White and Black Pearls 3 - Ten Pearl Strand

Chapter Eight

When she had gathered some small amount of composure, Calypso heaved out a huge relieved sigh. The Flying Dutchman – Davy Jones’ ship – was safe, though worse for wear. Her gaze turned onto her sister then, filled with blazing hatred. “Give him back!” she screamed. “First you take him and now you’re about to destroy his ship while you try and tell me how you submit?!”

“Give who back?” Celeste blurted, confused. “William? What do you want with him?”

“Davy Jones!” Calypso roared in a voice that was both her own and was also the chest-rattling baritone of the roaring sea, her hair starting to flutter about her face as her power began to swell again and her anger soared to new heights. “Give him back to me and I’ll consider making your suffering less!”

“Now wait just a minute,” Jack interjected, stepping into the conversation and between the women, apparently oblivious to the welling danger about him. “Why would Celestiana have Davy Jones?”

“She seduced him!” Calypso accused at the top of her lungs. “She visited him many times over the years, she spent long nights upon his ship even when in this pathetic human state, and she took him away from me on the day of his death! He has not passed on to World’s End and he is somewhere, alive, and in her clutches!”

“What?” Jack cried out accusingly, feeling very much like Elizabeth all of a sudden, horribly out of the loop in the dealings of others as he whipped around to look at Celestiana.

“What!” Celeste cried out with just as much shock as Jack.

“I know you took him, don’t play games with me!” Calypso bellowed. “Nobody else would have the power or knowledge to keep him alive after being stabbed in the heart! He was supposed to return to my arms once and for all and you took him from me just like you got him to take my powers from me! I’m going to make your life so miserable you’ll beg for death and then I’m going to make you kill Jack Sparrow with your own hands!”

“Whoa whoa whoa!” Jack blurted, momentarily forgetting the horrified look he was shooting Celeste and turning back to Calypso. “What happened to that deal for the pearl? Oh bugger.” He realized then that he was standing directly next to her, rather than semi-safely behind Celestiana. “Ow!” Jack blurted as he was yanked forward by the hair. “Stop, not good!” He gasped as he saw the flash of a knife, and the third dreadlock from the front of his head was severed at the base. “My hair!” Jack cried out, grabbing for his own head. “The pearl!” He reached out to grab the removed dreadlock, but was pushed away easily with the inhuman strength in Calypso’s arm, sending Jack barreling back into Celestiana. “But it won’t work if it’s stolen!” Jack cried out as he tried to pick himself up off his once-lover. “It has to be given or found!”

Calypso ignored him and began to feel around inside the dreadlock. Her gaze became enraged as she threw it to the sand. “Where is it!” she screamed.

Jack looked startled. “It’s not there?” he mumbled, surprised himself, before declaring triumphantly, “It’s not there!” as though he’d hidden the pearl somewhere else.

“You know Jack,” Barbossa said casually as he walked over to the quarreling trio, his shoulders squared and his chest pushed out proudly as he walked with a swagger. “You really are one of the worst people I’ve ever known or heard of when it comes to trying to keep track and possession of the most important things in the world to you.” He reached into his pocket casually and drew out a small white pearl, holding it between finger and thumb. “Well,” he said with a tip of his hat. “Would you look at what I found back in your cage? It seems to me that the tables have turned a little bit and I’m not so much a bargaining chip any more as a real important player in this game you godly folk be playin.” He tucked the pearl safely back into his pocket and glanced over at Celeste. “My darlin, I really must say… The fates have been rather cruel to you and I’ve been there while you suffered through some of the worst of it. You and Jack are an almost dreadfully perfect match for each other in that respect.”

Calypso narrowed her eyes at Barbossa. “Name your terms,” she said to him immediately.

“Smooth sailing,” he said immediately. “A favorable current under my ship wherever I go. And resurrection.” Barbossa grinned, yellow teeth flashing. “Infinite resurrection. No matter how many times I die, I want you to bring me back just like the first time. And…” His gaze wandered over to Celeste and Jack once more. Jack was looking at him pleadingly while pointing at himself, as though to say ‘put in a good word for me too while you make that deal’, and Celeste was standing there with sorrow wafting about her like a bad fog, weeping into her hands and listening to her life and fate being bargained over. “…The little lady comes with me,” he finished with a nod. “After you’re done with whatever agony and torturin you’re planning with Jack Sparrow, I want her to be with me at my side.” If that didn’t guarantee Jack’s permanent dedication to following and finding and battling Barbossa on top of having the Black Pearl, nothing would.

“Done,” Calypso barked. She thrust her hand out.

Barbossa reached into his pocket to take out the pearl, and held it in his hand as they met in a firm handshake. When their hands parted, it was Calypso who had the final pearl in her fingers. White teeth shone in the moonlight in a predator’s grin as she laughed and unfastened the nine-pearl strand from her wrist.

“No!” Jack cried out, making a move for the bracelet.

It was too late. Calypso slipped the final pearl onto the strand, and put the strand on her wrist before closing the clasp once more. Her laugh became that of a madman as she tipped her head back, throwing her arms up towards the sky once more. “My vengeance,” she called out to the skies as she laughed, “Will be complete!”

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