The Map

Usual Disclaimer: I don’t own anything and I’m not making any money!

Thanks to AniSparrow for her really hard work. She’s incredible as usual!

Also, I have to thank everyone who picked up the “Emaciated” problem! I had a chuckle over that one… I will correct it one day, promise!

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Chapter 27

Almost Undone


It was well into the witching hour and still the monks stood in a line in front of the crew. The fog stayed ever present at the door, the howling outside had dissipated slightly and Jack had the unearthly feeling that it was just waiting. But waiting for what, he had no idea. Hock was currently sleeping by his side, Nell was still lying prostrate but she had fallen into an uneasy slumber, her head turned towards him, her eyes shut.

Norrington and Bryant were taking their own guard through the night and it was currently Norrington who sitting awake, pistol across his lap, eyes as alert as they could be at this ungodly hour of the night.

Jack was deathly tired and he knew that if he didn’t get a few hours of sleep, he’d be in no position to lead them tomorrow; and he had a nasty feeling that as they came closer to leaving the island, whatever was out there would try harder to prevent them from leaving. Jack’s eyes closed and his head nodded on his chest. He woke quickly and sighed, rubbing his eyes with his other hand, then curled next to Nell, his head under her outstretched arm, his arm over her lower back and his face pressed into her side. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Thankfully, sleep overtook him quickly.

Norrington watched as Jack took a defensive position between Nell and the monks and curled up next to her, pressing into her as tightly as he could. Norrington wasn’t blind and neither was he stupid - he could see the bond that had been created between the pair of them, whether they knew it or not. He sighed as he looked round at the fog that was curling around the door still. It wasn’t lost on him, that inside this building the evil on the island had been unable to take solid form or manifest itself in any other way. The building had given them no protection though and it was only the monks that kept the evil at bay. Norrington pinched the bridge of the nose sighing; it also wasn’t lost on him that Nell had been correct in her assumption that the monks had been trying to help them. But, and this was what worried him the most, at what price were they helping? He knew that Beaumont and De Mornay had managed to escape the island before, that much was obvious. But how? How had they managed to get off this place when they knew nothing about what was to come?

“Sir?” a softly spoken voice beside him drew his attention. He looked down at Bryant who was sitting up rubbing at his eyes. “Any change?”

“No,” Norrington whispered. “You should rest some more; I’ll wake you when it’s your turn.”

Bryant shrugged and looked at the monks nervously, “Still there then?”

“Yes, and the fog too.” Norrington sat forwards and stretched, raising his arms over his head as a yawn took him.

A mumbling from their left brought their attention to Will and Elizabeth. They, like the rest of the crew, had fallen into an uneasy sleep.

“What do you suppose has turned their eyes?” asked Bryant finally. Since it had happened earlier in the evening, it had been something everyone had avoided mentioning. Several of them had looked at Nell with sympathy, listening as she had prayed over and over until she had finally fallen silent in sleep, but no one had mentioned anything, not even to each other.

“Elizabeth said that ‘they saw’,” Norrington mused. “I think whatever they have seen was enough to darken their own souls, we can just hope that it isn’t permanent or that their souls are not destroyed too. You understood the Latin didn’t you, and that was enough. I think they must have been able to see it, like memories or something.”

Bryant shuddered as he remembered what he’d understood in the cave. “They gave no indication they were helping then,” he said dryly.

Norrington looked at him, bringing his knees to his chest and leaning his head back against the wall behind him. “Do you think you’d be able to tell me exactly what you heard?”

Bryant balked slightly before taking a deep breath. “I didn’t hear much…” he shot Norrington a sly grin. “Before I was clobbered on the head; I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you for that.”

“I consider myself thanked,” Norrington replied smiling slightly, despite the situation they found themselves in.

“When they first started, or rather when we first heard them, they were chanting the Lord’s Prayer but as they neared it changed.” Bryant stopped and brought his knees to his chest; he hugged his arms around his legs and rested his chin on his knees. “They knew our names, knew our fate because it had been their own. They said the evil on the island collects souls, they knew why we were there and they knew what would happen to us. There were no details about what happened to them, just chanting about blood and pain and anger.” Bryant shuddered and blinked hard to keep his composure. He turned his head on his knees to look at Norrington. “If they’ve seen… if the Turners and Nell have seen what they were chanting about, they’ll know why it happened and how it happened,” he whispered.

Norrington nodded tiredly and lifted his hand to clasp Bryant’s shoulder gently. “Try and rest; it’s going to be a long day,”

“Aye,” Bryant agreed softly. “How did Beaumont and De Mornay make it last time?” he spoke quietly.

“I don’t know, I’ve tried to work it out. I feel as if there’s something we’re missing,” Norrington replied quietly. “Do you remember in the cave, before I knocked you out? You spoke about them being angry because Beaumont and De Mornay tricked them, do you remember?”

Bryant nodded, “They were angry that Beaumont and De Mornay had managed to leave the island.”

“Think carefully before you answer,” Norrington sat forward and looked at Bryant intently. “Who did they say were angry? Was it whatever evil is on this island or was it the monks who were angry?”

Bryant opened his mouth to speak and then promptly shut it again; he looked across at the monks with fear reflected in his eyes. “I don’t know, it could have been the monks. They were repeating it… ‘You shall pay for your treachery,’ that was the exact phrasing,” he muttered realisation dawning on him at it sank in.

“Damnation,” Norrington muttered and let his head sink back against the wall in defeat.

“But if they were going to make De Mornay and Beaumont, or indeed all of us pay, why protect us now? Why not attack us before now? They were there before Decker was taken in the river, they stopped us all going in.”

“Did they?” asked Norrington. “Or were they merely observing to see who was going to fall prey to the fish? What’s to say that they are just protecting their own revenge here, a case of we’ll have them, not you?”

“Jesus!” Bryant sat up and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Is nothing clear on this God forsaken island!”

“Apparently not,” said Norrington dryly. “And now the question is, do we wake Sparrow, who has only just fallen asleep, or do we wait?”

“Either way we could be completely buggered,” Bryant replied.

“Either way,” Norrington agreed heavily. “I think we should wait an hour or so. We need to find out anything Will can tell us, we need to have as much background on this as we can. If they have left their memories with them, then Will can give us information that could be crucial to helping us.”

“I think we should ask all three of them,” Bryant said hesitantly.

“No.” Norrington shook his head. “Not until we know exactly what happened. It could be too much for the ladies to discuss it.”

Bryant shrugged, “Aye, I agree; but they may have a different perspective on it that Will does not. I think it’s a risk we need to take, if we are to guarantee theirs and our survival.”

Norrington’s lips thinned, a muscle worked at the side of his jaw. He ran a hand through his untidy black hair, causing several strands to fall forwards on his forehead. “I think you have a valid point.” He conceded heavily.

Bryant lifted his eyebrows and sighed heavily. “I think you should rest sir, I’ll take the rest of this watch.”

Norrington looked at him, managing a wry grin, “Do I really look that bad?”

“Worse,” Bryant replied with an answering grin.

Norrington snorted softly and leant back against the wall with his hands dangling over his knees. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily, letting sleep claim him.

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Jack woke the moment he felt a hand settle on his shoulder. He looked up expecting to see Hock, but it was Norrington leaning over him.

“We need to discuss something that can’t wait,” Norrington whispered his eyes on Nell.

Jack frowned but moved carefully away from Nell, unwilling to disturb her. He looked across at where Hock was lying with his eyes open, alert and ready the moment he’d heard Norrington’s voice and he was now waiting to hear what Jack wanted him to do.

“Watch Nell - if she disturbs, I want to know,” Jack slurred, his voice heavy from sleep, but his eyes alert.

Hock nodded and scooted closer to Nell and then settled himself down again, watching as Jack crossed to where Norrington pointed him to Bryant. Hock looked over at the ever present line of monks and felt a shiver go through him, he looked down at Nell and without even thinking about it, placed his hand on her lower back where Jack had rested his. He closed his eyes, slipping easily back into his shallow sleep, one ear listening for any changes in the room.

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Jack patted his trouser pockets until he located the flask of rum he was looking for. He drew it out, took a long drink and then frowned at Bryant and Norrington.

“So what you’re saying is that they might not be the guardians we hoped they were.” He clicked his jaw and snapped his head to one side, making the bones in his neck snap into place.

Bryant winced, nodding at him. “That’s about it,” he replied.

Jack didn’t say anything just looked down at his flask of rum, “We need to be leaving this island quickly,” he muttered and drained the flask of rum. “That’s that last of the rum.”

Bryant watched the strange pirate captain lament his empty flask of rum. A couple of days ago and he’d now be ranting over the seemingly uncaring man; but he had since learnt that what you see with Jack, was rarely what you get. He knew that behind the odd manners and even odder gestures lay an astute and very intelligent brain and mind and he had no doubts that the quick brain of Jack Sparrow was busy working on their latest problem. Bryant sighed and reached into his trouser pocket, bringing out a smaller flask than the one Jack had. He held it out to Jack, “You’ll need this then,” he said quietly.

Jack looked up at him in surprise; he looked down at the offered flask and grinned before reaching out and taking it.

“You’re a generous man, Lieutenant, a generous man!” Jack tipped the flask at him. “And you’d make an wonderful pirate, mate,”

“Thank you,” Bryant grinned back at him. “I think.”

“Now!” Jack took a sip and corked it before looking between the two men. “Now, to our problem, I agree with Mister Bryant, we need to find out from all three, but I don’t think it should be a group session. Commodore, you take Elizabeth, Mister Bryant, you have young William and I’ll tackle Nell,” he pulled a face at the prospect of what he’d have to drag from her; he didn’t relish making her suffer, but it seemed as if it had to be done.”

“Are you certain,” Norrington began.

“Positively certain,” Jack replied, already looking across at where Nell and Hock lay.

“And when do you think we should do this?” Norrington inquired, his was watching the monks and the fog.

“No time like the present,” Jack muttered and got to his feet clumsily still clutching both flasks. He swayed back to Hock and Nell not at all surprised to see Hock looking up at him when he leaned over; he’d never known a man to sleep as lightly as Hock did.

“We need to be waking her up, Mister Hock, and we need to be talking to the lass.” Jack gently shook Nell’s shoulder. She mumbled in her sleep and her arms stretched upwards, a mewl of pain left her lips and Jack realised her muscles had gone stiff lying in such a strange position on a hard floor. He reached out and gently rubbed her upper arms, hearing her groaning as she woke up to cramping pain in her whole body.

“Mother Mary, am I back in the convent?” she muttered and opened her eyes. But it wasn’t another nun she saw, it was Hock’s knees as he knelt beside her.

“You’re in no convent, darlin’,” Jack replied and gripping her shoulders pulled her into a sitting position. She moaned, her eyes shut as Jack knelt behind her and rubbed her shoulders, his head by her neck.

“Thank you for moving me,” she whispered and stretched her legs. She bit her lip as the feeling in her legs changed to intense pain as her circulation started to come back.

“Aye, well I’m afraid to say that we need to be talking to you, sweetheart,” Jack muttered, reluctant to do this but knowing he had to. “It’s about earlier.”

“Earlier?” Nell’s voice showed confusion and it suddenly struck Jack that she might not even remember the whole event. He found himself hoping that this was the case and that nothing remained in her memory.

“Aye, earlier,” he looked at Hock over her shoulder. He shrugged back at Jack’s unspoken question. Nell still had her eyes shut and neither of them could see what colour they were.

“Nell, love, open your eyes,” Jack whispered softly.

“What?” Nell was confused now and opened her eyes to see Hock in front of her. He looked at Jack and lifted his eyebrows imperceptivity before looking back at Nell and winking.

“Nell, do you remember the monks coming in?” Jack’s voice was soft in her ear. She turned in his hold and it was with a sinking feeling that he saw her eyes were still black.

She looked over his shoulder at the line of monks and shuddered so violently that Jack heard her teeth chatter together. He scooted forward and took her bodily onto his lap, turning her away from them. He tucked her head down onto his chest, trying to absorb the pain she was in.

“Listen, Nell, I’m sorry but we need to know their intent, we need to know what you know.” He looked at Hock who was frowning darkly.

Nell had stopped shaking in his arms, her hands curled into the material of his shirt, her fingers pressed into the warmth of his skin. She lifted her head and buried her face into his neck, her mouth pressed into his neck, feeling him shudder underneath her, his hold on her tightening. She lifted her face from his neck slightly till her head was lying on his shoulder, her mouth close to his ear. Nell fastened her eyes on the side of his face, the beads that hung from his hair, the red bandana tied around his head, anything except the images left in her mind by the monks. She took a deep breath and began, talking softly, in a monotone relating what they had left her with. Lifting a hand to clutch his face, she stopped him from turning his head to look at her. She saw Hock move closer out of the corner of her eye, but she ignored his presence and concentrated on Jack.

“They left England, a hundred of them. Storms plagued the journey but the Lord protected them; they didn’t lose a single soul on the journey. The crew of the Primus had never sailed with so many men of the cloth and several were converted through the journey. Some even decided they would stay on the island and help with the work.” Nell’s hand slid into his hair and gripped tightly around the braids and beads. Jack winced but didn’t move to untangle her, just listened carefully.

“They were bound for Port Royal but a storm blew them off course, so close and yet so far….” Nell went limp in his arms, her hand slipping from his hair down over his chest to tangle loosely back into the material of his shirt. “They were so close, so close…” she shuddered and started again.

“They thought they could sail into the harbour but the reefs prevented them from getting too far. They lowered anchor and made for land in the smaller boats. They landed on a bay that was shaped like a crescent moon and they took it to be a sign from God. There were already people living here, a small group of natives, heathens, but friendly. The brothers held services and blessed the Lord by laying claim to the island, they called it New Eden and they made it their service to God to build their monastery on this new island and convert the islanders to the good news of the Lord.

Several trips were made to the boats and the supplies they had brought with them were unloaded and taken ashore. The Captain of the Primus wouldn’t allow the crew that had converted to leave his ship; he knew he would need them to sail for Port Royal with the storm damage that had taken place. But he struck a bargain that he would return in three months if they still wanted to return, he would bring them with him and leave them with the brothers.”

Nell sat forwards from him, her eyes on the monks in front of them, a dark blankness in the depths of her eyes that scared Jack.

“We thought we were sent here. No! We knew we had been sent here. A new ministry, a new group of converts, once they heard they would have to believe,” her voice was low, no more than a harsh whisper, but Jack and Hock heard her clearly enough and her choice of perspective sent a curl of fear through them.

“Finding the materials was harder than we first thought, but we worked hard. A hundred of us, toiling from dawn to dusk; only stopping for prayers and food. But eventually what we needed to build the monastery became harder to find. We had decimated an entire section of the forest for wood, mined the rocks from the very heart of this island and we did not stop to think of the scars we were inflicting on the island. We were confidant in our work; it was for the Lord; which was all the excuses we needed - for whatever we did to the land and its people.” She shuddered hugging her arms around her, unaware of Jack’s hands on her waist, and no longer even aware of their presence, as she saw in her mind exactly what had happened.

“The islanders were no longer so happy to see us there when it became apparent the damage we were inflicting on the land and that repentance was expected from them. They didn’t want the Lord, rejected his sacrifice for us and now they were rejecting us. They began to vocalise their discontent, asked us to stop and then, when we didn’t, they tried to make us stop. One of our brothers was found hanging from a tree, his hands and feet had been removed and his eyes taken from his head. He was the first, but there were many more to come. We tried talking with them, praying for them, making them see the errors of their ways, the sins they had committed, but nothing worked. Finally they killed Brother Tiberius, our leader, our voice of reason. We had only one way forward, there was only one way and it was all that was left open to us. We had to return on them the evil they visited on us. Literally…” Nell’s voice faded slightly, getting lower till Jack and Hock had to lean forwards, straining to hear.

“We created a diversion elsewhere and when their men responded, several of us went into the camp and took as many of the women and children we could. We took four of the older women and crucified them, placing them on the four points of the compass, a message that we would no longer tolerate their rebellion. We put every last women and child to the sword, not one soul did we spare, not one babe in arms…” Nell stopped, swallowing hard and then continued in a whisper. “We had failed our Lord, it was too much for our humanity, we had gone too far down the road for redemption; we would never redeem ourselves in the eyes of our Lord, our Lord who had welcomed children - Suffer the little children… Suffer the little children…” Nell began to rock herself back and forth on Jack’s lap, her hands covering her ears as if blocking out the sounds of the screams.

Jack looked at Hock in absolute horror, both men mute at Nell’s words.

“But we were too far gone, too far gone.” Nell’s hands dropped to her lap but eyes remained closed. “Our souls were tainted with their deaths; their blood was on our hands. We had killed and unmercifully. Not one soul did we spare, every last man, woman and child was killed, hacked to death in a frenzy that saw no end till every last soul had been taken. We had been sure the devil was at work in these people, but we were wrong, the devil was in us and we had unleashed him. Blood had been split and we had spilt it; it would be our damnation for eternity to walk this island, soulless, until we have paid our debt, until we have cleansed ourselves of the evil we inflicted. We forged a cross of gold and placed it into the river, if nothing on this island would be clean, at least the water would be pure. Waters of life, waters of freedom. But the evil we had unleashed was harder to contain; we turned on each other, insane in the knowledge of what we had done. Some of us were sure that no one could ever leave this island and no one could ever come here; we knew that it could be made known what had happened here, no one must ever hear of our evil. We could not leave with the Primus when it returned and we couldn’t allow anyone from the Primus to stay on the island. But a few of the brothers would not listen, and once again the bloodshed was great and the island called back its own kind of vengeance on us - the animals turned on us, the trees turned on us. Everything living thing had changed on this island, twisted from its normal behaviour into something evil incarnate; nothing was as it was and nothing will ever be as it was. Five survived the massacre made it off the island to the Primus, while all that remained of the rest of us was our souls. Only our souls, damned, forever…” Nell turned to Jack and moving slowly she curled against him, her head rested on his shoulder and she sighed deeply.

“She’s asleep,” Hock muttered, his voice was hoarse from disbelief. “She’s just gone to sleep!”

Jack wrapped his arms around her, eyes dark as he looked at Hock. “Let’s just hope to God that when she wakes up, she’s not talking in the ‘we’ sense still.” He took a deep breath and lifted one hand to rub his eyes. “I think I’ve heard it all now,” he muttered shaken by her tale.

“Not much more than what they did in the Holy Lands,” Hock snorted. “I’ve never been inclined to men of the cloth, bunch of hypocritical buggers if you ask me.” He frowned at Nell, “Although I suppose not all of them are outright evil.”

“Here comes the Commodore, looking as shaken as we feel. I’m assuming he’d heard something similar.” Jack lifted Nell from his lap and watched as she curled on her side on the floor.

“Sparrow!” Norrington knelt and then sat cross-legged in front of them. “Did she tell you anything?”

“A little too much,” Jack replied. “And in the first person, which was rather alarming.”

“Elizabeth too,” he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Shall we wait for Bryant, or do you want to hear what Elizabeth had to say now?”

“A shorter and more abridged version, please,” Jack circled his wrists for the Commodore to continue. Taking a deep breath, Norrington ran a hand through his hair and began.

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Jack stared at Norrington and Bryant before looking down at the still sleeping Nell.

“I’m not so sure,” Bryant said suddenly making them look at him.

“What about, mate?” Jack inquired; one hand hovered over Nell’s head before he rested it on his knee.

“The memories were collective, that much would be expected considering their souls are united in damnation, I suppose,” he mused staring at Nell, but not seeing her as he thought hard.

“But…” prompted Norrington, his face was hard and he was badly in need of a shave, dark stubble lined his jaw making him look piratical than naval.

Bryant raised his eyebrows and took a deep breath. “Why did they say De Mornay and Beaumont had tricked them? That much was quite clear,” he mused. “Where did Nell’s and Elizabeth’s story end? Will’s stopped when the five made it off the island on the Primus,”

Norrington nodded and Jack shrugged, “That’s about it. You think there’s more to it?”

“Well, I’m going to assume a hell of a lot here, but the way I see it, the evil on this island is two-fold; the curse the islanders left behind, which I believe is what manifests itself as the men who lose their lives here - Jones etc. And then there’s the evil that the monks themselves created here.” Bryant looked at Norrington in expectation.

“Forgive me here, mate. But I’m not entirely with you, I’m failing to see the point in your assumption,” Jack frowned at him, a little of his usual slur present but his tone more confused than mocking.

“There has to be more to it,” Bryant said. “I’m inclined to agree with Nell on the theory that they are protecting us. There can be no doubt they are keeping that fog and whatever is in it away from us.”

“I think their redemption lies in helping any who stumble on this island to leave it safely,” Hock said carefully. “Nell said, I mean they said, ah hell! She said ‘soulless, until we have paid our debt, until we have cleansed ourselves of the evil we inflicted.’ They have to pay their debt; I think this is how they do that.”

“Agreed, but we still don’t know why Beaumont tricked them,” Jack looked across at the sleeping men, his eyes narrowed.

“I don’t know what Nell or Elizabeth said, but Will made it quite clear that they were determined no one would leave, several of them tried and only five survived the battle to leave the island. They didn’t want anyone to find out about what had taken place here,” Bryant said heavily. “And I don’t suppose that’s changed any now. They may protect us against the island itself, but neither will they let us leave it either.”

“Which, when it’s put like that, makes us pretty much buggered either way,” Hock snapped angrily. But it wasn’t Bryant he was angry with and everyone knew it.

“Yes,” Norrington sighed heavily and scratched at his jaw. “So; any proposals?”

“Well, I ain’t going to offer to marry you if that’s what you’re asking,” Jack replied. “But I do have a plan, so to speak.”

Norrington didn’t even bat an eyelid at Jack’s first words. It was something that he had grown quite used to hearing; sarcastic mockery was second nature to Jack and probably always would be.

“A plan?” Bryant asked warily. “What does it involve?”

“Sitting and waiting to see what morning brings,” Jack replied finally and nodding, reached to pick his hat up.

“Sitting and waiting?” Bryant was baffled and not a little uneasy with the suggestion. “You’re seriously going to suggest sitting and waiting?”

Jack inspected his hat carefully before placing it on his head. “Begging your pardon, but you misunderstood me; it was no suggestion.” He winked at the younger man and lay back on his elbows beside Nell, stretching out his legs and crossing his ankles. He looked up at Hock. “The watch is still in place, have yourself some shut-eye, I’ve a feeling we’ll be busy tomorrow.”

Hock nodded and settled down on the other side of Nell, ignoring the baffled and slightly incredulous looks of Norrington and Bryant.

“You’re seriously going to just wait?” Bryant’s voice rose slightly and Nell mumbled in her sleep.

Jack hushed him and shook his head in warning. “There’s nothing that we can do while we are caught between the monks and a hard place, so to speak, I’m sure you’d agree. Taking on the monks will leave us open to whatever lies in wait for us, and to be sure, thinking on it, if they could take on an entire island of people and slaughter the lot of them, I’m not really thinking we’d stand much chance now they have being dead on their side as well! I’m thinking that now is definitely a good time to let sleeping dogs lie, or in this case, let standing monks stand.” He grinned at Bryant showing gold teeth but no humour. “Sleep, mate, you’re going to need it, believe me.” He lay down, tilted his hat over his eyes and folded his arms under his head.

“Irritating bastard!” Bryant sighed resignedly, knowing that not only did Jack have a valid point, he was probably quite correct.

“No, mate. Parents were married, not happily mind you, but married none the less.” Jack muttered with an evil grin showing under the rim of his hat.

Bryant let out a sigh, unable to help the grin that tugged at his lips. “But you still are irritating though!”

“Never questioned that one, mate,” Jack replied lazily.

“And you insist on the last word all the time,” Bryant replied settling himself next to Norrington who listening with half an ear to their banter. Somewhere along the way, the original enmity that had existed between these two men had cooled and it no longer concerned him quite so much when they hit sparks off each other.

“Well I am the Captain!” Jack laughed, satisfied when Bryant did no more than mutter into his arms as he lay on his stomach, facing the monks.

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A hand shook Jack awake slightly after dawn. He was awake and alert instantly, although he certainly didn’t look it as he peered from underneath his hat at Dwent.

“Monks ‘ave just gone, Capt’n, but bugger me if I know where,” he swore. “I turned me ‘ead for ‘alf a second and when I looks back, they just disappeared.”

“Thank you Mister Dwent, I’m taking it sun’s up,”

“Not totally certain, ‘aven’t been out the door to check. There’s no sign of the fog, Capt’n, but again, I ain’t checked like!”

Jack propped himself onto his elbows and looked sideways, not surprised to see Hock awake and watching him.

“Oh well, no time like the present to get everyone awake and ready to go; if you would Mister Hock.” Jack looked across at Norrington and Bryant. “Leave them and the Turners for awhile though.”

Hock nodded and got up easily despite having slept on a hard stone floor. He looked down at Norrington and Bryant who were pressed close together for warmth, still fast asleep. “Lord luv ‘em, they sleep curled up like pups,” he laughed and after stretching out the kinks from his muscles ambled over to where Tom and John still lay snoring. He gave each one a half hearted kick and then continued on giving each crew member a kick to wake them up.

Jack got up careful not to disturb Nell and then he made his way towards the door. Although the only light in the room came from the fire holders on the wall, Jack was fairly certain that the sun had come up. He took his sword from his sash and stopped in the doorway.

“I’ll watch your back,” came a soft voice from behind him. He looked over his shoulder and saw Bryant stood behind him, his own sword drawn.

Jack winked at him and turned back to the corridor. He made his way slowly out, eyes searching carefully, but it soon became apparent that the sun had come up and there was no sign of either the monks or the fog.

“Well,” Jack stood with his booted feet apart as he looked around the main room. The sun was shining through the East facing window areas and it cast shafts of light across the room. “Looks all safe to me, I’m thinking we need to moving on as quickly as possible though,”

“Not forgetting that the monks have been seen through the day,” Bryant said moving passed Jack to cross to one of the windows.

“Aye, not forgetting that,” Jack replied vaguely, his eyes on the ceiling that had interested Nell the previous day.

“How well do you know your bible, mate?” Jack asked Bryant casually

“My nanny insisted on reading whole chapters before bedtimes,” came the dry reply. “I can recite the Ten Commandments backwards.”

“Nanny?” Jack looked at Bryant with a wide smirk on his face. “You had a nanny?”

“Aye, and a governess before you ask,” Bryant coloured up waiting for Jack’s jibes.

“Well, that explains a lot,” Jack snorted. “Let’s go outside, look around and make sure it’s safe enough.”

Jack headed towards the main door, his boots clicking on the stone floors beneath his feet. Bryant heard a noise like a door opening or shutting; he looked over his shoulder but saw no one coming down the corridor or behind him. He frowned, shrugged and carried on after Jack. But the noise came again and he whirled quickly, certain someone was behind him.

“Who’s there?” he called out warily, half expecting one of the crew to appear. But no one answered him. He heard Jack calling his name outside the door and he turned to follow him; a shiver went up his spine and he jerked forwards at the sudden feeling of something running through his hair. He whipped round, raising his sword and dropping to a crouch; but once again there was nothing behind him.

“What’s wrong?” Jack stopped the doorway, his own sword instantly raised at Bryant’s defensive posture. Bryant slowly rose, eyes alert as he looked around him warily.

“I…” he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, still feeling the effects of something moving through his hair.

“What?” asked Jack stepping back into the room beside Bryant.

“Nothing; I thought I heard something,” Bryant shook it off but as he turned he had the same feeling. He batted at the back of his head, frightened and annoyed. “Something’s on my hair.”

“Lice?” Jack asked casually but his eyes sharpened as he looked at the back of Bryant’s head.

“They don’t send cold chills down your spine,” Bryant returned hotly.

“I don’t think Nell would agree with you,” Jack mused vaguely, unable to see anything on Bryant’s head. “Come on, the quicker we can leave this place the easier I’ll feel.”

“You and me both!” Bryant agreed and followed him out into the still slightly chilly morning still feeling very uneasy.

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Nell stirred; her nose twitching as something brushed against it. She flapped at her nose and tried to curl up, but it was with a jerk that she realised she wasn’t lying in a bed but on a hard stone floor. She sat up quickly, her back aching in protest at the sudden movement. She looked around her, the room was empty, no one was there but she could hear voices and laughter coming from the outside corridor. Jack and the others, she realised, had long since awoken and were getting ready to move on. She got to her knees and stretched upwards, working the kinks from her spine.

There was a movement by the door and Nell looked up to see Hock coming in. He saw she was awake and hesitated slightly.

“Nell, you’re awake!” he seemed wary of talking to her and Nell wondered what he was thinking. His face was closed and his eyes were watchful as he came towards her.

Nell sat back on her heels looking up at him; a chill went down her spine as she watched him approach her. She suddenly had an overwhelming urge to get to her feet and run from him, as if he was dangerous and about to harm her. She skittered backwards and he stopped instantly, crouching down from her still several feet away from her. He looked surprised by her reaction to him and a little disappointed too.

“Nell, it’s just me, Hock. How do you feel?” he asked quietly.

“Fine,” she replied. “A little hungry, have I missed breakfast?”

“Nay, do you know where you are, lass?” he asked softly making Nell look at him as if he’d lost his mind.

“I do, but do you?” she replied smartly and got to her feet, ready to run if needed.

He laughed but didn’t get to his feet. “It’s good to see your eyes are blue again lass,” he said cheerfully.

Nell’s eyebrows shot up at his strange words. “Are you feeling perfectly all right? You seem a little….”

“Odd?” came a slur from the doorway. “Which, I have to say, is a bit inappropriate, especially as being odd is my area of expertise.”

Jack came swaggering into the room, arms akimbo and beads swinging. Nell looked from Hock to Jack and back again.

Jack came swaggering right up to her, took her jaw in one hand and lifted her face slightly, peering intently into her eyes. Nell was caught by his dark eyes, unable to tear her gaze away from him.

“Mister Hock, we’ll be out in a moment.” Jack didn’t look away and Hock knew when he was being told to scat. He got to his feet and turning left the room without another word.

Jack waited till he heard Hock’s footsteps fade away and then he brought his other hand up till he had both hands cupping her face.

“Can you remember what happened last night?” he asked quietly. Nell blinked, at first she had no idea what he was on about and then slowly like sand drifting though her fingers the memories came back. First it was the fog and then the monks she remembered and then with frightening clarity she remembered everything that had been imprinted on her soul by the monk passing through her.

Her breath was sucked in sharply, telling Jack that she did indeed remember it.

“Will and Elizabeth remember too,” he said quietly.

“They know too?” Nell asked, her voice shaky with emotion but her eyes dry.

He nodded, “Aye, how do you feel?”

“How do I feel?” she asked incredulously, it wasn’t what she’d been expecting him to say.

“Aye, how do you feel?” he repeated his thumbs rubbing small soft circles on her cheeks.

“I don’t know really; is that what Hock meant by my eyes? What was wrong with my eyes?” She frowned at him, the touch of his hands was causing shivers to run down her spine; it wasn’t unpleasant but it was distracting.

“Your eyes were completely black, no blue at all, just black,” he replied, his eyes narrowing slightly, well aware of the effect he was having on her; it was easy enough to see in her eyes and the reddish tint that was growing in her cheeks.

“Black?” Nell felt her breath catch in her throat and she swallowed to ease the effect.

“Aye, black,” he whispered and stepped closer to her. Nell licked her dry lips making Jack groan softly.

“Nell, Nell,” he muttered. “Why do we never have the opportune moment? Why are the odds stacked against us on this one? I’m so wanting to just lie you down and…”

“Jack.” Nell brought her fingers to his lips effectively silencing him; she took a deep breath and stepped out on a precarious limb. “Jack, just shut up and kiss me.”

Jack’s eyes widened, a glint entering them that made Nell’s knees go weak. He didn’t say anything he just lifted his hand and removed her fingers from his lips, he drew her hand down to her side and bending his head slightly he moved forwards, pushing her backwards till she was against the stone wall. He let go of her hand and brought it back to her face, cupping her jaw gently.

Nell’s breathing quickened as she stared at him, caught once again by his liquid black eyes. He was coming closer and she was under no doubt that he was going to do exactly what she had asked him to do. The waiting was unbearable, sending every nerve in her body tingling with anticipation. She felt his breath caress her skin and then just as softly his lips brushed hers. Every last coherent thought left her mind at the feeling his lips created in her just by merely touching hers. He stepped forwards slightly, still not completely touching her but enough to be able to deepen the kiss. He angled her head and took possession of her mouth, teasing her lips apart and plundering her with his tongue. Nell’s hands quickly found their way into his hair, knocking the hat from his head and dragging him as close as she could get him. She needed this, needed him more than she needed to breathe. Nothing else mattered, nothing at all, only the intense need to be as close to this man she could get. Her love for him spilled over until she was kissing him as possessively as he was kissing her. Her hands digging into his scalp, dragging down his back, as she fought to give and take all she could, all she had.

Jack broke the kiss, the law of breathing was one he cursed, but had to obey. He skimmed his lips down her jaw line, completely blown away by her. If he could strip her naked and take her now, he’d do it. In fact he was so far gone that he very nearly did strip her naked, his hands already going to the buttons on his coat that she was still wearing. It didn’t help that Nell wasn’t stopping him, but her hands were doing their own exploration across his chest. Her breathing matched his and her face was flushed, her hands shaky as her fingertips danced across his chest. He almost wrenched the last button off his coat to get to her and then groaned aloud when he saw his waistcoat neatly buttoned up as well.

“Nell, what are you doing to me?” he muttered, his voice hoarse with desire. He made quick work of the waistcoat buttons, glad that half of them were missing anyway. Nell slid her fingers into his shirt, her brain long past the reasons why or what next. She didn’t give it a second thought; it didn’t cross her mind that this could have only one logical conclusion. All she knew was that she loved this man more than life and that she just wanted to drive every last image from her brain except him.

Jack brought his mouth down onto her throat, pushing her head backwards to gain access, his rough beard and teeth made Nell squirm as sensations assaulted her senses. It was like nothing she’d experienced before, not even when he kissed her before, the feeling so intense that her hands had to grip tightly onto his shoulders or she’d sink to the floor. Her head fell to the side allowing him better access and he obliged her by nipping his way around her collar bone and below her ear. His hands undid her shirt and with a triumphant groan his fingers made contact with her belly. He slid his fingers upward, over the fine lines that scared her skin, over her ribs to brush the underneath of her breasts. Nell couldn’t comprehend the sensations his fingers and mouth were creating in her and her head fell back against the wall with a thump, a groan of pure desire leaving her swollen lips. The sensation was too much for her, making her squirm, desperate to move away from him but desperate to get closer too. His hands slid over her warm skin inching upwards till his fingertips touched the sensitive tips of her breasts, making Jack moan as loudly as she did. His fingers worshipped her, delicately smoothing and caressing her till his whole hands covered her, his mouth fastened to her neck, as he sucked on the skin that was covered in a sheen of sweat now.

Nell’s hands gripped his shoulders under his shirt before sliding down, unconsciously copying Jack’s actions. He jerked backwards when her fingers found his nipples, a guttural noise coming from his throat, his faced flushed, eyes burning as he looked at her. Her eyes opened, the desire plain to see as she stared at him, her breathing hitched and heavy. But amongst the desire in her eyes was uncertainty.

“What’s wrong? Did I do wrong?” she breathed her fingertips lifting from his skin.

The lack of contact made him shudder and he quickly let go of her to grip her hand and place it back on his chest. “Nell, you could never do wrong, lass, except stop.” His voice was low, dark and filled with restrained desire. Her words had brought back to him what her actions had made him forget; that Nell was as innocent as the day was long. There could be no taking her hard and fast against the wall, no matter how much his body screamed for it. He looked around him quickly, wondering desperately if the floor would suffice for now. Her fingers moved on him drifting lower and he caught her hand again before he reached the point of no return.

“Nell, sweet Nell,” he muttered and catching her wrists in his hands he lifted them high above her head and pinned them to the wall. He pushed forwards till her bare skin was pressed against his. The feel of her warm flesh and the contrasting difference between the softness of her breasts squeezed against him and the hardness of her nipples was a pleasure that rushed from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. He buried his face in her neck, his teeth nipping at her skin, his tongue lathering the areas he bit. He pushed against her, one leg hitching between hers to push them apart, till he was firmly pressed to every inch of her torso, leaving her in doubt of his desire for her. He knew that this was impossible, that what he wanted to do to her he couldn’t; not here, and not now; but it wouldn’t stop him pushing himself to the limits of his self control by touching her and taking it as close as he could.
His hands slid from her wrists, and he eased back slightly stroking his fingertips down her arms, wishing that it was skin he could feel and not the rough material of his coat. He slid his hands down over her shoulders and down onto her waist, pulling back from her completely. He wanted to see her eyes, wanted to see the effect he was having on her, but more than that, he wanted to see her face when he pushed her over the edge. But he also knew that she was as green as grass and completely ignorant of the true act of making love. He knew that she knew about sex, her guardians had informed her of the act, but he also knew that she had no idea of the difference between sex and making love. When the time came he would take great pleasure in showing her the difference, but in the meantime he would have to hold back slightly, his self control could only take so much and he had no intentions of making a fool of himself or frightening her.

Nell looked into his eyes, surprised and disappointed when he pulled back from her. His hands were gripping her waist; her whole body still shaking from a low aching that was making her knees weak and her stomach contract. She wanted to feel his hands on her breasts again, wanted to feel his mouth on her neck, his lips on her. She wanted to touch him again, wanted to kiss him, wanted to see what effect kissing his throat would have on him. His hands slid lower to her hips, his eyes holding hers, black, smouldering and intense. She could drown in those eyes if she wasn’t careful, but it was with a shaky breath that she realised she’d drowned in them a long time ago.

“Do you trust me, Nell?” His husky voice was low and set her nerves on fire again.

“Huh?” Nell couldn’t quite get her mouth to interact with her brain and nothing intelligent came out.

“Do you trust me?” he repeated the question, his hands still on her waist, the only part of him still touching her.

Nell nodded mutely, of course she trusted him. She hadn’t done, not at first, and later when she thought it over, she wouldn’t know when she had started to trust him, but she knew now that she trusted him with her life.

It was enough for Jack and he brought his head close to hers, not quite touching as his lips hovered over hers. Nell closed the distance and captured his lips with her own, revelling in the moan that left his lips. She teased his lips with her tongue, heady with the knowledge that kissing him like this could make him react so. Her hands went to his chest, stroking and caressing him. She could feel scars on his skin, but it didn’t really register as his hands slid around her waist and down to cup her bottom, he lifted her slightly bringing her up onto her toes as he kissed her back. A gasp left her lips and his tongue slid between her open lips, plundering her tongue and making her limp with need.

“Capt’n, we’re… bugger!” Dwent’s loud voice came to a cursing halt as he stopped short in the doorway, quite unprepared to see Jack and Nell in such a compromising position. He chuckled but quickly bit his tongue when he saw Jack look back at him over his shoulder, his expression promising sudden death for interrupting them.

“Right, well, we’ll be just waiting… outside.” Dwent backed up, his eyes studiously avoiding where Jack was keeping Nell’s modesty in tact.

“And you’ll be keeping your mouth shut!” Jack said firmly.

Dwent nodded quickly, and made a silencing motion across his face before turning and all but falling out of the doorway in his haste to get away.

Nell shuddered, her face blood red from embarrassment. “He saw…”

“He saw nothing, I kept you covered, luv.” Jack took a deep breath and stood back from her, his fingers making short work of redoing her shirt and waistcoat but he left her coat undone.

“Yes, but he saw… I mean he knew… what… well, he could see what we…” Nell stuttered to a halt, her cheeks still hot.

“Aye, he knew,” Jack said quietly, still trying to calm himself. His blood still thundered in his veins and his body still ached for her. He took a deep breath, lifted his head slightly and looked down his nose at her; a sly grin tugging at his lips as he watched her. “But he also knows what’s good for him. He won’t be telling anyone what he’s seen.”

Nell nodded and then it suddenly sank in exactly what Dwent had seen. She flushed even more, her hands going to cover her cheeks as she stared at him. Her body was still tingling from the sensations he’d created in her, and the aching that lay deep in her stomach had only intensified. “I’ll never face him again,” she muttered.

Jack roared with laughter and caught her hands pulling them from her face to clutch them together on his chest. “Nell, there’s nothing to be ashamed about. Tis the way of the world, tis nature lass. He’s hardly a virgin himself; in fact if I’d a penny for every time he’d been with a lass; I’d be a rich man.”

“You’re right, I know you are, but… well, I’m not him am I?”

“Bloody hope not!” he laughed and leaned forwards to kiss her. “Let’s find you something to eat,” he muttered against her mouth and stepped back from her abruptly. Her mere presence was affecting him again and he couldn’t stand much more. He took several deep breaths, willing his body under control. Jack was uncomfortable but it would pass and he was more concerned for Nell. He lifted his hand and smoothed her hair before leaning forwards and sweeping his tongue across her lips quickly, tormenting himself.

“Aye, Nell, I am almost undone,” he whispered before stepping away from her and turned to swagger towards the door.

Nell lifted her fingers and pressed them to her lips. Jack looked back at her and groaned when he saw her leaning back against the wall, her fingers on her lips, the effect he had on her was plain to see and it hit him square in the gut. “Nell, please, have some mercy on me,” he muttered and lifted his hand to her.

She looked up at him and pushed herself away from the door, flushing again as she went to him sliding her hand into his.

“You’re going to have to grow used to the crew knowing what I do to you,” he slurred cheekily. “Once I have you back aboard the Pearl, we’ll not be stopping at kissing Nell.”

Nell blushed but the images that filled her mind from his words made her skin grow hot and the ache return. She felt him squeeze her hand and then let go to move through the door. She went forwards to follow him and stopped when she heard a noise behind her. Nell turned her head and caught a movement out of the corner of her eye, thinking, at first, that one of the crew had been there all along, but there was nothing in the room. She looked round and blinked when she saw the candles on the altar were burning, she was certain they hadn’t been lit before, she hadn’t really looked but she was fairly sure.

“Jack?” she called his name and heard him move behind her, his hand rested on her shoulder.

“Jack, were those candles lit before?” she asked watching as the flames flickered, although there was no breeze. He squeezed her shoulder tightly and Nell realised that they hadn’t been lit before. “Do you think it’s the monks?” she asked quietly. She stepped backwards, expecting to feel him behind her, but she didn’t touch him. Nell turned her head slightly to look at his hand on her shoulder. Pale slender fingers curled into the fabric of her coat, a ring sitting on one of the fingers. Her breath hitched and stopped, along with her heart when she looked at the pale, clean fingernails, neatly cut short. It was definitely a masculine hand, but it wasn’t Jack’s.

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A/N: Well, sorry in advance for the sort of cliffhanger… I promise I’ll have the chapter up as soon as I can.

I just hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks for your reviews. It inspires me to continue on screen and not just in my head.

Have a great day wherever you are.