James had read about this deity of death, charged with the duty of ushering lost souls to their resting place, but thought it was all just legend and myth.

“You’re Duffer Jones.” James could hardly believe this was happening. He didn’t know if he was trapped in a horrible nightmare, truly dead, or both. He wondered if he was being punished for abandoning his family and his duty to them. He couldn’t believe this was how his story was going to end, and he made a promise to himself he would make it his mission to make sure his mother was taken care of if he made it out of this alive.

“I am known by many names, James. Call me what you like, Duffer, Davy, Jonah, the Sailor’s Angel of Death, any of them will do. I am bound by the great goddess Calypso to ferry all those who have died at sea into the next world. Will you go peacefully, or will you make it more interesting and put up a fight?” said the ghostly pirate.

“We will put up a fight,” said Blackbeard, surprising James. His mentor stood at his side, strong as ever.

“Captain! You’re alive.”

“You could say that,” said Blackbeard, winking at James. “Do you have that tinderbox I tossed you?” asked Blackbeard under his breath, nudging James but never taking his eyes off the ghostly deity. James took it from his pocket and handed it to him slyly.

“Stand your ground, James. Do not falter, stay strong, do not move from this spot, and trust me, we will persevere,” said Blackbeard before he let out a harrowing howl so loud it seemed to awaken the very ocean. The water swirled around them in a great force, causing the other ships to rise from the seafloor and twist in the cyclones. The ghostly pirate laughed.

“I see you have great goddesses at your disposal as well, Blackbeard. Shall we see whose are stronger?” And without warning the dead captain’s crew emerged from the bowels of his ship, and they charged forward.