In the Hands of Fate II: Dead Man's Chest

Chapter Two

The long winding way to Tia Dalma's place was quite comforting, as it's always been. Perhaps it was because Tia Dalma and I have always been on good terms. She's always been sort of like a sister to me. I spent a few months with her before I caught up with my father.

But now, twenty years later, I'm not looking for anyone in particular. Well, perhaps, my true love, but if what my bunică says is true, then I've already found him and I just have to wait for him to come to me… Er rather, I have to wait for us to meet up.

It was dark out when I finally reached Tia's shack. I sat in my small boat and looked up to the flickering light emanating from it.

"Come in, my sister," Tia said from her door way, she ushered me up, "'tis somethin' I need to show you."

I hurried to her as she opened her home to me for the second time. It was crowded as always but it felt like home.

"Now, before I give what you want most, tell, girlie, why are ya here?"

I smiled at her. "I thought you always knew everything."

"I only know what other's don't mind sharing. But, sister, ye are confused, way beyond what you should." Tia took my hand and led me to a back room. She stopped at the door blocking my view. "Now, sister, what I am about to show you is very important that you keep a secret."

I frowned. "I'm here to escape my destin."

"Aye, de curse." She moved out of my way and beckoned my in the tiny room. On the bed lay on single man that I'd never thought I'd see again.

"Tată?" I murmured, "But how? Is he…alive?"

"Not yet, but give me a few months and he will." Strangely that did not weird me out as much as it sounded.

And that was that. Nothing of too much importance happened between then and now. I'd help her tend to my father and anyone else who came through her door. I told her of all my adventures that I've been on and yes, even some stories of my time as Miss Elizabeth's governess. She tried to get a reading on my destiny but it was never clear enough for her to see anything. Rather, she'd get brief glimpses but no more than can be captured in a painting.

"My great-great-grandmother came to me in a dream," I told her as she loomed over my father's body one day.

"Oh?"

"Yes, the one that was originally cursed. She came to me my last night on the Pearl." I stirred a bowl of herbs and liquid on my lap and looked to her.

"What did she say?" Tia wondered as she took the bowl from me and led me out to the main room.

I moved to her large yellow boa constrictor and petted it. "She told me not to give up on breaking the curse. And to listen to Jack Sparrow of all people. And that I have magic in me, almost as powerful as you."

Tia looked at me angrily. "Why 'aven't you told me this before, sister?"

"Because I didn't deem it necessary knowledge 'til now." I shrugged and placed a kiss on the snake's head. It was such a sweet little angel. "I mean I know I'm Romani, and gypsy blood flows through my veins, but me, magic? That's hardly believable. I mean yeah, I can heal a stab wound in a second, but my mother was a healer and she taught me simple things. I've seen her save people from variolă, and so many bad things."

"She is right on all accounts." Tia walked to me slowly and brushed my white hair behind my ears. "You are nearly as powerful as I already, and if we work on it…" She shook her head. "Tomorrow we shall start working on your magic."

And we did. And we have ever since then. Astral projection, levitation, precognition, and a few others are some of the things most gypsies can do that I can and have perfected them with Tia Dalma's help.

"Your magic is different dan mine, sister. You can wish for anyting and get dat wish," she whispered one day as I sat in the grassy field we came to. "You can control a person's will, as well as many other t’ings. But most of all, your singing… 'tis the same power as a siren's. For any man, woman, or child to hear your voice will be entranced by you and be under yer control completely. But only if ye 'ant dem to."

I looked up to her and she smiled to me. "I've come far, haven't I?"

She nodded and began to walk back to her shack. "Dat's all for today, sister. Come, supper is ready."

But now, I sat at her small table as she tried to read my destiny again, which by the way was getting clearer every day we spent together.

She looked at me, fear evident in her eyes. "You have no destiny, sister."

"What?" I questioned timidly.

"You are not part of a bigger picture, you are the picture."

I stared at her for a moment before it dawned on me. I control those around me. "What do you mean…?"

"Because of your powers, you control the destinies of those around you."

A strange feeling washed through me and I closed my eyes. For some reason it all made sense. Another quiver of power ran about me. I looked to Tia Dalma, my eyes wide open.

"My great-great-grandmother's name was Sara. As in Sati-Sara, Parvati; the Goddess of Fate!"

Tia smiled at my epiphany. "Aye, sister, and you are her. You are Sati-Sara."

"M-me? A goddess?"

A/n: Translations:

destin - destiny

Tată - daddy

variolă - smallpox