Pirates of The Sanq 4/?

[AngelOfDeath]

Soooo. . . I start school again in about a day. I tried to make an effort and write as much as I could for my various fics. I got a little more done! I love Heero and Relena and I love this fic. Of course it gets even crazier from here on out.

Remember when I said there would be some deviations from the PotC plotline? Well this chapter is full of them. Hopefully you will all approve. Don?t worry all you people who are concerned about me sticking to the movie. . . there will still be lots of overlap. There are too many good set-ups not to use it. Now, on with the fic.

Disclamer: In short, I don?t own rights to Gundam Wing or to Pirates of the Caribbean. (I don?t have to say it the long way do I?)

Chapter 4

Relena shored up her reserves of energy, choosing to go limp halfway through the trip she took slung over the shoulder of one objectionably smelly pirate. That might have had something to do with the fact that when she struggled too much he had a tendency to smack her bottom, but she liked to think that she was exercising her right to stop and give some thought to what she was about to face. The highest concern on her mind, rather than her own well being, was what they could possibly want from her and how she could secure everyone else?s safety. She didn?t have anything of value really, just some dresses and books, a little bit of jewelry, and similar items. It was nothing that other girls on the island didn?t already own, and some of them even had nicer and more expensive items.

So what did she have?

The amulet bounced forth from where it had been resting on her bosom and she tucked it back in her nightgown before anyone could see it. It wouldn?t do to go and lose Heero?s amulet to these scum just because she was being careless.

With a little bit of difficulty, the pirates managed to bring Relena on deck. A few of them came right up to her and inspected her clothing with grubby hands, some with gap tooth smiles, others with blackened teeth (a precursor to a gap toothed smile). She snatched back her formerly spotless white gown and gave her best imitation of Heero?s withering glare with very little effect.

?Listen, I demand to speak to someone in charge. This is absolutely outrageous the way I?m being treated. . .? Relena hid her fear behind a well trained snobbery.

?You?re being treated better than most, miss. You?re living, aren?t you?? From a perch on some ropes a little ways away a young man jumped down and walked up to her while a circle was cleared for the two and pirates gave one another uneasy glances. He looked positively angelic, with fair hair and a somewhat feminine cast to his face. Nothing like the force to be feared that the other men would have her believe. ?Now who would you be??

That was a loaded question. If he found out she was Peacecraft then he would know he had a valuable hostage. She couldn?t do that to her brother. It would be far better to negotiate as if she were a person of little importance and only use her relationship to the Governor as a trump (if that were even possible). Her brain scanned for an acceptable name, and she blurted out the only name that had ever occurred to her to possess.

?Relena Yuy.? There was a murmur among the crew as she spoke and the pretty young man swept out a hand to command silence, which he got immediately.

?Well, Miss Yuy, I am Captain Quatre Winner of this fine vessel, The Black Death. It?s a pleasure.? His voice was smooth and melodic, almost boyish in pitch. The smile he offered her seemed gentle and his eyes closed a little.

?I?m sure.? She took the initiative. ?By the right of parley, Captain Winner, I am here to negotiate the cessation of hostilities. It has come to my attention that I have something that you want, but I?m afraid I can?t give it to you unless you agree to at once stop your attack and withdraw from these waters and promise to never return.?

The Captain looked her up and down, his beautiful smile somewhat askew. ?Why should I acquiesce to your request, my dear? You carry nothing with you, and unless there?s something beneath that pretty white nightgown to catch my eye, you have little bargaining power.? His eyes caught on the amulet which had worked its way free of her nightgown yet again. They held with a ravenous gleam, and Relena didn?t miss it.

?You want this, don?t you?? She edged towards the side of the ship, slowly. Taking off the amulet she inspected it as if it held some new information on its front.

?That, Miss Yuy? That is but a trifle. You are grasping at straws.? He laughed at her and some of the pirates joined in, but all of them were held in rapt attention now by the girl who dangled the amulet a little way over the side of the ship.

Relena, who knew a bluff when she heard it, decided to play this through. ?Then you wouldn?t care if I just. . . dropped it over the side.? She let go of a length of chain and it seemed to jerk downwards to be lost to the water.

All the pirates surged forward. ?No!? Captain Winner cried. When it became apparent that she hadn?t dropped it off of the side of the ship, Captain Winner rubbed his temple and gave her a more respectful look. ?Very well, I will agree to your terms if you give us the amulet.?

?You?ll leave and never come back? You swear it??

?I so swear, my lady.?

She gave the amulet over and backed away once Captain Winner clutched it in his hand. ?Forgive me Heero, I?m buying all our lives with your property.? Hopefully her silent wish would carry to him somehow.

Now the smile that spread across Captain Winner?s face seemed less friendly, less boyish, and far more sinister. Relena suddenly wondered if she had made some sort of mistake. What was this bauble to them?

?Call back the men. We set sail as soon as possible.? A yell went out as some other men took off running to round up any stragglers who were still happily looting. Even though Relena was happy to have maintained the peace, she felt somewhat at a loss. Wasn?t someone going to escort her from the ship? There was no way to fight the tide of men who pressed to and from the ship as men went about their tasks.

?Excuse me, sir!? The blond man turned and gave her a brief glance before turning away again. ?I said, excuse me.? She placed her hand on his shoulder and he swiveled around to face her, eyes glowing an unearthly shade of green.

?You?ll keep your distance, Miss Yuy.? His muscles corded beneath her fingers and she withdrew as if she had been burned by the frigidity of his skin. ?Or I will do something we will both regret.?

?Let me go. We had a deal. What of the Pirate?s Code and my rights?? She tried to refocus and keep to the point. As long as she could get off this ship then these men were was none of her concern, or whatever afflicted their captain to be as cold as a corpse.

?First, your return to shore was not part of our negotiations nor our agreement.? Slowly she realized what a tactical error she had made. ?Secondly, you must be a pirate for the Pirate's Code to apply, and you, Miss Yuy are no pirate. Thirdly, the Code is more what you'd call ?guidelines? than actual rules. Welcome aboard Miss Yuy, we?ve a long trip ahead of us.?

She wished she were more delicate so that she could fall into a faint. She wished she were in better health so that diving off the side of the ship was a good and plausible idea. Unfortunately, she was both strong willed and somewhat injured and all she could do was watch the port she had grown up in shrink from view once the sails had been set. All that was on her mind was where Heero was, and if he was safe. It might all be worth it if she just knew that she had spared his life. At least if she was to die, she would die as Relena Yuy.

*
*
*

Heero spat as he pulled himself up. The dirt and grit in his mouth was nothing compared to what covered his face. It was only a momentary discomfort, while the pain in his head and in his back was slightly more of a nuisance. He assumed his back hurt from people who had trodden on him in their haste to get away. It was stupid to panic like that, and the soldiers had been no better than the civilians. Heero didn?t have time to analyze last night?s battle. What was important was making sure Relena was safe.

Belatedly, he recalled her struggling form, and the urgency he had felt merely switched gears. He needed information about pirates, and a boat. On the off change that she had escaped, he would still go and talk to the Governor. There was no time to pay attention to the pain. There was nothing broken. He could keep going.

No one was at the Governor?s place, though parts of it were smoking like a healthy portion of the dwellings in the harbor. That meant the next logical place for Heero to check was the fort. It didn?t take long to run over, and he was unchallenged upon entry. The forces were preparing for something, and orders were being barked while people tried to bandage wounds from last night?s battle. Heero discovered Milliardo, Treize, and Trowa all surrounding a map. It was possible they could aid him, and he would much prefer their aid, but he was already making a backup plan in his mind.

?Mr. Yuy, what are you doing here? Have you seen Relena?? Milliardo was the first person to notice him.

?She was taken by the pirates.? There was no reason to soften the news, and it was now the only logical conclusion, since if anyone knew where Relena was it would have been her brother.

Now all the men began to talk at once, ignoring the herald of the news they had dreaded to confirm. Treize wanted to call for reinforcements, and Trowa was quoting casualty rates and the viability of waiting to send a force off from here tomorrow, while Milliardo was yelling that something had to be done right this second. It looked like Milliardo was going to be overruled, and for once Heero had been agreeing with him.

This was useless, and they were wasting valuable time. So Heero slipped away and began his backup plan. He made his way straight to the jail. Inside, things were torn up, a few men dead. The prisoners had all been set free, the locks broken or shot off from the doors, except for one cell. Lucky for Heero, it contained the very person he hoped it would.

?Come to gloat? My appointment with the hangman?s noose isn?t for a few hours yet, and I?d much rather get some sleep than to hear about the future that awaits me. Especially if you?ve come to preach. I imagine that whatever awaits me is about what I deserve anyway, and I have no worries. So if you please. . . bugger off.? Maxwell was lying on the ground, hat over his face, looking for all the world like he couldn?t care less about his plight.

?I have a deal for you.?

?Not interested!? Maxwell replied in a singsong tone.

?I need to find The Black Death.?

Maxwell sat up and looked at Heero a moment, somewhat contemplatively. ?Take a trip to Europe. I hear some of the larger cities still have trouble with it every now and again in the more crowded parts.?

?They took something important to me.?

?They take a lot of things. I?m not surprised, really.? Maxwell?s cheerfulness was beginning to be irritating.

Heero took a step forward into the light that came through a crack in the wall. ?I have to get her back.?

Maxwell laughed, a short bark of amusement. ?Human plunder is the most difficult kind to recover. You might as well find yourself a new girl.?

?Then you aren?t able to help me.? Heero didn?t sound outwardly disappointed, he merely regarded this as a temporary setback.

?I didn?t say that.? Maxwell looked at Heero again, this time for a longer span of time. ?What did you say your name was, now??

Unlike Duo, he hadn?t felt the need to announce himself to all and sundry, but it was a question he didn?t begrudge answering. ?Heero Yuy.?

?Good strong name. Not a very common one, I imagine.? Maxwell stroked his chain and replaced his hat upon his head.

?No.?

?Well Mr. Yuy, I've changed my mind. If you spring me from this cell, I swear on pain of death, I shall take you to the Black Death. Do we have an accord?? He extended his hand and Heero shook it with a nod. ?Now how are you getting me out of here? These bars are pretty solid and all you?ve got is a sword.?

Heero didn?t even respond to the question. He had built these jails, and he had made sure to know exactly how he could get out of one given the right tools. Picking up a solid looking beam that had fallen aside he made it into a lever that he wedged under the bottom of the door. With a solid push he brought the door off of its hinges and out of its lock. It fell with a clang.

?You?re quite the handy one to have around, Mr. Yuy. Next time I get arrested I?ll try to make sure to drag you down with me.? Maxwell scrambled around a moment. ?I?ll just grab my personal affects, and then we?ll make our way to the harbor. I certainly hope you have a proper ship ready for us.? Heero just shrugged and followed, hoping no one would notice the escape before they had gotten out to sea.

*
*
*

?You?re dragging your feet just to be difficult, aren?t you??

?No.?

?You?re sure??

?Yes.? Heero kicked out his foot again, attempting to dislodge whatever it was that he had stepped into. This was absolutely unbelievable that he was in an old upturned boat which they had smeared with sealant so that they could walk on the sea floor over to take one of the fastest and grandest boats in His Majesty?s navy, The Heavyarms. It was thievery, and normally Heero would take no part in it, but for Relena he was willing to make some. . . temporary moral concessions.

?Just you wait, I know that my plan sounds utterly pear shaped, but this is the stuff that brilliance is made from. You?ll see.?

?Do you have a backup plan??

?Of course!?

?I can?t believe we?re going to steal a ship. . .?

?Commandeer! We're going to commandeer a ship. Nautical term.?

Water sloshed at chest level while the silence blessedly filled the small space. Heero looked down and saw a small fish swim by. It occurred to him that there couldn?t be very much air inside of this overturned boat. It also occurred to him that he was pretty sure that two people would not be enough to get a ship like The Heavyarms out of the harbor unless they took the current crew on standby hostage. That wouldn?t be a very good idea, since there were far more of them. This was starting to sound like a worse and worse idea, but Maxwell seemed so very confident that it was difficult to doubt him. And of course he had a backup plan. Or so he said.

Above the water, on the deck of The Wing, Captain Barton (soon to be officially promoted to Commodore Barton) was overseeing the preparations for the immediate retrieval of Miss Relena Peacecraft. He was concerned for her welfare, naturally, as he expected to make a formal proposal to her upon her rescue. It would be a suitable match, and he had convinced himself that marrying her was his duty. When they thought had entered his head was a mystery, but it wasn?t dislodging itself very easily. Trowa was not a passionate man, simply a persistent and stubborn one.

However, Trowa?s face exhibited something rather akin to passion as he reddened in fury at the news he had just gotten from a red faced and panting private. The poor guy felt his bladder muscles attempt to weaken as Trowa pulled him up close to his face, eyes wide and pupils small.

?Now tell me once more what you were sent to tell me.? He said it calmly but through clenched teeth.

?Sir, the pirate, Duo Maxwell, he?s been sprung from prison and is at large. We can?t find him, sir.? The poor man was proud that he hadn?t stuttered once this time through, though the breaks in his voice were not a great improvement.

Trowa released the man who slumped to the floor as if he contained no more muscles in his body. It had taken years. Years of hunting and then suddenly his only unfinished mission from his training in the Mediterranean had landed in his lap. It was like an early gift for his upcoming promotion and pending marriage. His life was coming together just as he had pictured it. And then that damn pirate ship The Black Death had shown up and nothing had been the same.

After looking up to the sky for some clarity of thought, Trowa sought solace in the sight that often brought him joy: the hanging skeletons of the pirates who had been sentenced and judged at his hand. Yet as he scanned the horizon, he saw the curious vision to the left of The Heavyarms being slowly put through the same preparations as The Wing. Commodore Kushrenada hadn?t ordered that.

Panning down, he noted figures swimming in the water towards them, every so often stopping to wave and yell and until they sank and were forced to swim forward more before trying again. If he strained his ears, he could almost fancy he heard those men over the wind. He was sure if he could hear them, they would have one name on their lips.

Damn that Duo Maxwell. He surely didn?t think he could get away with this. Was he incompetent?

?Finish readying The Wing and then take it over to the The Heavyarms. Do it properly, no rush jobs, I have a feeling he isn?t going anywhere.?

Once Heero spotted the moving form of The Wing making steady and good time on a fair wind towards The Heavyarms, he dropped the rope he had been knotting. Feeling that this couldn?t be a good sign, he called down to Duo, who was in the middle of messing about with something else.

?Coming already? That?s Barton for you. Like lightening when he?s in a mood. I should know, he nearly caught me a few times, and that says something.?

?I thought he did catch you.?

Duo gave Heero a look as he neared the scowling young man.

?There is a difference between catching and being handed over. Mind you, that was some fancy sword work you showed me, and it was a pleasure and all, but I have to say that you are the only person to best me and in all fairness it was you who caught me. Rather nice of you to release me into my natural habitat again.? Duo gave a half grin and leaned on Heero?s shoulder. ?Now just follow my lead.? He ducked below the side of the ship as The Wing came abreast.

With much yelling and drawing of swords, the soldiers and sailors who had been manning The Wing swung aboard and attached their ropes to the side as they charged forward to search the ship. Of course this was just the sort of enthusiasm that Duo had been hoping for. It was the typical sort that he had seen men get when they were facing an unarmed opponent with far superior arms and numbers. It was like bloodlust, and it gave people a sort of tunnel vision that was easily exploitable. And because of that, he chuckled as he cut all the ropes in his reach before grabbing one. Heero mimicked him.

?Oh ye of little faith, see how well my plan has worked??

?What would we have done if it hadn?t??

?Made a different plan.?

Once aboard, Duo took to the wheel and led them at a fast clip away from The Heavyarms and on towards the open sea. He had never felt so triumphant. Well, almost never. There had been that time in Crete when. . . there was a sword at his back. Damn.

After turning about, Duo put on his second best smile.

?Why, Captain Barton! Fancy meeting you here.? Duo gave a glance to Heero who seemed to only just notice this little situation. ?Thanks so much for the warning, mate.?

Heero shrugged. Duo felt he should be more concerned considering his recent activities, but the boy seemed to fear nothing. It was an unhealthy view. Sometimes a little fear could do wonders for your self preservation. And speaking of self preservation. . .

?You know, it seems to me that you might be a wee bit upset at us borrowing one of your boats. But you must understand it?s for a noble cause. You see,?

?I?m well aware, now that I note your accomplice, what your intentions were. I will deal with Yuy when this business is over with. You are my main concern.? Trowa looked back at The Heavyarms, already growing small in the distance. ?I assume you did the same thing that you pulled in Alexandria harbor.?

?Good memory on you. Indeed. Disabling, but nothing that couldn?t be easily repaired with a day of good hardy work. I hate to truly ruin a ship. All that waste would be a shame.?

Heero was drawing his sword and silently making his way up with the clear intention of knocking out if not killing Barton. Duo gave a little shake of his head and Heero paused a few feet away.

?You know, you could come with us. I mean, we?ve already got a good lead and the winds are in our favor.?

?I assume you?re going to Sandrock Island.?

?Happiest place on earth. We need a crew after all.?

Trowa seemed to be considering something.

?Can you really find The Black Death??

?I?m probably the only one.? Duo?s best smile clicked into place as Barton withdrew his sword and put it away.

?Then I will accompany you. But know that as soon as this rescue mission ends, I am still going to assure you?re taken in and given a proper trial before I hang you.?

Duo?s smile didn?t falter. ?Fair enough. You can try. But you haven?t caught me yet so don?t be counting your eggs.? Heero still looked as if he?d rather clock Barton on the head and set him adrift, but he withdrew after Duo made several frantic gestures that illustrated that it was a bad idea. Once he had solved that, he took a deep breath and enjoyed the feeling of captaining a real ship. Things were shaping up. And to think, just this morning he was looking forward to a date with a noose.

Once Barton had checked around to make sure the ship was fine he approached Heero, who seemed to be engrossed in rubbing down his weapons. Trowa might have thought the silent man hadn?t even noted him, when he suddenly spoke.

?Won?t you be missed??

?Commodore Kushrenada is still with them, as is Governor Peacecraft. My time is better served keeping an eye on that villain.? He paused. ?Villains.?

?I did what I had to.?

?Of course, and I?m sure if we return with Miss Peacecraft she will plead successfully for leniency.?

?There?s no ?if?. I will save Relena.? Heero turned irritated eyes in Trowa?s direction.

As Trowa walked away to find a corner of the ship where he could think of how best to proceed at this point, he felt Heero?s hand at his arm. The man hadn?t even turned to face him. Sometimes, the blacksmith seemed almost uncanny, and Trowa felt it was a shame he hadn?t joined the military.

?I hear rumors. Is it true??

?What?? Trowa thought he could guess, but he wanted Heero to make it clear anyway.

?Recent trips to speak to the Governor. The engagement.?

?No, it isn?t true.? The painful grip on his arm relaxed. ?Yet.? It retightened even more intensely. Trowa wrenched away, Heero?s parting words menacing between them.

?I?d hate to have to kill you.?

Trowa made his way below deck. ?That makes two of us.?

*
*
*

Relena heard the ship give another alarming creak, and she wondered yet again how a ship that appeared to be so dilapidated managed to move so quickly. Sunlight came in patches through the clouds and into the windows of her room, or prison, rather. While this had been quite the adventure, it seemed that some of the realities were setting in. Firstly, that she was feeling cold, hungry, and increasingly filthy. Secondly, she was probably going to die and soon (if not be forced to kill herself or maybe face the notorious fate worse than death). Thirdly, she was going to die in a stained nightgown. If she had to face something like this, then at the very least she should be able to do it the way she had always pictured it: in a lovely flowing gown looking incredibly noble and beautiful. A part of her always liked stories about tragic heroines, but none of the girls in the novels had to face such drab ends.

If she got out of this alive, by some miracle, then she would never have any more romantic fantasies about living as a pirate. Those fantasies involved Heero, anyway, and it was almost impossible to now associate him with these uncouth men who were her captors. And that captain of theirs was the worst of them all, with his angelic face and devilish disposition.

There was no knock, the door simply opened, and Relena quickly rose to her feet as a man entered carrying a fold of fabric beneath his arm. He threw down what appeared to a quite expensive but not terribly fashionable dress at her feet and then proceeded to tell her that ?the captain requested the pleasure of her company for dinner.? When he spoke, it looked as though he were reading lines on the ceiling as he slowly remembered the exact phrasing.

?Tell your captain that I don?t need his charity, and that I feel disinclined to accept his invitation.?

The sailor smiled at that, showing that bad hygiene and patchwork dental practices had left him with teeth that either gleamed or were made conspicuous by their absence.

?Oh goody. Then Captain said that you could eat with the crew. . . and we could take that nightgown of yours as well.?

Relena resisted the impulse to stomp her foot down and instead bent down and swept up the gown, giving the now disappointed messenger a cold look. It took him a while to get the idea, but eventually he left and she got dressed. Even if it was old, it really was a nice dress and warm too. That solved some of her concerns. The rich royal purple velvety folds were appropriate to satisfy her romantic desire for glamorous clothing. That worried her, in some obscure way.

With one more deep breath, she opened the door to face her gap toothed messenger. He led her to the captain?s quarters, where a varied spread of food had been laid out. With little more than a glance, he shoved her forward and quickly shut the door. The man who had introduced himself as Captain Winner was sitting at the head of the table, spinning the coin lazily as he had removed it from its chain.

After Relena stood there a moment or two, she felt it needful to clear her throat. His clear blue eyes met hers, looking old and pained for a moment before they narrowed and softened.

?Pardon me, Miss Yuy. I?m afraid I have not played the part of a host in quite some time. Please, do take a seat and help yourself.?

She sat, back stiff, but ate nothing.

?How do I know I can trust you??

?Well, you don?t. That?s part of what makes this interesting for me.?

Since it seemed counter intuitive for this much food to all be dangerous, she decided to take her chances and eat. The chicken was delicious to her hungry belly, and the bread only a little stale. The wine was stronger than she liked, but none of the imperfections of the food mattered so long as she filled herself. Something began to nag at her after her first wave of gluttony had passed.

?Aren?t you hungry??

?Extremely.?

?Then why don?t you eat? Have you poisoned the food?? She didn?t think he had, but for a moment her heart sped up.

Winner sighed. Slowly, he threaded the chain back onto the gold piece and hung it around his neck. With one more pat after he had it safely resting against his chest, he addressed Relena, walking slowly towards her from the opposing end of the table.

?Do you know what this is, Miss Yuy??

She had stared at it many hours, altogether, in her lifetime so far. Every nook of that thing had been traced by her fingers and she was sure she could recognize it by feel alone if she ever had to find it in a pile of other coins. The weight, the shine, or even the artistic value had all been carefully evaluated over time, but she was no closer to knowing what it really was other than the most obvious answer.

?It?s a pirate medallion. Gold.?

?This,? he was halfway to her already, and still slowly advancing. ?is Mayan gold. When the Spanish were moving up the peninsula, they brought with them their weapons and their God, and in return the Mayan leaders offered them anything they wished if they would simply leave them in peace. But their either underestimated the greed of the conquerors, or overestimated the power of their gods, for when the Spanish agreed for a price and the Mayans delivered the money, it did nothing but simply begin a slaughter and enslavement of their people.?

He was standing directly behind her, touching her hair. Relena suddenly wished even more that she was safe at home and in the bath, washing the filth from her body.

?I never suspected you were so well versed in colonial history.?

Winner continued as if she hadn?t spoken. ?Before the head priest was beheaded and rolled down the very temple steps he himself had rolled his sacrificial victims, he placed a curse upon the gold with the last of his power. Whoever touched the traitorous gold for their own gain would be granted life, but a life that could only be half lived. The Spaniards, not trusting their God to keep them safe, placed the gold upon an island and left it. They trusted the sea to swallow up their evils.?

Relena wished loudly in her hear that he would back away from her, that he was stop running his hands through her hair, and most of all that she would be led back to her cell so that she could be out of Captain Winner?s company entirely.

?We found the gold, and snatched it for ourselves. Once every last one had been spent, my men and I noticed that food no longer satisfied. What was worse, we were possessed of a hunger that surpassed every other desire, but one that only pained us when we tried to satisfy it.?

As if prompted by reading too many bad novels, she found herself asking: ?What was it??

?Blood. We wanted blood, but even as we fed we were filled with a boiling pain. Our flesh is cold as ice and the warmth of a person, of the sun, of anything living burns even as we hunger for it. And, as we discovered, we could not die.? Quatre clutched the gold piece in his hand, now that he had thankfully moved away from her for the moment. ?So we gathered the gold back up, and this will make the final piece. Only one more element is left to lift the burden of this curse from our backs.?

Again, she had to ask. There was no helping it. ?What would that be??

?By blood we are bound, for blood we hunger, and blood. . . your blood will set us free, Miss Yuy.?

Relena stood quickly, her head swimming a moment from the sudden action. ?You lie! You lie to upset me! There is no curse. I admit for a moment I believed you, but such things do not exist in this world.?

The captain?s angelic face distorted into something like a smile, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the cabin with abnormal strength. Her struggles were vain, and she only succeeded in bruising her own wrist. He tossed her to the deck, and her hand flew to her mouth at both the sight and the smell of what greeted her.

As men worked on deck clouds only covered them part of the time, and as the sun passed over their flesh it would sizzled and slide about as if they had placed it on an invisible skillet. The odor of burned hair and flesh filled the air, and some of those who had been exposed to the sun too much had places where the bare muscle had already been reached. It was like some of them had been skinned in patches, and as she looked to the captain he happened to step into the sun, reddening before her.

?It can?t be. Impossible. This sort of thing only happens in fanciful stories, horror novels.? She whispered into the back of her hand.

Quatre grabbed her arm and dragged her back to her cabin. When he tossed her in with a contemptuous sneer, she made no complaint. Being alone was a blessing, even if she still had to contend with the images that had been, for lack of a better term, burned into her mind.

What hell had she stumbled into?








(AN: As always, sorry for the lack of editing. Snark.)

[Kaili Charmer]

YAAAAAAY!!! New Chapter!! And i'm the first to reply, i think...YAY!!

This is good, the part where Trowa is staying with Heero and Duo made for quite an interesting twist. That should be fun. The Mayans gave over the gold this time? hmm...did Mayans even have much gold? Eh, i guess everyone did. Oh well, this isn't a history lesson anyway. Glad you got a new chapter out! I'll be waiting for the rest. Good luck with school! I started back up a while ago.

[bookworm]

Definitely reminiscent of PotC, in a way. Getting interesting there. Winner as the villain...not that's something!

[Morrighan]

Wow.... I was not expecting that!!! Wow!!

Great job, AoD!! I can't wait to see more!!

[Perfect Soldier]

wow, i'm shoked to see an update, yay. It was worth the wait as always though, you're always throwing interesting things into your story. What with duo helping heero out, trowa joining in on the escapade, and then the whole curse thing. Very nice.

Zero

[freelight01]

I am speechless, truely speechless. First you don't update and when you do you give us one hell of a shock!!!
So I have got to ask what on earth does quatra really want to do with Relena? For as all the readers know he can't kill her or we are going to throw a hissy fit and you Angel!!! And don't think we won't!!!

So do us a favour and get the next chapter out
SOON!!!!!!

[WingZero2118]

absolutely wonderful. keep up the great work and i look forward to the next chapter