Whispers of the Heart's Blade (ONE PIECE LAW & FEM & ZORO)

16

Lila's consciousness slowly emerged from the depths of darkness, her body twitching as her senses returned. The dull throbbing in her head matched the rhythmic rocking beneath her. Blinking rapidly, she took in her surroundings—a dimly lit room with wooden walls that creaked in response to the ship's movements.

"Easy now," a voice coaxed, and Lila's eyes locked onto a figure seated beside her.

She tried to move, only to realize that her wrists were bound by heavy chains, securing her to a chair. Panic surged within her, but the sight of the man before her quelled it slightly—a man with a mask concealing his face, his demeanor oozing confidence.

"Who are you?" Lila's voice trembled, fear and confusion mingling in her eyes.

A slow, mocking smile spread across the masked man's lips. "Let's just say I'm someone who's been looking for you, Elara."

Lila's heart raced, her mind racing to comprehend the situation. "That's not my name. I'm sorry you have the wrong person."

The man's chuckle was sinister, sending shivers down her spine. "Oh, Elara, I know much more than just your name. I know who you really are."

As the tension in the room thickened, Lila's voice wavered. "What do you want from me?"

The man leaned forward, his masked eyes fixed on her with unsettling intensity. "Answers, my dear. Answers that only you can provide."

Lila's brows furrowed, confusion evident in her expression. "Answers? About what?"

The man's voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "About your past, your family... about the night they were taken from you."

A surge of emotions—grief, anger, and a resounding need for answers—flooded Lila's senses. "I don't understand."

The man leaned back, his mask concealing any expression that might betray his intentions. "Let's just say I have a history with your family."

Lila's heart pounded in her chest, a realization slowly dawning upon her. "I'm sorry? I don't have a family."

The man's laughter held a cold edge, devoid of remorse. "Oh, indeed you do. I watched as your father's empire crumbled, as your family was reduced to nothing."

Anger surged within Lila, her voice laced with venom. "And what? You came to finish the job?"

The man's gaze bore into her, his smile twisted with malevolence. "Precisely."

Lila's eyes blazed with a mixture of defiance and desperation. "Why? Why come after me now?"

The man's lips curled into a sinister grin. "Because you were the only one who got away. I thought the fire would consume you along with your family. But here you are, alive and well. You know I was very surprised to see you, that night at the pub. All this time I thought you were dead but you look just like your mommy."

As dread settled like a heavy weight in Lila's chest, she fought to regain her composure. "What do you want from me?"

The man's tone grew mocking. "Oh, Lila, I want to give you the gift of a slow and agonizing death. A fitting end for the last remnant of a fallen dynasty."

Lila's heart raced, terror and anger warring within her. And then, without warning, the man signaled his men, who grabbed Lila, shackles and all, and dangled her over the edge of the ship.

Her breath caught, her vision blurring as the wind howled around her. Desperation surged within her, and she pleaded, "Please, just tell me why. Why my family?"

The man's cold laughter echoed in her ears as the world seemed to spin around her. "You're about to find out."

And with those haunting words, Lila's body plummeted into the unforgiving embrace of the ocean, her thoughts a jumbled mess of memories, questions, and an overwhelming determination to uncover the truth.

Before the water swallowed her, a fleeting touch of her chains triggered a surge of power, and in the midst of the chaos, a vivid memory materialized before her—the image of her family's castle, engulfed in flames, the chilling laughter of the man who had haunted her for so long ringing in her ears.

And as her consciousness faded, the memory of that laughter was the last thing she heard before darkness claimed her once again.

**To be continued...**