Chapter 11

To my great relief, Davy Jones summoned me to his side instantly as he prepared for negotiations with the Pearl, delaying my dreaded encounter with the crew. Previously unheard of apprehension crawled up my spine as I took my place and doubt of my own survival crept into my mind. Jones himself glared contemptuously as his prey danced mockingly aboard the Black Pearl, both ignoring me for the time being.

"Hey fish face! Lose something?" Jack grinned wildly. "Hey, congealy—"

Thudding came across the water as he lost his footing and tumbled down a set of stairs. His hands lifted his undamaged prize into the air. "Got it! Come to negotiate, eh? You slimy git! Look what I got. I got a jar of dirt! I got a jar of dirt! And guess what's inside it!" the pirate sang tauntingly.

"Enough!" Davy Jones declared, pulling me closer to his side and gently touching my face with his tentacle beard. A shiver wracked my spine at the wrongness of it all. "I've got what's most precious to you. Surrender yourself or she dies at the hands of my crew." He paused before allowing his grin to parallel his foe's. "After they've had their fun, of course."

The glee slipped abruptly from Jack's face, but a false nonchalance quickly replaced it. "That little wench?" he queried convincingly. "You can have her. There's plenty more where she came from."

Despite my prayers that he was lying, my heart withered in my chest and the small ounce of hope that remained crumbled to dust. He still valued his freedom over my life and our love. I felt a fool that I had believed otherwise.

"Nevertheless," Jones snarled. "She shall suffer lest you repay your debt!"

Without waiting for a response, the man cruelly shoved me amongst the crew and they dragged me out of view. Two men remained to hold me back while the rest eagerly rushed forward for battle. In my despair, I was an easy prisoner and had little will to resist. Jack Sparrow had forsaken me, although I scarce knew the reason. Should the Dutchman win over the Pearl, all of my friends would be dead anyway and I would gladly rejoin them at world's end.

Strength rekindled in my heart when a shout to the captain reached my ears. "We're out of range!"

Perhaps my friends would survive after all. I could see my sister, and Will, and Marty, and Gibbs. Everyone aboard the Pearl.

The relief that flooded my heart was squelched instantly. A new order made its way through the ranks and the crew lined up to summon the captain's infamous beast. With each thud that shuddered through the ship and rang into the waters below, my heart sank.

I prayed a swift passing for each of them.

I prayed that my fate would be swifter.

Soon enough, battle raged across the water as the occupants of the Pearl waged war for their lives. My captors, having freed me once their own battle concluded, stood close behind as I clutched the railing. I peered across the sea as bodies were plucked from the deck. I watched helplessly as an explosion sounded, sending the monster's tentacles curling back into the waves as it recovered.

For a moment, there was peace. Vaguely, I could make out the remaining handful of survivors escaping into a longboat. All except for…

Two remained on deck.

Despite the distance, I could make out Jack's signature look.

And I could see my sister pressing herself against him.

Despite my fear, I snatched Davy Jones' spyglass from his hand and peered across the water.

And I could see their passionate kiss.

The last ounce of hope in my heart wilted. Screeching and screaming, weeping and wailing, it went painfully. A stabbing sensation pierced my soul, shattering my heart and slicing open my gut. Were it not for the railing, my unsteady legs would have pitched me into the ocean.

It was then, more than ever, that I knew I had been in love with Captain Jack Sparrow.

I hardly registered Davy Jones reclaiming his spyglass.

I hardly registered the ship, a place I'd once considered home, sinking into the depths of the sea.

I hardly registered the captain's voice acknowledging that his debt with Jack Sparrow was settled.

I hardly registered the idle comments from the crew.

"The captain goes down with his ship."

"Turns out not even Jack Sparrow can best the Devil."

A harsh order brought me out of my reverie, startling me with Jones' sudden and overwhelming desperation. "Open the chest. Open the chest! I need to see it!"

My heart sunk. The chest was empty and I knew it. Soon they would too.

The men lifted the lid as their captain stalked threateningly closer. He peered inside and whirled out to glare at the place where the Black Pearl had just been. An enraged snarl passed his lips, turning into a bellowing curse. "Damn you, Jack Sparrow!"

He rounded on me, his claw gripping my wrist. "Did you know the chest was empty?" he snarled.

Gulping, I stared up into his icy cold eyes. "I had my suspicions when Commodore Norrington surrendered so easily, leaving me and the chest in the hands of your men." I confessed.

A single tentacle from his beard rose and stroked my face. The sensation sent a shudder down my spine and my terror began to overwhelm me once more.

Here was a man who almost quite literally was Death.

Here was a man who most certainly held my fate in his hands.

Yet, through my fright, another thought emerged. A thought that I had left on the beach before the battle. A thought that could save my life.

"And into the hands of my men you shall be returned." He spat. "A pity Jack Sparrow abandoned you."

With that, he shoved me into the waiting arms of his crew, and as I felt their hands grabbing at me hungrily, I clung to the captain's arm to pause him a moment.

"Davy Jones," I whispered, my sapphire eyes boring into his own. "Are you my father?"

The look in his eyes told me he didn't know. It told me I was alone.

My grip on his claw slipped and the crew dragged me below deck.