Honor Among Thieves || Book Two

~27~

"Now up...is down!" Jack exclaimed triumphantly as his beloved ship sank beneath the waves. He expected it all to be over in a matter of seconds but those seconds quickly turned into a minute and his optimism morphed into fear. How much longer could they hold their breath? What if he had just doomed them all?

A sharp jab in his side prompted him to turn around.

Sera was floating beside him with her ebony hair fanning in the gentle currents like satin fabric caught in a warm summer breeze. She was a stunning sight, although the angry scowl on her face made it clear she did not mean to be admired at the moment. Jack could only hear faint noises as her mouth moved furiously as she called him every derogatory name she could think of; unlike the others, she had no need to hold her breath.

She was certain that he had essentially murdered everyone, but then...

The Pearl started to groan and creak and hurtle deeper into the waters. Jack's eyes bugged out; this was it. His luck had finally run out. He had--

CRASH!

The ship burst through the surface like the Flying Dutchman, allowing the soaked crew to cough and sputter for air. Jack lay flat of his back and stared up at the sky. The sun was rising...

"You may actually be smarter than you look." Sera quipped, sweeping her wet hair away from her face. He smirked and winked at her as he stood up. "Never underestimate me, love."

"Oh sweet, sacred westerlies!" Gibbs exclaimed happily. "We're back!"

Without warning, Barbossa drew his guns on Jack. Cursing loudly, Sera yanked hers out and aimed them both at his head. "What are you trying to pull, Hector?"

"'Hector'?" Jack frowned. "Why did you call him 'Hector'?"

Elizabeth and Will drew their own guns as well, aiming them at Barbossa and Jack respectively.

"Oh please." Sera sneered, moving one of her guns to Elizabeth. "Do you even know how that works?"

"Yes I do." Elizabeth set her jaw and trained one of her pistols on Sera, who smiled menacingly. "Gods, I wish you would do something. I wish you would so it would give me an excuse to blow your pretty little head right off your shoulders."

William pointed the barrel of his gun at her as well. Gritting his teeth, Jack aimed both of his at him. "That's very admirable of you, William, threatening a pregnant woman with a gun."

Scowling, William brought his gun back to him.

"The Brethren Court is a-gatherin' in Shipwreck Cove, Jack, and ye will be goin'. There's no arguin' that point." Barbossa rumbled. Jack raised his eyebrows and directed one of his guns at him. "You're mistaken, mate. If pirates are 'a-gatherin', as you so eloquently put it, I'll be pointing me ship the other way."

"Oh no."

Now Sera had her guns trained on him. He frowned. "Really, dear?"

"You have to go to Shipwreck Cove, Jack. There's no other way." She said. "They are all gathering to fight Beckett. I've said it, Tia Dalma's said it, and Hector's said it as well: You can't ignore the call."

"There you are callin' him Hector again..."

"You can't run, Jack." William added. Barbossa nodded in agreement. "If ye neglect yer obligation t' the Brethren, then Beckett an' his rotten dogs'll hunt us down one by one 'till there be none left but you."

Jack smirked. "'Jack Sparrow: The Last Pirate' has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Er, well...'Jack Sparrow and Seraphina: The Last Pirates', I should say." He glanced at her. "Maybe."