Elizabeth stares in horror at the wreckage before her. There's almost nothing left of the ship, which must have been quite large judging by the amount of burning wood she can see.
"Slow and steady, Mister Turner." She says to Bill as he steers the Dutchman closer. "My god, what could anyone possibly have done to deserve…" She shakes her head, forcing such thoughts away. She knows better by now then to dwell on it.
There are few left with even a spark of life in them; ferrying their submissive souls will be almost too simple a task.
"At least their guide is gentle and willing to offer them a kind word." Bill reminds her, as he always does.
She doesn't respond.
She senses it easily when the last of the victims boards the ship because the person is frightened, terrified.
One must still be alive to feel terror.
"It's alright. It's all over now." Elizabeth approaches the woman slowly. The poor thing is so covered in blood that Elizabeth cannot tell where her wounds even are. She won't last much longer, that is for certain. Elizabeth kneels down beside her. The woman flinches. She is wearing men's clothing, just as Elizabeth is, and is the only other female pirate Elizabeth has encountered so far.
"I won't hurt you, I promise." Elizabeth says slowly. "I have only one question. Do you fear death?"
The woman hesitates, meeting Elizabeth's eyes. Elizabeth perceives her with more than mortal senses and her stomach turns at the realization that the woman is younger than her, and is in fact little more than a girl. She swollows back the feeling with practiced control, forcing her expression to remain kind but indifferent.
"Y-yes." The girl stammers quietly and begins sobbing.
"What's your name?"
"E-Emily. Emily Marie Chase."
Elizabeth stiffens, an involuntary reaction upon hearing her baby daughter's name. The girl notices her reaction immediately and recoils as though expecting something bad to happen.
"Forgive me; you've done nothing wrong." Elizabeth assures her quickly, forcing herself to relax.
"I-it's not like anyone even knows that name. I-I go by Marie. Only Marie."
Another member of the crew approaches them, ready to take care of the ships newest addition as he has done at least twice before, but Elizabeth dismisses him with a wave of her hand.
"I'll see to her myself, Perry. Make sure the rest are taken care of." She turns back to the girl. "Come. We'll get you cleaned up." She looks up to Bill, still at the helm. "Steer us clear of the wreck and prepare for a dive. We'll cross over when I'm finished here."
"Aye Cap'n." He nods, looking curious but saying nothing further as she helps the girl stand and leads her away.
Elizabeth is always kind to the people they ferry, but usually very detatched as well. He wonders what makes this girl special, but knows better than to ask. Elizabeth will say something if and when she's ready.
William Turner has everything he needs to start an honest life.
He's found a small island town, isolated enough from any British ports, and is well on his way to setting himself up as a blacksmith. He's found a small cottage that will serve him well as both a shop and a home.
And, to top all of that off, he has a beautiful baby daughter to take care of. He should be perfectly content right where he is.
And yet he is sure he's never felt more restless in his life. The sea calls to him in a way that it never did before. He feels even farther from his Elizabeth on land. And he hasn't a clue how to care for a child, especially one so small.
It's only until Emily is a little older, he tells himself. A ship is no place for a baby. He can figure this out.
It isn't long before one of the women in the village notices him and his odd predicament. Most keep there distance from him, unsure of him and his vague origins. But this woman, named Jade, seems intent on making friends with him. The first time she comes to his shop it's to order a sword made for her older brother, who happens to be a sailor.
By the fourth time she visits, he can't help but to admit that he enjoys her company, odd though it is that she seems to care about him at all.
"I can help you with Emily, you know." Jade says one day when she walks in to see him feeding the all-too-adorable baby girl. "I mean, if you need someone to watch her so you can work, or just relax."
He's surprised; such a suggestion hadn't occurred to him before.
"I suppose. The gentle touch of a woman would probably do her well. With her mother gone…" He trails off and heaves a sigh.
"Where is her mother?" Jade asks gently.
He doesn't respond at first, a far off look in his eyes.
"Forgive me. Perhaps that was too forward."
"No, no. It's a fair question to ask. Elizabeth is.. gone. Lost to the sea."
"Lost to the sea? I can see why you'd rather be on land, then."
He stays quiet again, lost in thought now. To say that Elizabeth is lost to the sea doesn't seem right somehow, he thinks. More like she is the sea. How can he explain how being at sea makes him feel all that much closer to her?
"Don't be so certain of that. If it weren't for this little one," he says, taking Emily into his arms as she coos happily, "I wouldn't be here."
She raises and eyebrow.
"Not that I'm complaining." He adds hastily.
"Right, of course not." She seems amused now. She stands and goes to take the baby from his arms and he allows her to do so, allbeit with a little reluctance.
Emily smiles up at Jade as she cradles her expertly in her arms.
"Why don't I take this little one for the night? My brother is going down to the tavern with some of his men. He says you're welcome to come along, as always."
"I don't know." He replies, unsure.
"Do you not trust me? Not that I would blame you if you do not." She says, sincerely.
"No, it's not that. It's just that… I can't help but to remember that her mother never liked the idea of me drinking."
Jade sighs.
"That's not much of an excuse. You can't stay cooped up in this stuffy place forever. Surely you must want to get out; most men would hate being stuck here with a child."
"I'm not most men. But I suppose you're right; it would be nice to get out." He concedes.
"That's the spirit." She grins. "I'll even stay here with Emily if you'd like. Or I could take her to my cottage, it's not far you know."
"I suppose..you could take her..just for tonight. I'll come round to get her, first thing in the morning."
Jade gives him a triumphant smile.
"Wonderful! I'll go tell my brother." She bustles out of the shop, Emily still held firmly in her arms.
The thought crosses his mind that she'd make a wonderful mother. He pushes it away quickly, unsure of where it even came from, and thinks that perhaps Jade really had been right.
He needed to get out. And maybe, with a bit of rum, he'd sleep heavily enough not to dream of Elizabeth, as he always seems to.
Such dreams would not be so unwelcome if she didn't die at the end of all of them.