across from him- I was guessing to see if he should believe in the legend or not.

I nodded back to him, while Gibbs started back up, once again taking my attention," And then it'll drag an entire ship down to the crushing darkness."

Gibbs titled his head to the side, as if to add a demonic flair to the story he told.

"What is it called?" Will murmured looking around again, but Gibbs seemed to be at a loss for words. As if he had forgotten the name.

"The Kraken," I answered, looking over at Jack-where I spotted Marty looking at me and scowling at me just mentioning the name of IT, then back over to Will. Pintel and Ragetti just looked at each other and shivered, as they kept rowing.

"They say the stench of its breath is like…" Gibbs shuddered, and then went on," Imagine, the last thing you know on God's green earth is the roar of the kraken and the reeking odor of a thousand rotting corpses."

Ragetti shivered again, before looking over at me.

I gave him a reassuring smile, while Gibbs smiled and off handedly chuckled," If you believe such things."

We all starred at each other for several seconds.

Before Will began again," And the key will spare him that?"

Gibbs shrugged his shoulders, before looking over at me, making Pintel, Ragetti, and Will over at me too.

I sighed and adjusted my hat. "That, Will, is the very question Jack wants answered. Bad enough to go and visit Tia Dalma."

"Her," Gibbs shivered, obviously not liking Tia Dalma.

"Her?" Will repeated, looking at Gibbs and me in a confused manor.

"Aye." Gibbs nodded in agreement, once again causing our boat to go silent, once again.

I sighed to myself and looked around yet again, when suddenly Ragetti inquired," Miss?"

I adjusted my head and looked back at Ragetti, and cooed," Yes?"

"Uh…," he looked over at Pintel, who looked down at himself, looking unsure as well.

"Yes, boys?" I asked again, as I sat up straight, trying to figure out what they were so uneasy about.

Ragetti then looked up at me, and inquired," Whatever happened to that fella you fancied?"

"You know," Pintel whispered, looking at me," Jack's son."

Instantly Gibbs lowered his head, while Will looked away from me and down at the water around us.

Pintel and Ragetti both look Gibbs and Will, then back at me in question.

"He died," I simply answered, as an unconsciously touched the engagement ring and wedding ring that hid under my shirt, vest, jacket, and corset.

"How?" Pintel asked, obviously amused.

"He died in a hurricane off the coast of Tripoli, in the HMS Interceptor, chasing after the Pearl, since he had used his mercenary services for the royal navy." I explained, while I looked down at the dirty swamp water, trying to keep my voice flat and emotionless.

But old images flashed before my eyes, showing my childhood with Sirius, all the up too to my last adventure with him, then Jack's escape from the gallows, our wedding, and our wedding night.

Yet around me, I could detect the boys whispering about me, yet I remained unfazed and looking down at the water.

"He left the day after the wedding, and never came back," Will explained, quietly.

Pintel then mused," You mean she is by law a widow?"

"Yeah, she is," Gibbs sighed sadly. "Poor, lass, she was dragged into Jack's hunt for the Pearl before, when she kills her father to end his curse. Then she married to boy of her dreams, only to lose him, right after she got him. Aye, the gods have treated her poorly."

I closed my eyes.

And they don't even know the challenges I face now.