Chapter 29

When Constance prepared herself for Captain Salazar's rage, she didn't quite prepare herself enough. In fact, there was no way she could have prepared herself for what happened once he boarded The Queen Anne's Revenge.

"String them up". Captain Salazar barked at his crew the moment he had jumped onto the vessel. Constance gave a distraught look to Captain Barbossa as he was violently shoved to the ground by Moss and then tied up. The rest of the remaining crew were also tied up and she was made to stand with Armando as they watched the pirates being hung upside down. As they were being positioned, Constance placed a hand on Armando's arm in an attempt to get his attention, which was successful.

"Armando, please try to remain calm. I'm sure there is another way to get Sparrow". She spoke gently, hoping to quell the rage that was flashing behind his eyes. He surprised her when he took her hand in his own and pulled her closer.

"Please do not get involved. I will have Lesaro take you to my cabin as I deal with this". He murmured and Constance could see the pleading in his eyes. The real Armando was in there, trapped deep down by the curse and she could see him battling with himself of staying in control. She didn't want to push him further, but knew that she had to save Barbossa.

"I will be quiet, please let me stay". She promised knowing damn well that she was blatantly lying to him. He narrowed his eyes a fraction but proceeded to nod his head. He then let go of her hand and began to approach the swinging pirates who all looked terrified except Barbossa who looked mildly concerned but perhaps more irritated than anything else.

However, Constance looked away from Barbossa when all of a sudden, Captain Salazar pulled out his rapier and slashed a pirate straight down the middle causing the blood to splatter across the deck. Constance gave a loud cry of alarm as she watched the body of the pirate shudder until the only movement of the corpse was from the swinging of the ropes from which it was tied up to. Barbossa's expression also seemed to change and she saw true fear reflected in his eyes.

The gruesome sight got worse as Captain Salazar moved jerkily to the next pirate and thrusted his sword deep inside their chest causing another waterfall of blood to cascade down the now dead pirate and onto the floor below. The blood was slowly moving towards her and Constance stepped behind Armando to avoid getting her shoes soaked in red.

Barbossa who was the furthest away was trying to appease the mad ghost but his words ignited more rage and Captain Salazar sliced through another pirate. Constance stepped through the blood when Salazar finally reached Barbossa and held his sword right above the Pirate Captain's chest.

"Armando-" She began but was cut off when he suddenly whipped his head around at her, his hair slapping her face. He raised a finger at her and she could see how close he was to losing all control, but she took a deep breath in an attempt to gain courage.

"Please think before you act". She whispered. He clenched his jaw in response and she watched as the black liquid dripped from the corners of his mouth and very tentatively, she stepped forwards and wiped it away, causing Armando to close his eyes at the contact. It was a rare moment and she was thankful it seemed to allow him time to get his mind back under control. When he opened his eyes again he gave her a harsh glare but she could tell there was no malice in it.

"Remember what you promised". He reminded her before turning back to face Barbossa. With hunched shoulders, he bent down until his face was inches away from the pirate. He cocked his head as he was thinking of what to say and watched as Barbossa was trying not to flinch.

"You will go and get me the Sparrow and if you fail, you will join your fleet at the bottom of the sea". Captain Salazar hissed and then with his rapier, he slashed the ropes holding Barbossa. Captain Barbossa fell ungraciously into a pile on the floor and Constance couldn't help but attempt to move forward and help him up. She regretted her actions almost immediately when Armando grabbed her roughly and pulled her to his chest. He turned his attention to her and she tried not to shrink back at his intense gaze. Instead she kept her eyes glued on the cracks running across his face and was tempted to trace her fingers over them.

"And you Constance, you will join me on the Silent Mary". He ordered but Constance managed to pull herself out of his harsh grasp.

"Let me go ashore as well". She said suddenly and Armando's eyes flickered between herself and Barbossa who was now standing. Abruptly, Armando grabbed her arm and began to drag her away from the pirates and the ghost crew. He didn't stop until they were well away from anyone and she was worried as to why she had been dragged away.

He had pushed her up against the wall of the ship and he was giving her a disapproving look.

"I will not argue in front of an audience. Now why on earth do you want to join them?" He growled, his accent thick and his voice hollow. She raised her hand to untie her hair and began to fix it before she spoke.

"You won't be able to go on land and therefore I can keep an eye on them and make sure they bring back Sparrow to you. I love you Armando and I can be your eyes on land". She replied, hoping he would agree. But instead he swiftly closed the distance between the two of them and he placed a hand above her against the wood of the ship. His other hand holding his rapier was also pressed against the wood. She was trapped between his body and the ship and felt a shiver travel down her body. Constance wasn't sure why her body was reacting like it was but she suddenly found herself feeling very warm at their proximity. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and watched as his eyes dropped to her pink lips. She had the strong desire to push herself against him but was snapped out of her fantasy when he spoke.

"That is exactly the problem Constance. I can't step foot on land. If you are in danger then I will not be able to help you and I refuse to let that happen. So, you will be with me, and at least then I can keep my eye on you". He replied and Constance felt her heart flutter at his words. He was still concerned about her and that was enough for her at the moment but she still needed to be with Barbossa. It was the only way that she would get to the Trident. Very slowly, she moved forward an inch so that her chest brushed against his own. She heard his medals jingle and his eyes flickered over her face but he remained still.

"I give you my word Armando, I will come back to you safely. I promise". She whispered and suddenly pressed her lips against his own, finally kissing him properly for the first time since they had been reunited. He made a muffled noise, one which sounded like surprise. He then wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her against him. The passion that went into the kiss was uncontrollable and she moaned desperately against his body. All her emotions came to the surface. Her despair at finding him dead, her relief however at finding him at all. She knew that when she would touch land that she would most likely not see Armando for a while. She had already assumed that Barbossa wouldn't bring Jack back, but she was determined to save Armando and she found it unlikely that Barbossa would harm her. Or she hoped so anyway.

They finally broke apart and she was glad he was holding her as her head had gone rather dizzy and her legs felt as though they had disappeared. He looked upset however which was not what she expected and she realised that he was looking at her mouth. She used the back if her shirt to clean her mouth but was stopped when he pulled out a ripped handkerchief from his pocket and wiped it for her. She hadn't even thought about the black liquid which was permanently trickling down his face and even now she did not care.

"We still have lots to catch up on". He murmured and Constance nodded, realising that she had never asked him how he escaped the Devil's Triangle. But she was not to be distracted. As much as she wanted to go back to the Silent Mary and to listen to his voice which she still found deeply attractive despite it sounding so empty, she managed to pull away from him.

"We do but we can talk when I have brought Sparrow back. Just think, you can finally have him after years of waiting". Constance pointed out, hoping to use his own obsession against him. Deep down she hated doing this but she didn't have a lot of choice. Her words seemed to be working and he cocked his head at her as though he was deep in thought.

"And then we can finally… be acquainted again". She spoked suggestively, shocked at her own forwardness and gave him a shy look through her lashes. He quickly tugged her against him again and his lips were only inches apart.

"Fine, but promise me you will return to me". He begged, his accent thicker than ever and she blinked back tears. She felt awful for what she was going to do but managed to nod her head.

"I always will". She promised and to an extent she was telling the truth. After all, he never specified when she had to be back. Kissing him once more with passion that scared her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hummed with pleasure.

Once they had broken apart and he handed her his handkerchief, or rather what was left of it, they made their way back to the crew who had taken it upon themselves to throw the corpses of the pirates overboard. Barbossa had been preparing a boat for them to get ashore in and she gave him a nod when they made eye contact to say that she would be coming with him.

Captain Salazar swiftly approached Captain Barbossa who was stood waiting for orders and grabbed him by his collar, pulling him close.

"You will keep her safe and out of harm's way. If she has so much of a scratch upon her, you will be meeting my blade faster than you could even anticipate". Captain Salazar threatened. Barbossa, once released from the ghost's grip, bowed low and spoke quickly.

"You have me word. I will treat her as though she was me own". He grinned and offered a hand to Constance to get onto the boat. She was taken back by the protectiveness that Armando demonstrated to blatantly to the crew, but she supposed he did not care what people thought. He would kill anyone that threatened her and even though that was a frightening thought to have, it offered her some comfort. But as he had said, once she was on land, she no longer had his protection and she silently prayed that Barbossa wouldn't tell Jack and his companions her relationship between herself and Captain Salazar. Even she would be suspicious of herself.

Sitting in the boat, Constance watched as Barbossa joined her along with the remaining few members of his crew. She gave Armando a small wave and she watched as he nodded to her before turning away.

Her eyes remained fixed on the figure of Captain Salazar and she wished that he would turn around once more and face her but to her disappointment he never turned around and she resigned herself to looking away.

On The Queen Anne's Revenge, Captain Salazar clenched his jaw and Lieutenant Lesaro approached him.

"Captain, shall we go back to the Silent Mary". He asked.

"Si, order the men". Captain Salazar replied and very slowly turned back around and watched the boat in the distance getting closer and closer to the shore. He was about to look away when Lesaro's hand appeared in front of him with his telescope. Neither of them said anything and allowing Lesaro to position the telescope for him, Armando allowed himself one last look at his love. His eyes burned as he watched her step on land and he had to look away.

"She is strong willed Captain. We should return now". Lesaro spoke quietly and Captain Salazar nodded his head and began to walk away. He had some more waiting to do.