TITLE: Crimson Ways

AUTHOR: Psocid

mamushiko@aol.com

PAIRING: Jack/Will

RATING: PG...going up in later chapters due to sex, drugs, and rock & roll.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own jack. (As in anything. I own my style of vamps and dhamps. ^__^ So I'm content.) Disney and all the other capitalistic bastards, however, do own practically everything-more specifically PotC. (But I'm sure they stole the idea for The Lion King from Kimba…merciless bastards…*grumble-grumble*) And I stole the title from the Bohren und der Club of Gore song of the same title.

WARNINGS: Vampires, dhampirs, humans (those are really scary!), one het relationship (even scarier!!), and blood. Everywhere. Can't seem to get it out of the carpet, so it just stays there. The fact that I'm coming out of hiding from writing is a warning in itself.

Also, unbetaed...

SUMMARY: Jack's a...well, not vampire, I made him dhampir (half- vamp) for my own personal convenience and pleasure. Response to that one challenge from way back when. (Which someone beat me to, but I didn't know until I got home from work--curses to no internet connection at work!)

Archived: http://www.freewebs.com/cw1/cw-ind.html

http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1508862

Crimson Ways

By Psocid

Troubles always come in hundreds. Trust me on this.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann were to be married. That is, of course, considering that `were' is a past tense term. Elizabeth remained engaged, but the title of fiancé shifted from one Will Turner to one Commodore Norrington. There is no real way to describe how or when it happened; it just did. No one seemed to object or think ill of any of the parties involved.
Will had noticed soon after (his and Elizabeth's) engagement that there was no passion between them. No fire. No sleepless nights spent thinking of the goddess that he wanted. No, that was now the Commodore's problem. Will and Elizabeth were simply best of friends now.

The change may have started with Will--having gotten his first real taste of adventure, and the sudden end of it all leaving him with an unquenchable thirst for more. Quite admittedly, meeting Jack Sparrow was possibly the best, and soon to be worst, thing that had ever happened to the young blacksmith. Will missed the pirate and his eternally intoxicated self--even though he'd never publicly admit to it.

After Jack had escaped, or rather fallen, to freedom, everything had calmed down. It was almost unbearably calm. But this day was to be different.

Will knocked on the door of the Swanns' home. He didn't have to wait long before a servant answered and showed him in.

`This way, Mr. Turner,' he said, gesturing in a boorish manner in the general direction of the parlor. `You're to wait here for Miss Swann.' And with that, the servant left.

Will was used to being left to his own devices in the governor's house. As long as he didn't touch anything, he'd be safe. So he stuck to his favorite pastime of looking around. As his gaze raked the room for some sort of intrigue, a portrait caught his eye. He cocked his head to the side. Surely this painting wasn't there before--he would have remembered it.

It wasn't anything particularly glamorous, but it had a peculiar air about it that seemed to say `Look at me. I'm the only person that matters in this world and the next.' He couldn't help but be reminded of someone.

Will strode up to the portrait for a closer look. It was of a very beautiful young woman. The painting itself was very old, quite possibly over a hundred years old, though the frame was new. Yet, somehow, it matched perfectly. It might have been the fact that the wood used for the frame matched the woodwork of the chair the woman sat in, or that the silver (Will had thought it more common for such paintings to sport gold than silver) laced into the carved braiding of the frame gave it a touch of individuality that seemed to emanate from the woman. Will's thoughts were brought back to the woman herself.

Ah, yes. The mysterious subject of the portrait. Who was she? Why did she smirk like she knew everything and yet nothing? That smirk. There was something very familiar about that smirk and the lips that showed it. Such kissable lips; painted crimson, but the natural beauty showing through. Her lips contrasted perfectly with her pale skin. It looked as though she'd never seen sunlight.

Will's eyes followed her lips to her left earring. It appeared to be silver, shining in the light of the room she posed in. Will could have sworn he'd seen that bit of jewelry before--though he couldn't place his finger as to where. Giving it up as a lost cause, he admired her hair next. It was a raven black, and most likely smooth as silk by the looks of it. The top part of her hair was pulled up into a sort of bun. Will had never seen any like it. It was decorated with pearls and the wings of some sort of bird. He wondered vaguely if the wings were real.

Tracing down, his eyes met with hers. They were a tempting chocolate that dared one to drown in them. He remembered seeing eyes like these before. He recognized the lust they held. The knowledge, the playfulness. But for the life of him, he couldn't put a name to this face that he knew so well. All he could think of was how he wanted to be with this woman. Let her know all his secrets. Even though he was certain that she'd use that against him and take advantage of him, he didn't care. As long as he could be in her presence. He wanted to serve her. To be her slave. To--Will was jarred from his thoughts as a hand came to rest on his shoulder. He spun around to see Elizabeth looking at him with a slightly worried expression.

`Elizabeth…,' he started, but was at a loss of words for some reason.

`I see you've met the Countess,' Elizabeth stated, warily eying the portrait.

Will nodded. `It's a beautiful work of art. I've never seen anything like it.'

Elizabeth frowned. `I don't like it. There's something…not right about it. Something evil.' She seemed to be fighting for her words to come out right, as if some force was trying to keep her from shedding light on a deep, dark secret.

`She looks familiar. Who is she?' Will asked, looking back to the painting of the Countess. Elizabeth was right. Something definitely wasn't right about it.

`She is Countess Mircalla Karnstein,' she replied flatly. `My second cousin found it while cleaning out his wine cellar. Thought it would make for a good, if not cheap, wedding present.'

Will continued to stare at the Countess. Why did she look so familiar? The name wasn't familiar, so why did he think he'd seen her before?

`Speaking of wedding presents,' Elizabeth began, breaking Will from his thoughts once more. `You're here to help me decide on a date for the wedding and who should receive invitations.'

Will groaned inwardly. He was hoping to have a simple chat with his friend or maybe be given a request for a sword to make for the Commodore as a wedding present. Elizabeth must have sensed this, for she put on an impish smile and locked her arm around his. `Oh, come now! It's not as bad as you're making it out to be.'

She smiled whole heartedly and dragged Will out of the parlor. Just as they reached the door, Will took one last look at the portrait of Mircalla. Not really being able to focus on it due to the movement of being dragged along, he recognized the distinct features of the woman. `Jack…'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warnings for this chapter: Relentless teasing of Will. Um...and the fact that not much happens in the world of slashy goodness.

AN: I have a tendency to just...drop things. So don't hit me if I do a cliffhanger.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Crimson Ways
Part Two

It isn’t where you stand that matters. It’s which way you face.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Captain Jack Sparrow lazily steered the Black Pearl. A mischievous grin played across his lips as he shifted the ship’s direction. They would arrive in Port Royal just as the sun would be setting. It would be a grand entrance--not as interesting as his arrival with a sinking boat, but it was sure to catch an eye or two, and that was all that mattered to Jack. He did seem to like going out of his way for attention--it had become a sort of accidental habit.

As for why he was headed for Port Royal, his crew had a pretty good idea. It had been six months since he’d last seen Will, four months since he heard that Will and Elizabeth were engaged, and it was less than a month ago when Jack had gotten word that Will was no longer engaged to his ‘bonnie lass.’ Only a week had passed before Jack’s natural curiosity got the best of him. He had to know why the change in plans. He also wanted to see if Will was up for grabs, and from any list of reasons for heading to Port Royal, this was the one that the crew sided with. It was no secret that their captain had taken a liking to the boy.

It would only be a few more hours until they’d reach land.

*

Will and Elizabeth were in the drawing room. They had been there for a good two hours or so, and Will’s fidgeting was becoming more obvious as he stared longingly out the window towards the docks. He had long lost interest in the subject at hand (wedding guests). Surprisingly, he survived the first two subjects of a wedding theme and catering, but wedding guests… Will would never dare to hurt Elizabeth’s feelings with his opinions on some of her other friends.

‘Will. Will! Mister William Turner!’

Will was forced from his thoughts of having a choice selection of Elizabeth’s friends walk the plank. ‘Oh, sorry!’ Will apologized at the scold Elizabeth was giving him.

She doubted that he was truly sorry, but continued nonetheless. ‘As I was saying,’ she said, getting back to the guest list, ‘Marianna Suzette; I’m inviting her as well, so where should she sit?’

‘Sit? We’ve gotten to seating arrangements already?’ He didn’t think he was out of it for that long.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him. ‘We’re going over both the guest list and seating at the same time. I thought it might go quicker this way.’

‘Oh, I see. Two birds with one stone, eh?’

‘Right, but I did not need much of an opinion on the matter from you until now,’ she said patiently, though anyone could tell that her patience was wearing thin. ‘Should I have Marianna seated next to you, or would you prefer other seating arrangements?’

Will flinched slightly at the thought of Marianna sitting next to him. She was so annoyingly sweet. Ever since the knowledge of Will and Elizabeth’s engagement breaking off became public, Marianna seemed to take it upon herself to comfort Will. He shuddered. ‘I’d rather have a candle-lit dinner for two with Barbossa,’ he commented under his breath.

‘William turner!’ Elizabeth scolded him again. She sighed, knowing full well that Will couldn’t stand Marianna. ‘All right, I’ll have her placed next to Christine and Annette.’

Will looked relieved. The last thing he wanted was for Marianna to have an excuse to talk to him. She was enough to make a man turn from women altogether. Not that he wasn’t halfway there himself, but he’d never admit it openly. His gaze had drifted back to the window overlooking the docks. It was nearly sunset.

Elizabeth followed his gaze and smiled knowingly. ‘How about we finish this up outside?’ she suggested.

Will jumped eagerly to his feet. ‘That’s a brilliant idea!’

They made their way to the docks and found a bench to rest on.

Elizabeth was halfway through pulling out her materials when she heard Will gasp. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’

Will didn’t answer. He looked ahead with disbelieving eyes. It wasn’t possible. Not here. Not now. He had to be hallucinating. Best to confirm if what he was seeing was real.

‘Am I just imagining it, or is that really the Black Pearl?’ he said weakly, still not believing it.
Elizabeth turned to look where Will had indicated. Her jaw dropped. Was the Black Pearl’s captain a complete idiot?

They were both still staring, mouths agape, when an all too familiar voice sounded from behind them.

‘She looks absolutely gorgeous in the sunset. Doesn’t she?’

Will and Elizabeth turned to see none other than Captain Jack Sparrow grinning madly as he watched the Black Pearl.

Will looked from Jack to the ship. Looking back at Jack, he asked ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Surely you’ll be hanged!’ Elizabeth added, concern evident in her voice.

‘I’m here because I wanted to see my ship come in,’ he replied. ‘And why should I worry about hanging when I have you two looking out for me?’

Will let out an exasperated sigh. ‘That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Why are you here-in Port Royal?’ he reiterated.

Jack smiled innocently. ‘I was just curious is all,’ he said. It was an honest answer; he was curious, but the other two didn’t need to worry themselves of what exactly he was curious about. No sense in scaring Will away so soon. There’d be plenty enough time for that later.

‘Curious as to what, pray tell?’ Obviously, the answer was not good enough for Elizabeth. Will might have given up on the pirate as a lost cause, but she wanted answers. Good ones.

‘I caught word, a while back, that your engagement had been broken off, and I…’ He paused for a moment, shifting his weight and waving his hands around as he looked for the words that wouldn’t give him away. ‘And I wanted to see how you two were getting on.’ He hoped that would be satisfactory enough.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him. He was being honest--to an extent. That much she could tell. But it would have to do for now. She knew she’d find out sooner or later, though she wasn’t quite certain as to whether she preferred sooner or later.

Wanting at least one of his questions answered, Jack asked ‘So why exactly has the engagement been disbanded?’

Will and Elizabeth were not prepared for this query to say the least. They looked to each other as if they wanted to huddle together and come up with a proper answer--not just ‘lost interest, moved on, the end.’ Will bowed his head in a slight nod, signaling that he’d do his best to explain.

‘Well,’ he began, ‘Elizabeth and I don’t feel for each other in that way anymore. Yes, we do love each other, but only as friends or siblings do.’ He paused, and Jack nodded for him to continue, taking in the information. ‘We discussed it and decided it was for the best not to get married.’

‘Ah, I see,’ Jack muttered, wondering how to phrase his next question. ‘Any new engagements as of yet? You know that I do so love weddings.’ He smiled when Elizabeth blushed. ‘Well?’

‘Not that it’s any of your business, Mr. Sparrow, but Commodore Norrington,’ she replied as her blush deepened, ‘proposed to me not more than two months ago.’ Will smirked at her discomfort, and she scowled at him in return.

‘Well, I’m happy for you,’ Jack said in a sincere tone before he switched his attention to Will. ‘And what of you? Any new lasses lined up for the chopping block?’

Will blushed slightly at the suggestive tone in Jack’s voice. ‘Wha--no!’ Jack’s face lit up like a cat’s that had just caught itself a plump and juicy rat.

Elizabeth saw this as the perfect moment for her revenge on her earlier embarrassment. ‘Oh, don’t be so modest, Will,’ she said sweetly. Will quirked an eyebrow at her, wondering where she was going with this. Sparrow was beginning to look as if his rat might get away. ‘You must remember Miss Marianna Suzette, right? I thought you fancied her. She likes you.’ And the rat was gone.

Jack was hoping that it would have taken longer for Will to find a new love interest. At least until he had gotten to Port Royal. Will’s voice broke into his sulking thoughts.

‘E-Elizabeth!’ he stammered, ‘I’d never--not in a thousand years! She’s so--!! I’d rather marry Mr. Cotton’s parrot!’

Elizabeth couldn’t hold in her laughter any longer. ‘Serves you right!’

It seemed that Jack’s rat came trotting back to him. ‘So! It’s to be a double wedding then? Lizbeth and her commodore. You and the parrot,’ he said teasingly as he clapped Will on the back, causing him to stumble forward a step.

Elizabeth gathered her lists of guests and invited Jack to join her and Will back at the estate for dinner-to which the pirate was more than happy to oblige. On the way, Jack continued to tease Will about his new engagement to the parrot. It didn’t help much when Elizabeth mentioned Will’s earlier remark of dinner with Barbossa.

By the time they’d reached the front door, Jack decided to take a stab and see where it got him. ‘But, Will, Barbossa was such a boorish man! I’m much more interesting than he could have ever hoped to be! I’m hurt that you think more highly of him than me,’ he said in a mock sadness, clutching his chest. ‘Ye’ve ripped out me own heart, lad. So this is to be the fate of poor Captain Jack Sparrow: to die of a broken heart. Aye…and such a tragic fate it is--and that I must share this fate with a parrot-‘

Will turned and cut Jack off from saying more. ‘Shut it, pirate!’ Will was mere inches from Jack. His face was flushed with anger. Jack mildly wondered what that face would look like flushed with a different emotion.

As Will glared into Jack’s eyes, he remembered something. The same perfect brown eyes as that of the painting. Curiosity overthrew anger with the need for knowledge. ‘Jack…,’ he began slowly, Jack eagerly listening,’ there’s something that I wanted to ask you.’

‘Aye. Go ahead, mate.’

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warnings for this chapter: Mushy scene with Norrington and Elizabeth. More Will torture.

AN: We find out more about Countess Mircalla Karnstein! Lucky us!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Crimson Ways
Part Three

What people really want is that tomorrow should be no worse than today.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

‘Aye. Go ahead, mate.’

Will looked so serious; maybe he would ask if he could join Jack on the Black Pearl? Jack decided that it would definitely be a pleasant surprise. Unlikely, but quite pleasant to say the least.

‘Are you related to a Countess Mircalla Karnstein?’ Will asked. It had bothered him since earlier in the day when he first laid eyes on the portrait of the mysterious woman.

The color faded from Jack’s face. That was definitely not the surprise he’d been hoping for. Will’s confession of his undying love for the eccentric pirate--that he could probably deal with. Gladly. But to hear a name he hadn’t heard for who knows how many years… He quickly regained his composure and put on a look of confusion.

‘Never heard the name before now,’ he replied. ‘Why do you ask?’

‘Oh. Well, Elizabeth received a painting of the Countess as a wedding gift from one of her cousins,’ Will explained. ‘And the painting bears an uncanny resemblance to you, so I thought that maybe you were related to her.’

Jack looked relieved. Will didn’t seem to suspect Jack’s…unusual heritage. Then again, they were in the Caribbean, not Europe. Though some myths and legends shared similarities, they were (for the most part) unheard of in the other region.

‘A long lost, rich relative? That would be nice,’ Jack commented. ‘Too bad the old girl’s dead, eh?’ He stepped past Will and through the open door of Elizabeth’s home--she had left them outside, not wanting to hear the two bicker. ‘Certainly a fine place like this is stocked with fine wine?’

Will gave a short laugh. Jack was something else. But something about Jack’s comment didn’t sit right with Will. How did he know the woman in the painting was dead? Will couldn’t remember mentioning how old it was. There was that dishonesty again. Will’s new goal in life was to get all the information he could from Jack. Even if he had to drown him in rum.

Jack, meanwhile, had found his way to the parlor and was now examining the assorted bottles of liquor with great care. He had to admit, the governor certainly had exquisite taste. He began his excavation of the next waist-high wine rack when he noticed the portrait of a young woman hanging just above it. He nearly dropped the expensive looking Chianti when he recognized the woman. ‘Matushka…,’ he muttered softly.

He lifted a hand and touched the silver trinket that hung from the beads to the left of his face. It was identical to the earrings Mircalla wore. Jack looked around. He was completely alone in the parlor. He unhooked the bit of silver from his hair and stowed it in his pocket. No need for even more suspicion. He looked over the painting once more before tipping his hat and saying quietly ‘Sorry, I haven’t written.’ And it was back to his excavation of the wine rack as if nothing ever happened.

Jack decided he wasn’t in the mood for Chianti just yet, so he traded it in for a white wine. He grabbed for an imported French wine.

‘I figured I’d find you here, Jack Sparrow,’ Elizabeth said, causing Jack to jump.

‘"Captain" Jack Sparrow, luv,’ he playfully reminded her. ‘Care for a drink?’ He raised the bottle of French wine, proudly showing off his find.

‘No, and neither should you if you’re expecting to dine with us tonight,’ she said, scolding Jack. And especially if you wish to remain here in Port Royal at that!’

‘Come now…’

‘No. It will be bad enough when Edmund finds out you’re here. No sense in making it worse by getting drunk.’

Jack stared at Elizabeth blankly. ‘Who?’

‘Commodore Norrington.’

‘Oh! Well, then. Certainly on glass won’t cause any harm.’ Jack turned back to the wine rack, seemingly searching for something. ‘Where’s a bloody corkscrew when you need one?’

‘No, Jack,’ Elizabeth said sternly, catching the would be drunkard’s attention. ‘You know as well as I that "one glass" will lead to "one more" and so forth until you pass out.’

There went that plan. He almost looked as if Elizabeth had burned all the rum again when she came up and snatched the bottle from his hand. She replaced it in the rack and turned to face Jack with her arm crossed. He looked at her expectantly, prepared for a lecture-to which he would ignore, and the moment she’d leave the room, he’d grab the bottle and make for it.

Unfortunately, this plan would never be set into motion, for Will walked into the room. The moment Jack saw Will, his thoughts went to the painting of Mircalla. The last thing he wanted right then was for Will to ask more questions. He sauntered over to Will with his usual sway and put an arm around Will’s shoulder. He began to guide the younger man out of the room.

‘Will, yer my savior! Saved me from a scolding I didn’t deserve, you did.’ Jack hoped that Will would buy this excuse for his sudden action.

Will, on the other hand, had completely forgotten what he was originally intent on doing. Right now he was busy concentrating on the arm that lay over his shoulder. He was slightly embarrassed by the fact that he wasn’t quite sure as to how he should react to this simple touch. He knew what he wanted to do, but jumping another man in public was hardly considered appropriate. Especially if the feelings of the other man were unknown.

Jack was clearly enjoying the uncomfortable look Will had to him. He was hoping it was a good sign.

Jack steered Will out of the parlor and abruptly stopped just outside the doorway, causing Elizabeth to run right into his back.

‘Lizbeth, my love, where do you go about feeding your esteemed guests?’ Jack asked. He turned his head to look at Elizabeth as she walked around him and Will.

‘The dining room is through that door,’ she indicated the door opposite from where they stood, ‘but dinner will not be served until Edmund arrives.’

‘Who?’ Jack recovered from his memory lapse. ‘Oh, right. Him,’ he said, and Elizabeth shot him a look.

‘In the meantime,’ Elizabeth said as she headed towards the door just to their left, ‘I will get this done.’

Will automatically knew what she was talking about and decided to keep his mouth shut. No sense in being tricked into this again.

Jack, however, was not fortunate enough to have this knowledge. ‘Get what done?’

She turned and smiled at him. Jack could have sword he saw a mischievous glint in her eye, but shook it off as his paranoia.

‘As I recall, Captain Sparrow,’ Elizabeth said sweetly, ‘you love weddings. How do you feel about helping Will and myself with the wedding arrangements?’

Will thought he was free, but not anymore. At least now he wouldn’t have to suffer alone.

‘I would be delighted to help!’ was Jack’s enthusiastic reply. Neither Will nor Elizabeth had expected such a response. Once again, Will was on his own.

Jack removed his arm from Will--an action that Will wasn’t certain if he should feel relieved for or not. Though he’d hate to admit it, he was beginning to miss the other man’s touch.

Jack took a couple steps over to Elizabeth and wrapped his arm around her. He looked over his shoulder at Will. He couldn’t help but notice that Will looked a bit jealous. Not only did he have a chance, but he could have fun with the whelp while he was at it. He flashed Will a sly grin and winked. Poor Will. He had no idea what was in store for him.

*

Jack and Elizabeth had been arguing for a good ten minutes on what color of roses should be used in the reception.

‘It’s my wedding, and I say they should be pink and yellow!’

‘I’m older and therefore have more experience, so, obviously, they should be red and white!’

‘That’s not even a reason! I want the colors of the sunset, not blood-drenched snow.’

‘That’s not all that red and white stand for; they also represent love and purity.’

‘They’re too bold and contrast too much. Pink and yellow are much softer and more mellow.’

‘But they won’t go with your gown--unless, of course, your gown is off-white or crème.’

Elizabeth was about to retort when the meaning of Jack’s comment sunk in. ‘Why you…you… Are you suggesting that I’m not a virgin?!’

‘If the shoe fits, dearest,’ he replied coolly.

Elizabeth looked furious.

Will, with his knack for perfect timing, chimed in. ‘Why can’t it be both sets of colors?’ He was unprepared for the glares that he received. ‘Wha--?’

‘They don’t match!’ Jack and Elizabeth shouted in unison.

‘S-sorry! I didn’t know,’ Will apologized.

‘Honestly, Mr. Turner,’ Jack said hotly, ‘if you were to receive a bouquet of rose of those four colors, how would you feel?’

Will took a moment to think. He’d be flattered to say the least. Awkward. He would definitely feel awkward. Unless… ‘Well, who’s sending me the flowers?’ he asked.

Elizabeth let out an exasperated sigh, muttering something about ‘it doesn’t matter who.’

‘Me. Let’s say I sent them,’ Jack said impatiently.

‘But why would you be sending me flowers?’ Not that he’d refuse them; he’d gladly accept anything Jack gave him.

‘Because of your engagement to Mr. Cotton’s parrot,’ he replied, his temper growing shorter.

‘What?! I’m not marrying anyone’s parrot!’

‘Fine! They’re from Barbossa, who is trying to win back your love from the parrot.’

‘I think I’d prefer getting roses from you for no reason,’ Will said, making a face.

‘You’re impossible, whelp.’ Jack decided to give up on the matter, but it did give him an interesting idea.

Elizabeth was about to say something when the door to the room opened.

‘Ah, here you are, Elizabeth,’ said Norrington.

‘As are you…Edmund,’ Jack greeted, raising an eyebrow as he said the commodore’s first name.

Norrington whipped his head around and stared at Jack, his shock clearly evident. ‘What--why are you here?!’

Jack, amused by the situation, replied ‘Why, planning your wedding of course. What else?’

Norrington took one step towards Jack before Elizabeth placed herself between them.

‘Edmund, please. Not here,’ she pleaded.

‘But, Elizabeth, he’s a--‘

‘He’s a guest,’ she firmly stated as Jack smirked triumphantly.

Edmund was at a loss for words. He looked from Jack to Elizabeth. ‘Very well.’

‘Thank you,’ she said, then gave him a peck on the cheek. ‘Is my father not with you then?’

‘He is attending dinner with officials that have just arrived from England this evening.’

‘I suppose it’s for the best. No doubt he would object to Jack’s presence as well,’ Elizabeth commented.

Jack leapt to his feet. ‘So! Now that we’re all present and accounted for, how about feeding your famished guests?’ He headed for the door and turned around to face Edmund as he opened it. "And, Commodore? The two of you have my consent,’ he teased and proceeded to disappear behind the now closed door.

Will got up to follow, but was stopped by Edmund’s accusing stare. ‘He just showed up! Elizabeth invited him to dinner, not me,’ he said defensively.

‘It’s my house, and I’ll invite to dinner whomever I please,’ she stated when Edmund’s gaze fell on her.

He sighed and kissed her forehead. ‘And that’s why I love you.’

To the onlooker, dinner could be described as an ‘amusing scene.’ If not, strange. A young lady of high standing, a commodore adored by many, a talented blacksmith, and a pirate (that somehow knew when to use the proper utensil for each course), all sharing a table and being quite courteous of each other.

Will was still learning which fork went with what, so to him it was quite odd to see a pirate with excellent table etiquette. As he glanced at Jack, he noticed that Jack seemed to be missing a bead or something from his hair. Jack might have lost it in a fight for all he knew. But he couldn’t help but feel that it was important. He’d have to corner the pirate later and interrogate him on it, as well as a few other matters.

Elsewhere, Governor Swann was entertaining the officials from England. Time had passed and most of the others had retired for the evening. It was now down to the governor and a young woman with long, dark brown hair--almost black.

‘Well, Miss Karns, it is getting rather late. Shall I walk you to your room?’ Governor Swann asked. He stood up from his seat and then helped the woman from hers.

‘Please, Governor, call me "Millarca,"’ the young woman said, accepting the governor’s offered hand.

‘Then you must call me "Weatherby,"’ he replied with a smile.

Millarca laughed. ‘Thank you, Weatherby.’

Weatherby couldn’t put his finger on it, but he could have sworn he’d seen this woman somewhere before. He brushed the feeling off as wishful thinking and walked the woman to her room.

Back at the Governor’s home, Jack had managed to convince everyone to join him in a ‘celebratory drink.’ They were all laughing merrily at this and that--‘this’ and ‘that’ being Barbossa and Cotton’s parrot. Jack had stopped in mid-laugh, sensing something. But it couldn’t possibly be what he thought it was. He took another swig of the French white wine he had found earlier, forgetting his last thought until the hangover he was sure to have the next morning.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN II: Yea, I named Norrington 'Edmund.' I like Blackadder. Next time: A death!! ^__^ Woot! But I can’t exactly say who gets killed or who does the killing-obvious to me, but then…I’m the writer. I be the Goddess of this universe….watch as I make Jack do a strip tease! ^__^ Now you know why you do stupid things: Fan service.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warnings for this chapter: Sorry, no death. =( Instead: Fun with fruit!

AN: A little more is found out about dearest Mircalla...sorta, and Will gets the upper hand for once!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Crimson Ways
Part 4

Put that away. It’s not even funny and no one’s interested.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was morning. The birds on the tree just outside the guest room were chirping back and forth to each other--much to Jack Sparrow’s dismay. It was much too early, and at least one of the birds had an overly annoying squawk that wasn’t helping his headache. He decided it must have been a seagull; they squawk, but that didn’t explain the chirping. And then there was the lack of movement from the ship.

Jack awoke with a start. He searched the dark room for a clue to where he was. He tried to get out of the bed, but his legs were tangled in the sheets due to a restless sleep. He hit the floor with a loud ‘Oof!’

Finally disentangling himself from the soft and alluring comfort of the sheets, Jack made his way to the window. The window was covered by heavy curtains, so only small strips of light managed to peek through the edges. He pushed them aside, hoping to discover where he was. Light poured into the room.

Letting out a squawk, he immediately dropped his grip of the curtains and shut his eyes. He wasn’t expecting to be facing east.

In all his life, the only thing he never seemed to be able to get used to was sunrise; the full force of a sunrise in an unclouded sky was worse than the unrelenting stare of a desert sun to him.

There was a knock on the door, followed by a familiar voice, but Jack was too out of it to recognize who it belonged to. ‘Jack? Are you alright?’

Jack stumbled towards the door, tripping over a chair on the way. Unfortunately, it was the same chair that his discarded clothing and effects hung on. He grumbled as he clumsily picked himself off the floor. Finally reaching the door, he opened it to find Will waiting patiently, staring distractedly down the hall.

‘Aye? What do ye want? And why are ye here?’ Jack slurred, still groggy from sleep and still confused as to his whereabouts.

Will turned his attention to Jack, who was clad only in pants. He slightly blushed upon seeing the shirtless pirate. Luckily for him, Jack was too tired to notice.

‘Um…you don’t remember where you are?’ Will asked. Taking full advantage of the other man’s state, he took in every detail of Jack’s tanned body. He felt slightly guilty doing.

Jack looked around, raking his mind for any memory of the night before--or even what day was yesterday. Then realization dawned on him. He was a guest of Elizabeth Swann (much to the annoyance of Norrington).

‘Oh, yes. Of course! When’s breakfast?’ he asked as he stepped out from the room and put his arm around Will’s shoulder.

‘I…uh…’ Will couldn’t think of what to say. He was blushing furiously. And more so when Jack’s arm started to make it’s way down to his waist. He jumped from the hold. ‘Shouldn’t you get dressed?’ he asked, still bright red.

Jack gave Will a thoughtful look. ‘But I am dressed,’ he said, as if it were common knowledge.

‘You know what I meant.’

Jack rolled his eyes and returned to the dark room. He came out fully clothed one minute later. "Satisfied?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good. I live to satisfy,’ Jack said playfully, putting his arm back around Will’s shoulder.

Will eyed the arm, unsure if he should trust it.

As they made their way downstairs, Jack repeatedly tried to run Will into the wall. It wasn’t on purpose, he just kept leaning on Will, slowly edging him towards the wall. Somehow, they managed to get to the dining room unscathed.

The table was clear of the dishes and silverware from the night before. The table itself was rectangular and made of a dark cherry wood; it was adorned with a white lace tablecloth and two candelabras, breaking the table in thirds; it could easily seat ten people. In the center was a bowl of fruit.

Jack left Will’s side and sat himself in front of the bowl. He began sifting through the various fruits.

Elizabeth and Edmund entered the dining room in a lovey-dovey manner.

‘Oh, so you’re already awake,’ Elizabeth said when she saw Jack. ‘I’ll inform the cook to begin making breakfast. Any requests?’

Jack looked up from the now empty bowl; he had all of the fruit arranged in front of him, trying to decide which looked more appetizing. He thought for a moment. He couldn’t remember the last time he actually sat down for breakfast, let alone what qualified as a breakfast item. When in doubt, go with some form of alcohol. He was in the mood for that Chianti now. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Elizabeth.

‘Nothing alcoholic.’

He shut his mouth, disappointed. How did she know what he was going to say? Either she was psychic, or he was getting predictable. ‘Fine, then. Just so long as it’s nothing amorphous. Reminds me of blood clots, if you will,’ he said, making his point by gesturing with an orange in his hand.

‘That description was uncalled for, Sparrow,’ Edmund said, sneering at the pirate in disgust. He received a sly grin in return.

Elizabeth exited the room, leaving the three men to their own devices. Whether or not this was a wise thing to do, she would never really know.

Will headed for the table and made a grab for an apple, but changed his mind when he saw Jack’s smirk. He was really regretting his smart remarks from the day before. He then reached for a banana, to which Jack’s smirk grew. ‘Just leave me be!’ he exclaimed in frustration. He grabbed the orange Jack had just finished peeling.

‘Commodore! This man just pilfered my orange,’ Jack said in a mock accusatory tone. ‘Aren’t you going to hang him?’

‘You’re one to talk,’ replied the commodore. ‘Besides, I’m off duty.’

‘Well, you were certainly quick to do it to me. I’m honored you hold me to a higher level.’

‘Are you sure it’s not a lower level?’ Edmund inquired, taking a seat and helping himself to some grapes.

‘Aye. Otherwise I’d be common riffraff like all the rest and not truly worthy of capture or the gallows,’ he replied. He took up a banana and began stripping it of its covering.

Edmund got up and head toward the door. ‘I best see what’s keeping Elizabeth,’ he said as he excused himself from the room.

The moment the door closed, Jack glanced over to Will and smiled suggestively. He slowly pulled down the last bit of peel from the banana. He wondered how long he could keep it up before the prude little blacksmith would run away in a blushing frenzy.

Will blinked, registering what Jack was doing. He had lost the last few rounds, he wasn’t about to lose another. His competitive nature kicked in, and he placed a piece of the orange he stole into his mouth along with his index finger. He slowly pulled out his finger, returning Jack’s suggestive smile.

‘Are you challenging me, mate?’ Jack tried to sound threatening, but it could hardly be called a wholehearted effort.

In all honesty, Will wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing. ‘Why? Not up for a challenge?’ he countered. He wondered for a moment if he’d regret this later. He decided not to dwell on it for now.

‘Jack lifted an eyebrow. ‘Captain Jack Sparrow? Pass up a challenge?’ he said, waving the banana around like a sword. ‘Never.’ He placed the tip of the undressed banana to his lips, closed his eyes, and proceeded to sensually lick the fruit. He ran his tongue along the banana’s length and back up. Upon returning to the top, he began to inch it slowly into his mouth.

Will was trying desperately not to squirm in his chair as he watched this display.

Jack pulled the banana out, and as he reached the tip, he stopped. He opened his eyes and stared intently at Will, then bit down on the remaining piece of the fruit in his mouth and swallowed. He smiled seductively in a way that said 'top that.'

Will, who was still slightly mesmerized by what Jack had just done, gave up on self restraint. He did what he didn't do before when the thought arose.

He jumped the pirate and kissed him passionately.

Jack was taken by surprise. The fact that Will was straddling his lap and kissing him was surprising enough, but the fact that Will knew how to kiss, and very well at that, was a surprise in itself. Jack moved on hand around Will's waist and let his other hand entangle itself in his brunette curls. Jack tried to take control of the kiss, but Will wasn't going to give up so easily.

'Ahem!'

Will froze and went pale. Jack was relaxed as if nothing happened and looked curiously into Will's eyes.

Will swallowed and looked past Jack to the door. Elizabeth was standing there, looking more annoyed than anything else. Her hands were placed on her hips, and she was tapping her foot impatiently--the only sound in the room aside from Will's panting.

'Are you quite done?' she asked. She was amused at the situation, but hid it well.

Blushing bright red, Will quickly removed himself from his perch and sat as far from Jack as he could.

Jack turned to glare accusingly at Elizabeth--to which she replied 'Just be glad it was me and not Edmund. You haven't seen him, have you?'

'He left looking for you,' Jack replied.

'I wonder where he could have gotten to,' she said, voicing her thoughts.

'I'll find him!' Will was up and out the door before anyone could protest. He was immensely relieved to be out of there. It wasn't that he minded it; no, he rather enjoyed kissing Jack and was a slight bit disappointed that he didn't get any further. And it wasn't really that they were caught. It was the fact that it was his ex-fiancé that caught them.

But why should he feel guilty or embarrassed about it? Sure, being in a relationship with another man wasn't exactly the norm, but it wasn't as it that sort of thing didn't exist. He, himself, was never really into women, as he found out by being with Elizabeth, and later by being practically stalked by the atrocious Marianna Suzette.

Will wondered the halls aimlessly. Eventually, he found himself in the parlor. Sighing, he walked up to the painting of the Countess. He was taking in all the intricate details when it finally hit him. The piece that was missing from Jack's hair was an exact duplicate of Mircalla's earrings.

Why hadn't he seen it before? It was so blatantly obvious. And now that he thought about it, that very same item was in Jack's hair when he showed up in Port Royal, but it wasn't there last night. This confirmed his suspicions. Jack was definitely going out of his way to hide something, and he now had leverage to find out what. He'd love to see Jack weasel his way out of this one. With that decided, he headed back to the dining room.

Right after Will had shot out of the dining room, Elizabeth turned to Jack. 'Just what do you think you're doing?!'

'Me?!' He started it.'

'Oh, of course he did!' she exclaimed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 'Will //loves// to go around seducing random pirates. It's his new hobby.'

'I'm not random,' Jack said. 'Besides, luv, you have your commodore, and I have, well, //had// my blacksmith. We're happy for you; you should be happy for us. Savvy?'

Elizabeth looked warily at Jack. 'But it's...it's just not...'

'Not "normal?"'

She nodded in response, turning her gaze to the floor. She was just worried for Will's well being.

'If that's the case, then who wants to be normal?' he asked.

'I, for one,' Elizabeth replied, knowing full well that it was a rhetorical question.

'But yer not normal, are ye?'

She laughed at Jack's statement and sat down across from him at the table. 'I have a pirate as a friend. What do you think?'

'Does this mean I have your consent to court our dear William?' Jack asked, showing off a playful, glittering grin.

Elizabeth smiled and raised an eyebrow. 'By the looks of it, I'd say he was courting you.'

'A minor mishap. Won't be happenin' again.'

Elizabeth laughed at Jack's annoyance of his unpreparedness.

The door opened. Jack turned, expecting to see Will, but was thoroughly disappointed to see Norrington. He pouted as he turned back to the table, hording the grapes.

'Elizabeth, where have you been?' Edmund asked. He wasn't expecting to find her back where he started.

'We must have just missed each other,' she replied. 'I did take the long route.'

A servant then entered from a door on the other side, pushing a trolley with their breakfast on it.

'Ah! It's about time,' Jack commented.

The servant left, and Jack was about to enjoy a muffin when Will came in.

'Will, yer just in time for break--'

'We need to talk,' Will stated as he came up to the pirate.

'I'm listening.'

'In private.'

'Can't it wait?'

'No.' He crossed his arms over his chest.

'But it's bre--'

'Jack!' Will grabbed Jack's wrist and dragged him out of the dining room.

Elizabeth waved 'farewell' to Jack in a manner that earned her a look from her fiancé.

'I'll explain later,' she said, not making any real commitments with her words.

As Will dragged his abductee, Jack asked 'So where are ye takin' me?'

Will didn't respond. He tightened his grip and proceeded to his destination. He came to an abrupt stop and face Jack, still holding his wrist. He pointed to the portrait of the Countess. 'Explain,' he demanded.

Jack looked confusedly at Will then looked where he was pointing. Even when she wasn't there, the woman caused complications for him. He sighed as Will looked at him expectantly. "It's...complicated.'

Will rolled his eyes. 'Everything with you is complicated.'

'Wonderful observation. If we're quite done here--'

'You're not getting off that easy.'

Jack put his hands, or at least the one he could, up in a sign of resignation. 'Very well,' he said. If Will wanted an explanation, he'd give him one. Part of one, actually. With a few white lies thrown in for flavor. 'Ye see, she's my great...four or five greats, grandmother.'

'That doesn't explain why you lied about it. Or the earring.'

'You noticed that, eh?' His brows furrowed in thought. 'The earring is a sort of family heirloom. Thought to bring the wearer good luck. Shoulda kept it on.' He dug into his pocket and pulled out the silver earring. He handed it to Will.

Will released fi grip on Jack and took the earring in his hand. It was very old and very well crafted. It looked to be either well taken care of or very hardy, considering who the owner was. It ws sculpted into a circle with four attachments: One at the top for the hook, and three on the bottom--two chains hung from each. In the center was a glistening ruby. Will was amazed at how symmetrical the earring was. A lot of time and effort must have gone into it.

Will made to return it, but instead, Jack simply closed Will's hand around it.

'Keep it,' he said, pushing back Will's closed hand.

'But, you said it was a family heirloom,' Will protested. He didn't feel right taking something that wasn't his.

'I said it was a "sort of family heirloom." There is a difference,' Jack replied. 'And I want you to have it. It brings good luck after all.'

Will looked at him incredulously. 'Then it must not work very well.'

'But I've always ended up on top, haven't I?'

'I suppose you have a point,' Will agreed, looking at the trinket he was holding. 'You still haven't given a reason for all the secrecy.'

'Let's just say it's a matter of every family having skeletons in their closets,' Jack replied in full honesty.

'So who's the skeleton? You or her?'

'Both of course. Except I physically was one.'

Will laughed and Jack kissed him.

Will opened his eyes in surprise, then closed them again and leaned into the kiss.

Before it could get anywhere near their previous kiss, a voice sounded though the household. 'William, dearest!'

Will broke from the kiss and stared at the doorway in horror.

Jack looked to the door then back to Will with a quizzical stare.

Will looked to Jack in desperation. 'Please don't let her find me!

''Who?'

Before Will could answer, the door burst open.

'Here you are, Will!'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Crimson Ways
Part Five

Crime Code 3: Malicious Lingering

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Will put on a fake smile before turning to greet the newcomer.

‘Miss Suzette,’ he said, loathing that he had to be kind to her, ‘I must say, I was least expecting to see you here today.’

Dearest Will, must you be so formal?’ Marianna asked. She was around Elizabeth’s age. Her hair was blond and pulled back from her pale face, so that only a few strands framed her face. She smiled serenely and her blue eyes twinkled with adoration... No. Infatuation.

‘I stopped by the smithy this morning, but you weren’t there,’ she continued. ‘Luckily, I ran into Elizabeth’s father; he said you were more than likely here. I’m glad to see he was right.’ She walked up to Will and placed a soft hand on the side of Will’s face.

Will backed up from the touch, setting himself next to Jack. He eyed the girl warily, not knowing what she’d try next.

Jack had been watching Marianna like a hawk since she set foot in the room. Why did Will seem to fear her? He didn’t know that she had been making advances on Will for over the past month. If he had, she’d regret it. When Marianna’s hand found Wills face, Jack nearly exploded. How dare that little tart touch his Will?! There were few things in the world that the pirate held dear to him: His ship, his effects, his hat, and now Will. And the greedy little bastard wasn’t about to lose the latter to some tart.

‘Why, "Dearest Will,"’ said Jack, ‘don’t be so rude. Aren’t you going to introduce us?’

Marianna’s attention turned to Jack. She hadn’t noticed him until now. She looked him over and regarded him with disgust--more so than Norrington had ever done. ‘I do not wish to be introduced to filth like you,’ she said, glaring at Jack.

Will, however, pretended not to hear her statement, glad to find something that he liked (really, really liked), but she hated. ‘Jack, this is Miss Marianna Suzette. Miss Suzette, this is Captain Jack Sparrow.’ He smiled at the shocked look she had.

‘You...you’re that pirate!’ She took a step back.

‘Aye, and I’m also a close, personal friend of Will’s,’ Jack replied, stressing ‘close’ and ‘personal’ as innuendos--Marianna was either too much in shock or too blunt to notice.

‘"F-friend?"’ she stammered. ‘Will, he’s a pirate!’

‘And a close, personal friend,’ Will replied, amused by Marianna’s reaction.

She looked down, sorting out her thoughts. ‘I see,’ she said quietly before looking back at Will with a loving smile. ‘Though I don’t exactly approve of your choice, it is yours to make, and I accept that.’

Will kept his false smile, but the look in his eyes turned to that of annoyance. ‘Thank you for understanding.’ He really wanted to throttle her, and as he glanced at Jack, he could tell that Jack would more than gladly help.

The door to the parlor opened and two more figures stepped in. Governor Swann was escorting Millarca Karns into the room, both smiling jovially.

‘Ah! Miss Suzette, I see you managed to find Mr. Turner,’ Governor Swann observed.

‘Oh, yes. Thank you again, Governor,’ Marianna replied.

Will stared in shock at Millarca. He looked from her to the painting and back again. It was as if the Countess came to life and decided to leave the confines of the portrait. He turned to Jack with an accusing stare.

Jack was wondering how to go about this interesting turn in events. He decided on a plan and hoped it would work. ‘Governor Swann!’ he exclaimed, successfully drawing all eyes to him. ‘You are looking quite well since we last met.’

‘You again?’ Weatherby said in irritation. Edmund had warned him that morning of the pirate’s invitation to stay. ‘It’s because of Elizabeth that you are not in line for the gallows, Sparrow. Be thankful, and don’t wear out your welcome.’

‘It’s "Captain" Jack Sparrow, sir,’ he replied, hoping that Millarca would catch on, ‘and I’m quite thankful.’

‘So this is what you’ve been up to, Jack?’ Millarca asked sweetly. Her voice was melodic with the slight remains of an Irish accent.

‘Well, this and that,’ he replied.

‘Jack...’ Millarca glanced around the room before continuing in Russian. ‘You haven’t written. I was worried.’

‘As you can see, mother,’ he replied, ‘I’m perfectly fine. You’re looking good as well.’

She laughed. ‘Looks can be deceiving,’ she said as her gazed trailed from Jack to Will, then to the painting. ‘Oh, bother. I do believe it’s following me. I’ve been meaning to burn the damned thing.’

‘You’ve no idea how much trouble it’s caused.’

Will watched the two converse in awe. He didn’t know that Jack knew a foreign language--and so fluently at that. This man was just full of surprises. He wondered what they were talking about and what Jack’s relationship to the woman was.

‘So you’re a captain?’

‘Pirate captain.’

‘Well then, a word of advice to you: Don’t do anything stupid to draw more attention to yourself.’

‘Why?’ Jack cocked his head to the side. He had a feeling that he didn’t really want to know.

‘I’m being followed by a Hunter,’ she replied. ‘He thinks I killed his sister.’

‘Did you?’

‘No. She killed herself. Apparently, she couldn’t live with the thought of being attracted to another woman. Pity. I rather liked her.'

‘I see. That said, we need some sort of story to tell them,’ he said, indicating the others in the room with his eyes. ‘I said that the painting was of my great-great-great-great grandmother.’

‘Am I really that old? What am I saying...? You were there when it was being painted!’

Jack laughed. ‘At least you’re not senile. Now, what do we tell them?’ he asked more urgently than last.

Millarca thought for a moment. ‘The brother and sister routine should work just fine. Let me take care of it.’ She paused. ‘You are a legitimate guest here, correct?’

Jack nodded with a smug grin.

Millarca turned to Governor Swann and said ‘Weatherby, you never said that my little brother was a guest in you home.’

‘"Brother?"’ Weatherby looked shocked that someone as sophisticated as Millarca could be related (so closely) to a lowly pirate like Jack. Good man or not, Jack Sparrow was still a pirate. He eyed Jack for a moment, and looked back at Millarca, who was smiling innocently. ‘Surely not your "little" brother?’ he asked.

‘I’m not that young,’ she replied. ‘I just look it. I assure you, I’m well past thirty.’ She laughed at her comment, knowing the true meaning behind it. ‘But, yes, I am the older one. It’s amazing how damaging the sun is to the skin. And there are always certain remedies to correct such damage and remain looking young.’

That caught Marianna’s full attention. ‘Really? What sort of remedies?’ she asked.

Jack coughed. He was never comfortable with the ‘remedies,’ as his mother so delicately put it.
Millarca was amused by the girl’s question. She could tell her the truth, but that would only cause great difficulties. Maybe later--the girl was very pretty after all. She decided to give Marianna an old wives’ tale for now. ‘A glass of red wine once a night,’ she answered, much to Jack’s relief. ‘Or was it white wine? I have a glass of each myself. One in the morning, one at night--’

‘And whatever else is lying around during the day,’ Jack added, cutting off whatever else she might have said.

‘Oh, yes! Especially if it’s lying in your bed,’ Millarca said with a laugh. She and Jack were the only ones in the room that didn’t look uncomfortable from the suggestive statement.

‘Well, as much as I would love to stay and chat,’ Marianna said, ‘I am having a dress fitted, so I really must be off.’

Will’s face lit up. ‘Oh, that is a shame,’ he said, trying not let his enthusiasm show too much.

‘It is, but you may join me for dinner tonight if you’d like,’ she replied, closing the distance between her and Will. She took his hand in hers.

Jack let out an inaudible growl. That tart was touching his Will again. ‘That just won’t do!’ Jack said, hiding all animosity.

Marianna glared at Jack. ‘And why not?’

‘Because Will and I already have plans for this evening,’ he replied as he slipped his arm around Will’s shoulder.

Will relaxed at Jack’s touch. He wasn’t going to argue any excuse so long as it kept him away from Marianna.

‘What sort of plans?’ she inquired. She couldn’t comprehend why anyone would want to spend time with some flea-bitten pirate. ‘Perhaps we could reach a compromise.’

Will finally managed to wriggle his hand free, much to his satisfaction. If Jack’s arm wasn’t keeping him in place, he’d run off in the opposite direction to detoxify himself.

‘Just...plans. Drinking plans,’ Jack replied, tightening his grip on Will.

Millarca had been observing the small bit of conversation. If there was one thing she knew best in all the world, it was her son. She probably knew him better than he knew himself. She could tell that Jack fancied the young man beside him from his simple movements and light touching--Jack always seemed to have a need to touch everything that he liked. She blamed it on the cat.
Normally, Millarca would not interfere with Jack’s affairs, but the way that Marianna Suzette was clinging onto Will (who obviously hated the attention) made her change her mind. Besides, she was a loving mother. It was her God given right to be overprotective of her baby.

‘Miss Suzette, if I remember correctly,’ Millarca said in casual sweetness, ‘how about you dine with me tonight instead. You seem like such an interesting individual, and I would love to get to know you better.’

Marianna was quite flattered, not catching the malicious undertone. ‘That does sound delightful,’ she replied, turning to face Millarca. ‘We can share beauty secrets!’

‘Oh, indeed. I’d love to.’

‘I’m certain that William will have enough time before his other engagement to show you to my house,’ she said. She looked to Will and smiled.

‘I’d be delighted to show Miss...’ Will trailed off. He couldn’t remember whether or not he’d been properly introduced to the woman.

‘Millarca,’ she replied, ‘Millarca Karns.’

‘Miss Karns, I’d be delighted to show you to Miss Suzette’s home.’

‘That’s original,’ Jack commented in an amused tone.

‘I’m not the one naming myself after some bird.’

‘It was Father’s name. I’m entitled,’ he said defensively.

Will decided that he needed to find out what language the two were speaking and learn it. He couldn’t help but feel as if he was purposely being left out of something important.

‘Right,’ she said, then turned back to Marianna. ‘I shall see you later then?’

‘Yes, I look forward to it,’ she replied before excusing herself and finally leaving.

‘Well, Weatherby,’ said Millarca, ‘shall we continue the tour?’ She hooked her arm around his and smiled.

‘Oh, yes. Of course!’ he replied, and began guiding her towards another set of doors. ‘I must say, I’m quite surprised to find you know a second language.’

‘There are many things you don’t know about me,’ she said cryptically as they passed through the doors.

Once again, Jack and Will were left alone in the parlor. Jack remembered why he liked the parlor. Wine rack. Taking his arm off Will, he sauntered over to the wine rack and grabbed the Chianti. Now if only he could find the corkscrew.

Will laughed. ‘Remember, Jack, alcohol does not qualify for breakfast,’ he said. And then he remembered something. ‘Oh, no!’

‘What? What’s wrong?!’ Jack whirled around, his face full of concern.

‘Elizabeth... I was so rude earlier,’ he said.

Jack stared at Will for a moment. ‘Yer jokin', right?’

‘We should go back and apologize.’

‘You apologize. I had nothin’ to do with it.’

They headed back to the dining room. The scene that greeted them when they got there was quite a surprise.

Elizabeth and Edmund were in almost the same position Will and Jack had been in earlier. Will would have said something, but Jack pressed a finger to Will’s lips and winked. Will shook his head as Jack carefully and quietly made his way over to the Elizabeth and Edmund.

He positioned himself right beside them. He grinned mischievously as he watched the display of affection. ‘So it’s to be off-white then?’

Elizabeth yelped and jumped back, falling on the floor. Edmund gave a startled gasp. Jack held out a hand and helped Elizabeth to her feet. Both were glaring daggers at him, and he smiled innocently.

‘Why you...’ Elizabeth raised a hand to slap him.

Jack raised hi hands in defense and said ‘Turn about’s fair play, luv.’

She blinked a few times and blushed. ‘So it would seem.’

Will was in the back trying hard not to laugh--or at least not be heard.

Edmund, however, missed the inside joke, so he was still quite miffed at Jack’s childish action. ‘There are better ways to call attention to yourself, Sparrow,’ he said, standing to his full height.

‘In my opinion,’ replied Jack, ‘I’m no worse than Lizbeth.’ He smiled in amusement as Elizabeth blushed, trying to busy herself with various things about the room that didn’t seem quite straight to her.

‘And just what are you implying?’

‘Why, absolutely nothing, Commodore. I was merely stating an observation is all. Is that so wrong?’

‘Anything coming from you is wrong.’

‘I’m beginning to regret having ever spoken highly of you,’ Jack pouted.

Edmund rolled his eyes and walked over to Elizabeth. ‘It’s getting late,’ he said to her.

‘You’ll return for dinner, then?’ she asked.

‘I’ll try my best,’ he replied, cupping her face in his hand and gently kissed her before he made his leave.

Jack swaggered back over to Will. ‘It’s getting late,’ he said. Imitating the commodore.

‘You’re right,’ Will replied, trying not to grin. ‘If you’re not careful, your crew might figure that you’ve fallen behind again.’

Jack let out an exasperated sigh. It worked for Norrington, but that might have been attributed to the whole heterosexual thing. ‘Then I best be takin’ ye with me to assure them I haven’t fallen behind,’ he said with a wink. ‘Lizbeth, dear, will you be joinin’ us?’

‘I’d love to, but I have other errands that I need to finish,’ she said. ‘Besides, I’m certain you two would like some time alone.’

Will blushed and shyly smiled; Jack had a cat-like grin plastered on his face.

‘I’ll at least see you to the door.’

Upon reaching the main entrance, Jack turned to Elizabeth and said ‘If you see my sister, would you be so kind as to let her know Will and I will catch her here later?’

Elizabeth wasn’t sure if she heard him correctly. ‘You’re..."sister?"’ she asked.

‘Aye,’ he replied. ‘I believe your father’s showin’ her around.’

‘Your sister.’ She still couldn’t believe it. ‘You have a sister?’

‘We don’t mention each other to others much.’

‘I suppose that makes sense,’ she said. ‘But it still seems a bit strange.’

‘The strange part,’ Will added, ‘is that she’s the older one.’

Elizabeth didn’t understand what Will meant by this, so she just shrugged it off. ‘well, if I see her, then I’ll let her know,’ she said to Jack.

‘Until later, luv,’ Jack said as he made to give Elizabeth a hug.

She put a hand on Jack’s chest to stop him. ‘Good day, Jack.’ She looked to Will and said ‘Keep him out of trouble.’

Will laughed at Jack’s indignant expression. ‘Don’t worry, I will. Good day, Elizabeth!’ he said as he dragged Jack away.

*

On the Black Pearl, Will was being brought up to date on the latest adventure that the crew had experienced. As evening drew closer, and half the crew agreed to meet Will and Jack at a tavern later.

Eventually, the two of them made their way back to the Swanns’ estate. Will knocked on the large door, and they waited. And waited. Will raised his hand to knock again, but the door opened before he could.

In the doorway stood Millarca. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she apologized in response to Will’s confused look, ‘but both the governor and his daughter are out, and the servant is...indisposed at the moment.’

Jack gave her a glare, which she shrugged off as she exited and closed the door behind herself.

‘Now, then,’ she said, pointedly ignoring Jack’s accusing stares. ‘You were going to escort me to Miss Suzette’s home. Correct?’

‘Of course,’ Will replied. ‘But I’m afraid that I will be unable to see you to her doorstep.’

Millarca smiled. ‘I understand.’ She linked her arm with Will’s, and said ‘Off we go.’

They walked in silence for a few minutes, Millarca in-between the two men. After noticing the jealous look she was receiving from Jack, Millarca asked Will ‘So in what regards do you hold Jack?’

Well...’ Will thought for a moment on how to answer the unexpected question. ‘For a pirate, I suppose he’s a good friend.’

Jack would have retaliated on the comment, but Millarca cut him off. ‘Nothing more?’

‘I...uh...’ He looked to Jack for an answer.

‘I see. And Miss Suzette. What is she to you?’

‘Nothing. I can’t stand the sight of her,’ he blurted out before thinking. ‘I mean--!’

Millarca laughed. ‘There’s no need to pretend around me, dear.’ She turned her attention to Jack and asked ‘Do you love him?’

He glanced at Will and replied ‘With all my heart.’

‘Does he feel the same?’

‘That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I hope so.’

‘I take it he doesn’t know about your past?’

‘No.’

‘You should tell him.’

‘When the time is right.’

‘He’ll reject you if you wait too long.’

Jack shrugged.

Will knew they were talking about him. It wasn’t that he was paranoid, he just knew it.

‘If he breaks your heart, I’ll rip his out.’

‘I trust that he won’t. And I trust you’ll behave yourself?’

‘I always do, my sweet.’

They reached their destination and bid their farewells. Jack and Will headed towards the tavern and Millarca headed up the walkway towards the door to Marianna Suzette’s house.

Upon reaching the door, Millarca straightened her dress before knocking. A young man answered the door and she assumed he was a servant. ‘I am here to dine with Miss Suzette,’ she said sweetly, lifting her hand to his face and tracing a finger down his jawline.

The servant stood in shock, but quickly regained what little sense he could. ‘Of course. R-right this way.’ He opened the door for her and showed her inside.

‘Thank you.’

It wasn’t long before Marianna came bursting through an upstairs door. ‘I thought it was you!’ she said excitedly. She glided down the stairs, trying to show off how graceful she was.

Millarca simply arched a bemused eyebrow at her efforts. The tart had no idea what she had coming. ‘Let us go for a walk before we dine,’ Millarca suggested as Marianna reached the ground floor.

Marianna had a look of ‘why’ on her face, but agreed nonetheless. She wanted those beauty secrets and would do anything to get them. She was indeed a shallow little girl.

*

They had been wandering around for a good twenty minutes. Millarca was careful to keep the much younger woman interested by dropping false testimonies about herbal sponge baths and such ever so often.

Millarca took in their surroundings. It wasn’t a very well lit area, and there was an alley just to their right. It looked like a good enough spot.

She grabbed Marianna’s wrist, put a finger to her lips and winked. ‘Follow me, and I’ll tell you the real secret to eternal youth.’

How could Marianna resist? She nodded eagerly and followed Millarca into the darkened alleyway. Just as they reached where it deadended. Millarca slammed the pretty blond into the wall. She let loose her grip on the girl and watched as she sunk to the ground.

Marianna looked up, fear painted on her pale face. ‘W-why did you--?’

Millarca grabbed her by the throat and raised her to her feet. ‘You insulted my son, and made unwelcomed advances on what is his.’

‘I never--’ Miranna tried to speak as she choked and gagged in the stronger woman’s grip. ‘I never met you’re son!’ She struggled as hard as she could, but her energy was draining fast. How could someone that looked so frail and small be so strong?

Millarca gave a malicious laugh. ‘Oh, but you did,’ she replied, her voice as sweet as poisoned honey. ‘Certainly you must remember Jack Sparrow? The pirate?’

‘B-but! Impossible!’

She smiled, showing her elongated fangs. ‘You wanted the answer to eternal youth. It’s blood, though it only works it’s magic for vampires,’ she said as she tilted Marianna’s head.

Marianna’s struggles had died down. She was hypnotized by Millarca’s voice and eyes. She slumped against the wall, unable to fight for her life.

Millarca nuzzled her face into her victim’s exposed neck. ‘Blood laced with lust is most delicious, but fear will always have that sweet tang to it,’ she whispered before plunging her fangs into the soft skin.

Marianna’s mouth opened in a silent scream. The life faded from her eyes as the blood was drained from her body. Then, she was tossed aside like yesterday’s garbage, and with a soft flutter of cloth, Millarca was gone.

*

Meanwhile, at the tavern, Annamaria was laughing hysterically at Will’s discomfort of having the drunken captain hanging all over him. Will didn’t see why it was so funny, but then again...he was the most sober out of the bunch.

Jack was busy nibbling on Will’s earlobe (much to Will’s embarrassment) when he suddenly stopped and groaned in annoyance.

Will heard the groan loud and clear and quickly turned to give Jack a look. Instead of meeting lust-filled eyes, he saw Jack staring distractedly out a nearby window looking quite sober.

‘And she has the nerve to tell me not to be stupid,’ he muttered. He looked back at Will and caught his gaze. ‘Aw, did ye miss me?’

Before Will could dignify the question with a response, Jack leaned in and pressed his lips against Will’s. Apparently he was leaning too much, and before either knew what happened, they toppled over. Annamaria’s laughter was joined in by the rest of the crew that had attended the outing.

Jack propped himself on his elbows and looked down at Will. ‘Fancy meeting you here.’

Will raised a brow. ‘Indeed.’ He put his arms around Jack’s neck and brought him down for a deep kiss.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Crimson Ways
Part Six

The time to start running is the ‘e’ in ‘Hey, you!’

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

With some degree of difficulty, Will had somehow managed to drag Jack back to the Black Pearl. He would have returned to his own home, but Jack insisted that he stay--by means of using Will as a pillow and immediately falling asleep. Will shifted around until he found himself a comfortable position and eventually drifted into a slumber.

Will awoke to find Jack mumbling and squirming restlessly in his sleep. Feeling slightly guilty, he tried to concentrate on what Jack was mumbling in an attempt to guess what he was dreaming of. Unfortunately, the mumblings were in Russian, as well as a few other languages--none of which Will knew.

He was about to go back to sleep when Jack finally said something in English.

‘Come here, Zhemchug... There’s a good girl.’

Will looked down at Jack. Who was Zhemchug? He assumed that she must have been a girl from Jack’s past. Whoever she was, she must have been important enough to Jack for him to dream about her. That thought made Will jealous.

*

It was just barely winter and snow was lightly falling. Jack was on one of the roofs of what might as well have been a small castle. It was surrounded by the beginnings of a fence--long, black stakes protruded from the ground every few feet or so.

Jack himself was looking quite prim and proper. His hair was cut to his chin and combed so that it framed his clean shaven face. He looked to be about twenty-five.

From his current perch on the rooftop, Jack looked to the ground. It was a long way down, and it wouldn’t be fun to land on one of those stakes. He closed his eyes and looked to his goal. A small, black cat was huddled on the other side of the roof. The cat looked at him and meowed pathetically.

‘I’m getting there!’ Jack said impatiently as he inched his way to the cat. He got to where he was only a foot out of reach from the cat. He stuck out his hand and tried to coax the feline closer. ‘Come on… It’s not that far.’ The wind started to pick up, and Jack clutched the roof.

‘Please,’ he pleaded. ‘Come here, Zhemchug.’

The cat turned towards him and put a paw forward.

‘There’s a good girl.’ He made a reach for the cat, but was hit with the full force of a sudden gust of wind. Unprepared, he lost his balance and fell down the side of the roof. He felt the tiling vanish from his feet and made a wild grab. He managed to grab the edge of the roof. He tried to pull himself up, but his hands were getting colder and number by the second. He wasn’t sure just when he let go.

In what seemed like slow motion, he fell towards the ground. There was a sharp pain in his back that proceeded to drive itself through his body and out the front.

*

Jack came back to reality with a start. He felt the front of his body and looked down. No black poles sticking out. That was a good sign. He really hated that dream, or rather, memory.
Will placed a hand on Jack’s shaking shoulder. Jack turned to see Will looking at him with concern.

‘You alright?’ Will asked.

Jack relaxed considerably at the sound of Will’s voice. ‘I’m fine,’ he replied. ‘Just a nightmare.’
‘Are you sure?’ Will cocked an eyebrow at Jack.

‘Absolutely,’ he replied, forcing a smile. He crawled across the bed to Will. ‘And I’ll gladly prove it.’

Will smiled in return, but held up a hand to stop Jack from coming any closer. In reply to Jack’s questioning stare, he said ‘But first, who is Zhemchug?’

‘Zhemchug? Why do you ask?’

‘You said her name in your sleep.’

Jack stood and jumped off the foot of the bed. He got to his hands and knees, reached under the bed, and pulled out a ball of black fluff. In his hands, the ball stirred.

‘What the hell is that?!’

‘This is Zhemchug,’ he said, setting the ball in front of Will.

The ball uncurled and stretched to reveal itself to be a cat. It yawned and started cleaning itself.

Will looked from the cat to Jack. ‘This is Zhemchug?’ He looked back at the cat, who was staring quizzically at him. There was something unnerving about the way Zhemchug stared at him.

Zhemchug broke her gaze from Will to look at Jack. She meowed a complaint at him.

Jack laughed and scratched her head. ‘It’s all right, Zhem; he’s a friend,’ he said to her. He switched his gaze to Will. ‘She hardly shows herself when others are around. Except Annamaria... She really likes her. Must be a girl thing. Yer all out to get me.’

‘And since all girls are "all out to get" you, you’ve switched to boys?’ Will asked with a laugh.
‘No, I’ve "switched" exclusively to you.’

Jack crept closer, and Will blushed. ‘Hello,’ he said when their noses touched.

‘Um...hi?’

Jack hung his head in defeat. ‘Yer too naïve for your own good,’ he muttered.

‘Pardon?’

‘Doesn’t matter.’

Jack looked into Will eyes and closed the distance between them. He kissed Will tenderly as he pressed him down against the bed. He pried at Will’s shirt, trying to get it off. He smiled in victory when he succeeded and moved his attentions from Will’s mouth to his chest then to his neck, sucking and nipping along the way.

Letting instinct guide him, Jack started sucking and licking with more need, eliciting a moan from Will. He nipped again and Will gasped at the sudden pain he felt, drawing Jack back to the present. Jack slowly raised his head to observe the damage. Near the center of the reddened area was a growing drop of blood from the puncture he had made.

He felt his canines with his tongue. They were longer than usual. He willed them to return, but his body didn’t seem to want to cooperate at the moment. This was not good. He couldn’t let Will see him like this, and he definitely didn’t want to risk doing something he’d surely regret.

Quickly, he removed himself from the bed and distanced himself from Will.

Will watched Jack in confusion. He brought his hand to his neck. Feeling some form of liquid, he pulled his hand away to see a small patch of blood on his hand. No harm done. It wasn’t as if he’d never bled before.

‘Jack?’ When he didn’t answer, Will got off the bed and headed over to Jack, who was leaning against the wall as if trying to push it.

Jack cursed himself for coming so close to harming the one he loved. If he really did love him, he’d tell him the truth. But right now didn’t feel like the ‘opportune moment,’ as it were. Part of him hoped that Will would just leave for now, the other part wanted him to stay. ‘Just leave,’ he said.

‘Jack?’ Will put a hand on Jack’s shoulder, but it was shrugged off.

‘Please leave,’ he pleaded without looking at Will. He didn’t want to turn the other man away, but it was for his own good. When Will made no move to leave, Jack shouted ‘Damn it all, Will! I’ll explain everything later, just leave!’

Will looked hurt. Was it something he did, or was Jack really that broken up about biting him? Whatever it was, he could tell something was wrong, but decided not to push it for now. If Jack said he’d tell him, then he’d tell him. He looked down and headed to the door.

Just before he left, he asked ‘So, I’ll see you around then?’

Jack nodded.

The door closed and Jack cautiously took a peek. Will was gone. He sighed and sunk to the floor.

Zhemchug trotted up to Jack and pawed at his knee. ‘Mrow?’

Jack smiled sadly and gathered the cat in his arms. ‘I hope I wasn’t too hard on the lad...’

*

As Will was leaving the Black Pearl, he ran into Annamaria. She noticed his distressed look and asked ‘Somethin’ wrong, mate?’

‘Everything’s fine,’ he snapped, much to her surprise.

Will trudged over to the smithy to sulk. On his way there, he saw Elizabeth in the window of the local bakery; she looked to be describing the cake she wanted. He decided that talking to her would be better than sulking, so he went inside the bakery.

As he entered, the bell on the door chimed, and the baker’s eyes flickered to Will then rested back on Elizabeth.

‘And big! There are to be a lot of guests, so it must be big--at least five layers,’ she said, animatedly trying to show what she meant with her hands. ‘As for the frosting, I want the same kind that was used on my birthday cake, not the kind that was used for Annette’s wedding cake--that was horrid, whatever it was. Just sugar, I think. No flavoring whatsoever. I want flavor, and I’m certain my guests will as well, so use the birthday frosting. And I want it to be a pale yellow, if you could, with pink, yellow, and orange roses for decoration.’

‘Then you best not invite Jack,’ Will said, cutting into Elizabeth’s speech.

‘Oh, Will!’ She turned around and pulled him into a tight embrace. ‘I was so worried.’

‘Why?’ he asked.

‘Didn’t you hear? There was an attack last night! Some sort of animal is what they think did it.’

Will gave her a confused look. ‘It doesn’t sound that bad.’

‘Oh, that’s not the worst of it,’ the baker said, cutting in. Will and Elizabeth turned to him, and he continued. ‘From what I’s told, the poor lass involved had her neck torn to shreds. The strange bit is, there wasn’t a trace of blood to be found. Vampires, if ya’ ask me.’

Will rolled his eyes and scoffed. ‘Vampires don’t exist. Anyway, who was she?’ Will asked.

‘Not sure. Heard she was blond. Name was like "Marie Antoinette" or the like.’

Elizabeth brought her hands to her mouth in shock. ‘Marianna...,’ she said breathlessly.

‘Eh? You knew her?’

She nodded. ‘No wonder Edmund didn’t give me any details.’

Will felt a little guilty for ever wishing death on the unfortunate girl. She may have been a pain, but she didn’t deserve that. But what of Millarca? Hadn’t he and Jack left her with Marianna?

‘Elizabeth, where is Miss Karns staying?’

‘That’s right! She was to have dinner with Marianna.’ She paused, trying to remember which inn Millarca was staying at. ‘I believe Father said she was staying at the Tattered Rose Inn, if I’m not mistaken. Let me know if she’s alright; I should be in the flower shop later.’

‘I’ll do that,’ Will said as he left, heading for the inn.

*

A few minutes after Will had left, Jack silently made his way to his mother, avoiding any confrontations with the crew.

When he reached the Tattered Rose Inn, he cocked his head at the sign. She would stay at someplace with a name like that. He shrugged and pushed open the door. He found his way to the stairwell and proceeded to Millarca’s room.

He reached her door and knocked quietly. He felt slightly nervous at the thought that he hadn’t followed his senses right; he’d hate having to explain himself to some random burly man.

To his relief, the person that opened the door was Millarca.

‘Come to lecture me, have you?’ she asked in a bored tone.

‘About what? Last night night? I haven’t time for that,’ he said, sidestepping her and entering the room.

Millarca closed the door and followed Jack. He sat on the bed, and she pulled up a chair and sat across from him.

‘What do you have time for?’

Jack sighed and told her what happened earlier that day between him and Will.

*

Will, meanwhile, was having trouble getting one of the inn’s employees to tell him in which room Millarca was staying. Finally, he convinced them and headed to the room. As he reached the door, he could swear that he heard yelling emanating from the other side; one of them sounded like Jack. He looked around the empty hall to see if anyone was watching, then put his ear to the door.

‘You don’t understand, I could have lost control and killed him!’

‘You can bite someone and they’ll live--like a mosquito.’

‘I know that! But he’s not like some whore over in Tortuga. He’s smart enough to figure that drinkin’ someone’s blood is more than some kink!’

‘You father didn’t seem to care.’

‘That’s because he loved you! And what of you? You didn’t love him. You saw him as some sort of cheap meal!’

A slap sounded, and a body hit the floor.

‘How dare you? I loved your father enough to bare his child. Or have you forgotten? I offered him the chance for eternal life, but he chose to remain mortal; he wanted to see the next adventure after life. At first I thought him a coward, but the I realized: Unlike me, he wasn’t afraid of death.’

Silence.

Something else was said, but Will couldn’t make it out. He heard some shuffling, then footsteps coming toward the door. He didn’t know what to do. So he ran.

The door opened and Jack stepped out just in time to see Will turn the corner. ‘Will!’ he called out. How much did he hear? Judging by how fast he was running...enough.

Millarca stepped past Jack and narrowed her eyes in the direction Will had run. She started to go that way herself, but Jack put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. She looked at him questioningly, and he shook his head.

‘It’s my problem. I started it, so it should be me who finishes it,’ he stated firmly.

She nodded and went back to her room, closing the door behind her.

He sighed and went over what Millarca had just said to him.

‘Go to him. Tell him who and what you are. What you are not. The longer you procrastinate, the more untrusting he’ll be. I only hope it’s not already too late for you.’

*

Will had stopped running after a while. He found himself at the docks, staring out at the Black Pearl. So that was it. That was Jack’s big secret.

‘A vampire...’ Will laughed morosely. Not too long ago, he thought that the baker bordered insanity for thinking Marianna was attacked by a vampire. So which one was it? Jack or Millarca? It had to have been Millarca--Jack was with him the whole night.

Millarca. Or was it Mircalla? Now it made perfect sense. That was the reason Jack didn’t want him to find out about his relation to the painting of the Countess. Mircalla and Millarca were one in the same, and she was Jack’s mother, to boot!

But if Jack was some ruthless bloodthirsty creature of the night, then why did he care for Will’s well being? Will would have to ask Jack, and trust him enough not to suck him dry.

He turned and started to head back to the inn, but bumped into someone. ‘Oof!’

‘Entschuldigung,’ the larger man said. He wore a long coat and a faded green hat.

‘Pardon me,’ Will replied, not paying much attention to the man as he passed him.

As he brushed by, he heard the man say ‘Wo bist du...meine kleine Katze?’

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN II: ‘Zhemchug’ means ‘pearl.’ ...Yea...stupid. I know. Screw you! I’m allowed to flaunt my obsession with cats!! Besides, cats are easier to hide than dogs and such. ^.~ That’s why she wasn’t in the movie. And besides, every good ship needs a mouser. Ha! German translations: look it up. ^.^;;

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Crimson Ways

Part Seven

It wasn’t me. There are a lot of people that look like me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Will arrived back at the Tattered Rose Inn, he went straight to Millarca’s room. He raised his hand to knock on the door, but hesitated. He felt he could at least trust Jack not to do anything to harm him, but what of Millarca?

Before he could make up his mind, the door opened. Millarca stood in the doorway, smirking in amusement. ‘Can I help you?’ she asked.

Will was frozen to the spot. He felt extremely uncomfortable being alone with this woman. ‘I...that is...’ He struggled to articulate his thoughts. ‘Is...is Jack here?’

She raised a delicate eyebrow at him and replied ‘You just missed him. He went to look for you.’

‘He did? Did he say where?’

‘No, but he may return here...’ She stepped aside and motioned for Will to come in. ‘Please come in and wait.’

Will took a step back. ‘N-no, thank you. I have to meet up with Elizabeth soon... She heard about an attack made on Miss Suzette and was worried about you.’

‘That was sweet of her, but I’m perfectly fine.’

‘I can see that,’ he said stiffly.

‘Oh, come now,’ Millarca said, lifting her hand to Will’s face. He flinched when she touched him. ‘I’m not going to bite you, my sweet.’

‘You killed her. Didn’t you?’

Millarca removed her hand and sighed. ‘She insulted my son, and I doubted many would miss her.’

‘That’s not a good enough reason!’

‘Shush, you!’ she hissed, looking up and down the hall; it was still vacant of human life. ‘Just go find Jack.’

She returned to her room and began to close the door. ‘And one more thing,’ she said, a slight urgency to her voice. ‘Since you know about us, please don’t tell anyone! And don’t go talking to strangers--especially foreign ones!’ And with that she shut the door, leaving Will to ponder just what she meant.

He left to go find Elizabeth. If he ran into Jack along the way, it would be a bonus.

*

Jack was trying to find Will; he wasn’t having very much luck. He thought he saw Will head to the docks. The crowd of people from the ship that had just arrived wasn’t helping his search much. He tried to navigate through the sea of people with a few ‘pardon me’s and ‘excuse me’s, but he still had trouble running into people.

Jack backed into a rather large man. He turned around to apologize, but the man beat him to it.

‘Entschuldigung,’ he said.

‘Entschuldigen Sie mich, bitte! Ich habe nicht aufgepasst,’ Jack replied.

‘Sind Sie Deutscher?’ asked the man. ‘Sie sehen nicht so aus.’

Jack laughed. ‘Ich bin ein etwas klein, nicht wahr? Nein, Ich bin kein Deutscher. Ich spreche aber mehrere Sprache.’

The man looked Jack over, taking in his appearance. ‘Aber, Sie kommen mir sehr bekannt vor... Sind wir uns vielleicht irgendwo schon einmal begegnet?’

‘Ich glaube nicht.’

‘Dann sollten wir in vorstellen. Wolfgang Fickeisen,’ he said, holding out his hand for Jack.

‘Ich bin Kapitän Jack Sparrow,’ Jack replied, taking Wolfgang’s hand. As he shook the other man’s hand, he started to feel rather uneasy. ‘Es war ein Vergnügen Sie kennen zu lernen, Herr Fickeisen. Ich muß wieder weiter.’

‘Ich verstehe. Vielleicht treffen wir uns ein andermal wieder.’

‘Vielleicht.’ Jack left. He wanted to get as far from the other man as quickly as possible.

He began to head back to the Tattered Rose Inn, but changed his mind. He’d talk to Millarca about his encounter later; he had a sneaking suspicion the man was the Hunter he’d been warned of. Casually, he shifted his direction towards the main street of Port Royal. Now seemed like a good time to practice some of his vampiric abilities--even if he wasn’t very good at it.

Wolfgang watched as Jack left. ‘So so... Die Katze hat ein Kätchen,’ he said to himself as he set off to follow Jack.

*

Will took his time in getting to the flower shop. He had so many thoughts running through his head--mostly thoughts of Jack.

Now that he thought about it, he wasn’t as surprised as he should have been to find out that Jack was a vampire. After all, not too long ago he had been facing a whole slew of the undead, so (strangely enough) it seemed a bit natural for Jack to be a vampire. Either that, or Will felt more strongly about Jack than he had originally thought. Sure, he liked him, but he still wasn’t certain if he loved him. He wasn’t even sure how Jack felt about him. What was he to Jack? A love interest? Or just some fling?

Before, Will didn’t really care either way, he felt wanted. And to someone that’s lonely, that’s all they need. He had tried to get that feeling with Elizabeth, but that obviously didn’t go anywhere. He had then tried with a few other girls. They might have fancied him, but they just weren’t what he was looking for.

And then there was Jack. It seemed to Will that Jack had this insatiable need to be around him; it had been heightening ever since the two first met, and Will was beginning to mirror those feelings. At first, he was confused with his yearnings, but Jack, being the embodiment of pure sensuality that he was, helped him start to come to terms with his feelings.

Or maybe everything was due to the fact that Jack was what he was. He remembered reading somewhere that in certain folklore, vampires were creatures of seduction. Was everything he’d felt toward the pirate just some trick? Some ploy for Jack to drain him of his life’s essence? Was Jack really that heartless? He didn’t seem to be. Will could only hope Jack wasn’t like the mythical creatures he had read about as a child.

Will looked up. He had passed the flower shop by two stores. Finally reaching his destination, he was quite relieved to see Elizabeth performing another soliloquy.

The door to the shop was open, and various flower arrangements decorated the display window and the walls. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of flowers. Will thought that it must be great to work around such a wonderful smell, though it might get irritating after a while.

Will observed that the woman behind the counter was not the usual shopkeeper, but her daughter instead. She was Christine, one of Elizabeth’s friends. Will had always thought that Christine was an odd one--she once told him that she fancied girls and threatened to gut him if he made any advances on her crushes.

Right now she was dreamily twisting her hair with her finger while pretending to listen to Elizabeth. She glanced over to Will, his movement catching her attention, and jumped up.

‘Will!’ she exclaimed, not caring that Elizabeth was still talking. ‘I’ve got a bone to pick with you.’ She came out from behind the counter and placed her hands on her hips. She was a good five inches shorter than Elizabeth, and had slightly wavy, strawberry blond hair.

Will stared at her blankly. ‘But I didn’t do anything.’

‘That’s my point! You didn’t do what you were supposed to do,’ she said. Seeing Will’s confused look, she continued. ‘My rose, you dolt. You said it would be done by now.’

Elizabeth got over her initial shock of being suddenly interrupted. ‘What rose?’ she asked, eyeing Will and Christine.

Christine turned to Elizabeth and explained ‘I asked your friend to make me a broach of a rose, encrested with some of my grandmamma’s old jewels. I asked over a month ago. And he still hasn’t finished it. Probably hasn’t even started on it!’ She glared at Will.

Will glared back. ‘It usually helps to have said jewels to work with,’ he said sarcastically. ‘Unless, of course, you’ve decided that you’d rather have it plain. In that case, your broach is finished and I’ll be expecting payment.’

‘I didn’t get you the stones? You should have said something.’ She smiled warmly at Will, all tiffs forgotten and in the past.

‘You’re never to be found when needed.’

‘Oh, yes, she is,’ Elizabeth said.

Christine nodded in agreement. ‘Right. I just make it a point in avoiding you.’

Will rolled his eyes. ‘Elizabeth, if you’re quite finished here...,’ he said impatiently.

‘Almost,’ she replied. ‘Why? Is something the matter?’

‘Is anything ever not the matter when Jack is involved?’

‘I see your point,’ Elizabeth said, amused with Will’s distress. She turned to Christine, who was trying not to look like she was eavesdropping. ‘I’ll come back later, Christine.’

Christine smiled at Will and Elizabeth. ‘I’ll see you then, and I’ll make up some bouquets for you to choose from. ...Are you sure you don’t want red and white or white and pink? It’s just that pink and yellow is such an odd combination--for a wedding that is.’

Elizabeth shot a glare over her shoulder as she pushed Will out the front door. It was her wedding. Why couldn’t everyone just leave it at that?

Will led Elizabeth to a more secluded part of the busy street and down an alley. They stopped about halfway through.

Will looked at Elizabeth, hoping that there would be an easy way to ask for her advice. He wasn’t even sure what he could say without giving away Jack’s secret. Part of him wanted to tell her everything. Tell her what he overheard. But he remembered that Millarca asked him not to tell anyone. She asked as if her life depended on it; not just hers, Jack’s as well. That was what bought his silence. He didn’t want to cause any more complications for Jack before he knew how Jack really felt about him, and he especially didn’t want to be the cause of Jack’s death. Besides, Elizabeth would probably be much happier in ignorant bliss.

‘I need your honest opinion on something,’ he said.

‘Anything, Will,’ she replied, smiling encouragingly.

He took a deep breath while he tried to sort out his thoughts. ‘If you found out that someone was not what they claimed to be...well, not what they appeared to be, and they had never said anything about it before, so you just found out by accident that they are what the are, and you used to think that you felt a certain way about them, but you’re no longer sure and have no idea about how they feel, and--oh, Elizabeth! I’m just so confused!’ He slumped down onto an empty crate and put his face in his hands. Explaining his situation aloud didn’t exactly have the same effect as he had hoped.

Elizabeth leaned down and put her hand on Will’s shoulder. When he looked up, she asked ‘So what did Jack lie about?’

‘He didn’t...lie about anything... He just--I don’t know,’ he said helplessly. ‘I suppose he’s just being himself, but I just wish he’d be more honest and open with me.’

‘I’m sure he’s trying. People can’t change over night.’

‘I know. I thought I was starting to fall n love with him, but I’m not sure any more. And it doesn’t help that I don’t know how he feels.’

‘I don’t care what other reasons he gives, in my heart I know that the real reason Jack’s here is because of you. He must care very much about you to have risked hanging just to see you without knowing how you felt.’

Will averted his eyes from Elizabeth. It couldn’t have been that much of a risk. He doubted that vampires could die by being hanged. Didn’t they have to be stabbed in the heart with a wooden stake? Or be maimed some sort of bizarre ritual? Then again, he thought vampires couldn’t walk around in the broad daylight. Maybe vampires were just normal humans with much longer lifespans and just happened to drink blood.

Whatever the case was, any answers to Will’s questions only brought up more questions. It was quite overwhelming, and he just didn’t want to deal with it anymore.

Will stood up and looked out to the busy street. ‘I should get to the smithery. I’m at least a day behind in my work,’ he said. He didn’t want to get rid of Elizabeth’s company, but he’d much rather be alone at the moment.

Elizabeth gave him a concerned look. ‘Will you be alright?’ she asked.

‘I’ll be fine. It’ll give me some time to think without many distractions,’ he said, forcing a smile.

They walked back to the street and went their separate ways after a short goodbye. Will slowly headed towards the smithy and Elizabeth went back to the flower shop.

Elizabeth walked through the door, enjoying the sweet smell she was quickly enveloped in. She hoped Christine was still looking over the shop when she didn’t see her behind the counter. She walked further in, looking around.

‘Elizabeth!’

Elizabeth jumped, and Christine came out from behind a large stand of flowers looking apologetic.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,’ she said.

Elizabeth smiled and said ‘It’s alright. I was wondering where you got to. Did you get the bouquets done?’

Christine guiltily looked at the floor. ‘I meant to, but I got distracted.’

Christine told Elizabeth what had happened.

*

About thirty seconds after Will and Elizabeth had left the flower shop, Jack cautiously poked his head through the doorway. He thought he sensed Will’s presence in the area, but he was a little rusty at doing the whole omniscient vampire thing.

‘Hello. Is there something I can help you with?’ asked Christine.

Jack looked at Christine and grinned. Will might not be there, but there was a pretty shopkeeper surrounded by lots of pretty flowers. He remembered his idea from the other day and sauntered up to the counter.

‘Aye, lass,’ he said. ‘I’ll be needin’ a dozen roses.’

‘What color?’

‘Four colors, actually; three of each.’

‘"Four colors?" Strange, but alright.’

Right,’ he said, leaning onto the counter. He held up a finger to emphasize each color as he named them off. ‘I need red, white, pink...’

She nodded for him to continue.

‘And yellow.’

Christine looked at Jack incredulously. ‘Yellow?’ she asked, not sure if she had heard him correctly.

He nodded. ‘Yellow. It’s a bit of an inside joke,’ he explained.

She shrugged and went to retrieve the roses. She returned and wrapped them up in semitransparent tissue paper. ‘Will you be needing a card with this?’

Jack thought for a moment. ‘Sure, why not?’

‘What do you want it to say?’

‘How about... "Sorry for not telling’ ye sooner,"’ he said, steepling his hands.

Christine cocked a brow at him. ‘You’re not much of the romantic type, are you?’

‘But it’s the thought that counts.’

She shrugged then wrote up the card in curly handwriting and tied it to the bouquet. She told him the price, and he paid her. He grabbed the flowers and headed off to where he remembered the smithy to be.

Christine was about to set to work on Elizabeth’s bouquets when another man entered. She had trouble understanding him though his thick German accent, but came to the conclusion that he was inquiring as to what Jack had wanted. She told him--demonstrating with a bundle of daisies, so he would understand better. Satisfied for the moment, he left.

*

‘And then you came in,’ Christine said, finishing her story.

‘Did he say why he wanted the flowers?’ Elizabeth asked.

‘No, but I’m assuming from the card that, like all men, he lied about something and now has to dig himself out of a hole.’

Elizabeth smiled; she thought it was sweet of Jack to go out of his way to get Will flowers and apologize for whatever. But why was there a strange man following Jack? She convinced her father to pardon Jack for the time being, so he was free to do as he pleased, as long as it was legal. But Jack probably had more enemies than previously thought.

Putting those thoughts to the back of her mind, she and Christine began discussing the floral arrangements for the wedding.

*

When Will entered the smithery, he could tell there was something different. Somehow, everything seemed...brighter. Will looked around, and his eyes fell upon a bouquet of roses.

He went over and picked them up. He noticed the card and pulled it free of the bundle. There was no ‘to’ or ‘from,’ just a simple message: ‘Sorry for not telling you sooner.’

He recognized the handwriting as Christine’s, but knew the flowers were from Jack. He took another look at his surrounds, hoping to see Jack. But there was no sign of him.

Will sighed and looked back at the roses he held. He noted the colors they were and smiled. They really didn’t match very well.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN: Well...people liked the idea of having Christine causing complications and jealously and such... I think she liked doing it. She’s writing herself! ::falls over::

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Crimson Ways
Part Eight

Twelve o’clock and all’s aaaaaagghhh...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jack sat in a dark corner of the rafters of the smithery. He had been waiting up there for Will to arrive. He watched as Will had entered looking sullen. He would have jumped down and taken Will into his arms then and there, but he figured that easing back into Will’s life would be best.

When Will looked expectantly around the smithy, Jack pressed himself further into the darkened corner, remaining unseen. His heart jumped for joy when Will smiled at the roses. This must have meant that he still had a chance.

Will left the main room and set the roses down out of harm’s way. When he reentered the room, he looked over the tools and sighed. He wished that he really was a day behind schedule--it would have given him something to do.

Having nothing to do, Will took up a sword and started poking at the fire. He watched as embers flew into the air with each prod. With nothing to keep his mind off of his worries, his thoughts went straight to Jack.

Another stab, more embers being pushed into the air. He wondered if vampires could be burned to death. It would definitely be a terrible way to die. He’d have to ask Jack the next time he saw him--if he ever saw him again. When he thought about it, there were a lot of things he wanted to ask Jack about vampires.

He and Millarca seemed to break all the rules that Will had previously thought to exist for such creatures. They weren’t walking corpses; far from it, they were beautiful and looked very much alive. They certainly didn’t reek of rotting flesh--sure, Jack reeked, but he reeked of a pleasant mixture of the sea and cheap rum. The sun didn’t seem to bother them at all--Jack was proof enough of that with his dark tan--they didn’t burst into flames, scream in agonizing pain, or seek out shelter from the sun’s light. If those stereotypes were wrong, then what else had Will been misinformed about?

He looked out a window to see that it was now dusk. It had definitely been an eventful day. He returned his attentions to the fire, but was interrupted by a loud knocking at the door. He sighed as he trudged over to the door. The only person he wanted to talk to at the moment was Jack, and he very much doubted that the pirate would be so kind as to knock.

He opened the door to reveal Christine.

‘Oh, good! You are here,’ she said as she walked into the smithery. ‘Elizabeth said you might be.’

Jack straighten when he saw Christine. He quietly moved into a different position to get a better look at her. He soon recognized her as the girl from the flower shop. Why was she here? And what did she want with Will?

‘Who’s watching the shop?’ Will asked, taking a look outside before following Christine.

‘Hm? Oh, Mama came back from running errands,’ she replied. ‘And as much as I love flower arranging, today was just too queer for my tastes. When I have full reign, I’m going to put up a sign that shall read "No strange blokes permitted upon these grounds."’

Will laughed. ‘Is that why you’re here? To rant about "strange blokes?"’ he asked jokingly.

‘No, I came to give you this,’ she replied, handing Will a small pouch, ‘so that you can finish my rose. And this.’ She stood on her tiptoes and gave Will a peck on the cheek. ‘Thank you!’

Christine left, leaving Will by himself again. He smiled as he shook his head; he was beginning to think that being around flowers for too long must be damaging to one’s mental state.

Will wandered back over to the other room and opened a small box that was sitting on the table. Within the box was a gold rose. He set the pouch next to the rose, then changed his mind and emptied it into his hand. The jewels comprised of small rubies and garnets with a few diamonds. Most appeared to be the remains of jewelry. Will replaced them in the pouch and set it in the box. He shut the box and hid it in a drawer.

Jack, meanwhile, was looking absolutely crestfallen. Why had Will just let Christine kiss him? He didn’t even seem to mind it. Even worse, he was smiling afterward! What was she to Will? Jack boiled up with jealousy. He jumped down from the rafters and left the smithery, not caring if he made enough noise to wake the dead.

Will heard a sound come from the other room. He ran out into the center of the room, searching for what had made the noise. The room was still empty. He felt certain that it had to have been Jack.

‘Jack?’ he called. There was no answer. Then it hit him. Jack might have been there the whole time. Will groaned when he remembered what Christine had done. That girl had the worst timing. ‘If Jack doesn’t kill you, I will,’ he muttered, retreating to his room. It wasn’t that late, but he wanted this day to be over and done with.

His room was situated above the second room of the smithy, which was used as a sort of kitchen and dining room, as well as extra storage apace. His room was far from anything fancy. There was a bed in one corner, a table and chair in another, and a dresser at the foot of the bed.

Will lay on the bed. It wasn’t as comfortable as Jack’s bed was, and certainly not as big. He stared at the ceiling until he eventually drifted into a dreamless sleep.

*

Jack aimlessly wandered the streets of Port Royal in the fading daylight. First he had headed for the Black Pearl, then the Tattered Rose Inn, and back to the smithery. He wasn’t sure where he wanted to go or be at the moment. He could always hunt down the girl from the flower shop, but Will would probably hate him afterwards. He could confront Will on who she was and what she was to him, but that required confronting Will--something he wasn’t particularly in the mood for.

From somewhere close by, Jack heard laughter. He looked across the street to see the tavern from the night before. Getting drunk was also an option. He swiftly turned towards the tavern, intent on getting thoroughly smashed for the night. Little did he know, he was being followed.

Inside the tavern, Jack chose a table in one of the back corners. He had the barmaid keep the drinks steadily coming. He finished another round--he wasn’t keeping count--and slammed the mug on the table. A few minutes went by, and Jack started to wonder where the barmaid had gotten to. He looked around, but didn’t see her anywhere.

As his head was turned the other way, he heard the familiar sloshing sound of his drink being refilled. Jack turned back, smiling gratefully at the barmaid--only it wasn’t the barmaid. He smile faded as he recognized Millarca. He tried to glare menacingly up at her, but couldn’t. So, instead, he resigned to glaring at the center of the table.

‘You look like a rat drowning in its own self pity,’ Millarca said conversationally, sitting down and pouring herself a drink.

Jack glanced at her and shrugged. ‘Today just hasn’t been my day.’ He took a swig of his drink; he was expecting cheap rum, but was pleasantly surprised to find that Millarca had purchased (or stolen, he wasn’t quite certain) a more expensive brand.

‘Care to talk about it?’ she asked. ‘You know you’ll tell me sooner or later, and sooner is always best.’

‘Not particularly,’ he replied. He knew she would blow it out of proportion. Anything involving him, she blew out of proportion and got overemotional about. The first time he died, she acted as if he really had left the mortal plane. It was quite unnerving to be a full grown adult and still be mothered like a small and fragile child. After his father’s death, she only got worse. Time seemed to have missed healing her wounds.

Jack finished his drink, and Millarca refilled it. After doing this about four or five times, she assumed Jack would be ready to talk. Or at least have less self control. Jack may have been able to drink almost anyone under the table, but even he couldn’t withstand the relaxing powers of that much alcohol.

‘How is William?’

That was all that was needed to trigger Jack into a slurred rant. ‘He’s doin’ good ‘s far’s I can tell. Hell, he looked bloody fine, getting’ kissed by tha’ bloody damned flower girl. Her an’ her stupid flowers, so perfect, makin’ Will all happy an’ stupid. Stupid girl. Kill her meself, but Will woul’ ne’er speak ta me again.’ He kept grumbling about how Christine was ‘stupid’ and how Will would disapprove of killing her.

Millarca narrowed her eyes. Will seemed to be quite popular among the ladies. She’d have to put a stop to that. She stood and dusted off her skirt.

‘Where ye off to?’

‘Nowhere that you need to be concerned with,’ she replied. And with that, she left Jack in drunken confusion. She had the sudden urge to purchase some late night flowers.

*

Christine was lazily closing up the flower shop. No one ever came in after sunset, so she hadn’t bothered to lock the door yet. Tonight, however, was different, as she soon found out when the bell on the door chimed.

‘Sorry, we’re closed for the evening,’ she said as she turned to see who would come in that late at night.

Millarca made her way to Christine with languid movements, running a finger over silk petals as she went. She stopped just inches from Christine and raised a hand to her face.

Christine gasped when Millarca touched her. Either Millarca was the most forward woman she had ever met, or she was working too much. She was probably working too much--her mother warned her against doing so. She sighed sadly and went back to closing the shop.

Millarca was taken aback by this reaction. She was used to her victims either cowering in fear or leaning into her touch, doing whatever she bid. She perked up when Christine looked at her again.

Christine gave an exasperated sigh upon seeing Millarca still standing there. ‘Go away,’ she said sternly. ‘You’re just a figment of my imagination.’

‘I assure you, I am not a figment of anyone’s imagination. I’m quite real,’ Millarca said in amusement.

Christine looked her over and asked ‘So why are you here? I doubt you’re wanting to buy flowers.’

‘I came to ask you a question. If I like the answer, I’ll leave.’

‘Oh? Well, then, ask away.’

Millarca smiled at Christine’s willingness. ‘What are you to William Turner? And what is he to you?’

‘Huh?’ Christine looked vexed. ‘What am I to Will?’ She thought for a moment, then answered ‘I suppose he considers me a friend, but he’s better friends with Elizabeth... I think he’s okay to be around in short intervals, so... I believe he thinks of me the same way. Don’t put up with something longer than you have to. Why do you ask?’

‘Oh.’ Millarca wasn’t expecting that answer. ‘Forget I asked. Good night.’ Millarca turned to leave, but Christine grabbed her hand. She looked at her hand then to Christine with a questioning look.

‘Is it too late to change my answer?’

‘Pardon?’

‘Y-you said that you’d leave if you liked my answer.’ She loosened her grip on Millarca’s hand. ‘Well, I want to change my answer...so you’ll stay,’ she said, trying to read Millarca’s expression. ‘Unless you like Will...then... Then I’ll do anything in my power to help you get him!’ She was being honest. The last love of her life was happily married and expecting a child. She’d rather see someone she liked happy than keep them to herself. She supposed that she’d never be in a real relationship because of her personal beliefs.

Millarca laughed. ‘My dear child, I have no interest in him. My...friend, however, does. I was asking for them.’

‘But what about you? What do you want?’

‘Me? What does it matter to you?’ The last person to care about what Millarca wanted was her late husband.

‘N-no reason... I just like doing good deeds is all,’ Christine lied.

‘Really, now,’ was the sarcastic reply.

‘Well...,’ Christine looked down and realized that she was still holding Millarca’s hand. She released it and blushed.

Millarca raised an eyebrow at Christine. So that was it. No reason not to pursue an open invitation. Before she could open her mouth, a loud shout came from upstairs.

‘Christine! Ye done closing’ yet?’

‘Almost, Mama!’ Christine shouted back in irritation. She gave Millarca an apologetic smile. ‘I have to lock up now... Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow?’

Millarca lifted her hand to Christine’s chin and brushed her thumb across the girl's lips. ‘There’s a good chance,’ she replied.

Christine’s heart skipped a beat, and she watched as Millarca left the flower shop. The bell chimed as the door opened and closed. It was only after a few minutes that she finally realized that she hadn’t learned the other woman’s name. The woman had seemed somewhat familiar with will, so she’d have to ask him tomorrow. Then strangle him for not telling her that he had such a beautiful acquaintance.

*

Millarca was halfway back to the Tattered Rose Inn when she got a familiar feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was being followed, and not by anyone with benevolent intentions. Quickly, she ducked into an alley. She ran to the end--a wooden fence blocked her way. There was no way that she could scale the barricade in her dress.

She looked around and backed away from the fence. She knelt on the ground, and in the darkness, her form shifted from human to a small animal, ready to pounce.

Wolfgang rounded the corner and ran to the end of the alley, just in time to see a medium-sized, black cat scale the fence. He took aim with the crossbow he had been carrying and shot at her. He missed, and the cat hissed before disappearing among the rooftops.

‘Scheisse!’ he cursed. He always seemed to be a step behind. He’d have to use other means to lure her out. He had a pretty good idea of how.

After his sister’s death, Wolfgang became obsessed with hunting down the monster that he believed killed her. He was only ten at the time she died, so it left him scarred for left. She had been drenched in blood--she slit her arms from her inner elbow to her wrist. Everyone said that they were self-inflicted and the cause of her death, but nothing explained the puncture wounds on her neck and other various places on her body.

Eventually, he found out that the wounds were inflicted by a vampire. He had a feeling that the ‘friend’ his sister had been seeing for dinner was a vampire. She had always come back from those dinners looking pale and tired. He had only met her once, and she frightened him to the core.

It had been over thirty years since then, and Wolfgang had aged while Millarca, then known as ‘Carmilla,’ had remained young and beautiful as the day he first saw her. Within these thirty years, he had done extensive research and managed to find out the names of many of her lovers. Few were male--one of which, she had actually married. There had been mentioning of a child, but no actual records. This lead Wolfgang to believe that a child had indeed resulted from the marriage, and seeing Jack earlier confirmed his suspicions. And from what he could tell, Jack was nowhere near as crafty as Millarca. Now, all he needed to do was find Jack.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN II: For those who haven’t caught on with all the hints I’ve dropped: Carmilla (Millarca/Mircalla) is a literary vampire created by the Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu--published in 1872. Without ‘Carmilla,’ we wouldn’t have Dracula. Anyway, I used the idea of her name(s) and the portrait--and her turning into a cat--to create my version of Carmilla. ...So there’s that disclaimer. *blink* I still own my version of vampires, though. Don’t know if I’ll be able to explain them thoroughly enough within the confines of this story, but I’ll try.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Crimson Ways
Part Nine

Flobbly wobbly, here comes our jelly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Fortunately for Jack, a few members of his crew were at the tavern as well, so he had some help in returning to his quarters aboard the Black Pearl. Quite admittedly, it was rather annoying for the infamous captain to awaken, not remembering the previous night’s events clearly. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately, but at least he recognized his surroundings.

With a groan, he removed himself from his bed. He was fully clothed, save for his gun and sword which were neatly laid at the foot of the bed. Jack mentally thanked whatever deity had blessed him with such a wonderful crew.

Stumbling towards the door, he accidentally stepped on Zhemchug’s tail, who was unceremoniously sprawled across the floor with her legs in the air. She yowled and hissed at him as she ran in front of his feet.

Jack tried to avoid stepping on her again, only to trip over himself, landing on his backside. "Bloody ‘ell! Stupid cat!!’ He picked himself up and opened the door. He leaned against the doorframe, thinking about yesterday.

*

Now that he was sober and had time to sleep on it, random girls kissing Will didn’t seem as preposterous now as it had earlier. For all he knew, they just good friends like Will was with Elizabeth. He still felt jealous that Will had just let the girl kiss him without complaint.

And something else nagged at him from the back of his mind; he knew it had something to do with the girl from the flower shop, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Did he want to kill her? No, he had come to the conclusion that Will would never forgive him for doing something like that. Besides, it wasn’t his style to kill out of jealously. He vaguely recalled mentioning something to his mother about the girl, but other than that, he couldn’t think of anything else. Unless, of course, Millarca decided to go on another killing spree.

He scratched his head in annoyance and grabbed his effects from the bed as he adjusted a buckle, he glanced around the room for his hat. He found it laying upside-down on the floor near the head of the bed. He made to grab it, but a little fluff ball lay curled up within it. He sighed as he picked up the hat and turned it upright over the bed, dumping out the contents.

Zhemchug lazily growled at him before going back to sleep.

Jack scratched her head in apology and left.

*

Will had risen quite early that morning and had been working on Christine’s broach. It was nearly finished. After a few minutes of struggling with a diamond on the leaf, he finally succeeded in getting it to stay put long enough for him to clamp the prongs around it.

Looking over his work, he shook his head at how tacky it looked, but it matched the picture that Christine had drawn for him. He placed it in the wooden box. As he stared at the plain, wooden box, he wished he had a lace ribbon to tie around it--just to go overkill in the tacky department.

Will pocketed the box and headed for the door. The sooner he delivered the broach, the sooner he’d have one more thing checked off his to-do list. Just as he reached to open the door, a knock came from the back entrance. He looked from one door to the other, not sure if he really wanted to bother with the visitor. A louder, more insistent knock drove him to the back door.

‘I’m coming!’ he shouted in annoyance. He threw open the door to find Christine inspecting one of her heavily freckled arms. ‘Ah! Morning,’ Will greeted with a smile. ‘You just saved me a trip.’

‘Who is she?’ Christine asked in an accusatory tone.

‘Who is who?’

‘The woman that came into my shop last night,’ she explained. ‘She seemed to know you, so you must know her.’

‘...Millarca?’ Will couldn’t think of any other woman currently in Port Royal that Christine had never met, aside from Annamaria, but she wasn’t the type to waltz into a flower shop. At least, he didn’t think so.

‘Millarca...,’ she repeated. ‘Is that her name? It’s beautiful, just like she is.’

Will was half amused, half horrified. Amused by Christine’s love struck antics (though who could blame her?); and horrified by the fact that Millarca showed herself to Christine. It confirmed his suspicions from the other day. Jack had seen Christine kiss him, and he must have said something to Millarca. What he didn’t understand was why Christine was well and alive.

‘What happened?’ Will asked. ‘I mean...what did she say to you?’

‘Mm... She was asking about you,’ she replied, ‘and me. What we were to each other. I told her we were friends, if that.’

‘That’s it?’

‘Yeah, she left almost right after that. I would have liked her to stay longer, but Mama was yelling for me to lock up.’

Will nodded, thinking about Christine’s story. Millarca decided not to kill her. That was a good sign, right?

‘Well, I best be off. I want to be there in case she shows up again. If you see her, will you bring her by?’ she asked hopefully.

‘If I see her, yes,’ Will replied. He stepped out the door, into the back street with Christine. He reached in his pocket for the key and found the box instead. ‘Oh, Christine!’

‘Yes?’ She was only a few steps away from Will when she turned back to see what he wanted.
‘Here,’ he said, handing her the small box.

She took the box and opened it. ‘Oh, Will, it’s perfect!’ She gave him a hug and then took the pouch with the leftover jewels in it out of the box. ‘Here,’ she said. ‘This should be more than enough.’

‘I’m certain it is, but--’

‘No!’ she sternly stated. ‘I have no need for them. I don’t even really want them.’

Will eyed her for a moment before submitting to Christine’s intense stare, taking the pouch and sticking it in an inside pocket of his vest. ‘Very well.’

‘Good.’ Satisfied, she turned and called over her shoulder ‘The next time I see you, you’d better have your friend with you!’

‘I’ll keep that in mind,’ he said, walking off in the opposite direction, completely forgetting about the unlocked door.

*

Jack tried opening the door to the smithy, but it was locked. He knocked. No answer. Impatient, he looked around and found a window. He climbed through it and landed on the ground inside. There didn’t seem to be any sign of the young blacksmith there.

Jack concentrated all his attention on locating Will. ‘Backdoor,’ he muttered, striding to the back of the smithy. He took one more quick glance around the large room and opened the door.

He looked down the side of the street that Christine had gone. He sighed at seeing no sign of Will. He looked down the other side of the street and caught sight of Will’s retreating back. He stepped out of the doorway and took a step forward.

Quite unexpectedly, he was nervous like he’d never been before. What would he say to Will? How would he take it? Jack tried to gather the courage to call out to Will.

‘Will...,’ he said, barely above a whisper. It was one of the few times that Jack Sparrow could be found at a loss of words. He took a deep, calming breath. ‘Will!’

Will paused, but continued shortly after, shaking his head. He figured that he was just imagining things.

Jack took a few more steps forward, his confidence slowly, but surely, returning. ‘Oi!’ he shouted. ‘Eunuch!’

Will shot a glare in Jack’s direction. His features softened upon seeing that Jack was truly standing there. ‘Jack!’ He ran over to him and pulled him into a tight embrace.

Jack hugged him back and pulled back long enough to give Will a tender kiss. ‘Sorry for not telling’ ya’, mate.’

‘No, Jack, it’s me that should be sorry. I overreacted.’

‘"Overreacted?"’ Jack said with a laugh. ‘I think yer takin’ it just fine--yer still talking to me after all!’

Will smiled back. ‘I’ve had some time to think, and... Well, there’s just so much that I want to ask you.’

‘And I’ll be glad to answer any questions ye might be havin’, but first,’ he said, taking another look up and down the street, ‘how about we take this indoors to somewhere more private?’

‘Alright...but why? Paranoid someone might hear?’

‘Precisely.’ Jack held onto Will’s hand and lead him back to the smithery.

Will closed the door behind them and locked it. He looked expectantly at Jack.

‘Anywhere more private?’

‘"More private?" Mr. Brown drank himself to death three months ago, and I doubt his ghost would be sober enough to remember anything we might say.’

Jack gave Will a pleading stare. He didn’t want to take any chances.

‘Oh, alright,’ Will said in surrender. ‘We can go to my room, it’s upstairs.’ He blushed slightly when he realized that he just invited Jack up to his room.

Jack followed as Will lead the way. Jack sat on the bed, and Will took the chair at the desk.
Jack patted the space on the bed beside him. ‘C’mon, luv. I don’t bite.’

‘Yes, you do,’ Will retorted, cautiously moving onto the bed anyway.

The faintest sign of hurt flashed behind Jack’s eyes. He raised a hand to Will’s neck and moved the cloth covering the base to the side. He ran a finger over the small puncture he had made. He noticed that Will was remaining deathly still and quickly removed his hand. ‘Sorry,’ he apologized, guiltily looking to the floor.

‘For what?’ Will asked. ‘ For just now? For biting me? Or for not telling me?’

‘For...for not... Well, that is...’ Jack placed his head in his hands. He regretted doing a lot of things during his life, but he never really had to apologize until now. A simple ‘sorry’ wasn’t going to cut it, and he knew that. ‘What I mean is... I’m sorry about everything. Mostly for not saying anthin’ sooner. I know I shoulda told ye, but I... I wanted to trust you.’ Jack lifted his head and looked into Will’s eyes. ‘Believe me, lad, I wanted to tell you, but I’ve never been able to trust anyone. Not even with small things; Barbossa proved that.’

‘You just said that you wanted to trust me. Does that mean you don’t?’ Will changed his position so that he was fully facing Jack, one leg propped up on the bed.

‘It’s not like I have much of a choice now, is it?’ Jack replied, forcing a smile.

‘If you’re being forced to trust me, then how do I know I can trust you? What proof do you have that I’m not going to end up as a midnight snack for you?’

Jack thought for a moment. He didn’t have any proof whatsoever. How could he prove that it was safe for Will to be around him? ‘Well, a midnight snack never did hurt anyone,’ he said, voicing his thoughts. ‘Er--wait! That’s not what I meant!’

‘Jack!’ Will glared at the other man. ‘I’m not about to be some vampire’s dinner.’

‘Oh, then yer in luck!’ Jack smiled whole heartedly. ‘I’m not a vampire.’

Will was taken aback. ‘You’re not? Then what are you?’

‘A dhampir,’ he replied matter-of-factly.

‘A what?’

‘A dhampir, a half-breed.’

‘Then you’re still a vampire!’

Jack pouted. ‘It’s not like I chose to be like this.’

‘You mean...you don’t choose whether or not you become a vampire?’ asked Will.

‘It depends. Humans have a choice, dhampirs sort of have a choice, and natural born vampires sort of have a choice as well.’ At Will’s confused look, he continued. ‘Bein’ a vampire is like having a disease--a really strange one. Ye can pass it on to others, but it lies dormant in them until something’ else triggers it.’

‘And if something doesn’t trigger it?’

‘Then you grow old and die like every other boring human.’

‘Am I...infected?’ Will had subconsciously brought his hand to the puncture wound on his neck.

‘Pssh... If every person I ever bit were infected, then Tortuga would be littered with potential vampires. No, transition of the "disease," as we’re calling it, is done with a different kind of bite,’ he explained.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, if I were to just suck your blood, then I’d...just be drinking your blood. But, if I were to inject you with a sort of venom, then you’d be infected. Like a snake, if you will.’ It seemed so strange to Jack to be explaining something that he instinctively knew to someone that was completely ignorant on the subject, but to be explaining it to Will...it also felt right. It felt nice for him to be able to finally talk about him and his kind with Will.

Will stared at the bed cover as he thought about what Jack had just told him. So Jack was only half vampire; that could have explained why he had no problems with the sunlight or being out at sea. Then again, Will had first met Millarca during the day. She couldn’t have been a dhampir as well. ‘What about sunlight?’ he asked. ‘Or running water? Holy symbols? Don’t those affect real vampires?’

Jack looked at Will as if he were being completely absurd. ‘Rubbish. Every last bit of it,’ he replied. ‘The same rules apply to all kinds vampires, I’m no exception.’

‘"Rules?" What rules?’

‘Get yer head lopped off, ye die. Get staked, ye die. Get disemboweled, ye die,’ he said, counting off on his fingers. ‘But I suppose those apply to humans as well. Yet another wonderful thing we have in common!’ Jack edged towards Will and was quite pleased that Will did nothing to show if he was uncomfortable.

‘Somehow I doubt that ways of dying counts as having something in common,’ Will said dryly. He was glad to see that Jack was acting like his normal (if it could be called that), perky self.
Jack smiled and closed the distance between them with a kiss.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Crimson Ways
Part Ten

Abstention's like a precious jewel; a slave to blood is just a fool.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Will broke away from the kiss. To answer Jack's annoyed and confused look, he asked 'How can you draw blood without fangs?'

'Trust me, luv, I have a nice set of them, so if you don't mind...' Jack started teasing Will's lips with light kisses.

Will tried to resist long enough to get his question answered. 'And if you don't mind, I'd like to know why you don't have them now.'

'They're retractable,' he replied distractedly.

'Let me see,' Will requested, leaning away from Jack.

'No.' Jack leaned forward, but Will held up a hand to stop him.

'Why not? Can't always get them to work--like an old man that can't get it up?' Will smirked at the undignified look Jack gave him.

'Getting 'em out's not the problem; it's retracting 'em that I have a problem with,' was his annoyed reply.

'Then show me. You have the rest of the day to pop them back in.'

Jack sighed and hung his head in defeat. He had a feeling he was fighting a losing battle. 'Fine.' He looked back up at Will and gave him a toothy grin. His canines were now at least a centimeter longer and came to a sharp point. 'Happy?'

Will stared in awe. He could see how teeth like those could cause damage. 'Wow,' was all he could manage. But as Jack leaned in again, he asked 'You're not really going to kiss me with those, right?'

'Yer the one that wanted to see them, remember? Ask and ye shall receive.'

'You'll probably bite my tongue off.'

'Nonsense. Where would the fun be in that? There are a lot more uses for your tongue than just a chew toy, luv,' he said, causing Will to turn a deep shade of crimson.

Will looked from Jack's lust filled eyes to his menacing fangs. Slowly and with uncertainty, he removed his hand from blocking Jack's way. 'Just...be careful.'

'I always am.'

Jack hungrily clamped his mouth around Will's and massaged his lips with his own. He passed his tongue over Will's lips, seeking entrance, which was eagerly granted. He gratefully explored the other mouth with his tongue, occasionally colliding with Will's.

Will moaned, triggering something in the back of Jack's mind. He was too engrossed by Jack's wandering hands to notice, or even care, that Jack's mouth was kissing its way down to the base of his neck. It wasn't until Jack began kissing his old wound that Will froze. 'J-Jack...?' His voice wavered as he spoke.

Jack paused at hearing his name. 'Mm?'

'Are you going to...bite me?'

Silence.

Will took Jack's silence and lack of movement as a 'yes.' He sighed and asked 'Are you going to infect me?'

Jack pulled himself off of Will's neck and stared intensely into his eyes. 'I would never wish for the curse of immortality on you. I love you too much for that.'

Will's breath caught in his throat. Jack just said that he loved him. Will smiled. 'I think...that I love you, too.' The words came from him so easily, so naturally. He leaned forward and gave Jack a small peck on the cheek. He pulled away, and, without much thought, tilted his head to the side, exposing the reddened area Jack had been previously attending to.

'Are you sure?' Jack asked.

Will nodded. 'You were going to anyway if I hadn't stopped you.'

Jack had to restrain himself from lunging at Will. He began with kissing Will's neck and proceeded to lick and suck.

Will was so caught up in the sensation that he never felt Jack's fangs enter into his body. After a minute or so, he was barely aware of a strange draining sensation and a quickly approaching tiredness. Will's eyes began to flutter shut as Jack removed his mouth from Will's neck.

Jack took Will in his arms and carefully laid him down on the bed.

'Jack...' Will tried to speak, but was much too tired to articulate anything worth hearing.

'Shh...' Jack pressed his lips against Will's. 'Go to sleep; you need it.'

'Mmm...' Will was quickly enveloped by the darkness of the dream world.

Jack cuddled up to Will on the small bed and wrapped his arms protectively around him before drifting into sleep himself.

*

When Will awoke, he was still tire. A tinge of pain shot through his neck whenever he tried to move it. He felt something or someone nuzzling into the back of his neck with arms securely wrapped around him.

He recognized the wall he was staring at as his own, so he at least knew where he was. He tried to remember what had happened and how he got there. He craned his neck around, despite the pain, to see who he was sharing his bed with. It wasn't working too well, so he tried to turn his whole body around.

The arms around him tightened, and a voice came from behind his ear. 'Will ye sit still? Your movin' is rather annoying.'

Will immediately recognized the voice as Jack's. Broken memories from that morning came flooding back. He sat up, pulling out of Jack's hold. 'Y-you bit me!'

'Only with yer consent, luv. Wanna have another go?' Jack asked as he propped himself up on his elbows, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Will glared down at Jack, rubbing the sore spot on his neck. As he glared at Jack, he noticed something different about him. Was it just him, or did Jack look younger? Not only did her look a good five years younger, but he was a little paler as well--he still had a dark tan, but not as dark as Will remembered. 'You look...different. Younger.'

Jack's grin widened. 'Virgin blood tends to have the effect,' he replied. Sure, it was a lie, but it was worth it for the look on Will's face.

Will blushed. 'You can tell that?' he asked.

Jack laughed at Will's naivety. 'Course not. I couldn't tell the difference between the blood of the cheapest prostitute and a nun if my life depended on it!' he explained. 'It just has to do with what toxins are in yer blood; the less junk flowin' through your system, the better the outcome for me.'

'So drinking is bad for you. Maybe you should think of quitting.'

Jack put on a look of mock shock. 'Give up drinkin'?! Surely ye jest.'

'Won't the crew notice?' Will asked.

'Shouldn't, or they'll just ignore it, fearing me and my immortal wrath,' he replied jokingly. 'The only one that'd say anythin' at all would be Annamaria, but I think she might suspect something anyway.'

'Why is that?'

'Well, every time I do something that she disagrees with,' he said as he sat himself in an upright position, 'she mutters "damned loogaroo" under her breath.'

Will tried to stifle a laugh.

'It's not that funny,' Jack growled.

'Yes it is--with as effeminate as you are, it's downright hilarious,' Will said as he got off the bed. He stood too quickly and was hit with a dizzy spell. He lost his balance and fell back on the bed, into Jack's arms.

Jack smiled lovingly down at Will. 'You should take it slow. Ye've lost a lot of blood, y'know,' he said, giving Will a kiss on the tip of his nose.

'And who's fault might that be?' Will retorted.

'Yer the one that practically screamed "come an' get it."'

Will thought for a moment, trying to clearly remember the events that had happened only a few hours ago. He remembered glistening fangs, Jack sucking on his neck, Jack pulling away... And himself tilting his head to the side, making a very tempting morsel for any bloodsucker. Will sighed, realizing Jack was right.

Jack grinned victoriously. 'Glad to see ye remember now.'

'Yes, well, next time I'm overcome with complete idiocy, then, by all means, stop me.'

'Ah, but I've tried that, and I've found that it doesn't work. Besides, I think I'm getting to like the idiot version of you much better.'

Will huffed and tried to get back up, but Jack swiftly changed their positions so that Will was laying on the bed with Jack straddling his hips.

'J-Jack!' Will struggled in protest. 'I have other things I must do today before nightfall.'

'Don't do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow,' Jack replied in sing-song. He grabbed Will's hands and held them above his head, ignoring the glare he was receiving.

'That may be true, but staying in bed all day is not very productive.'

'Oh, I bet I can think of a few productive things one can do in bed.' Jack leaned down and licked Will's lips. 'I'd be more than happy to give you an example or two.'

'Somehow I don't believe that your idea of being productive is the same as mine,' Will replied. He squirmed under Jack's weight, but to no avail.

Jack's bemused smile turned into a predatory grin. He leaned down to Will's ear. 'Y'know,' he whispered, 'that only makes me want ye more.'

Will glared up at Jack as he returned to a more upright position. He decided then and there that Jack wasn't a vampire, dhampir, or whatever he claimed to be. No, he was an incubus. And a very annoying and insatiable one at that. It wasn't that he didn't want to do whatever it was that Jack had in mind, he just wasn't ready.

Will's neck was beginning to itch where Jack had bitten him, and it gave him an idea. 'Might I have one of my hands back?'

'That all depends... Why?' Jack ased, cocking his head to the side. He really didn't want to lose his prey before he got to have some fun with him, but he would never go against Will's wished. If Will really wanted to be let go, Jack would release him. But he'd have to beg first.

'I have a mosquito bite that needs to be scratched,' Will replied flatly.

Jack rolled his eyes, but let go of one of Will's hands nonetheless. He eyed Will as he scratched his neck. 'Done?'

'No. Now my arm itches. And my leg.'

Jack stared at Will blankly. '...What?'

'You've never had that happen to you? You get one itch, then as soon as you scratch it, your entire body breaks out in itches.' Will blinked innocently at Jack.

'Unlike you, luv, I don't have fleas.'

'Then you'd better get off, or else you'll have them, too.'

'Maybe I have them right now. How's about a little you scratch my back, I scratch yours?' Jack began to trail his free hand down Will's chest.

'Jack! Off, now!'

'Fine. Fine!' Jack got off of Will, clearly annoyed--mostly at himself. He plopped himself down on the chair by the desk.

'Thank you,' Will said as he sat up.

Jack waved a dismissive hand in response.

Will sighed. 'Please, Jack, try to see things from my perspective,' he pleaded, feeling slightly guilty for rejecting Jack's advances so bluntly. 'I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment, and you're taking things too fast. I don't know if you expect me to keep up, but I don't think I can. I care about you deeply enough to try, but I'm having such a hard time in doing so. I...I'm sorry.'

Will hugged his knees to his chest. He was afraid that Jack would just lose patience with him and leave. He didn't think he could handle that. Not now, not ever. He bowed his head and closed his eyes, awaiting Jack's reaction.

He heard the chair scratch against the wooden floor as Jack stood. Jack didn't make a sound--only that of near silent footsteps. Will feared the worst; he took Jack's silence as a sign of his leaving. It would probably be better for both of them this way--no long, painful goodbyes.

He waited a few moments, straining to hear anything at all from Jack. He desperately wanted to look, to see if Jack was still there, but he couldn't find it in himself to do so. Then he heard the door shut.

Will buried his face in his knees, feeling the tear build up. He tried to keep them from falling, but failed. His shoulders shook with from his silent sobs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Crimson Ways
Part Eleven

Today is a good day for someone else to die.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Will felt certain that Jack had left. Maybe it was for the better. Jack was, after all, not human. Perhaps what he felt for Jack was a forbidden love; the kind that always ends in ruin.

The area of the bed beside him shifted downward with added weight. Will gasped as he felt strong arms wrap around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. He looked up, his face stained with tears. He'd never felt so relieved before in his life. 'I thought... I thought you'd left.'

'It's a lot harder to get rid of me than you think, lad,' Jack replied, wiping the tears from Will's eyes.

'But, the door--'

'Just shutting out the audience.'

Will paled. 'Audience? Who?'

'No one, just a mangy ol' alley cat is all,' he said, talking mostly to the door.

Will raised an eyebrow at Jack. He sniffed and wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

Jack felt guilty for making Will cry. 'Are ye gonna be okay?' he asked softly. He hoped that he hadn't traumatized Will for life.

Will nodded. 'I'll be fine,' he said, forcing a smile. 'Just remember what I said. Alright?'

Jack released Will and took his hands in his own. 'Right. We'll stick to just holdin' hands for now,' he said. 'I do have all the time in the world.'

Will managed a weak laugh. 'Judging by your patience, one would think that you only had until tomorrow to live.'

'True, but for all you know, I really do only have until tomorrow,' Jack replied thoughtfully. 'So it's best to live every day as your last--definitely more entertaining that way.'

'Just promise you won't get bored and leave me. ...I really don't think I could handle that,' Will choked out.

'I'll never get bored with you. Ye'd have to kill me before I'd leave you alone.' Jack paused for a moment, a thought entering his deranged mind. 'Even then, I'd probably haunt you until yer death.'

'Charming.'

'Aye. And if you die first, you can haunt me.'

'Then I'd get lonely, meet another ghost, and forget about you entirely.'

'Easy fix for that: Join me in immortal bliss, and we'll live happily ever after,' Jack said jokingly as he stood up and held out a hand for Will.

Will took Jack's hand and stood. 'I thought you said that you would never do that to me. Going back on your word?' he asked.

'I hardly ever go back on my word.'

'Not "never?"' Will asked, heading for the door.

'Ye can't keep every promise,' Jack said ruefully. He walked past Will and out the door, avoiding Will's questioning stare.

Will could tell it was a subject that Jack would much rather not talk about, but he couldn't help feeling curious about it. He wondered what sort of promise or promises Jack had broken. He hoped it wasn't a bad habit that would get in the way of their relationship.

He followed Jack down the stairs. Jack stopped abruptly at the bottom of the staircase, and Will, caught off guard, ran into him. He looked over Jack's shoulder to see Millarca sitting quite comfortably at the small table in the room, sporting a playful smirk. 'Having difficulties?'

'I don't recall it ever really being any of you business,' Jack shot in reply. He crossed the room, ignoring her amused smile.

Millarca watched as her son left the room, then shifted her stare over to Will, effectively trapping him.

Will tried to give her a friendly smile. 'H-hello,' he stammered. He still didn't trust Millarca. He felt that he could trust Jack well enough because he actually had the chance to get to know him over the time they spent together before, but he had just met Millarca and knew next to nothing of her character.

Millarca's eyes trailed down to Will's neck. 'I see you've had an eventful morning,' she commented, enjoying the way he squirmed under her gaze.

Will blushed slightly at the suggestive tone in her voice. 'I...uh... It's not like that.'

'I know,' She said sweetly. 'I saw.'

Will's blushed deepened. 'You what?! Have you no scruples?!'

Millarca gracefully stood and took her leave of the room as if she hadn't heard Will.

Will cautiously followed suit; he couldn't help but think that either Jack or Millarca was going to jump him from behind the doorway--he wouldn't put past them to do so.

When he entered the main room of the smithery, he found Jack playing around with one of the more detailed swords. Will advanced further into the room to scold Jack. Millarca spoke from behind him, causing him to jump.

'Yes.'

Will turned to face her, suddenly wishing he had either an easy escape route, or some form of barricade between them. 'Pardon?'

'Yes, I do have scruples,' she smoothly replied. She was leaning casually against the wall next to the door with her arms loosely crossed across her waist. 'Though,' she continued, 'one's morals tend to change over the years.'

'So that's how you justify spying on other's private affairs?' Will asked spitefully. He slowly began to back away from her.

Millarca laughed softly as she pushed herself from the wall and pursued Will. 'Actually, no. I just have a fetish with voyeurism,' she said. She edged closer to Will and raised a pale hand to his face.

Millarca's hand was quickly swatted away by the sword Jack had been playing with. Jack brought the sword's tip to just under her chin. 'Be a good kitty-cat and stick to yer own cream,' he growled possessively. He glanced at Will and said 'I think you need to get some locks for yer windows...and change the ones ye have on the doors.'

'What? Why?' Will looked from Jack to Milarca, who was nodding in agreement.

'It's too easy to get in,' Jack explained. 'I got in though the window.'

'And I used the door,' added Millarca. 'I thought they had ceased making such simplistic locks. We're just for your safety, sweetie.' She brought her hand up to Will's face again, only to have it immediately smacked with Jack's sword. She glared at Jack. 'Stop that.'

'You stop.'

'Both of you stop! And why are you two breaking into here anyway?' Will glared at both of them. He thought one Jack Sparrow was bad enough, but two? Millarca was as bad as Jack, if not worse.

'I was merely lookin' for you, luv,' Jack replied, snaking an arm around Will's waist.

'I suppose that's a viable excuse,' Will said, doing his best to ignore the quirky smirk Millarca was giving him. 'And what of you?' he asked her. 'What might your excuse be?'

'I was bored,' she stated. 'I needed something or someone, to entertain me.'

'The only person Will will be entertainin' is me,' Jack said threateningly, tightening his grip around Will.

Will was flattered that Jack was being protective of him, but he'd prefer it if Jack weren't so publicly affectionate--especially in front of a self-proclaimed voyeuristic vampire.

Millarca made a noncommittal sound. 'In any case, I need a new place to stay; the inn is no longer sufficient for my needs.'

'You can't stay here,' Jack said quickly, cutting off any would-be arrangements.

'This place so desperately needs a woman's touch,' she commented airily as she evaluated her surroundings. 'It's so dusty in here. Bad for the complexion.'

'You? Clean?' Jack scoffed. 'I doubt you've so much as lifted a finger to clean in over a hundred years--I think I'd remember seeing it.'

'"Over a hundred years?" How old are you two, anyway?' Will asked. Neither Millarca nor Jack heard Will's question.

'I said "a woman's touch," not mine. Why dirty my hands when I can just as easily gt someone else to do it?' she said with a shrug. 'I'm certain that even dear William could make a substantial difference...if given proper direction.'

'No.' Jack placed himself between Millarca and Will. 'Ye'll be doin' no such thing. Why don't you ask Lizbeth's father if you can stay with them? He seemed quite taken with you.'

'I suppose I could, but I'd rather stay here,' she replied. She didn't see why Jack was being so overprotective of Will; it wasn't as if she'd ever make any real advances on him. Flirting and scaring was another story. 'It's less conspicuous, really.'

'What part of "no" don't you understand?'

'What part of "vampire hunter" don't you understand?'

Jack winced for a moment. 'You...never mentioned anything about a hunter before.'

'Yes, I did. It's not my fault that you have the attention span of a two-year-old,' she retorted, placing her hands on her hips for emphasis.

'What vampire hunter?' Will asked as he stepped out from behind Jack.

'It doesn't concern you,' Jack replied.

'Nonsense. Of course it concerns him,' Millarca said in annoyance. 'With a bite mark like that, how could it not?'

Will's hand flew to his neck. He could feel two small bumps, but that was it. 'Is it that obvious?' he asked.

'Just keep your neck covered and your head low until it fully heals, sweetie,' Millarca replied lovingly. 'It will heal more quickly than normal scratches and such.'

Will nodded, taken aback by Millarca's momentary motherly attitude towards him. 'But what of the hunter you just mentioned?' In response to Jack's disapproving look, he said 'If you ever want the chance to pretend you're a mosquito again, then you'll tell what's going on.'

'I like him. You should keep him.' Millarca gave Jack a meaningful look. She shrugged off the glare Jack was giving her and said 'There is a man following me. His sister committed suicide, and he thinks I'm the real reason she's dead.'

'But are you?'

She raised a brow. 'Why does everyone think I'm some sort of murderess? In all actuality, she seemed quite fine with me being what I am--in part.' Will gave her a confused look, and she continued. 'She wasn't too keen on the fact that I was a woman. She was a good, Christian girl, but her morals were a bit twisted. It was fine for her to fraternize with what most consider a demon, but unforgivable to do any such thing, with or without consent from God, with another woman. I believe she took her life to atone for her sins.'

'Yer not going to be atonin' for any sins anytime soon, are you?' Jack teasingly asked Will.
'I'd rather pray for forgiveness,' he answered. 'So when did this happen?'

'Mm... About thirty years ago,' she replied. 'You'd think he'd give up by now or lose interest, but he keeps following me! It's quite nerve wracking.'

'Don't worry, you'll just outlive him,' Jack said with a bright smile.

Millarca shook her head and walked back into the smaller room. She sat at the table as Will and Jack entered the room. She sighed and explained further. 'I've had several close calls in encountering him--one just last night. I managed to escape unscathed, but it was much too close for my comfort.'

'Well...if it's any consolation, you're free to stay here as long as you like,' Will offered. 'I'm sure Jack wouldn't mind letting me stay on the Pearl with him for a small while.'

'Or Will can stay here, and you could stay on my ship,' Jack suggested.

'I refuse to willingly stay on some...some boat!' she growled.

'The Black Pearl is not "some boat!"' Jack said defensively. 'She is a magnificent ship, worthy of the highest praise!'

Millarca laughed wholeheartedly, surprising Will. 'You named it after the cat?!'

'And what of it?'

'Oh, nothing,' she said. 'I just find it rather amusing. I'm still not staying on it. No matter what the name.'

Before Jack could argue, Will said to him 'Really, it's alright. She can stay here if she wants.'

'But--'

'We can discuss this further during a drink. My treat.'

'Will--!'

'Behave, and we'll play mosquito.'

Jack stopped trying to protest and perked up. 'Really? Yer not just sayin' it to get me to agree?'

'It all depends on whether or not you play your cards right.'

'Believe me, luv, I'm excellent at cards, Jack said suggestively.

Will rolled his eyes and muttered 'insatiable incubus' as he shoved Jack out of the room. He turned to Millarca before he left as well. 'Erm... Christine says "Hello."'

'She does, does she?' She propped her chin on her hand as a hungry look flooded her eyes.
The fear Will had of her before returned. 'Please don't do anything to her.'

'I promise not to do anything to her,' she swore. She watched as Will left the room and waited until heard the door open and close before finishing he thought. '...Anything permanent that is.'

She looked around the small room and got up from the chair. She started at one end of the room and began rummaging through the drawers and cupboards.

*

'Since it's your treat,' Jack said as he and Will walked down one of the streets of Port Royal, 'we should go someplace expensive. Real high class.'

'I'm not rich, Jack.'

'Fine. Moderately priced, then.'

Will opened his mouth to complain, but another voice interrupted him.

'Es geht...,' Jack replied warily, cursing himself for wanting to go down this particular street.
Wolfgang crossed over to where Jack and Will stood. He noticed Will and the bewildered look he was giving him. He nodded to Will, and Will nodded back, not sure what was going on. Wolfgang caught sight of the puncture wounds on Will's neck--he had forgotten to cover them before leaving the smithy.

*

Jack saw Wolfgang's prolonged stare directed at Will's neck and panicked. 'Er, well, uh... Gotta go! Tschuss!' He grabbed Will by the wrist and quickly dragged him away.

Wolfgang watched as Jack dragged Will away. He felt a sudden pity for the young man. He now had the need to release him from Jack's evil grip before he suffered the same fate as his sister, or worse.

*

After weaving in and out of several streets and alleyways, Jack finally stopped near an empty intersection. He looked every which way and breathed a sigh of relief when he felt certain that they were not being followed.

'Jack! What's going on? What was that back there?' Will demanded.

Jack took a deep breath. 'I think that was him. It had to be.'

'Who? Jack, who was that?' Will had never seen Jack look so shaken, and it worried him.

'The Hunter. It had to be. He just gives me this...this feeling in the pit of my stomach. And the way he was starin' at your neck...' He trailed off, not wanting to think of what might have been going through the Hunter's head. 'He knows...and he saw you with me. This doesn't bode well at all...' Jack started to go into a panic attack, incoherently babbling about the Hunter as he sunk to the ground. He didn't care as much about his own safety as he did Will's.

Will placed his hands on either side of Jack's face. 'Jack? What's wrong?'

Jack focused in on Will's face, and his breathing slowly returned to normal. 'I'm fine.'

'No, you're not. Something's wrong. I've never seen you act like this before.'

'I'd really rather not talk about this right now. Can it wait until we got back to the ship?' Jack asked as he stood, using Will's shoulder to steady himself. 'Besides, it's nearly sunset. Best be getting indoors before that guy gets the idea in his head to come looking for us.'

Will nodded and followed Jack toward the docks.

*

The final remains of the sun's light faded and was slowly being replaced by the faint glow of lamplight as a man went around lighting the streetlamps. The pale lamplight sifted into the smithery, catching Millarca's attention. She had finished ransacking the cupboards, and staring at swords could only hold her interest for so long.

Going against her better judgment, she went out the backdoor. If she were to be seen by the Hunter, it would be best to be seen at night. He certainly didn't need to know what vampires were immune to--it might give him ideas as to what else might not affect them.

Millarca slinked down the streets, enjoying the sights and sounds of the nightlife. She peered into the windows of various shops, most of which were closed for the evening. That was one of the drawbacks of going out only at night--very few places of interest remained open.

As she rounded a corner, she got the very distinct of being followed. There were at least two men following her from what she could tell, glancing at her reflection in a window as she passed by.

Casually, so as not to draw attention, she lead them towards the dead end alley she found the night before. She turned and watched the two men came towards her. She noted that they were unarmed, save for the extensive amount of alcohol they had been consuming.

'Is there something I can do for you, gentlemen?' she asked with a smile.

'There just might be, gorgeous,' the smaller of the two men said.

'Oh?' She gave them an amused smirk. 'I'm certain that whatever you may have in mind is way out of your price range.'

'So ye do have a price?' asked the other man. 'How much?' He brought his hand up to her face and stroked her cheek.

She sneered at the gesture in disgust. She brought her hands to his head and twisted it sharply. A loud 'snap' echoed in the silence of the alley, and the man's lifeless body fell to the ground. The smaller man watched as his comrade fell, then looked at Millarca, horrified. 'You-you...monster!' He began to back away, unsure of what had just happened or what to do.

Millarca grinned, showing off her elongated canines. 'A monster, am I? You'll regret that statement.'

In one quick movement, she pounced the man and sunk her teeth into his neck, tearing away flesh as she did so. The man tried to struggle, but the gash in his neck was large and bleeding profusely.

As Millarca drained the man of his life, she felt a third presence. She dropped her prey and glared at the newcomer, a wild look in her eye and fresh blood dripping down her chin.

Halfway down the alley stood Christine. She jumped when Millarca began to advance on her. She took a step back and tripped on the hem of her skirt, landing her on her rump. She looked up to see Millarca looming over her. 'D-dearg-due...,' she choked.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN II: This ending just popped into my head halfway through the chapter. Next part will have the uber-evil ending. Yep. Reminder: I'm a total comment whore, and I do take into consideration what everyone suggests. (I try to give credit if I remember names and such.)

AN: I will not be held responsible for the results of the evil ending. Spoken in German

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Crimson Ways
Part Twelve

Help, they stole all my money and clothes and left me in the gutter!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Millarca knelt in front of Christine and smiled serenely, completely ignoring the fact that she was covered in blood. 'You seem lost, child.'

Christine gulped. Millarca seemed conversational and friendly at the moment, but the blood and gore made the whole scene seem surreal. 'I know my way quite well, ma'am,' she replied.

'Is that so?' Millarca leaned closer to Christine. 'I know you... You're the girl from the flower shop. Christine.'

Christine didn't know if she should be elated or frightened that Millarca remembered her. 'I don't see why you should remember me, ma'am. I'm no one important,' she said. She tried to scoot away, but her skirt prevented her from making any progress.

Millarca leaned even closer to Christine, so that their noses nearly touched. 'What a polite and humble child. Such qualities should be rewarded.' As she spoke, a few drops of blood fell from her chin.

Christine watched as the blood fell onto her chest. She paled as she felt the still warm liquid ooze down into her dress. She hit the ground unconscious.

Millarca furrowed her brows in frustration. 'Oh, bugger.' She hadn't expected Christine to faint.

~*~*~*~

Will sat cross legged on Jack's bed, watching Jack pace up and down the room. Zhemchug had given up on getting attention from him and was now sitting in Will's lap.

'Jack, sit down,' said Will. 'Have a drink. Anything, just calm down.'

'How can I calm down? Everything's falling to pieces!' Jack came to a stop in front of Will. 'Promise me you won't leave the ship until I get rid of the Hunter.'

'What?! I'm not promising anything of the sort.'

'Ye'll be stayin' here even if I have to strap you to this bed,' Jack stated. 'It's for yer own good.'

'How is it for my own good, pray tell?' Will asked. 'Because you said so?'

'Look, I'm only concerned for your safety,' Jack replied sincerely. 'I don't want you getting in the middle of this.'

'As I recall,' Will said, 'I'm already in the middle of all this.'

'And that's what's wrong! I just... I just don't want you to get hurt.' Jack knelt at the foot of the bed, looking up at Will. 'Or killed,' he added quietly.

Will looked down at the covers as if trying to find a solution for Jack's crisis. 'How about...I stay at Port Royal and you leave for a week or so.'

'I'm not going to leave!'

'Let me finish,' Will said in irritation. 'You can make it known that you're over in some other port, and then the Hunter will follow you, leaving Port Royal, and me, alone.'

Jack's expression lit up. 'Yes...I could set a trap for him in Tortuga. There's no reason it couldn't work,' he said thoughtfully, tapping his fingers on the bed. 'Right. So it's settled.' He stood and strode over to the door. 'It'll still be safer for you to stay on the ship, so we'll leave tonight.'

'Wha--! Jack!!' Will jumped off the bed, earning himself a growl from Zhemchug for dumping her off his lap. He ran up to Jack and grabbed his arm before he could open the door. 'Wait for just one minute! Can't you sleep on it first? Give it some more thought? I mean, this is awfully brash.'

Jack raised an eyebrow at Will. 'You're one to talk.'

'I believe I should have some say in the matter-seeing as how I'm the one being kidnapped,' Will snapped.

'I'm not kidnappin' you,' Jack replied. 'I'm just keeping you safe against your will.'

'It's the same thing,' Will said dryly.

'If it will make you feel any better, then we'll wait to cast off until tomorrow,' Jack offered, turning to fully face Will with a cheerful grin.

Will thought for a moment. It would at least give him enough time to come up with a plan to get himself off the ship before it left. Or at least long enough to tell Elizabeth not to worry about him while he was gone. 'Alright, we can leave tomorrow if you're still intent on it,' he replied, knowing full well that Jack would still be gung-ho about the whole thing in the morning.

'Great! That decided, how about a celebratory drink?' Jack suggested as he wrapped his arm around Will's waist and nuzzled against his neck.

Will rolled his eyes and shrugged Jack off of himself. 'Let's not and say we did,' he said. 'I'm really tired, and I think I've lost enough blood to you for one day.'

Jack pouted as he watched Will walk back to the bed and crawl in, blowing out the candle on his side of the bed. 'Sleepin' with all yer clothes on?'

'Not all my clothes. I'm not wearing my shoes,' he replied.

Jack shrugged and began to strip himself clean of clothing as he sauntered towards the bed, leaving his discarded clothing on the floor as he went. He dropped onto the bed and pulled off his boots. He then began to work on removing his pants.

'They stay on,' Will said, doing his best not to stare at his half naked bunkmate.

'Come now, luv. Don't be so prude,' Jack teased as he crawled over to Will.

'And stay on your side.'

Jack stopped in mid-crawl. 'Pardon?'

'Stay on your side, and we'll both be much happier.'

'I don't know about you, but I wont be happier.'

'I have a nasty little habit of kicking in my sleep.'

'Never noticed.'

'Jack,' Will said warningly, 'just stay on your side.'

Jack sighed. 'Fine, but be forewarned: You're on Zhemchug's side of the bed. And I doubt that you want to be wakin' up with a mouthful of fur,' he said as he settled under the covers of his side of the bed.

'And if I sleep on your side, I'll wake up with a neckful of you,' Will retorted. 'I'll take my chances with the cat.' He turned his back on Jack and pulled the covers up, making certain to cover his neck.

Jack blew out the candle on his side of the bed. The eerie blue glow of the moon was the only light left in the room. Jack began tossing and turning while humming a tune.

Will let out an annoyed growl. He shot up and glared down at Jack. 'I know you're doing that on purpose, so you can stop now.'

Jack replied by tossing his pants at Will's head.

It took a few seconds before Will recognized what he was now holding. 'Now you have to stay on your side!' He threw the piece of clothing back and went back to his original position with a huff. He was thankful for the darkness of the room; he could feel how hard he was blushing. He tried not to think about the fact that he was sharing a bed with a very naked Jack.

'Hmm... I'm still hot,' Jack said musingly. 'Maybe if I sleep on top of the covers?'

Will groaned and pulled the sheets over his head completely. He prayed to whatever god that might be listening that Jack would stop pestering him. And that he wouldn't be disturbed by any questionable objects poking him.

Jack managed to keep himself from laughing. In all actuality, all he really did was grab a spare pair of pants from under the bed to toss at Will. He did, strangely enough, respect Will's wishes and remained on his half of the bed throughout the night.

~*~*~*~

Will awoke in the early daylight to find himself pressed tight against Jack's back. He waited for a few minutes before deciding that Jack was still in a deep sleep. Cautiously, he pulled himself away and slowly sat up. He waited a little longer and finally got out of the bed, careful not to cause too much movement or noise. He looked back at Jack and observed that he was the one, not Jack, to switch sides.

He picked up his shoes and tiptoed towards the door. Halfway there, he hit a loose floorboard that creaked loudly in the dead silence. Will winced and looked to the bed.

Jack was still sound asleep. The sheets were pushed down so that they only came to his knees. Will frowned at the fact that he fell for Jack's little prank; he wouldn't have minded too much if Jack really were naked. One arm lay under Jack's head and the other was loosely curled around Zhemchug, who was staring at Will with curious eyes.

Will felt stupid in doing so, but he held a finger to his lips, hoping the cat would keep silent. She yawned, displaying a mouthful of pointed teeth. Will quickly made his way to the door. He slowly opened the door, grateful that it opened noiselessly. He closed the door behind himself and made to leave the ship.

Zhemchug jumped off the bad, and Jack sat up. He grinned mischievously at the door. 'Predictable, isn't he, Zhem?'

~*~*~*~

Will quickly made his way to the smithery. He had planned on packing first, then running over to Elizabeth's home to tell her he'd be gone for a while. Knowing his luck, Elizabeth would have chosen that period of time for her wedding date. If that were the case, he'd need to come up with a good excuse.

When he reached the smithery, he tried to open the door, but it was locked. He reached into his pocket and his stomach gave a lurch when he realized that he had forgotten the key. He'd never done anything like that before, and he feltlike a complete imbecile for being so forgetful. He decided that it was Jack's fault for distracting him from his normal routine. Millarca was also at fault. That's right! Millarca had stayed the night there. He hioped she was still there and loudly knocked on the door.

The lock clicked, and the door opened. Christine stood on the other side of the threashhold, looking as bright and chipper as ever; her light red hair seemed a bit more frizzled that normal. 'Why are you out here?' she asked, unaware of the shocked look Will was giving her. 'Don't you have a key?'

'What am I doing out here? What are you doing in there?! Where's Mill--no, don't answer that,' Will said as he stepped past her. 'I'm just getting a few things, and then I'm going.'

'Oh? Where are you going?' she asked as she closed the door and followed Will.

'Nowhere, if I get my way,' he replied. He stopped in his trackes when he entered the secondary room. There was something different about the room. He looked around with uncertainty.

'Do you like it?' Christine asked from behind him.

'Like what?' There was definitely something different about the room, and it bugged him to no extent that he couldn't place what it was. Nothing was missing, nothing was missing nor added...

'It's clean.'

That was it. There was no dust, no dirt tracked on the floor, and what few items that had been laying on the counter were nealy placed against the wall. He noticed that the roses Jack had given him were hanging in the window to dry. He blushed and hoped that Christine would not say anything. He stiffly walked to the staircase and began to make his way up, Christine closely behind.

Will opened the door to his room and suddenly wished he hadn't. On his bed lay Millarca, sprawled out in her undergarments.

She opened an eye and glanced at Will. She gave him a lazy smile. 'Mmm... Morning, dearest,' she greeted.

Will averted his eyes and went to the dresser. He silently grabbed a sachel from the bottom drawer and began starting various pieces of clothing into it. He stiffened when he felt a pair of hands touch his shoulders and slowly wrap around him. He shut his eyes tightly and prayed that Millarca would just let him be.

'Eloping?' she asked. When Will continued packing without an answer, she continued. 'I can see why he chose you. You're strong, beautiful...delicious.' She ran her nose along the length of Will's neck, inhaling his scent.

Will jerked out of her grasp and pressed himself against the dresser, ignoring the jolt of pain he received from one of the knobs jutting into his back. Millarca,' he said warningly, 'Jack wouldn't approve of your behavior.'

'Since when did I need his approval?' She grinned, showing off her vampiric assets. 'And please...call me "Mum!"' she added with an uncharacteristically happy smile.

Will stared at her in disbelief. Of everything he was expecting her to do, that definitely was not on the list. He glanced over at Christine, who was crouched on the stairs in the doorway, absolutely fuming. 'Mill--'

'Mum,' she corrected.

'Er...'

'Call me "Mum," and I'll leave you alone.'

'...Mum.' It felt so strange to him to be referring to this woman as a mother of sorts. It might have had something to do with not using any such term of endearment for over ten years. In any case, it seemed to have pleased Millarca, fo she picked herself up and dropped gracefully onto the bed.

Millarca smirked when she noticed the glare Christine was giving Will. 'Come now, sweetheart, I don't like him like that, and I;m fairly certain he's not too fond of me. So stop lurking in the doorway; it's most unbecoming of a young lady.'

Christine's attitude brightened, and she crawled into the room. She proceeded to the bed and placed her head in Millarca's lap. Millarca ran her fingers through Christine's hair, and they shared a loving look between them.

Will was completely disturbed by the scene in front of him. He wondered if Christine knew Millarca's secret. He supposed that he shouldn't worry too much about it, and set back to packing. In the back of his mind, he couldn't help but hope for Christine's happiness.

He was having trouble remembering what he was looking for before Millarca interrupted his packing, and her boisterously trying to lessen the amount of clothing on Christine was not helping in the least.

He turned to voice a complaint, but his attention was drawn elsewhere by quick steps heading up the stairs. All heads turned to watch to doorway with great interest.

Jack popped his head in. 'You haven't happened to have seen Will this morning, have you?' he asked.

Millarca nodded towards Will. 'You must be losing your eyesight to not notice that there are three lovely creatures in this room.'

Jack turned to Will, looking slightly disappointed in seeing him. 'I thought you'd go see Lizbeth first,' he said. 'I was going to surprise you.'

'I've had enough surprises for one day, thank you,' Will replied. 'I still need to see Elizabeth before you kidnap.'

'It's not really kidnappin' if yer agreeing to come along, now, is it?'

'I'm not agreeing,' Will retorted, 'I'm submitting to my fate.'

'You two are so cute when you bicker,' Christine observed, clearly enjoying the show--as well as being practically felt up by Millarca.

Jack gave Christine a confused look. 'Yer that bloody flower girl. Ye've no idea how much trouble you've caused.'

'I'm not a flower girl!' She stood up defiantly. 'I'm a florist!'

'It's the same bloody thing,' Jack snidely remarked.

Millarca wrapped her arms around Christine's waist and pulled her onto her lap. 'Don't let his ignorance get to you, darling,' she whispered, loud enough for Jack to hear her.

Jack sighed in annoyance and looked expectantly at Will. 'Well?'

'Well, what?' He carelessly stuffed a shirt into the satchel. He had a feeling that Jack wanted him to stick up for him, and he didn't particularly feel like doing that at the moment.

'Well,' Jack continued with an amused hint in his voice, 'are you quite done?'

Will sighed as he picked up the bag and stood. 'I still need to talk to Elizabeth before we go.'

'And just where are you two off to?' Millarca asked.

'We had a run-in with our dear friend, the Hunter,' Jack replied. 'So we're going to lure him to Tortuga, where we'll set up a trap and ultimately kill him.'

Millarca shook her head disapprovingly. 'Death is not always the answer. It's only a temporary fix for a permanent problem.'

'The it'd be a temporary fix that I'd very much enjoy,' he replied. 'That said,' he draped his arm around Will, 'I'll give you half an hour to say you farewells, and then we're off to Tortuga for a bit o' fun.'

Will rolled his eyes. 'Your generosity never ceases to amaze me,' he said sarcastically. He was then led by Jack to the door, and down the stairs. He thought that he heard Christine had thrown a catcall after them, but he wasn't all to concerned at the moment.

~*~*~*~

They were about halfway to Elizabeth's home, and Will was already having to avoid being run into the Wall. He couldn't tell whether Jack was doing it on purpose, or if he just had a bad habit of leaning heavily on others.

'Don't you agree?' Jack asked, removing his arm and returning to his normal stance.

'On what?' Will was concentrating so much on trying to walk straight that he didn't hear a single word of whatever Jack had been prattling on about.

'Well, if yer going to ignore me, then you don't deserve to know,' Jack replied, crossing his arms in a sulky manner and began walking faster.

Will caught up with him and forced Jack to face him. Jack was wearing a playful and smug grin grin. 'Thought I was upset with you?'

The corner of Will's mouth started to turn to a smile. 'Ja-- What was that?!' A blurred line followed by a loud 'thwack' had flown right in front of his face, cutting Will off in mid-thought.

Jack reached over and pulled an arrow out of the wall next to them. He quickly turned toward the direction the arrow had come from. He finally noticed how empty and void of life the street was. 'We need to get somewhere more public,' he said quietly.

Will was still staring at the arrow in shock. He was beginning to wish he'd stayed on the ship. He was pulled from his thoughts when a strong arm wrapped around his neck. In front of him, Jack looked ready to pounce. Will struggled against the grip, but it only tightened.

'Stop struggling,' Jack said through gritted teeth.

'What's wrong, Kitten? Loose your mouse?,' the man holding Will asked; Will immediately recognized the voice as that of the Hunter.

'That's nothing compared to what you'll lose when I'm through with you,' Jack threatened. He bared fangs, fully intent on using them to kill.

'I doubt you'll get the chance.' Wolfgang raised his other arm, which was holding a loaded crossbow.

'Let the boy go. He has nothing to do with this.'

'Yes, he is an innocent, isn't he? Manipulated by your evil, no doubt,' he said as he aimed the crossbow at Jack's heart.

Jack's eyes flickered from the weapon to Will and back to Wolfgang. He stood his ground, almost daring the Hunter to try something.

Wolfgang smirked, taking up the challenge. 'Your evil ends now.' And with that, he pulled the trigger.

The arrow flew straight and true and pierced through Jack's heart. Jack stumbled back, clutching his chest. He leaned against the wall for support; he slid down despite his efforts. With one last gasp of air, his body fell to the ground.

'Jack!!' Will's captor released him and stalked off. Will ran to Jack's side. He took Jack's lifeless body into his arms. 'No, Jack... You can't die. You can't just leave me.' Tears fell freely down his face as he hugged Jack close to him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN II: ...Please don't hurt me. I don't have any control over my muses...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warnings for this chapter: Semi-evil cliffhanger.

AN: One muse popped up and fought with the fluffy muse, then a third one joined the catfight. Then...the evil muse came in and went on a killing spree with her legions of book lice.

Crimson Ways Part Thirteen
Taxation is the art of getting the most milk for the least moo.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Elizabeth sat at her writing desk, shuffling through the various papers that lay sprawled across the desk. There were lists of guests, lists of possible locations and caterers for the reception, floor plans seating arrangements, and a stack of blank papers that was slowly vanishing as she made corrections and revisions.

She looked longingly out her window and sighed. It was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky. She wished she could go out and enjoy it, but she had a wedding to plan. Sure, plenty of people offered to help her with the plans, but she didn't feel that she could trust them to do it right.

When she was just barely thirteen, she had attended her first wedding. It started perfect enough, but everything ended in disaster. The bride had arrived late and looking rather flushed and disheveled. Halfway through the vows, it began to rain, heightening the groom's bad mood. Elizabeth couldn't quite remember where the reception was held, but what she did remember was that it was badly decorated, small, dark, and crowded. And then there was the food. As a healthy, growing girl, Elizabeth would eat anything and everything, but whatever they were serving should not have been classified as edible.

The entire experience left Elizabeth with a fear of marriage. It was five years before she got up the courage to attend another wedding. It was nothing extravagant, but it was certainly pleasant. She had commented to the bride how lovely the wedding was; the bride thanked her and told her that she had planned it herself. It was then that Elizabeth knew what she'd have to do for a flawless wedding.

When other girls would be anxious about the wedding night, Elizabeth was too busy worrying about what color the napkins should be.

~*~*~*~

Will was sobbing over Jack's dead body on the side of the empty street. The Hunter had removed himself from the scene, intent on hunting down Millarca and finally getting his revenge. According to him, he had just done Will a favor, for which Will would thank him later. If Will were to thank the Hunter for the favor, it would not be in the conventional sense.

`Jack, please,' he begged hopelessly. `Open your eyes. Say something. Anything! Jack... Jack, I love you...'

`Do you just think that, or are you positive now?'

Will gasped and looked down at Jack's face, thinking he imagined what he just heard.

Jack opened an eye and grinned. `Miss me?'

`Oh, Jack!' Will tightened his embrace and planted an enthusiastic kiss on Jack's lips. He pulled away immediately, though, feeling Jack wince in pain. `I'm sorry,' he apologized. `Are you going to be alright?'

`Yea, I'll be fine,' Jack replied. He hissed as he tried to sit up. He settled back in Will's arms and asked `Do me a favor, luv?'

Will nodded. `Anything.'

`Pull this out.' He pointed to the arrow that was still sticking out of his chest.

Will realized just how queer it was to see Jack smiling contentedly up at him with a bloody arrow thrust into his heart. He hesitated, sure that he'd hurt Jack more by carelessly pulling it out.

`Well, c'mon, lad. Just pull the damned thing out,' Jack said, noticing Will's hesitation. `One big yank ought to do it.'

Will closed his eyes and wrapped his fingers around the arrow as close to the base as he could get. Jack braced himself, ready for a more painful experience than being shot. With one movement, Will pulled it out. Jack cried out in pain, and Will looked down apologetically.

`I'm sorry,' he said. `Will you be okay?'

Jack shook his head and attempted to sit up again. `Trust me, ye did me a favor. And I'm fine. Stop worryin'.'

Will looked from the arrow in his hand to Jack. `So...being staked has no effect on you?' he asked. `Or does it have to be a specific kind of wood?'

`No effect?! I just died! And you go on sayin' it has "no effect,"' Jack said as he grabbed the arrow from Will and examined it more closely. `Hm... It's so plain.'

Will sighed and asked `Can you stand?'

Jack pushed himself off of Will and carefully stood, using the wall for support. His chest still ached with each movement, but at least he no longer had that stupid stick poking through him.

Will jumped to his feet and helped Jack. He felt responsible for Jack's current situation, and the guilt was killing him. If he had listened to Jack in the first place, then none of this would have happened. `Is there anything I can get you? Anything that would make you feel better?'

Jack was about to refuse Will's offer, but thought better of it. It wasn't as if he'd never been staked or generally killed, but he'd never had a willing blood donor around when he came to. He did his best to look like he was in more pain than he actually was. `Well, there is one thing...' He shook his head. `No. Nevermind. I don't want to force you,' he said as he looked lustfully into Will's eyes and let his hand lightly touch where'd he'd bitten the younger man.

Will looked to the ground. He didn't really mind Jack drinking his blood, though he was still a little freaked out by the idea. But right now, Jack needed him, and he wasn't about to let him down. Now that he thought about it, he rather enjoyed the experience. He brought his hand up and laid it over Jack's on his neck. `If it will help, then by all means, Jack. Really. I don't mind,' he said reassuringly as he looked back at Jack with a smile.

Jack grinned and leaned closer to Will. No, it was too easy. He sighed and cursed his conscience as he turned from Will and began walking. He'd love to sink his teeth into Will--anywhere on his body, he wasn't picky--but he didn't feel right in tricking Will into submitting.

Will was confused by Jack sudden change in moods. He took a few quick steps so that he was walking alongside Jack. `Jack?'

`I'm fine,' Jack replied. `I don't need your blood. See?' He pulled his shirt to the side and tapped the tip of the arrow where it had hit him. `Almost completely healed over.'

`Then why did you act like you did?'

`It...seemed like a good idea at the time,' he said.

`Here I am, worried sick about you, thinking you're dead, and you're thinking about getting a quick snack!' Will said resentfully. `See if I ever help you again.' He sped up and tried to put distance between himself and the literally bloody pirate.

Jack kept up with Will, trying to explain himself--and not doing a very good job at it. `I'm sorry! If it makes you feel any better, I really did die.'

Will rolled his eyes and said `you're certainly alive and well right now, or undead and well... Whatever it is that you kind considers itself.'

`I'd like to think of myself as being alive, but now that you mention it,' he said as he brought his arm around Will, `perhaps I am undead. ...Does that make me a zombie?'

Will glared at Jack's hand as it rested on his shoulder. He was feeling slightly betrayed at the moment, and Jack being his lovable self was not helping him stay angry with him. There was no describing how relieved he was that Jack was still alive, but annoyance overpowered relief. He pinched Jack's hand hard, and Jack quickly removed it.

`What did you do that for?!'

`We should either get you back to your ship, or back to my place,' Will said, ignoring Jack's pout, `so you can clean up and stay out of sight.'

`It's not /that/ much blood.'

`I don't know about you, but I'm not particularly fond of being covered in blood,' Will snapped back. Jack had blood covering his front, and Will was covered as well from hugging him. `And what about that Hunter person?! Wouldn't it be better if he thought you were still dead?'

`I'm beginning to think that I'd be better off if you still thought I was dead,' Jack mused aloud, but quickly changed his tone upon seeing Will's glare. `But you do have a point. A very good and excellent point. And that's why I love you.'

`Or so you say.' Will turned the corner and headed back to the smithery with Jack trailing behind like a lost dog. He did his best to take the backstreets to avoid any questioning stares, as well as the Hunter.

This day was not turning out as he had planned. Jack had died and come back to life and was acting as if nothing had happened. He wandered if he would wake up at any minute to find that it had all just been a dream, but something in him knew that he wasn't dreaming--he didn't think he was that imaginative anyway. There was absolutely no one that he felt he could talk to. He couldn't talk to Jack or Millarca about it for obvious reasons, and he was still a bit unsure of where exactly his relationship with Jack stood. Elizabeth was out of the question for a detailed talk on vampires. He could talk to Christine, even though she wasn't his favorite person; she seemed helplessly devoted to Millarca, so he didn't think she'd be too helpful with any sort of guidance or advice.

He sighed heavily as he opened the door to the smithery. He heard the door close behind him and Jack shuffling along after him. He came to a stop at the foot of the stairs; he'd just remembered that Millarca was most likely still therewith her house guest. He really wanted to get into some clean clothing, but he didn't want to walk in on whatever Millarca and Christine might be doing. He had left his bag that he'd packed in the street, completely forgotten, and he wasn't about to chance going back just yet.

`Why'd ye stop, luv?' Jack asked, seeing Will staring up the stairwell. He braced himself for a retaliation as Will turned to him, but none came. Maybe his silence had redeemed him?

`Can you go up and see if your mother is still there?'

`Why can't you?' Jack was thoroughly confused; he didn't understand why Will would prefer to avoid Millarca whenever humanly possible.

Will looked at Jack as if it were the most obvious thing ever. `I /could/, but I doubt that you'd appreciate Millarca trying to get her hands on me.'

Jack stared at him blankly. `That may be, but I trust you enough to politely decline her advances.'

Will was flattered that Jack trusted him, but he still wanted to get back at him. And he had a pretty good idea of just how to do it. `I don't know... Maybe I shouldn't turn down her affections. She is, after all, a very beautiful woman,' Will said dramatically. He hoped he'd be able to spur a jealous reaction from Jack besides his playful bliss.

`How can you say that?' Jack had a disgusted look on his face. He was used to people commenting on his mother's beauty, but it didn't seem right when a close friend or potential lover said it.

`Quite easily,' Will continued, doing his best not to smirk. `She has a great figure, perfect hair, gorgeous eyes, and a dazzling smile. You know, you're right. There is no reason why I can't go up there. I just hope that temptation doesn't get the best of me.' He only put his foot on the first step when Jack threw himself between Will and the rest of the stairs, effectively blocking the way. Will raised a brow at Jack. `Do you mind? I'd like to get a clean shirt at some point today.'

`Yes, I do mind,' Jack said as he crossed his arms. `/I'll/ get you yer shirt.' He went up the stairs two at a time, unaware of the triumphant smirk on Will's lips.

Will sat at the table, glad to get a moment alone. Before he could enjoy it, Millarca and Christine came bustling into the smithery.

Christine was the first to enter the room. She was carrying bags and packages of various sizes. She set them on the table and called back to Millarca. `Milli! You'll never guess who's here!'

Millarca came through the door carrying only one bag. She was wearing a classy burgundy dress and a winning smile. `Why, William dearest, whatever are you doing here?' she asked. She set her bag down and advanced on Will. `You're looking rather peeked, luv. Are you alright?' she asked.

Will almost tripped over the chair as he got up and backed toward the stairs. He wondered what was taking Jack so long. It couldn't be /that/ hard to find one clean shirt. Could it? `Really, I'm fine.'

`Don't lie,' she said curtly. `You've got blood all down you front.' She came closer and asked `Is it yours? It's fairly fresh...are you still bleeding?'

Will found the stairs, or rather, they found him, and he fell back on them. He scooted up a step to get away from Millarca. `It's not my blood,' he replied without thinking.

`Oh? Then who's is it?' The soft and playful tone in her voice faded, and her brows furrowed in concentration as she searched Will's eyes for an answer. Then it hit her. `Where is he? Is he alright?' she asked, beginning to panic as thought of what could have possibly happened to Jack raced through her mind.

"He's fine,' he replied. He was startled by Millarca's reaction to say the least. `He's upstairs.'

Millarca jerked her head upward to find Jack sitting at the top of the stairs with a serious expression on his face. He had a clean shirt for Will draped over his shoulder and was chewing on the end of the arrow.

Before Millarca could open her mouth, Jack stood and said `I'm fine. I don't need ye motherin' me.' He slunk down the stairs and dropped the shirt in Will's lap as he passed him.

`You're not fine!' Millarca argued. `You're hurt. You should lie down and rest.'

`I said I'm fine!'

`You're having trouble breathing.'

`It's the dust. It's stuffy in here.' Jack made to go past Millarca, but she remained in front of him, unwilling to let him pass.

`Let me see that arrow,' she said as she held out her hand expectantly.

`No.'

`Jack.'

`You want it? Go get it.' He chucked the arrow to the top of the stairs; it hit the wall and rolled down the steps, stopping next to Will's hand.

Will picked up the arrow. He didn't see why Jack and Millarca were making such a big deal over a sharpened stick. He looked from Jack, who was glaring warningly at him, to Millarca, who looked like she was begging him to hand over the arrow. He knew there was something they weren't telling him, but before he could ask what it was, Jack collapsed.

`Jack?!'

END PART 16