The Teardrop Of Immortality

Chapter 4


Gibbs ran out after Jack and waved his hands wildly around, “Cap’n! This is not a wise move!” he yelled as Jack jumped on top of a cannon and grabbed onto a rope. His dark chocolate eyes glared at the Queen Anne’s Revenge and he sneered.
“I am not famous for my rationality, Master Gibbs.” He said and he waited until the two ships were properly aligned before he tightened his grip on the rope and swung his body forwards.
The crew stared at him with wide eyes as he jumped ships and Gibbs covered his face with his hands.
“Good lord.” He muttered as he raised his eyes to watch his Captain.
Jack landed on the Queen Anne’s deck and before any of the crew could react he had his pistol pointed at the first mate.
“Lead me to your Captain. Now.” He growled at him.
The first mate, Jacob Throw, glared at him, “The captain is busy.” He answered shortly.
“Is that so? With my mermaid?” Jack asked quietly and Throw gulped as Jack pressed his pistol against his jaw, “Bring me to him or you can tell him that there is no deal. Savvy?” he cocked his head to the side and Jacob slowly nodded, “Good lad.” Jack smirked as the first mate turned and headed for the cabin.
Jack followed him, all the while shooting glares at the crew who were looking at him with wide eyes.
They climbed up the stairs to the cabin and Jacob made to knock but Jack pushed him out of his way while at the same time pulling out his sword. He pointed the sword at Throw and then aimed his gun. He shot the door and then pushed it open with his foot.
He stormed inside the cabin and Throw followed him with shock in his eyes.
“Well, well, you little thief.” Jack drawled as he saw Teach sitting on his desk.
Erik looked up and his eyes widened, “What are you doing here?” he asked but Jack’s eyes were on the glass container by Teach’s bunk, “You like it? Courtesy of my father. He had plenty of those in the hold.” He grinned.
“You do realize that she cannot breathe in there, don’t you?” Jack dragged his eyes from the almost unconscious mermaid and looked at Teach.
The younger man frowned, “She’s a fish.” He shrugged and Jack grumbled something under his breath before he stormed over to the glass tub. He undid the bolt and thrust the lid open.
She immediately raised her head and gasped for breath, her hands curling around the edges of the glass.
Jack turned to Teach who was looking at him enraged, “It seems to me that you have failed to understand the idea of working with me, mate. No one barges into my ship and steals my property.” He said and as he stood next to the container the mermaid’s hand brushed against his own by accident. His eyes snapped down to her and he blinked when her eyes collided with his. He quickly turned away and looked at Teach once more.
“If you want me to lead you to your destination, you shall need to give me back my means of persuasion.”
“You won’t make her talk.” Erik said through gritted teeth.
“And you have?” Jack quirked an eyebrow.
Teach looked away, “No.”
“And what methods did you use?” Jack asked as he sheathed his sword and then sauntered over to the desk and sat down. He propped his feet up on the desk much to Erik’s displeasure and placed his pistol on top of it.
“The only ones I know.” Erik snapped and Jack grinned.
“Ah, yes. And look how that helped you.” He pointed at the mermaid who was glaring at Erik hatefully. He almost cowered under her gaze.
“I’d appreciate any suggestions you might have.” Teach spat and Jack shrugged before he reached over for the open map on the desk.
“If you give her back then…” he trailed off as he studied the map that led to Oak Island.
Teach looked at him intently when suddenly thunder broke their silence. Jack looked up and grimaced.
“Not another one.” He muttered and Erik cursed under his breath, “What was that?” Jack looked at him.
“You have an hour to make her talk. If she does talk, you can take her back with you.” Erik pointed a finger at him before he gazed at the mermaid who was looking at the two men with wide eyes full of dread.
“She can handle pain, I can tell you that much.” Teach said lowly and the mermaid thrashed her tail as if in response to his words which in turn made him sneer at her.
With one last look on Jack he walked around the desk and walked towards the door.
Jack’s dark eyes followed Teach’s back as he walked out of the cabin before he turned his more than curious gaze upon the creature that was now silently cowering in the transparent tub by the corner.
Placing his feet down from the table, he slowly stood up and with measured footsteps walked over to the mermaid, his eyes alight with excitement.
He eyed her form; from her glorious long blonde hair to her chest, then down her slim waist and at last to the twitching tail that was under the water. He smirked as he turned his eyes on her pale face.
“I cannot believe my bloody crew caught you, love. How did they manage such a catch?” he murmured as he took a few steps closer.
As soon as he did the mermaid made a strange sound deep in her throat and he stilled. Her vivid blue eyes were staring at something below his waist; his sword.
With dexterous fingers, Jack removed his scabbard, placed it on the table behind him and then raised his hands up in surrender.
“No intention of hurting you, love.” He smirked but the creature still gazed at him with distrust.
Jack grinned at that and his eyes went to her tail once again. He noticed the crimson stains in the water and grimaced.
“They are going to do a lot worse if you don’t speak.” He told her and she looked away from him, a lock of her hair falling in front of her eyes, “Are you going to tell ol’Jack what’s that pretty tattoo on your chest for? I know you can talk. I’ve met your kind before.” he added quietly as he placed his hands on each side of the tub and leaned down, “I am the only one who’s going to ask nicely.” He informed her and she snorted.
“What was that?” he tilted his head to the side at the sound.
The mermaid raised her eyes to his and opened her mouth to speak, “Humans are not to be trusted. I’d rather sacrifice my life than help you.” Her voice was smooth but it was obvious that it wasn’t used often.
Jack raised his eyebrows at that and then grinned, “Then you wouldn’t mind if I did this.” He told her before he reached out and touched the teardrop tattoo with a single finger. His finger had barely made contact with her skin before she cried out and thrust him away from her with great force.
“No!” she screamed and Jack groaned as his back collided with the table.
He gasped for breath and opened his eyes to stare at her in disbelief.
She had a hand clumped over her mouth and her eyes were wide and fearful.
“Bloody hell.” Jack murmured in awe and then smirked, “The Teardrop of Atargatis.”
The mermaid looked away and blinked.
“You know about it, don’t you?” he murmured as he pulled himself up, wincing as he did so. She quickly shook her head while he walked back to the map and leaned down. He ran his fingers over the old chart and his lips twitched as he noticed something that one would miss if not careful enough. Next to Oak Island, just barely visible to the eye was the teardrop tattoo.
“Who did it to you?” he asked as he turned to look at her.
She blinked, “I do not understand.” She whispered and he walked back towards her.
“The tear. Who made that design?” he pointed at her chest and she swallowed hard.
“No one.”
Jack frowned, “What do you mean no one, love?” he tilted his head to the side.
“I was born with it.” She replied and that made him stagger.
“That is not a tattoo?” he repeated to make sure and she slowly nodded, “So you do not know how valuable you just made yourself to Teach, do you?” he murmured with a forming grin.
The mermaid hugged herself, “I only know that it hurt when you touched me there.” She said in her quiet voice.
“You, love, are the key to his much desired immortality. You are the key to the treasure and the artifact that will make Teach immortal.” Jack said as he came to lean over her again, “Let me see it.” He motioned to her chest and she narrowed her eyes.
“No, I won’t, you human!”
Jack barked a laugh, “That’s an insult I’ve never heard before. But you can be as much human as I am, can’t you, darlin’?” he drawled and she flushed.
“Only if I want to.” She whispered.
“Ah, yes. You need to find love for that or else you will be in pain for almost a fortnight in your human form and then slowly die.” He said quietly with his head cocked to the side, regarding her with intense eyes.
The mermaid looked up at him, surprised at his knowledge.
“What? Shocked, are you? I know everything a sailor must know to survive in these waters…and more.” He grinned cheekily, “That’s why I am Captain Jack Sparrow, Siren.” He winked but at her fierce scowl he flinched, “What?”
“My name’s not Siren. I am not one.” She said firmly and he raised his eyebrows.
Another thunder shook the ship and Jack gazed briefly out of the window before he returned his attention to her.
“Then what do they call you?”
When she didn’t reply he smirked, “I will keep calling you Siren then-…”
“Nerissa.” She cut him off with anger and he grinned, “My name is Nerissa.” She replied more quietly.
“Nerissa. Does it mean water?” he asked curiously and she frowned.
“I do not know.” She said as she curled against the side of the glass casket and hugged herself again.
Jack regarded her in silence until Erik burst inside the cabin, drenched in water.
“We have to make haste. We just saw a Navy ship behind us.” He said and Jack’s eyes widened.
“Bugger. Well then, have some men bring her back to my ship.” Jack said while waving madly at Nerissa.
Erik paused, “Why? Did you make her talk?” he asked sardonically and Jack smirked.
“Aye. She will kindly help us, won’t you, Siren? I mean, Nerissa.” He quickly corrected himself but she only averted her gaze elsewhere.
“Nerissa? What about the tattoo?” Erik asked and Jack walked calmly over to him. He thrust the map towards him and pointed at Oak Island.
“Look.”
Erik narrowed his eyes and then frowned, “So what does it mean?”
Jack rolled his eyes and snatched the map away, “The teardrop of Atargatis.” He said simply. When Erik only stared at him clueless he slapped the back of his head in aggravation. Erik’s eyes narrowed in anger as he rubbed the spot Jack had slapped.
“Do you know nothing, lad? Atargatis is the goddess of the sea in the Babylonian mythology. Her tears were only given as gifts to those who helped her rule the seven seas. That’s what is hidden in Oak Island but your father had no idea. He was all so taken with the Fountain that he missed what was under his nose. And he had a big one, don’t you think? That explains it.” He finished with a grin and Teach glared at him.
“So, where is this tear hidden?” he asked and Jack turned to look at Nerissa who was staring at Jack with shock and fascination. He grinned at her and then turned to Erik.
“Somewhere inside the treasure probably.” Jack shrugged.
“And you think she’ll help us?” Erik motioned to the mermaid.
Jack’s face took on a mischievous glimmer, “Leave it to me, mate. I have my ways.” He winked and then stepped back, “Now if you please.” He waved his hand in the general direction of Nerissa.
“We have to hurry though.” Teach mumbled before he called a few of his crewmen.
Jack walked out of the cabin with a grin.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo


“Hurry up!” Erik yelled while Jack watched with wide eyes the process of bringing the mermaid out of the cabin.
The deck was slick and the storm was raging so it was difficult to even see. He looked back and from his place by the railing he could see the lights from the Navy ship behind them. It was far away though and it would take some time for it to reach them. They had secured the ships together and they had to lower anchor in shallow waters so they could bring the mermaid back to the Pearl.
The glass container swayed precariously as the crewmen made to step onto the plank connecting the two ships and Jack bit his lip.
“Careful.” He muttered before his eyes widened almost comically.
He watched as in slow motion as the crewman holding the tail of the container slipped onto the slick wood and he fell onto his back, letting go of the container in the process. The man on the front couldn’t bear the weight and he let the glass casket go with a loud crash. Glass spluttered everywhere and the mermaid blinked rapidly while shaking pieces of glass from her body.
Jack inhaled sharply and Erik gave an outraged yell when the mermaid looked at them and then she let go of the grip she had on the plank. Her body slipped off the edge and she fell into the sea with a splash.
“Damn!” Erik cried and Jack grabbed his pistol. He thrust it in Teach’s arms along with his sword and then jumped off the ship and into the water.
The mermaid was ahead of him but he could see the nervous twitching of her tail that spoke of her difficulty to move quickly after having been confined in a tub for so long. He kicked back his legs more rapidly and widened his stance as rain poured down rapidly, making it extremely difficult for him to see clearly in the dark.
A splash right in front of him alerted him that the mermaid had fallen behind and he outstretched his hand, groping for something other than water. With a growl he pushed his body forward again and this time his hand collided with her tail. As soon as his hand made contact with it she cried out and thrashed wildly, trying to escape Jack’s grip.
“Calm down!” he hissed as he slid up her body and grasped her around the waist. She arched in his arms and kicked wildly with her tail which had formed a bloodied path around their bodies but he was relentless. The wound Teach had given her was obviously causing problems to her futile attempt to escape.
“You did a foolish thing, lass.” He said breathlessly as rain slapped his cheeks with force. Nerissa wiggled harshly but he only tightened his grip and used his other arm to haul them towards the direction of the Pearl.
“Let me go!” she cried and her blonde hair hit his cheek as she kept fighting against his hold.
“Nope.” He said as it took great effort to bring her along, “You’re hurt.” He said and she gave a small sob.
“You’ll kill me anyway.” She said as she slapped her tail hard against the waves, trying to push him away but he didn’t release his grip on her, “You’ll kill me anyway.” she murmured as she finally sagged against him and let him swim with her towards the ship.
Jack gazed down at her resigned face and spat seawater out of his mouth as he carried on swimming, his face a perfect mask of determination. He didn’t reply to her comment, neither did he try to contradict it.

End of chapter 4


Xxx Lina :)