Chapter 17
The orange light was all that covered the sea below while Cutler stared into the waters beneath. His arms were resting on the balustrade of the ship. He had been staring at the light string that was still guiding them toward their goal, their destination. At this point in their journey, they had arrived at unknown territory, waters not marked yet on the large nautical charts that covered the map desk next to the helm. Cutler had never sailed these waters before, something that was rare for him, and it made him hopeful that it had to be soon they'd arrive at the entrance to the Locker.
It had been weeks since they started following the guiding light beam. Everyone on board seemed to lose hope, they were finally lost, but there was no entrance to the Locker, like there had been last time. Barbossa knew it wasn't something you could predict, no one knew how to enter the Locker, and it was mostly pure luck. It had made Cutler slightly nervous these last days, wondering when the point came that some men of the crew, or even Barbossa, Elizabeth, or Jack would give up. It would be disastrous as Cutler wouldn't be able to continue this journey on his own. They were also running out of fresh water soon, so another stop needed to be planned. The problem was, they hadn't seen land in days.
'What is that?' Elizabeth suddenly exclaims as she moves herself to the side of the ship. Everyone beheld the thickest fog they'd ever seen. It was impossible to see further than a few feet in front. Jack started commanding his crew to slow the ship down, as it might be dangerous for the Pearl, she could get into a collision with something.
'I do not think something will be in our way, Jack. We haven't seen land for at least three days' Barbossa said while looking down at the weaves beneath. Jack seemed to be careful regardless. Cutler lifted his left hand and moved the tips of his fingers through the unusually thick fog. The Black Pearl slowly moved through the tick fog curtain that felt endless. Suddenly they came to an abrupt halt while all hearing a scraping sound coming from the Pearl's hull.
'Noo!' Jack screamed at the top of his lungs. Running to the side he watched down with his body almost hanging a little too far over the balustrade, but it was impossible to see because of the fog. Elizabeth took his arm letting him return to his feet.
'How is this possible? We're not even close to any land' Cutler asked while he watched every angle of the ship through his spyglass, nothing but grey misty sky.
'Maybe a sandbank?' Barbossa too watched the water beneath the ship. Elizabeth had moved next to Barbossa and suddenly started pointing.
'There! There's someone in the fog!' Elizabeth almost shouted but managed to stay calm at the end of her sentence. And she was right, there was a shadow moving within the fog, a figure. Like it was watching them it stood still and then moved higher up on was seemed to be rocks, that definitely hadn't been there before. All both watching the sea below and the shadow still watching them at the same time there was a sudden movement in the waters. It felt like something under the surface of the water was reflecting back the light that came from the lanterns on deck.
'Mermaids!' Barbossa suddenly shouted drawing his sword. Both Jack and Elizabeth watched the movement below in the waters. Cutler being the only one who was still watching the shadow figure, that started leaving, now started collecting his gear, moving his sword on his belt, ready to leave the ship and follow.
'Let's get on land! We're safer there. Besides the person who might be responsible for our collision with the Pearl is taking a run for it' Cutler exclaimed and jumped down the last steps of the Pearl's ladder. It indeed seemed to be a rocky surface they had collided with. But Cutler still couldn't figure out how this piece of land had come out of nowhere, it had seemed impossible. Soon Jack and Elizabeth followed down. As dusk had started setting in, Elizabeth had brought along a lighted torch.
'I'll guard the Pearl. I have experience dealing with these sea wenches' Barbossa seemed ready for a fight, but it had surprised him the mermaids hadn't attacked yet. He knew they were always hungry for the flesh of men.
'Fine, but guard her well, Hector. Or else..' Jack started bolling a first into the air before Elizabeth pulled him away to get inland. The fog seemed still so thick when moments later they moved along what seemed to be a small stream. They figured the person must be somewhere close as it couldn't have gone far. Just before arriving at what was an open space, after their journey through the bushes, they noticed a little sign standing near the road that was leading to a lake. The crooked sign was covered in dirt which made it hard to read the letters. Jack moved up his hand, within the cloth on his belt, and he removed the dirt so it would be possible to read where they had arrived.
'Isla Sirena' Jack mumbled while both Cutler and Elizabeth now watched the wooden sign too.
'I've read about this small Island, but it was a book about legendary islands that only exist in stories' Cutler whispered, his eyes still looking around to see if he noticed the figure anywhere near the open space.
'This all feels like they're fooling us. First the sudden rocky island out of nowhere, the mermaids that seem to be there but not attacking nor showing themselves. And now an fantasy island from a childrens book?' Jack mumbled a little louder this time. Cutler frowned.
'It's not a children's book' Cutler seemed offended looking at Jack calling his reading material for children. Jack smirked when he saw Cutler's face.
'I can't blame you though. I imagine you're not the kind that reads anyway. Can you even read, Jack?' Cutler spoke sarcastically polite. Jack was the one frowning now and wanted to open his mouth to respond but he felt Elizabeth pulling at his sleeve.
'Look the lake, it's.. different' Elizabeth whispered while she strolled along, to the edge of the large lake where the fog seemed to stop. They were welcomed by the beautiful few of a grand but shallow lake. Jack moved to the lake and watched himself in the reflection of the crystal-clear water beneath him, which indeed seemed rather different than your normal lake, it was almost shimmering like the scales of a mermaid's tale. They were happy to have found fresh water as they needed to refill their water supply.
'What do we do now?' Elizabeth whispered, standing behind Jack she beheld the beauty of the small lake that seemed almost enchanted. The shadow figure seemed to have gone up in smoke, it was nowhere to be seen.
'Let's restock on drinking water and return to the Pearl' Cutler spoke looking at the lake from his place behind Elizabeth and Jack, his eyes still searching for the figure. Elizabeth moved down and touched the sparkling water with the tips of her fingers. It made small rings that continued appearing, making their way to the middle of the lake. Cutler right behind them watched the water moving as the little circles of movement now in the middle of the lake started getting bigger and bigger. The little bit of fog still left made the end of the lake almost not visible, like a cloudy mist that covered the water.
'Be careful, something is moving inside these waters' Cutler whispered, who seemed to have studied the water while Jack and Elizabeth were filling their water bottles. Suddenly the mist drifting upon the lake started forming like a swirl, at the very end in the distance. The figure from before suddenly emerged from the lake slowly, like magic just appearing from the water, now coming in their direction slowly as if it was floating. To everyone's surprise the figure of a tall female now fully emerged from the lake and like she was walking on the water of the lake she made way for them. Her long white with a touch of violet hair moved down her shoulders and seemed to almost reach the surface of the water, her dress looked medieval but the fabric it was made of seemed like it came from another world. Her skin was not only pale, but it looked greyish purple. She was pretty but in a strange way. Her eyes pierced through the dusk that now covered the land and kept on staring at them like she watched them all at the same time.
'Hello there, and who are you?' Jack stepped forward and walked like he was trying to make an impression on the unknown lady. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and moved to Jack, reaching for his arm as they did not know what she wanted from them and whether she'd be an ally or foe.
'I am whoever you want me to be' the Lady spoke in a deep voice that echoed across the water, her bare feet touched the shallow part of the lake and she stopped right in front of Jack.
'Well in that case' there was a grin on Jack's face as big as a child's. Jack moved forward and stared at the beauty of the woman in front of him. Her arms rose and her long fingers moved along his coat. Jack was silent for what seemed to be the first time in the past days, it was something rare. Her hand now covering his shoulder it was clear Jack was struck by her fairness.
'Jack..' Elizabeth now standing next to Cutler whispered, calling for him, she did not dare move closer. Jack ignored her and kept on staring into the crystal eyes of the woman.
'I know what she is, a Siren. I've read about those creatures. They feed themselves on the flesh of men. Almost like mermaids, but this kind mostly lives on land' Elizabeth watched Cutler whisper, who had placed his hand down on the handle of his sword. Jack did not listen, he started moving as the Siren lifted her hand underneath his chin, twirling the braids of his beard between her long fingers. Stepping forward Jack continued taking small steps into the lake until he was knee-high into the water, following the Siren that lured him deeper walking backwards.
Elizabeth took a step forward but soon turned her concerned eyes to Cutler as she noticed Jack seemed enchanted.
'We need to do something. She will drown him!' Elizabeth raised her voice. Cutler moved out his sword.
'I can be anyone you want me to be.. but I am not sure who it is you desire most' the Siren's voice hallowed across the lake. Cutler was confused for a moment when she spoke, it was clear these creatures disguised themselves behind the beauty of a woman to deceive and lure men into their traps. But why was she speaking of the person Jack desired most?
Cutler moved his feet to the edge of the water, entering the lake now too, suddenly his sight shifted to the ground as he felt something crushing underneath his boot. His eyes went by what seemed to be bones, that covered the bottom of the lake. The crystal clear water made the bottom easily visible and he winded his eyes as he came across something that looked an awful lot like a human skull. Quickly he realized it probably was from the men she had consumed before. It was proven Cutler was right as his eyes continued watching the bones spread all across the bottom of the lake and his sight ended at pieces of clothing, boots, armory, and even weapons. His sight shifted to Jack who seemed paralyzed. His big brown eyes stared at the woman. Cutler needed to do something before Jack would be taken down into the deep lake completely.
'I see you are easily pleased with the beauty of a woman. I can be anyone you want me to be..' the Siren kept on repeating herself. Jack nodded, the pupils in his eyes were huge.
'I can be her' suddenly the Siren moved up her hand and her long grey-nailed finger pointed in Elizabeth's direction, still standing at the edge of the lake.
'She seems to be one of your desires' the Siren whispered staring back at Jack. Cutler had to hold back a grin in this serious moment, the Siren confirmed what he had thought all along, Jack had a thing for her still. Waking from his amusement Cutler now knee-high in the lake watched the Siren moving her hand around Jack's neck, she was about to choke him.
'Or I'll just eat you now, your desires are too complicated' the Siren started opening her mouth and her big fangs appeared from behind her pink-colored lips. Cutler lifted his sword pointing in the Siren's direction now almost taking a bite from Jack's neck. Just before she could bite him Cutler smashed his sword in a perfect blow into her arm. She started screaming and Jack fell back into the water. Waking from his state of mind he moved his head from side to side.
'What happened?' Jack moved up quickly, then turned around to Elizabeth who was calling out for him. Jack confused still had run back to her out of concern for her safety, not noticing Cutler now standing face to face with the Siren.
'She almost killed you' Elizabeth whispered while Jack took her underarms into a tight grip, holding her in care. Cutler in the meantime watched the Siren that backed up screaming as green blood dripped from her wrist where he had wounded her.
'Are you alright?' Jack watched her in concern. Elizabeth started nodding softly and smiled at the sight of Jack being safe. The Siren had moved down into the deeper part of the lake. Like she fled cause of her injury. It was quiet, only the sound of the small running waterfall stream at the backside of the lake was heard. Cutler moved down his sword, lowering it beside his body and turning around he started moving through the knee-high water back to Jack and Elizabeth.
'Cutler..' Jack whispered as his sight moved up to Cutler, a few feet deep into the lake making his way back through the water slowly. Cutler stopped walking when both Jack and Elizabeth stared at him in fear. He suddenly felt a cold stream of air alongside his neckline, giving him unpleasant goosebumps and as he turned around quickly his figure was covered by the shadow of the much taller Siren bending her body over his. Her widened crystal eyes stared at him. Cutler gasped softly, sure she was going to kill him right here at this very moment. He felt frozen at his place in the lake, but his mind wasn't fooled by her beautiful appearance.
'Hmm, you are quite a strong mind. Not easily persuaded..' the enchanting voice of the Siren whispered softly. Cutler felt a cold touch on the side of his face as her long finger moved along his cheek. Cutler roughly pulled her hand down with his free hand, his other hand still wrapped around the handle of his sword in a tight grip. His dark eyes and now strict face were warning her not to touch him.
'I can be.. anyone you want me to be' the Siren whispered once again. The words she had repeated now multiple times. Cutler rolled his eyes still not understanding what she meant by that.
'Stop, I will not fall for your deceptions you witch' Cutler raised his calm voice. The Siren started grinning.
'As I said, a steadfast mind' the Siren backed up. Cutler was surprised he was getting away so easily as it seemed like she gave up on him. Lowering his sword he watched her now back in the middle of the lake. But instead of disappearing the way she had appeared she moved her hands up, and the water around her started rising, covering her tall figure. There was a bright light that covered the dark lake. Soon it stopped and the light had disappeared, the dusk of the evening returned. Cutler moved his eyes to the place where the Siren had been standing only seconds ago, but instead of her tall body, he noticed a smaller figure, the height of a normal human. It seemed to be a woman but the darkness made it impossible to see her face. Slowly it came forward walking through the water. Almost arriving in front of Cutler again, the light of Elizabeth's torch that she was holding, even though she was standing a few feet away, was enough to touch the face of the female, still wearing the Siren's flared crystal dress, in front of him making her face visible. Cutler's breath got stuck in his throat, his heartbeat started rising insanely fast and he felt his legs tremble underneath his body. Long red hair hanging from her shoulders down ending in curls, two bright piercing emerald-colored eyes stared into his. It was Kate.
'Cutler.. no.. don't fall for this' Jack stared with his mouth open at what happened.
'I remember now, Sirens can take form in whomever they want, they read your mind. That's how they lure men to their death' Elizabeth whispered with her mouth half-open staring at the figure of Kate, she hadn't seen her for years. Elizabeth looked up and watched Jack's concerned face lit up by the torch in the darkness of the dusk. It also carried sorrow, Jack too seemed stunned by the appearance of Kate. Elizabeth realized it was well over a decade since they all saw her last, so it was strange and both comforting to see her again.
Cutler ignored them as Jack had called for him. He couldn't believe his eyes as the woman he had longed for so immensely long was now standing right before him. Her perfect face was lit up by the flames on the torch. Cutler felt like his heart was bursting from his chest, his eyes started watering and his open lips could not bear to speak any words. He was struck, paralyzed, and frozen by Kate's beautiful appearance that he had missed so deeply. Two small hands raised to his chest, at the part of his neck, instead of the cold hands of the Siren that had touched him earlier he now felt a warmth that went to the bone. Her face came closer, her beautiful piercing eyes looking up at him made his heart jump over and over again. Not able to move he stood there, his arms hanging down his body, the sword dangling in one of his hands, nearly held onto with just a few fingers.
'She's not real mate' Jack's voice was somewhere in the background, but Cutler couldn't hear him properly, besides, he didn't even want to. He wanted nothing more than to behold the face of his one and true love. It was possible, right? By now they had to be close to the Locker, where strange things happened all the time. It was possible Kate just showed up and had made her way back to him.
The Siren, looking like Kate, had taken over not only Cutler's body by now but also his mind. Her face came closer as her hands moved up his face, two small warm hands took his cheek into her soft and gentle grip. Cutler felt a warm shiver down his body as she touched him like this. He felt the warm breath on his face as her longing lips were only inches apart from his.
'Kiss me' Cutler gasped as he recognized her soft so familiar voice that he had imagined time and time again inside his head for the last decade, trying to remember it. It had to be her.
'Cutler stop!' Jack struggling to move through the water tried to come closer, enough to pull him back and save him, but he was taken back by a force. Jack watched his boots suddenly move down into what felt like quicksand, not able to move any closer.
The Siren's face, still wearing Kate's apprearance, kept on coming closer like it went by in slow motion. Cutler closed his eyes as the lips he longed for so long finally touched his. She engaged him in a long intense kiss. Flesh on flesh, Cutler expected his heart to burst from his chest, but as their lips touched longer Cutler felt his thoughts drifting off, away from this enchanted state of mind. With his eyes now closed, her appearance had disappeared, with the silence around them her familiar voice had vanished. The only thing that remained in the moment was supposed to be physical attraction, but Cutler noticed something was off. It was then it felt like he was kissing another woman, not Kate. He did not recognize her pleasant smell, he did not feel the soft sweet lips he had tasted many times and he did not sense the spark that ignited every time she had kissed him. Regret turned his stomach as he realized this wasn't her, this wasn't what the deep love he carried for her felt like.
Cutler's eyes shifted rapidly open as the Siren still looking like Kate kept on kissing him. Awoken from the enchantment on him Cutler felt his heart ached as he moved up his sword which was trembling. He closed his eyes and with great pain, he moved it to her chest, stabbing her in full force. The Siren still wearing Kate's appearance opened her eyes abruptly and started gasping for air. His eyes opened after thrusting his weapon into her chest and he pulled back the sword. Her weak body fell down into his arms. Cutler felt tears rolling down his face. He cried for the first time in forever. The sight of Kate dying in front of him brought back every memory of pain he had ever felt.
'I've felt true love.. and this.. you.. are not real' Cutler's weak calm voice whispered moving down her body into the lake where it drifted upon the water covered by red blood moving from the deep wound. As Cutler moved down his sword, his face wet from the emotion, he noticed the bright red blood in the water turning green and the Siren changed back into her true form. The feeling of utter pain and sorrow changed to relief as Cutler realized how he was nearly killed by the Siren as her dangerous appearance was shown again. Her body drifted away into the lake, sinking into the deep abyss until it was not visible anymore.
Cutler fell down to his knees into the shallow water, the bloody sword next to him kept him up. Staring at the place where she had been standing in front of him. Kate had felt so close, but still so far..