Deliverance And Destruction

A/N: Thank you for the fantastic reviews…I really appreciate all the feedback!! Anyways here is the latest chapter….Jack and Elizabeth make it to Singapore and back in Port Royal Will discovers the charade Gabriella has been trying to keep up.

The trip across the Caribbean had been swift and hard on everyone…but most of all on Elizabeth. Being pregnant and out at sea was not the most comfortable of times. She spent most of her time in Jack’s cabin and was usually curled up in the bed with a bucket placed next to it so when the urge to be sick hit her she didn’t have to scramble to get to the railing and vomit overboard. And this particular morning was no different…it was early and the first light of dawn had just begun creeping above the ocean’s horizon. Suddenly the quiet of the cabin was shattered by the sound of the door being thrown open. Elizabeth jerked out of the light slumber she had fallen into and looked around frantically. When her tea colored eyes adjusted to the light that was streaming in from the open door she could make out a familiar shape…Jack. And then his voice confirmed his presence.

“Morning love!”

“Jack…the sun hasn’t even finished rising over the horizon yet!”

“I know that…but we’re here darlin’!”

“Here?”

“Aye! Singapore!”

“Finally…I didn’t think we would ever make it here.”

Smirking Jack took her by the hand and helped her out of bed. She began carefully pulling on her clothes as Jack sat on the edge of the bed watching her his dark eyes glittering with the obvious affection he held for her. Ever since the day he had plucked her from the bottom of the harbor back in Port Royal all those years ago he had known that there was just something about her that had captivated him from the very beginning.

“Alright Jack…I’m ready…let’s get this over with as quickly as possible.”

Jack chuckled loudly as he stood up to cross the room and come to stand in front of her by the doorway to the cabin.

“That anxious t’ get an annulment eh?”

“Maybe I just want to keep moving so that William doesn’t easy catch up to us.”

“Jus’ relax love…dear William doesn’t have the slightest notion that ye’ve even flown the coop yet.”

“You don’t know that for certain Jack…now for once in your life could you try to be serious about something?”

“Elizabeth…have a little faith in me love…ye have t’ know that I would give me own life before I ever let anything happen t’ ye?”

Sighing heavily Elizabeth fell into Jack’s arms pressing her right cheek against his chest so that she could hear the steady beat of his heart beneath his shirt.

“Of course I have faith in you Jack…I love you.”

“I love ye too darlin’…now jus’ rest easy knowing that I’ll do everything I can t’ keep ye safe.”

Back in Port Royal Gabriella had been doing everything she could to keep up the charade that Elizabeth was still locked up in the bedroom that she had shared with Will. So far she had been lucky in the fact that Will had been spending all his time holed up in the guest room that he had made into a private sanctuary for his trysts with Miriam to go on uninterrupted. But Gabriella knew that eventually Will was going to come back to check up on his wife. And when he did he would figure out that she had escaped. Gabriella crept into the bedroom that Lily had been staying in to keep up the appearance that Elizabeth was still in Port Royal. She brought in a tray with some soup and a pot of freshly brewed tea. Setting the tray down on the bedside table Gabriella carefully untied the ropes that had been keeping Lily bound to the bed…on the chance that Will did decide to make a visit to the room.

“Thank God…those ropes are rubbing my skin raw Gabriella!”

“Keep your voice down you stupid girl…do you want Will to hear you?”

“I’m sorry…but it’s awful being kept a prisoner like this. How much longer do I have to stay tied up in here like an animal Gabriella?”

“As long as Will doesn’t suspect that Miss Elizabeth has gone anywhere. Now eat up…because I have to put the ropes back on when you’re finished.”

Lily sat up and reached for the bowl of soup. She quickly began to devour the warm and hearty liquid knowing that it would be quiet some time before Gabriella could bring her next meal. Finishing the soup Lily poured a cup of tea and added a generous amount of honey to it before stirring it and drinking it. Her soft brown eyes slipped closed as she savored the rich taste of the tea as it slid down the back of her throat. Before long Gabriella was gathering up the dishes from Lily’s lunch and putting them back onto the tray. Then she turned back around and with a sad expression began reaching for the ropes to bind Lily to the bed once more.

“I’m sorry Lily…I’ll come back as soon as I can to let you use the bathroom…I promise.”

“Thank you Gabriella.”

Nodding she took the tray with her and left Lily alone in the room once more. As she was leaving the room Gabriella was startled when she nearly ran into Will as he was approaching the room.

“Oh Master Turner…you startled me.”

“I’m sorry Gabriella…how’s my little prisoner doing?”

“Oh…she just had her lunch…she’s fine. I’ll be back shortly to give her a break to relieve herself.”

“Thank you for looking after her…I think I’m just going to pop in and surprise my wife with a little visit.”

Gabriella’s eyes widened in fear as Will reached for the key that he kept around his neck at all times.

“Perhaps we should let Miss Elizabeth rest awhile sir? She’s just had her lunch and I’m sure she’s exhausted.”

“I won’t stay long…just want to take a peek at her that’s all.”

Sighing heavily she watched as Will unlocked the bedroom door and then crept quietly into the room. Much to her disappointment he shut the door in her face. The sound of the lock clicking made her stomach start to knot up. Will crept over to the bed where his wife lay seemingly asleep with her back turned towards him. Sitting down on the edge of the mattress he leaned over and whispered to her softly.

“Are you awake Elizabeth?”

Lily’s eyes widened as she felt her heart nearly jump out of her chest at the sound of Will’s voice. He was in the room alone with her! Deciding that perhaps if she remained quiet he would think she was asleep and then he would leave she squeezed her brown eyes shut tightly. Will sat there waiting for her to answer him. The longer the room stayed silent the harder he began to frown. Was she ignoring him or was she really sleeping? Should he try and wake her? Or perhaps he should just let her sleep…it wasn’t as if she really desired his company now anyway.

“Got nothing to say to me I gather? Well perhaps that’s for the best I suppose…it’s far better than listening to you declare your hatred for me. I’ll come back later this evening…maybe you’ll be more sociable then.”

Lily felt the part of the mattress where Will had been sitting shift when he stood up to leave. His footsteps echoed on the wooden floor as he headed back over to the door. She silently thanked God when she heard the door open and close signaling that she was once again alone. That had been far too close for comfort in her opinion and she couldn’t wait to be free of being tied up like an animal just waiting for a crazed man to come and check up on her. Her nerves couldn’t take much more of the torture and she just knew that sooner or later during one of his visits that Will was going to discover that she wasn’t his precious Elizabeth at all. And then all Hell would be unleashed upon all of them who had helped to keep Elizabeth’s escape a secret from him.

A/N: Please read and review!!