Norrington's Darling

Allies

POV: Zuri Sparrow

Before I had the chance to ready my staff or whip my dagger from my bodice, Sao Feng held his dagger to one of the men's neck. The three of us glanced at each other, confused. Why would Feng threaten to kill one of his own men to stop us?

"Drop your weapons or I kill the man!" Feng shrieked.

"Kill him, he's not our man!" Barbossa said, glancing at me.

Will, still in the water, frowned at Feng. "If he's not with you, and he's not with us...who's he with?"

A voice rang out in the air, one that belonged to one of the admirals James had introduced me to some time ago. Admiral Philip Fletcher. "Look! There she is!"

"Admiral—" It was Groves.

"Zuri Sparrow, surrender the pirates and come with us!" Soldiers from the East India Company burst into the room. I locked eyes with Groves. Go, he mouthed. 

Fighting erupted, plunging the room into terrible chaos. I slammed my staff into a soldier's head and prayed it wouldn't cost James too much to lose these men. 

As Will caught the sword Elizabeth tossed him, I spun my staff into one of Feng's goons. The soldiers dropped to their knees.

"Ready, aim, fire!" Fletcher instructed and the air filled with the sound of gunfire, the smell of gunpowder stung my nostrils. I ducked and rolled as they prepared the next round. A hand dropped on my shoulder, startling me, but I found myself face to face with Tia Dalma. Seeing my mentor, I relaxed.

Tia did something I couldn't see through the haze in the air and the boards behind the soldiers exploded, sending them flying.

Tia hauled me up. "I see you've caused quite the stir, Zuri."

I gave her a skewed grin. "It seems to be a trait Jack and I inherited from Dad."

The sorceress chuckled and returned to the fight. I slipped off, pulling the dagger from my bodice with difficulty. I kissed the hilt, murmuring, "Jamie" and smelling his deep, rich scent, hearing that laugh and that voice like chocolate.

"Mrs. Norrington—" A soldier started from behind me. I whipped around and plunged the dagger into his side—not enough to kill him, but enough to disable him.

"Not yet," I whispered. I blinked back bitter tears. "Not yet." My voice broke.

"Zuri," a soft, comforting voice said. I looked up to find Theodore Groves. "I need you to get out of here. Fletcher is hell-bent on bringing you back to Port Royal, even if he has to drag you back in chains."

I swallowed. "Did James send you here to keep Fletcher from capturing me?"

Groves nodded. "He did."

I stepped close. "Then send a message for me, won't you?"

Again, he nodded.

"Tell him I love him. Tell him that. And tell him to find me in two week's time at Malta."

"Malta?"

I nodded. "He'll understand." I flinched as a musket went off right next to us. "Now go, Theodore."

"Be safe, Zuri," Groves reminded me. "James would never forgive me if your last known words were to me and not to him."

Despite myself, I laughed lightly. "Go," I insisted, giving him a light shove. "I'll be fine."

"ZURI!" Anamaria's voice shouted. "Run! Fletcher's close!"

I glanced from Groves to Anamaria. "Ana? Why are you here?!"

"She insisted on coming," Groves said. "I tried to stop her. It's too dangerous, but...she wouldn't let me go without joining me."

I grinned mischievously. "Alright, Theodore. I'll go. Get my message to James. And while you're at it, make sure you tell Anamaria you love her."

He flushed scarlet. "What?! But I don't—"

"Oh, trust me, you do. I know that look!" An explosion went off.

"Sparrow!" Barbossa yelled.

"Bye!" I yelped to Theodore and dashed away. "Keep safe! TELL HER!"

"Shut up!" was his response before he turned and dashed off, taking Anamaria by the hand and dragging her off as an explosion rocked the place she had been standing in moments before.

I caught up to Barbossa, Elizabeth, and Will, right in the middle of their conversation. I snapped my staff at a soldier that got too close and snarled at one of Sao Feng's men.

"You got the charts?" Barbossa asked.

Will nodded. "And better yet, a ship and a crew."

"Where's Sao Feng?" Elizabeth demanded.

"He'll cover our escape and meet us at Shipwreck Cove," Will said.

I snorted. "Funny how the introduction of the British make everyone allies, don't you think?"

Elizabeth snorted in agreement.

Tai Huang hurried his pace to match ours. "This way. Be quick." He gestured off and we followed him closely. Glancing back at Singapore, part of the city in ruins and on fire, shouts still in the air and gunfire crackling as smoke and steam clouded the air, the stench of gunpowder sharp in my nostrils, I hesitated just a moment before following Huang and my companions, slinging my staff over my shoulder and wiping James's dagger of blood, once again kissing the hilt with a silent prayer Groves would get my message to James in time.