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

Chapter Twelve

"Beckett?" Gibbs asked as we looked over the Letters of Marque Elizabeth gave Jack.

"Yes, they're signed," Elizabeth replied. "Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company."

"Bluergh!" Jack exclaimed as he read the Letters.

"Will was working for Beckett and never said a word," Gibbs stated. "Beckett wants the compass. Only one reason for that."

"Of course," I say, "He wants the chest." Jack glared at me, a warning to keep my mouth shut. So much for my wish.

"Yes," Elizabeth agreed, "He did say something about a chest."

"If the company controls the chest, they control the sea," Gibbs explained.

"A truly discomforting notion, love," Jack stated.

I nodded, frowning. "Şi rele. Bad for every mother's child what calls them self pirate."

"I think there's a bit more speed to be coaxed from these sails," Gibbs said as a distraction. "Brace the foreyard!"

"Might I enquire as to how you came by these?" Jack asked.

"Persuasion," Miss Swann answered.

"Friendly?" I wondered.

"Decidedly not."

"Will strikes a deal for these and upholds it with honor, yet you are the one standing here with the prize – full pardon. 'Commission as a privateer on behalf of England and the East India Trading Company.'"

"As if one would find employment the same as freedom," I mumble. "Certainly not Jack."

Said pirate walked away stuffing the letters in his jacket.

"Jack," Elizabeth called following him, "the letters, give them back."

"No," he rebuked. "Persuade me." His voice was suave and a feeling tinged my stomach.

"You do know Will taught me how to handle a sword?" she murmured in his ear. I rolled my eyes as the feeling became came stronger.

He turned around to face her. "As I said, persuade me." It came out flirtatiously and did it in for me. I wish he would look at me like that!

I stepped between the two, the fiery magic starting to spread. I tried my hardest to reel it in but it didn't listen. Note to self: Never wish when jealous. "The only persuading to be done here will be by me. So if you'll return to your duties; both of you, and see to it that we arrive to our destination on time so that this little…acquaintanceship will end preferably sooner rather than later."

Jack looked at me remarkably. "I don't think I've ever seen you jealous, love."

I scoffed. "En nu sunt gelos!"

He crooked his head, a splitting gold-toothed smile on his face. "You said that in Romanian."

I shook my head and walked away, finding my newest relaxing spot on the stairs leading to the helm.

"My tremendous intuitive sense of the female creature informs me that you are troubled."

I rolled my eyes. "Go away, Jack."

"Not likely."

I sighed. "I've been thinking. I was nearly nine when my mother forced me to leave Romania. I was sent to England, where I brushed up on my English, not that it wasn't always impeccable, and was sent down to Caribbean. Tia Dalma took me under her wing and treated me sweetly until I was reunited with my father. Then I met you, became friends with you, and seriously considered falling for you." I smiled at him sadly. "You were yanked from my life familiar…" I shake my head, that didn't sound right. "No, I mean… unceremoniously. I ran. I couldn't live with my father after that, knowing he was the reason I lost my best friend."