Ella Turner: Daughter of the Dead

The Kraken

I was examining the lashes on my hands as I saw the crew play a game of Liar's Dice, a common game played by the crew members in their free time. They throw the dice into the cups and slam them down on the table.

"I wager ten years." The hammerhead pirate says.

"I match the wager."

"Agreed." They all look at the dice and start making bets.

"Wondering how it's played?" I hear Bootstrap's voice behind me.

"I understand. It's a game of deception. The game includes all the dice, not just your own. What are they waging?" I ask.

"The only thing we have: years of service."

"So any Crew member can be challenged?" I ask, a plan forming in my mind.

"Aye, anyone."

"I challenge Davy Jones." I say bravely. Everyone stops and stares at me, like I have made the last decision whether I prefer to live or to die and I just chose to die. Bootstrap looks at me and is about to say something, but a sudden thudding stops him. I see Jones stand on the steps of the deck.

"I accept." He says darkly. A low table and 5 dice for each person are brought out onto the table.

"The stakes?" He asks. I stand up and face my so-called father.

"My soul. An eternity of servitude." I say determined.

"No!" I hear Bootstrap's voice in the background but I ignore him.

"Against?" Jones asks.

"I want this." I say, taking the piece of cloth and slamming it down on the table. Jones looks at me skeptically and picks it up with his claw hand. He unravels it and a look of shock unravels on his face. His face scrunches up and he slams the cloth back down on the table.

"How do you know the key?" He grits.

"How do you think I know?" I say darkly. I turn around and part my hair, showing the key imprint on my back. I hear the crew gasp and mutter amongst themselves. I turn around and Jones is just as shocked as the crew.

"Either way, it's not part of the game, is it?" I ask. I sit down at the table. "You can still walk away." I offer. Jones looks at me for a moment before actually sitting down. He takes something out of his tentacles, and it is indeed the key. He dangles it in front of me then it disappears in his mane of tentacles. We take the dice and put it in the cup and shake it, then we slam it down on the table, with another cup slamming on the table as well. I look up to see Bootstrap sitting down at the table.

"What's this?" Jones spits.

"I'm in, matching her wager." He says.

"No. Don't do this." I warn.

"Die's cast. I bet three two's. It's your bid, Captain." Bootstraps says to Jones.

"Four four's." Jones' crew cackles, as I think.

"Four five's." I say strongly.

"Six three's." Bootstrap says softly. I lift up my cup to see 3 5's, that was under my bet, I'm gonna lose.

"Seven five's." Jones laughs. I have to think for a moment, or I will be playing this game for eternity.

"Eight five's." I finally say.

"Hehehe, welcome to the Crew, lad." Jones laughs.

"Twelve five's." Bootstrap says, everyone turning to stare at him. He swooped down to save me!

"Twelve five's. Call me a liar, I upped the bid." Bootstrap says.

"And be called a liar myself for my trouble." Davy Jones lifts up all of Bootstrap's dice and I gasp in shock.