Chapter Four
As soon as Jessie entered the house, her maidservants swooped in upon her like a bunch of hens. She stayed silent through the loud clucking and fussing and allowed them to peel her wet clothes off of her, stick her in a warm bath, and dress her in a thick nightdress. By the time she climbed into her bed, it was growing dark outside, and the girls informed her that the governor had gone to see Commodore Norrington and Elizabeth had gone to bed.
"Sarah," Jessie grabbed her arm before she could leave the room. "I want you to do something for me. Find out what you can about what has happened to Jack Sparrow, that pirate."
"But, Miss Jessie…" Sarah protested.
"Don't 'but' me, just do it!" Sarah looked hurt. Jessie took a deep breath to calm down. "Please, Sarah, this is very important. Find out as quickly as you can whether or not Jack Sparrow has left or if the soldiers caught him."
Sarah nodded. "I'll be back as soon as I can, Miss Jessie," she promised.
"Thank you." Jessie tried to smile and failed as she watched the girl slip out of the room.
Jessie lay back on her pillows and tried to read a novel, but her mind raced and wouldn't slow down. Finally, she shut the book and stared up at the ceiling.
"Jack is here in Port Royal," she kept thinking. "He's here. And he's alive. He's here to commandeer a ship, so he must be going after the Pearl. I hope he hasn't left me here. How am I going to leave without…?
"I can't," she realized. "I can't leave now without everyone finding out."
Bothered, Jessie got out of bed and paced slowly up and down the bedroom floor.
"Miss Jessie!" Sarah burst into the room, beaming with excitement. "Miss Jessie, I have the news!"
Jessie held the girl's shoulders and looked directly at her. "Yes?"
"The pirate is locked up in the jail; he's to hang in the morning. He was caught by Mister Brown in the smithy, but the rumor is that Will Turner trapped him there and Mister Brown merely cracked the pirate over the head with a bottle of rum." Sarah's eyes shone. "That William Turner was brave to take on Jack Sparrow like that."
"Yes. Yes, he was," Jessie murmured, her voice trailing off. Then she realized Sarah was still in the room. "Thank you, Sarah. You did well. Go on now."
The moment the maid left the room, Jessie uncovered her sea chest and opened the lid. She reached in and pulled out a pile of dark clothes, wrapped in which lay several other items that she took behind the changing screen
A knock on the door made her start up.
"Jessie?" Elizabeth peeked her head around the door before coming into the room. "Jessie, are you awake? I must—"
Jessie slipped behind Elizabeth and shut the door, locking it tightly. The girl's startled cry was cut short by Jessie's rough hand over her mouth.
"Do not scream," Jessie told her. "Do you understand?"
Elizabeth nodded. Jessie removed her hand.
"Jessie!" she exclaimed shrilly. "Jessie, what on earth are you holding? Why do you—"
Her mouth was covered again. "Hush, you excitable thing! Davy Jones, you you'll bring the entire house hold running to me. I am holding clothes more practical for sea faring, much more practical than sixteen underskirts and a corset. What are you doing in here? And speak quietly!"
"Sea faring? I don't understand." She rummaged through Jessie's small pile and held up a pistol and a belt of throwing knives. Her voice trembled. "You're a pirate?"
"Yes, Elizabeth." Jessie tried not to sound impatient. "I am a pirate. Now please tell me what you want."
"I… I wanted to show you something. I took it off of Will Turner when we found him and I thought you would know what it was."
Out of her dress she revealed a necklace that Jessie suddenly realized she had worn all day. On a golden chain hung a gold coin identical to the one on Jessie's neck, the skull glaring out at her.
The candle in Elizabeth's hand and on Jessie's bedside table blew out, throwing the girls into semi-darkness. Elizabeth grasped Jessie's arm.
"You have a medallion? From Will Turner?" Jessie held the coin in her fingers, rubbing her thumb over the cool metal. "Why didn't you say something to me before?"
"I don't know. I was going to, but you were so distracted that day and then I forgot about it until this afternoon when you saw that pirate. What is it?"
"It's a piece of Aztec gold, smuggled off of its island of death by greedy pirates."
The back of Jessie's neck prickled. She looked down at Port Royal, then at the sea.
"The gold put a curse on those who stole it," she continued grimly. "They would remain neither living nor dead until they returned every piece to its place on that island and gave a sacrifice in blood over the chest. The pirates feel the gold calling to them and follow it wherever it leads." She pointed to a dark ship coming into the harbor. "The gold has brought them here."
Elizabeth gasped. She stared at the gold coin, then drew her arm back.
"Don't throw it, ridiculous girl!" Jessie grabbed her wrist. "If you throw it, who knows where it will land? Keep it with you, and whatever you do, never let it out of your sight. Those pirates will do whatever, kill whomever, destroy whatever they have to in order to reclaim this coin."
"Then what do I do?" Elizabeth asked fearfully.
Jessie glanced back at the ship and saw that boats had been lowered from the side. Men rowed it silently to the sleeping town.
"Run as fast as you can run to the fort. Your father and fiancé are there now. They will protect you from these ruffians."
"And what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to go to the fort as well, but another way. It'll be better if Barbosa doesn't find both of them at once."
Elizabeth frowned. "Both of what?"
Jessie pushed her towards the door. "Never mind, we must run. Make straight for the fort, and whatever you do, do not lose that coin!"
Jessie threw her bundle back into the sea chest, locked it, and ran back to the balcony. The boats had come closer now, and as she wrapped her arms around the railings, she heard a raw shouting from the beach. Her feet felt for the tree branch that grew just below. In a quick movement, she released her hold on the railings and dropped onto the branch, holding the bark tightly. Then she climbed down the tree, landing in the garden.
Shouts came from the front of the house. Jessie stopped and listened. She thought her heard a scream from Elizabeth, followed by a loud cackle. For a brief moment, she considered going back into the house and protect Elizabeth, but she turned away and ran down the lawn to the gate.
Port Royal was overrun. Pirates sprang out of every corner, led by screaming women, crying children, and yelling men. Buildings exploded and caught fire. The townsmen drew their swords and brandished pistols and clashed with the pirates in the streets. From the ship in the harbor, cannon fire erupted, sending a rain of cannon balls at the town and the fort. Jessie felt the adrenaline pump through her veins as she heard familiar, hated voices gloating loudly as they ravaged the town. Without thinking she sprinted to Port Royal and the smithy.
Upon arrival she burst through the door. The building was empty, to her surprise, except for the faithful donkey Will used to turn a machine in the center of the room. Jessie took two swords, one in each hand, and hitched up her nightdress to her knees. Then she ran back out into the fray.
The first pirate she met was unknown to her. He sneered and made a rude sound. She promptly ran him through his middle, leaving him bleeding on the cobblestones. The next few surrounded her, trying to disarm and confuse her. In two strokes, she decapitated one and took the other one's sword, slicing the skin on his hand. Then she slit the throat of the third one.
From further away, she saw Will defending a woman and her two small children. She pushed her way past the crowd and stood at his side. Will felt her against him and turned.
"Jessie!" he exclaimed. "What are you—"
"Never mind, Will! Let's just get these people to the fort."
A sudden triumphant shouting made them both look to the harbor. To Jessie's horror, a band of pirates were rushing down to the beach, leading Elizabeth along. The girl met Jessie's gaze, a terrified expression on her face.
"Elizabeth!" Jessie shouted. Ignoring Will as he called out to her, she dropped both of her swords and tried to reach the pirates and the boat, which they were shoving off in the direction of the ship. But the thick crowd of men made it impossible.
Someone grabbed her from behind. Before she could retaliate, she was hit over the back of the head and knew nothing more.
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A woman is sitting next to her. Her skin is the color of coffee, and her black hair is twisted in dreadlocks. Her eyes are large and round, with dots of paint underneath her eye lids and on her cheeks.
Jessie turns on her comfortable bed and groans, making the woman smile. It isn't an unpleasant smile, even though her teeth are stained.
"Did ye sleep well, Miz Jessie?" she asks in her strange, unidentifiable accent. "Ye brotha be waitin' for ye outside."
"I did, actually," Jessie mumbles, "until you woke me up so suddenly. I was having a nice dream, too, Tia, why'd you have to wake me?"
"Jack be itchin' to go to Davy Jones' island, and he doesn't want to be late. Ye'd better git up, Swiftblade, afore he comes in 'imself and takes ye over his shoulder."
Jessie jumps out of the covers and hurriedly throws on her clothes, as well as a belt that fastens over her shoulder. Tia watches her fondly without moving.
There are footsteps outside her door. It opens, and Jack comes inside.
"Finally awake, are we, Jess?" he remarks. "Did ye sleep well? Sure you wouldn't rather stay here with Tia and sleep for another century?"
"Shut up, Jack," Jessie barks. "Ye kept me up late with your stories, so I blame you. I am ready now."
Tia stands up and bends down to look into Jessie's face. "I told ye before, girl, dat ye had a touch of destiny about you. Dis adventure may take you to places ye've never seen or heard of, so enjoy it. I see many ting's in ye future, good and bad. Enjoy de good and learn from de bad. But for now, go on and always remember me."
Groggily, Jessie opened her eyes. Sunlight blinded her, and she blinked rapidly. She put her hands down on the floor.
"Don't sit up yet," Will's voice said. "You got knocked across the head pretty hard."
Jessie slowly turned her head and looked around. She was lying on the floor of the smithy under the window, wrapped in a blanket and a rolled up shirt under her head. Will leaned against the wall, where he had been all night watching out the window. When he saw her eyes were opened, he came down to her and knelt beside at her side.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
She sat up gingerly, wincing as her head pounded. "Like I've been hit by a club." A knot had formed on the back of her head, and her fingers touched it warily. "What happened, Will?"
"One of the pirates hit you over the head with the pommel of his sword. I grabbed you and brought you here."
"What happened to the woman and her children?"
"I took them to the fort before coming back here to you. They're safe."
Jessie rose to her feet. Her head continued to throb, but it lessened rapidly. "Speaking of safe, Governor Swan must be frantic."
Suddenly, she remembered Elizabeth. A wave of emotions hit her harder than the pirate had, forcing her to sink to her knees again. Will frowned, concern etched on his face.
"They took Lizzie," she whispered.
Will shook his head. "What?"
She felt a tear roll down her cheek. "They took Elizabeth, Will. Those pirates have her on that ship."
He blinked and shook his head again, horrified. More tears ran down Jessie's face, no matter how hard she squeezed her eyes. Will wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her tightly.
"I have to go after her, Will," Jessie whimpered. "It's my fault she's on that accursed ship."
"No, Jess—"
"Yes, it is! I told her to go to the fort without me, and I…" She choked on her sobs. "I heard her scream and ignored it. I have to go after the ship."
Will said nothing for a moment and wiped her face dry with his thumb. Then, when her muffled crying began to subside, he spoke.
"Listen to me, Jessie. You can't blame yourself for Elizabeth. There's nothing you could've done. You would've been taken with them just like her. And you won't go after her. You wouldn't even know where to start!"
Jessie said nothing, just took in a deep, shaky breath.
"Now, let's get you to the governor to give him some peace of mind."
She nodded and allowed him to gently lead her out of the smithy and to the fort. As they walked, her mind raced.
They entered the main courtyard of the fort, where Commodore Norrington and the governor pored over a table covered with maps. At the sound of their footsteps, the men looked up. Jessie was comforted slightly to see some of the worry drain from their faces.
"Jessie! My dear, I'm so thankful you're alright." Governor Swan embraced her. "Are you hurt?"
"No, no, Will took care of me. They took Elizabeth, Governor Swan. The pirates took her."
"Yes, we know." The governor patted her arm and leaned over the table once more, as if the ship would appear on the map with its location written down.
"One of my men saw her being led away last night," Norrington explained.
"We have to go after her!" Jessie exclaimed. "We have to find her."
"Where? Where do you propose we start? If you have any idea of where to find my daughter, please tell me!"
Jessie was so taken aback by the governor's tirade she took a step back. Governor Swan went to a window, hands behind his back.
"We could ask Jack Sparrow," she suggested. Norrington glared at her. "He might know the ship and where it makes berth, ask him!"
"No," Norrington scoffed disgustedly. "I would rather cut off my right hand than ask a pirate for help." Jessie pressed her lips together.
"Then I will go after her."
The two men stared at her incredulously.
"You'll do no such thing, you silly girl," Governor Swan retorted. Norrington looked as though he wasn't sure whether to laugh or scold. "You'll go to the rooms upstairs and stay there until we can return home."
"We will send out our fastest ships in every direction, Governor," Norrington told him. "No pirate has ever outrun the Interceptor."
"You will never catch the Black Pearl."
Norrington raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"
Jessie crossed her arms over her chest. "The Black Pearl is faster than any other ship in the Navy. You'll never catch her."
"Miss Swan, I hardly think now is the time for old wives' tales."
"Did you not see the black sails, Commodore Norrington," she replied just as evenly. "There is only one ship in the Caribbean that has black sails. And how many corpses of pirates have you found? If I may guess, hardly any. All of the "stories", as you call them, say that the Pearl has a cursed crew and captain, a curse that won't let them die. Jack Sparrow knows the Black Pearl and its crew and where it is going now with Elizabeth. Ask him."
"I believe, Commodore, it is time for Miss Jessie to retire to her room," Governor Swan said, without looking at her.
"Of course, Governor. Mister Turner, thank you for returning Miss Swan to us. You may go now."
Will spoke for the first time, his voice hard. "You know she's right, Commodore. Jack Sparrow is your only hope of finding Miss Swan."
"Mister Turner, you are out of line." Commodore Norrington pulled him into a corner. "You are not a sailor. You are not a soldier. You are a blacksmith. Do NOT make the mistake of thinking you are capable of deciding things like this."
Jessie's heart had warmed at Will's response, but her anger flared brightly. Will bowed stiffly and left the room, and Norrington took her arm to lead her out, as well.
"Those pirates will have killed Elizabeth before you find her," Jessie called loudly enough for the governor to hear.
"Hush, Jessie!" Norrington shook her arm. "Why do you insist upon making this worse? What can you, a woman, do here? You are causing the governor more grief by your conduct!"
Jessie fell silent until they reached the rooms. As Norrington opened the door, she looked at him pleadingly.
"Take me back to the mansion."
"No, Miss Swan, the governor wants—"
"I will come back, James, I just want to go back and collect a few things. I've been in this shift all night."
He glanced down at her dirty clothes, then sighed. "Alright."
He said nothing to her during the entirety of the carriage ride to the Swan mansion. She ignored him completely, focused as she was on the damage on Port Royal. When they arrived, she let Norrington help her down and walked as slowly as she could manage into the mansion.
The door had been forced open, and the butler lay dead on the entry rug, a bullet through his head. Jessie called out. Her words echoed throughout the empty house, sounding eerie and small. Her feet made no sound as she ascended the staircase up to her room.
Everything was as she left it, including her sea chest in a dark corner. She shut the door and locked it.
"Forgive me, James," she said to herself. "But I must go after the Pearl."
Jessie moved quickly now that her mind was made up. She threw open the lid of her chest, withdrew her bundle, and spread out its contents. A pair of breeches, a dark top, a pair of boots, and a belt of throwing knives. Moments later, her nightdress lay on the floor as she studied her reflection. She fastened the belt over her shoulder, which made the medallion press against her skin.
"Soon," she thought grimly. "Very soon, Barbosa."
She climbed down the balcony for the second time and ran in the direction of Port Royal. At the edge of the town, she looked back at the mansion.
"Goodbye," she whispered. Then she turned away and headed for the prisions.