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

Chapter Four

"Here, now, you can't be here," the red coat claimed as the governor, Will, and I rushed down the stairs.

"I think you'll find they can," Governor Swann told him.

I watched as my mother was thrown in a cell with a woman Elizabeth's age and girl who looked to be only four.

"Release them," I called to the guard as I rushed to their cell. "I've agreed to Beckett's proposal, they're of no further value to him."

"Calm down, fiica, it's to ensure that you return," my stepfather said from the cell over.

"Marko! Domnul meu, ceea ce am facut?" I hung my head as I began to cry.

"Do not cry, my child," Marko murmured as he ran his hand through my hair. "No harm will come of us."

I looked up right as my mother motioned to the two others in her cell. "Esmeralda, Saraphina. Come." The two came forward, a slightly sinister look on their faces. "This is Luna, my daughter. Your sister," she told Esmeralda.

"Any child of yours that gets us imprisoned is no sister of mine," Esmeralda sneered.

I smiled sadly. "I promise you, I will do everything in my power to free you. All of you."

"And what power is that?"

"Esmeralda," my mother warned.

"I am Sati-Sara," I say with as much conviction as I could muster.

"Sati-Sara?" my sister spat. "An old myth."

"If that's what you wish to believe." Frankly, I was on the same side as her.

"Luna!" Will called down to me.

I frowned. "I must go. Keep a weathered eye on the horizon. I will return."

I rushed away, pushing past everyone in my way until I arrived at the ship we were to set sail on.

"I am sorry Luna," Will said that night as we sailed towards Tortuga.

"For what exactly?" I ponder.

"For dragging you into this mess."

I shook my head. "Then you can forget it. Our paths would've crossed eventually, William Turner. Better sooner than later."

He nodded slightly as he went back to his original post.

I weaved through the thick woods that bordered the town of Tortuga, stumbling on a few roots that had grown up through the path. It's been a long time since I came up here to home I once shared with my late husband. I could never sell it; I had too many memories that echoed down the empty hall. But couldn't ever bring myself to visit. The door was a little stuck but I managed to open it.

I figured that it would be raided by pirates by now and be a huge mess inside. But shockingly, it remained untouched. Every little detail was as I remembered it. The large hutch full of the fine china that Nate and I had raided from a merchant ship sailing from London was innately perfect, albeit a bit dusty. My tea kettle still sat on the stove though the water had evaporated, which didn't shock me.

I moved from the kitchen and through the rest of the house. I paused briefly in the door to the nursery. It was only half complete, Nate was supposed to finish it when he returned from his last journey. I choked back a sob as I thought of…

With teary vision, I made my way to the bedroom. It was by far the least grand room in the house. Perhaps it had been raided?

I leaned in the door way and watched as a younger me twirled around in the room. I was so excited to find that Nate had gotten us a house. As much as I loved being at sea, when I found out about the baby I insisted it was raised properly. Er, at least as proper as one can be raised on the most infamous pirate port. It was the first time I truly believe that I had concurred the curse.