Chapter 66

“The Beginning or the End?”

Jess was standing at his tiller, an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. “Somethin’s not right,” he said to himself. “S’not guilt…it’s…Dad?” Out on the horizon, two ships came into view - one was unmistakably the Pearl. Even at this distance, Jess knew it. The other ship was one he’d never seen, but it was clear that it was the Pearl wasn’t the one attacking.

Orders were shouted and the Enigma picked up its pace. Deana was at his side, her stomach as twisted up as his was. “Do you think they’re all right?” she asked.

“I don’ know,” Jess said honestly. “I…I hope so.”

“What if they’re not?”

“It’s me dad, Deana, they’re fine - they have to be.” Jess narrowed his eyes, his knuckles white from gripping the tiller so tightly. You have to be…an’ if yer not, ye will be, I promise, Dad.

Jack’s head was spinning. Gibbs ran to his side, keeping him on his feet the best he could. “Jesus, Mary, an’ Joseph! Jack, wha’s wrong with ye?”

“Roux’s got Ev,” Jack replied. “Get ‘er for me…please, Gibbs.”

Gibbs shook his head. “Jack ye must’ve been hallucinatin.’ Roux’s dead, remember?”

“Mr. Gibbs, you must forgive Jack, he’s…” Roux chuckled. “...dying.”

“No!” Evangeline screamed. Her throat was free, though bruising. Roux had an arm wrapped around her waist, holding her close. She struggled, but his hold on her was too strong.

Gibbs stood frozen in his place. He was superstitious enough as it was - but now to see a dead man holding the captain’s lover hostage…it would have been too much for a man who wasn’t of the sea. He waited a moment, then decided that he’d seen enough and accepted it as he did everything else. Calmly, he asked, “Wha’ d’ ye mean ‘e’s dyin’?”

“Was I suddenly speaking French? Jack’s dying - well, his soul is anyway; his body is a different story.”

“I’m not…bloody dying…” Jack leaned further into Gibbs.

“You die, and I live,” Roux said nonchalantly. “A perfect trade off when you think about it.” He brushed his hand along Evangeline’s chest and she squirmed.

Jack shook off the odd feelings coursing through him and charged at Roux. “Stop touchin’ ‘er!” He knocked Roux over, causing Evangeline to fall to the deck as well.

“A woman’s actually worthy of making you this angry? I thought that would have stopped with your mother. What did caring for her get you, hm?”

Jack froze, then crawled backwards the best that he could. “Show yerself, ye bastard.”

Roux smiled, then began to morph, causing Evangeline to let out a blood-curdling scream - which was loud enough for Jess and Deana to hear. Now standing, towering over Jack, who was still sprawled on the deck, was Jack’s father, Maris Sparrow.

“I killed ye with me own hands,” Jack said, trying to stand up.

“I know ye did, son, why d’ ye think I’m takin’ yer body as me own? An’ it comes complete with a ship an’ a wench.”

Jack’s vision began to blur, but he could have sworn that he saw Jess standing on the rail of the Pearl. “S’ my ship an’ she’s my lo…” Jack stumbled again, this time it was Evangeline that kept him from falling.

“Get away from ‘im!” Jess jumped onto the deck and charged at the man who looked like an older version of Jack.

Maris laughed. “An’ now me very own grandson joins the party! Ye can’ do a bloody thing, boy!”

Jess let out a noise that was very much like a primal scream. He plunged his sword into Maris, expecting him to fall dead…which he didn’t. “Wha’ the hell?”

“Exactly,” Maris smiled.

“Kill the rest!” Jess yelled. Both his and Jack’s crew began to attack the other pirates. Even Deana had a blade in her hand.

Evangeline reached for a sword, but Maris ordered Cecil to grab her. “Say yer goodbyes, lass.” She watched, fighting against Cecil’s grasp as Maris’ body became transparent and he made his way toward her pirate.

“Dad!” Jess saw what was happening and ran to his father.

“Get away, boy!” Maris yelled. He extended his palm and a force knocked Jess to the ground.

“Jack!” Evangeline broke away from Cecil, but it was too late, Maris had charged into Jack, full force, disappearing inside of him. She watched as Jack’s body convulsed, his face a display of pure pain. She felt an oncoming wave of sickness…Gibbs’ boots received much of what she expelled.

By this time, Deana, a random pirate’s blood covering the front of her dress, was at her love’s side. She didn’t see Maris make his leap, only Jack, who appeared to be struggling with himself. “Oh, God,” she whimpered.

Jack’s chocolate eyes turned black, but he managed to make contact with Jess. “Run…” he croaked.

“Nowhere t’ run, Dad,” Jess said, never feeling more helpless in his life.

Jack shook his head, “N…no…run…me…through.”

Maris’ voice came from Jack’s mouth, “Don’ ye dare, boy! I’ll kill yer lass!”

“Do…it…Jess…” Jack’s voice again.

“Jess, no!” Evangeline’s voice was nothing more than a shouted whisper, and she was in yet another man’s grasp - this time it was Gibbs.

He tried to soothe her. “S’ the only way, lass. His body has t’ die before Maris can take over.”

Tears stung Jess’ eyes as he lifted his sword. Jack saw his son’s lower lip quiver and he silently nodded at him, telling him that it was all right. He approached his father, closed his eyes and plunged his blade into Jack’s chest. Deana cried, Evangeline fainted, and Maris shot out of Jack’s body, his essence floating up above the deck and seeming to explode.

Jack’s limp body fell onto the deck, blood pooling around him. Jess had aimed for Jack’s heart, knowing that death would be instant. The pirate who had tried to be so grown up, felt every bit a child as he collapsed next to his father’s body. “Dad, I’m so sorry,” he sobbed. “This is all me fault…if I woudln’ o’ left, ye ne’er would’ve ended up ‘ere.”

Gibbs gently woke Evangeline and she made her way to her dead love’s body. She couldn’t cry, she couldn’t speak to him, she could only stare at his face, realizing she’d never again see his smile.

“I promised that you wouldn’t loose him.”

Evangeline didn’t look away from Jack, but she heard Gibbs speak. “Ye bastard,” he said, seeing a very sheer Roux. “Yer s’posed t’ be…”

“Before you jump to conclusions, you must believe that I am who I say I am. I came to see both Jack…and you, Ev. I swear it. Maris’ crew learned how to resurrect him. They used some sort of…of black magic, I suppose, and wound up locating me - I stayed here too long. I was trapped in…a kind of limbo - Maris used my form to tear the four of you apart and - look, I don’t have time to explain it all. You have to trust me - I can bring him back.”

“How?” Evangeline asked, not knowing who was telling any sort of truth anymore.

“I can give him what’s left of me.” He put himself into Evangeline’s view. “I promised you - both of you - that you would be together. I stand by that promise.” Evangeline couldn’t have spoken another word if she wanted to. Roux looked back at Jess. “He’ll need a doctor’s care immediately, but he can come back. He will come back.”

“We’re a couple o’ days out from Port Royal,” Jess said, wanting to believe that everything would be all right.

“I’ll take care of it.” He caressed Evangeline’s face. “I’m so sorry that all of this has happened to you, Darling. I’m going to fix it. I love you.” Before she could respond, Roux placed his hands on Jack’s chest, then disappeared.

Jess saw his father’s chest rise ever so slightly. “He…he’s breathing. He’s breathing!”

“An’ we’re…we seem t’ be in Port Royal,” Gibbs said, sounding confused.

The End

Author’s Note: Yes, it is an abrupt ending, and yes, I am planning on continuing the story. I felt that 66 chapters was long enough for this go around. I know it was not my greatest ending, but being that it isn’t a true ending, I hope those of you that like my work will forgive me.