Antigua, 1702
Sixyears had passed and in that time Jack took care of himself and sister as best he could. Once they had saved enough money they bought passage out of Aruba. They money only got them as far as Antigua, but it was enough to flee from the horrors of that night.
Jack worked many merchant ships as a hand and eventually a boatswain, in charge of crew and workings of the ship. He showed great promise and was even told soon he could move into a first mate's position or even captain one day.
Spending many months at a time at sea left Anne alone. And in that time without Jack's guidance she slowly began to lose bits and pieces of her own humanity. Her memory of that night had eventually returned in full causing Jack to tell her of what their father spoke about.
"I remember Jack. I remember everything," she said as tears slowly fell down her cheeks.
Jack looked at her with sympathy, thinking back to that night. He reached up and brushed away her tears. "Go on."
"The pirate with the black beard demanded our father to show himself and receive what he had coming to him. Of course father wasn't there and it was only me and mama," she said. Then she looked at Jack with an almost fearful look. "Oh Jack, why did you leave?"
Jack immediately felt guilt. He struggled with that thought ever since that night. He often wondered if he had been there could he have changed anything. Would his mother still be alive?
Finally after some time of silence he said, "I had to help father. But I should have stayed there in case something happened to protect ye."
Anne just looked at him blankly. Jack stared back and said, "Please forgive me Anne."
Anne continued to look deep into his eyes. "It wasn't yer fault. Ye tried yer best and that's all someone can do."
Jack shook his head. Conflicting thoughts of wanting to accept her forgiveness and still feeling guilty collided. Anne saw he was struggling and reached up to cup her hand on the side of his face. He looked up at her just as she leaned in to kiss him.
The kiss was deep and passionate. Jack wanted to pull away so bad. This was his sister after all, but something else took over. She had turned into a beautiful woman rivaling most that he had seen in town or port. His hand moved to cover one of her ample breasts, squeezing and causing her to moan softly.
He had to force himself to pull away. They looked at each other breathing hard and held stares for a long time. He wanted her so bad and had a feeling she felt the same way, but how could they do so?
It was Anne that broke the silence unsure of her brother's thoughts. "After there was no answer from father an order was given to set the house of fire. If father wouldn't come out on his own then they would give him no other choice.
"The flames spread quickly, but me and mama were too scared to leave. We huddled close to each other as far back from the flames as we could. Eventually, they caught up to us. I remember the pain as the fire spread along me body, melting me skin away.
"Before I knew it the pain was gone. The world was gone and I was covered in blackness. I couldn't feel or see anything. I was just hovering in nothing but I didn't have a body. Then the next thing I remember was waking up where I guess I had died and then ye being there to help me."
Jack took it all in, not daring to interrupt and his mind kept going back to what his father had said. About how his father has died but was brought back to life as something else. Had his sister fell into a similar fate?
"I know what happened to ye Anne. Ye may believe it and I'm still not sure I believe it either."
"What is it Jack?" She asked when he just suddenly stopped speaking.
"Father told me before he died; he had once died before but was brought back to life because of what he was. Because of what Grandmother was."
"Why Jack? Please tell me," Anne pleaded.
Jack was still hesitant. He wasn't sure if he wanted to tell her everything. He didn't want her to be frightened or go mad with the truth. He only wanted to protect and keep her safe.
Anne had his hand in hers, looking at him with her deep green eyes like the color of the sea, and pleading for him to tell her. Finally he gave in not knowing the outcome, but whatever the outcome he'd be there to help her through it.
"Father said we had the blood of demons running through us. He was brought back to life and he'd owed Blackbeard, the one that burned our house. He later betrayed man who was really not a man but a demon too. Because of his betrayal Blackbeard came seeking his own brand of justice."
"What happened to father?" She asked after taking a moment to digest what she had just been told.
"He died before he could intercept the pirates and give himself over to them," Jack explained.
"But why? Why would he leave us like that?" She asked beginning to cry.