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He went for the steps, but Kelly grabbed him from behind and threw him across the deck Jack protected his face with his hands, but when he struck the railing, his shoulder exploded in pain, and he only hoped the crack! he heard ood, not bone This was the attack he’d been expecting, and it had come at the worst possiblethe knife he’d taken fro it around in a useless attempt to defend hi around his neck and across his cheeks, fingersfrom his nails, and Jack hated the s that stung the ht until he could fight no more, and that pain would fuel his fury

But Kelly did not land Louis struck hiainst the wheelhouse Hope leaped in Jack’s heart--he would not fight alone after all But Vukovich was already stalking around toward Jack, and he stepped over the snarling, brutal knot of violence that Louis and Kelly had becoht, but then he saw that Vukovich had begun to change after all, the evolution subtle He possessed the eyes of a wolf

Jack stood, watching Vukovich, wondering how he could kill the monster, and then a massive shape appeared in front of hi away from Jack

"Not now," Tree rasped

The big ht the scuffle between Louis and Kelly to an end The two pirates rose to their feet, bristling with hatred and bloodlust But the ht have killed each other had passed, for now The ship swayed beneath the for the bones of those who did not survive the day

"You’re a fool, Kelly," Louis whispered "This isn’t the tirowled

"You think eating Ghost’s human pet will nourish you?" Tree said His voice rumbled like far-off thunder No one replied

"Whose side do you think you’re on?" Vukovich said, and a light began to burn brightly in Jack’s mind, a spark of hope and the seed of an idea

Sides Until now it had been Ghost and the rest, but with the crew fraght be the cause--they were becorier andhour, but none of them save Finn had confronted hile co the pack forward None dared to do so, knowing they could never defeat his and whispers, a shared anger, and now Jack had to take advantage of that

It was his only chance at saving Sabine Whether Ghost loved or desired her, and no ht need her, this time she had pushed hio beyond torture and just kill her Either way, the time had coo south?" Jack said

"Shut up,away froer in his eyes

"Let him speak," Louis said

"Why?" Vukovich sneered

"Because Ghost intends him to be as much a part of this crew as you"

There was silence at that, broken only by a haunting, hooting sound froht, but it could have been errant spirits insouth because he’s not running," Jack said "You saw the Charon How many men does it take to man a ship like that?"

"None," Kelly said "Death’s pack is older than ours He’s not like Ghost; he’d welcome no mere man aboard"

Maurilio had appeared frore were out of sight, but so were Huginn and Muninn, likely down in the cabin guarding Ghost’s door while he--

But Jack could not think about what the captainto the woman he loved, and what that screae, and there lay ht now if he hoped to save the around and attack the Charon," Jack said "He fled into the fog to give himself ti scared But within the hour Ghost will eive the order to sail west Death will be searching for us He won’t be difficult to find And e meet the Charon, there will be a battle, and all of you will die"

"Don’t be so sure," Kelly said, a growl behind his words

"He wouldn’t do it," Vukovich said "It’s suicide against that ship, and that pack And if Ghost could kill his brother, he’d have done it years ago"

Jack shook his head, glancing froet it--any of you He’s used you Ghost isn’t a pirate Not really He cares nothing for gold and treasure, and he hunts only to feed himself and to make the lot of you better killers All this ti to best his brother, to make himself a better pirate and a ether to help him do that You’re his little army, and you never knew it And every one of you is expendable"

"That’s ridiculous," Vukovich sniffed "There’s never been a pirate like Ghost"

"You’re just not listening," Jack said, voice low, drawing them in with his intensity "Ghost ordered Sabine to keep track of the Charon--"

"To keep us away froreed "But only until he was ready That’s why he’s so furious with her Not because she didn’t warn hiht before he decided he was ready Now he’s decided--Sabine brought the to try to finish his brother once and for all"

"He wouldn’t do that," Kelly said "He’ll be killing us all Ghost wouldn’t sacrifice the pack for his own…"

Kelly’s words trailed off as realization struck him

"Of course he would," Tree said "You know it, Kelly We all do He’s always expected us to be loyal to him, to follow the laws of the pack, but he’s never had any loyalty to anyone but hiht over ht Ghost, take control of the ship, and steer your own destinies"

"He’s our captain," Louis said, but his doubt and dread were clear

"He’s ht that cannot be won You knew this moment would come one day, Louis You all did Now it’s here"

The wolves stood silent, violence hanging in the air as obvious as the cool touch of fog drifting across the deck

"The pup speaks of h to kill hiht speak ht it?" Louis said

"Ghost has considered himself dead since the day his brother tried to kill him," Jack went on "As far as he’s concerned, he’s already a corpse What does he care if he takes the rest of you to hell along with him? If you want to live, there’s only one answer"