First off, let me say that I am SO SO SO SO SORRY for the long and ridiculous absence that I have placed upon you all. It was semi-necessary, semi-unneccessary, and a whole lot of museless time for this story since I last wrote for you all. But, now I am back and I am devoted to finishing this story before the end of the year 2011. I mean, come on, you people deserve better than me writing and I can only humbly say thank you for taking the time and still reading and reviewing and such while I've been away. You all are amazing.

Also, if you all want to keep up with me, my stories, or really whatever, follow me on twitter (or check out my twitter). My username is prongsflower and you can find me at www dot twitter dot com slash prongsflower. Seriously, I promise some of the stuff I post is funny. :)

Now, after that, let's just get on with the most important thing besides my rambling: the actual chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own it, duh!

Payment

Charlotte wasn't sure what to think as the small dinghy she, Jack, John, and Barbossa were in came around to a small cabin in the middle of the dark, humid swamp. One thing she did know, however, that her son was not going to be getting help from whatever witch doctor Jack had seen fit to call upon at the time. "Jack, he can't be going in there. It doesn't even look fit to stay settled for that much longer." She said as the dock rocked back and forth and the house swayed along with it.

Jack gave an almost nervous smile as he smoothed his hand very tenderly across John's forehead. The child, his child he reprimanded himself, looked nothing short of ghostly as he shook slightly in his sleep as though he were having a seizure. Turning to look back at Charlotte, he noticed the worry in her pale blue eyes and gathered John in his arms before stepping onto the dock as Barbossa held the boat steady.

"We don' 'ave much o' a choice, love." He said and then began to make his way towards the cabin's doors. He knew that he dind't have any business being there; Tia Dalma wasn't really his biggest fan what with him stealing from her, bedding her, lying to her, and commiting the ultimate act of piracy by leaving before she had awoken the next day, but Charlotte didn't need to know that. She also didn't need to know that this was probably their only hope seeing as their child, he still marveled at the fact that the boy in his arms was his son, was sick with some ailment no one knew how to fix.

Gibbs had called it a sea-curse, brought upon the smallest of the 'crew' because there was a woman on board. Jack thought the old codger had lost his head again. "Jack, do ya believe she'll help? Afta' all these yers?" Barbossa whispered as Jack passed him and entered the cabin.

"Let's hope so, mate." Jack said and then locked eyes with the sea-witch as she got a maniacal smirk on her dirty face. When she smiled, her yellowing teeth shone in the dim light and her twisted hair fell slightly from her face, allowing him to see that her eyes had taken on an even more wild-eyed look than they had been four years ago when he had first been marooned here.

As Charlotte filed in between Barbossa and himself, he tried to smile charmingly at her as he walked inside. "Well, love, it seems as if we 'ave a problem, 'ere wi' tha boy." Gesturing towards John, who was sweating now and shivering against his clothes, Jack continued as Charlotte worried her hands and Barbossa looked around in boredom.

"I was wondering if you would help my son?" Charlotte asked in a timid voice as Jack cut a look to her and to Tia Dalma, who had suddenly smiled and stood from her place at her table. As she teetered along on her boots, she gestured towards the door that led to the bedroom in the back.

"Put him there." She said in her heavy Jamaican accent and Jack obliged. As Charlotte went to follow, the woman's mocha colored arm shot out and wound itself around her wrist. "Charlotte Kent, I never thought I'd see the day when you walked through my doors."

Charlotte's eyes widened and she saw Jack pause before continuing on into the bedroom where he laid John down on the bed. John cried out in his sleep and Charlotte, not knowing what to do, wrenched herself from the woman's grasp before she could continue. Moving Jack from his seat next to John, she cradled him in her arms where he was soothed slightly at his mother's touch.

Putting her long fingers against the nape of the boy's neck, Tia Dalma closed her eyes and chanted slightly before pulling back and widening her glittering eyes. "His cure, it demands payment." She stated loudly to the pair before standing back and keeping one eye trained on Barbossa, who was know walking around the cabin. Jack smiled valiantly and brought a coin purse, as well as the compass, from his belt.

"I'll exchange you this," He said, holding up the compass and watching as Tia gritted her teeth before narrowing her eyes, "And what'ers in there." He bargained, this time tossing them to the table next to the small bed. Grinning, Tia lifted the two items up, weighed them in her hand, and tossed them back.

"That's not the payment I'm requiring." She said before looking at Charlotte and smiling viciously. "What would you do to save your son?" Her voice was eerily empty as she posed her question and without thinking, Charlotte replied. "Anything."

Tia bared her teeth again before disappearing into the front of her cabin again and the sound of tinkering glass could be heard as Jack and Charlotte exchanged a glance. Without really knowing what he was doing, Jack grabbed Charlotte's hand and held it tightly in his own as John started to shake again. Clearing her throat, they both looked up as, smugly, Tia stood right in front of them.

Holding up a small glass vial and what looked to be a funnel of sorts, she smiled and in her other hand, held a gleaming silver blade. "Blood. That be the payment."

Well, sorry to leave you all there with a cliff-hanger but I wanted something to keep you coming back for more! Mwuahhahaha. I am evil. But again, leave me a review, let me know what you think, and I'll let you all in on a little secret. I know the ending and it will be epic! And hopefully, it won't take me two and a half years to update this time around. I would like to finish this story before I turn thirty anyway. So, hope you all enjoyed and are liking where this is going (if you've guessed or have some idea I'd love to hear theories!). Talk to you soon, my lovelies.

And don't forget to follow on twitter. That's where I'll post and keep you all updated on what's to come!

Love!