Chapter 8

Sorry for the long note! Please read :-)

YO what's up I'm back. Sorry that it has been a ridiculously long time, again. This one is a longer one though! I put some good work into it to try and give you guys a good chapter. Also, I'm on break this week so I'm going to try to get another one out! I know, TWO WHOLE CHAPTERS. Someone call the police, I'm on a roll. Seriously though, I went back and read all the comments you guys have left me and it is incredible. The amount of support and love for this story has surpassed my wildest expectations. I started writing this story because there are hardly any female Jack Sparrow fics, so I figured I might as well. Now look! Incredible. Love the love.

One more note! I will continue to post all the way through At World's End in this specific story! I might make a new one for Stranger Tides and Dead Men, but we will see where we are at when we get there. Make sure you hit the follow story and author button if you want to be notified! And if you really love this story, I would love if you dropped a favorite and some comments!

Jack ran as fast as she could, which was quite fast, mind you. And, she almost escaped! She was recaptured and strung up over a fire. She hated fire. The drums we pouding around her ears and Jack waited for the moment when they would stop.

When her life would end.

Jack briefly closed her eyes. This wasn't supposed to be how she would go. She didn't know exactly how she would die, but this was not it. She wanted to be sober- no, no I don't she thought. She wanted to be with her Pearl for longer. She wanted to see Elizabeth and Will again.

But, she thought ruefully, Even if I do make it out of here, Jones is after me. The clock's a tickin', Jackie.

The drums stopped.

"Fye Fye!"

Will heard a shout, and turned from where he was standing on the sand. There, running like the dogs of hell were on her heels, was Jack. He broke into a wide grin and waved. Jack waved wildly back, shouting something he couldn't hear. He watched as around the corner of the beach one Pelegosto came running, then another, and another...until the whole tribe had rounded and were sprinting after Jack, waving bows and spears. His grin fell.

"Time to go, lads!"

They hauled themselves up onto The Pearl. Pintel and Ragetti had appeared out of nowhere with a poorly attempted plan to steal the ship, but due to their efforts they were ready to get underway with the tide. Funny how things work out like that, Will thought.

He pulled himself up and over the railing, landing lightly on his feet. He turned and watched as Jack threw herself into the waves, slogging through the water to grab onto The Pearl. He heard her shout something back at the natives, but her words were lost in the spray of the ocean. Finally, she too managed to throw herself over the side and landed on the deck with a loud thunk. She lay on her back for a moment, gasping for air.

"Why do bad things happen to good people?" she voiced aloud.

Will leaned over her face and grinned. "I don't know, but that would require you to be a good person, Jack."

She laughed heartily. "William, I had never been more glad in my life to see a familiar face." Taking his offered hand, she pulled herself up. "Now, wot's this I hear about Elizabeth?"

"She's in danger, Jack, and I need your help. I need the compass."

Jack frowed. "What? Why?"

Will hesitated. "I just need it."

Jack's frown deepened. William had never been so… hesitant like this before. He wasn't telling her everything and it took all she had not to listen to the deep mistrust that was building in her gut. She thought of the cans of spices she saw on the island, and all the rumors that had been swirling the past few months…hmpf. Two could play at this game, William.

"Gibbs!" she called, whirling around to march to the helm. "We have a need to travel upriver."

Gibbs visibly blanched. "By a need...do you mean a trifling need, a fleeting need…? As in, say...a passing fancy?"

"No. A resolute and unyielding need."

Will frowned, clearly unhappy with what he was hearing. "What we need is to set course for Port Royal with all haste!"

Jack turned. "William, I will make you a deal. I will trade you the compass...for this," she said, pulling out the drawing of the key.

"You want me to find...a key?"

"No. You want you to find this."

"And this key...this will help save Elizabeth?"

"How much do you know about Davy Jones?"

"Davy Jones? Not much."

Jack gave him an unreadable look. "We have a lot to talk about, dear William."

They sailed through the night. Jack thought and paced around like a caged animal, bottle of rum in hand. Gibbs watched her for about an hour before finally approaching her.

"What's got ya in such a bind, Jack?"

Jack took a pull from the bottle. "If we send William over to Jones' ship, 'es going to see Bill."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"I dunno."

Gibbs grunted and took a swing from his own flask. "Are ye gonna talk to him?"

"I should," she sighed, rubbing her face tiredly.

Gibbs patted her shoulder. "Do what ye think is right. Never failed ye before."

Jack watched as he disappeared below deck. She swore. What was she even going to say? It felt wrong to send him to Jones' ship without telling him anything. She couldn't do that to him, or his father. She didn't want Bill to think that she was just flinging his son into the jaws of death without reason. But, Will was being abnormally shady about why he needed her compass. She had an idea, but she was too scared to voice it aloud. If the East India Trading company was really here in the Caribbean, and Will so desperately needed her compass…

She shuddered to even think about what that could mean.

"So...why is Jack so afraid of the open ocean?"

Gibbs glanced around nervously. "Well, see...there are tales of a great beast that does Davy Jones' biddin'. A great, fearsome creature with giant tentacles that can suck a man's face clean off and drag a ship to the bottom of the ocean!" He elaborated with his hands in a very Jack-like manner. "It's called...the kraken!"

Jack flinched violently, almost tipping the boat. "Gibbs! Shut it!"

Gibbs winced. "Sorry, Cap'n."

Jack turned back around as the boats continued to slip silently through the swamp.

"So...this key, it will save her?"

"That's the very question Jack wants answered. That's why we're going to see...her."

"Her?"

"Aye, her." Gibbs replied, refusing to elaborate further.

The rest of the ride was spent in silence. Will saw figures standing among the fog, still as death. He shuddered, spooked by the eeriness. Finally, they pulled up to a shack stilted among the trees.

"Don't worry mates, Tia Dalma and I go way back. Thick as thieves."

Gibbs clambered out. "I'll watch your back."

Jack winced. "It's me front I'm worried about. Mind the boat," she said, climbing the ladder. Poor Cotton was left behind as everyone followed after.

Jack pushed the door open, looking around. The shack felt...different. It didn't look any, but Jack felt that something was off, something almost...familiar. She was uncomfortable, the air felt charged with a strange energy. But Tia Dalma looked up as the door swung open, and Jack was relieved to see her break out in a wide grin.

"Jack! Is been too long. I always know de wind was gon' blow you back to me one day," she said, rising from her chair. She sauntered over and the smile left her face. Her hands fluttered around Jack for a moment and her brow furrowed in concentration. "Jack...what happen to ye? There be darkness...all round. I can feel it."

Her hand stopped, gently resting on Jack's cheek a moment. "Oh..I see. I see."

Jack pulled away. This was not what she was here for. "I'm here on business, Tia." She moved further into the room, and Tia's eyes lit upon William.

"You...you have a touch of destiny about you, William Turner."

His eyes widened. "You...know me?"

Tia floated closer. "You want to know me?"

William looked distinctly uncomfortable. Jack considered letting him flounder but decided to intervene.

"There will be no getting to know anyone. We are here on business, Tia."

"Fine. You know I demand payment."

Finally! "And we brought payment!"

Jack gestured for Gibbs to bring the cage forward.

"Look," she said excitedly. "An undead monkey!"

And with great pleasure, she shot the infernal little beast. It screeched and recoiled in the cage. Jack handed it over to Tia, who opened the cage and let the monkey scramble about.

"The payment is fair."

Jack pulled out the drawing, cursing the monkey under her breath. Beside her, she could hear Gibbs doing the same.

"We are looking for this and what it goes to."

Tia looked at the drawing for a moment. "The compass, it does not lead you to dis?"

"Well…" Jack hedged, "No, it doesn't."

"Ahhh! Jack Sparrow does not know what she wants! Or...do know, and loathe to claim it as your own. Or maybe...cannot?"

Jack narrowed her eyes. What was the bloody woman talking about now? She was quickly losing interest in this conversation and wandered away, lost in her thoughts. What does she want most? Well, she wanted the spot gone. She wanted rum. She wanted gold. And she wanted…

I love ye.

Jack leaned in the doorframe, gazing out at the dark swamp. The black cloud swirled again in her mind and her lips tightened into a thin line. Loathe to claim it, cannot. It made no difference.

"Your key goes to a chest, and it is what lay inside that you seek, don't it?"

"And what exactly is inside?" Gibbs cut in.

"Gold? Jewels? Unclaimed properties of a valuable nature?"

"Nothing bad...I hope."

Tia grinned, her black teeth glinting in the candle light. "You know of Davy Jones? A man of de sea. A great sailor, until him ran afoul that dat of which vex all men."

"That what vexes all men?" Will asked.

The crew was sitting on the edge of their seats, hanging on Tia's every word.

"The sea?"

"Sums!"

"The dichotomy of good and evil?"

That which vexes all men… "A woman," Jack said, turning back to the conversation.

"A woman. Him fell in love."

Gibbs frowned. "I heard it was the sea he fell in love with."

Tia waved a hand dismissively. "Same story, different versions, all are true! It was a woman, as chinging, as harsh, as untamable as the sea. Him never stopped loving her. But, de pain of de love cause 'im too much pain to live wid, and not enough to die. It was not wort' feelin' what small, fleeting joy life brings. So, him carve out him heart, lock it away, and hide it from de world. De keys, him keys, him keep wid him at all times."

Her story was met with silence, before Will turned accusingly to Jack.

"You knew this!"

She scoffed. "Only a little bit. I didn't know what was in the chest. Now we do! We should make way, get the key, and then go save Elizabeth!"

Jack wanted out. She wanted to leave the shack. The feeling of unease was only increasing and she did not like it one bit. Something was off, and every fiber of her being was urging her to leave.

Will opened his mouth to respond, but Tia interrupted. "Let me see ye hand!"

Jack cringed. She casually held out her left hand, but Tia grabbed her right. Jack tried to pull back but Tia's grip was strong. She unwrapped the bandages and the black spot was exposed in all its glory.

"The black spot!" Pintel gasped. He wiped his hands on his shirt and spun around before spitting on the ground. Ragetti copied him. Jack glanced at Gibbs, who rolled his eyes.

Tia disappeared deeper into her shack, muttering to herself. Jack caught William's eye and he glared at her. She turned away.

Tia reappeared carrying a large jar, filled to the top with...dirt. It was filled with dirt. She handed the jar to Jack, explaining, "Davy Jones cannot make port but once every ten years. Land is where you be safe, Jack Sparrow, so land you will carry wid you."

Jack made a face. "This...is a jar of dirt."

"Yes."

"And this jar of dirt...is going to help me?"

"If you don't want it, then give it back."

Jack frowned. "No," she said, hugging it tightly.

"Den it helps."

William leaned in. "It seems we have a need to find the Flying Dutchman."

Tia smiled at him and went back to her desk. The crew followed as she picked up a variety of things- shells, a claw, and some stones- and shook them.

"A touch...of destiny!"

She tossed them dramatically on the table. They leaned further in to look.

"What...what does it mean?"

Tia looked up and glared. "Dis is where you will find the Dutchman."

They frowned and Jack tilted her head to get a better view. "Oh! I see. I know that spot."

"Yes. Dis is where the Dutchman be."

Jack stood up straight. "Aright. It's best we be off."

Jack strode to the door, taking one last look around. She paused, notcing that the monkey was perched on a table, standing next to-

A hat. She blinked. She tried to stop to take a closer look, but the crew was pressing behind her and she was shuffled out the door. Jack turned to look again but all she saw was Tia's unreadable face, closing the door behind her.

That was Hector Barbossa's hat.

WOOP WOOP WE MAKIN MOOOVES I am excited again. Stay tuned- there is a high chance of another chapter coming out this week! As early as tomorrow! If I can pull my shit together. We shall see. As always, read and review! Love the love!