Pirates Of The Caribbean Fan Fiction ❯ Lost in Translation (Pirates of the Caribbean) ❯ Dette De Sang ( Chapter 18 )

Chapter Eighteen:
Dette De Sang

*

“Captain Jack Sparrow,” Ackhart said slowly as he stepped up to him and offered a look that lingered somewhere between disgust and admiration. Captain Ackhart didn't look like most common scallywags or swashbucklers. He didn't wear rags nor did his crew; and while they were hardly high class citizens, they were far better groomed than most pirates. His men appeared respectable enough that they could easily pass as honest merchants, a trait that boded well for them. It was much easier to gain the trust of ships that you intended to plunder if they didn't suspect you were going to be plundering them. It also allowed him to travel through almost any port without drawing the attention of the Navy.

“Captain Ackhart,” Jack replied with a smirk, “how very kind of you to grace us with your presence.”

 

The other Captain was a few years younger, but his light brown hair was pulled back and his beard trimmed, leaving much of his weathered face exposed to the sun's harsh rays. There was a cold look in his pale blue eyes. They were eyes that had seen much death in their time and there was no doubt in Jack's mind that they would see much more.

“I have no intention of exchanging pleasantries with you, Sparrow,” he said pointedly. “You owe me money and I've come to collect it.”

“Ahh...well now that's a bit of a shame, mate,” Jack said and began circling him slowly. “Because, you see, I am currently low on funds, as it were.”

 

Ackhart waited until Jack was standing in front of him again before speaking. “It is a shame. I had hoped to avoid destroying this ship,” he said in an even tone. “It always was one of my favorites.” Jack watched him closely, keeping his senses on his pistol and cutlass, should he try to brandish one.

“The Pearl's my ship now, mate; I won her fair and square,” Jack stated firmly.

“Yes, and if the stories hold any truth, you lost her to your first mate and crew within weeks of taking it,” Ackhart countered with a look of pure, smug satisfaction.

“And yet here I am,” Jack grinned and gestured widely with his arms, “funny how things work out sometimes, eh?”

“Hilarious,” Ackhart retorted dryly and then pulled his blade and held it out towards Jack. “Baldwin, Crowne! Take some men and start looking over the ship. No sense in sending valuables down with the vessel.”

 

Two of his men quickly pulled their pistols and started shouting orders at the other crewmen that had boarded the Pearl. Even if Jack's crew began fighting, their own men outnumbered them and there were still more aboard their ship. Jack stared down the blade, contemplating his options.

“Have you ever heard of the Ángel de la Muerte?” Jack asked and then offered him a conspiratorial look. Ackhart knew Jack's ways all too well but thought he would hear him out. At the very least he might offer up more information than he intended to and lead him to some sort of riches.

“I've heard of it,” he said simply.

“Well, it just so happens that I've come upon some information regarding its whereabouts,” Jack pretended to confide. “The only real obstacle standing in the way is a supposed curse.”

“And what makes you think that I believe in curses?”

“We can debate the existence of curses until we both go blue in the face, mate,” Jack said and then smirked and pointed at him. “The fact remains that if a curse does, in fact, exist-it will be the ones that retrieve the treasure that suffer it, savvy?” Ackhart remained silent waiting for Jack to continue.

“Now what I propose is this: You let me go retrieve said treasure, and when I find a buyer for it, I'll pay you your money, plus a bit of interest,” Jack said with a devilish grin. “Everyone wins, eh? You get yer money and I get to keep me ship intact and not meet ol' Davy Jones. What say you?”

“And if there is a curse?” Ackhart questioned.

“Can't be any worse living with a curse than meeting yer blade, mate. Besides, we don't believe in curses, remember?”

“If we don't believe in curses then give one reason why I shouldn't simply kill you and take your information for myself?”

“Just because we don't believe in something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist,” Jack said. “What's the worse that can happen, eh? You hunt me down like a bloody dog six months from now and we exchange these same pleasantries all over again? Seems to me that's a chance worth taking considering you're not losing anything here. If there's no curse; you become a rich man. If there is a curse, me and my crew suffer it and you still become a rich man. But— if there is a curse and you and yer men go after it...” Jack said and then left the rest unsaid. He could tell that despite himself, Ackhart was becoming intrigued by the proposition.


*

“Keep that monkey quiet,” Ana Maria hissed in Kaitlyn's direction. She was trying to hear what was going on out on the deck and she knew that Pepe was going to eventually draw attention to the cabin.

“I'm trying,” Kaitlyn whispered. Try as she may to keep a hold of Pepe, the monkey was trying desperately to get away from her.

“Someone's coming,” Ana said and pulled her sword. A moment later the door was thrust open by one of Ackhart's men. At first he simply stood dumbfounded at the sight of Ana Maria holding a sword up, apparently fully prepared to use it. Then the sight of another woman, this one trying to keep a hold of a monkey, caught his attention.

“Seems Sparrow might be low on funds but he keeps himself a share of strumpets,” he quipped.

“Take a step closer and say that,” Ana Maria said through clenched teeth. Rather than reply he merely smirked at her and then left the cabin, slamming the door closed behind him.

“There's gonna be trouble out there,” Ana warned and then looked around the small cabin. “Best hide that monkey somewhere.”

 

Kaitlyn looked around, having no idea where to put him and finally walked over to the small wardrobe and put him inside. “I'm sorry, Pepe,” she said solemnly before closing the door with her small pet inside it. Before she could even turn the cabin door was thrust open again and three men came barging in. The man that had spoken to them moments before quickly knocked the sword away from Ana and tried to grab her.

“Let go of me!” She growled, earning herself a sharp slap to the face. The sheer force stunned her momentarily and she found herself being dragged back to the deck of the ship.

“Be best if you don't struggle, Missy,” another said to Kaitlyn. She could hear Pepe squirming and didn't want to draw attention to him so she nodded and started in their direction. Since she was walking on her own accord and had no where to go, he simply shoved her forward and followed her onto the deck.

Jack looked over as the women were both being brought onto the deck and then turned back to Ackhart. The pirate captain smirked and shook his head.

“I always knew you were a terrible pirate, Sparrow,” he began. “I just never believed that you would so blatantly disregard the code. You're a disgrace.”

“Would that be the same code you followed while you were takin' orders from the Royal navy, I wonder?” Jack asked sarcastically.

“The code is the same no matter what flag a ship sails under,” he replied. “Women don't belong on ships.”

Jack remained silent for a moment, taking in the situation fully. He knew that starting a fight amongst Ackhart and his crew would end up getting people killed. If he could diffuse the situation without the loss of any of his men, he would. He also chose to keep mum about both Kaitlyn and Ana Maria. Pointing out that Ana was a pirate would likely earn the other crew's ire. Most pirates didn't take kindly to women that attempted to join their ranks and Jack knew all too well what lengths some of them would go to break a woman that dared to try. If he divulged that Kaitlyn not only knew all about the treasure, but of Isidro Saez's life and could translate any information regarding it, she would hold value to Ackhart and that might prove more dangerous than if he believed her to be a whore.

“Regardless, mate, they're already here. Nothing's going to change that, so what say we focus on what we can change, savvy? For instance, you could kill me and my crew; take the Pearl and the measly, worthless bit of swag she's carrying,” he said. “Or you could change yer mind and let me go after the Ángel de la Muerte, collect the money you're owed plus a bit extra for yer troubles, and then put this insignificant little misunderstanding behind us.”

“Or I could kill your crew, take your ship, allow my crew to partake in your whores and throw you in the brig until you decide to cooperate,” Ackhart countered.

“If that's what you have to do, mate,” Jack said in an even voice before swiftly pulling his blade and bringing it across Ackhart's. Instantly, everyone aboard the ship was focused on the two of them as they began sparring, each trying relentlessly to force the other to back down or die. While Jack was much more nimble and quick on his feet than Ackhart, the other pirate was stronger and held more brute force. Had the situation been different, Jack might have actually enjoyed taking him on. It was almost a game of wit and will pinned against sheer strength and determination.

Jack quickly jumped over several crates that were lying on the deck and then kicked one over to block Ackhart. A smug smirk overtook his face but abruptly faded when he felt Ackhart's blade brush past the side of his face, nearly catching him. He felt a strong tug and then looked down to see a strand of his beads lying at his feet and realized just how close the blade had actually been.

“That wasn't very nice,” he said and brought his sword up to block the other pirate's relentless attacks.

Gibbs watched anxiously with the rest of the crew as Jack continued sparring with Ackhart. The other crewmen were watching and waiting as well, and if given orders from their captain, they would no doubt begin killing everyone aboard the Pearl, a fact that wasn't missed by everyone involved.

“We can't just let them take over the ship,” Dallin said in a hushed voice. Gibbs glanced at him but kept his attention on the battle that was taking place.

“Might not have much say in the matter,” he muttered.

“What about the treasure?” Dallin questioned.

“We give him that treasure and he'll have no reason not to be killin' us,” Gibbs said, making sure the boy understood that he shouldn't reveal that the statue was already aboard the ship. Though Jack seemed to have a nearly endless amount of energy, it was becoming obvious that Ackhart lacked the same boundless patience. He took a hard swing, knocking Jack's sword away and the swiftly brandished his pistol, fully intending to kill Jack rather than continue on with the fighting.

“No!” Kaitlyn was almost shocked when she realized it was her own voice that had suddenly filled the air. Panic seized her when she realized that Ackhart wouldn't hesitate to kill Jack but before she could even contemplate doing anything, one of the crewmen grabbed her and held on to her tightly. “Stop it! There's nothing to be gained by killing him!”

 

Ana Maria tried to silence her but she could tell it was already too late. Ackhart's attention left Jack long enough to take in the situation before he turned and grinned at him.

“She doesn't sound much like a whore,” he noted suspiciously. “Why else would you have women on board your ship?” Jack glanced over at Kaitlyn and Ana Maria, not sure what plausible excuse could possibly make the situation improve. “Maybe I should just ask them myself.” Ackhart turned and motioned for his men to stay with Jack and then he walked over and stood before Ana and Kaitlyn.

“What are your names?” He asked. Both remained silent, Ana Maria out of defiance and Kaitlyn out of fear. He stood eyeing them up momentarily and could see that, while Kaitlyn might eventually be intimidated into speaking, Ana Maria seemed much more crass and willing to speak out if he were to push her. “What is your name?” He repeated, this time to Ana. She remained unmoving and defiant, refusing to answer his question. Kaitlyn winced when he slapped her friend hard across the face and nearly had to physically restrain herself from answering for her. Ackhart stood waiting for a reply and then looked to Kaitlyn to see if she was going to speak. When neither did, he smirked and turned back to his men.

“Kill him,” he said and motioned towards Jack. “Any able bodied crewmen will join me or suffer the same fate.”

“Stop!” Kaitlyn said frantically. The idea of seeing Jack or any of the crew being slaughtered terrified her.

“So now you can speak,” he said as he turned to face the two of them again before looking to the crewmen that were restraining them. “We'll take the women. They can service the crew until we stop at the next port.”

“Jack said he would get your money,” Kaitlyn protested.

“Quiet,” Ana Maria warned her. She could tell that Ackhart was quickly becoming irritated with Kaitlyn for speaking back to him.

“You're not gaining anything by killing him,” Kaitlyn continued, ignoring Ana Maria and the look she was receiving from the captain now. “If you would just let him go he would get your—" Her words were cut short when he moved forward quickly and grabbed her by the hair.

“Is there a reason you're so desperate to keep Sparrow alive?” He questioned harshly.

 

Kaitlyn glanced towards Jack, who was still unable to move without getting himself killed, before looking back at Ackhart. Honestly, she had no clue what she should or shouldn't say or what could possibly be done to spare the lives of the people on the ship, so she said nothing. When he was again met with silence, he tightened his grip on her hair and then began dragging her across the deck and again ordered his men to kill Jack. She stood silently watching Jack, waiting to see what he intended to do, but when his eyes scanned the ship and his crew she realized that he would rather die than give up the Pearl willingly or sentence his own crew to death.

“Wait,” Kaitlyn said. “Why not take a dette de sang?” She questioned without giving much thought to her words. She had re-read the story of Isidro Saez so many times that the idea was forever embedded in her mind. Jack owed him money but he could take the debt of blood as a warning. Ackhart sneered at her and then looked over the crew.

“Who's life would you want me to take?” He asked maliciously and then looked at Jack. “Which member of your crew would you be willing to give up in order to save your own life?”

 

Jack could practically feel the tension in the air, each member of his crew wondering if he would name a name, but he remained silent. Reputation was important to Jack and he would never allow himself to be known as a coward that traded his own life for one of his crew.

Ackhart stood waiting to see if Jack would give up a member of his crew and then smirked to himself. He wasn't a fool. Not only had Jack gone out of his way to hide the women but Kaitlyn was practically desperate to protect Jack's life. Those were hardly the actions of a mere whore or plaything, or even someone that worked as part of the crew.

“Fine,” he said smirked at Jack. “I'll accept a debt of blood.” Before Jack could reply, he shoved Kaitlyn towards another crew man.

Jack watched wordlessly as Kaitlyn was dragged across the deck. Attempting to stop them would likely end in getting half of the crew killed, at the very least. For a moment he surveyed the ship, trying to decide if there was anything that could be done but his attention was drawn back to Kaitlyn when she began behaving hysterically. They were binding her hands and preparing to throw her off the ship. Jack was well aware of the dream she had, had repeatedly and understood fully why she was so distressed. Again, he found himself staring down Ackhart's pistol, as the he stood smirking at Jack.

“The next time we meet you will have my money or everyone on this ship will suffer a much worse fate than hers,” he promised and then nodded towards his crewmen, who then forced Kaitlyn over the side of the ship and into the waters that she feared so much.

Jack remained silent, knowing there was very little chance of anyone getting to her while she was still alive and anyone that tried wouldn't make it off the ship in any better shape than she had.