The Green Eyed Girl

Chapter 3: Thornes of silk and ice

She had felt warm and safe in her dream, wrapped in the soft embrace of a cloud, its gentle warmth hugging her. But reality pulled her back, tugging her toward a harsher truth.

As her bright green eyes fluttered open, she found herself staring up at a peeling, gray-white ceiling in a large, open room. Slowly, she sat up, the luxurious silk sheets slipping from her shoulders as she pulled them up under her arms. The softness clung to her, reminding her briefly of the fleeting comfort she had known in sleep.

But the dream was gone, and the cold reality of her surroundings set in.

Her eyes scanned the room. It had once been grand, she could tell—the tall ceilings, heavy curtains, and fine craftsmanship of the furniture all hinted at a faded elegance. But now, the paint was peeling, and the carpets were worn thin. She blinked, confused. Wherever she was, it wasn't Spring Haven. She knew every house and tree on that frozen island. This place was foreign, unfamiliar.

And then she remembered.

The man with the pink feathered coat.

She had seen him standing over her before she passed out, his cold, knowing smile lingering in her mind. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized: he was real. He had come for her.

Her heartbeat quickened. She had to hide—anywhere but here.

But her legs were weak. She tried to move, but the blood loss, combined with exhaustion, was too much. Her body collapsed with a heavy thud onto the cold, hard floor beside the bed. The impact knocked the air out of her lungs, leaving her gasping in pain. Darkness danced at the edges of her vision, but she fought it, pressing her hand against the bleeding wound on her arm.

"Yonhi-san, I'm sorry..." she mumbled, the name slipping out of her mouth before she could stop it. Her mind was hazy, slipping between the past and present. "I don't know how I got in the bed... please don't punish me..." Tears welled in her eyes, not entirely sure of what was happening.

The door flew open, slamming against the wall with a loud crash.

Doflamingo stood there, his tall frame filling the doorway, his face twisted in a moment of surprise before it quickly returned to its usual smirk. Behind him was the doctor, Dr. Dooms, his eyes widening in alarm as he spotted her on the floor, blood pooling around her arm.

"She's bleeding," the doctor muttered, rushing past Doflamingo toward Vespera's crumpled figure. "Quickly, get her back in the bed."

Doflamingo didn't move from his spot, his eyes locked on Vespera. There was something unreadable in his gaze—curiosity mixed with calculation.

Dr. Dooms worked quickly, grabbing disinfectant and bandages from the small table beside the bed. He knelt beside her, his fingers deftly cleaning the wound. "It's not deep," he said with relief, "but she's lost a bit of blood."

As the doctor's eyes flicked back to Vespera, he noticed a thin layer of frost spreading from her fingertips, creeping across the sheets and glistening under the light. His eyes widened slightly as he continued his examination, his expression growing more cautious.

He hesitated, his fingers pausing briefly. "What... was that frost?" Dr. Dooms asked quietly, keeping his gaze fixed on Vespera's hand. "She's a Devil Fruit user, isn't she?"

Doflamingo's eyes narrowed at the frost, a hint of satisfaction flickering in his expression. It seemed his suspicions were right.

Vespera, however, wasn't listening. Her mind was far away, trapped between memories of the past and the present. Her eyes glazed over as she muttered, "Yonhi-san, please don't punish me. I didn't mean to..." Her voice trailed off, and tears welled up in her eyes, though she didn't understand why.