I ordered a longboat to get ready for me so I could meet Barbossa and Jack on a sand spit to talk to Davy Jones, Beckett, and Will in parley. I commanded Tai Huang to lead the Empress into battle, because I planned to be aboard the Pearl during the War Against Piracy.

Jack, Barbossa, and I strode down the sand spit in a row, approaching Will, Lord Beckett, and Davy Jones, who stood in a bucket of water.

It was the first time I had come face-to-face with Beckett. Jack had revealed to me a while ago that Beckett was the man who branded the P on his wrist. I glanced down at my P brand, unaware of exactly who in the East India Trading Company branded me because I was quite young. With the identical powder wigs and pale skin, they all look the same. Beckett wore Georgian clothing, he had a slender build with a white wig under his black hat. His cold-heart manifested in his icy pale skin, having maliciously murdered men, women, and children in both piracy and the slave trade. I want to see his head on a spike and his heart roasting on a spit.

Beckett's slow, menacing voice broke through the tension between the six of us when we stood in front of them, "well, well, well. The tales are true. Annette Levasseur. The Pirate Darling. Delighted to finally meet your to acquaintance. Such a shame we meet under such undesirable circumstances."

"That's King Levasseur to you," I spat back. Even talking to him left a bad taste in my mouth. I would kill to see him swing at the gallows.

"Your vibrancy can be spotted clear across the sea. The Crown could have used your winsome characteristics to lure pirates to the gallows. I will serve you well. It's not too late."

I exhaled sharply and said, "you are a pathetic excuse of a man."

"Hmm," he groaned softly. His eyes gravitated down to my feet before making their way back up to my eyes. "This burning desire is turning me to sin."

"What are you thinking?" I asked. I tried to study his face, but he was nearly impossible to read. His expression was as blank as paper.

"I was just imagining a rope around that beautiful neck of yours," he hissed. "The Devil is so much stronger than a man, you know."

"I know what you were imagining, you scabby sea bass," I barked at him.

"Jack Sparrow." Beckett looked to Jack. "How's about coming back and you can fulfill your end of our last arrangement?"

Jack said dryly, "I'd rather not."

"Time will tell. When your ships are dragging along the ocean floor, you'll remember that you belong to me and that you should have joined us when we gave you the chance," Beckett said.

"I know you've gone mad from my absence, and I apologize for that," Jack replied cockily.

Beckett's eyes locked with mine again and he said, "it's your turn, pirate. Perhaps a dance with Jack Ketch would change your mind. Pyre may also condemn you. I know there is more to you than what meets the eye. I pray you take my offer."

Jack Ketch was an English executioner in the 17th century, employed by King Charles II. He was made infamous by his botched attempts to behead his criminal victims. To have a dance with Jack Ketch, means condemning someone to the gallows. And pyre, meant he could ensure that I would burn at the stake.

"I won't pray for you, so don't pray for me. For every soul you have damned, I will see to it that you're punished with a fate so agonizing, even the Devil will cry."

"May God have mercy on me, for you shall taste the fires of hell. Choose me or your pyre. Don't throw away this rare opportunity, King Levasseur."

"I would rather burn in hell than work with you," I hissed. "Did you have mercy on the men, women, and children whom you condemned to slavery and death?"

He tilted his chin up slightly at me, but he remained silent. There are no words in the English language to properly describe how much I loathe this man and everything he has done.

"As King, you are aware that the Brethren face extinction. We will eradicate piracy on the Seven Seas. It's already begun, death is forthcoming. We will fight this fight and there is no doubt that we will win this war. All that remains is for you to decide where you will make your final stand," he replied callously.

"By the powers, I will ensure that you burn in the fiery pits of hell."

Beckett looked for a moment as if he had sunk his teeth into a lemon. He clenched his jaw and said with tranquility, "so be it."

"You be the cur that led these wolves to our door," Barbossa spat at Will.

"Don't blame Turner. He was merely the tool of your betrayal," Beckett said, "if you wish to see its grand architect, look to your left."

We all did, with Jack at the end. He even looked, seeing no one and he turned back to us. "My hands are clean in this. Figuratively," he said and stuck his pinky nail between his teeth.

"My actions were my ken and to my own purpose," Will said, "Jack had nothing to do with it."

"Well spoke. Listen to the tool," Jack said enthusiastically.

"Will, I was on the Dutchman," I said to Will, "I understand what you're trying to do, but I'm afraid it's too late."

"It is not too late if there is but one fool left to fight for it," Will said back. Jack smiled at him closed lipped.

"Will, I'm going to be blunt. He treats you like his bitch and it's hard to watch," I stated dryly and Will soured his face.

"If Turner wasn't acting in your behalf, then how did he come to give me this?" Beckett lifted up the magical compass. I looked to Jack, now realizing how their meeting went. "You made a deal with me, Jack, to deliver the pirates. And here they are," Beckett tossed the compass for Jack to catch against his chest. "Don't be bashful. Step up. Claim your reward."

I glared at Jack. His agenda was always confusing to me, and I didn't realize that he had made a deal with Beckett. I need to stop giving Jack the benefit of the doubt.

"Oh, has he not told you?" Beckett asked. Without needing a response he revealed, "Jack Sparrow and I had an agreement. He sends all the pirates out of Shipwreck Cove in exchange for his freedom."

I glared over at Jack and his lack of eye contact told me that Beckett was telling the truth.

"I knew you were lying," I hissed to Jack.

"Annette, be positive," Barbossa said.

"Okay. I was positive you were lying!"

"Oi, I did not lie, per say, but I did not give the entirety of the truth. There's a difference," Jack defended.

Jones spoke up, "your debt to me is still to be satisfied. One hundred years in servitude aboard the Dutchman. As a start."

"That debt was paid, mate. With some help," Jack said.

"You escaped," Jones spat.

"Technically," Jack said.

"I propose an exchange," I announced, and Jack smiled. "We will have Will... and you can take Jack. I think we can all agree that this is all Jack's fault."

Shocked, Jack's eyebrows knitted together and Barbossa looked at me with a confused expression.

Jack stammered and pointed at himself in utter disbelief. "How exactly is this my fault?"

"Contrary to your assumption, you were not the intended recipient of my communication," I snapped.

"Then I will reiterate. Why is this my fault?" He asked.

"It just is," I said back.

"Done," Will agreed with my proposal.

Jack nearly gasped, "undone."

"Agreement not necessary," I quipped.

"I don't find this funny," Jack said.

"It's not a joke," I shot back.

"Done," Beckett agreed.

"I thought we were friends, love," Jack said to me.

"That got boring," I snapped.

"I trusted you," he said.

I chuckled softly then simply asked, "why?"

"Jack's one of the nine pirate lords. You have no right," Barbossa snapped at me.

"King," I stated matter-of-factly, "I overrule you."

"Are you sure you want to do this to me?" Jack asked.

"There are two things that offend me," I said, "you, and how you think I don't have the courage to go through with this. It's not personal, Jack. It's just that we're better than you."

"You are going to think back on this in a few years and think, "I did not handle this with grace"," Jack stated to me.

"I do not think so."

"Oh, look at me, I'm Annette and because I'm Pirate King, I can do whatever I desire! Hunh-hunh!" Jack imitated in a terrible French accent to mimic me.

"I don't think you want to be doing that, mate," Will said with a slight shake of his head.

"I do not make that sound," I said roughly, "how many times do I have to tell you?"

"I'm not going." He stuck his nose up like a toddler.

"You must," I said, "I've made my decision."

"I recognize that you've made your decision, but given that it's a foolish decision, I've elected to ignore it."

"Go."

Jack's jaw slacked, "well, I did not expect you to have given me up so quickly. Just know that you're sinking to my level." He took off his hat and with a slight bow to me he said, "as you command, your nibs."

"Blackguard!" Barbossa shouted, taking out his sword and slashed at Jack, cutting his Lord piece off his headband. It landed in the sand, and Barbossa's monkey named Jack picked it up and scampered off.

Barbossa stepped up to Jack. "If you have nothing to say, I might be saying something as well."

"First to the finish, then?" Jack said. He and Will carefully switched lines, Jack nearly bumped into Beckett. He made a face of dismay as he was forced to be standing close between Beckett and Davy.

Jack put his hat back on as Davy leaned into his ear and whispered, "do you fear death?"

Jack looked down and answered, "you have no idea."

Beckett stepped forward. His eyes landed on me as he said, "advise your Brethren, you can fight, and all of you will die. Or you can not fight, in which case only most of you will die."

"You have chosen your own fate. I am the Devil that you forgot, and I'm bringing hell with me. We will fight. And you will be the one to die," I said.

"If we fight, you will all be destroyed." His words sent a chill down my spine.

"If," I retorted. "I'll see you in hell."

I immediately turned around and walked between Will and Barbossa back to the ship. I could hear them follow me by the sound of their boots sinking in the sand.

Will caught up to me and asked, "think they bought it?"

"Keep your head up. Don't look back. Being right is mostly confidence," I said, continuing my strut back to the ship.

"You are a King?" Will asked.

"Oui, of the Brethren Court. We have Jack to thank for that," I said.

"Maybe he really does know what he's doing," Will said.

"You haven't told Elizabeth of your plan, have you?"

"What plan?"

"To free your father. To become Captain of the Flying Dutchman."

Will became silent. I said, "this isn't a decision you should take lightly."

"I'm aware."

"I just want you to know what you're getting yourself into."

"I keep the promises I make, Annette. And I promised my father that I would do whatever it takes to free from from his debt to Davy Jones. I'm not letting anything stand in my way."

I sighed, and decided not to continue this conversation any more. It wasn't any of my business what Will decided to do, but it was a decision that would never be undone. We packed ourselves back to the longboats and sailed back to the ship.

AN: what island would you want to be marooned on?
I would prefer not to be marooned, but if I had to then I would pick that island that Jack was marooned on twice. He seems to have good luck with that island so I would have high hopes of being saved 😂