Hello everyone, here is the next chapter
I know this is late and I apologize. Things have just been hectic the last week
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Ace gave a small sound to himself, waiting out on deck to go to the woods at the island they were docked at. Ace was nervous, more so than what he had been in a long while. Pops was currently speaking to those who had duties tonight and they could spare for an hour or so, to join Ace in his warm meal, to make sure nothing happened. Ace did understand why Pops wanted to have someone join him, in case something like last time happened. Ace didn't want that to happen again, but he didn't want to have anyone with him either. Ace was barely comfortable with drinking from blood bags with someone around, and it would be much worse as he would need to drink from a living animal with someone watching. Ace would try his best to handle this, for Pops.
After a few more minutes, Rakuyo came up to him. "I'm going with you tonight, Ace. Want to head out now?" Ace gave a nod. He wanted to go now, having waited for this for 2 weeks, looking forwards for some warm blood again. Rakuyo gave a nod, and motioned for the plank to leave the ship, and they headed off, going into the woods. Ace didn't want to go with someone, but he would do his best to be okay with this. He didn't want any accidents happening again. And, he was a bit glad it was Rakuyo. Ace liked the man; he was kind and his friend, Ace knew him a bit. It would have been worse if it was someone he wasn't as familiar with.
Ace could do this.
After they had walked a bit into the woods, Ace tried to not think about the fact Rakuyo was here, to do this as normal as he could. When they got a bit into the woods, Ace stopped and closed his eyes, smelling the air, trying to find a scent to a horse, deer, elk, or something of that size. After a few seconds, he got the scent of a deer, and opened his eyes, walking the way the scent was, half-aware Rakuyo was there, but tried to ignore that. He was glad the seventh commander didn't speak, letting him do this his own way. When Ace could see the deer in front of him, being with a few more close by, Ace heard Rakuyo's footsteps stop, feeling him staying back, most likely seeing the animals himself and didn't want to scare them.
Ace looked at the deer when it looked up, trapping it with his powers, looking directly in its eyes. When Ace was sure the deer wouldn't escape, Ace walked up to it, moving a hand along its neck, before moving and biting down, instantly feeling the relief of fresh and warm blood, satisfying his need for warm blood just barely as it was animal the blood flow stopped a few seconds later, Ace let go, liking his lips. Ace looked up, sensing a deer was still close by, and wanted to go and get that one too. It had been a while since he had gotten warm blood, and he had had the injury last month, meaning he was extra hungry.
But, when he heard footsteps, he remembered Rakuyo was here, having forgotten that in the moment.
Ace closed his eyes, closing his mouth and concentrating on getting the red eyes and fangs away, going to tell himself this was it, that he wouldn't get more blood tonight. He didn't want to keep the commander from his duties or need to watch this too much. Ace was sure the man didn't like this.
When Ace stood up, having moved down to his knees when the deer lost its strength, Rakuyo was walking up to him, a small frown at his face. "What do you do with the body?" Ace gave a small sound, looking at the dead deer. "I usually just leave it. Other animals usually eat the body..." Ace wasn't sure if the man would be happy with that explanation, but hoped. Rakuyo gave a nod, frown going away. "I see. You're probably right. I'm sure there are other wild and predatory animals here." Ace just gave a nod, not going to tell he had smelled animals like lions, boars, and such ones that ate other animals, not wanting to make the man uncomfortable. They then started to head back to the boat, it being around a twenty-minute walk.
As they had been walking for a few minutes, Ace sent a small look at Rakuyo, before speaking. "Thank you for coming with me, Rakuyo." Ace almost gave an apology too, sure this had to be something no one wanted to do. Who would want to see a vampire eat an animal? No one liked vampires in general, it had to be worse seeing them eat from something living. Rakuyo gave a small chuckle. "Nah, it was nothing, Ace. I'm glad I got to join and nothing out of the ordinary happened."
Ace blinked. Did he hear right? Had he said that nothing out of the ordinary had happened? Did Rakuyo call what he did normal?
Ace couldn't help but give a smile, glad the man had said that. It made him feel a bit better about this, this being called normal. Maybe Ace wasn't that weird or a monster, not in Rakuyo's eyes at least. Ace gave a small nod. "Yeah." Ace saw the man having a smile, which had Ace glad. He didn't seem uncomfortable at all.
Ace could do this as long as Rakuyo acted like this was normal. It felt good that someone viewed this as normal.
-x-
Marco gave a small frown, looking around, feeling something. It took the first commander a few seconds, not having felt this in a while, but soon recognized what he felt. He felt small fear, his phoenix being wary. Not just wary because of normal fear, but from the fact it was scared of a predator, and Marco looked to his left when he heard some talking, seeing Ace and Rakuyo walking on board of the ship, the feeling growing stronger when he saw Ace, who did look normal.
Ace was clearly not satisfied, although he looked normal. Marco's phoenix told him Ace was hungry.
Marco gave a small sigh inside himself. He was sure Ace hadn't eaten all what he needed, seeing as Rakuyo was with him. Ace was probably uncomfortable, and knowing the fact he could have eaten more, being close to more warm blood he could eat from the animals had Ace hungry for more.
Marco saw Ace say something to Rakuyo, before he left, most likely to hide in his room, knowing he was hungry and would try and repress it. As Ace was gone, Marco got Rakuyo's attention and asked how it had gone, the seventh commander telling it had gone fine and had been interesting to watch, Ace seeming to trap the animal, a deer, in his gaze and walking up to it, biting it. The animal hadn't even seemed in pain, which was good.
As Marco had information on what Ace liked, seeming to be deers. Marco knew the island had many other animals, and Ace had gone after a deer apparently. Marco bid his farewell to Rakuyo, before he went to Pops, telling what he wanted to do, sensing Ace was still not satisfied, and Ace should be that. It wasn't good to go hungry, and they didn't want anyone to go hungry. Pops did agree on his plan, and Marco left to find Ace.
They would make sure Ace knew he should never go hungry, that he should never be afraid to eat what he needed.
-x-
Ace sat on his bed, trying not to think of the fact they were still this close to the island, to where there were deer and other animals he could drink from- which would help his thirst that was still there- but Ace could manage. He just needed to try and not think of it, try and pretend he was fine. He had gotten one deer; that had to be enough. He could survive on that.
As Ace was about to try his best to head to sleep, to ignore his hunger, there was a knock at his door, and when Ace opened it, he saw Marco.
Ace blinked, not sure what the man wanted, especially this late. "Marco? Is there anything wrong?" Marco shook his head. "No, yoi. I just thought, if you're not too tired, if you would join me for a stroll. Pops wanted me to check the island out." Ace gave a small nod, not sure if he should say yes or not. Being on the island meant he would be closer to the animals there, but it might also get his mind off everything as he enjoyed the walks he had had with Marco at times, although they were usually on the boat when Marco had night shift and Ace couldn't sleep and was out.
After thinking about it for a few seconds, Ace gave a nod and smile. "Yeah, that sounds nice." Marco gave a nod. "Good, yoi. Let's go." Marco made a motion with his head before he walked, Ace following. A stroll would be nice, and it would hopefully get his mind off of everything.
They walked off the boat, Ace was glad to get some fresh air, even though he had just been out. But, this felt more relaxed, which was good.
They walked around for a while at a slow pace, close to the small village there, before heading a bit into the woods, talking about random things. As they were walking around, Ace forgot his hunger, just enjoying this, the calmness of the night outside, which was good. After they had been walking around for about forty-five minutes, Marco gave a small sigh and looked at him. "Ace, yoi." Started the man, making Ace look at him and give a hum, making the man continue.
"Why didn't you eat until you were satisfied?" Ace blinked, halting in his steps a bit. Marco had noticed? How?
Ace grasped his other hand with his hand, half grasping it, not sure what to say. "Why… Why do you think I'm not satisfied?" Marco gave a look at him. "My phoenix felt your hunger, yoi." Ace gave a slow nod, not knowing that. He felt a bit guilty now, knowing he had hid it, but not wanting to eat more in front of Rakuyo. "I'm not that hungry..." Tried Ace, hoping Marco would leave it be. Marco gave a sigh, turning to look at him. "It's not on how hungry you are, but the fact you are. I don't care if it's just a tiny bit, yoi. You shouldn't go hungry, not when we are this close to something for you to eat."
Ace gave a slow not, glad the man cared as much, but not knowing if he should ask if he could go and get something more to eat, not sure if the man would be comfortable with it. But, it didn't seem as if he needed to make the decision himself, Marco speaking up. "We're in the woods, far away from both the shore and village, yoi. Why don't we go and find something for you. Maybe another deer." Ace blinked. Had Marco spoken to Rakuyo? How else would he know it was a deer.
Ace gave a small sound, looking at marco. he wanted that, but didn't know for sure. "I-. We don't need to. You don't need to do this with me." Marco shook his head. "I want to, yoi. I'm your big brother, meaning I will watch out for you, as I do with everyone else. No one goes hungry if we can avoid it." Ace blinked, before giving a smile at hearing what Marco said. Marco said he was just as everyone else, meaning he didn't find this weird or disgusting, seeing as he was a vampire. It helped some of his doubt go away, and Ace gave a nod. "Okay."
Marco gave a small chuckle, making a motion with his head to the dense forest. "Why don't you lead the way, yoi. I'm sure you can smell the deer out better than me." Ace gave a nod, and closed his eyes, concentrating. He was still uncomfortable with this, but Marco's still-calm-and-normal demeanor helped a lot, making him still feel sort of normal, not like a weirdo or a monster, as he had been told by others. Marco was a good friend and brother.
After a few seconds, Ace found the scent of a deer and sensed it, opened his eyes, and walked towards where his senses told him to go, soon seeing the deer in the distance, his night-vision being really good because of the vampire traits. He did feel Marco stop following him as Ace approached the deer, most likely seeing or feeling it himself. Marco had to have really heightened senses from his phoenix, and it made it easier for Ace to trap the deer in his gaze and go up to it and biting it, Marco being a small distance away.
As soon as he bit into the deer, Ace felt the warm and fresh blood pool in his mouth, satisfying him more. It was a big deer, which helped, and when Ace was finished, he felt satisfied, much more so than before.
When Ace had finished drinking the blood, no more coming out of the wound in its neck, Ace opened his mouth and licked his lips, using a hand to wipe at his mouth to be sure he got everything away. When Ace stood up, he heard Marco walking up to him, and Ace turned to the man, the man still looking like he bored self, even feeling completely normal. Did Marco really not have a reaction to him drinking from a deer? Wasn't it weird? Marco didn't seem to think so.
Marco gave a small smile to him. "Satisfied, yoi?" Ace gave a nod, giving a smile. "Yeah. Thank you." Marco gave a small chuckle. "It's nothing, yoi. Want to walk around a bit more, or do you want to head back?" Ace thought for a few seconds. He wanted to walk a bit more, but wasn't sure if Marco wanted that, maybe just asking to sound nice. "Maybe walk around a bit more?" Ace knew it came out as a question, which he tried to avoid, but didn't manage apparently. Marco gave a nod. "Then we can walk around a bit more, yoi. Pops is not expecting us back for another hour or two anyway."
Ace gave a smile and nod, walking up to Marco and the two heading to continue their stroll. Ace liked it. It felt normal, it made him feel normal.
It felt nice to feel normal for once.
-x-
Ace gave a breath as he was handed the blood bag from Bay, the doctor moving to do other stuff, knowing Ace didn't like to be watched when he drank.
Ace was getting more used to it, especially after the whole incident where he was injured and kind of had to, but still didn't like it. He could handle this though; drinking while Bay was in the room, not looking at him. And, it was easier for both as he could just hand the bag back and move on, Bay also knowing he drank it and everything. As Ace was sure Bay was busy with something, Ace opened his mouth and bit down into the blood bag.
But, a second later, the moment the blood got into his mouth, Ace let go of the blood bag and started coughing, feeling the blood somewhat choking him at the horrid taste.
As Ace coughed, wanting to get rid of the foul taste, which he knew what was, and the fact the shock made a bit of the blood go the wrong way, Bay was soon there and clapped him on the back. "Portgas?" Asked the doctor, sounding a bit concerned by this, which had never happened. When Ace managed to stop the coughing, most of the taste and the shock gone and he managed to just shut his lungs off, Ace moved the blood bag up to his face and smelled it, to be sure he was right, it not just being old, or stale, or anything.
And, Ace had tasted right. The blood was poisoned. Someone had poisoned the blood.
It wouldn't work on him, sensing it was 'normal' poison. One needed a specific kind to kill vampires with poison. That means this was here to poison Pops. Someone was trying to poison Pops. Ace looked at Bay, who still looked at him in small worry at the reaction. "The blood; it's poisoned." Bay frowned, before looking shocked. "You sure?" Ace gave a nod, using a hand to wipe a bit of the taste away from his tongue. "It tasted just like it." Bay gave a frown. "How do you know what poison tastes like?"
Ace gave a small fidget. "People have tried to… poison my food. But, I don't react to normal… human poison." Bay gave a nod, looking like she was thinking. "Can you smell the poison through the packs?" Ace gave a small sound. "Umm. Maybe…? Depends on bags and such." Bay gave a nod, looking at him. "Can you try and see how many other bags are poisoned? Or if it's just this one?" Ace gave a nod. He would try to do that.
They walked to the medicine room and Bay handed him a few bags, which Ace smelled at, finding the first few clean. But, the fifth one smelled funny again. "This one is poisoned." Bay gave a nod, before grabbing another one a bit away and in the cabinet. "This?" Ace smelled it, and shook his head. "No." Bay gave a nod and grabbed one from the front, Ace unsure why she was grabbing them from different places. When Ace smelled it, he gave a nod. "It's poisoned." Ace gava small frown. "It smells really well too. Like, someone has messed with them." Bay gave a nod, and looked at the blood bag, getting a stoic look as she peeled something off the top of the bag; a small tape piece. Ace knew what that meant, knowing these wouldn't have that.
Someone had snuck in and poisoned the blood, injecting it into the packs. Someone was trying to poison Pops.
Bay looked at him. "Place the poisoned ones at the bench; the good ones stay in the cabinet." Ace gave a nod, and Bay left, most likely to tell Pops and maybe check the man. What if Pops had gotten a bad bag? After a few minutes, Ace having found out most in front, the ones which would be used first, were poisoned, the door opened and Marco came inside. When the first commander did, he blinked at the pile at the bench. "That many, yoi?" Ace gave a nod. "It's the ones in front mostly." Marco gave a nod, a frown at his face as he lifted one bag and looked at it, finding the small tape and peeled it off, the frown deepening. "Do you know what kind of poison, yoi?"
Ace thought for a few seconds, before he decided to find out. He could half remember the taste. Ace took the bag Marco held, and made a drop fall on his finger from the small hole, before taking the finger in his mouth, thinking more of the taste.
"Hey!" Said Marco shocked, probably not expecting him to actually taste it, maybe only smell it. Ace shook his head. "We're immune to normal poison." Marco gave a nod, looking to calm a bit down at that. Ace forgot people generally didn't know much about vampires. Ace thought of the taste. It tasted like… bitter almonds? Ace's eyes widened when he recognized it, looking at Marco.
"It's cyanide."
Marco frowned. "Are you sure, yoi?" Ace gave a nod. "Yeah. I've tasted it before." Marco's frown deepened at that, and Ace gave a small fidget as he explained. "People have tried to use it on me before..." Marco got an understanding look. "I see. It really doesn't work on you?" Ace gave a nod. "Really." There did exist poison that worked on him, but they were thankfully rare.
Marco gave a nod. "We can't tell anyone, yoi. This is going to stay between you, Bay, Pops, and I. To ensure no one will be suspicious." Ace gave a nod, a bit surprised they would even hide it from all of the commanders. When Ace was finished checking every bag, Marco deposing of the bad ones, Bay came back. "Pops might have gotten one bad bag, but that's easily treated as there are only small dosages in each, to make sure we wouldn't notice as it would have gone too fast. I will still administer a small treatment of antibiotics."
Marco and Ace gave a nod, Marco telling Bay it was cyanide, which had her change the treatment to a sodium one, which would work better. Marco and Bay decided Ace would check every bag Pops would get until they catch the one who did it, also going to only have Thatch prepare the food for Pops. They needed to catch who ever this was.
Someone on the ship was trying to kill Pops.
And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed
Ace is getting more used to everything and people are also getting used to everything, as well as stuff are starting to happen. A small cliff-hanger this time
I also apologize the chapter is a bit short, but my schedule have been full the last weeks and still are somewhat full, meaning I'm not sure if the next chapter will be up in time. That being said. For those who reads Black Heart, it will hopefully come out this weekend, but I make no promises. I'm just really busy now. Sorry
Beta Reader: I'm also very sorry for any delays due to being unable to edit, but my schedule is also loaded. Sorry ;A
If you have the time, I greatly appreciate feedback