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The Evil Lady E	By : EvilE Category: Pirates of the Caribbean (All) > Het - Male/Female > Jack/Elizabeth Views: 5995 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
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- 9
Chapter 8: The Voice and the Visitor

Captain Jack Sparrow lay snug in his bunk, sleeping peacefully. Almost.

“Jack Sparrow.” A whispered echo. A pebble in a sea of darkness. Ripples spreading outward, stroking his consciousness.

It was the Voice. Jack found himself unable to move, afloat in that infinite black sea.

Isn't bad enough you torture a man when he's dead, you've got to bother him while he's sleeping, too?

“There are things of which I need to remind you.”

Let me guess. I'm supposed to be a better man. Better pirate... man. Good man, pirate.

“Yes.” The word was strong, swimming its way into Jack's dormant brain.

I didn't hurt her, just scared her a little.

“You were tempted by carnal desires.”

Funny, you don't sound like a woman, but any kind of male would know that's the permanent condition of a man.
“That was not part of our agreement. She is still young and pure.”

And evil incarnate, according to you.

“You have seen it for yourself, Jack. And on that, you must act. But do not despoil her for your own perverse pleasure.”

You holy types are really picky. Can't a man have any fun while he's alive, or has he got to die for it?

“Not while time's running out, Jack.”

Time's running out? Confusion seemed to suspend him in the darkness. What time?

“The time you have to act. Otherwise, it will be too late.”

Too late for what?

“To destroy Lady E before she takes hold of Elizabeth. The longer you wait to decide, the more dangerous she becomes. You must decide soon.”

Decide... to elicit her deepest apologies, or administer justice myself?

“Yes.” The s swirled in the peaks and valleys of Jack's ear, almost serpentine in its caress.

How much time have I got?

“Until dawn tomorrow. By the time the sun rises fully above the horizon, you must act.”

Thought only heathen gods were this pushy about timing. Is that you, Quetzalcoatl? Jack teased.

Silence. Some deities can't take a joke, Jack mused. Fine, dawn tomorrow, or else what?

“Or else it will be too late, Jack. Too late for her, and you, and all the others you saw.”

The Voice faded, slipping away like a boat through the mist. Jack rolled over in his sleep, suddenly fitful and troubled.

* * *

Elizabeth did not believe, at first, that Jack would leave her confined to the brig for the duration of the voyage, but began to suspect it after she slept on the cold, damp floor and awakened to find nothing had changed. Francois, who would not speak to Elizabeth but stared at her unrelentingly, was relieved by Pintel, whom Jack had selected on purpose, she was sure. Her dislike of the balding man nearly oozed from her pores, she having never forgotten her capture at the man's hands back in Port Royal. Jack knew her well. Too well.

“'ello, poppet,” he said with a leer, and Elizabeth inwardly shuddered, but outwardly only rolled her eyes. Then she heard another set of footsteps on the stairs, lighter ones. She climbed unsteadily to her feet.

“Will?”

Will appeared, holding a lantern up near his face that illuminated tense features. His eyes were dark with worry, and he approached the grate slowly, without saying anything, looking at her so piercingly she was sure he could see into her very soul.

“Will, I hope you've come to end this. Do you see how I'm being treated? I've been in here all night.”

“You're lucky that's all that's happened, under the circumstances.” Will's head tilted, and she realized she'd never seen him look so sad. She sighed deeply.

“I know Jack is angry with me.”

“I was angry, too.” Will paused, his eyes moving back and forth as though reading a letter in the back of his mind. “What you did... I still can't believe it.”

She moved up to the bars, softening, wanting to pull Will over to her side. The lantern light flickered, and the ship groaned, deep in the hold.

“I did it for you, Will. For you and all of us. It was the only way.”

“Betraying a friend is never the only way. It's not the right way.”

“Oh, please. Jack sold us out ten times over. You can't say he's not a coward.”

Will said nothing. “Do you regret it?”

“Do you wish I hadn't, and the Kraken had swallowed us all? What then? What were you going to do about it?”

“I would have done something. Something else.”

“Well, of course you'd have done something else, doing what I did clearly would have been ineffective executed by you. Don't think you can chain up Jack while kissing him, although I'd like to see you try.”

He ignored her sarcastic tone. “It was cruel.”

“Life is cruel. He gave you over to Davey Jones, didn't he? So quick to forget his transgressions, aren't you? Well, I won't. He's a coward, and it was high time he met his match.”

“You?” Will prompted softly, something sad and slightly bitter in the gently spoken word.

“Me? The Kraken, of course.” She paused, incredulous. “How'd he get out of there, anyway?”

“You ought to ask him yourself. When you ask his forgiveness.”

At this Elizabeth actually laughed. But it was not a pretty sound. “His forgiveness? Do you know what he's done to me?”

Will stiffened. “Has he hurt you? Hit you, harmed you?”

She searched for words, wishing she could lie. But not to Will. She glanced down. “Not exactly, but he -“

“Then he's keeping his word.” Will's mouth set in a hard line, and he seemed to wrestle inwardly. He took a deep breath and let it out, slowly, his eyes never leaving Elizabeth's face. “I still love you, you know. I'll always love you. But Jack... this is between the two of you. You should explain yourself and ask him to forgive you. That, I can't do. And I'll not be a go-between.” He backed away with a sideways glance at Pintel, who grinned toothlessly, before taking his last look at Elizabeth. “Good day, my love. The sooner you make amends, the sooner you can be in my arms again.” At this he smiled a sweet, sad smile and turned to climb up the steps.

Elizabeth stared after him, his rapidly fading lantern a fleeing beacon of hope in the burgeoning darkness.

* * *

The despair was growing, with every roll of the ship, and peal of laughter from the decks above. Hours passed, and she heard the crew moving about for their shifts and meals. She was sent hardtack bread and rancid grog, which she could barely keep down. Scuttling sounds in the corner of her cell that Elizabeth knew were the scratchings of rats sent her leaping up from the floor, interrupting her reverie and her haphazard plans for escape.

Secretly she fantasized that Will would return, brandishing a sword, and take her out by force. But the practical part of her knew that Will would not go against Jack in this case, and besides, where would they go? They were, after all, on a ship. It irritated her that Will would not immediately see her side, understand how she'd tried to protect them, appreciate her strength in taking action instead of letting them all die. But Will could be soft-hearted, engaging in great acts of love and self-sacrifice, all the while being somewhat of a fool. And she failed to totally comprehend his unwavering loyalty to Jack, despite all their misadventures... did that man have some magic sway with everyone? She half-expected the crew to fall down in worship when he appeared, as though he were some long-sought pagan god. She snorted in disbelief. But still she hoped.

When she heard footfalls on the steps, her fingers tightened on the iron grille, and she pressed her head forward as far as possible to afford her a view of who it was. Will. He's come to save me.

Then the light fell on her visitor, his black moustache and beard partially masking his expression, his pistol and sword swinging, his eyes pools of angry, muddy water in the dim light.

Not Will. Jack.
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The Evil Lady E