A/N: Here we have it; the last chapter of this story. A huge thank you to those who read and reviewed the last chapter, you know who you are. You all rock for sticking with me!
I hope you like this ending. I tried to make it as less clichéd as I could. Let's see what you think of.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean.
Chapter 18
'Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.'
~Ralph Waldo Emerson.
"Stop, please stop." Nerissa spoke up as she tugged on Jack's sleeve. He came to an abrupt halt and turned to look at her. She looked like she had walked for days. He frowned.
"Are you alright, love?" He asked as he turned and grasped her arms, trying to look at her better.
She shook her head and looked beyond his shoulder, her gaze focusing on the dark misty mountain behind him.
"Cap'n, I think she should rest. Hell, even me own feet are exhausted!" Gibbs exclaimed as he dropped unceremoniously onto his bottom among the greenery.
Jack eyed him with a small frown, "It does seem longer than it looked…" He looked at his compass and then at the giant hill.
"Aye…Why is that?" Gibbs asked and Nerissa shook her head.
"We should rest…at least for a while." She whispered as she let go of him and leaned against a tree trunk. Slowly, she slid down so she was sitting on the ground.
Jack scowled and eyed his compass one last time, "Bugger." He hissed, but his glimmering ring caught his attention. He slowly brought his hand to his eye level and looked at it.
"That's…interesting." He murmured and Gibbs looked at him.
Nerissa stared at the ring. Her breath hitched. With a look of alarm she tugged at her shirt, pulling down the neckline so she could look at her tattoo.
"Oi, love! Since I am your legal spouse, I think it a bit too forward to have you flaunt your assets to-…" Jack started as his eyes zeroed on her exposed skin, but he was cut off.
"Jack, look." Gibbs cut him off and the pirate did so.
The tear on Nerissa's breast was glowing in an odd color; with a mixture of silver and red. It was the same as his ring.
"Whoa…" Jack muttered as he approached. He kneeled down next to her and reached out to touch the tear. The moment his finger made contact with her skin he yelped.
"What in bloody hell?" he exclaimed as he put his aching finger in his mouth and looked at her Nerissa with wide eyes.
"I think we're getting closer." She told him, "Does your ring burn?" She asked him quietly and he wiggled his fingers before he touched it.
"No." He shook his head and leaned against the tree as well. His dark eyes looked up and he groaned before he opened his compass again. He frowned when the needle started turning furiously and Gibbs slipped closer so he could have a better look.
"Odd." Jack muttered as he shook the thing heavily. Suddenly, it stopped and pointed to his right. He rolled his eyes and eyed Nerissa out of the corner of his eye. She was looking at him blankly.
"Something wrong with it?" she asked and Gibbs snorted.
Jack looked at him murderously and the older man cleared his throat, "Sorry."
"I fear you do not get the problem, mate. We need to know where the damn tear is!" Jack hissed, but Nerissa gently touched his hand.
"Jack." She breathed and he turned to look at her, his eyes softening.
"Siren?"
"I know where we should go." She told him as she raised her hand and pointed at the dark, almost black cloud that was veiling the tall rocky mountain.
Jack's eyes flashed with realization, "Aye." he turned to her,"Can you walk?" he asked and Nerissa eyed her feet. They felt numb and weak. Slowly she shook her head.
Jack cursed and quickly pocketed his compass, "Very well." He sat back on his knees and reached for her. He picked her up with a small groan and then stood. Tightening his hold around her he looked at Gibbs.
"We need to get going. I want to get away from this wretched place. I ain't like it. You hear?" he yelled as he looked up at the sky. His only answer was a reverberating thunder that shook the earth.
"Show off." He muttered and when Nerissa slipped an arm around his neck he started walking.
Gibbs gulped and followed behind them after quickly spitting into his shirt and spinning around once.
Jack rolled his eyes, but remained silent.
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"Well, that's it. We cannot move any further." Jack exclaimed as he put Nerissa down and started approaching the darkened cavern. The entrance was obscured by a giant rock.
"We can't get in?" She asked and Jack turned to her, his hands on his hips.
"Unless you have supernatural strength…" he cut himself short and pointed at her, "You did have…You pushed me when I had first tried to touch you." He smirked.
Nerissa hesitated, "I am not sure I can move that." She said with disbelief, "I can't even walk." She looked at Gibbs who was slowly rubbing his chin in deep thought.
"I'll help you try." The older man nodded his head at her and Nerissa swallowed thickly.
"Alright." She wiped her sweaty hands on her breeches and with a heavy heart she stepped forward. Gibbs came to stand behind her and helped her stand as she slowly, almost fearfully placed her hands against the stone. Closing her eyes, she started pushing. Nothing. She pushed again. Nothing.
She dropped her arms and looked at Jack, "This is not right." She murmured and looked at the large bushes that covered the other side of the cavern, "Maybe the entrance is not here…It's too obvious, don't you think? Come on, Captain." She gave a small smile, "You're supposed to be the clever one here."
Jack grinned at her, "Aye." He nodded and then raised a single bejeweled finger, "A moment." He turned and eyed the greenery to his right. He hummed and pulled out his compass only to slam it shut a moment later. He removed his hat and threw it at Nerissa who caught it quickly.
"If you please, love." He called before he leaned forward and parted the plants with his hands. He groaned and then unsheathed his sword, quickly cutting through anything that stood in his way. He took a few steps and then he let out a cry of triumph which quickly transformed into a loud, high pitched yell.
Nerissa gasped when his foot slid over the seemingly solid ground and she watched with wide eyes as he fell into the pit under him.
Gibbs rushed over and an invisible force pushed him forward. He fell with a loud groan and Nerissa quickly looked around her. A tiny, but at the same time high pitched giggle echoed around her and she shivered. Her gaze perused the semi darkness and she felt her heart doing somersaults inside her chest the more she stood there alone. Holding herself up by leaning against the rocky surface of the outer cavern, she slowly made her way towards the large pit. Taking a deep breath, she let go and leaned forward. She screamed.
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"Love, you're stepping on my toes again. Ouch! Gibbs! Did you just touch me?" Jack's voice was loud and it echoed in the open space around them, but Nerissa was too busy trying not to fall to pay attention to him.
"Jack, that ain't me arm." Gibbs' voice was exasperated and Jack growled.
"Then get out of me way, man! Nerissa?" his fingers found her hair and he hummed, "Ah, there you are."
Nerissa grabbed Jack's hand as they continued walking along the wall, their feet splashing water around as they stepped into it. The water reached their calves and it was freezing.
"We need light." Jack exclaimed and as soon as he said it a bright luminance lightened their path.
Nerissa gasped and stumbled when she realized that the light was coming from his hand. The ring was glowing a vibrant red that made everything look like gold.
"Which way?" Gibbs asked as soon as she spotted the two separate paths.
Jack frowned and pulled Nerissa to his side, "Love?" He turned to her.
She blinked and gazed down at the water around their feet, "I don't know…I don't like it here." She looked at Jack, "I don't see a way out." She whispered and his dark eyes roamed the enclosed walls. He clicked his tongue and looked at Gibbs.
"We should separate." He started, "Gibbs, go-…"
"No!" Nerissa shook her head fiercely, "No, we are not splitting up…" she turned to Jack, "You're not sending him alone."
Jack cocked an eyebrow and grinned, "Feisty. I like that."
She had the urge to flush, but she didn't, "We will check together." She said instead and the grin did not leave his face as she headed for the first tunnel. Their way was blocked by a bronze like gate.
"Bugger. Shouldn't there be a key?" Jack asked with irritation as he fingered the metal.
Nerissa sighed and looked around. Suddenly the water around their feet was disturbed. Tiny circles formed on the ice cold water and as Nerissa stared at them they started getting bigger and bigger. The water started whirling like a tornado and then something golden glimmered in its shallow depths.
Nerissa took a step back when she noticed the movement.
"Jack." She whispered as she tightened her hold on his arm. He turned to look at her and when he followed her gaze and saw the shimmering tail that was parting the water he grimaced.
"Ah…"
"What's that?" Gibbs asked as he took a step back. His back collided with the humid wall behind him.
"That's my mama- in- law." Jack stated dryly and there was a loud cackle before the creature showed up.
Blond hair appeared first and then a woman in the form of a mermaid appeared. Nerissa swallowed as the spitting image of her rose from the water. Droplets of water slid down her porcelain skin and as she rose higher and higher the tail disappeared only to be replaced by long lean legs.
Jack quirked an eyebrow at the naked woman in front of him and chuckled.
"What an entrance." He muttered as his eyes locked with Atargatis black gaze. That was the only thing that was different on her. The rest of her was an exact replica of Nerissa.
"You spoke of a key, Jack Sparrow." She said smoothly and her eyes locked on Nerissa, "You have it right next to you." She smoothed a hand down the long hair that covered up her breasts and Jack blinked.
"The love? Eh, Nerissa, I mean?" He frowned and the Goddess nodded.
"A tear for a tear, Jack." She said and Nerissa stepped forward.
"If you wanted to help us why didn't you show us the way? Why appear now?" she asked and Jack's hand prevented her from stepping any closer. His fingers were like iron around her wrist.
"Where would be the thrill in that?" Atargatis smiled condescendingly and Nerissa stared at her.
"I hate this humidity when I do not have my tail. Could you please carry on?" Her black eyes glimmered with irk as she spoke and Nerissa looked at Jack who looked smug.
"Goddesses are rather petty, aye?" He pointed out and Gibbs rolled his eyes.
Atargatis smiled at him, "That excited you in the past." She purred and Nerissa wanted to gag. Jack smirked mirthlessly in reply.
Stepping away from Jack, Nerissa slowly turned to face the gate.
"Not that one, my love." Atargatis spoke up "To get to the treasure you have to open the other door first. The tear is the key for the treasure."
Nerissa paused and looked at the woman across from her before she stepped in front of the other gate. Unlike the first one this one was made of stone.
"You need a tear." Atargatis reminded her.
Nerissa turned to her, "You said I was the key to this. That's what you said."
Atargatis nodded, 'Yes, but there is always a price for such gifts. Any tear would do." The goddess waved her hand at her almost dismissively.
Nerissa blinked, "I cannot cry on command. You are a goddess. Can't you open it?"
Jack grinned and tried to hide it by smoothing down his moustache.
Atargatis took a deep breath, "No, I cannot. Only the bearer of the tear can unlock this door." Her black eyes went to Nerissa's chest. She was talking about the mark on Nerissa's breast.
Nerissa looked at Jack briefly who only stared back at her with intensity. She sighed and looked at the door. She tried everything that would cause tears. Morbid thoughts; her mother's death, the pain of her transformation…Anything, but she was too alarmed, too nervous to be actually affected.
Hunching over, she shook her head, "I can't."
Jack's hand appeared on her shoulder and Atargatis noticed. With a snarl she waved her hand towards Nerissa. The water whirled around Nerissa's body and before anyone could blink she let out a scream.
Gibbs jumped and Jack grimaced, but he did not move away. He watched with wide eyes as Nerissa fell to her knees and sobbed loudly. Merciless, fat tears rolled down her cheeks and he snarled.
"What in bloody hell are you doing?" He exclaimed as he fell on his knees next to the former mermaid and clasped her to him.
Atargatis smiled wickedly, "I am not doing anything. I simply showed her something that upsets her to her very core."
Jack sneered, "And what's that?"
"Us. Together. Who knew the ring would work, right? She's bound to you." Atargatis' voice sounded hoarse and distant and before Jack could come up with a reply the almost inaudible splash of Nerissa's tears disturbed the heaviness of her sobs. Jack looked at her and pushed her hair away as he pulled her to his chest.
She went willingly and when the door creaked open Gibbs stepped forward.
"Mother's love…Jack." He whispered and Jack looked at the brightly lit room.
Their artifact was there.
It was small, enclosed in a golden chest and it was resting in the middle of the large cave.
Nerissa pulled away from Jack and wiped at her cheeks, her lips trembling as she eyed the chest.
"Get it." Atargatis was impatient and Jack frowned.
He clasped his hand around Nerissa's arm and pulled her back, "Hold it."
Atargatis turned to glare at him, "You're interfering? Why? I thought you were more than just eager to make her live." She spat and Jack slowly stood.
"Indeed. I was…and still am. But something tells me that you are not that enthusiastic." He approached the goddess and stared at her, "Why did you bring us here?" He asked lowly.
Atargatis smiled tightly, "Jack, surely you don't doubt me." She started sweetly, "She has to bring the tear outside."
"Hmm. Why don't you?" He quirked an eyebrow and Nerissa looked between the two of them with increasing dread.
She briefly locked eyes with Gibbs who narrowed his eyes knowingly at her.
She looked at the tiny chest and slowly crawled forward. No one noticed her.
"Prove that you are not lying." Jack crossed his arms over his chest.
"If you check you shall see that the other door is open. Do it." Atargatis waved at the shut door to their left.
Gibbs shook his head, "Jack, don't."
Jack's gaze flickered towards his first mate, "How about you do it?" he challenged and the goddess actually rolled her eyes before she thrust her hand forward.
The bronze gate swung open and Jack inhaled sharply at the contents of the room. His eyes glimmered greedily and Gibbs gulped.
"Bloody hell."
Jack smirked and stepped forward as if on a trance, but then he noticed Nerissa slipping towards the chest that held the tear.
His eyes widened when he noticed Atargatis gaze on the former mermaid.
He stopped and turned towards her and when Nerissa's fingers grasped the chest and lifted the lid Atargatis inhaled sharply.
Jack watched with shock as the goddess's eyes were shining in a dark red that dominated her pupils, and when she started walking on the water as if it was solid ground he lurched forward.
"Wait!" He exclaimed, his voice leaving him in a bark of sheer fury.
Nerissa paused for a moment and when she saw Atargatis getting closer to the door she made a decision.
"You don't want this for me…You want it for you." She whispered and her frightened eyes watched with dread as Jack's way into the room was blocked by an invisible obstacle. He fell back and into the water with a groan. The ring around his finger glimmered darkly and he moaned out loud. The smell of burned flesh filled Nerissa's nostrils and she cried out at the image Jack made while writhing in pain on the ground.
"Take it off!" She exclaimed and he growled.
"I can't!" He screamed at her and Nerissa looked at Atargatis.
"Take it off him. Take it off and I'll give you the tear." She said quickly.
The goddess cocked her head to the side, "I don't trust you, child. Swear it."
"I swear." She nodded and picked up the tiny vial that held the tear, "I swear on my life as a mermaid that I will give it to you."
Atargatis smirked, "You little fool. No man deserves your love. No man deserves any sort of sacrifice. But I guess it is a small price I must pay." She murmured and Nerissa tightened her fingers around the vial as her eyes flickered to Jack. His face was screwed up in agony as he cradled his hand against his chest.
Gibbs was standing a few feet away looking lost. Once their eyes locked his hand went to one of the pistols on his belt.
"It is a small price if I want to be free again. I will be free of any form…I will be invisible again. I will rule the four elements of the earth once again. Even the fire." The goddess whispered as she thrust her translucent hands against the threshold, her eyes greedily eyeing the tear in Nerissa's hand.
"So you never wanted to save me." Nerissa whispered and Atargatis' eyes flashed to hers.
"You silly little creature. Why would I want to make you immortal when that tear, the last tear I had given as gift before my enslavement would break my servile chains? Bodies are nice, useful, but nothing is as wonderful as freedom. Your lover must know that." Her red eyes shone profoundly and Nerissa shook from fear and fury.
"Release him from the ring and I will give it to you. I swear it." Nerissa forced herself to speak and Atargatis growled before she obliged.
Jack breathed a sigh of relief and groaned when he was finally able to remove the scorching ring. He threw it away and it landed near Atargatis' feet.
"Now." The goddess grinned and Nerissa nodded before she slowly stood. Her feet splashed noisily inside the water and she looked at her mother or whoever that creature was.
She tilted her head to the side and gave a small smirk, "Promises are made to be broken." She whispered and then she turned around and threw the tiny vial against the wall with force. It shattered into a million little pieces and as it broke Atargatis' scream reverberated in the cavern around them. The tear splashed into the water and as it connected with it the cave shook. Nerissa stumbled back and she lost her footing. She fell onto her back, her head catching the edge of a jagged rock and she cried out before she went still.
Jack rose to his feet and above the screams of the goddess he smelled the fire. The entire cavern was in flames, the water glowing with it as it spread from the shattered vial to the rest of the cave. Atargatis stumbled back and her wide red eyes looked panicked as she fell to the ground. Her body convulsed before it went absolutely still. Her legs disappeared and the tail returned only to hang lifelessly from her body.
Jack lunged forward and looked at the enflamed cavern with wide eyes.
"Jack! We need to get out!" Gibbs' voice was hoarse, but Jack was not ready to go just yet.
He watched with alarm as the water rose higher than his thighs and with a curse he jumped into the enflamed stream that slapped his body with force. He swam towards Nerissa's lifeless body and grasped her legs. He propelled her towards him and clasped an arm around her waist as the fire slipped from the water and started burning the cave's walls instead.
He took in a huge gulp of air and then shook his head at Gibbs, "Go! Go, mate!" He wheezed and the older man started swimming.
"There's no way out! Where was all this water? Jack?"
"Keep swimming! Bugger, my compass!" he groped around frantically for his much needed compass and when he couldn't find it he started panicking.
"Gibbs! Find my compass!" he barked and the older man stopped swimming and went underwater.
Jack groaned and tightened his hold on Nerissa, trying to keep her head above the water.
"Gibbs! Bugger it all!" he took a deep breath and while holding Nerissa up with one hand he slipped his head below the surface. His eyes narrowed as they roamed the ground and when he located his compass he grabbed Gibbs by the scruff and shook him. Once the older man spotted the compass he swam towards it. Next to it was the ring. He grabbed that as well and then resurfaced.
He handed the compass to Jack who opened it. It pointed south. Jack whirled around to find the exit and then he spotted the rocky path that led above. It was covered with tree roots. They had to climb.
"There! Go!" he motioned for Gibbs to follow him and as he threw Nerissa over his shoulder he turned and gave a last look behind him. The silver and gold in the flooded room mocked him and he gritted his teeth before he grasped onto a tree root and started climbing with Nerissa hanging from his body. He had made a choice and as he felt the grounding weight of Nerissa on his back, he realized that it was the only one he could ever make. He wouldn't regret it; he wasn't allowed to.
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"Jack, it's of no use." Gibbs' voice was hollow in Jack's ears as he kept pressing on Nerissa's chest with his hands.
"Jack-…"
"Shut up, Gibbs!" He barked angrily as he kept up his motions. There was blood on the back of her head and there was probably a lot of water in her lungs, but she was not dead. Not if it was up to him.
He placed his lips on hers and blew in her mouth. Once, twice, three times, until he was almost breathless and dizzy.
Gibbs shook his head and gently placed the now cool ring next to Nerissa's head.
Jack ignored him, intent on his goal of breathing back life into her lungs.
"You know, maybe it's for the best. Without the tear-…"
"Shut up, Gibbs! I won't tell you again!" Jack gave a harsh push on Nerissa's chest and before Gibbs could speak another word her loud hoarse cough broke the silence.
Gibbs' eyes widened and Jack froze as she turned on her side to cough out all the water she had swallowed.
Jack's hands went to her back as she tried to regain her breath and he grinned, his eyes lighting up with relief.
Nerissa sat up slowly and cradled her head as her heavy eyes found Jack's dark gaze.
"I'm alive." She murmured and he chuckled while Gibbs sighed with relief.
"Well, you better be. I just abandoned a cave full of gold to get you out." He murmured teasingly and she stared at him, her blue eyes wide and baffled.
"Why did you?" She murmured as she coughed again.
Jack smirked and reached down to pick her up, "Well, love, I wouldn't be Jack Sparrow if I was not full of surprises, now would I?" he stood with her in his arms and with a last look at the tall, enflamed mountain he started walking towards the longboat.
"She was bonded to it…" Nerissa whispered tiredly, "Her fate was linked to it-…"
"Hush, love." He murmured as he pulled her tighter to him, "Come on, Gibbs." He called and the older man looked behind them once and then followed them towards the boat.
In the distance, the hoarse crying of a fallen goddess disturbed the quietness of the island. The ring on the ground gave one last glimmer and then it went a dull red again.
Its mistress had fallen; its use was over.
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A few days later…
"Well? What do you think? Pretty little trinket, aye?" Jack smirked as he waved his hand in front of Nerissa. He plopped on the bunk next to her and reached to touch her injured head.
"It's stolen." She pointed out as she gazed at the ring on his middle finger.
Jack frowned, "No I found it."
"Where?"
"It was in the cargo of the ship we raided." He grinned and she smiled a bit.
"Does it have a purpose?" She asked and he looked offended.
"Aye! I lost our wedding ring." He said in a matter of fact voice.
Nerissa flushed, "You're not really married to me, Captain."
He waved a hand at her, "Trifles." His eyes went to the teardrop tattoo on her chest and he reached out to touch it, pushing her neckline down as he did so.
She jumped a bit and he grinned, "I remember this glimmering when we consummated our marriage-…"
"Jack!" she laughed as she grabbed his hand and held it in her own, "It was not-…"
"Now, hold it there. I am a pirate. I won't ever get what other admirable fellows in society get. This is the closest I'll get." He cut her off as he tuned her head a bit so he could look at the healing gush on the back of her head.
"What do you get, Captain?" She asked quietly as he let go of her head and she turned to look at him.
"Something of my own." He grinned and grabbed the back of her neck to pull her closer.
Nerissa swallowed hard, "I could still die. Soon perhaps." She whispered against his lips and he nodded.
"Aye. We all die, love. One way or the other. We might die now, or in a week, a month, a year. It's better not to count your days or the breaths you take. Death should be as unexpected as life. No one knows when they will be born. It should be the same with death." He said as he placed a kiss to the corner of her mouth.
"You do not fear death." She whispered and he pulled back to look into her eyes.
"I see death as an unavoidable transformation, love. I've been dead and I came back. No use to think much on it." He kissed her deeply and then grinned, "Now, let's see what pretty little trinkets are buried in those chests, aye?" He jumped from the bed and started rummaging noisily around the contents of the largest chest.
"Oi, love! Girly things! Haven't seen you in a dress, but now that you can walk properly..." He whirled around and showed her a heavy silk emerald dress. With a wink he threw it towards her and she caught it.
As he pulled out a lacy corset, he cocked an eyebrow and grinned as he threw it at her as well.
Nerissa hugged the clothes close and smiled.
The End
Author's note: That's it. It's done. I had so much fun writing this! I hope you liked it. I want to thank anyone who was read and reviewed. You guys make me smile. I hope I'll see you over to my other stories as well!
Until next time!
Xxx Lina ;o)