The Map

A/N: Usual disclaimer. Own nothing - not even a brain to leave to medical science.

Huge thanks to the ever amazing AniSparrow… I swear smoke must come from her keyboard!

Oh and who here is just longing to see the Libertine? I’m thinking that Samantha Morton is one lucky female! Who wouldn’t (in their right minds) give their eternal existence in exchange for being debauched by Rochester?

Chapter 31

The Return of Saint Nell

Nell saw Jack talking with Timms and it made her stomach sink, leaving a hollow feeling there. She knew that if Timms had overheard everything and was now relating it to Jack, it wouldn’t take Jack long to put two and two together and come up with four. If Beaumont had realised what she’d done, she knew it wouldn’t elude Jack either; except she wasn’t sure of Jack’s reaction to the answers.

“We’re going to keep moving on, Nell,” came a quiet voice in her ear. Nell jumped guiltily turning to see Bryant standing behind her. He was checking his pistol, cleaning around the hammer with the edge of his shirt. He looked up at her and smiled; the lines around his eyes crinkling - lines she hadn’t noticed before.

“Has Jack told you yet?” she asked him.

“Told me what?” he asked and sliding the pistol into his waistband he took her elbow and led her towards where Norrington was helping Elizabeth with Will. It was going to be slow and hard work on Will to get him across the rocks. Jumping and balancing was going to take all his effort and most probably leave him completely exhausted.

“The monks are not helping us,” she spoke quietly, but the others picked up on her words.

Elizabeth looked up at her and shook her head. “You saw the same as we did, how can you make that decision?” She rocked back on her heels and ran a hand down her face. The emotional strain was taking its toll on her and Nell knew that physically she was struggling too.

“They showed us what they wanted us to see,” Nell replied softly, unwilling to even discuss it anymore, let alone argue about it.

“I disagree.” Elizabeth shook her head. “They kept that fog away from us in the room, they needn’t have done that.”

Nell didn’t reply as she looked down at where Will was kneeling. His face was chalk white and etched with pain, he was struggling with fatigue and pain and it was starting to overwhelm him. Although the infection and fever were broken, the damage done to his shoulder and arm was not healing. Benjamin had done what he could under the circumstances but there was damage under the skin with the muscles having been severed. The stitches had ripped on the run to the pool and although Benjamin had re-stitched the shoulder and arm, the damage had been done. Nell knew that he had a long painful time ahead of him. The prospects of wielding a sword were remote and of forging one even less for the foreseeable future. Nell was heartsick at the way things had gone; it made her feel helpless and hopeless.

“What can I do to help?” she asked sadly, already knowing the answer.

Norrington gave her a strange look before he stood up. “Rest while you can, we’ll be moving on as soon as the chests and the boat have been taken across.”

“There’s nothing you can do, Nell,” came a slow mocking slur from behind her.

Nell felt a stab of pain in her chest as she recognised Jack’s voice. She turned to face him; her heart beat increasing, as sweat broke out on her forehead. She was completely thrown by him, she didn’t know how he felt and he wasn’t letting her know. He was looking at her with his head thrown back slightly and his feet spread apart, hands on his hips.

“What’s that smell?” asked Bryant suddenly as he stepped forwards, his face wrinkled in disgust.

Jack lifted his head slightly and sniffed, suddenly detecting the smell. “Sulphur,” he replied, not taking his eyes from Nell. “It’s coming from the volcano, it might blow and it might not, but I’m not hanging around to find out.” He smiled at Nell, showing gold teeth but it didn’t reach his dark eyes.

“I think we should take Will and Elizabeth across after the chests and boat,” Norrington said firmly, aware that there was tension in Jack and Nell still and not willing to waste time.

“Agreed,” Jack said calmly. “Mister Bryant, Commodore, if you’d be so good as to help Elizabeth. Mister Hock will be helping too.” Without another word he turned on his heel and walked away, his hands stuck out at odd angles as he swaggered away.

Nell lifted her hand and rubbed at her forehead. He knew, and he wasn’t going to say anything to her, and she was certain that was worse than had he shouted at her, unless of course it didn’t make much difference to him.

“Oh, Nell!” Her head shot up, her nerves frayed, when he stopped to call back over his shoulder at her. “If you can spare a minute?” He crooked his finger at her and Nell almost shook her head in denial, but she took a deep breath instead, and lifting her chin went over to where he was standing by the river.

“Jack?” She stopped a little way from him, her thumb went to her mouth; her nail so bitten now, it was bleeding - she was really missing her rosary.

“Nell?” he looked at her, one hand pulling on his braids. “Anything to tell me?”

“No, I don’t think so,” she replied carefully, her eyes on the fast flowing water of the river.

“You don’t think so,” he mused. “Now is that because you don’t think I need to know? Or is that because there’s nothing for me to know, I wonder?”

Nell’s tired brain struggled with his words and it showed clearly on her face. Jack sighed deeply and slipped his arm around her waist. “Nell, Nell, Nell.” He turned his face and buried his nose in her hair, breathing deeply before he lifted his head and looked down at her. “I know without you telling me, but I’d like to hear it anyway.”

His gentleness and his touch were her undoing. She slumped slightly, but he held her weight and moved until she was curled against his side.

“They told me… they…. he…” She stopped when he lifted his hand and took her thumb away from her mouth curling his hand around hers. He turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder, aware of a movement behind him. Hock was standing back slightly, pointing towards the rocks where the slow process of crossing with the chests had begun. Jack nodded, letting him know that they’d be there in a moment; then he looked back down at Nell who was completely unaware of anything that was happening around her.

“He…?” he prompted her gently and waited.

“He showed me how Beaumont and De Mornay made it off the island. And how the monks could end the way they are, gain forgiveness for their sins and release their souls. He showed me the cabin boy Beaumont left behind, but… but they tricked the monks. The cabin boy wasn’t aware he was being left behind - until he was left behind.” She shook her head, listening to it now it sounded so unbelievable; but believe she had. “But obviously, they didn’t show me what really happened…” her voice faded out.

“So they showed you Beaumont and De Mornay tricking the monks by leaving someone who…?” he frowned. He looked down at her hand in his. “Nell, you still haven’t told me; what did they offer and for what was the offer made?”

Nell took a deep breath, fixing her eyes on the braids hanging from his chin. “They told me that their sins could be forgiven, that all the evil they had committed could be erased, their souls put to rest, but in order for that to happen a soul had to be given willingly. A balancing out of judgement, a soul for a soul, an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth; I agreed knowing that they’d help you to leave safely,” her voice faded slightly but he tightened his hold on her, his fingers stroked across her waist through her shirt. “It’s so strange, it must only have been seconds and I don’t even know how, but when you were leaning over me, I knew what I’d done, I knew what they’d showed me and I knew that there was no way on earth I could let you know. If I told anyone…” Even as she spoke it became clear to her how they had manipulated her, could see how easily she’d been duped. “I was stupid, obviously; Beaumont told me they’d heard the same thing in the caves, but they hadn’t fallen for it. They worked it out quicker than I did,” her voice was dripping with self mockery. “I didn’t see it, couldn’t see it, not even when it was all but staring me in the face, they had to explain it to me. He enjoyed that…” she stopped, her tongue running away with her.

“Don’t stop, Nell, you don’t have to watch what you say to me,” he spoke firmly, no slur present. “You don’t understand that do you?”

“I…” Nell stopped and looked up at him. “You’re not angry with me?” She asked quietly.

“Of course I am, livid in actual fact,” he replied. “Furious is another good word right now. I’m angry that you think so little of me that you didn’t give me a chance. So let me see if I’m understanding this correctly – it was a case of your soul in exchange for allowing the rest of us to leave this island safely?”

Nell tried to pull away from him but he wrapped his fist into the material of her shirt, his hand holding tightly to hers. “Oh no you don’t,” he whispered, more to himself than her. “What gives you the right to make that kind of decision for me?”

“Decision for you? I don’t understand.” Nell frowned up at him in confusion. “I did it to save you; I don’t want you to die. I may have worked it out completely wrongly but I did it because I lo…” she stopped and looked away quickly, her bottom lip between her teeth.

“You what, Nell?” Jack asked her pulling her tightly against him.

“I love you,” she whispered, her heart, and pride around her ankles in tatters, as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. “I couldn’t bear it… I couldn’t let you die, not if I could change it!” Her chin came up and she looked directly into his eyes. “It wasn’t just you, Jack. Your crew, Hock, Timms, James, Joshua; Will and Elizabeth…” She looked around her quickly, but no one was listening, they were more interested in taking the chests across the rocks. “Elizabeth is with child. They showed me, somehow they know, I don’t know how, but they know.”

Jack’s eyebrows shot up at the latest development before he shook his head at her. “She might be, she might not be,” he shrugged. “It still does not give you the right to do what you did. Have you any idea how it makes me feel? You think it’s one sided? You think you hold all the cards on your feelings? Do you think Hock would thank you? Do you think Bryant would thank you?” His tone of voice, while quiet, left her in no doubt of how angry he was.

“I wasn’t thinking of thanks,” she said stunned by his reaction and confused by his questions. “I just wanted to…”

“Save us all?” he rolled his eyes at her and tightened his hold on her. “The return of Saint Nell; may heaven help us all!” His words were slightly sarcastic.

“Jack!” her face, eyes and that one word gave away the pain his words caused her.

He closed his eyes briefly before staring at her intently. “You’re enough for me, lass, you may drive me to distraction, but you’re enough for me,” he muttered and kissed her quickly but possessively. Nell was startled and wrenched away from him, but he merely pulled her back.

“Stop it!” she cried out. “You confuse me; one moment you tell me that you’re angry with me and then you’re kissing me. I can’t do this Jack!”

“I am angry with you, lass, more than I can tell you. I’m angry because you didn’t let me in on what you were going through, I’m angry because you took it upon yourself to decide what my future would be without even consulting me. I realise you were duped and understandably so, but you were going to trip merrily along here, let them do what they will with you and not tell me a bloody thing. When was I going to find out, Nell? Hmm? As you waved us off in the boats? Or where they going to kill you before that? When was I supposed to work out you’d lost your head, most probably literally? You tell me you love me and then you walk away from me, deciding for yourself my feelings! I don’t like that, Nell!” His voice raised a notch and he stopped instantly, taking a deep breath as he fought to gain control on his temper. He shook his head sadly. “I know you don’t trust me…”

“I do trust you!” she interrupted him hotly.

“Oh aye, you trust me with this.” He slid his hand around her back under her shirt to touch her skin. “You trust me with your body and your safety.” He let go of her hand and reached up to cup the side of her head, his fingers curling around the back of her skull. “But to be sure, you don’t trust me with what’s going on in here.” He tapped her head with his fingers gently.

“I….” Nell blinked, thrown by his words and actions. His eyes glittered with anger and another emotion she couldn’t place.

“I don’t really expect you to trust me completely, not yet at least. Your experience with men can be written on the palm of my hand, and the experience you do have with the likes of Beaumont and De Mornay is enough to destroy any natural trust you had. There’s a lot we have to sort out here, a lot of words still to be said, to be sure. But for now I just want you to go out on a limb and try to trust me. This means if anything happens, if you see anything, or feel anything, let me know. I have no intentions of losing you now, Nell, and to be certain, not ever again.”

Nell held her breath, a tiny spark of hope blooming in her chest as she looked up at him. “Jack, please, tell me where I stand with you.” her voice was low. “I don’t know where I stand…”

“You’re standing here with me,” he said no hint of humour anywhere in his voice or face. “This is exactly where I want you to be for the rest of your life.”

“You want me to stay with you?” she asked, the hope and love shinning brightly from her eyes as she blinked up at him.

“Aye, we can arrange the arrangements later, but for now, please, don’t go making any more life altering decisions without talking to me first. Savvy?” He saw her nod, her smile widening, and he shrugged, unable to turn down her unconscious invitation. He closed his mouth over hers and kissed her gently before lifting his head again. “And if I ever catch you kissing Bryant or indeed anyone else again, there’ll be hell to pay!” he muttered darkly.

“Kissing Bryant?” she looked up at him in a daze but he had already let go of her. He caught her hand and led her back across to where the others were beginning to cross the rocks. Nell watched in a daze, her thoughts and emotions tangled in her mind, but one thing ran clear and true. He had feelings for her, feelings that were strong enough to want her to stay with him. It may not have been a declaration of undying devotion or love, but it was close enough for her. She wasn’t even aware of the silly smile curving her lips as she watched Will began the slow and arduous trip across the rocks with the aid of Norrington and Hock. With each jump it jarred his shoulder and Nell saw all too clearly the flow of fresh blood on the bandage that covered his arm from elbow to neck. Elizabeth came behind them with Bryant’s aid, her worried gaze on her husband. Nell stepped closer to Jack, her own elation at his words was settling quickly into a warm ball in the pit of her stomach, as the reality of their situation still faced them.

“Jack?” she touched his elbow gently. “What will happen to him?” Her voice was low and uneasy.

“Will?” Jack lifted his hand and pulled on his braids gently, his other hand resting on the handle of his pistol in his sash. “He’ll be fine.” He looked down at her and sighed. “No, no, he won’t be fine. He’ll not be sword fighting for many months and his living forging swords is not looking rosy. ‘Tis more than a shame, for I’ve never seen steel as skilfully crafted as young William’s.” He spoke wistfully as he watched the young man.

“The sword you use, that’s one of his isn’t it?” Nell asked quietly watching as Will made it the other side, leaning heavily on Norrington.

“Aye, a wedding present,” Jack slurred and then frowned. “Not sure why I received a present on their wedding, but then who am I to refuse gifts of such a grand nature, or come to think of it any nature!”

“And what did you give them?” Nell asked him quietly.

“The Ardent,” he replied casually. “Come on, lass, ‘tis time we be playing leap frog again.”

“Jack?” Nell followed him to the edge of the river and nimbly jumped to the first rock before him, despite only having one arm for balance. “How did you give them a whole ship?”

“I didn’t,” he replied. “Just the means to build her.” He jumped down beside her.

Nell looked up at him in surprise but in doing so she nearly overbalanced. He caught her arm and righted her. “Just jump over the rocks, Nell. I’m going to be having a hard time keeping myself upright without catching you as well,” he muttered as he waved his arms for balance, the rock they were on too small for two people.

Nell made a mental note to ask him how he had managed to give that kind of money as she began jumping across the rocks quickly and sure-footedly until she was clambering onto the bank. Hock reached forwards and hauled her out of Jack’s way as he all but fell on his face as he clumsily landed on the bank. He righted himself and waved his arms around for good measure. “Just be glad we don’t have to be doing that again for sure!” he grunted and with his hands out-stretched he swaggered his way forwards.

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They walked onwards, the sun slipping across the sky slowly but unerringly. Night would fall, no matter how much Nell wished the sun to stand still. It reminded her of one of the stories in the bible. The sun had stood still for Joshua to defeat an enemy army; although Nell was fairly certain that the sun wouldn’t be standing still to defeat any enemy monks, especially when the monks had shown no aversion to the sun in the first place. But it certainly wouldn’t do any harm to pray for a miracle, and pray she did.

She was walking with Elizabeth and Will in front of her. He had refused to go back on the litter and was walking with the aid of a large branch serving as a stick. His steps were slow, but no slower than the weight of the chests holding the crew back.

“Nell?” Bryant walked beside her, his eyes watchful of Will, in case he faltered or tripped.

Nell looked at him briefly before looking ahead again. They were nearing the village again and once more the feelings of guilt and fear were creeping into her.

“We’re close aren’t we?” he said softly and Nell was surprised he could tell.

“How do you know?” she asked. She frowned as suddenly the line of sailors came to a halt.

“You’re tense,” he remarked quietly. He was about to say something else when Jack came back towards them, his eyes narrowed and his lips clamped together. He didn’t even look at Bryant as he caught Nell’s hand and drew her forwards.

“What’s wrong?” Bryant demanded following them quickly up the line towards the front.

“Traps have gone,” Jack shot back over his shoulder, as he drew Nell to a stop near the front. “Nell, the traps you found have all gone.”

“Not gone,” Nell corrected shaking her head as she looked ahead of them with narrowed eyes. “Just re-covered.”

“How?” asked Bryant incredulously. A low murmur went through the crew but a dark look from Jack silenced them.

“I’m thinking that ‘how’ is irrelevant,” Jack slurred slightly. “I’m thinking more along the lines of, can we find them again or have they moved as well as disappeared?”

Nell shrugged. “I don’t know; I only know what to look for, not where they are. Or at least, not exactly where they are; I mean I know that they are here, round about here, more or less….” Nell faded out pulling a face at Jack in helplessness.

“Right then, lass, in that case, you stay behind me and Mister Bryant here; and we’ll go foraging again.” Jack grinned at her, but it held no humour and Nell saw the intensity of deep thought in his eyes.

“Jack, I can’t see through you,” Nell pointed out carefully. “I’d rather be beside you.”

“And I’d rather you were a hundred miles from here - neither is happening just yet,” he grinned at her, showing gold teeth. He lifted his hands, palms together, and touched his chin. “Please, stay behind me.”

“Jack, I won’t be able to see, let me walk beside you. I found them before, trust me to find them again,” she spoke quietly, wondering if he’d see her reference; which, of course, he did. He shook his head, dark eyes dancing at her.

“Nell, Nell, there you go again, using my words against me,” he sighed. “You step in front and you’ll be back with Elizabeth and Will. Understand?”

Nell nodded and took a deep breath. “Jack, I haven’t warned them, either of them…”

“Warned them about what?” he inquired arching his eyebrow at her.

“The village, the feelings and the islanders…” She stopped seeing Jack’s bafflement at her words.

“They don’t feel it,” Bryant said quietly, looking at Nell. “I asked them just before I spoke to you. They don’t feel any of it, I don’t know why, but they don’t.”

Nell nodded and avoided his eyes. “Must be just…. Just a…” she faltered.

“No matter,” Bryant said quietly. “It makes no matter, Nell.” He looked at Jack but he was giving nothing away and Bryant didn’t expect him to. They set off slowly, all three of them keeping their eyes open for traps.

They found the first traps quickly as they were in the same places as before.

“Well, that’s easy enough,” Bryant sighed as the four ropes sprang in the air, tightening with a crack, much like a whip.

“Too bloody easy,” Jack grumbled and turning indicated for the others to follow.

Nell looked upwards seeing the carved heads on the trees. Shivers went down her spine as she looked at the grotesque carvings that marked the entrance to the village. She could hear Jack filling Norrington, Bryant and Hock in on the things she had told him, but she was thankful that he didn’t mention what she had agreed to, just told them that it was just a ruse, a ploy in the game that whatever was on this island was playing with them.

“So there is one entity on this island?” Bryant asked, still not completely clear on exactly what had been said.

”I don’t know,” Jack replied quietly reaching out and taking Nell’s arm to lead her along with him. “It’s probably safer not to try and understand exactly what’s here, just that there’s nothing here that helping us. We’re on our own gentlemen, and I have to admit that’s how I prefer it.”

Norrington looked back over his shoulder down the line that was following them. “And Beaumont? De Mornay? What of them?”

“What of them?” Jack asked casually. “Perfect in size for bait, should the need arise, don’t you think?”

“Perfectly,” Norrington replied darkly making Nell look at him in surprise. He smiled at her but it held no humour. “You think I should take them back to Port Royal? Feed them; put them up in the cells until they hang from a rope in the public square?”

“How they die is of no concern to me,” Nell said quietly. “Just so long as they pay for what they’ve done.” She closed her eyes briefly, the nagging feelings as they
approached the village was growing stronger.

“If we can take them from this island alive, then I will hang them, Nell,” Norrington promised her. “If we can’t, then justice will have been done.”

Jack looked sideways at Nell but she was no longer listening to them. Her eyes were darting around, her bottom lip firmly between her teeth. He narrowed his eyes and slid his hand down her arm to take hold of her hand. Her fingers curled around his hand tightly and he heard her take a sharp intake of breath. “Nell?”

Nell looked up at him and tried to grin but failed. She gripped his hand tighter and Jack knew what Bryant meant about her grip, but he held her tightly, not willing to let her go. “Tell me,” he muttered, keeping his face turned towards her.

“Stupid really,” she said quietly. “What did they do to me, Jack?” He clearly heard the thread of fear in her voice.

“They used you,” he replied. “But I won’t let them have you, Nell, I promise.”

“What if you can’t stop them,” she said finally giving voice to the fear that had been in her mind since that morning.

Jack shook his head. “Nell, I won’t let them have you,” his voice was low and quiet, his eyes intense.

Nell heard a movement behind her, a sudden cursing and then the whip crack of a rope tightening at lightning speed. Her eyes went wide as it sank in what she had heard. They whirled to see Timms hanging by one foot about twelve feet from the ground. He was cursing as he swung backwards and forwards, otherwise unharmed, but Nell knew how lucky he was.

“I didn’t see it,” she whispered. “I didn’t see it there.”

“None of us did and it’s no one’s fault, Nell, least of all you,” Jack said quietly. “Question is where the rope is leading so that we can cut him down.”

They followed the line of the rope as it disappeared through the trees, seemingly going upwards, but Jack’s sharp eyes spotted it veering through the trees and it wasn’t long before they found the tree the other end was tied to. They cut the rope and Timms tumbled to the ground heavily, the rope coiling as it fell on top of him.

“Keep your eyes open and watch where you put your feet!” Jack ordered everyone as Timms struggled to his feet, then slid the rope from his foot and coiled it around his arm. “Waste not, want not,” he muttered and let it hang over his arm.

Jack waited till he knew he was all right and then once more they set off. The village clearing lay directly in front of them and again Nell found herself looking at the ground, unable to look around her in fear of what she might see.

“Bloody ‘ell, what be that?” came a cry from behind them. Nell looked around quickly, her heart hammering in her chest, certain she couldn’t take much more.

Dwent was pointing towards the side of the clearing. At first Nell couldn’t see what he was pointing at but then slowly, through the clearing she could make out shadowy forms, standing on the edge of the clearing. It wasn’t the monks and as far as she could tell it wasn’t the islanders either.

“Speed up!” Norrington drew his sword and took the hammer off his pistol. “Keep moving.”

Jack didn’t argue his commands as he quickened his pace with Nell. He looked forwards to where Bryant and Norrington were and then backwards at where the others were struggling. “Nell, any ideas what that is?”

“I don’t know,” she replied, squinting even as he hurried her along. “It doesn’t look like the monks, but nor does it look like the islanders… it looks like….” Her eyes widened as she suddenly realised what it was and why it was shadowy. “It’s us!” she cried and the horror was clear in her voice.

Jack almost stumbled at her words, looking over her head at the shadowy forms. He suddenly realised she was right, it was a shadowy, ghostly form of every one of them, Will, Elizabeth, the crew, Hock. They were all there, misty and undefined but most definitely them.

“Ignore it!” Jack commanded. “Don’t look! It’s another trick.”

“It’s not,” Nell shook her head. “It’s what will happen if…”

“No, Nell, don’t you dare say it!” Jack shot at her angrily as he pulled her along. “It isn’t going to happen, keep moving and don’t look!”

Nell nodded and strengthening her resolve she focused her eyes forwards as Jack shouted back over his shoulder at the rest of them not to look.

They were all but running as they headed out of the clearing and down onto the bay. The hole that Jack had fallen into was still there and Nell found that vaguely reassuring that at least it had been an act of nature and not something supernatural.

The crew spilled on to the beach, the sand kicked up as they made their way hurriedly towards the edge of the sea. Jack ordered for the other boats to be dragged to the waters edge.

“Will, Elizabeth and Nell will use the Pearl’s boat! Bryant, remain here and help them in. Watch Beaumont and De Mornay, they’ll come with us in the other boats.” Jack ordered and indicated for Norrington and Hock to follow him towards the other boats. A breeze picked up, whipping the sand up slightly; Nell lifted her hand to shield her eyes against the afternoon sun, as she looked towards the trees and the mountain rising behind them. She could see the plume of grey billowing smoke now that was rising from the top of the mountain, obscuring its summit. It looked ominous, although Nell had no previous experience with volcanoes.

“It may not blow at all,” Bryant said to her as he looked up at the mountain. “Sometimes they can go for months like that and then just settle down and go quiet.”

“Not on this island,” Nell replied quietly. A shiver ran down her spine as the breeze picked up stronger, wiping the strands of loose hair around her face and pulling at her clothes and sending sand into air. They watched anxiously as the crew began dragging the boats down the sand towards the water’s edge. Nell could feel the edges of panic gripping her, the constant need to keep watch around the edges of the trees. She couldn’t believe that they would be allowed to load into the boats and row away from the island with no hindrance. She knew something would happen and the waiting was churning her stomach in knots. It would have been a relief to finally see the brown robes of the monks through the tree if fear hadn’t overcrowded every other emotion in her. She gripped Bryant’s arm, pointing to the monks that he had already seen.

“I see them, Nell,” he muttered, stepping forwards slightly, sword and pistol ready as the monks emerged from the trees and formed a line, hoods raised and hands folded.

“What do they want?” Elizabeth asked, coming to stand beside Nell, her sleeves were rolled up and her chin was raised. Admiration flittered briefly though her as Nell as she looked at the determined woman.

“Us,” Nell replied softly. “They had no intentions of us leaving the island.”

“Get in the boat!” came Jack’s shout to them as he headed towards them, dragging the boats with the others.

Elizabeth turned to where Will was leaning heavily on a branch, his injured arm was soaked in yet more blood. He had lost so much blood now that his skin was almost translucent; he couldn’t afford to loose anymore. She moved to him quickly calling for the others to help her, but her voice was lost in the sudden roar that came from the monks. Nell looked around sharply and saw them coming forwards. Fear, sharp and cold, slid down her spine. She looked around at where Beaumont and De Mornay were kneeling, eyes wide as they watched the monks drawing closer. Beaumont stumbled to his feet and turning sideways used his bound hands to help De Mornay to his feet. Nell could hear Beaumont talking and she realised he was reciting the Lord’s Prayer as they backed into the water, frightened eyes on the monks that were heading towards them with a certainty that turned the blood in Nell’s veins to ice. She could hear Bryant and Elizabeth struggling to push the boat further out into the water, Will already in it. Bryant was shouting at her to help, but Nell couldn’t drag her eyes from the monks. Suddenly, as abruptly as it had started, the wind dropped and the roaring stopped. Silence settled on the beach, making everyone stop startled, until once again she heard Bryant yell at her. She could hear Jack calling her name, but there was something mesmerising about the sight of the monks, something that held her, something niggling in her mind. The line of monks stopped and Nell fell back a step as they drew their hands from their sleeves, each monk was holding a shining sword, in strict precision the swords were raised, with the blades pointing straight up in front of their faces. Hoods fell back and their faces were revealed and even from this distance, Nell could see the redness of their eyes glowing hatefully in white faces, heads shorn of hair. There was nothing here that could be redeemed, there was no absolution and there never would be. They were not interested in redemption, only murder, revenge, souls.

Nell thought frantically, there had to be something she could do, something that could help, but what could hold evil like this back? What could protect them against such supernatural beings?

Nell gasped as it struck her that maybe there was something that could help, something that already saved them. She turned to where the chests were waiting; Jack and the others were frantically pulling the boats the sands to the water, but she knew it was useless, unless she could find what she needed. She looked up quickly at the nearing monks, adrenaline raced through her, as she fell to her knees in the sand and flung open the first chest, her hands rifling through the gems and jewels within, tossing items aside in a frantic search. Her hand closed over the stem of a pure gold cross and she drew it out, shaking off the string of pearls that hung around it. Hands gripped her shoulders and she was pulled back sharply, pain ripped through her shoulder and she lost her grip on the cross.

“Nell, what in hell are you doing? Get in the bloody boat, will you?” Bryant was trying to drag her away from the chest, but she fought him, hitting his hands away from her, gritting her teeth against the pain that throbbed through her arm.

“Nell, in all that’s…” Nell whirled towards him, her eyes frantic.

“Joshua, we won’t survive if we try and row away from them! Those boats aren’t natural, do you honestly think we’ll get very far in them if we don’t try and fight them?” she screamed at him and turning flung herself back down by the chests, her hand closing over the cross once more. In exasperation she wrenched her other hand free from the sling, a cry of pain left her lips, but fear and adrenalin pushed her past the pain barrier and gripping the cross in that hand she used her good hand to search through for more crosses. Bryant saw what she had unearthed and realising what she was doing he turned, his sword coming out as the monks were less than twenty feet from them, never moving faster than a slow walk.

“There’s more of the buggers!” Dwent shouted from where the boats were finally being dragged into the water. Jack, Norrington and Hock splashed towards where Bryant and Nell were by the chests, Jack dropped to his knees beside Nell.

“It worked in the cave and the river, it may be enough to protect us again,” she spoke quickly, still searching frantically.

“I’m with you, Nell, darlin’,” Jack slurred as he searched through the other chest, already realising where her thoughts were going before she’d even spoken.

“Mister Hock, Commodore, check the other chests for as many crosses in whatever shape or form you can find. Is that the islanders, Nell?” Jack indicated with his head towards the group that had emerged from the other end of the bay, cutting of any way of escape except out to sea. Nell stood up, having unearthed only three more crosses and all them small necklaces. She fell back slightly, her hand went to Jack’s shoulder, her fingers and the crosses digging in as she gripped him. “Oh god, Jack. Everyone who died here, the islanders, Jones, Spencer… oh, bloody hell, Decker!” Nell staggered backwards, her stomach rebelling as she saw the horrific image of half eaten, bloody people advancing towards them. “We don’t stand a chance, Jack.” Nell struggled to fight down the rising hysteria.

Jack got to his feet and gripped her arm. “Keep it together, Nell,” he spoke firmly, his dark eyes holding hers. “‘Tis going to be fine.”

“Jack!” Nell cried. “How on earth can you say that? Have you not seen what’s coming towards us? Beaumont said swords don’t work. De Mornay said it was like bows and arrows against the lightening! They only got away because they put their crew between them and those things!”

Jack shook her slightly. “Nell, we can’t give up before we’ve even tried! Get into the boat with Elizabeth, that boat won’t sink, it comes from the Pearl. Go!”

“NO!” Nell shook her head and lifted the cross between them. “I’m not leaving you here!”

“Bloody hell, Nell! I can’t protect you and fight them!” he shouted at her, aware of the closeness of the monks and Hock shouting at him that they had found only four more crosses.

“Jack, you can’t fight them!” Nell cried out and fought away from his grip. “Don’t you understand? I didn’t see it before, but now I do. There is no winning against them, you can’t beat them. There is no curse here that can be broken conveniently at the last moment, despite what I thought.” Nell lifted the cross higher. “This is the only chance we have! This!”

Hock came rushing over, a cross in one hand and his sword in the other. “Chests are being put on the boat. I think we should go now!”

But it was too late; the monks were closing on them. Jack whirled, sword in hand, blade clashing against blade, sending sparks into the air. The ringing of metal on metal filled the air as the crew remaining clashed swords with the monks.

“Nell, get in the boat or so help me god I’ll kill you!” Jack bellowed at her. Nell felt hands on her arms and she was pulled backwards towards the water by Bryant.

“Do as he says, Nell!” Bryant cried in her ear, as he watched Norrington and the others fighting the monks. Nell saw one of the crew fall leaving Norrington’s back unprotected. She watched in horror as he was surrounded by sword wielding monks, completely obscuring him. Bryant let out a cry of rage and he let go of her, surging past her through the water towards where Norrington had disappeared. Nell stumbled and fell to her knees, watching in horror as the crew slowly, but surely began to lose, either falling to the sand in death or disappearing in the sheer volume of monks. Jack was frantically fighting with Hock at his back, turning in slow circles against the monks. The cross clutched in Hock’s hand keeping them from overwhelming them, but not stopping them completely. Desperation filled Nell as she crawled towards the shoreline, she saw Bryant fight his way into the monks that surrounded Norrington, only to be quickly overcome himself. Anger, sharp and cold filled her as she saw Jack stumble, a sword caught him across the chest and she saw the blood seep through his shirt. He was going to die; she was going to watch the man she loved with her entire being die, unless she could somehow do something to help. She crawled forwards, ignoring the screams around her, her hand closing over another cross that had fallen to the sand. With a cross in both hands she stood up, she had no idea whether this would work; but she no longer cared. She would not sit and watch them slaughter him without even trying, and if it didn’t work? Then she’d die with him.

“What’s your plan?” came a high pitched voice from beside her. She turned her head sharply and saw Elizabeth, drenched in sweat and water, stood beside her, a cross in both of her hands too. Her chin was raised and her eyes determined. Nell felt a surge of courage and determination course through her, Will stood slightly behind them, a cross in his good hand, his face etched in agony, but determination burned in his eyes.

“Let’s send them to hell!” Nell said with determination. “Amor vincit omnia!”

Elizabeth looked sideways at her, the light of battle and anger in her eyes. “You can tell me later what that means!”

Nell grinned at her and moving forwards they raced through the sands together, crosses raised, a war like cry coming from Elizabeth, a quick prayer to Mary from Nell.

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A/N: Ah well… Sorry it’s a bit of a hanger but I had to stop there. My fingers were running away with me and I have got to get the next part right - no mistakes or it’ll bugger the rest of the story up - pardon my French!

I hope you enjoyed it. I hope to get the next part up really quickly, so it’ll not hang too long. Thank you so much for your reviews and emails. Gives a girl a warm fuzzy moment they do! (Who here is British and remembers Radio One’s Warm Fuzzy Moments? Ah sweet nostalgia!)

Smithy… some of that was for you, hope it hits the spot.

Have a great day wherever you all are and take care of yourselves.