White and Black Pearls 3 - Ten Pearl Strand

Chapter Five

A chill ran across Celeste’s skin from head to toe as she heard silence coming from Jack, rather than another refusal of Calypso’s offer. “Jack,” she said weakly, turning her head to look at him over her shoulder. “You’re seriously considering this?”

“Well I haven’t really made any decisions yet,” Jack said in an accommodating voice, pressing his palms together. “Try to understand, it’s the Pearl. It’s my ship.”

“Exactly,” Calypso purred as she reached down and picked up the compass as it washed ashore from the wave that had hit Barbossa, knocking him lifeless on the rocks. She held the compass out in offering. “You could have back all the things you love, and get your revenge too. And to make it all worthwhile…” She waved a hand towards the sky. “There will be no more interfering in your life from this woman, or from me. You’ll be free to sail your days away on any waters and under any skies without the worries of bein torn from place to place in the turmoil of interfering gods.”

“Ooh,” Jack whispered pleasantly.

“Jack!” Celeste cried out. She lowered her hands then and turned to face him. Her whole frame appeared somehow smaller to him, and weaker, as the colours of the sunset shone brightly behind her. Tears were glinting in the light of the rising moon above and Jack watched – awestruck – as her eyes began to shift from gold to orange. “I know I’ve done things that have hurt you and I know I’ve made foolish mistakes in your life but you must believe me, she won’t hold to her word, she won’t give you the things she’s promising.”

Jack couldn’t respond. He watched as her hair lost its ethereal glow, and her cloak became a dull black. Her skin, though it was becoming night, was not illuminated and casting the light of the moon across the beaches.

“Jack,” Celeste gasped weakly as the last sliver of the sun disappeared on the horizon behind her and the tears spilled down her face. No stars streaked across the sky alongside them as her eyes became fully red before him. She looked at him with the last of her hope withering away before a submissive, broken expression filled her face. Celeste lowered her head and lifted her hands, folding her fingers together like a woman praying as she touched her hands to her lips. Jack watched more tears soundlessly strike the sand before Celeste turned around slowly, giving her back to him once more and facing her sister. “You don’t need the last pearl,” she breathed, her shoulders slumped and her head still down. Her weak frame shook with the soft sobs racking her body. “I’ll give myself to you to do with as you wish Calypso. I submit. Just don’t hurt him. Let him walk away from this, let him live.”

She had failed. She had failed to rescue Jack as she’d intended, and she had failed to even get him aboard the Flying Dutchman before she lost her powers. Her chest felt like it was being crushed as she heard the rushing of wind and distant screams – the Flying Dutchman was falling from the skies without any cushion or support, no longer held up with her strength.

“Jesus Mary and Joseph,” a blood-streaked Barbossa whispered as he managed to grab his sword from the rocks and looked at the sky. He’d been planning to sneak up on Calypso during the squabble and kill her but couldn’t turn his attention away from the ship falling from the clouds.

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