She groans, eyes fluttering open, frowning when she is greeted by an unfamiliar room. The room is big, filled with hints of silver with a huge insignia engraved on the walls that answers her question as to where she is.
Sab sits up, looking at herself wrapped in bandages. Her body is not as aching as she thought it would. The whips and injuries she received during her captive should have rendered her body almost impossible to move, but here she is, finding herself fine - as fine as it could.
"Why am I here?" She mumbles to herself, looking at the room once again, a room fit for a king. There's no doubt whose room it is, it's Kidd's. But why? She remembers losing her consciousness in front of her people when she was about to be executed. What happened when she was unconscious?
She wants to ponder on those questions, but she tried not to think about it. What she needs to do is get away from here. She shouldn't be here. She should be in the Human Realm...
With those things in her mind, she gets off of the bed, leaving its comfort in favor of walking towards the door to leave, that's when a certain painting on the wall caught her attention.
It's a painting of her, sitting on a hill with bright rays of sunshine illuminating her. It's beautiful and whoever painted this has godly skills for it to look so realistic. The painting is displayed right next to another painting, it's Kidd's.
Why is it there? Did he display these on purpose?
Those questions are in her mind but again, she pushes it out, ignoring it in favor of one thing - to get out of here.
With haste, she reaches for the door, looking at the hallways to see if someone is there, there's none. She's not familiar with the layout of this place as she's never been here before. All Sab can do is just to trust her instincts.
She turned right only to see a palace servant walking towards her.
"Your Highness! You shouldn't be getting up! Your injuries!" A palace servant worriedly said but that was ignored.
"Where's the exit?"
"P-Pardon?" She asks.
"Where is the exit?" She raised her voice, commanding her to give her the answers she needs, making the servant cower in front of her.
"Uhm, but - "
"Tell me where the exit is!" The hesitation in the servant's eyes made Sab impatient. Her voice is filled with urgency, eyes glaring at the poor servant. She failed to notice how her eyes start to turn red, irises slightly shrinking, no longer round.
This scared the servant. She knows who this woman in front of her is and disobedience can cost her life.
"I-If you turn right, you will see a hallway that will lead you to the exit, Your Highness."
Satisfied by her answer, Sab nodded, ignoring the slight pain she's feeling at her back in favor of running towards the exit. She passed by a few servants, looking at her curiously but all of their stares are being ignored. Nothing's in her mind except for the thought of running away, to get away from here.
When she reaches the door, she is greeted by a lot of familiar creatures. All of them blinked at her, wondering why she's out of bed when she's still injured.
Sab is thankful that Kidd is not there or else she will find a hard time getting away.
"Uh - "
Sab did not let Killer finish his sentence, glaring at them, she walked as fast as she can until she finds herself in a forest nearby. To be back here in Raftel after they left, to be involved with them again, it feels not right. The guilt creeps into her mind again, being reminded of the history, being reminded of the death that humans caused, being reminded that she is one of those humans.
Once again, her mind remembers the look he gave her before, the look of contempt, of hatred, of disgust, of rejection. She does not want to see that again.
And above all things, she does not want to see how he will look at her when she brings disaster to his people.
All she needs right now is to get as far away as possible.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
He only left for half an hour to get the medicine from Chopper's manor and when he came back, she's gone. He frowns after seeing the bed empty, but he can still smell her nearby.
Kidd took off from the balcony, landing beside his Warrior Commanders. He looks at them, not saying anything, but their eyes all looked at the direction where she took off - not that Kidd needs the direction anyways. He knows where she is.
"Why didn't you stop her?" He asks instead.
"Her eyes..." Wire said, remembering what her eyes look like when she glared at them. It's not a look that will accept a resistance from anyone else.
Kidd does not need further explanation. Everyone in Beogia knows who she is and what she is to Kidd or them - their future High Queen. Even if they are not mated, they will still obey her.
The red-haired High Prince left, wings sprouted on his back as he flies to where she is. He's done committing mistakes, he's done rejecting her existence - the rejection that inevitably led to her danger, almost killing her. Never again will he make that mistake, never again will he let her go.
Above, his eyes landed on a figure breathing heavily while leaning on a tree. She's not in the right condition to be walking much less running. What was she thinking?
Kidd stopped dead in his tracks upon remembering what he did before. Again, it all boils down to his rejection. A sigh left his lips followed by a mental reprimanding to himself.
This is his time to make things right with her.
He lands in front of her, startling the blond princess. Their eyes met, reddish-brown met grey and they stay like that for quite sometime before she ignores him to walk away.
"Where do you think you're going?" Kidd asks, preventing her from escaping by barricading her way by using his huge built. She does not answer but walks past him only to be stopped by his strong arm wrapped around her waist.
"Let me go!"
"No."
"Just let go, will you?!" Sab tries so hard to push him off her but he's too strong for her, he won't budge at all. She looks up only to meet his eyes. They're different than the last time she remembers.
They no longer have the glints of hatred and rejection, instead, the glints in his eyes reflect the longing, worry, care. That look is a stranger to Sab. Despite that, her decision to avoid him, to forget him remains the same.
"I'm not supposed to be here." She said, voice filled with contempt.
"You are where you are supposed to be." He answers, his left arm is still on her waist.
"You should have let me be! I already left, why bring me back here?"
"I brought you back to where you belong."
"I don't belong here. I can't belong here. Just please, let me go now." She's begging now and that hurts for Kidd. It hurts to see her like this. "You should have just left me alone. It would have been better for everyone if you did."
"And why is that? Why do you think you don't belong here? Why do you think it will be better for everyone?"
"Don't tell me you are forgetting the history?! I will bring nothing but disaster! More of your people may get hurt because of our war. History will repeat itself and I can't bear to see it. I'd rather die than see that happening." She cries. Kidd felt his heart shattering into pieces seeing her like this. He caused this, he's the reason why she thinks this way.
"What do you think will happen to the Beogians when they hear you say that?"
"W-What?"
"For you to say that you'd rather die than seeing them get hurt because of a war that is not your fault, what do you think everyone will feel?" Sab does not understand what he's saying but she soon did when creatures hiding behind the trees. Their eyes are filled with determination as they look at Sab.
"None of us will ever fall back when our future High Queen says those words." Killer spoke.
His words made Sab blink in surprise.
"For you to say those words, Your Highness, you will only ignite our desires to fight. We are no cowards." Heat answered.
"There's nothing that can make us want to fight than hear you say you'd rather die than see us hurt." One of them added, making Sab overwhelmed by their responses. She thought that they will also reject her, contempt her, but she received none.
"You have your answer. The injured must take a rest." Sab did not have time to react because she finds herself in his arms and the next second, they are mid-air, on their way back to his chamber.
He lands on the balcony, placing her on the ground before saying: "Go take a rest. You need to drink your medicine." He slightly pushes her towards the bed.
"W-Wait, this - "
"Listen." Kidd grabs her shoulders as gently as he can. "I know
I pushed you away the first time and that's a mistake, my biggest mistake. I placed you in a situation where your life is hanging by a thread, almost at death's door and I am sorry." This is the first time he's apologized to someone, only to her. "Don't ever say you will rather die. I won't ever forgive you nor will I forgive myself. You belong here. With me."
Sab does not know what to feel, her heart clenches at the words she is hearing from him of all people.
They remain still, eyes staring at one another. Kidd enjoys the warmth he feels just by being by her side, smelling her scent that fills him with nothing but desire and comfort.
He cups his face, framing it with his big hands before he leans in, faces getting closer until their lips meet. Who could have thought that it will feel like this? It feels incredible, heart-warming.
Sab can close her eyes, giving in to the slow kiss and when it ended, she can't help but chase after his lips, asking for more.
"Damn it." Kidd curses after he buries his face on her neck while gently hugging her. His desire to mark her, to claim her is so strong, hard to control but he must control his desires. She's not in the right condition to accept such ritual. Sab only blinks in confusion at what that curse meant. Instead of asking, she remains still, enjoying the warmth of his embrace.
"You're okay with me?" She mumbles after the comfortable silence between them while hugging each other.
"I am."
Sab never knew that hearing an acceptance from him will bring this much happiness in her heart. Did she fall for him so badly? Maybe. Or was it because of their connection as fated? Maybe so.
"I'm never letting you go. Never again." His embrace became tighter, refusing to let her go just like he said. "I don't want to see you like that again." Kidd is referring to the state he saw yesterday. She bathes in her own blood, dying. That was a nightmare that he does not want to see ever again.
It was scary, so frustrating. Had he been a second late... No, he refuses to think about it. He does not want to think about what it will be like to see her dead body lying on the ground, lifeless.
Sab can feel his sincerity, she can feel him shaking as he hugs her tightly. Gone are the days that she doubted if he will ever accept him.
"I am human - "
"I don't care." He answered instantly. He used to care but not anymore. What matters is just to be with her. "Forgive me."
"Thank you." That was Sab's answer, making Kidd let her go so he can look at her. Her eyes are telling him that there is nothing to forgive, that she understands and his acceptance is all she needs.
He kisses her again, this time with more passion, more desire, less gentle. She opens her mouth without hesitation, welcoming the probing tongue that wants a taste of what's inside.
The moans soon followed coming from the two of them when their tongues collided, mouth moving accordingly to suck and feel each other's lips in an intense kiss. Her hand reaches his hair, grabbing them, feeling the soft red locks. This action only made him want to deepen the kiss more than it already is, to cross the bridge and perform the ritual, to mark her. That's his desire, but not yet. Not now.
He reluctantly lets her go, growling as he did. Disappointment is written all over Sab's face but he looks away. He must resist the temptation.
"You need to eat before drinking your medicine. Your injuries have not yet fully healed. My blood can only heal the worst of your injuries yesterday."
"Your blood?"
"Our blood has healing properties but only to our mates. There's a risk in giving it to you since we have not mated yet." The idea of mating with him makes her blush but excited. "I only gave you enough to heal the worst of your injuries which is why you must drink the medicine that Chopper prepared."
"I understand. Thank you." She lost consciousness when she was about to be executed, hence she does not know what happened afterward. "What happened to my sisters?"
"They're all safe. Marco healed Ann and she is staying with Chopper at the moment while your other sister is being healed with the help of Vaelon's hot spring." He explains while pushing her to sit on the bed while he gives her the food that the servants prepared.
"And Cresta?"
"Your allies have taken care of it. Most of the enemies are nowhere to be found so they must have deserted the palace."
Sab frowns upon remembering the people who killed their parents. They have not avenged them, and she will make sure that they will pay for what they did.
"Sakazuki's smart to leave along with his main forces. I do not know if it is a coincidence or if it was their plan."
"Sakazuki?"
"I supposed he changed his name over the years, but I am referring to Akainu. That bastard being alive out there doesn't sit well with me. Including Teach."
"Are you saying that - "
"Yes." He interrupted. "Akainu or Sakazuki is after Cresta because he wants to attack Raftel once again. One of the biggest regrets is that we failed to kill them before. But not this time." Kidd can still remember what disaster they brought to Raftel. A disaster that killed many of their people. A betrayal that wounded their hearts. "We will talk more about that once you are healed. Eat and drink your medicine."
"Why do you sound so demanding?" She raises an eyebrow at him.
"I talk like this all the time, now eat. You're a fool for running like that when you're supposed to be resting."
"I can't help it. I woke up with no recollection of how I got here. The last thing I remember was losing consciousness while I was on execution grounds." The word execution grounds made Kidd growl, hating that memory.
She can feel the tension in his shoulders even when they're not physically touching. Was it because of the blood he gave her before?
"After drinking your medicine, take a bath. We need to change your bandages." Kidd said.
That reminds Sab that her clothes have been changed to a blue sleeveless dress that cuts right in the middle of her legs. Who changed her clothes?
"I did." A voice woke her from her musings. When she looked at the man beside her, there's a smirk on his face, looking smug that he guessed what she was thinking. "I changed your clothes." He repeated as if testing how she will react.
She blushed furiously, frowning at him but he only smirks.
"Pervert."
"Do not worry. I didn't look... At least not too much." He shrugs. Sab does not know if she should be mad at him or not. Even if she did, there's nothing she can do anyway. Besides, they're about to mate sooner or later.
The concept of mating just made her curious, but that will wait until it is time.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
'You're back.'
There it is again, the voice in her ears. A day has passed since they arrived here in Raftel. Luffia continues to stay here in Vaelon, constantly soaking under the warm waters of Greendell to heal her wounds. When she's alone, the voice comes back to talk to her.
'You're here again. In my mind.'
'I am glad you are back, Your Highness.'
'I still do not know what is it that you want to tell me.'
'You will know soon enough. The time is near, Your Highness.'
Luffia only frowned. What time is the voice referring to? Even if she asks, she won't have an answer that she wants. He will only tell her words that will make her more confused than she already is.
As soon as she's done soaking, she changed her clothes before she walks back into the palace to ask for more food. Food is essential to recover from her injuries that the servants never hesitated to provide.
Inside, she finds Zoro drinking, as usual, so she sits in front of him. They eat in silence until Luffia decides to break it.
"I want to see my sisters."
"I'll take you there." He answers.
"Will I stay here to continue soaking in the hot spring?" She tilts her head in curiosity. Her wounds have yet to recover but it is not too bad, unlike yesterday. She wonders, will he ask her to leave now?
There's a heavy silence before Zoro opens his mouth to answer.
"Yes. You will stay here for the next few days." He's not aware of why he said that. There should be no reason for Luffia to stay here in Vaelon even though her wounds are already good enough for her to continue recovering in Chopper's manor. He does not dwell on it too much. What's been said has been said. "By the way, I've been curious about this for quite some time now."
"Hmm?" She stops chewing on the meat to look at the green-haired High Prince.
"When you and your sisters left, we never saw any Pegasus missing which had us wondering how you got to the East coast of Raftel without being detected." They've been racking their brains about this for quite some time with no answers until now.
"Oh, that. I asked Kebby for a ride."
"Kebby?"
"Uh-huh." She answers, expecting him to get what she was talking about.
"Who's Kebby?"
"The dog in the Purgatory." It took a while before the thought sinks in.
"Cerberus?!" He shouts in shock.
"Yes. Kebby! I asked him to give us a ride so he did." She shrugs before eating again, leaving Zoro flabbergasted. So many questions circling in his mind, but he remained silent for a little while, trying to form the right questions to ask.
"How did you ask him?"
"I went to the Purgatory and called him, then I asked." This is not the answer that Zoro is expecting or wanted, but this is all he can get.
"Okay. But that doesn't answer why he agreed to your request."
"What do you mean? We're friends, of course, he will agree!"
Zoro still cannot wrap his head at what she answered. Cerberus is a creature tasked to guard the Chinvat Bridge. No one aside from the High Princes and the Peacekeeper can make him agree to all demands, yet, he followed what Luffia asked.
"Don't punish him, okay? He didn't do anything wrong. He just agreed to my request." Luffia looks at Zoro, eyes turn almost like a kicked puppy.
"No, we won't."
"Okay!" She smiles, leaving Zoro still pondering about how in the world did she make the Cerberus agree to her request.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Ann looks at the direction towards Ipraecia, heart beating fast. She is nervous for some reason she can't comprehend.
Ever since they arrived here, she can't sit still. No, it's not about her sisters as she knows they are safe nor was it about Cresta for she knows that Shanks will take care of their people. She is worried about Marco.
There's something in there that bothers her.
"Are you okay?" Robin asks.
"Yes, I am." She answers, frowning.
"You look bothered."
"A little. I mean, there are a lot of things on my mind right now. Our people, our enemies, my sisters, and Marco." She finally admitted. "But mostly I am worried about Marco."
"If you are worried about him, why not go to Ipraecia?"
That made Ann think for a while but there's hesitation in her eyes.
"What's stopping you from visiting him?"
"None..." She trailed off. Indeed, what's stopping her? Maybe because she is a bit embarrassed that after rejecting him, after pushing him away, she ended up being saved by him.
"Remember what you are to him. No one can stop you if you want to see him right now."
"You're right. Maybe I should visit him." She stands up, bidding her goodbye to visit Marco. Her injuries have healed, a short trip to Ipraecia won't be a problem for her.
When she arrives, she can feel the heat coming from the palace. Again, it made her nervous, bothered. This is not the type of nervousness she feels when he's around, it's something different, something bad that she can't explain.
At the entrance of the palace, she was greeted by the creatures of Ipraecia, calling her 'Your Highness'. She greets them back, acknowledging the title. Before she used to believe that it was because of her status as Cresta's Princess, now she knows that they meant it differently.
The guards at the Royal Palace let her in, no questions asked. She walks inside, wondering why Marco's not around.
"Ann!" A familiar voice calls her name.
"Thatch. Izou."
"You're still not fully healed. You should be resting." The red-haired man said.
"I'm fine, don't worry. Chopper's medicine worked like magic. Including Marco's healing." She trailed off again, feeling a little off when mentioning the man's name. Something is really weird. "Where's Marco?"
Their silence only made her feel more awful, nervous, and suspicious - as if they are hiding something from her.
"Marco is a little busy at the moment." Izou answered.
"Can I see him?"
"Unfortunately, not. It's time for his rebirth."
"Rebirth?"
"Once every century, Phoenix goes through a cycle of rebirth and he is no exemption."
"I see... How long does the process take?"
"It depends, but you can see him once he's done." Ann is not sure if it's just her but something is telling her that there's more to know behind Izou's words.
"Okay. I'll be back when he's done with the rebirth." She said. Even though she has so many questions, she decided to keep it to herself. Maybe it is just not the right time to see him.
"Very well."
Ann nods, stepping back to leave. When she's gone, Thatch looks at Izou, not approving of her actions.
"Are you sure we should not be telling her about Marco's situation? She has the right to know what is going on, more than anyone else."
"Marco told us not to tell her and I am simply obeying my High Prince's commands."
"Izou - "
"I already obeyed his command right now. He did not tell us to keep it a secret from her, he told us not to tell her." Thatch is confused at what she meant but after a while, he realized what Izou means.
"Oh."
"If she demands an answer, who are we to disobey? After all, she will be the future High Queen of Ipraecia." This is what she meant. She is obeying Marco's orders by not telling her first. "I just hope that she will. Marco needs her more than anyone else."
That's what they hope now. Especially with the raging blue flames in the waterfall. It's not a good sign for Marco.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
AN: Can't believe I managed to write this within the day. Ugh, it took longer than usual for me to write it but yes... Here's the chapter for this week.
