The Siren

Title: The Siren
Author: Hellborne (the_ferret_mom@yahoo.com)
Age Rating: 18+

Disclaimer: Characters, if you saw them in the movie, not mine. See the Mouse. Story, mine, but I make no money. He does, but not on this.

Typing convention: / is used for thoughts. * - * - * is used for scene changes and passages of time.

Summary: Will has been abducted by The Siren, a beautiful pirate captain with a crew of women. It's Jack's job to get him back, and he seems scared about it. Many surprises.

Warnings: H/C, angst, lemon, rape, Het.

Betas: The two greatest BetaGoddesses in the world, Pendragginink and Littlebird! You're both truly magnificent, and I wouldn't be able to write half as well without you!

Notes: Everyone who reviewed: Thanks so much for letting me know what I’m doing right...it’s always nice to know what to keep doing.

Jackfan2: While I notice a lot of slash going on (mine included), I keep thinking that people want Mary Sues and You-Jacks because that’s most of what’s out there in the het department. And since I detest both of those genres, I tend not to write het...now I think I know that the Mary Sues and You-Jacks that I’ve found are just “my luck” (as in Irish...as in “If anything can go wrong, it will...but it will leave you alive to go through MORE.”) in happening to find some of the worst het fics out there... I think I’ll try my hand at another het soon...and be sure to let me know if I ever come up with a Mary Sue...so that I can kill it quickly. But finding all the MS and YJ’s out there just kept me from writing het. And don’t worry. Pleasant Holiday is coming along a bit slow for a couple chapters...it’s difficult to write Gillette/Jack...and that’s the section I’m in. But after this next chapter, we can find out what happened to poor James/Will...

Evileyedpiratetrrl: See Jackfan2, plus...Interesting to hear about the Elizabeth/Jack fans out there. It’s just that those two characters together are hard to write...she’s so much like him that you have to try to figure out who’s saying/doing what to whom... Of course, it’s easier to write her as if she were Jack-In-Drag...

Pendragginink: Ah, my great betagoddess speaks! Making Jackfan2 go “NOOOOOoooooooooo!” is what I LIVE for! (or you for that matter, when you read about the wee-wee chopping...). “Christ in a cannon” was actually based on the biggest cussword that my son uses (“Christ in a can”)...so we’ve been coming up with new ones (“Buddha in a box” for example...), and some of them actually fit the time period so I use them... As for Jack’s relationship with Angeline, since you’ve beta’d through Chapter 8 (and will have Chapter 9 by tonight) while everyone else is just getting Chapter 6, you know a lot more about Angeline than they do (yes everyone else...I’m almost done with Chapter NINE, and I tend to release a chapter at a time when I get “enough reviews”)... As for having the men wear aprons...they have nothing to do with cooking or serving food. Then again, that’s just some backstory stuff I have on file. I always try to have a “complete universe” including history of OCs, etc. when I write...to keep them “in character” and to figure out what they’ve already done both in and out of story. FORCING Jack to do ANYTHING is always fun. You know that Jack-Torture is one of my favorite pastimes...

Littlebird: You’re one of my favorite reviewers because you never hold back if there’s something wrong. Thank you! This chapter covers your question about courting. Port Royal or Montego Bay...the mansion is right between them, and Montego Bay has very little (if any) aristocracy. I have in my backstory the entire Will and the entire Ship’s Articles for the Black Pearl for this story...one of these days I should just plain release the backstory on one of my stories...this one is longer than a lot of them with the exception of the one for “Makings of a Pirate” and “And the Winds of Destiny” which share the same one...and the Will did demand Jamaican aristocracy, as the Markham family were one of the English “founding families” there (from when Jack’s grandfather was a lieutenant in the Navy when the English took Jamaica from the Spanish in 1655 and had the Markham mansion and estate built in 1662 because he wanted to get away from all the piracy in Port Royal in the 1660’s). Enough Markham history for now...I might just release that one. As for you not normally reviewing, the kindest thing that a person can do as a reader is to let the author know whether they liked their story or not and WHY...constructive criticism helps authors know where they need to improve. Flames let thnow now that they hit someone’s nerves in some way, and believe it or not, the “warm fuzzy” reviews are the least helpful, though believe me, those “warm fuzzies” help an author want to write more. And not just me...there’s actually a discussion/debate on this very subject going on in the aff.net Yahoo group. One of these days I think I’ll do a paper on “Reviewing”...”...

Bittersweet: Gee, and I thought I’d answered the questions in the last chapter. Oh well...this one answers a few more...maybe? Though I’m sure it’ll be causing more questions as well... You keep mentioning “back with Will”...I thought I labeled this one “het”? Now, originally it was going to be Jack/Will, but that disappeared before I published the first chapter. Oh well...here’s your new chapter...you decide what the quality is.

Prolix: Re: Angeline – Yeah, it’s hard to be “dangerous” when you’re dying...and yes, she does love her “baby brother”...As for Will/Elizabth...you’ll have to wait a while. I’ve got it all outlined out, but I’m not telling when/how it happens...after all, I could always change my mind as my muses change theirs. This story was supposed to be a happy, light story, as I’d grabbed the title from a local Vegas show (The Sirens of TI [Treasure Island]) which is a free outdoor pirate musical with great effects. But my muses got depressed, and the story went south. I’m still hoping to save Jack from them because they keep wanting to kill him off...and I don’t want to! Oh well, enough notes...on with the story!

A/N: This chapter was written during our homeless phase, with my depressed muse going rabid. So hit the REVIEW button to make me feel better so that maybe the muse will cheer up and give me some happy plots! Remember, I want your HONEST opinion of the story...good, bad or ugly, I love the reviews!

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Chapter 6 - The Ball

It was a better than average turnout at Governor Swann's mansion. It wasn't every day that the only heir to an estate of that magnitude came to visit Port Royal; especially one, if the rumour mill was as accurate as usual, that was looking for a wife. All of the eligible ladies were present, from the newly blossoming teens to the oldest spinsters.

When the guest of honor arrived, all eyes turned to him and his sister. They were as night and day. She was pale, wan, and confined to a wheelchair, while he was dark, wiry, and seemed so full of unreleased energy that he appeared catlike in his demeanor. His hair was straight and tied back in a herringbone braid, apparently refusing to wear a wig, and he sported a thin mustache but was otherwise clean-shaven. His eyes were like falcons' eyes: Black pools that every woman in the room begged to drown in.

The pair immediately separated, the sister taken to the parlor by her nurse, and the heir, Lord Jonathan Markham, strayed to mingle with the men.

Throughout the evening, though, he found himself surrounded by ladies, and dancing with same despite his collarbone screaming at him in pain.

Half way through the evening, Elizabeth Swann finally made her way over to him. "Good evening, Lord Markham."

"Good evening, Miss Swann. I would happily ask you to dance, but I'm afraid I have an injury that may prevent me from any more dancing tonight. May I get you some refreshments instead? We can drink them on the terrace if you wish for some air, perhaps."

"Yes, that would be very pleasant." He took her arm and they made their way to the terrace after picking up some champagne. "Lord Markham, if I may be so bold, the rumors around Port Royal claim that you are looking for a wife to be mother to your heir."

He laughed. "In a way, yes. But it's my sister who is looking for me to marry and produce an heir. As for me, I'm afraid I like my freedom. So, if I may be so bold, I am looking for a lady of quality with whom I can leave an heir and a fortune, and be on my way."

She blushed. "Lord Markham!"

"Is there something wrong with wanting freedom, Miss Swann? I didn't choose the family or social class that I was born to any more than you did. I just want to be up front and honest with my plans with the lady I'd like to make them with." Elizabeth's eyes went wide. "You would have the name, the entire estate, the heir, and the freedom to marry anyone you wish, as I'd make sure that I'm officially 'dead.' I'd only be around till we knew you had a healthy heir, and once you were pregnant you wouldn't have to touch me again if that is your wish."

"Lord Markham, I'm sure you consider your offer as a great compliment, but I would only marry for love, and though I am forbidden to marry him, I can only love one man."

"Will Turner. I understand that." She stared at him. "In fact, it's why I've chosen you to be mother to the Markham heir. The estates are far from Port Royal, so nobody visits. You could have your Will Turner. Marry him. Love him. Produce all the little Turners that you could wish. Just marry me and produce mine first."

"I can't. I don't even know where Will is, nor if he still loves me!"

"Elizabeth, young Mr. Turner is on the Black Pearl with his father, and loves you enough to win against the Siren."

"His father? How do you know this, and where is Jack Sparrow in all this? Is he not Captain of the Black Pearl?"

"No, Elizabeth. Jack Sparrow was abducted by his overbearing sister Angeline Markham and is currently being forced to make a fool of himself with his best friend's bonnie lass. Now, do you still need the answer to how I know where your Will is, or can we get on with this ridiculous situation that my bloody sister has forced upon me?"

Elizabeth looked him up and down and almost giggled. "Jack?"

"No, love. Here you must call me Jonathan."

"Jonathan, you are positively handsome dressed like this. All the ladies believe you're twenty years old or thereabouts."

"Well, then that's something you know that they don't. So will you marry me, Elizabeth?"

"But what will James say? I've refused him many times saying I was waiting for Will."

"Just tell Norrington you're marrying me for the money."

"And why, may I ask, should she tell me that?" Norrington walked in from the garden. "Elizabeth is free to marry anyone of her station. Even a nobleman who fancies himself a pirate." He bowed to Elizabeth. "Lord Markham, I am terribly sorry about your sister. How long does she have?"

"The doctors say it's only a matter of weeks now. Only last month she was perfectly normal. Today she needed to be bathed and dressed."

The Commodore put an arm around Jack's shoulder and Jack flinched. "I'm not heartless, milord, whatever certain pirates may believe."

"No...that isn't the problem, Commodore. I broke my collarbone only a month ago, so it still hurts when I move."

Norrington removed his arm. "My apologies, milord."

"Call me Jonathan. That's all right, Commodore."

"James."

"James, then. So what's your opinion of what I have offered Miss Swann?"

"Actually, I didn't hear all that much, and did not pay attention till my name was mentioned. But I did recognize you even under all of the finery. So...Jonathan. Are you really Lord Markham or are you merely trying a new plan to acquire someone else's wealth?"

"James, whether you wish to believe me or not, yes, I am Jonathan Lowell Markham."

"And Angeline is your twin sister?"

"Yes, I know I look younger than her now, but you should have seen her last month. She's aged thirty years since then."

"Again, you have my sympathies."

"Thank you." He turned to Elizabeth. "Love, could you go and think about what I'm offering? Among other things, the prospect of an heir would be a dying woman's dream come true." Elizabeth nodded and went inside.

"And what are you really offering?"

"My name, the Markham estate...everything. All I need is an heir, and she can say goodbye to me and marry Will. I'll conveniently 'die' and it'll all be hers. How could she refuse?"

"Because she would never marry for money."

"I know that. She wants William. But like I said, she can have him, and keep the Markham estate too...plus William's share of the treasure has made him quite rich. They could raise a lot of little Turners on that. And she's the only lady of status that I'd trust with all of this. Put it this way. Is there anyone else in all of Port Royal that would bring this secret to their grave?"

"No, you are correct that Miss Swann would be the only choice. But whether or not she will do it is the next question."

"Aye. One can only hope that she wants William enough."

They walked back into the mansion together."

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TBC

NOTE: This time, believe it or not, I'm looking for what you find WRONG with this story and my other stories...grammar, plot, characterization, spelling, historical inaccuracies (if this is something you know about...I have to look things up of send Pendy to do it, etc.), etc. There's no way to improve if you don't know what you're doing wrong, savvy? Oh...don't stop with the fuzzies though...I'm still fighting for Jack's life from my muses! So hit the REVIEW button now and tell me what you think!