Sinking with the Titanic, Rose ends up on a ship with the pirate Jack Sparrow and a sea goddess' diamond heart. When she tries to free the cursed Will Turner things get complicated, but falling for a dishonest pirate on rum withdrawal is an even wor...
"How could you return my heart after you had sold it?" she growled.
"I was in a bit of a predicament at the time. But hey, I brought it back to you, no harm done, savvy?" Again he raised the throbbing jewel.
The sea goddess reached for it, but Jack was too far away.
"Quick, someone pour more rum over the fire, as soon as it stops burning she can get to us," he cried.
Elizabeth emptied another rum bottle and threw more firewood on top.
"You shall get it back, Calypso. I just need one tiny, tiny little favor." He put his index finger and his thumb close together.
"You dare bargaining with me OVER MY OWN HEART? That you stole?" bellowed Calypso.
"Borrowed," he corrected. Then his voice became beseeching, and he very nearly made puppy eyes at the goddess. "Just one little thing. It's easy for you, Tia. I mean Calypso. I just want my ship, savvy? I must have her back. I need her."
"Curse you, Jack Sparrow. Curse you!"
"Please."
Shaking with rage, Calypso roared out her frustration and anger. Pebbles rolled away from under their feet and the ground trembled.
Then she waved her hands in an intricate pattern, and Rose felt a breeze against her face. It grew in strength, stirring the grass around her, and within moments it had become a strong gale. The palms bowed to the ground, and by the beach the Barnacle nearly tore its moorings as the wind increased. Strangely, the only thing unaffected by the storm was the fire. It still burned merrily, its smoke forming a straight column.
"She's coming! It's her!" Jack shaded his eyes with his hand and stared at a rapidly growing point on the horizon. Rose recognized the ship from all the drawings and models in his house.
The Black Pearl came to a halt next to the fishing boat, and long strands of kelp began to cover its sides, reaching, searching for something. One of the persons milling around on the vessel got caught in the slimy tendrils and was pulled overboard. Now a huge assembly of small crabs welled out from the rough waves and carried the unlucky sailor ashore, until he lay by the goddess' feet.
The man struggled against his seaweed bonds, but they were wound tightly from his neck down to his toes. He looked to be in his forties, with a rough face covered with scars and a scraggly beard, and on his head he wore a triangular captain's hat. A small capuchin monkey clung to the hat, looking at Calypso with large, frightened eyes. Rose felt sorry for it.
"A captain for a heart," said Calypso.
"Deal," said Jack, and taking a careful step forward he dropped the necklace into her outstretched hand.
As soon as it touched her palm the goddess began to shrink, losing some of her fearful appearance and becoming more like a human woman. She was pretty, ample and sensual, and looked at the gem like one might a great treasure. She stroked it almost reverently, her finger following it's ruby contours.
Jack took the hat from the bound pirate, and shaking off the monkey he placed it on his own head. "Afternoon, ex Captain Barbossa."
Barbossa... So this was Jack's worst enemy. He certainly looked untrustworthy.
Barbossa scowled up at him. "Jack Sparrow. I should have known this accursed wind was your doing!"
"It's Captain Jack Sparrow." He gave him a smug smile.
Calypso had finished admiring her heart and turned her attention back to Jack. "This ship will bring you no happiness, Jack Sparrow. She is a curse!" Her voice was no longer a loud roar, but still sounded ominous. "The Black Pearl is making your heart black too – already she is pulling you away from what really matters. Another Pearl... Who will hate you in time."
Jack stared at her mutely, his smile slowly waning.
"All is not lost yet. There are choices, and there are sacrifices."
Then she went on to Elizabeth, who had just added another piece of driftwood to the fire. "King Elizabeth of the Brethren Court, I am grateful to you for what you did not long ago, when you made sure I was freed from my human form. But it is no easy thing you wish for. Your husband is stuck outside time, immortal and bound to the ship. It will not allow him to go – for the Dutchman must have a captain."
Elizabeth stared at her in dismay, tears filling her eyes. "Is there really no way?"
Instead of answering, Calypso turned to Rose. "It's time to leave. Your afterlife has long awaited you."
"I don't want to." Rose felt her lip tremble. Calypso reached for her but she backed away.
"You wish to stay here?"
Rose nodded quickly. Her heart was racing uncontrollably, she did not want to die.
"Well, you can't," said the goddess flatly. "The Heart kept you alive this long – my heart. Without it you will fade away, stretch out like butter scraped over too much bread, until nothing remains of you but a thin shadow. A ghost. And when that happens, you will be forever stuck in this world, seen by nobody, feeling nothing, never to move on to the afterlife."
"Don't do it, miss, if you don't mind my interrupting," said Barbossa. "I tried ghost life for ten years and it's nothing I can recommend."
"Aye, 'twas horrible!" Rose looked up to see a group of motley sailors who apparently had come from the black ship. The one speaking had a wooden eye.
Rose felt trapped. She didn't want to die, but she didn't want to be a ghost either. She was caught between a rock and a hard place, none of the choices at all appealing.
Then Jack surprised them with a sudden move. Dashing down to the water, he snatched the Heart from Calypso's hand and quickly scuttled back to safety. He tossed the necklace to Rose who automatically caught it.
"Foolish man! Give it back!" roared Calypso.
"I need to borrow it again. Sorry."
"Damn you, Jack Sparrow! Curse your black heart! Soon your pathetic fire has burned down and then I'm coming for you."
Jack only grabbed another rum bottle and emptied it over the fire, causing huge flames to erupt hotly.
"Rose, give me my Heart. You have no right to it." Calypso imperially held out her hand.
Swallowing hard, Rose looked from the jewel to Calypso and back again. They would run out of rum soon, and what would then happen? She was only delaying the inevitable. Whatever was she going to do?
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A/N:
Yes, what should she do? And will she ever forgive Jack? He's untrustworthy, for sure...
At least he gave her the Heart back, preventing her turning into a ghost - but he also held a sword to her neck. Not the average loving boyfriend, that man.
Let me know what you think! And if you enjoy the story, your votes are super appreciated too. ♡
Image Credits:
Screenshot from the Pirate of the Caribbean movies.
