Chest of the Damned

Prologue

       Rain. It is as beautiful as it is, quite often, unwanted. Though Elizabeth was all too positive that Victoria would somehow make such an ugly sight fun and pleasurable for the event of her wedding, she still can't help but hate it. After all, her sister was Gods-knew-where at that very moment, and rain was the last thing that ruined the wedding to begin with.

She pondered as to where her sister could've possible been, nearly fantasizing that she herself was with her, aiding her in her adventures. That was, if Victoria was even alright. She hated to think what ill-will could've been happening to her, but she always forced herself to push such thoughts aside. Victoria was with Jack Sparrow; so, hopefully that meant that she was being taken care of, even if the man himself had a habit of getting into trouble.

The rain only seemed to pour down harder around Elizabeth as she clutched her bouquet, wishing that her sister was there to lift her spirits, which she no doubt would've somehow been able to do even with what news had been brought to her. She couldn't help the dread that built up within her. After all, it felt like much more was intended for the poor young woman than a simple ruined wedding and the arrest of her fiance.

Thunder sounded in the distance, and Elizabeth instinctively looked over her shoulder, her heart lurching in her chest when she spotted Will, being escorted across the grounds in shackles. Dropping her bouquet, she lifted her skirts and ran to him, hands grabbing at his wrists and his shirt as she avoided his eyes.

"Why is this happening?" she asked breathlessly, trying not to panic, but unable to avoid it.

"I don't know," he responded truthfully as she fidgeted with his collar, finally able to capture her gaze, and she could tell that at that brief moment he was only thinking about how beautiful she was. Sure enough, he said, "You look beautiful."

She fought tears, allowing him a smile, though it was grim. "I think it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding." As she uttered such words, she could hear her sister's voice, knowing that Victoria would say the exact same thing if she was there.

"Make way! Let me through!" She could hear her father hollering as he broke his way through the crowd that had gathered around them and the soldiers, but she refused to turn away from Will for the moment. "How dare you! Stand your men down at once. Do you hear me?"

Off to the side, having had been observing the mess of the wedding scene, and relishing in that moment, was a man in black, who turned in his spot and pushed his coat from his shoulders, which one of the soldiers grabbed from him. "Governor Weatherby Swann, it's been too long."

Elizabeth knew that voice all too well.

"Cutler Beckett?" her father said, tone disbelieving.

"It's Lord now, actually," he responded, not surprising Elizabeth as she turned to face him and her father.

If Victoria were there, there was no doubt that she'd make some sort of remark about him advancing in life. At the thought itself, Elizabeth smiled to herself.

The soldiers in front of the Governor straightened their weapons, allowing him access to step forth, which he did without hesitation after giving them dirty looks. "Lord or not, you have no reason and no authority to arrest this man."

His expression never changed, though somehow it looked even more smug. "In fact, I do. Mr. Mercer?"

An older gentleman, also clad in dark clothing, stepped forth, displaying a bundle of papers that sat within a leather binding, and offered them to Beckett.