Chapter Text
The trip from the Sunshine Lands to the Queendom of Roses felt far too long. Cora had been kicking around this boat for about three weeks, and it had been getting worse every day, not better. The rocking of the creaky boards wasn’t the problem. Nor was boredom, she’d brought plenty of books. Well, part of that was simply the job of a governess.
The sailors kept talking about how it was bad luck to have a lone woman on board. Especially a young one.
“The sea monssers ken smell land maiden flesh.” One sailor had warned her when she stood too close to the railing, in a desperate bid to get some fresh air.
“I thought the residents of the Coral Sea were the peaceful sort?” Cora had responded. The salty sea dog sniffed and pulled the knot he was working on tighter.
“The merfolk be like da ocean, sometime peaceful, sometime hungry… ” He squinted off to the dark clouds milling in the distance.
If only she knew what that had been foreshadowing. Maybe she’d have done something differently. Wear better clothes, perhaps. Something more elegant to …
The storm had arrived sometime that evening and continued for three days. The ship was being battered and thrown about like a child’s toy, and everyone was starting to get restless. Whispers floated around. Eventually the panicked swearing settled into a tense silence only broken by the thundering weather. She remembered staring out at the murderous purple clouds and hearing one of them say in grumbly resignation:
“If it dun break by dawn, we won’t have a choice.”
Idly, she wondered what choice they meant. Would they have to turn back, or find shelter? They didn’t like talking with her very much so she didn’t bother asking. If there was a problem, they’d tell her, right? Maybe she should have questioned it more. That night, they’d cracked open a bottle of wine to lift everyone’s spirits.In fact, they even made a point to include her. It warmed her enough she barely touched the alcohol.
Still it was enough that despite the tossing storm, she was sleeping peacefully in a hammock nestled into a blanket. Suddenly the blanket was pulled tight around her. Bundled up in it, Cora felt at least four hands manhandling. She squirmed, demanding answers. “What’s happening? Are we in danger? I can walk!”
No response came.
They talked over her though, loud enough to drown her out but not as well as the storm. Finally a lull in the treacherous thunder let her hear something.
“Keep it tied together, less problems that way!”
“Dun drop ‘er yet lads.”
YET ? Her chest tightened. Cora started to panic and only flailed more at the words. Clearly this was not… going to end well.
“She’s struggling!”
“The wine must not have been strong enough.”
Cora started to scream, but no one reacted. Nor didn’t silence her either. She felt the rain start to soak through the blanket, and the noise grew louder. The deck… miserable and wet. She hadn’t been up here in days. Wait…they…weren’t going to do what she thought they were going to do... were they? They wouldn’t. She’d paid for passage on this boat! It wasn’t just dangerous it was… immoral! And just wrong!
A heavy hand fell on her knee and for a moment she stopped moving.. “Sorry, lass. Cant lose da ship.”
“Why would this-???” Cora sobbed out.
“The sea told us.” The captain’s regretful voice answered. If he regretted it so much, why would he do it?! She flailed a little more desperately, and then… there was a heave… a feeling of hopeful weightlessness…
SPLASH!
The full weight of the situation and the cold water crashed down on her with equal shock. By the time she kicked her way free of the now heavy blanket, it was too late. She stared up at the rippling surface and knew there was no way she had the oxygen left to break the surface and have a chance to love. Swimming had never been her strong suit.
Cora’s heart sunk faster than the rest of her was. The worst part was as she stared up, she saw the sun glimmer through the water for the first time in days. It had worked. Her brain screamed out in pain. It needed oxygen and she couldn’t give it. Something slick brushed against her leg and she flailed a little. Sea monsters? Desperately, she sobbed in her mind.
If it’s going to eat me, please let me drown first.