Black Stones

A Price To Pay

I wake up the next morning and set to work with a passion. I quickly find the island on my maps, and am instantly sure that is where Ann is being held. It is just off the coast of Cuba like Ben said, but it's miles from any settlement. Based on the charts and elevations, it is also more like a raised fist than an island, hundred meter tall cliffs instead of beaches, and large rocks jutting out of the water on every approach. It is the perfect place to put a fortress, if there were something there to protect. Since there isn't, a prison is the next best thing.
We set sail for the Silver Reef, to replenish our stocks and gather reinforcements. Black Stones will be a tough nut to crack, and we will need all the help we can get. When we arrive, Seventh Star had sailed a long time ago, but Jonathan is more than happy to help when we told him of what happened. Then, only a week after I had my dream, we are sailing for Black Stones Prison.

"Land off the starboard bow captain!" The lookout cries from the crows nest. Peering through my spy glass, I look at the island. It's a dark and desolate place, seeming to radiate death. The tall black cliffs loom ominously, and a large stone fort dominates the bluff. Everything about the island screams evil, stay away. But we sail closer regardless. Ann is somewhere in there, and I will either bring here out safe, or die trying.
"Run out the cannons Amos," I order, "and hoist the colors. Today will be one to tell the grandkids."
"If we live to tell about it," Smitty replies cheerfully, loading a pistol.
"Haha, very true," I chuckle, glad for the comic relief. But my grin quickly fades as I stare back up at the fort.
"I hope you're in there you bastard," I whisper, "and I hope you know that I'm coming for you."
"We are in range captain!" Amos yells.
"Open fire!" I order, and the Dauntless presents her full broadside, firing the first devastating shots of the battle. The fort cannons respond in kind, and large splashes surround us. The cannons roar, men scream and yell, cannon balls impact the sea around and the wood beneath, and through it all I stand at the helm, guiding my ship through the hellish fire the fort lays on us.
"I'm bringing her around for another run!" I shout.
"The ship won't take much more of this fire!" Smitty yells up from the bottom deck, "that last barrage put three more holes in the side,and we are taking in water below. The pumps can't keep up!"
"She'll hold a while longer," I reply adamantly, "just long enough to see us through. Aim for the two towers near the dock. If we take them out, then we can land and take the fort by force!" I swing the ship around, sailing right past the fort. We take five more solid hits, and I can feel a noticeable change in how the ship handles, as her bowels fill with water. But as we sail away, we leave two smoldering towers in our wake.
"Alright lads!" I scream as Dauntless approaches the dock, "this is it! Take the fort!" We slide up to the dock, firing two loads of grape shot into the crowd of soldiers that awaits, and then leap from the ship into the sea of madness. Soon the dock is ours, and I take a moment to lay out a plan.
"Tell Jonathan to remain at sea," I say, "in case something goes wrong, he will be our back up. Smitty, you stay here with Dauntless. Amos, look for the fort magazines. I want an explosion big enough to wipe this cursed island off the map."
"What about you?" Smitty asks. I stare up at the fort, where I can make out a balcony high above us. A single figure looks back, to far away for me to identify, but I knew who it was regardless.
"I'm going to save Ann," I reply, "and kill the dog who took her."

We break down the doors, and charge into the fortress. Amos takes some men and branches off to find the powder magazine, and I lead my group into the heart of the beast. We fight and tear our way through the fortress until we reach a stairwell.
"Four of you come with me," I order, "the rest stay here and guard the way up." They all nod, and then I lead the way up the steps. We meet minimal resistance, and are soon standing at the top. A large oak door stands in our path. Without hesitating, I pull out a pistol, shoot the lock, then kick the door in. Inside is a large room, with tapestries adorning the walls. At the far end is a balcony that overlooked the fort, and in front of that is a raised platform where one might expect to see an alter. I realize that this room must have been a church once. But none of that properly registered as I looked at the platform. Instead of an alter, a woman stood there, bound to a wooden stake. She is wearing close to nothing, and her entire body is covered in ugly bruises and cuts, and as hard as I try I can't determine if there is yet life in her.
"Don't worry," Jack Cerberus says standing next to Ann, "she's still alive. For now at least."
"What have you done to her!?!" I scream, unable to tear my eyes away from my love.
"The same thing I'm going to do to you," he replies, nodding at someone behind me. Too late, I look behind me and see a second balcony above the door, where a squad of red coats wait. There's a series of loud shots, and suddenly all the men who came with me are dead.
"Did you really think that you could just walk in here, take what you want and leave?" Jack asks laughing, "well here she is. Come and take her."
"I've beaten you before," I snarl, "I can beat you again."
"Oh, I know," Jack chuckles, "but have you beaten him?" Just then, Strider walks in from around the corner, both of his swords drawn and ready. He has a cold, calculating stare, completely devoid of emotion. In my rage, I launch myself at him, take a mad swing downward, and he meets it with his own blade. The two swords meet with a loud clang, and for a moment we just look at each other. I realize that he knows exactly what I was capable of, and for whatever reason, he wasn't nervous. And that thought makes me very nervous indeed. We part, and then run back at each other again, the clashing of our battle echoing through the room. I slowly begin to lose confidence in my abilities, Strider is far better than I had anticipated. He had the skill and speed the likes of which I hadn't seen since Mad Ben, and I realize that this may not be a fight I could win. But I fight on anyways, determined not to give up. I was going to save Ann, or die trying. But as the battle continues, I realize something else; dying won't help Ann. And before anything, I have to make sure she is safe. I take a step back, withdrawing myself from combat.
"We could continue on like this until one of us mortally wound the other, and then wait for the battle outside to be decided," I say, then look up at Jack, "or I could offer you a trade." Strider makes a move to continue the attack, but stops when Jack waves him down.
"You've piped my curiosity," Jack says, "what is it that you could possibly offer? Gold? Jewels? Maybe you're even desperate enough to give up that pretty ship of yours." I sigh, and think about what I was going to say. Could I really do this? How much am I willing to give up to keep Ann safe?
Everything, I think instantly, I'm willing to give up everything to keep her safe.
"It's a trade, person for person," I say, "you release Ann, and you can have me." Jack stares at me for a long time, and then an evil grin spreads across his face.
"Well, that was something I wasn't expecting," he says with an evil laugh, "I accept you offer. Release the girl." One of the soldiers walk over to untie her, and she falls to the ground like a puppet who's strings were cut. I throw away my sword, and rush over to her, gently picking her up in my arms.
"Ann? Ann speak to me," I beg. She doesn't answer, only moans in pain.
"Time to make good on your bargain," Jack calls out, "tell you men to stand down!" I nod hesitantly, and move to leave, but pause when I feel a weak hand grab my arm.
"Don't do this Will," Ann whispers, "save yourself. I'm not worth it." I look down at her. She looks awful, covered in grime and filth, scars and open wounds cover her body. Her luscious brown hair had been hacked off. Her beauty is gone, possibly forever, stolen by Jack Cerberus. She may never be the same person I had come to love, but in the end, that doesn't matter.
"You're wrong," I tell her, "you're worth everything." Then I leave, walking down the stair case followed closely by Jack and his cronies. Benedict carries Ann in his arms, since she is to weak to walk herself. He had walked in unseen by anyone, and I only notice him when he gingerly picks up my love. He never says a word, just holds her protectively as he walks forward with a look of despair on his face.
As our procession walks through the fort, fighting stops all around us. Every group I pass I order to stand down, and after a moment of hesitation, they all do. Some resist, until they catch a glance of Ann. Everyone on Dauntless knows her, and recognizes what is at stake. When we reach the courtyard, I see Amos in the center, fighting off four men by himself.
"Amos, stand down," I call out, my voice echoing around the courtyard yet still sounding like a whisper. Amos steps back and stares at me in shock.
"What? Why..... Oh," he says as he sees the look on my face, and the limp body in Benedict's arms.
"Will, what is going on here!" I hear Smitty yell. I look at the gate, where a squad of red coats are escorting all the men I had left behind.
"They're saying that you surrendered!" He exclaims, "Will, what have you done?"
"I did what I had to do," I say quietly, then turn towards Jack, grinning behind me.
"I kept my promise," I say, "You have me. Now you keep yours. Let Ann go and release my crew."
"Actually," Jack says with a cruel grin, "I think I might have to make a slight change to that plan."
"Sir?" Strider asks. Thorn laughs menacingly next to him.
"I'm afraid that none of you will be leaving. There's a price to pay William, and I'm going to make sure you pay in blood!" Jack yells, turning to Thorn, "we don't need them all. Fire a volley, and put any survivors in the prison."
"Whatever ye say," Thorn grins. Strider says nothing, but his cold emotionless face cracks a bit, and his mouth is set in a troubled frown.
"Wha... But... You can't do this!" Benedict yells, still holding a barley conscious Ann in his arms. Jack walks over, and slaps him across the face, sending both of them to the ground. I lung towards them, but am restrained by three guards.
"That's where you're wrong," Jack cackles over Benedict, "I'm in charge! I have the power! And I can do whatever I want!" He walks away into the fort, and the firing squad loads their guns. I look over the crowd of prisoners. This is my crew, my friends, my family. I had done this.
"It's ok captain," Smitty calls out, smiling as rifles are aimed at his head, "You'll get him eventually. And I'll be there when you do, looking down with a smile on my face, watching the show with Old Ben." The soldiers fire, a puff of white smoke obscures my sight, and when it disappears, I know that I had lost another dear friend.