Hearts Across the Sea 16

[spacebabie]

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

Original Characters such as Julia Carlisle and Abigail Peterson are my own creation.

Characters: James Norrington, Theodore Groves, Murtogg, Mullroy, William Turner, Elizabeth Turner, Julia Carlisle, Abigail Peterson.

Setting: A few months after The Chosen.

 

Hearts Across the Sea

 

Chapter 16: Beneath the Blue

-

Abigail had sucked in her breath when they had started to fall down to the rapid waves, unlike Elizabeth and Julia she did not close her eyes, and unlike Murtogg and Mullroy she did not shout at the top of her lungs. Both William and Theodore also appeared to have held their breaths as well. She felt a warm hand take her own, and she didn’t need to look at the captain to know that it was his.

The marine’s yelling at ceased once the dark blue peaks of the choppy waves had taken hold of their fortress and pulled it under. She had released her breath as they descended, and tried not to show her fear at the sight of the now even larger devil fish.

“I have never would have never imagined it would be like this,” Mullroy said as he stared around. “I have to learn to swim.”

“You do see something similar while swimming in the Caribbean,” Theodore was still holding onto Abigail’s hand. “Although it is different and far more pleasant when your eyes are not burning.”

“Look at it all,” Julia pointed at the bottom. There were more of the giant rays swimming around, along with several large fish. There were also a dozen giant merfolk who were in the middle of a battle with the rays.

“They are fighting all around us,” William pointed to the surface where the merfolk were battling both the rays and the Atlantis.

“You do not see the fight all around, Miss Carlisle.” Saris said. “You see what is at the bottom.”

“Yes,” Julia’s smile grew even larger. “All these fish and look at the hills.” She pointed at the large hills at the bottom, covered in coral and sponges of various shapes and colors, some of the sea life had a natural luminescence in various shades of blue and green. “I have to memorize this. I will paint a picture of it later.”

“That is where they live,” Theodore said. His hand slipped away from Abigail’s. “That is where they are holding the Admiral and the others.”

“This is where we will run into our first bit of trouble,” Saris said.

“What do you mean by our bit of trouble?” Elizabeth demanded.

“She is right,” Abigail glared at the odd man. “What more forms of trouble will we come across?”

“The trouble had actually started when Admiral Norrington was first captured,” Theodore added.

“We will have to face Lorelei and her people,” Saris said. He did not seem to be upset by the fact Elizabeth had interrupted him and the fact that she and Theodore hadn’t given him an opportunity to continue. “That is not the first. The first will be trying to find out where they are kept.”

“We also need to find a way to get inside,” William said. “ Where are the cavernous entrances?”

“We are approaching them,” Whitecap said between deep breaths. She seemed a bit paler than usual and Abigail could have sworn she was actually sweating.

“Are you faring well?” Abigail asked.

“Do not make her speak more than necessary,” Saris told her. “Magic involves a great deal of energy, and she has spent a great deal.”

They were silent for a few minutes; only a few whispers about the underwater world were uttered between them. The two marines had another one of their arguments involving what may or not be a cuttlefish. Abigail did not say much. She kept her eyes on the devilfish. She can see how they earned their nickname thanks to the growths on their head, but now there was a great distance between them she no longer afraid and the way they flew through the sea made them appear more like angels

“How come no one is guarding any of the entrances?” Murtogg asked as Whitecap had guided them closer to one of the cavern entrances.

“Maybe it is because they are all out fighting the Naiad,” Mullroy suggested.

“Even when there is a battle there is still someone guarding an entrance,” Murtogg said. “We were the ones who did most of the guarding.”

“But we are human, and they are not.”

“Well even if they are not human there should still be someone guarding the entrance.”

“Have you ever seen merpeople guard an entrance?”

Murtogg shook his head. “I have never seen a merperson before until they attacked the ship.”

“Then how do you know if they are guarding an entrance or not?”

“They are intelligent beings,” Theodore said. “At least from the stories I have been told, and if they are as intelligent as us then they would have someone guarding the entrances.” He frowned at the fact there was not a single mer person around. “I do not like this situation, any possibility of storming the caves may lead to a trap.”

“We are very small,” William brought up. “Even if they did have a few guards they might not see us.”

“Or maybe this Lorelei is too certain she will not be interrupted,” Abigail suggested. “Pride before the fall.” She fingered the belt she wore under the fake top skirt of her layered gown and the weapons she carried. She was not proud of her own skill, although she smiled at the one secret she kept, and hoped it would be enough.

-

James felt nothing. There was nothing inside, no feeling of despair, or defeat. There was no fear, only a hint of regret. The regret that wasn’t able to resist the siren song of the mermaids, the regret he had lost another ship. The regret the had broken the promise to Julia.

“Stop trying to struggle,” Tigris hissed as both she and Crimson forced Chase down and Lola rubbed handfuls of the strange salve on his legs.

“You will not let him go,” James said softly as Lorelei finished rubbing the same slippery and cold salve on his own legs. He kept his hands over his most vulnerable parts, even though there would be a strong possibility she would see them after he has been transformed.

“Why should she?” Lorelei set the bottle of salve aside and grabbed one of the long sheets of green parchment like material. “He is to be her mate.”

“Against his wishes,” James refused to look into her eyes. Instead he chose to watch as both Cook and Johnson were having their bare and slick legs wrapped in the same material. “He has a wife and enjoys being in the Royal Marines.” He glanced down at his chest, where Julia’s ring still hung from the chain he wore.

“We have been through the same argument so many times,” Lorelei sighed. “When will you learn to forget?” She wrapped some of the material around his feet first, and moved up towards his ankles.

“I will never forget the one I truly love.”

“You will learn to love me.”

“Love should never be learned, it comes naturally,” he turned back to Cook and Johnson. From waist down they were completely covered in the green wrappings. “When will you release the others?”

“Once you have drunk the elixir.” Lorelei pushed his hands away from what they were covering.

“You have better keep your word,” James growled. He would keep to his word and allow himself to be transformed, and once he was certain the rest of his crew is safe he and Chase would make their return swim to Port Royal.

-

Theodore was certain that any second there would be the rush of merfolk, or at least he would see a few swimming around. They had entered one of the caverns and he felt they were gradually rising, but he hadn’t seen anyone in the water. He looked up wondering if he would see some standing by the entrance.

“It is too quiet,” Elizabeth said. She was holding her husband’s hand. “I feel your fear, Captain Groves.”

“We still don’t have any way of knowing for certain?” Abigail asked.

“I am afraid we won’t know until we see something,” Theodore wanted to reach for Abigail’s hand again, instead he grabbed the hilt of his sword.

“How much longer?” Murtogg asked. “The more we still lie in here the more excited I get.”

“Steady gentlemen,” Turner told them. “You don’t want to do anything rash.”

Theodore stared at him, forcing his tongue to stay still, now was not to bring up Turner’s past actions. He had to stay focused, be ready to fight those who may lie waiting for them.

After what had seemed a near eternity their bubble had surfaced in a large cavern pool. Theodore sought out the nearest stony bank and stepped back and in front of Abigail out of shock at seeing the two human like giants. They were both nearly nude in appearance, with only a loincloth for the man and a simple sheer gown for the woman, with no sleeves at all and the material ended above her pale knees.

“We are going to crash,” Mullroy pointed to the approaching bank.

“No we are not,” Saris assured.

The strange man was right. Their bubble slowly rose far above the surface and landed on the limestone ground where it shattered, leaving them sprawled along.

Theodore grabbed his sword and immediately stood up when he heard the gasp from the mermaid sentry, and too his surprise he found himself staring into her eyes.

“We our back to our right size,” Mullroy grinned before he realized the two guards had noticed them. Both and Murtogg unsheathed their swords.

“Please put those away,” the mermaid said. She held onto a conch shell in her hands.

“The second we do put our weapons away you will signal to the others,” Turner said. Everyone, except for Abigail and Whitecap were brandishing blades. Abigail held onto her hammers and was supporting a trembling Whitecap who stood at full size.

“We shall not,” the mermaid brushed her fingers against the pointed growths of the shell. “We have a different way to signal to them. I am just about to play the song that will bring her downfall.”

“Her downfall began a few years prior,” the merman said. “When we had taken her people.” He pointed at Whitecap. “This has happened long ago, and since she refused to learn and many had forgotten it had to repeat.”

“What are you talking about?” Elizabeth asked.

“It is as it once was,” the mermaid said. “We enslave an enemy.” She raised a finger. “We take a human leader,” she raised another finger. “His brethren have come to rescue him. The sea life attack our own. At sunset the conch shall cry. The revolution shall begin, and a man she once knew will come for her.”

“Is this some form of a prophecy?” Julia asked.

The male shook his head. “It has happened before, centuries ago. Another goddess had appeared when we were in dire times. She had saved us and for centuries we thrived and then her sense of power grew. She had bullied them the way Lorelei bullies us, and her downfall was similar. It had been written as we had discovered the account.”

The female pointed toward one tunnel. “I do not know of where they keep the transformation pool, but his soldiers are kept in a prison, Pass three entrances on the right and two on the left. The third on the left you turn, the cave at the end is where you will find them.”

“This is a bit of surprise,” Theodore had no idea that the merfolk were disgusted with Lorelei. The fates, nor Whitecap or Saris had told them any different. “Thank you.” He turned back to the others. “We have to move quickly. Hopefully we will find the Admiral, but at least we know where the others are.”

“It is only a few minutes until sundown.” Saris said. Theodore did not know how he knew that.

“I sense some magic,” Whitecap had finally caught her breath. “It is in the same direction as the others. I will know better when I am closer.”

“We have to run,” Theodore said before he lead the way.

-

James could not move his legs, he was practically helpless as he tried to, and he even can’t wiggle his own toes. He no longer had to cover his genitals with his hands. The wrapping had everything covered. He ran his fingers over the material, and noticed how much softer and damp it had become. He wondered if it was from the salve coming into contact with the wrap.

“Do not worry if it is uncomfortable,” Lorelei brushed her fingers against James’s shoulder. “It will not last long.”

James chose not to speak and only clasped his hands together before he uttered a short prayer.

“They will be worshipping you,” Lorelei hissed into his ear before she stood back up. “The elixir has been pored it only needs the last ingredient, your blood.”

The other mermaids were prepared. They had each brought a sharp piece of coral and pressed the sharp tips against their fingers before they held their hands over the small silver bowls. Blood dripped down in steady droplets.

“Now make them drink.”

James knew in Chase’s case he was forced into drinking the elixir. He watched as both Cook and Johnson gradually brought the dish to their mouths and slowly sipped the mixture.

Johnson was the first to loose his grip, causing the dish and what little remained to fall before he grabbed his throat and coughed.

“You tricked us,” James tried to stand up and flopped to the side. “They have been poisoned.”

“They are not poisoned,” Lorelei shook her head. “The transformation has begun. We need to take them to the pool now.” She ran over to Johnson and helped Dulcet lift him up. The red head had come to assist Aria with Cook and Tigris and Lola carried Chase.

James did not advert his gaze, not until the men had been placed into the water.

-

“Two,” Julia counted as they ran past two tunnel entrances that were on the left side. She did not care for what was on the right side, The right tunnel to the crew of the Naiad was on the left.

“The magic is getting stronger,” Whitecap said. She hadn’t explained why she remained at the size she had recently chosen; only mentioned it was to fight better.

“We are about to pass the second right tunnel.” William said.

“I hear something,” Theodore said. “Sounds like a small squadron.”

He was right, Nearly two dozen merfolk, both men and women can running out, all carrying crude forms of weapons, some wielded swords, others two long knives in each hand. There were still others who actually had tridents.

“Attack,” Theodore commanded.

“Not yet,” Saris held up his hands.

“What do you mean?” Abigail asked him.

“We have to fight,” William just glared at the odd man.

“Parley,” Mullroy shouted and pointed at the approaching forces.

“Mr. Mullroy,” Captain Groves did not even turn to look at him.

“Revolution,” Murtogg blurted out. Several of the merfolk lowered their weapons and stared at him. “One of you is about to blow the conch.”

Several of the enemy looked at each other.

“Let them through,” one of the mermen commanded before he was run through with a spear. The merfolk turned against each other, weapons clashed, sending bits of barnacles flying off towards several different directions.

“Can we get by them?” Elizabeth asked.

“We may have to fight through them,” William said as a few of the merfolk broke through the crowd and rushed towards them.

Both Captain Groves and Saris ran towards the two and struck their weapons against each other. Groves disarmed his opponent quickly before he stabbed her in the chest with his blade.

“Admiral Norrington is at the right,” Whitecap said. “Further up and to the right.”

“We have to go,” Julia tried to weave through the crowd, only stopped when Captain Groves grabbed her by the arm. “Let me go.”

“You do not know where he exactly is,” He told her. His eyes were on the nearest dueling mermaids. “You can get lost.”

“The next entrance on the right,” one of the dueling mermaids said. “The first entrance on the right is the first to take.” She slammed the edge of her trident into the stomach of her opponent. “It is another tunnel, but at the end there is a cavern. It is where you will-“ she was cut off by the bang from Mullroy’s flintlock. She turned around to see another merman fall down behind her.

“You and I have to go,” Saris said. “Miss Carlisle, follow me.”

“Will,” Elizabeth said as she blocked another blade from coming at her face. “Go with them.”

Julia did not turn around to see if William had followed. She only stared straight ahead as she ran, and looked to the right for the nearest tunnel.

-

“How long have they been down there?” James asked.

“Not long,” Lorelei said. “They will soon surface.”

She was right. After a few minutes had passed his crewmen had raised their heads above the water. They had appeared just as before, except their ears were larger and fan shaped. Their eyes were paler in color and there were noticeable slits in their necks. Lieutenant Chase held up his hand and stared at the webbing between his fingers and long fingernails in horror.

“I will have the same reaction as Lieutenant Chase,” James turned aside to find himself staring in the aqua colored eyes of Lorelei.

“He is no longer a lieutenant.”

“I suppose it is my turn now.”

“No not until the conch cries for sunset.” She brought the edge of her blade to her wrist and held it over the chalice. “The coughing and the choking will be brief, I promise you.” She watched as her own blood spilled into the cup.

James brushed his fingernails against the material, and wondered if he could tear it off. He did not dare try, not if it meant she would order one of his crewmen to be slayed.

A strange sound came from outside, sounding similar to the mating cry of a hoofed animal. James looked up to see the smile on Lorelei’s face and turned to his crewmen, and for a brief second both Aria and Dulcet were also smiling.

“It is sunset, the full moon is out. It is time for your transformation, my pet,” she brought the dish to his mouth. “Drink it. The longer you stall will mean more members of your crew will die.”

“You no longer need to explain,” He lowered his head and began to sip.

“James!”

“Julia?” James snapped his head up and turned to the entrance. He did not hear things. Julia Carlisle, his Julia was standing in the entrance.  “Julia it is you.” He spat out what was still in his mouth.

Julia took one look at James, one look at Lorelei and removed the pistol she kept hidden under the top layer of hems. “Step aside.” James had never heard her voice to be so cold.

“Get her,” Lorelei commanded. “I order you to drink.” She brought the dish back to his mouth.

“Miss Carlisle,” the mermen in the pool shouted and pulled themselves out.

“Revolution,” Aria turned to Dulcet before she intercepted the red head.

“History has repeated,” Dulcet smiled and took her place in front of Tigris.

Chase had waited until Lola had run past him before he launched himself, and tackled the mermaid. His deep orange fluke slapped against the floor as he and his new-scaled bulk kept her pinned down.

“No,” James pushed the drink aside. “I will not.”

“Yes you will,” Lorelei glared. “You have swallowed a bit already.”

“I said,” Julia aimed her pistol at Lorelei. “Step aside.” She pulled back the trigger and sent the shot flying.

Lorelei hissed when the shot grazed her shoulder and dropped the dish, spilling the rest of the elixir. “Human,” she spat out the word as she held onto her injured shoulder. “You will die.”

“No,” James flopped to the side again after Lorelei released him. He sank his fingers deep into the wrap and pulled, and using every bit of strength in his body he pulled at the material until it ripped. He pulled his legs apart as he continued to rip off the material until he was able to stand up and run.

“You will not cause him more misery,” Julia reached for the hilt of her sword. She did not pull it out fast enough. Lorelei had tackled her before she could completely remove it from its sheath.

James threw the discarded dish at the nymph. The metal struck the back of her skull and when she turned around her eyes widened in surprise. “You will not harm her.” His fingers curled back and he struck the side of her jaw with full force.

“James,” Julia breathed his name. Her voice was the most beautiful sound he had heard. “You are still human.”

“Hopefully,” He stared into her eyes. “I have only swallowed what would be a spoonful. I hope that isn’t enough.” He felt the remains of the wrap sticking to his bare legs. “I am sorry I am not clothed.”

“I haven’t noticed,” she smiled. “I have only been staring into your beautiful eyes.”

 

-

 

Comments

[mrs-norrington.livejournal.com]

Yay for the rescue!