Law kept his gaze on the door intermittently as he finished his drink only half paying attention to the woman who had seated herself on the barstool beside him. She made her intentions clear as she struck up a conversation with him. She was attractive enough, perhaps he would be able to work out some tension tonight.
His eyes drifted to the door again. Krysta should have returned by now.
"Excuse me a moment," Abandoning the bar Law made his way outside. The crisp autumn air was refreshing as it rolled over him. Surveying the immediate area, he found no sign of Krysta.
Thinking he must have missed her in the crowd he turned to go back inside, halting as a few shadows shifted further down the street. A couple months ago he would have dismissed it as a trick of the light. Now he looked harder and saw a figure clinging to the darkness as they hurried away. It had to be Krysta, and from the direction she was headed she was going back to the docks.
Perhaps she had seen him come out and wanted to avoid him. He glanced back at the bar where the woman was either awaiting his return or moving on. Pulling out his transponder snail, he gave Bepo a heads up he was leaving and followed leisurely after Krysta.
When he reached the sub, Corey greeted him from his lookout position on the upper deck. The majority of the crew would be sleeping in town at the lodge they had booked earlier that day, so there wouldn't more than a handful of people on the ship. Law casually asked if anyone else had returned to the sub. He was mildly surprised when Cory told him Law was the only one.
Law's idle curiosity was now tinged with suspicion. Was Cory covering for Krysta? If he wasn't lying, why would Krysta feel the need to sneak aboard? Had she returned to the ship at all or wandered elsewhere?
Deciding he would check the sub first he made his way inside. Stepping on to the first level he noticed Krysta's door open just a crack and light shining from within. Approaching quietly, he peered inside, seeing Krysta perched on her bed with a child cradled in her arms.
"It's alright little one," Krysta comforted the girl gently, "Those bad men can't get you here. Will you tell me your name?"
"Ch-Christa," the child managed to say after several sniffles and whimpers. Krysta smiled wistfully, stroking the girl's hair.
"What a lovely name. Does your papa call you Chrissy?"
The child looked up at her surprised, "How did you know."
"Lucky guess," Krysta smiled softly "Mé má called me that too because my name is Krysta."
Law's eyebrow rose when he caught the lilt in Krysta's voice as an unfamiliar accent worked its way into her speech. He had heard it in the girl's voice as well.
Christa visibly calmed at the connection they had. "I wanna go home to Papa."
"I promise to take you home but I'm going to make sure no bad men come after you, to do that I'll need you to stay here for a couple days ok?"
Christa sniffled but nodded. Krysta tucked her into the bed. As she smoothed the blanket she began to sing. The words were in a language Law didn't recognize but the smile on the child's face made it obvious that she was familiar with the tune. It wasn't long before the girl was sleeping.
Law stepped into the room and Krysta was immediately on guard, rounding on him with her hand hovering over the hilt of her scimitar.
She looked shocked to see him there when she recognized it was Law. Relaxing slightly, she glanced back at the girl before approaching him.
"What are you doing here?" Krysta whispered when she was close enough.
"That's what I should be asking you." Law's voice was equally low. He moved back out into the hallway and Krysta followed "Explain."
Krysta glanced at the girl again through the door before speaking. "When I went out for air, I passed the alley next to the Ceili. I caught a couple men trying to take her. They were slave traders. Part of a group that's 'hunting' for an upcoming auction on Sabaody."
"How did you know that?" Law's brow raised at the amount of information she had.
"I asked nicely," Krysta responded sarcastically. When she tucked her hair behind her ear Law noticed red stains on her fingers.
"You should have left her there," Law was annoyed at the mess this was bound to become.
"No way, she's a target. I'll take her home when I get rid of the traders." Krysta's determination was unwavering.
"I won't have my crew mixed up in a pointless fight."
"Fine. I had no intention of involving them."
"You are going to take on a group of slavers all on your own?" Law was skeptical.
"Yes," Krysta crossed her arms "I have all the information I need to do it."
"What good will that do you when the men you attacked tonight warn their comrades." Law challenged.
"Dead men tell no tales," Krysta almost laughed at the surprised look on Law's face. "Those scumbags shouldn't even be considered human."
Law knew she was capable of killing, she had claimed as much when he asked. Seeing her immediately after the fact, without a hint of regret in her eyes was thrilling. Knowing this darker side to her actually existed gave Law a rush.
"You're going to get yourself killed," Law's voice was stern.
"It's a risk I'm willing to take," Krysta wasn't backing down, "I can't walk away from this Law, please don't order me to drop it. I don't want to have to break my word, but I will, and I'll fully accept the consequences."
Law sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. These damn Straw Hats and their reckless nature were headache inducing. He supposed he could just cuff her and throw her in a cell until they sailed again, but that would undoubtedly set back any progress he'd made with her.
"We'll go over this plan of yours in the morning, if I don't think it'll work, we won't be attempting it." Law spoke matter of fact.
Krysta blinked at him owlishly, "You're going to help me?"
"I'm not ready to lose a valuable asset," Law's words downplaying his growing attachment to the woman standing before him. "Now let's get some sleep."
"Thank you, Law," Krysta stepped back towards her own quarters, "You go ahead, I'll be fine without sleep for one night. I don't want her to wake up and be frightened."
Law leveled a dark look at Krysta before raising his hand. Krysta tensed when the blue film passed over her but when it disappeared, and she hadn't moved she was confused. After a moment she rushed to open her door. Christa was gone. She turned panicked eyes toward Law. He merely nodded to his own quarters. Rushing over Krysta found the girl sleeping soundly on his sofa.
X~X~X~X
Law sat in the corner of the seedy bar and sipped on his drink, eyes drifting between the doors and the group of men he had identified as the slavers. The plan was rather simple, so long as they were careful. Krysta was bait, she'd make sure the slavers took interest in her and Law would follow when they took her. Once she freed the people they held captive she'd take them down from the inside while Law drew their attention.
They had argued heatedly over Krysta putting herself at risk, but when she challenged him for a better alternative to finding the captives and freeing them without anyone getting hurt, he had to concede. Law wasn't entirely confident Krysta could get the slavers attention in the first place. Her attractiveness was in her simple beauty, her rough personality. These men were probably looking for an outspoken beauty that could be sold as a sex slave. He'd let her try, then they would do things his way.
With that in mind he had to do a double take as Krysta walked into the bar. The form fitting black dress she wore, with its deep v neck and dangerously short hem, left little to the imagination. Her wavy tresses had been pulled back to expose as much skin as the outfit allowed leaving only a couple strands loose to frame her face. The black wedge heels that completed the ensemble gave her a height advantage she normally didn't have and accentuated her toned legs. Their eyes met as she scanned the room and Law subtly gestured toward the group of men they were after. Without missing a beat Krysta wove unsteadily through the tables, giving off the air that she was already drunk. She bumped into one of the men at the table and Law nearly choked when he heard her giggle out an apology before taking a seat at the bar, ensuring there was an open stool on either side of her.
It worked.
All three men exchanged a knowing glance. Only a couple minutes passed before one of them rose and took a seat next to Krysta. She happily engaged in conversation with him, sipping constantly from the drink she had ordered. She assured Law that one drink wouldn't hinder her ability to fight later.
She must have played it right because roughly fifteen minutes later Krysta was leaving with the man, clinging to his arm to 'steady' herself. A few minutes later the rest of the men exited the bar. Law followed quietly after them.
X~X~X~X
Krysta remained limp as she hung over the broad shoulder of one of the slave traders. After coming around the corner of the bar she had feigned a dizzy spell and sat down, pretending to pass out slumped against a wall. She hoped they reached the warehouse quickly; she wasn't sure how long she could ignore the hand groping her ass.
They slowed and Krysta heard the scrape of a large metal door, then the air shifted. The damp must of the seaside warehouse filled Krysta's nostrils.
"Put her with the others, we can sample the goods after we check in with the boss."
"You think Tim and his lot finally made it back?"
The voices faded and when Krysta could no longer hear the extra footsteps, she opened her eyes, gathering what bearing she could from her inverted position. The warehouse was dimly lit, but the towers of crates cast long shadows.
She heard quiet whimpers and looked to the right, seeing a large cage filled with women and children. When the man holding her stopped in front of the cage Krysta made her move. She wound her shadows up his legs and over his mouth silencing his surprise. She braced herself and rolled as his grip vanished and she dropped to the ground. Back on her feet she tightened her shadow grip around his neck until he was limp and lifeless. Digging through his pockets Krysta pulled out the keys she had heard handed off to him. There was a sudden clamor inside the cage, and she quieted the captives with a finger to her lips.
"I'm going to get you out of here," she whispered, "stay quiet and follow my lead."
There was a round of nods from behind the bars and Krysta opened the cage, releasing a half dozen women and children. Abandoning her heels, Krysta led them away from the front entrance, it was too risky to take on all the other slavers by herself and she wasn't sure how close behind Law was. There had to be other ways in and out of the warehouse. Peering around a stack of large crates she finally spotted a door, but it was guarded by a man much burlier that the one that picked her up at the bar. She turned back to the women behind her, each had a child clinging to them.
"I'll get him away from the door then you make a run for it," Krysta told them before doubling back around to the opposite of the crates. Taking a deep breath, she ran out from behind the stack skidding to stop and catching the guard's attention with a terrified gasp. When his eyes were on her she darted back the way she had come. Krysta used the shadows to get on top of the crates as heavy footfalls resounded behind her. When the burly man came into view Krysta jumped, toppling him.
"Go now," Krysta shouted as she wound a shadow around his neck. The man heaved her off him before she could finish and broke her concentration, her shadow falling away. Krysta backed away quickly, putting herself between him and the door as he uncoiled a whip with metal barbs from his hip. Krysta positioned herself under a light and used her shadow to create a replica of her scimitar. The whip raced forward, and Krysta swung her blade, deflecting it. Again, and again the barbs rang as they bounced off her shadow weapon with unnerving speed. Krysta was barely keeping up and her arm was tiring quickly under the heavy whip. She watched the captives get to the door and force it open, she just had to last a bit longer.
A small cry drew Krysta's attention away from the burly man. Looking back, she saw one of the children had tripped, the women helping them panicked and bolted for the door. Krysta heard the whip whistle and when her attention went back to the slaver she saw the weapon heading straight for the child.
Krysta lunged, barely closing the distance enough to catch the whip around her extended forearm. A harsh cry of pain tore from her lips as the barbs dug into her flesh.
"Run", Krysta commanded through grit teeth as she covered her feet in shadow and dug her heals into the concrete, keeping the whip pulled taught. The man looked shocked by her strength but once he'd gathered his wits he pulled in earnest, dragging Krysta slowly toward him. Krysta tried to cut the whip, but her blade bounced uselessly off the coil. The pain was overloading her senses, making it hard to think. She needed to do something before he got his hands on her. Shifting her shadow weapon to a smaller blade she tensed in anticipation to jump. She would only get one shot.
