Chapter 10

The effects of my hesitant declaration were immediate. Jack's grip slackened on his sword, leaving it to droop in his hand. Elizabeth's hands rose to cover her gaping mouth. James closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as if added a new complication to our crazy lives – which, of course, it did.

Stepping forward, Will issued the only audible reaction. "Rachelle," he said, coming up to me and dropping his voice so only we two could hear. "What exactly did Jones say to you when he took you to his cabin? What did he do to you?"

I shook my head. "He didn't do anything. And that's exactly it. I bested him at Liar's Dice and he was suspicious, certainly, but he let me free. What's more is that the Kraken freed me as well."

Standing silently, Will glanced over his shoulder at the others. "And this has you convinced?" he asked softly, moving a stray hair out of my face.

"Among other things." I shrugged.

Raising his voice so the others could hear, he said, "Well then, your word is good enough for me." He turned to the others. "It could work, Jack. I can free my father and you can be free of your debt. All is square and everyone is happy."

"No offence, love, but I'd rather square my debt with Jones my own way, not trust some bloody hunch about your parentage. Now, if you please, William, the key."

"Bloody hunch?" I scoffed incredulously. "Nice to see your support, love."

Will drew Elizabeth's sword from her belt and pointed it at Jack. "I keep the promises I make, Jack. I intend to free my father, and I hope you're here to see it."

Pointing his own sword at Will, Norrington said, "I can't let you do that either. So sorry."

"What?" I spluttered, completely caught off guard. "So you don't believe me either?"

"I knew you'd warm up to me eventually." Jack smirked before the former Commodore turned his blade to the pirate captain.

"Lord Beckett desires the contents of that chest. I deliver it, I get my life back." James said – and my heart sank even further.

With me out of his life, of course he would go seeking for the status and success he had in Port Royal. Everything he lost due to the pirates – due to me.

"Ah, the darker side of ambition."

"Oh, I prefer to see it as the promise of redemption." Norrington shot back before the three engaged in a ferocious duel.

Elizabeth moved forward, issuing a protest of "Will!"

"Guard the chest!" he told us as the duel continued down the beach.

"No!" Elizabeth replied running after them.

Her protests at the dueling trio grew increasingly more incensed, but I knew the fight would not rest until a compromise was reached (ha!), or a winner emerged. Rather than chasing after them in folly, I perched myself before the larger trunk of my could-be father and began sifting through its contents.

I'd only read a few of the letters, primarily just correspondence from people he'd left behind when beginning his voyage out to sea, when threatening figures slowly emerged from the water. They marched up the beach with intense purpose, seeking what I knew had just been carted away into the forest. For a moment, I ignored them and continued reading.

"Girl." one of the men barked.

I raised an eyebrow daringly as I looked up to meet his gaze. "I have a name," I answered, "but proceed. What do you seek?"

Before Macchus could issue his response, the church bells echoed across the island, indicating that the duel had reached that holy ground. With a swift gesture, he led the crew into the forest, leaving me behind with the roses and parchment.

A rustle in the trees stole my attention as a figure came dashing out of the brush. "I assume you've gotten what you want most, then?" I spoke, my voice cutting clear across the sand.

I cringed at my scathing tone, but Jack didn't seem to notice. "Aye, of course, I did." he grinned. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

I stood slowly, watching curiously as he shoveled around in a jar of dirt to shove a beating heart into its depths. "And this, this is what you wanted more than me?" I said, voicing my heart's betrayal.

My captain turned slowly. "Rachelle, love, with this I can barter for my freedom. Our freedom to traverse the seas. Forever."

I opened my mouth to speak, but he continued, "I know you're thinking that I value my freedom more than you, but… for so long, I thought you didn't care. It pained me and, without you, my freedom is the only thing I desired."

Before I could respond, two of the Dutchman's crewmen leapt towards us in attack. Startled, Jack dropped the jar back into the dinghy and drew his blade. I parried a strike with my own sword and lured my opponent into the familiar dance of swordplay.

Jack and I fought back to back, seamlessly covering each other's openings without a word. As I kicked my opponent back, I used his recovery time to voice a sudden thought to my partner. "When did you become so close to my sister?"

Taken aback by the question he stopped and turned to me. "What?"

"Well," I said, blocking another blow as our duels continued. "When she held the compass, it pointed at you, no matter how she paced. And when you held it…"

"It appeared to point to her." He said, turning and grasping my forearm. "Rachelle, where did all this come from? I've never known you to doubt anyone."

Out of the woods, a giant water wheel rolled past, stealing everyone's attention and crashing down into the shallow water. Two men – Will and James – emerged dizzily, unable to continue their fight as the world spun around them.

I turned back to Jack, but didn't know what to say. Thankfully, I didn't have to as more of Davy Jones' crew emerged and our battle grew fiercely. The members of our party were split up along the beach, most dueling multiple opponents as we were slowly pressed back to our longboat.

I was still a distance away from my friends when a thought occurred to me. "Stop!" I ordered the crewman with an unexpected power and authority in my voice. "Stop by the order of Davy Jones."

Confused, he cocked his head and lowered his blade, giving me a chance to dash towards our exit. "C'mon, Turner!" Pintel was complaining as Will stopped the self-preserving duo from hoisting the chest away.

As Will paused, I followed his gaze down to the chest – where Jack had left the key in the lock. Said pirate must've seen as well, because he swung an oar at our opponents and made sure to land a blow to the blacksmith's head. Will promptly collapsed, unconscious into the boat.

Elizabeth and I rushed to his side before the captain said, "Leave him lie, unless you plan on using him to hit something with."

"We're not getting out of this!" Elizabeth commented, fear in her eyes.

Without a second of hesitation, James shot forward. "Not with the chest." he stated, grabbing it from the dinghy and turning to the rest of us. "Into the boat."

"You're mad!"

"James, you don't have to do this." I pleaded, grabbing his wrist.

Our gazes locked and a somberness settled over his features. "Yes, Rachelle. I do. I owe it to you and to myself. Don't wait for me."

With that, my former suitor dashed away with the chest, grabbing the attention of Davy Jones' crewmen. "I say we respect his final wish." Jack suggested, grabbing his jar of dirt and climbing into the longboat.

"Aye!" Pintel agreed as everyone else climbed in.

Standing firm, I countered them sharply. "No! I cannot let his redeem himself to me by sacrificing his life for a stupid empty chest!"

Looking harried, Jack wrapped his arms around my torso and attempted to heave me into the boat. "No!" I struggled, sending a sharp strike with my elbow to his sternum. "Then I shall go myself!"

Free of his restraint, I dashed across the beach, following the blundering trail of the crewmen. Taking a shortcut through the forest, I reached James just as the horde surrounded him. "No!" I gasped, thinking I may be too late.

"Your bravery is wasted." one of the men snarled at the former Commodore. "I shall pry the chest away from your cold, dead hands."

With a false alarm, he exclaimed, "Here you go," tossed him the chest, and ran towards the church.

Realization washed over me and I knew exactly what had happened. After realizing Jack had stashed away the heart, my former suitor plucked it from the jar of dirt and tricked the crew into taking an empty chest. I swore violently, unintentionally capturing the attention of the Dutchman's crew.

"Look what the tide brought in, boys," Macchus smirked. "The pretty little jewel what escaped our clutches before."

The rest of the crew grinned with malicious expressions that made me fear for my safety. "I wish a parlay to your captain." I stated, trying to sound as brave as possible.

The men laughed. "Oh, you'll speak with the Captain." Puffer Fish Face drawled, a sickening grin painted across his face. "After we're done with you, of course."

Fear clenched my heart and immobilized my instincts as vicious memories of an identical situation surfaced. My mind was numb as they bound my wrists together and forced me to walk back towards the beach. A scream bubbled up to my lips and I called in desperation for James to come save me, but I knew in my heart that his cowardice and self-preservation was too great. I was alone.