Author: new chapter, sorry not much of a blurb from me, I have a headache and I'm going to sleep now! Enjoy!
Ai curled snuggly into the soft fabric of her sheets. Her bed was so warm and comfy, unfortunately nothing else was comfy. Her head was pounding suddenly, worsening with just the slightest movement. A small whimper escaped her lips as the pain surged through her. She felt like a fleet of carriages had run her over. " Ow…" She whimpered as she felt like her whole body was spinning. How much did I have to drink last night? She thought
She relaxed slightly as a warm body curled up against her, realizing Stefan must have jumped into bed with her the night prior. Curling into a ball, she willed her headache to go away. She was just starting to relax when she felt a hand brush against her backside.
Stiffening quickly, her eyes shot opening and one thought flashed through her mind. That's not Stefan! Heat flooded her face as she saw the bare chest of a well muscular man pressed against her face. Oh God… She thought hurriedly. Oh God! Oh God! What happened last night?
" Mmm," Ai stiffened at a moaning sound coming from the man beside her. Her face turned bright red as she felt one arm wrap securely around her waist, another around her shoulders and pulled her closer. " Mine." She heard him whisper happily.
Oh no you don't! She thought angrily.
WHAM!
Ace jerked awake suddenly as something hard collided forcefully with his groin. Cupping himself quickly he felt his bed companion scurry away from him. Glancing upwards he saw his Bride glaring angrily over at him.
" What the fuck did you do that for?" He groaned angrily.
" Keep your fucking hands to yourself, lech!" The girl growled, pulling a blanket protectively around her.
" You didn't have to hit me." Ace groaned, pain still shooting through him.
" You should have kept your hands to yourself! Who said you could get into bed with me?"
" Well it is my bed so where else would I sleep." Ace asked.
" Y-YOU'RE BED?" Ai yelled in surprise. " WHY AM I IN YOUR BED?"
" Because that's what a Bride and Groom do." Ace said blankly. " Sleep together."
" S-S-S-SLEEP TOGETHER?" Ai squeaked her face becoming even more red. " WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME YOUR BRIDE?"
" Because you are." Ace said. " You're my Bride, we're soulmates predetermined at birth." He froze at the words the came from his mouth. Since when did he say mushy things like that? He was starting to sound like a certain love sick blonde cook.
" S-So we're married?" Ai spluttered, wondering just how drunk had she been last night.
" Not yet." Ace said calmly enjoying the panicked expressions flashing across her face.
" Not yet?"
" Not until I Change you."
" Wait what? Change me? No way!"
" Of course I'll have to Change you." Ace said. " As a human, you'll expire rather quickly so this is really the best option. Also due to your tiny features you are easily breakable as well. This way, you'll be much sturdier."
What a jackass! Ai thought angrily. Deciding whether or not I change is my decision not his!
" Now," Ace said coolly breaking Ai from her thoughts. " Let's begin." He grabbed her by the ankle and jerked her towards him, pinning her small frame beneath him.
" WAIT! WAIT! WAIT!" Ai yelped quickly. " WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? START WHAT!"
" I'm going to Change you now." Ace said quietly, nipping gently at her neck while sliding his hand down her leg.
" KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF, LECH!" Ai snapped shoving his hand away as it started to move lower.
" I'm not being a lecher," Ace said stroking her back lightly. " I'm being a good Groom in the simple fact that I'm Changing you quickly. It's to keep you safe from my enemies. This way you will at least have a chance at defending yourself against them."
" ME BECOMING A VAMPIRE ISN'T YOUR DECISION TO MAKE, JACKASS!" Ai yelled angrily, feeling tears beginning to swell in her eyes. " IT'S MY DECISION! AND WHAT KIND OF JERK SEDUCES A INTOXICATED WOMAN? ONE WHO CAN'T GIVE HIM A CLEAR ANSWER!"
Ace froze at the sight of the tears in her eyes. " We haven't done…that…yet." He whispered reaching a hand up he gently wiped one eye. She paused at his words, eyeing him suspiciously. " We haven't, you were unconscious and I am not that kind of man. Also, about you making the change…that is your decision to make…just make it soon." He said quietly. " I will not allow someone to take you away. You are my Bride."
" I am not!" Ai said hurriedly. " I never agreed to this!"
" Neither did I but I have to say," Ace ran his slowly down her back and cupped her bottom, earning a surprised squeak from the small blunette. " I'm not hating it."
POW!
Ace jerked back, clutching his nose. His Bride had punched him square in the face. For a human she sure packed a lot of force in her strikes. " I TOLD YOU TO KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF!" He heard her yelled.
" Shit…" Ace grumbled moving his hand to see a small amount of blood. " You're definitely a feisty one."
" I'll do a lot worse if you don't keep your hands off! I'm not some girl for you to manhandle!"
" I wasn't manhandling you!" Ace said slightly offended.
" I told you to keep your hands off me and you just kept touching! That's so fucking disrespectful!"
" Why would you think I'm being disrespectful to you?" Ace asked becoming even more offended. How dare she accuse him of being disrespectful to her. He wanted to Change her to protect her. His father had several enemies out there, along with a few of his own, and once they found out about his Bride being a human girl there would be no stopping them from trying to kill her.
" Just keep your hands to yourself!" Ai said, wrapping the blanket firmly around her. Ace grinned down at her, her stubbornness was appealing…along with the pink blush that appeared on her cheeks.
" Again, why do you believe I do not respect you?" Ace asked angrily.
" I told you not to touch me and you keep doing it!"
" Why wouldn't you want me to touch you?" Ace asked in confusion. He didn't understand her at all. From what he had heard, Brides enjoyed being touched by their Grooms…and visa versa. He definitely enjoyed touching her…except from the groin shot and punch to the face.
He was certain she was his Bride, so why didn't she enjoy his touch? He had the same feelings his father and other men he knew describe when he saw her. A rush of adrenaline, heat, lust…and longing. Longing to wrap his arms securely around her, to bury his face in her hair and inhale deeply.
" I just met you last night and now you're trying to Change me." Ace heard her whisper. " You didn't even bother to ask me if I even want to be a vampire! NO! You just decide for me! I make my own decisions! If I wanted to be a vampire I would have already become one a long time ago!"
Ace just stared at her in confusion. Why wouldn't she want to be a vampire? He reached up to stroke her cheek comfortingly only to have her recoil from him. " You make the decision to Change." He said quietly, watching her longingly. " Just make your decision soon. I won't watch watch my Bride be slaughtered by my enemies."
Ai froze at his words. " Why would they want me dead?"
" Because I claimed you as my Bride. My family has many enemies that wouldn't hesitate to rape and torture you." Ace said watching a terrified look flash across her face. " Once they find out your the daughter of Whitebeard it will only add further flame to their desire to harm you. I'm not telling you this to frighten you…I just want you to be aware of the position you are in."
Ai trembled at his words. She had nothing to do with he father's dealings. She had nothing to do with Gol Roger's dealings or with his son for that matter. She just wanted to be home with her family again. To be safe with them again.
Ace watched as his Bride trembled. He hadn't really wanted to frighten her, he just wanted the depth of the situation to sink. He saw her wrap her arms securely around herself and before he could stop himself he wrapped his own arms around her. He felt her tense up.
" I-"
" I know you don't want me to touch you but just…try to relax." He whispered softly to her. Cupping her face gently with one hand, stroking it softly.
" A-Ace…" He heard her whisper softly. He felt her relax slightly. Stroking her cheek tenderly he revealed in the softness of her skin, that is until his palm brushed against two round scars on her neck. He recognized the scars instantly.
" Who bit you?"
Ai froze at his words, the sound of them made her blood run cold. " What are you talking a-"
" I know what these marks are!" Ace said angrily, brushing his thumb against said marks. " Now who bit you?"
" It's none of your business." Ai mumbled softly.
" Yes it is!" Ace growled, tightening his arms around her. " You're my Br-"
" I HAVEN'T ACCEPTED THAT!" Ace paused as her words struck him.
" Then I'll just have to do everything in my power to get you to accept it." He felt her tense up quickly. " Nothing like that!" He said quickly. " I would never do anything like that to you!"
" You'll bite me eventually."
" To Change you, yes, I will have to bite you."
" I'm never going to let you bite me!" Ai snapped.
" I will in time, there's no changing that." Ace aid suddenly becoming serious. " You will become a vampire."
" YOU SAID IT WAS MY DECISION!" Ai yelled shoving him away.
" I said when you Change would be your decision; you becoming a vampire is non-negotiable." Ace said reaching for her, missing the warmth of her body against him.
SLAP!
Ace blinked in surprise, he didn't know why she kept hitting him but she did. She also took that particular moment to dart out of the room. " WAIT!" He yelled rushing after her, only to find her outside his door, in the arms of Shanks, squirming for freedom.
" Good morning, Princess!" The red haired man said cheerfully. " It's a pleasure running into you like this."
" LET ME GO!"
" I'm afraid I can't just let you run around an unfamiliar place like this all by yourself." Shanks said. " it would be far to dangerous for you. There are-"
WHAM!
Ace laughed as he saw one of his father's strongest commanders, Red Haired Shanks, collapse to the ground, clutching his groin in pain. " Nice, Shanks!" He laughed. " A little human girl just beat you up!"
" Shut up, brat!" Shanks groaned in pain. " Where did she go?" He asked noticing that the blunette had vanished. How the hell did she move that fast?
Ai ran as quickly as she could down the halls, heart racing not just from her speed but from fear. Nothing looked familiar to her. This made her heart race even more, her fear intensify.
Where was her father and brothers? Why had they left her here all alone? Her father would never just abandon her to forcefully become the wife of some man she just met. She had always thought that her family would fight to keep her safe and at home…but now…
" HEY! WATCH OUT!" Ai was snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of a startled feminine voice…just before she collided with a brown blob. The blob turned out to be a girl with short light brown hair and round brown eyes.
" Ow…" Ai whimpered as more the just her head started to throb.
" Are you alright?" The girl asked quickly.
" In a manner of speaking." Ai whimpered.
" You must be new here!" The girl said excitedly. " I've never seen you before! My name is Koala, by the way!"
" A-Ai…"
" Nice to meet you!" Koala said smiling over at her. " Can I ask you something?"
" Um…s-sure?"
" Why are you running around in your night clothes?" Ai looked down to see a long creamy silk night dress where the her green gown the night before had been.
" W-WHEN DID I GET INTO THIS?"
" Oh my! Don't worry, let's go get you changed into something nicer then that. Some lecher might see you and try to have his dirty way with you!" Koala said winking at her before taking her wrist and pulling her down at hall. " You can wear something of mine. You are just a bit shorter than me but I'm sure we can find something to fit you!"
