The Chosen Chapter 11

[spacebabie]

Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted and Terry.

Rating: T for now. 

Characters: Most of the entire cast

Pairings: Will/Elizabeth, Jack/Anamaria,

A/N: Slight crossover in this chapter. Cyber cookies to those who know what it is.

 

The Chosen

 

Chapter 11: A past revealed

-

William Turner could hear the garbled words from various people outside Elizabeth’s old bedroom as he was slowly roused from his slumber. The bed was comfortable even if it wasn’t the Governor’s own. It was soft and large enough for him to flail his arms and legs about without worry he might fall over the side. Governor Swann assured him that his bed was larger, and being the good Minion that he was, he had offered it to his master, but Will wanted the bed that Elizabeth had slept in before she became his wife.

“Master Turner,” Michael’s voice made his way out through the crowd. “Wake up. It is important.”

“What is it?” Will asked without lifting his head from the pillow. He was still half asleep, luckily for them. His voice would have been harsher if he was fully awake.

“We tried to mark Elizabeth as a Minion, but she fought back.”

“Of course she did,” Will smiled proudly. He had taught her how to fight and even if his intent to capture her, he was pleased she was able to fend for herself. “Hopes she defeats-“ His mouth froze. What was he trying to say? “You weren’t supposed to mark her.”

“Master?”

“Do not call me master?” He sat up. Master sounded like something sinister and he wasn’t. “That is a word for a slave owner, you are servants, Minions, address me as sir.” Most importantly they were friends. No, they were friends and now they serve under him. No, he wasn’t-what was he? He grabbed his head and felt the horns.

Do not fight what you truly are. A voice in the back of his mind hissed.

“What am I?” He croaked as desires flooded his mind. He wanted Elizabeth by his side, dripping in the most expensive jewelry, Jamaica under his rule, and those he despised had been killed.

“Sir?” Michael asked. “Are you well?”

“I am quite well,” Will slid out of bed and buttoned up his under shirt. “I am disappointed you tried to mark Elizabeth. No one touches her, but me. You were to bring her back here.”

“I am sorry sir, and yes she did escape, but she wouldn’t have if Admiral Norrington hadn’t arrived.”

“Norrington?” Will gritted his teeth at the mention of the man’s name. “She had ran off with him?”

“Apparently and so has many others.”

“Others?” Will blinked.

“The other families you requested to be marked, The Stone’s, The Ballentine’s, the Radcliffe’s, Carlisles-“

“Enough,” Will had cut him off. “They had ran off with the Admiral?”

“They ran off towards the docks.”

“They are already trying to flee,” he shook his head. “Have everyone head towards the docks, mark as many as you can on the way.”

“Will you be joining us?”

“Off course,” He removed his trousers from where he had it spread over the footboard of the bed.

-

“I do not know who should go first,” James Norrington said as he poured brandy into the four glasses. “Considering what has happened to me, I may explain and show what I have become.”

The organization of the crowds and escorting them to the ships went calmer and more orderly than he had imagined. There was not enough time to rouse as many officers as he had hoped and each ship held at least half military and half citizens. There had to be a few naval officers and marines left on the docks to help organize more outings, surely there would be more frightened people who wanted to leave the ports.

“Become?” Julia Carlisle asked from the small sofa in James’s cabin. She and Elizabeth sat together while Julia’s father occupied a different chair.

As the ships set sail, James had debated who he should tell first, certainly not the citizens he had taken under his care. He would have told his men first, starting with the lieutenants, but Mr. Carlisle had mentioned he knew something about what was going on.

“It is a bit hard to explain and it would involve what is happening.” James continued to pour until each of the glasses contained some of the rich, amber liquid.

“Go on,” Mr. Carlisle nodded.

“There is a battle approaching,” James handed one of the glasses to the older man first. “Two messengers from the opposing sides had selected their champions. One chose myself and the other had chosen Mr. Turner.”

“The demons are using you?” Carlisle nearly spilled his drink.

“Not demons,” Elizabeth shook her head. “We were told a messenger from heaven chose James.”

“I have had a few features transformed,” James handed the two glasses to the young women before he showed father and daughter his ivory white fingernails. “There is more.” He pointed to his teeth and removed his hat and his wig.” He felt his locks tumble down and he pulled them aside to show his ears. “I also have a tail. I keep it hidden.”

“It is just like the tail in your painting, Julia,” Elizabeth turned to her friend. “The one in your wedding gift to us.”

“That is why you asked,” Julia said as she cast an uncomfortable glance to her father. “Except you don’t have wings?”

“I am a bit thankful for that,” James smiled. “It is hard enough to keep my tail hidden, can you imagine how hard it would be to keep a large pair of wings tucked under my jacket?” He waited until both women smiled before he took a sip from his brandy.

“You are part angel now?” Carlisle raised his eyebrows.

James shrugged. “So I have been told. I know I am able to heal and repair as well as protect and those who have become my Favorites also receive that gift as well albeit it is not as powerful.”

“I have been turned into a Favorite,” Elizabeth pulled back her hair to reveal her ears. To both her and James’s reassuring surprise, Julia did not back away from her.

“It is clear what the two sides represent,” Carlisle stared at his glass. “They have already turned our friends and neighbors into some of their own servants.”

“You still don’t know what is going on, father,” Julia said before she took a small sip from her glass. She nearly pulled the glass away and blinked after taking her first taste.

“Julia, you and I both know more about this threat than the entire royal navy unless Admiral Norrington has informed them.”

“I have not,” Norrington said. He wondered how the Carlisle’s knew about Turner’s transformation.

“This isn’t the demon that took my mother,” Julia said. “Their eyes were different from what you had described.”

James stared at Julia in awe before he cast a glance at her father. The older man pursed his lips and nodded.

“What?” Elizabeth blinked. “You told me your mother died in a fire.”

“That part is true,” Carlisle said. “But the fire was caused by a demon, and Julia you are correct. Their eyes are different, but that would mean it is a different kind of demon.”

“You are not a hunter,” Julia set her glass down on the nearest table. “You have no idea how to classify them, or know how to hunt them down, or anything.”

“Julia,” Roland Carlisle’s  voice was low.

“I believe you,” James held up a hand. “Mr. Carlisle it is your turn to explain what you know.”

“All I know is from what little I have seen and heard.” He stared at his glass before he took another drink. “Twenty three years ago when we were still living in London, my wife, my Catherine-“ He closed his eyes from the painful memory and sat for a full minute, no one dared to speak. “She had thought she had heard a noise, a sound that I hadn’t heard and she did. If only I had also heard it-‘

“Don’t blame yourself, father.” Julia said.

“Catherine woke up and as many mothers wont to do when they hear a strange noise in their home, she went to the nursery to check on Julia. She was gone for a few minutes before I woke up to search for her.” He closed his eyes again. “She was not in the nursery, I only heard Julia cooing from her crib. I went over to make sure the blanket is on right when something fell on my head. It felt like a drop of rain. It was blood.”

“Blood?” Elizabeth’s eyes widened.

Carlisle nodded. “I stared up and there was Catherine, pinned to the ceiling with a deep cut in her stomach. Then there was fire. The fire spread around her body and covered the ceiling. I grabbed Julia and took her outside. I handed her to a neighbor before I tried to rescue Catherine.”

“I’m sorry,” James wasn’t sure that was enough. He wanted to say something else, something that was a bit more assuring. It had to be horrible to see the person you love and cherish die in such a horrid way and be powerless to have done anything about it.

“A man came around two years later,” Julia said softly. “Father only told his closest friends and our vicar about it, but everyone knew about the fire and this man came around asking questions.”

“He was a man who hunted demons.” Carlisle said. “ We had a brief discussion and he told me the details of this demon. I had thought about joining his cause, travel around Europe to hunt down the evils, but then I felt it would not be best for Julia. Instead I saved my money to buy my plantation in Port Royal and pay for the passage for the two of us.”

“That is why you believed me,” Elizabeth turned to her friend. “I told you about Barbossa’s crew and Davy Jones, and Sao Feng, and you said you believed all those stories.”

Julia smiled briefly. “We believe all stories must have at least one small grain of truth to them.”

“Many people have seen The Flying Dutchman when it pulled into the harbor nearly a year ago,” James added. “This is a different sort of demon. It had chosen someone to be their champion.”

“Will,” Elizabeth said softly and stared at her glass. “It chose Will and he had turned my father into a minion.”

“Elizabeth,” Julia sat down next to her friend. “I am so sorry.”

“This means that you will have to…” Carlisle could not finish his words. He shook his head. “But that is the only way.”

“No it is not,” James said, somewhat relieved to know how to drive the demonic touch from Turner. “I may have to fight him, but I will not kill him.”

“We were told there was way to drive the evil from him.”

“Three things are needed,” James held up three fingers.” The first is Elizabeth’s love. The second is a mixture of tears, blood, and holy water, the third is a special item, that a few-“ He tried to think of the right term to use for Jack Sparrow and his crew. “Acquaintances are searching for.”

“We are going to meet up with them?” Carlisle asked.

James nodded. “This brings to me the point where I need to ask the both of you a favor.” He set his glass down. “I know this might be difficult, but there will be a battle. Mr. Turner will have his army and I am still building mine. I will ask my men before I ask the civilians we are carrying, but I need to ask if you are willing to become Favorites like Elizabeth.”

“I’ll do it,” Julia said. “I would be honored to.”

“There was some regret that I did not join the demon hunters,” Carlisle held his glass up. “But I will fight by your side, Admiral.”

“Now we get to the difficult part,” James smiled sheepishly. “To become a Favorite you must receive a kiss from a Favorite.”

Julia’s eyes widened while her entire face flushed pink. “I know it is not proper, but if it is the only way.”

“It may be difficult with your father watching,” James felt his own cheeks turn pink.

“You have my blessing,” Carlisle coughed and turned away.

“I would kiss you, Mr. Carlisle,” Elizabeth said. “But it may be the best if you receive the kiss from your daughter.”

Carlisle nodded.

‘I hope you are convincing, Theodore.’ James thought as he closed his eyes and bent down towards Julia.

-

“I know I may not be able to convince any of you this is the truth,” Theodore Groves said before the gathered group of civilians. “Many of you have not seen what I and the Admiral have seen.” He folded his hands behind his back, in the similar fashion as James before he paced in front of them. “I know this will be difficult.”

“It would be faster if he came out with it,” Abigail Peterson whispered to her siblings and friends.

“There is a situation, and it is effecting our friends and neighbors,” Theodore chose to ignore Abigail’s rudeness. She was well away from him and if he wasn’t a Favorite, he should not have been able to hear her. “I am certain many have heard of the Flying Dutchman and how she came to port here. There are more things than Earth and Heaven.” He coughed. It was easier to explain and convince the naval officers serving under him. “Heaven being a key figure.”

“He still isn’t explaining,” Abigail hissed.

“Not long ago, Admiral Norrington came across a figure from Heaven and she chose him to be lead a battle against the forces of hell and sadly a dear friend of ours has been selected by the forces of Hell. He was able to turn more of our friends into servants. You may have seen their fingernails, black and pointed.”

This time there was murmur, many people were voicing the fact they had seen their fingernails.

“I have seen their eyes,” a man near the front said. “The parts that should be brown, blue or green are black and the parts that should be white are yellow.’

“That would make it easy to determine who they are.” Theodore nodded. “They are a bit more stronger than the mere man and would be defending their master, making it difficult to cure him and drive this evil away from our home. Admiral Norrington is able to change us, turn us into soldiers capable to fight against the Minions. I have become one.”

The crowd shuffled and murmured again.

“There are a few differences’ in our Admiral’s appearance as well as my own.” He held out his hands. “As you can see my fingernails have been changed as well as my ears. You do not have to fight, or even become Favorites. I do not even want to think about the women fighting this terror.”

“Why can we not fight?” Abigail asked.

“You can if you choose to do so. I just do not like the idea.”

Abigail’s mouth widened before it changed into a smirk. “Is that a fact, Captain?”

He shouldn’t have said it. It was true; he did not like the idea of women getting caught up in mess he was involved in. He really didn’t want someone like Abigail Peterson to fight by his side.

“All the naval officers aboard this ship had agreed,” Theodore, chose to ignore her. “While the women are not encouraged to join this fray it would be quicker to help everyone to become a Favorite.”

“Why is that?” Abigail demanded.

“Because it is transferred by a kiss,” he bit his tongue to keep himself from implying that it would be something else she knew nothing about.

“A kiss?” Mrs. Peterson asked before her eldest daughter could manage to open her mouth.

“A kiss,” Theodore nodded. “You’re daughter seems eager to join in the battle. If I am not so forward, would it be all right if I kissed you and you may transfer the blessing to your son, or another man and he may kiss her.”

“Why won’t you kiss me?” Abigail approached him. “You do not want to see many women fighting and I do not want my mother to endanger herself.”

Theodore gritted his teeth. “Because I am the last person on Earth that you would want to kiss.”

“And you feel the exact same about me?”

“I cannot answer that, right now.”

Abigail chewed her bottom lip and nodded.

“Now-“ he felt his words caught in his throat when Abigail grabbed his shoulders and pulled him to her.

“Abigail,” her mother gasped.

Theodore’s eyes widened when their lips met. In all reality he should have pushed her off, but her bold move had surprised him, rendering his limbs weak.

“What a beautiful man,” Abigail breathed when they parted and nearly stumbled backwards.

“I should have warned you,” Theodore caught her. “There is a bit of an effect. It is similar to being drunk, but it is brief.” He stared down at the bold and annoying young woman, hoping that the others were having an easier time than he was.

-