Bloodlines

Chapter 26

Liza's blue eyes opened up when she heard the sound of a door swinging open. It was followed by footsteps and she glanced to her side to see someone approaching her. Her brows twitched slightly as she tried to figure out who it was.

She didn't know how long she sat there against the wooden wall but she was sure that it had been quite a while. She could feel her limbs were stiff from staying cuffed to that one spot and her wrists ached from the open skin.

"You look better," Aston's voice reached her ears and her eyes briefly widened. He stepped into the room, his cold expression replaced with a calmer look. There was no one else around him and she felt relieved to see him almost back to normal.

"Well, I had to snap myself back to reality or otherwise I won't be able to get us out of here. I can't let something get me down longer than it has to. You know that," Liza said and Aston vaguely nodded, his brows furrowed.

"Liza-san... Where you serious when you said that you would take me back and train me? Would... Would you really do that?" Aston asked, his voice sounding very small and Liza saw the pain on the male's face.

"Of course. Don't think that I'll be easy on you though," Liza teased the male and saw a small smile form onto his lips as a dry chuckle escaped him. Liza wanted to smile back at him, yet she had a nagging thought in the back of her head.

"He controls you, doesn't he?" She said and Aston's eyes widened at her words. "There's no use in hiding it, I can see it. He creeps into your mind and makes you do things for him. I know, since you would never eat a Devil's Fruit even if it made you stronger." He stayed silent.

"Kid, I can help you if you let me. I know that I should leave you to deal with things on your own, but sometimes you need someone to help you." Liza smiled as a redhead crossed her thoughts. Yes, he needed someone just as she needed Shanks.

"We're all there for you. Richie and I are there for you. All you have to do is reach out to us. We're your friends and we would never want you to get hurt. That's why I always kicked the asses of those who mess with you. You mean a lot to us," she said and Aston bit his bottom lip.

"I know... I know! All I wanted to do was get stronger so I can walk beside you and never have to hide my face in shame," he said, averting his eyes to the ground beneath him. Liza gave him an assuring smile and nodded.

"Don't you see? You've already reached that point where you don't have to hide your face in shame. Now, let's go home," she said and held out her cuffed hand. Aston looked back up at her, his eyes quivering.

He hesitantly reached out towards her and swallowed thickly. He knew that she could help him like she always did. He wanted to be with her and Richard and didn't want to go anywhere else. He wanted to work at the bar for as long as he was able to.

"Well, well, well, looks like we have a little rebel here. I was waiting for you to show your teeth at captain. Even after he did all that effort to make you stronger, you stayed a weak willed idiot," Odell's voice reached their ears and Liza's eyes narrowed at him.

He walked out of the shadows, his nose covered in a while bandage and his skin bluish around the area. He had a sick smirk covering his features and his snake tattoo showed proudly at the side of his neck.

"Odell..."

"Hey, broken nose, get out of here. We're having a very important conversation here. You're just as irritating as your captain," Liza snapped at the male and he growled dangerously at her. He was about to slap her through her face but Aston grabbed his hand before he could do anything.

"Don't you dare touch her, you scum," Aston growled angrily at him and threw him back. He stumbled a bit for his balance and then glared at the male. He pulled out his pistol from the back of his pants and Liza's eyes widened.