Shadow Gold - Drink

“Your compatriots know not what dey have,” Tia Dalma said. “I will use de powers of de seas for this, until one Pirate Lord can bring dem all together. Whoever drinks all the vials—every one of dem, Jack—him will be as strong as the Shadow Lord.”

“Really,” Jack said, interested now. “I like the sound of that.”

“If you drink this Shadow Gold, Jack,” Tia Dalma said, waving the vial in her hand, “you be healthy again…for a time. But you must drink them all if you want to live.”

“All right,” Jack said impatiently, holding out his hand. “Hand over the shiny lovely, then.”

Tia Dalma studied him for another long moment, and then she carefully placed the vial in Jack’s outstretched palm. He was surprised at how cold it was. It lay like bottled moonlight in his hand. Was this a wise decision? He didn’t really have a choice. With extreme caution, he pried out the cork. Of course he wanted to live. Besides…it was pretty.

He tipped back the vial and poured the Shadow Gold down his throat.

As the cold trickle of the alchemical metal spread through his body, he felt himself becoming more alive than he’d ever been before. The weight in his chest melted away, the darkness in his vision vanished, and the air around him was suddenly still instead of plagued by moving shadows. He felt a wild energy surge through him. It was like the first time he stood at the bow of the Pearl, captain of his own ship, free as the wind. He felt as if he could run on water, leap off mountains, battle any sea monster.

Yes, he would definitely search for the other vials. He wanted this feeling to last forever.

He blinked and realized that there was another change: he could see in the dark. The forest around the graveyard, previously full of shifting shadows and dangerous unknowns, was now clear as day to him. The gleaming eyes belonged to small night mammals, not ferocious beasts. Nothing was lurking to pop out at him.

***

The Caribbean, Chapter 8