Immortal Beloved post AWE 13 through 16
May. 21st, 2008 09:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Author: Soleil Compeau
Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean
Pairing: Jack/Other
Spoilers: post AWE, third in the Jack and Sarah universe
Rating: NC17 overall, cause I'm just that way when I write, some chapters will be PG
Disclaimer: These stunt doubles have just reenacted what takes place after the final cut. No copyright infringement intended, no profits or wages are being made. I do this out of deep love for the characters
Summary: What would a teenage demi-goddess want with Jackson Turner? And what might Sarah and Jack, growing old together, be able to do about it?
Warning: angst, character death both minor and major
Chapter Thirteen - Round the Cape
"Here. He was very clear about it. He threw them in, right here, on the ship that brought him to Tortuga. He marked the position in his mind, later put it on a chart. And you know how good a helmsman Cotton is. He wouldn't have made a mistake about the postion." Jack and Sarah bent their heads over the map she had spread out, while behind them Gibbs held the Pearl's wheel. Jack placed his finger on the place that was marked in charcoal.
"And we're bound for Madagascar, near that same spot," he murmured. "What interesting fortune that is." He suddenly became aware of another person next to him and looked up.
One of the freed slaves was standing there, looking nervous. The Captain raised expectant eyebrows in invitation to speak. The man was colored like dark honey, and built slim but muscled like Jack himself. He spoke slowly. "In my own land, I am called Gunju. It means 'wild cat.' I would prowl the hills like a hunter." Jack curled his lip and arched an eyebrow high. Gunju looked off at the curving horizon, eyes distant. "I cannot go back. My shame would be too great. But I can serve the captain who set me free. I can swear allegiance to you."
Jack looked the man up and down. "Very well. Let's get you the articles to sign. Can you read?" He rolled up the maps as the man nodded his head yes.
That night, there was a battle between cat and captain. Jack pulled the covers of his bed back to crawl beside a deeply asleep Sarah, when an angry furball hissed warningly from at her back. Jack yelped in surprise and the cheetah baby swiped a paw at him, scratching his forearm with little claws. Sarah jerked awake to the sound of master and pet both snarling furiously.
"Get that animal out of me bed, Sarah!" Jack thundered indignantly. He sat on the edge of the bed inspecting the claw marks while she scooped the cat up and got to her feet. "First that cursed monkey, now dammable clawing cats," he muttered.
"He was at the foot of the bed, curled up at my feet when I fell asleep Jack. He must have moved closer while I was unaware." She said apologetically. Her hand caressed the little beast gently, soothingly. Watching, Jack once again felt that irrational jealousy, wishing that hand were stroking the same way on certain parts of his body.
Hurriedly she tucked him away in the hammock that slung in the far corner. He mewed, stuck his head out of the hammock at her, then purred again as she petted him. Jack cast smoldering warning glances in her direction, until she left off the animal and returned to pay him attention. Bathing his cuts, she soothed him with wifely nonsense until he was a bit more appeased. But he was still quite restless, and would be until they were able to satisfy themselves fully with each other's bodies. Both of them felt the need keenly. Only a few more days were left, coincidentally around the same time they would make landfall in Africa.
They were nearing the Cape. Besides Gunju, one other man had signed on to the Pearl's crew compliment. Isoba was a huge muscular man, very dark skinned. He towered over Jack, yet seemed to regard the Captain which great awe. He'd heard many of the legends of the infamous pirate, which pleased Jack immensely. Currently, he was talking to her about the cheetah, whom Sarah had taken to calling Gunther. Jack's booted step came closer, paused a few feet from where they sat watching the cub.
Sarah looked up at him. He was casually studying the sky, but she recognized his body language. Rigid control and watchfulness, masked by seeming insincerity. "Rounding the Cape soon. Isoba, I'll be needing you in the ratlines. Sarah, get in the great cabin. And stay there."
Isoba immediately obeyed the Captain. Sarah rose to her feet, looking at the beautiful clear blue sky where Jack was gazing. It was rare for Jack to command her so. Normally, he requested of her, treated her as his equal in every way. She didn't quite understand why he would send her to a safe place when there were no signs of storms or bad weather of any kind. However, he always seemed to...know things, sense when something was about to happen. If it was so important to him to secure herself in their quarters, so be it. She shrugged and obediently went to the captain's quarters.
The weather stayed fair, which Jack was extremely thankful for. It took a day and a half to round the Cape. He held the wheel the entire time. Sarah amused herself with his books in the cabin, comforting Gunther when the winds rocked the Pearl violently. Sometimes she heard Jack up on the quarterdeck above her, shouting orders. It comforted her to know how near he was, yelling in that strong gravelly voice.
Evening of the first day, it felt as though the Pearl were trying to stand on her head, and Sarah had serious fears that she would succeed. The Captain's voice came often during the hour or so that followed, before the ship's motions returned to merely tossing to and fro. Late next morning, Gibbs came for her, telling her the Captain wanted her on the upper deck. She made her way to his side, discovering that everything was sopping wet from the waves that had rolled over the deck during the light storm of last evening. He looked like a drowned rat, and exhausted. "Take a look at the view, bit o'Sarah." He jerked his chin in the direction of land.
The fierce wind blew her hair in streaming waves and snatched at her breath. Nonetheless, the view of the coast as they finished rounding the Cape, of waves crashing against a rocky coastline, was breathtaking in itself. Rich green growth like living, glowing emeralds covered the slopes of the forbidding rocks. Glancing back at her husband, she saw his eyes alight with appreciation for the glorious sight, a little smile playing over his lips. He looked so handsome and happy despite his exhaustion, that her heart melted with love for him.
They made port and Jack went below, collapsing across the bed to grab a few hours of well earned rest. He mumbled orders to Sarah to pass on to the men. Back topside, she spoke up from the quarterdeck, Gibbs beside her. "You are dismissed for shore leave. Marty, Pintel and Ragetti have first watch. Cotton, Snaky Jake, little Tom have the next watch. The rest of you, return in eight hours to draw your next watch rotation. Dismissed!"
This crew knew her, knew that she carried authority from Jack himself. But Gunju approached her while the men disembarked. "Tell me something. I hold no malice towards you, but are you not merely a deckhand aboard this ship? I notice you share the Captain's bed, but should it not be his Quartermaster who relays his orders?" He glanced at Gibbs who looked shocked that the man would question Sarah's authority in such a fashion.
She stared him down coolly, stroking Gunther's back where he lay against her chest. "My hierarchy aboard this vessel is not your affair. Nor is my standing with the Captain. You see that Gibbs does not countermand my orders, therefore my words must carry some weight. Believe me when I tell you that I have every right to give what orders I choose. You can confirm that with Captain Sparrow when he makes an appearance."
Gunju smiled with delight when the little slip of a woman answered him strongly. "Yes, milady. Forgive me, I meant no disrespect. I was merely curious."
She nodded, allowing a bit of a smile to show. "None taken, Mr. Gunju. Now off with you, if you please."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They walked arm in arm through the port city on the African shores. Sarah was dressed in a frilly dark green gown that hugged her waist snugly and dipped low to reveal the curve of her ample bosum. Jack nearly drooled every time he looked at her. Her hair was swept up in back, curls cascading down said back in waves. Their business offloading their share of the purloined cargo was complete, and Jack's purse was heavy with gold coins. Gunther was tucked securely in the crook of his mistress's free arm, watching the crowd around them with his glowing golden eyes.
The crew had been given their shares, and freedom to spend them in whatever manner they desired. For most, this meant wenching and drinking. Some would attempt to earn even more by gambling, with varying degrees of success. Jack and Sarah were returning to the vessel, to consumate the end of the two week waiting period. Sarah shivered with heightened sensory perception.
The tread of Jack's boots, the jangle of his hair trinkets, the rustle of his clothes all combined in a sensual orchestra in her ears. He'd deliberately pulled back his sleeve before offering his arm, so her hand tucked demurely under his elbow left her fingers able to brush against his bare skin. She could feel the bumps of his gooseflesh. The sight of him, his lean body and handsome face, as they kept giving each other covert glances, fueled the fire within them.
They reached the Pearl, went up the gangplank and greeted the evening watch courteously. The pirates grinned as Captain and Lady hurried into the great cabin and barred the door. Jack hung up his coat and hat while Sarah placed Gunther in his hammock. The cat had accepted this as his resting place now.
Sarah turned around to see him laying his scabbard and pistol aside, and remove his belts. Only the sash remained around his waist. His eyes were smoky and full of passionate communication when he glanced at her. She went swiftly to his side, terribly excited by this merest of undressing on his part. Sex, she wanted sex so badly, wanted his naked hot body between her legs and pistoning them both into oblivion. He siezed her and brought her hard against his body. He held the back of her head, under her hair clip, with one strong hand.
She was expecting a savage dominating kiss. He surprised her a whisper soft brush of his full lips. He barely grazed her lips, then brought his tongue into play to outline her mouth with only the tip. She tried to press closer, he would not allow it. His free hand roamed freely over the front of her gown, brazenly touching the swells of her breasts offered by the neckline. Her lips were parted eagerly for him, and he flicked his tongue over her teeth now. Finally, he deepened the kiss but still kept it so soft and tender.
Soon she was gasping for breath at his masterful mouth. He dipped his head lower, then pulled back, then side to side to achieve a new angle. His hand on her breasts tweaked her nipples through the layers of cloth. Sarah was helpless beneath this onslaught. It finally occurred to her to touch him as well. With her ladies skirt it was difficult to press against his lower body. But when she tried to get her hand between them, he released her mouth and stepped back.
She let out a moan of frustration as she grabbed for him. His eyes were unnaturally bright, his chest heaved. Her eyes raked over him, lingering on the swell raising his breeches away from his body. "I need no encouragement love. Don't touch me just now. At least, not there!" A wicked gleam of those eyes, a wicked twist of his lips, and he pressed right back in for more heavenly kisses.
Now his tongue was brazen. He pushed it into her eager mouth and invited hers to come play. Sarah shoved her tongue against his teeth and explored his mouth freely. He was quiescent, trembling beneath her mastery of his lips. She took advantage of the permission to touch his upper body, and stroked places on his body that she knew drove him mad. The sensitive spots behind his ears, his shoulders where they joined his neck, the small of his back and the bones of his spine. Jack was whimpering into her mouth within a few seconds.
He pulled back again, breathing heavy and ragged. His fingers trembled as he unlaced her bodice, which fastened up the front on this dress. Pulling it open, his eyes roved over her breasts. Sarah's nipples rose just from him looking at them, and she thrust them out, hoping he would take them into his hot mouth. Instead, he turned her around so her back was to him. The brush of his fingers as he moved her hair aside made her shudder and mewl with want. Now his kisses were on her bared shoulders and upper back. He held her around the waist, grinding into her bottom.
Sarah's legs were weak. Jack moved them so that the table was right before her, and she clutched it, grateful for some support. His teeth worried gently at the side of her neck while his tongue lashed and tasted. Sarah felt his hands just behind her, unfastening his breeches. Hot shivers swept over her body from head to toe. Jack's mouth slowly left her, but his arms went back around her waist. His hot breath cascaded over her ear while she waited desperately for his next move.
His tongue lapping at her lobe and the curve of her ear made her beg. "Jack...please! Enough torture!"
"Lift your skirts love. Turn around and raise 'em high for me," his voice a sinful purr in her ear.
She obeyed him, exposing her legs and hips while he watched her. When she had them far enough up to please him, his hands once again circled her waist and he lifted her. Setting her bare bottom on the edge of the table, he nestled between her legs. She locked her arms around his neck. "That's it," he whispered, "hold on to me."
His hands held her tush tightly, balancing her on the edge of the table. Her position was precarious, she clung to him for stability. Jack pushed into her slowly, gasping with pleasure as his entry opened her wet folds more fully. He moaned as he sheathed himself completely. "Oh God!" Jack rested his head on her shoulder, body trembling violently.
She wiggled into him, anxious for him to start thrusting. His hands tightened on her bottom. "Don't move love! Want this to last more 'n a few seconds!"
She had to content herself with stroking his marvelous mane of hair while he regained some control of himself. At last he pulled back, creating all kinds of friction and heat, then plunged back into her amid a spray of wetness. Both of them cried out. He kept up a slow movement in and out of her, mouth buried in the crook of her neck, suckling and mouthing. Overwhelming feelings of heat swamped over her, dragging her body down. She felt heavy all over, but particularly between her legs where Jack thrust.
"God, you're so tight! So wet and good!" He was moaning continuously. He flung his head back and she beheld his taut straining throat, his tense face with closed eyes.
Immediately she attacked that tender neck, suckling and licking to pay him back for his torturous kisses to her a moment ago. She wanted to break his control over the smooth even strokes he was giving her now, and make him pound her. With that intent in mind, she squeezed her satiny inner muscles tightly around him. He grunted, responding with a deep rapacious plunge. "Ohhh, not fair, Sarah!"
She did it again, and Jack cried an unintelligible sounding phrase. Perhaps a prayer for strength, or mercy, who knew? "Lean back darlin."
Carefully she placed her hands behind her, propping herself on the table. Her breasts jiggled freely above the lowered bodice bunched around her stomach. She watched a trickle of sweat drip from his neck and disappear under his shirt, which he still had on. Apparently the sight of her was too tempting for him, he instantly bent over and licked her nipples. Jack moved back and forth, greedily licking, his angle causing him to jab in short strokes right at the entrance to her vagina. The double stimulation sent her flying over the edge.
When she'd finished shaking and keening, she opened her eyes to discover Jack staring at her with a look of intense concentration. He'd straightened back up, and now reached one hand where they were joined. He placed a fingertip on either side of the little nub at the top of her fleshy lips, and twisted his fingers. Instantly she was catapulted back into intense desire. Jack punished her with long pounding strokes, holding back for long torturous moments before plunging all the way back inside her.
Sarah writhed on the table, trembling arms still propping her up. Jack's fingers were extremely gentle as they stroked up and down the sides of her clitoris, jerking quickly. She wondered desperately how he could hold back like this, how he could control those breathless pauses and powerful pushes. His face now showed just how hard he was battling for control and he kept crying out as he moved. Sarah's eyes rolled back in her head, her body jerked and danced under his tormenting fingers. She screamed as what felt like lightning strikes bloomed over her body.
Through her haze of bliss she saw Jack's tormented face. He was struggling, not to hold back this time, but to fly with her. Jack's thrusts became forceful, fast and wild. Suddenly, his face smoothed over into perfect peace, his eyes and mouth opened wide, and he was coming. The most delightful noises of 'Uhh! Uhh! Uhh!' were repeated over and over. He bellowed his release and she felt the hard jolts of his cock deep inside her. His orgasm went on for quite a bit of time for him. She managed to get her arms back around his neck to hold him close to her during it.
They collapsed together atop the table. Sarah wrapped her legs around his waist to keep him close to her. She didn't want to ever let him go. They gasped together for a bit. She felt Jack nuzzling her ear. "That was very good," he rumbled in satisfaction. "Let's never wait that long again."
He raised himself up on his hands to peer at her face. "It's one thing when I'm at sea. But when we're together, I can't bear to not make love to you."
She could only agree. Jack regained the strength of his legs enough to sweep her into his arms and carry her to the bed. He ran loving hands over her face and through her hair, murmuring love words to her. "My beautiful Sarah. My darling, mine, always." He burrowed into her arms, his heartbeat strong against hers. Nestled together, they kissed passionately. His last words before drowsiness claimed him was that she was his refuge.
Chapter Fourteen - Pink Diamonds
The slaves has been placed back on their homeland, shore leave had been celebrated, and Sarah had refused to part with her cheetah. Jack was exasperated with her. She argued that he was too small to survive so far, she still had to feed him by hand. He pointed out, quite patiently he thought, that the other cheetahs would take him in. Sarah beseeched eloquently that she was fond of him, and could she please keep him a little longer, and she would release him after they left the Seychelles.
Jack stalked the deck, eyes roving over the horizon. The large island of Madagasar was visible. There, he planned to find a shaman he knew of, and attempt the audacious trick of retrieving objects on the bottom of the sea. If he could pull this off, he would be reckoned the greatest of all the Pirate Lords. No one would ever be able to best him!
His eyes caught a movement to his right. Looking, he frowned thunderously. Striding slowly to the cowering cat, he bent and lifted Gunther by the scruff of his neck. He held the cub, who was noticably larger than when he'd been found, up to his eye level and coolly stared into the golden orbs. Gunther cringed and mewed piteously. "Sarah!"
Sarah hurried to Jack's side, already knowing the problem, since she had to step over it to get to him. He made his voice as scathing as possible. "Your...*pet*...has soiled the deck of me ship."
She met his stare calmly. "He's been using the straw down below where the goats are penned. But it's wretched down there, and I just finished mucking it out." With great dignity, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and wiped sweat off her brow with the back of her hand. "Put him down Jack. I will clean it."
He felt rather badly to have taken her to task for this, in front of the men scurrying around them. Most of them were pointedly not looking at their captain. Jack lowered the little cat to the deck and looked sheepishly at his wife. She raised an eyebrow and snapped her fingers. Gunther scampered to her feet.
They talked that night, while preparing for bed. "Why don't we just ask Calypso to help us get the diamonds?" She fingered her wedding ring. "Why do we need this shaman to help us with his..what did you call it? Bag of spells?"
"No!" Jack responded vehemently. "I want no more favours and exchanges with her. Leave well enough alone, Sarah. She's done enough for us."
Sarah touched his cheek gently and he snapped, pulling her tightly into his arms. His trembling hands stroked her hair over and over. "If we stay out of her way, if we lie low, maybe she'll forget about us," he said hoarsely. "Forget about the bargain she made with you. And you can drink the Water again."
Sarah closed her eyes in grief. Her promise to Calypso to trade her life for William Turner's colored every day of her existence. Though it was many years away, she knew eventually she would hear the inevitable ticking of a clock, as all mortals do. And what would Jack do then? She had dragged his life and considerations into this promise to die one day. She knew he valued his life above everything else.
Two days later they dropped anchor in a dingy little port on the western part of Madagascar. They strode together though a small fishing village until reaching the outskirts, where a solitary hut squatted in the mud. Jack walked to it unhesitatingly. Without pause he thrust aside the curtain over the opening, ducked his head, and entered. Sarah followed a bit more slowly. Inside, a little old man, brown as a peanut and with a face deeply lined with wrinkles, tended a pot above the firepit in the middle of the dirt floor.
He looked placidly at Jack, who sat down opposite him and crossed his legs comfortably. Sarah sat down a bit behind and next to him. The old man did not even glance at her. Jack immediately launched into a strange language which involved a lot of sibilant hissing and tongue clicking. The old man listened, nodding at intervals. Listening, Sarah reflected that nothing Jack could do shocked her anymore. If he suddenly sprouted wings and jumped off the mainmast of the Pearl to fly into the sunshine, she would laugh in delight and clap her hands with surprise, but not truly be shocked.
Eventually the old shaman began gesturing and conversing back to Jack. To follow the dialogue, Sarah focused on her husband's body language. She enjoyed his many hand gestures, the tilts of his head and the expressions on his face. Just now he looked happy and pleased with himself. The shaman nodded, and Jack held up his compass.
The old man rummaged in a chest that sat behind him. In a whispered aside to Sarah, Jack explained. "I've asked him to show his powers. A test, if you will. He'll magick the compass, and if he gets it working right, we'll know his spells will hold."
The shaman took the compass from Jack's fingers and held up a vial. He tipped it over as if pouring a drop of something, but nothing emerged from the opening of the vial. With a solemn expression, he handed it back to Jack, who raised an eyebrow. He obligingly opened it and checked it's reading. Sarah could not quite see where it pointed but wherever it's direction, Jack seemed very pleased.
He tucked it back to his waist and continued his spirited negotiations with the man. Now it became much more intense, with long convoluted sentences and much gesturing by both parties. At one point the shaman reached into the chest and began removing various pouches and bottles, lining them up carefully. Then he spoke one rather short sentence. Jack's lips twitched. He was not pleased.
He spoke now in persuasive, wheedling tones. Sarah found herself nodding in agreement just at the tone, not even knowing what he was saying. Jack spoke for a fair bit of time, but the shaman merely shook his head. He glanced at Sarah, a lingering glance, the first and only time he acknowledged her presence. Jack sighed, smiled his most charming smile, and rattled off something that sounded like a question. The answer was one word and emphatic. Jack nodded, to Sarah's eyes looking absolutely miserable.
The shaman handed over the spells, and Jack silently placed them in the pouch on his belt. He put an arm quite possesively around his wife's shoulders and led her swiftly away. "Jack!" She had to trot to keep up with his long strides. "What happened? You took the spells, I take it he agreed to help then? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just want to get this done. I want those diamonds." There was something he was not telling her, but she shrugged mentally, and concluded that eventually he would reveal what had disturbed him in the shaman's hut.
Standing on the ship, he set out each spell, explaining what it would do. "This one will make a bubble of air around the ship. We'll have a limited amount of time before the air goes bad. This one causes her to sink, and there's a counterspell for making her rise again. This spell will guard us against any monsters of the deep."
Listening to him talk, Sarah felt a deep chill go through her. They were really going to do this. They were going to sail the Pearl to the bottom of the ocean! "What if the spells don't work?" she whispered.
He merely looked at her. She already knew the answer to that. "Just how well do you trust this shaman's power?" She licked suddenly dry lips and tried to keep her breathing steady.
"Are you ready?" He asked quietly.
She took a deep steadying breath and nodded. The men who'd chosen to come with them all looked nervous as Jack lifted the first spell. It was a vial, and when he unstoppered it and tipped it over the prow of the ship, a dark oily substance oozed out. Jack looked disgruntled at the mess, but the magic took hold immediately. The Pearl tipped and began to lower into the water.
"Light all the lamps. All of them! Bring candles out onto the deck!" Jack ordered as he lifted the second spell, a bag, and opened it.
The sound of hissing wind emerged and the water enveloping the vessel was first held at bay, then expanded in a large circle around her. As soon as there was light, they all stood looking at the eerie sight of the waterline above their head. A few held their breaths, a few breathed quite cautiously. Only Jack seemed unaffected, but Sarah noted his eyes darting around.
They sank lower, and Jack raised a third item. It resembled a long thin stone, but it was brittle. He broke it in half, and it crumbled to powder which swirled around the ship in a growing cloud. At a questioning glance from Gibbs, Jack explained. "Keeps the ship from being crushed by the weight of the water."
The Captain glanced at his helmsman. "How you holding up there, mate?" he asked.
Cotton looked absolutely agog. His hands were slack on the pegs of the wheel but at his question they tightened. The Spanish bird on his head pecked him once, mightily, and croaked out, "Comer mi!" Jack blinked in confusion.
He opened the compass and stood for awhile next to Cotton, murmuring directions and headings to an unknown land. Sarah stood close beside Jack, paying no mind to his words but wanting the comfort of his presence. The world beneath the waves was strange, bizarre, and utterly gorgeous. It was also alien and terrifying.
Suddenly she paled and tugged frantically on Jack's sleeve. When he jerked his head in her direction, she could only point at the huge whale drifting off the port stern. A monster indeed, though far away it was obvious its size dwarfed the Pearl many times over. It's massive tail waved slowly back and forth, propelling it through the water swiftly. Jack gasped, fumbled quickly in his pouch and withdrew the repellent spell.
The whale seemed to be paying no mind to them but it didn't hurt to be prepared. Sharks infested these waters after all. This spell was another vial, and when Jack poured it's silvery contents out, they joined the air bubble. The whale veered away and swam off.
The Pearl landed with a soft thunk on the sandy bottom. The crew peered around, leaning just slightly past the rail where the envelope of air extended. Now that they'd reached their goal, they had new problems. One, how to actually find two small jewels in all this murkiness and two, how to actually transport them from the sea bottom to the Pearl. None of them could leave the ship without certain death.
Several men held lanterns aloft and strained their eyes. It was Marty who spotted them, resting near a bright red thing that looked remarkably like grass, with fish darting in and out of the fronds.
"Never thought I'd actually want to see that cursed monkey," Jack muttered contemplatively. If that undead little pet were here, he could sent it to fetch the jewels.
"Captain!" Snaky called tersely. He was staring up past the mainmast grimly. They all looked up, to see a child floating in the water, looking down at the ship with curious eyes.
The crew exclaimed in horror. "Demon child!" "It's a ghost, a spectre!" "We're doomed!" "It's a sign of our death!"
Sarah shouted from the quarter deck. "It's Joie de Mer! It's the sea goddess and the ferryman's daughter!" Though Will was no longer Calypso's Captain, the words were needed to get the frightened men's attention.
Awed, they watched the child as she drifted closer to the ship without seeming to make any effort at all. She spotted Sarah, and looked happy to see her. Sarah was the one to have brought her into the world. Joie being half goddess, was uniquely able to remember every moment of her life since conception and recognized Sarah. Then she saw Jack and her grin lit up her entire face.
She swam right up to the edge of the bubble where he stood frozen and dumbfounded. She did not try to breach the spells, though Jack had no doubt that she could if she chose. The supernatural child stared at him in frank curiosity. Jack was hypnotized by her gaze.
Sarah made her way down the steps and next to him. "Can you hear me Joie?" she questioned in a low voice.
Joie nodded and answered at once. "Yes Sarah. Hi!"
"Hi darling. Are you out playing? Where's your mum?"
Joie shrugged disinterestedly. "She's Ferrying. I didn't want to go this time. It's booooring!" She proclaimed this last in a self important tone.
Sarah couldn't help smiling at how like any other child she really was. Yet here they were, having a conversation about dead souls, deep under the surface of the ocean. "Well, I wonder something. Would you like Jack to tell you a story? About how he was ferried like the dead, and came back?"
The man in question jerked in startlement. Sarah went on serenely. "He's an amazing story teller, but would you first please do something for him? He likes a bit of payment for his tales, after all."
"What do you want!" eager little bouncing girl asked Jack, looking at him with wide eyes.
"See those shiny little things, sweetie? Would you give them to Jack? He can't reach them."
"Oh sure. Easy." Joie swam over to the amenome and snatched up the jewels.
Jack held his breath in anticipation. She swam straight back over to him, and gently pressed her hand against the spell that contained them. Her hand slid through the membrane and emerged dripping wet to touch Jack's wrist. He was stunned at this turn of events, yet still alert enough to be able to hold out his hand. She dropped the rarest diamonds in the world into his cupped palm.
"Now tell me the story! I never knew you died Jack! How did you get back from the Land of the Dead?"
He stared at the treasure in his hand. His head was reeling. He glanced behind him at the agog faces of his crew. Every last one of them was gobsmacked. Sarah looked dazzled as well, but somehow she was holding on to her composure, barely. She took the diamonds from his hand and mouthed the word, "Talk!"
Oh yes. He owed a demi goddess girl a bedtime story. He told it well, in his characteristic flamboyance. Meanwhile, Sarah went to Cotton, who was grinning from ear to ear. The old pirate flat out refused to accept the diamonds from her hand. He pushed her hand away, closing her fingers around the near priceless treasure. The bird squawked, "Gracias, amiga! Gracias!"
Joie swam away, and the last spell was cast. Another bag, which exploded into feathers, which disappeared as the ship lurched up from her resting place and rose through the waters. The Pearl burst up out of the water in a style quite reminisent of how the Dutchman used to rise, spraying water in all directions. Sailors, relieved to be in the open air again, raised a wild cheer as the air bubble popped.
Jack drew Sarah to him so her head rested on his chest. Why was he trembling so? "Where to next, my Captain?"
Chapter Fifteen - Amazing daughter
"Elizabeth, I have to talk to you." William drew his wife into the kitchen, where they might be relatively unidsturbed. "I have something to tell you."
"What is it?" She met his gaze with the sweet smile he remembered her having even as a girl.
He held her hand gently, knowing he was about to dredge up bad memories. "Do you remember when Calypso battled us, and enchanted you as a figurehead?"
Sure enough, her face clouded. "Yes...I don't remember actually being transformed. For me, it was like suddenly everyone was in a different postion, and you had disappeared. You were talking to Calypso in your quarters."
"She and I bargained. She agreed to let you go. And I gave her something." He paused and stared signifigantly in her eyes. "You know what that something was."
Now her eyes were downcast, and she heaved a heavy sigh. She well remembered seeing the goddess's child, and realizing that Will had fathered her, to set Elizabeth free. A bargain, to let him have children with her, a child for a child, so to speak.
Will stroked her cheek. "I should have told you about this before. But I didn't want to remind you of that time."
"Told me about what? I already knew about....oh God. Calyso's going to claim you again, isn't she? This time with us was just a reprieve...you have to go back don't you!" Elizabeth began to panic, chest heaving in rapid bursts.
"No Elizabeth. No." Her husband said firmly. "She's released me from the duty, I'm truly free. Though I still feel her presence with me sometimes. And seem to hear her voice." He pulled her into his arms and stroked her back until she calmed.
"What I mean to tell you now, is that my daughter has been visiting me." She pulled back and gave him a shocked look. He went on, "That's what the fishing trips were really about."
"Your daughter. The sea goddess's daughter." His wife's voice was a bit skeptical.
"My daughter." He stressed the 'my' quite firmly.
There was a long pause while Elizabeth twined her fingers nervously. "What's she like?" she finally asked quietly.
Will couldn't help a grin of delight. "She's wonderful. She's curious and smart, and affectionate. In many ways just like any little one. But she's also amazing, she had incredible powers inherited from her mother."
Elizabeth sighed a teeny little sigh. "Have the boys seen her as well? Are they...safe...with her?" The second question was quite pointed, but what she really meant was, am I the only one who didn't know about this little relationship?
He peered into her face. "Jealousy doesn't become you, hon."
Now she met his eyes, and hers were dark with strong emotion. "I gave you sons. I am your wife!" Unspoken but understood was the rest. I deserve your loyalty.
He settled his hands on her shoulders, thumbs lightly caressing her neck. "Yes, my wife. That's exactly why I did it. So you could remain my wife, and have those beautiful boys with me. I didn't give Joie a second thought once she was conceived, but she seems to think well of me, and wants my affection. And I've discovered that I love her."
Elizabeth looked at him steadily but it was clear she didn't quite know what to make of this. Will waited patiently, and at last she voiced the rest of her thoughts. "And suppose Calypso wants more from you? Suppose she decides that Joie needs a father with her always, and demands that you...be with her?"
Will smiled and pressed a light kiss to her nose. "I doubt that very much. She has what she wanted after all, a companion. She's not likely to demand more. Our accord was very clear. Now that this is out in the open, I'd like the boys to see their sister, with your permission, Elizabeth. And you as well. So you can see what a charming girl she really is." He excitedly outlined his hopes, expressed his fatherly pride in his only daughter.
Elizabeth allowed herself to be persuaded, to get caught up a bit in his fervor. In the back of her mind a tiny seed of doubt remained. She'd been given a classical education, as befitted the upper class she'd been born into. Mythology was all about the gods and goddesses. And what they wanted most, all of them, was power. And love. Something told Elizabeth Turner, that this matter was not resolved at all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elizabeth watched them troop off, the boys so proud to be out with papa, and Will looking so delighted with his task. She pressed a hand to her throat, feeling an unreasonable twinge of fear. Why should she be afraid? Joie is only a little girl! The daughter of a goddess, with power of her own. His child by another woman, that's all! No need to fret! Disgusted with herself, she turned impatiently away from the window.
Will's sons bounced along beside him, frequently bursting into dashes in front of him. Cool crispness of spring freshened the pale winter color of their cheeks. He looked forward so much to this first meeting between siblings. Will felt utterly complete, to be able to reconcile the two halves his existence had become lately. Walking on land, enjoying every one of his children, Will had never felt more alive and joyful and at peace.
They reached the cove where Joie customarily greeted him. She was already there, which surprised him. Normally Will had to wait for her, and be surprised by the form she took when she did arrive. It was like a game they played, to see if he could recognize her before she took human form.
As they approached, the boys suddenly turned shy and hung from their father's hands. Laughing, Will walked right up to the little girl. Joie turned an unhappy face to him. Seeing the boys, her eyes squinted and she looked meanly at them. Ignoring them completely, she got up and looked at Will. "Hello father." But this time she made no move to hug him as she normally did.
Will's smile faded. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" He inquired.
"Nothing," she glanced at Willy, then started long and curiously at Jack.
Seeing those two, Joie and Jack, together for the first time, made him realize how very alike they were. They truly could pass for twins born from the same womb. It was extremely disconcerting. "Joie, these are my sons, William and Jackson. Boys, your sister."
Willy glared at her. "Hi," he said between gritted teeth.
Little Jack smiled quite sweetly at her. Joie didn't seem able to take her eyes off him. The gentle, sunshiny little boy went to Joie and put an arm around her shoulders. They smiled identical smiles at each other.
"What makes YOU so special?" Willy spat. "You were an accident, he actually lives with us!"
Joie cast him an evil glare in return. "Really? Did you know he made me special, just so my mother would leave you alone?" Her smirk was quite self satisfying.
Willy seethed inside. His eyes shot daggers at the little girl.
Will was not quite sure why there was such a hostile reaction. He was pleased that Jack seemed unaffected by the sullen undercurrents. Willy sat on the flat rock and spoke little during the ensuing visit. It was left to the father to attempt to entertain all three without further outbreaks. He was quite relieved at the end of the visit, when he succeeded rather decently.
Chapter Sixteen - Payment
They stood several feet away from the shaman's hut, speaking in hushed whispers. Jack had led her there after docking, and seemed increasingly upset and jittery. Sarah confronted him.
"All right, out with it, Jack. What are we paying the shaman with?" She placed her hands on her hips expectantly.
"I offered him anything. Anything I had, except my ship. Swag, the compass, even one of the diamonds. He insisted..." Jack trailed off, swallowing hard.
"On?"
"A night with you," he whispered miserably.
For a moment she thought she'd misheard him. Then her eyes widened. "Me? A night with me. You agreed to pay the shaman. With me."
Jack gave her a mildly reproving look. "I don't plan to ever let anyone but yours truly have you, ever, Sarah. You know that, don't you? I promised him what he wanted, doesn't mean I've any intention of keeping said promise. We'll get out of it."
She rolled her eyes. All his frantic shifting stopped. "You don't want to be angering powerful magicians, as a general rule, darling. Me Pearl came through unscathed, and we've got our treasure. That was the whole and besst idea behind the negotiations."
And the full realization of Jack's choice struck her. This shaman was very strong, and if he hadn't aceded to his wishes, the adventure would have gone very badly for them. Appeasing him was the only thing on Jack's mind. If he had disagreed with the shaman, the spells might have had the opposite effect they were supposed to.
Sarah began to pace, frustrated. She dismissed her angry feelings at his lack of proper foresight and his serene faith that he could wiggle out of it somehow, which placed her in a precarious position.
"I'll offer him a diamond."
"Already did."
She cast him a rather scornful glance. "Women have ways of speaking more loudly than words, my love." She dug in her pocket for the precious jewels.
He began to answer her when the curtain over the shaman's doorway was pulled back. He strode out, heading straight for where they stood. Time was up. Sarah angled her body towards him, and held out her hand towards him. She offered an engaging, wide toothed smile. On her palm a pink diamond glittered, a temptation to any covetous man. The shaman closed his larger hand over hers, and pulled her towards him.
Jack watched helplessly as the old man dragged her along behind him into the hut. She had time to cast one uncertain look at him before disappearing into the shaman's power.
The shaman's hand was gentle but quite powerful. He brought her to the firepit and pushed her down near it until she knelt where Jack had been sitting earlier. Her heart pounded in terrible nervousness, believing that he would next force her to lie down. He was so old! She thought in wonder. How can he want...is he even able..?
The old man released her hand and walked around to take up his own place opposite her. Sarah frowned. What was he doing now? She
felt immense relief that her ordeal would be delayed, though she did not know for how long. Her mind reviewed the possibilities for a way out of this. He busied himself with brown earthenware mugs and a kettle of something steaming on the edge of the firepit. He filled both mugs, and gave her one.
Sarah took it very hesitantly. A drink first? Was she being wooed? Pleasant, aromatic smells drifted up from the contents but she didn't want to drink. She had no idea what magic or potion might be entering her body to place her even more in the power of this mysterious man. He leaned forward, tufted brows lowering angrily. He brought his own mug to his lips, and pointed imperiously at her. It was clear what he expected, Sarah didn't even need the mumbled words accompanying his gesture to understand.
She sipped, and was surprised to find a thick and unbearably sweet liquid contained within. Her chef's tongue detected hints of chocolate, and anise, and the aftertaste kicked strongly like heady alcohol. It spread lassitude and pleasure through her limbs, filled her head with a curious kind of smoke. While she drank, she wondered if some kind of aphrodisiac was in the drink.
Jack walked in restless circles. Gunther kept pace with him, glancing frequently at the man and yowling anxiously. When Jack paused in thought, the cheetah dug his claws in the ground and scratched, sharpening them. The pirate seemed totally unaware of any external events as he paced and pondered. The cheetah butted his head against Jack's leg to get his attention.
Jack knelt down and absently caressed Gunther's back. It was the first time he'd touched the animal with any kind of affection. Gunther stared deeply into Jack's eyes, hypnotic gold eyes with black centers seeming to command the man's attention. "What should we do, fella? Hmmm?" he mumbled distractedly.
'He's in there with your wife. Apparently quite ready to have a night with her. Not good! Not good! THINK, man! What else can you offer him? I've offered everything I have. She's MINE! Mine to have, mine to protect, mine to cherish. Just how important were those diamonds anyway? Help her!'
Jack tugged his beard dingles. He glanced speculatively at the cheetah. Rare and beautiful animal, strange and powerful man who needs to be paid. 'Wonder if I can get Sarah to agree to giving up her pet? In a few minutes, she might agree to anything to get out of where she is.' The thought gave Jack horrid chills.
While she drank, the old man took a leather pouch and tossed some kind of powder on the flames. The powder looked metallic. Strange and very beautiful shapes began to dance in the flames. Sarah felt detached, as if she were watching from somewhere else and her body was no longer her own.
A figure of Jack took shape in the fire. Fascinated, she watched his mouth move. She couldn't hear him, but the words were clear. 'Yes, I lied to you. No, I don't love you.' A stab of dismay raced through her. Would Jack get tired of being bound to her, would he seek more variety, and leave her?
A image of her rose in the smoke above the fire. Smoke Sarah stood with smoke children and watched Jack carelessly walk away from them. Suddenly, smoke soldiers raced at him from another direction, and shot him. Swamping fear filled her as he dropped lifelessly to the ground. No! She didn't want Jack to die, not that vibrant life! Not that curious and quick mind, silenced forever! NO!
The images cleared and Sarah panted where she still kneeled. She attempted to control her terror. This was magic, some kind of bizarre trick to make her lower her defenses. She shook her head in confusion. How did this help the shaman bed her? And how on earth could she avoid that fate? She struggled to focus on her situation. Where was Jack now? Standing outside waiting for morning? Her own face rose before her from the fire, wreathed in fragrant smoke. Across from her, the shaman's eyes sharpened keenly on her.
The youthful planes of her face sagged and wrinkled. Her lustrous black hair greyed, then whitened, then thinned until it faded away. Her lush dancer's body wasted away, years dancing by in the space of heartbeats until she was a wraith. Hideous brown spots pocked her paper thin wrinkled skin and bald head. Her eyes were sunken in their sockets, her mouth was toothless and caving in on itself.
Debilitating fear filled her, pinned her in place. Her memory supplied Calypso's words. "Promise me you will not drink the Youth water anymore." Horror as she faced the possible consequences of that promise. Sarah shook as terror and fear gripped her body and her mind.
Jack's mind raced furiously. The shaman wanted a night with his beautiful Sarah...he wanted a woman! Of course! Being such a dreaded figure of magic and power, it couldn't be easy for him to get a girl. Well, Jack would offer him TWO women, fine wenches, and take his Sarah home where she belonged! He snapped his fingers and turned towards the hut. It was then that he heard his lady's scream.
Thought left him and he leapt forward, drawing his sword. Slashing through the curtain, he charged in, and beheld Sarah. She was kneeling before the fire, smoke filled the room. She was taut and trembling as if stretched on a rack, and looked as terrified as the night he'd met her, trapped in another pirate's embrace. Some kind of colorful streaming cloud was emitting from her open mouth. The shaman was leaning forward, tipping a vial towards her as if to capture the clouds.
He grabbed Sarah around the waist and pulled her to her feet. Gunther snarled and pounced, small mouth open, fangs threatening as he landed in the shaman's lap. Jack shoved her protectively behind him, and aimed the edge of the blade close to the old man's throat. "No more. She's mine!" he growled, forgetting in his wrath to to speak the shaman's language.
The shaman attempted to pull the raging little cat off of him. His arms were getting severely clawed when Sarah spoke two terse words. "Gunther. Come."
The old man spoke to Jack with a steady rolling sentence. The pirate listened, then spoke back in an angry snarl. He lowered his sword, and backed away, keeping his body between the man and Sarah. Once they were clear of the hut, he dropped the sword and pulled his wife close. He kept yanking her closer, trying to assure himself of her safety, until she was nearly crushed by his concern. Gunther mewed frantically and raced around their feet.
"Are you all right?" he asked hoarsely. "What the hell happened in there?"
"What did he say," she answered him with a question of her own. "At the end, what did he say?"
Jack clenched in anger. "The whoreson claimed, 'I did not hurt her, and I made her better for you.'" He swallowed several times to keep from bellowing his rage at the implications of that. "I answered that I wished I could kill him, shaman or no."
Pulling back a bit, Sarah shivered as if cold. She hugged her arms around her chest and glanced at the shaman's hut. "He's right, he didn't hurt me. The night with me that he wanted, was not what we thought it was. He doesn't seem to be evil. Just very....strange." Another shiver racked her. "Thank you for getting me out," she said in a little, remote kind of voice.
It was a society voice, as if she was thanking him for dropping by for tea. Then she looked at him, no she looked right through him, and her eyes were stunned. He'd seen that look before, on a man who had a cannon go off next to his head. He went deaf, and looked quite a bit as if he simply didn't know what to do anymore, didn't know how to walk, or eat, or lie down to sleep.
She looked at him with those not there eyes, and for just a moment, regarding the results of his own tendency to agree now, negotiate later, Jack hated himself with black loathing fury. He should never have let her go into the shaman's hut. He snatched her into his arms fiercely. His chest heaved as his hands ran all over her, feeling how cold she really was. Slowly, only one thought crytalized in his mind; to warm her and bring her back to full and wonderful awareness.
Jack hauled her towards the edge of the village, and the Pearl, with exactly that intention in mind. She was unresisting as he brought her into the cabin and wrapped her in blankets. Only his kisses awakened her, and she clung to him, weeping. Her tears unmanned him as nothing else in the world ever could.
"Don't! Don't!" he begged brokenly, fluttering his hands weakly. Sarah let the tears flow freely until at last she lay quiet and rested on his chest. It took Jack much longer to fall asleep.
Chapters 17-20
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Date: 2008-05-22 01:38 am (UTC)Sorry to see you're feeling crappy, darlin'. Hope things are better since you posted ♥
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Date: 2008-05-22 01:50 pm (UTC)