Dead Man's Sea (PJO & POTC)

The devil and itself is upon us

Cordelia huffs throwing her newest letter into the flames. It's heading into the summer months but it hardly feels any different. Cora ignored the bewildered expression of the maids when she asked them to start a fire. Whoever this secret admirer is he could burn in tarturus for all she cared. He was getting creepier with each letter. He had sent her 4 since her last letter each arriving faster than the next. He could be getting closer. Coming to Port Royal. The thought makes her nauseous. She sinks to her knees feeling like they can't support her weight anymore. She claws at her chest and throat. Her chest feels like it is collapsing and filling with lead while her throat struggles to get air. She rubs her sweaty palms on her skirt.

There is a knock on the door. "Marina?" The governor's voice calls. She can't answer. She wants to answer but her throat is dry and her voice comes out faint and cracks. She doesn't hear the door open or see the governor enter. Everything has become blurry. She takes deep breaths that feel inadequate. The governor wraps his arms around her pulling her off of the floor and away from the fire. "Marina? Marina, what's wrong?" He asks her. "I...I can't... breathe," She tells him still clawing at her throat. Swann nods before going to all of the windows and throwing them open. 

The cool night breeze flowed into the room. Inhaling the crisp night air Cora counted backwards from ten. Ten Swann gently pulls her hands away from her neck. Nine He's rubbing her back slowly. Eight He's murmuring to her. Seven. She doesn't deserve this. She doesn't deserve to be comforted by him. Her heart clenches. "Marina it's alright. I've got you," Swann whispers. A sob escapes her. "What's wrong dear? You can tell me." She looks at him with blurry eyes. "I don't want you to hate me."

"Nothing you could ever do would make me hate you."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm letting your sister marry a pirate." Cordelia lets out a breathy laugh and sniffles. Swann is looking at her with a patience she couldn't fathom. "I've been getting these letters. I don't know who they're from but I'm worried I've said too much." A strand of hair had plastered itself to her cheek.

"Oh dear. It will be fine. We can figure it out together. You should rest. Tomorrow will be an exciting and long day." He tells her. Cordelia peels herself off the floor and climbs into her bed. It was going to be a long night.

...

Thunder booms as the rain pelts them. Cordelia runs a comforting hand along Elizabeth's back. The older girl doesn't stir. The shambles of her wedding being blown away around them. The girls sit in front of the abandoned altar. She can see boats full of navy men docking. One man sits astride a white horse on the boat—a ridiculous site for a ridiculous man. Elizabeth is drenched. Her once beautiful gown was fraying and sticking to her skin. If she notices Cordelia's state of dryness she doesn't say anything. The rain is freezing. Cora hugs her sister to keep her from catching a cold if nothing else.

...

Will is straightening his workshop when the soldiers storm in. The commander dangles a pair of irons from his hand.

...

Cordelia can feel his eyes on them. She shivers so much for an exciting day. She doesn't dare look back. He will be there and she doesn't want to deal with that. Her heart breaks a little at the devastation on Elizabeth's face. The thunding of dozens of feet can be heard drawing Elizabeth out of her stupor. She looks back. Immediately she drops her flowers and runs back down the aisle. Cordelia remains on the ground. It would have been such a beautiful wedding. She watches the exchange between Will and Elizabeth. She ignores Beckett's eyes burning a hole through her. 

"Why is this happening?" Elizabeth questions Will. "I don't know," Will responds solemnly. "You look beautiful." Elizabeth gives him a sad smile. "I think it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding." Beckett keeps his gaze fixed on Cordelia. They rover over her disheveled form. She glares at him. She keeps her back straight and her head held high. There's movement in the crowd as Governor Swann pushes his way through. "Make way! Let me through."