- Somewhere off the coast of Singapore -
He drummed his fingers on the table in front of him as Lila lay asleep in the bed. How the moonlight hit her it gave her an otherworldly look. He ran his fingers through his hair as he stared at the candle that rested in front of him. He took a finger and quickly ran in through the flames, feeling the heat on his finger as he did so.
That was a lot to process in one night. He sat there, deep in thought, thinking of how this all seemed to fit together, and where Grant and his father could have possible gone to, since their departure earlier that morning...
Mercer had always been after Neptune's crown, that much was obvious. Mercer started a mutany with King James against the crown when they were kids, he knew that. After a plan to throw Mercer off when terribly wrong, Triton blamed Neptune for Athena's death, and thought his children to be dead as well. But if what Lila had said was right, Triton's children were not dead. Rather they were sailing to Singapore with them at this very moment.
Will ran another hand through his long curls, as he pulled off his shirt, and walked over to the bed, still thinking. Lila said that Mercer had in fact had a relationship with Athena. Apparently during the time that she was with Triton. He believed Saphira to actually be his daughter, but knew that Rupert wasn't his son. He wanted the crown. He wanted power. He wanted the Queen dead, and him to be the one to do it...somehow he was draining Lila's power from her. And Saphira...he wanted her dead as well, maybe not so much her as Rupert too. Because if Rupert became ruler over Atlantis, he and Lila could come together to overthrow him.
But that didn't explain why Mercer was blackmailing Lila. Triton had to know Mercer shot and killed Athena, didn't he? Why would Triton be listening to Mercer? But, Will thought to himself as he sat down on the bed staring out the window, what if Triton thought someone else shot Athena? What if Mercer didn't kill Athena at all...
"Will?" Will was brought out of his thoughts when he heard her quiet voice break his silence. Quiet though it was, when you were in as deep of a thought as he was, her quiet tone sounded like a scream. "Will, what are you doing?"
"Nothing, Li." He said with a smile, as he laid down beside her. He carefully wrapped an arm around her, resting it on her stomach as she snuggled into him. Seconds later, she was asleep again. He stared at her for a moment, pushing some of her curls out of her face, as he thought about that. Who killed Athena?
He glanced down at Lila to see that she would make a stifled noise every now and then. Calypso had told him that he and Lila were alot alike. For one thing, Lila could only die if her heart was pierced. Of course she could also die if the Jewel was destroyed, but not many people knew that. Only her family, so someone had to have told Mercer. And if the Jewel was destroyed, Lila would have the same effects Will would have had in those ten years if he stepped on land. Unbearable pains, and moments were he couldn't breath. Will's went away until he stepped back on land, but Lila's were coming and going. Both he and Lila were bound by the same magic of the same goddess, Calypso. And there was nothing either of them could do. Will knew what was going to happen. He closed his eyes, and rested his head beside Lila's, keeping his arm firmly, yet gently around her.
The only sound that could be heard that night was the sound of the Caribbean rain beating down on the Dutchman as if fell for its goddess, and the sound of Captain Turner's heart, beating faintly in the corner.
- Atlantis -
The almost glass-like streets of Atlantis were slicked with rain that night as it had been raining for days now. King Triton was pacing his room, looking out the large windows down at his city. His heart was heavy, for he knew what had happened. He hadn't seen a storm like this since Anne was murdered years ago. "Sir? We have Mercer here to see you."
"Bring him in." Moments later, the large glass doors opened. Triton took his seat at his desk, and watched as Mercer strolled across the room. Triton closed his dark eyes, putting his head in his hands. Mercer's evil smile was wiped clean off of his face, and substituted for one of mock sympathy. Mercer took the seat in front of Triton and said, "Sir, they told me you wanted to see me? Is everything alright-"
"-no, everything is not alright!" Triton said, his angry voice booming through the room, and into the corridors. Mercer, not being a sane man, didn't wince or make any sign that the loud booming voice affected him in any way as it would have affected anyone else. Triton put both hands on the table, and stood up as he yelled, "You killed the Queen! I wanted her here, Mercer! I did not want Lila Turner. How could you be such a damned fool?" He was shaking as he shouted that. Mercer was smiling inwardly, knowing exactly how this next lie would fall into place. He tried his best to look innocent as he said, "I did nothing of the sort, Sir."
Triton looked back up at him, calming down a bit as Mercer continued to lie, "Her Royal Highness was murdered by noneother than Captain Jack Sparrow." Mercer said that as the corners of his thin lips curled at the sides. When Triton turned around, Mercer quickly removed his smile, and said, "Sir, I've sent word the Royal Navy. Sparrow should be in out custody by this afternoon."
Jack Sparrow? Triton sighed at that name that filled him with such hatred. For years, he had blamed Neptune for his wife and children's death. For years. Because Neptune's general shot and killed his wife...Neptune had to have given the order. Triton felt tears welling in his eyes as he remembered that awful, awful day.
- Atlantis, 1712 -
- Day 12 of King James' War -
Anger was filling the young naval officer as he walked down the glassy, deserted streets of Atlantis. Rain was falling heavily on the city, as if it was going to sink. He felt the other young officer close at his heels as the walked down the streets, closer to the palace. He knew where his uncle was before he could actually see him. He could see his purple cloak blowing in the wind as he stood there, staring at the palace.
"Jacob, this is too dangerous for you, son." Neptune said, quietly as the three of them stood there, staring at the palace. Smoke was surrounding the small, yet gorgeous, city of Atlantis. Rupert came to stand beside Jack, staring at the horizon behind the palace. It was turning an eerie scarlet color from all of the smoke and debris that filled the air. "Jacob, do you think you can handle this?" Neptune asked his nephew, placing a hand on his shoulder. Jack glanced back out at the war that was taking place and said, "I go for Beckett-"
"-Jacob, this is too dangerous for you-"
"-Uncle, I can handle it. I promise." Neptune looked down at Jack. The determined look on his face scarily reminded him of that of his wife. It was the Sparrow look. It was that stubborn Sparrow determination. All of them were always determined about something. What they were determined about half of the time, Neptune never knew. But when he saw that look on his young nephew's face, he had faith in him. He smiled at him, and said, "Go for Beckett. Take Rupert with you...I'll send backup, alright?" Jack nodded, and took Rupert's arm, leading him into the deserted back roads of Atlantis.
The only sound that could be heard as the two teenagers ran down the streets was the sound of their boots crunching beneath them. The clouds had parted somewhat as they turned the sharp corner. Jack stuck his arm out so that Rupert would stop. Rupert stopped rather shortly, and whispered at Jack, "Is that where Beckett is holding her?" Jack nodded as he looked at the glass palace and said, "I think so. Come on." Word had come early that morning that Beckett had kidnapped Athena. Rupert groaned as he followed Jack up the stairs and through the palace, "Jack, I honestly don't think-"
"-you honestly don't think at all, Rupert." Jack shot back at him with a smirk. Rupert stared at him for a moment, before adjusting his jacket, and saying, "Whatever, Sparrow. All I'm saying is is that this could be dangerous-" Jack rolled his chocolate eyes, and started carefully up the stairs. He held on the the stairs' golden railing as he did this, as Rupert continued, "-if we fail, we could be the ones shot! Jaaaackkk..."
"-Rupert, honestly, stop whining." Jack spat at him, as he loaded his gun, and walked towards the room. Rupert had somehow caught up to him, and pulled out his own gun. The upstairs of the palace was seemingly quiet and dark. Jack had to squint his eyes to even see ahead of him. The boys were so quiet, that when Rupert whispered something to Jack, it made him jump as if the whisper had been scream, "Jack. Look." Jack turned around, and saw the light underneath one of the closed doors. Jack glanced across the hall to see Rupert walking in the direction of the door. Jack sighed, and followed him.
"Where is she?" Jack winced when he heard someone bang on something that he thought was a table. Jack glanced over at Rupert who had his hand over his gun, waiting. He didn't recognize the voice, but he believed it to be Beckett. Beckett had been after his aunt for years. It had something to do with a Jewel, though Jack didn't know what it was.
"I told you I don't know."
"LIAR!" There was a silence after that shout. Something sounding like a smack came after that. Not knowing if it was Athena that got slapped or she was the one that slapped him, Jack moved to the door.
"Jack, no." Rupert whispered, pulling his hand off of the door knob. Jack froze momentarily, and then listenened in once more. There was another silence, before another voice, not belonging to Beckett said, "She's a threat. She needs to be killed."
"Which one?"
"The princess, you idiot!"
"She's a child!" Beckett shouted, causing Jack's eyes to go wide.
"I told you. Once the princess comes of age-"
"-she's a child-"
"-I DON'T BLOODY CARE!" Jack and Rupert heard the other man scream at Beckett. They were pressed against the door, listening in on the conversation that was taking place just a few feet away from them. "She's a threat."
"-Lila's five years of age, Mercer. What the hell can a five year old do?" Jack heard Athena say something quietly, causing the other man to yell something at her. Jack wasn't focused. There was only one princess this side of the Caribbean, and no one was going to threaten her. "Jack, no. JACK!" But it was too late, Jack shot the door knob, and pushed the door down, causing Rupert to stay behind him a little. Jack raised his gun and pointed it at Beckett. Neptune was true to his word, because at that moment, Jack glanced out the window and saw dozens of of his uncle's troops headed up the stairs and into the palace.
The other man, at seeing Rupert, turned back into the shadows, hiding his face. Jack raised his gun at Beckett and said, "Let her go." Beckett glanced at Athena, then to the man in the shadows, clearly not being the mastermind behind this whole thing, and said, "I can't do that."
"And you also can't threaten my cousin at the same time. Let her go. Now." Athena was looking at Jack, then she recognized him as Neptune's nephew. She relaxed somewhat as Beckett pulled out his own gun. Jack cocked his and prepared to shoot. Athena's eyes met Rupert's for a moment. She froze, while Rupert just brushed it off and stood behind Jack, taking his back, and holding up his gun as well.
It happened so fast, no one could see it coming. Beckett shot at Jack, causing Jack to fall backwards. He fell against the wall, as Rupert came over to him and said, "Jack, are you alright?" Neptune's troops were flooding the room as Jack said, "Get back-"
"-what-"
"-stay back!" Jack pulled out his gun, aimed at Beckett and shot. Two gunshots went off at that moment. One from the man in the shadowed part of the room, and one from Jack's own gun...instead of hitting Beckett, Jack would never forget what he hit. Athena didn't scream, she only fell lifelessly to the ground...
- At the docks in Singapore -
- Present Day -
Rupert rolled his brown eyes when Jack emerged from the Pearl. Jack had one arm around Saphira's waist, and the other around Lila. Rupert was staring at him in mock disgust as he mumbled, "This isn't Tortuga, mate." If looks could kill, Rupert would have been dead at the glare that Jack had just shot him. Rupert smirked and took Anamaria's hand, causing both Lila and Saphira to smile...which only caused Rupert to get even more annoyed than he already was. Will walked from the Dutchman not a moment later, pulling his ringlets back with a crimson tie, and saying, "The Empress should be at the south docks, shouldn't it?"
Lila glanced at Will when he said that, not going without seeing the sudden look of hurt it caused him when he said 'The Empress'. When Will met Lila's gaze, he quickly smiled at her, though Lila knew it wasn't helping. She smiled back at him, but leaned slightly into Jack as another pain shot through her. Jack looked down at her, and took the hand that rested on his waist, much to Will's disgust, and rubbed her back, "You alright, Lala?" She looked up at him, and smiled as she said, "Yes...I'm fine, Jack."
"Liar."
"Sticks and stones, love." Lila shot at him with a smirk, causing Saphie to lean behind Jack a little and stare at the two of them. She glanced at Will as if to say, 'What the bloody hell is going on?' Will just rolled his eyes, knowing that Jack was overly charming for his own good. Well, it must be a Sparrow trait, since he constantly found himself following Lila more for that reason. Yes, she did seem to get into trouble with that sharp tongue of hers no matter where she went, but she was too...for want of a better word...charming. Not that she tried, but he knew if she used 'darling' too much in one sentence...well, it wouldn't be good for her...
...or him...
"Alright." Ana said, leaning into Rupert. "Can someone tell me wha' exactly is goin' on?" Lila smiled over at Ana, causing her to glare slightly at her. That only caused Lila and Saphie to start laughing as Rupert turned scarlet. And Rupert turning scarlet, made Jack start laughing. And all of this added up to equally one very annoyed Captain William Turner.
"Well...we were off to find who the hell is captaining The...Empress." Lila's smile was wiped off of her face when Will said the Empress in that same tone of voice. She elbowed Jack in the gut when he was still laughing at the same time Saphira smacked his head.
"OI! Wha' the 'ell is wrong with you two?" Jack mumbled, not sure whether he should hold his stomach or his head. Lila smirked at him, at the same time Rupert took the map from Will and said, "It looks to be on the east docks."
"It looks to be on the east docks." Came a teasing voice from beside Rupert. Rupert turned to glare at Jack who was looking completely innoccent as Lila played with the compass that was hanging from his belt. Jack sighed, not wanting to smack her hand off of it as he usually did, and moved his arms around both of the girls once again. Rupert wasn't for sure, but he could have sworn that he saw Will's eye twitch.
"Well, off to the east docks it is then." Jack said, in that cocky voice of his. He mocked bowed and said, "M'ladies." Saphira giggled while Lila only rolled her emerald eyes, but allowed Jack's arm to go around her waist once again. It honestly was a sight that you would see in Tortuga. Captain Jack Sparrow walking down the docks with two beautiful girls on either side of him. Of course, had he done this to Ana, she would have literally bit his head off. And Jack knew that too, he was downright scared of the girl.
Rupert, Ana, and Will elected to walk behind Jack and the girls. Will was getting more annoyed by the second, and he couldn't help but feel the urge to shoot Jack's head off when he saw his arm still around Lila's waist. Saphira? He could of course handle, though Rupert was annoyed. But then again, Rupert was always annoyed and Will honestly didn't think that Rupert liked Jack that much.
Lila and Saphie were laughing at something that Jack had said to them, when Ana looked over at Will and said, "Darlin', lighten up! He's Jack Sparrow." Oh, didn't Will know that. Sailing under Jack as his first mate for a few months and being his best mate for over a century, Will knew exactly who he was. Jack reminded him every chance he got. He was also that Jack Sparrow that he knew Lila had had a relationship with.
He was also the Jack Sparrow that Will wasn't very comfortable with with his hand where it was. Rupert saw Will's face and smirked, "Mate, honestly. Lighten up."
"Look who's telling who to lighten up, mate. 'This isn't Tortuga'." Will smirked over at Rupert as he said that, causing Ana to smile and say, "He's right, darling."
"What? As Lila's protector and Saphira's brother, I have a right to not...like that man. I mean, Lila's practically like my little sister anyway. So, it's the same feeling. Doubled." Rupert made a face at that, causing Ana to start laughing as she said, "Darlin', I think you once thought of Her Highness as more that your little sister." All the color drained out of Rupert's face when she said that, causing Will to say in a toneless voice, "Excuse me?"
"She has no idea what the hell she's talking about." Rupert said, casting Ana a look. Will looked from Lila to Rupert, and back again. Will didn't make a sound, causing Rupert to curse Ana under his breath. She smacked his arm, just as Will said, "Nothing happened..."
"Oh no...that Christmas party was it." Ana said, in a not-so-reassuring tone of voice. Rupert's eyes got as big as tea cups, causing him to glare at her and said, "Anamaria. For the love of Neptune, stop." Rupert rolled his brown eyes as Ana laughed. Will wasn't sure whether he should be upset or amused...actually he was leading towards murderous. Rupert looked at Will and said, "I swear."
"Yeah, sure." Will said, walking ahead of him. Rupert's jaw was dropped as he looked down at Ana and said, "What the bloody hell was that about, woman? Goodness! I was drunk."
"You weren't even drinking, darlin'. Saphie switched your drinks. You were bloody sober." Rupert's eyes got big again, and he stared at Lila for a moment. He smacked his forhead and said, "Oh, hell. Hell hell hell hell...Bloody bloody hell." Ana smirked as she too picked up the pace, pulling Rupert along with her.
"...and so then I said, you know wha' I said..." Lila was still laughing, surprised she was still breathing by the time that Will, Rupert and Ana caught up with her. Saphie was trying to figure out what Jack had said as he stood there with his leg propped up against the barrel and his arms crossed at his chest. "I said...you look bloody awful, mate."
"What? I don't get it..." Lila said, quickly stopped laughing. She stood there, thinking. Jack sighed, and rubbed his forhead as he said, "Darlin', tha's not wha' I said-"
"-but you just said-"
"No. I was talkin' to Rupert." Lila turned to see Rupert walking down with Will close behind him. Both men looked equally mad at something, as Ana looked extremely pleased. Lila sighed. Ana was so much like Jack sometimes. She remembered when she always thought that the two of them would end up together. But then she glanced at Saphie and saw that there was no way she could ever picture Jack with someone else. But, judging from the look on Will's face, Will thought otherwise.
"Lila?" He asked, walking down the hill to meet them. Lila, who had been leaning against Jack, looked up when Will came walking down. He smiled at her, causing Jack to raise an eyebrow. "Come here..." He grabbed her out of Jack's arms and kissed her, causing Jack to almost swallow the toothpick he had in his mouth...which Rupert was standing there, wondering where on earth he had gotten that from.
Saphira was standing there, a little confused by what just happened, and Ana of course was bored by it all. Rupert stared at Jack for a moment, before asking, "Where did you get that toothpick, Jack?" Jack tore his eyes off of Lila, and looked at Rupert as if he had just suggested he go waltz with Hector Barbossa.
Ignoring Rupert, Jack said, "Well, then." Jack kept his arm around Saphira, and looked at his other one as if it was empty. He looked sadden by this, and looked at Anamaria who gave him a death glare, and took Rupert's arm. He shrugged and continued walking.
"What was that for?" Lila asked Will, as he laced his fingers with hers. He smirked down at her and said, "Do I need a reason?" She rolled her eyes, knowing that he indeed had a reason.
Once they made it into town, they began walking down the decks of Singapore. Singapore, much to Jack and Will's dismay, had remained the same. The steam rose from beneath the decks and seeped through the cracks of the wooden decks. Will tugged at his crimson shirt uncomfortably, since it was rather hot in the city.
As Jack rambled on about another great adventure of his, this one involving Will too (as if Will was actually listening), Lila's gaze fell on a deserted pub just a few feet away from them. She squinted through the fog and steam, but when she saw it, she got out of Will's grip and ran down the docks. As much as a pregnant woman can run, that is.
That being said, it wasn't very difficult for Will to catch up with her. "Li, darling. What on-" His gaze fell down at the wanted sign that Lila held in her hands. She couldn't believe what she was reading, but it was there. "Wanted for the murder of Her Royal Highness, the Queen, Lila Turner..." Lila read so that they could hear. Still in complete shock, she finished the sentence as she looked up at him, "-Jack Sparrow."
"I swear on my father's life I didn't kill you." Jack mumbled, taking the wanted sign out of her hands. He skimmed it, as Saphira and Lila exchanged glances. Jack made a 'pfft' noise, before saying, "Maybe they made a mistake."
"Master Mercer makes no mistakes." Came an eeire voice from behind them. Lila froze, as did all of them, when the sound of a gun being cocked broke the silence. A moment later, it was placed at her head.