So I finished another chapter and thought it wouldn't harm to give you this chapter this week. Please enjoy it.
Lucinda nodded. It had been clear to her that Ace loved his brother and would do anything for him and the same goes for Whitebeard. To see both badly wounded, Luffy even kept alive by machines, would mess up the mind of Ace. Marco and Thatch could properly hold him down, but it would be better, if there was more to ease the upcoming situation.
"Lu…" Marco looked at her.
She had been avoiding him for days, and now she was down here. Whitebeard was awake and she smiled to him. As Rayleigh went in, Marco and Thatch frowned, while Whitebeard looked surprised. Lucinda walked straight over to Ace.
"Can we do something about that?" Lucinda pointed to the era where Luffy lied.
Shanks found some curtains and make sure to hide Luffy's presence for Ace, who was starting to wake up. His eyes slowly opened and he blinked a few times. He felt pain and dizzy. A straw was held to his mouth and he drank. Fresh cold water filled his mouth. He gazed around, trying to focus and remember. His thoughts still blur. Suddenly he came to realize what had happen. He looked at Whitebeard and was ready to jump up, but a firm hand held him down.
"Now, now Fire Fist. Don't get worked up. Just take it easy," said a calm and smooth voice.
Ace blinked and looked to his right, just to see a beautiful and young red-haired woman. She smiled to him and he blushed, which caused Thatch to chuckle. Ace snapped his head around and looked angry at Thatch, only to be reminded of what happened to Thatch a few months ago.
"It's alright Ace. We are fine," said Whitebeard.
"Luffy …" He trailed off.
"Is going to be just fine. Don't you worry –yoi," said Marco.
Ace tried once more to get out of bed, but the woman was too strong for him. Wait why was that so? He couldn't even burn her. He gazed at her again, with slight pink cheeks.
"So cute," whispered Shanks high enough for all to hear.
"Shanks … Don't tease the sick," said Lucinda with a cold voice.
"Sorry Lu." Shanks bowed his head.
"How are you Fire Fist?" she spoke in a soft tone.
"Uhm, dizzy and confused. What happened?"
"She saved our butts. After taking down Akainu and Kizaru, she wiped down the rest. Don't ever get on her bad side –yoi," said Marco lazily.
"But it was a white-haired woman who saved me?" Ace was confused.
"It was me. Let me introduce myself, Fire Fist. I'm Lucinda and I'm a vampire, due to a Devil's Fruit," she smiled.
"A vampire?" Ace looked first horrified and then suspicious. "Why would you safe us?"
"Because of your heart," she smiled.
Ace tried to back away from her, fearing for his life. Lucinda kept smiling as Thatch bursted out in laughter. Marco and Shanks shook their head and Rayleigh smiled. Whitebeard looked amused. Oh Lucinda sure knows how to play on the fear of vampires.
"She means we are good-hearted men worth saving. She's a friend of Oyaji –yoi," said Marco.
Ace's mouth formed an 'O' and he looked excused at Lucinda.
"Sorry for playing with your mind, Fire Fist," she said.
"Ace," he said.
"Oi Ace. If you let her call your name, it is the same as saying 'I-trust-you'," said Thatch.
"You can call me Ace. Oyaji trusts you," said Ace.
"I'm pleased. If you want, you can call me Lu. I'll show you my vampire form, so please don't get scared," she smiled.
Ace nodded and she turned. Her long red hair became white, her eyes red and her corner teeth long and sharp. Ace was stunned and he reached for her hair, slowly letting his finger slipping through it. Shanks gasped at Ace's attempt, knowing how long it took him to get to touch her hair. However Lucinda let him, as she kept looking into the eyes of Ace.
"I'm glad you woke up. Be assured that you are safe here," she said.
Ace nodded automatically. Lucinda took her hand of his arm and looked shortly at Shanks, before she turned back to her human form.
"If you feel better tomorrow, I'll let you see your brother," she said.
"Is he really going to be fine?" Ace looked at her with pleading eyes.
"He is. As Ed and you," she smiled.
Ace sighed in relief and gazed at Whitebeard, guilt writing all over his faces. Thatch looked ashamed, couldn't looked Ace in the eyes, as Ace gazed over him and Marco. Thatch felt as guilty as Ace for all this mess. Lucinda sighed and stood up.
"I'm going to the town when we hit land and seek out some information. If Blackbeard survived, I'll know and I might find out where he is. I do not know his plan, but I can find out. However that will be your call Ed. I don't want to mingle, but to see a man betray his friends like this is something I just can't let go by. Especially when he betrays my friends too. I know it's not my revenge to take, but only yours Ed. If you want my help, you know I'll help," she said.
"Lu…" Thatch looked at her.
"I will consider it Lu. There is no one else to blame than me, since I let him join my crew," said Whitebeard.
"Oyaji …" Thatch and Ace looked at him.
"The nature of human can be hard to read my friend. We can all make mistakes," she said.
"She is right. To put blame on someone doesn't make things better. What is done is done. It's all about how we advance, learn and change," said Rayleigh.
Lucinda smiled and walked over to him and hugged him. "You have become so wise Rayleigh," she smiled and kissed his cheek lightly.
"Age does that to one I guess," he smiled to her.
"It does," she smiled.
"Why didn't you warn me, Lu?" asked Whitebeard.
"How could I? You wouldn't have listened either way. Besides just because he has a dark side, I couldn't tell what he had in his mind. Like Roger, he is hard to read. I'm not perfect. I also have flaws," she said.
"I'm lost once more," said Ace.
"Lu can read people well. In fact she can almost read one's mind. But as she said, she is not perfect and some people are harder to read than anyone else. Let us not put blames on anyone, but think how to solve this mess," said Rayleigh.
"You're right Dark King. I want to know what you can find out Lu, but don't go after him," said Whitebeard.
"Of course my friend. Just promise me to take care of yourself," she smiled.
"I will. After all you just gave me three more years," he smiled.
Hope you like it. Please leave a review.