Chapter 13:

James lay quietly, enjoying the feel of Anne pressed up against him in their hammock. The smell of sea salt and sweat was heavy in the air and the two distinct smells mixed together to make a scent that was vaguely pleasing to James. Around him, the sounds of crewman working above them, and the sounds of the sea mixed together, making a kind of music that James had become very familiar with over the years. James turned his head and watched Anne for a moment, reveling in how peaceful, how beautiful she looked while she slept.

Slowly, James slithered his arm from beneath Anne's head and disentangled himself. He sat up in the hammock, but he didn't climb out of it. He only held his head in his hands and thought. They were sailing for Kingston, the supplier of the weapons Rogers had requested in New York. Patrick had found that information shortly before leaving the port in New York. At the thought of Patrick, James couldn't help but shake his head. The Irish rogue was definitely one of a kind.

James mind was taken from these thoughts by Anne's stirring. James looked down at her and grinned. "Good morning." Her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him. "You shouldn't move so much. This hammock is not too difficult to shake around." James nodded. "My apologies." Anne shook her head.

James lied back and pulled his arm around her, drawing her close. She nestled her head in the crook in his neck, and the two of them lied in a comfortable silence. At length, James let out a sigh and spoke.

"It shouldn't take much longer for us to reach Kingston." Anne nodded, and he felt her body tense. He turned his head and glanced at her. "Is everything alright?" Anne hesitated just a moment before nodding her head.

"Just bad memories is all." James nodded to show his understanding, deciding not to pry. "We should go up to the helm, see how Edward is faring." Anne huffed, and did not move for some time. But after a few moments she sat up and stood. She caught the look James gave her as the blanket slipped from her bare body and she shook her head.

"You are the one who said we should go see Edward." With a groan, James climbed to his feet as well and found his pants lying on the floor. He slid into them, and began to slowly dress himself.

James and Anne found Edward standing at the helm, the wheel gripped loosely in one hand.

"Glad to see the two of you could join us." James sent Edward a dirty look and moved over to his left side. "How does it look?"

"Clear skies, small waves. I would say it should be smooth sailing from here on out." James nodded his head, turned and leaned against the railing. "Do you think we'll find anything in Kingston?" Edward shrugged his shoulders.

"It's kind of hard to tell." James nodded his agreement and they fell into silence.

James stepped off of the Jackdaw and landed with a soft thump on the hard wood of Kingston's port. Behind him, he heard the sound of Edward, then Patrick and Anne stepping down as well. James waited for Edward and Patrick to go ahead before turning and looking back at Anne. She had a tense, troubled look about her and James stopped her with a gently touch on her shoulder.

"Is everything okay?" Anne nodded her head, making to continue following the others. But she was stopped once again. "Are you sure? You know, you can tell me anything." Anne nodded once more, this time with a small smile.

"I'll be fine. Thank you, however." She gave him a small kiss on the cheek, and motioned for him to follow before heading towards Edward and Patrick.

Patrick waited until they were standing by him before speaking quietly. "I've got a contact of mine, an ole' friend from the colonies, meetin' us here. I sent 'im a letter saying he should meet us in the old church. It lies just up the road aways." And without another word, Patrick was on the move. James and Edward exchanged an uneasy glance, and made to follow Patrick.

The ragtag group of rogues walked silently between buildings and past guards. For almost ten minutes they walked, until Patrick came to a stop in front of the old rundown church he had spoken of. And James couldn't help but think that Patrick hadn't been joking. The place looked like it might fall apart any minute. Patrick glanced a them all before stepping forward and knocking loudly on the front door. There was quiet shuffling that came from the inside, and the door was pulled open. Patrick motioned with his hand and the others went inside with him.

The inside of the church was worse than the outside. Rubble and debris littered the floor, glass from the shattered windows crunched under their feet and dust was thick in the air, making it difficult to breath.

"Achilles!" Patrick called loudly, wrapping his arms around whoever had opened the door. Achilles pulled himself from Patrick's grasp and brushing a hand down he front. "Sorry abou' that." Patrick said, sounding as if he wasn't sorry at all. Patrick motioned with his hand towards James, Edward and Anne.

"I'm in a spot of trouble, and I am in need of your assistance."

"So it would seem." Achilles said. He looked at James and sized him up, his gaze staying on his Templar armor for a moment. "While I waited for you, I did some research on the man you're after." He said after a moment.

"And what have you discovered? James asked, getting to business. Achilles motioned for them to follow. "He is a Frenchman, by the name of Pierre Gauntier. And he is currently hiding in Port Royal."

AN: I'm back bitches! I am so sorry that I was gone for so long, real life got to me. But anyway, what did you all think? What plan is James going to come up with now? Is Anne going to be okay with going back into Port Royal, considering all of the things that have happened to her? Will they be able to spill the blood of their target? I suppose we'll find out.

~Exangellion