The Teardrop Of Immortality

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean.

Chapter 10


“Should we…try and put her back in the water?” Erik sputtered while Angelica stared at the convulsing mermaid with wide eyes while covering her mouth with her hand.
Jack closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, trying to concentrate and rein in his anger.
“Gibbs. Get me Gibbs.” He said as he opened his eyes and looked at Nerissa who was looking at him with wide pained eyes. He gritted his teeth.
“I’m here, Cap’n!” Gibbs exclaimed after his initial shock and pushed Erik away so he could reach his captain.
Jack looked up at him and licked his suddenly dry lips, “Help me get her on my bunk.” He said and his first mate nodded vigorously as he leaned down to grasp Nerissa’s arm.
Jack pushed Angelica out of the way and grasped Nerissa’s lower half. His fingers got wet and he could feel the declining tissue of her tail on them. He resisted the urge to course out loud.
Angelica stood and stepped forward as if to help but Jack didn’t let her.
“Stay put! Don’t touch her. You did enough damage.” He hissed as he and Gibbs maneuvered Nerissa on his bed.
Angelica pursed her lips tightly together and hugged her abdomen as her brother came to stand next to her.
“Ange, what did you do?” he whispered at her and she glared at him while she kept silent.
Gibbs placed Nerissa’s arms on the mattress and Jack stepped back to fetch a cloth to wipe her clammy skin. His foot collided with something and he gazed down at the floor with a frown.
His miniature self in the form of a doll was lying on the ground just by his bunk. He narrowed his eyes and his gaze flickered to Angelica but the woman was looking at the mermaid and did not make eye contact with him.
Biting the inside of his cheek hard and saving the question for later, he started wiping Nerissa dry. She shivered and whimpered and Gibbs winced at the sight of her lower body.
“Cap’n…We should put something under her. Look.” He said and Jack who was in the process of wiping her stomach looked up at him and then to her tail. His eyes widened as he saw bloody red welts on her previously beautiful tail and he tried to keep his gag reflex under control.
“Get a thick blanket from my chest. Quickly.” He ordered as he walked up the bunk and started drying her face and hair.
“What should I do?” Angelica spoke up and Jack turned to look at her.
“Shut it would be step number one. Step number two would be to take your brother and get out of my cabin now. We’ll talk later.” He said before he turned his attention back to Nerissa.
“Will she be alright?” Angelica asked and Jack groaned.
“Do I look like God? How should I know?” he snapped and Angelica pressed her lips tightly together.
“Will she still be useful?” Erik asked and he received a kick in the shin from his sister and a death glare from Jack.
“Kindly take your leave.” Jack muttered as Gibbs lifted Nerissa’s tail and placed the thick covering under it.
Angelica dragged her brother out of the cabin and shut the door.
“Finally.” Jack muttered as he grabbed a blanket from the foot of his bunk and draped it over Nerissa’s body.
“What happened, lass?” Gibbs asked as he finished covering up her lower body and looked at her.
Nerissa swallowed hard and shivered as she opened her mouth to speak.
“She came in…” she whispered as she gritted her teeth and grasped fistfuls of the covers.
“Aye?” Jack murmured as he pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear and looked down at her half lidded eyes.
“She came to look for…” she paused and let out a moan, squeezing her eyes shut.
When she opened them again they were swimming with tears and Jack looked at Gibbs who shrugged helplessly.
“It’s alright, love.” Jack said, “Don’t speak now.”
“No, you have to hide it. Somewhere that she won’t be able to find it.” Nerissa gasped out loud as she grasped his sleeve and then covered his hand with her cold fingers.
Jack frowned but returned the gesture by wrapping his own fingers around her smaller hand.
“What are you talking about, love?” he asked her quietly while Gibbs stared on confused.
“The d-doll.” She replied and Jack paused.
“The one we took from her? My doll?” he asked and she nodded.
Jack stepped back and without releasing her hand he leaned down to pick up the discarded doll he had noticed earlier.
Gibbs’ eyes widened and he spat in his shirt, “Good heavens!” he whispered and Jack moved his gaze from his miniature self to look at Nerissa.
“How did she find it?” he asked and Nerissa gulped before she replied.
“She started looking and she f-found it in the chest. She approached me to talk to me and when she was close I tried t-to take it from her hand. I almost succeeded b-but it fell on the floor. That’s w-when she got angry and p-pushed me.” She said and Jack gaped at her.
“Come again?” he murmured as he stared at her dumbfounded, “You did…it for me? You tried to stop her while being alone with her?” he asked her and she blinked up at him in confusion.
“Yes.” She whispered and Jack slowly let go of her hand and stepped back.
His eyes moved up and down her form and stopped on her face, before he slowly shook his head.
“You silly, Siren.” He murmured and she frowned through her pain.
“Captain?” she murmured and Gibbs cleared his throat.
“I shall get her something warm to eat.” He exclaimed to break the uncomfortable silence before he headed for the door.
Jack looked at the voodoo doll and then at her.
“Do you have any idea what you just made her do?” he asked her and she averted her eyes.
“Should I not have helped you?” she asked with innocence written all over her face and he felt a twisting in his gut that screamed of regret and guilt.
He closed his eyes and shook his head, “It’s alright, lass. Wait for Gibbs. I’ll be back soon.” He said to her gently as he put the doll in his pocket and headed for the door with pursed from anger lips.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo


“I already apologized, Jack! What else do you want me to do?” Angelica asked with exasperation and Jack slammed the doll on the table separating them.
“If you want me to help you get to that blasted island, you have to help me destroy this. I don’t intend on remaining under your control for the entire journey.” He hissed and when she opened her mouth to speak he cut her off.
“I know you will try and steal it again. Do not dare deny it. I know you. So, since you know how to use it you must also know how to destroy it once and for all. Savvy?” he said in a low voice and Angelica glared at him.
“You have the mermaid. What do I have to make sure you’ll lead us to our destination?” she asked as her eyes flickered to the doll on the table.
“Mermaid? She will no longer be one and if she is lucky enough she will die from two weeks from now. Unless, of course, your beloved brother is open to the idea of loving her.” Jack snapped and she smiled bitterly.
“Are you sure you need Erik for that?” she asked as she walked around the table and came to stand in between him and the furniture.
“What are you talking about?” he muttered and she looked up at him with intense eyes.
“We have been through a lot but the only time I really thought you were ready to snap my neck was the moment you found her writhing on your cabin floor. Am I wrong?” she asked him in a silky voice and he gritted his teeth.
“I would not have succeeded anyway. So why waste precious energy?” he asked her sarcastically but she was not amused.
“I am serious, Jack. This whole threat here is not for you. It’s for her. You’ve always had a soft spot for damsels in distress.” She brushed a hand over his heart but he slapped it away.
She scowled.
“Thankfully you were never one.” He told her before he grabbed the doll and waved it in front of her eyes, “Now finish this,” he murmured as he slipped a hand in his belt and produced a small pocket knife, “Or I’ll make sure you remain tied up against the main mast with this little dagger buried deep inside you. Am I making myself clear?” he said as he pressed the tip of the knife against her belly.
She gasped, “You wouldn’t dare. My brother-..”
“You think he scares me? He’s just a lad. Now, what do you say?” he smirked and she glared deep into his dark eyes before she huffed and closed her eyes.
“It needs your blood so that the curse can be broken. Then you can throw it away.” She muttered and he quirked an eyebrow.
“It can’t be that easy.” He told her with narrowed eyes ad she scowled.
“Not everything in magic is complicated.” She said.
“And you’re not lying?” he stated and she gulped before she shook her head.
Jack raised both his eyebrows and brought the knife to his hand. He made an incision and then looked at her.
“Now what?”
Sighing, she grabbed his hand and put it over the doll’s face.
He grimaced but didn’t speak as she took the knife from him and cut her own hand as well.
“It also needs the blood from the one who created it. My father is not alive but I am.” She explained as she placed her hand over the doll, mingling their blood together. She then took it from him and stepped towards the galley window. She gazed at Jack for one last time before she threw it out.
She then turned to him again, “Satisfied?” she asked and he smirked.
“Very.” He grinned before he tore a part from his sash and wrapped it around his hand.
“Where shall we stay?” she asked him as he was getting ready to leave.
He paused and frowned, “I will let you know.” He told her shortly before he walked out.
Angelica cursed loudly and collapsed in a nearby chair.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo


The sound of someone emptying the contents of their stomach reached Jack’s ears as soon as he entered his cabin with a bucket of hot water.
He paused when he saw Nerissa leaning over the chamber pot while Gibbs was holding a steaming bowl of stew in his hands.
“What happened?” Jack asked as he shut the door and walked towards them.
Gibbs’ wide eyes looked at Jack, “I brought her some food to warm her up but she is not keeping anything down. This is the second time.” The older man said as he put away the food.
Jack cursed and grabbed a cloth. He soaked it in the hot water and then walked over to the bunk. He wiped Nerissa’s face and mouth with it and she looked up at him.
“It’s of no use…I can’t…My throat feels like it’s burning…so are my…My tail.” She whispered ad Jack took a deep breath before he gently pushed her face away from him.
“Sit still. I am going to have a look, alright?” he said softly and she nodded, closing her eyes as he pushed the covers away.
Gibbs placed a hand over his mouth while Jack hissed. Her tail, if one could call it that, had started splitting up into two sections and blood was oozing from her flesh like a waterfall of dark crimson.
Jack dipped the cloth in the hot water and leaned forward, trying not to let the metallic smell of blood bother him. He started cleaning the red away with long languid movements that spoke of experience with wounds. Gibbs looked around before he hurried to fetch him more cloths in silence.
Nerissa tried hard to stand still but every movement of the cloth on her flesh made her shudder with scorching pain. Her fist tightened around the blanket that was pulled up to her chest and Jack placed his free hand on her cheek to keep her turned away from him. His fingers made contact with her panting lips but instead of pulling his hand away he kept it there. Nerissa’s chest rose and fell with every breath she took and with each inhalation her mouth kept brushing against his tanned fingers.
“How d-does it look?” she whispered against his hand and he glanced at her face briefly.
“No worries, darlin’. In a few days you’re going to possess the loveliest pair of legs I’ve ever seen.” He told her lightly and she released a horse, bitter laugh.
“Oh, Captain. Are you famous for your f-flattery?” she asked as a vicious tremble rushed through her body.
Jack smirked, “You’ve no idea, love.” He said as he took clean cloth from Gibbs and started repeating the process all over again, trying to be gentler now that most of the blood was gone. He paused for a moment and after a while more blood started leaking. He gritted his teeth and looked at Gibbs who looked a bit green.
“I told you that you’d kill me.” She whispered as she took his hand and pushed it away from her face in order to look at him.
“What are you talking about?” he murmured without looking up at her.
“The day I almost escaped and you caught me…I told you that you’d kill me anyway. You didn’t reply back then.” She said and he pulled the covers over her with a jerky move before he stood up with the bloodied cloth in his hand.
“Gibbs, find me a bandage.” He ordered quietly and the older man nodded and turned to go. Once he was out of the door, Jack wiped his hands clean and then leaned over Nerissa, his hands on either side of her head, palms against the pillow.
“I won’t let you die.” He told her and his warm breath fanned over her lips as he spoke, “I promise you, alright?”
“I’ll be of no use to you once I am human.”
“How do you know?” he challenged her and she pursed her lips in anger.
“I don’t k-know. I presume.” She said and he smirked.
“Don’t presume. You will be fine.” He repeated and before he could move back and out of her reach she grabbed his forearm. He didn’t move away as she pulled him closer. His eyes drifted to her lips as she parted them to speak.
“I know what you’re doing.” She whispered shakily and he frowned.
“What am I doing?” he asked with a small smirk.
“I know why you kissed me, Captain Sparrow.” She told him and he paused as his eyes widened slightly.
“Do you now?”
“Y-yes. You want Atargatis’ tear.” Nerissa said as she swallowed thickly and a bead of sweat gathered on her upper lip.
“Really?” his voice was hoarse, “Do enlighten me on what I want.” He murmured.
“You’re worried that I won’t help you.” She continued and he narrowed his eyes in speculation, “I will help you get it. Only you. Not them. Do you understand me?” she whispered and his eyes widened in shock.
“Love-…”
“You have to promise that you won’t help them get it.” She tightened her hold on his arm and his eyes searched her face.
“’Course, lass.” He said quietly as he reached up and brushed his knuckles down her pale cheek.
“And then you will let me die.” She said and he froze.
“You won’t die.” He said and she smiled as she tilted her head slightly to the side and regarded him with glassy eyes.
“I will. In fifteen days from now and once the transformation is complete.” She said and he narrowed his eyes.
“You won’t.” he shook his head.
“Do you intend to love me, Captain?” she asked in a strained voice and Jack licked his lips before he leaned down and swept them over her own in a wet, almost kiss, startling her.
“What do you know of Calypso, Siren?” he asked against her lips with a smirk and Nerissa stared at him dumbfounded with wide, pain filled eyes.

End of chapter 10

Author’s note: Thank you for reading. I hope you liked it! Please let me know by leaving me some feedback. It’s inspiring (feeds the muse) and much appreciated!
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Xxx Lina :o)