Norrington's Darling

Zuri Norrington's Vow

POV: Zuri Norrington

I had no voice left. I had no strength left. Only despair.

Hours had passed. I still shivered over James' body, hugging my dead husband. I had pulled out the sword in his chest. I had smoothed out his uniform, fixed his hat and wig. I had kissed his lips and screamed when he did not return my kiss.

It was as if I felt the baby's pain. My pain was doubled, tripled even. I was alone. My husband was dead, our child unborn, alone on Jones' ship, the ship of the man who wanted my brother well and truly dead.

Again.

The last of my tears slipped free of my eyes. Now dry, they burned. The drops fell onto James' face. It looked as though he was crying, too. I felt like he was.

I waited. Waited. Waited. I waited expectantly. But as dawn approached, I realized my last hope was gone. Jones had killed James; he would not ferry him to the Locker. He would not accept him in his crew. I was never seeing James alive again.

Bootstrap returned to me some four hours after James had heaved his last breath. 

"You should have killed me, too," I whispered. Somehow, I sounded devoid of emotion even though all I could feel was emotion that threatened to burn me up and tear me apart from the inside. I looked up. "In fact, I beg of you—please kill me." I tossed him the blade he'd killed my husband with.

Bootstrap shook his head. "You carry a child. I cannot kill you, Zuri, sister of Jack Sparrow. Nor do I think I would if you were not carrying. You are Jack's sister. You must live, for him."

"How can I live without James?"

He crouched. He put a hand on my shoulder. "You will find a way."

I looked up at him. "I threatened to kill you. And when I am done mourning, when Will has saved you, and when I have buried my beloved, I will make good on my promise. Mark my words, Bootstrap Bill Turner. One day, I will kill you and nothing—no one—is stopping me."

The pirate nodded. "I do not blame you," he said quietly. "I do not blame you." Then he left me to my sorrow.

I saw no one else. 

Dawn was still hours away and I could not stay here. So instead, I stood, hefting up James' body. I called out to Tia. 

"HE'S DEAD!" I shouted into the wind. "JAMES NORRINGTON IS DEAD. BRING ME BACK! BRING ME BACK! BRING ME BACK!" I shook with a phantom sob. "JACK! BRING US BACK! BRING US BACK! BRING US BACK! BRING US BACK!"

I repeated the phrase over and over again. Only when footsteps finally stomped toward me did I finally feel the magic kick in. Before anyone ever reached me, the summons took over and I dissolved into matter, taking the body of my beloved with me.