Elizabeth and Jack stared.
Slowly, lids creaked open and the barrels shifted as the crew emerged from their hiding places—one by one—only to stop dead the moment they took in the deck.
Kneeling pirates.
Weapons scattered.
And at the center of it all, Daniel seated on a dark throne, sword resting against the arm like it belonged there.
A cold silence spread.
Then, almost in unison, every crewman turned to Jack.
No one said a word.
They didn't need to.
What in the hell did you let aboard the ship? was written clearly on every face.
Jack felt their stares burn into him. He swallowed and lifted his hands slightly.
"…I said he was the one funding the voyage," Jack said carefully.
A sailor stared at him. "That's not what we meant."
Another glanced back at Daniel, then at Jack. "That thing looks like death itself."
Jack sighed. "…In hindsight, perhaps I undersold him."
"So… it's true?" Elizabeth muttered, eyes wide.
Her gaze stayed fixed on Daniel—on the throne, the sword, the kneeling undead pirates.
Only now did his words finally settle in.
Demi-god.
She swallowed. After seeing this… if she still didn't believe him, she'd have to be a fool.
"What is true?" Jack asked, confused.
"That he's a demi-god," Elizabeth said without thinking.
Jack froze.
Then his eyes widened slightly. "Oh."
He looked back at Daniel—at the throne, the sword, the kneeling undead—and let out a low whistle.
"…Right," Jack said slowly. "So I've been trying to scam a demi-god."
He nodded to himself, oddly satisfied. "Not my worst decision."
A grin crept onto his face. "Still—this'll make a fantastic story. Might even scare a few people straight."
On Daniel's side,
"So, boys," he said lightly, tilting his head as he looked down at the kneeling pirates. "What do you think happens next?"
No one answered.
Daniel rested his chin against his hand, expression almost thoughtful. "By now, you should understand what I can do." His fingers tapped once against the arm of the throne. "With a snap, I can kill every one of you."
A pause.
"And I could even end the curse you've been so desperate to lift," he continued, a faint, unsettling smile forming. "So tell me—do you want me to lift it?"
The pirates stiffened.
Moments ago, the curse had been everything. Freedom from hunger. From rot. From endless misery.
Now?
None of that mattered.
Kneeling there, unable to move, they finally understood something far worse than eternal undeath.
With or without the curse, this man could erase them.
Their fear had nothing to do with the curse anymore.
It was about what he intended to do next.
"Hm," Daniel continued, tapping the arm of the throne thoughtfully,"I've always enjoyed pulling pranks," he said lightly, "especially on men who mistake cruelty for control."
His glowing eyes swept over the kneeling pirates.
"So here's the offer," he said lightly. "You're all going to help me pull a little prank on your captain."
A few of them stiffened.
"Nothing complicated," Daniel went on, almost amused. "I just want to see his face when things don't go the way he expects. Consider it… entertainment."
"If you agree," Daniel said calmly, "I'll let you go. Otherwise I will send you to the underworld myself."
The pirates didn't hesitate. One by one, they nodded.
Pirates had always understood survival. Loyalty bent easily when weighed against existence itself. Barbossa had betrayed Jack for his own gain once—now his crew was doing the same for theirs.
"Good," Daniel said.
He leaned forward slightly. "Now tell me—why did you attack this ship?"
One of the pirates answered quickly, voice rough. "Loot. And killing. Anger's been buildin' a long time."
Daniel nodded as if that explained everything. "And Barbossa?"
Another pirate swallowed. "In his quarters. Said this was a small matter. Didn't see the need to come out."
A faint smile tugged at Daniel's lips.
"Perfect," he said.
He leaned back, resting his chin lightly against the back of his hand, eyes glowing faintly. "Then listen carefully. You're going to follow my plan exactly."
"Do that," Daniel finished quietly, "and you'll live long enough to regret helping me."
Five minutes later, Daniel stood on the deck with his arms bound in rope, cursed pirates forming a rough circle around him.
"Now, now," Daniel said mildly, glancing at the knots as if inspecting someone else's work. "Don't look so tense. I'm your prisoner—the one who fooled you lot."
The pirates played their part well, shoving him forward, barking orders, making a show of it.
The plan was simple.
He could kill Barbossa. Easily.
But doing that would cheapen something that wasn't his to take.
Jack Sparrow's revenge was a long, patient thing. So patient he'd kept the single bullet meant for Barbossa all these years, waiting. That kind of vengeance deserved its moment.
Elizabeth watched him with open confusion. "Daniel… are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked quietly. "You're surrendering yourself."
"For my entertainment," Daniel replied, completely serious.
She stared at him, clearly unsure whether to be angry or alarmed. Then again, she should have been more worried for the pirates—now they were like sheep taking a tiger with them.
Daniel turned his head toward Jack. "You know what to do, right?"
Jack met his gaze, expression unusually focused. There was no joking now—just anticipation.
"Aye," Jack said softly. "Been waiting a long time for this."
Daniel smiled faintly as the pirates began escorting him toward the Black Pearl.
*****
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