After the incident in the kitchen Savenna was treated like a piece of china, and she'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it. Sophia finally brought her meals, cleaned her room and helped her dress when she wasn't strong enough to do it herself.
During her recovery, the doctor visited her every morning with new pills and herbs for the pain. When she was able to walk again she started seeing less of him. More people were getting sick. Or at least that's what she deduced from the emergency calls in the middle of the night. The island authorities hadn't been informed yet but if the number of patients kept growing they would have no other option than letting the cat out of the bag.
Savenna would have cared about that before. But now that Magdalena had moved in to look after her, she was busy catching up. They spent their days chatting, gossiping about everyone in the house and reading Savenna's favorite pirate books. The governess even told her about her brother who had become a pirate shortly after Gol D. Roger's death, and got her to Flevance on one of his ships. "What's his name? Is he in any of the books?
"His fame eventually died with him in Impel Down," Magdalena said, bent over her sewing. Savenna couldn't help notice the look she shot at her from time to time, as if surprised she was listening at all. The attack did have a calming effect on her, or as her mother put it, made her too weak to remain the eternal center of attention.
When the school holidays started, Savenna tried to remember how much time had passed since the night at the hospital. The days had started melting into one and sometimes she even forgot what date it was. One morning she skulked up at Magdalena from behind her hand of cards. She had let her win three times in a row and she doubted that she could pull it off again without the governess noticing.
"What is it, Miss?"
Savenna gave up and killed Madgalena's queen with an ace of spades. "I'm sure the other girls in school are all pretty and grown up. And I'm just sitting here rotting toward my doom."
The governess sighed. "Don't be so dramatic, Miss. I'm sure it will all be the same when you come back." Savenna rolled on her back preparing another tirade of heated jealousy, when suddenly Madgalena chuckled.
"What? I'm not in the mood for fun."
"I think there's someone outside who's too shy to knock," the governess said. "Come on in. We won't bite."
Slowly, Law mushroomed into the doorway. Traditionally, he was staring at the floor, lifting his gaze only when he was sure she wasn't looking.
"How nice to see you, Law! Why won't you join us?" Magdalena sounded way too nice for Savenna's taste but the boy still flinched awkwardly, observing Savenna as if trying to find out how much trouble he was in. When none of the leftover food on her tray was flying his way, he finally approached. "What are you playing?"
"Logue Town Joker. You know how to play?" Savenna asked. It was easier than saying sorry for starting the fight. Law nodded.
"Good," Savenna stated. "I always win, just so you know." That didn't seem to bother him and the three of them began to play. Magdalena dropped out first, losing all of her cards to Savenna, and Law was the only opponent left. He's good, Savenna begrudged. She wanted to beat him so badly she put all her energy in predicting his every move. It took him ten minutes to earn her cards and her outrage. "Looks like I won…"
"For now," she snapped before smiling at him with colorless lips and redistributing the deck. "Rematch." Three rounds later they were playing so fast, Madgalena had given up trying to follow the game and left them to it.
When Savenna was finally one point ahead, she caught a hint of a smile on his face. "We play this game in medical school. It's supposed to make us think faster. But none of them play as well as you do."
Savenna didn't pretend to be surprised. "My father's friends taught me how to play. They lose their money to me every time."
Law lowered his cards. "I'm really sorry about what happened. I was so angry but I never meant… for you to get hurt."
Savenna forgot what she was about to say. She hadn't seen that one coming. Honesty wasn't her domain, and she had no idea what to do with it. "I will make it up to you," he added. The gray of his orbs had turned dark and there he was again, the villain with the dead squirrels and the skeleton on the wall. "I will make the spots go away before they can hurt you again."
Law's determination was that of a dog clutching a bone. The difference with his father was as clear as day. The doctor treated her out of fear. Law did it because it was a problem he couldn't solve. And there was no problem too complicated for him. That was the first time it occurred to her that he could be in fact as stubborn as she was. Suddenly she regretted lying to him.
No, guilt never gets you anywhere. Terrifying or not, she had him where she wanted him. People either adored, feared or were compelled to do things for her. Law fell into the last category and maybe one day she would make use of that. Delighted with the thought of having someone terrifying under her charm, she coated her voice in an additional layer of sugar. "Don't worry, I forgive you." The instant relief on his face surprised her. She cleared her throat. "How come you want to become a doctor, anyway?"
"I… want to go to sea."
"You don't have to be a doctor to do that, silly. Just become a pirate."
Law shook his head. "That's not the only reason. People here have my father, they won't need my help. I want to treat those who don't have anyone, or no money to pay a real doctor. I want to help them win if no one else will."
"Win against what?"
"Death," he replied soberly. She should have have made fun of the noble cause but for some reason she didn't.
The next time someone sneaked around Savenna's door, she was beginning to get tired of it. "I can hear you, you know. If you're not Sophia with that disgusting medication, come on in!"
Lamie's sheepish little figure appeared in the mirror of her dressing table.
The only thing Lamie shared with her older brother were the big gray eyes that, unlike his, carried no mystery whatsoever. Savenna was quite surprised to see her, as she had even less courage than Law when it came to knocking on doors.
She felt weaker only by looking at her. But following Madgalena's threats of no more books with blood and gore on the cover, she forced herself to be nice. "How nice to see you, Lamie. What can I do for you?"
"I… wanted to see what your room was like. Everyone is talking about how pretty it is."
"Thank you! I had most of my things moved here so the room felt less… antique." Lamie's wide eyes contemplated the decor before stopping on Savenna's dressing table, covered in colorful ribbons, barrettes, brushes and jewelry she kept in an open box for everybody to admire. "Do you like my collection?"
Lamie nodded before staring at her feet again. Savenna stifled her annoyance. "So do you want to try them on or what?" She was somewhat offended when Lamie recoiled as if something evil had just jumped out of the closet. "My mother wouldn't want me to. She says I'm too young."
Savenna made a face. "Don't you know not to listen to… Never mind. There is nothing wrong with a girl wanting to look pretty. Come here." Furiously ignoring what felt like compassion, Savenna busied herself with putting on her gloves and let Lamie climb the chair next to her
Somewhat astounded, she watched as the older girl brushed through her hair, tried not to cough as she made her dive into a cloud of powder, and finally smiled as old, shiny stones illuminated her face. "See? Nothing bad happened."
Human-doll-Lamie was a pleasant distraction and Savenna was quite proud of herself. Fun had triumphed over humble education. She wondered if she could make a sport out of this before Magdalena accused her of corrupting people. She had to admit she liked watching Lamie dance around like a tiny version of herself. Decided to follow her example, she smiled approvingly at her shaky knees which seemed to have regained some of their old strength.
"Are you all right, Sava?" From the other side of the room, Lamie was watching her with childish concern.
"My name is Savenna, silly. And yes, I'm perfectly fine." Even if she weren't, little Lamie would have been the last person she would tell.
"I know…" she smiled. "But can I call you Sava?"
"Why?"
"Because if I call you by a nickname it means we are friends." Savenna raised a questioning eye-brow, then conceded. "Fine, call me whatever you want, as long as you're careful with those jewels. That's Teacher's yearly salary hanging around your neck."
Lamie didn't seem to care about that. "When I grow up, I wanna be just like you! You're the prettiest and the nicest girl I know."
"Yeah, right…" She might be getting a bit ahead of herself there. Savenna decided to ignore the comment when the girl added, "Now I understand why brother studies so hard to make you well. He must like you a lot too."
Immediately Savenna refocused. "Why would you say that?" Her legs stiffened and the white mark on her chest gave her a teasing, painful pinch. Lamie tilted her head with a questioning look. "You didn't know? He's barely left his room since you arrived. He's trying to make a cure."
Savenna swallowed hard. Law had made a promise. She didn't think he was actually planning on keeping it. But knowing Lamie, she must be very much mistaken. Law despised her as much as she despised him. He did it out of guilt and not because he actually cared
about her.
"Sava, could I borrow the jewels for tonight?"
"What…?" Thinking about Law she'd almost forgotten about her guest.
"For the festival. You know, every year…"
Immediately Savenna was her old self again. "I know what the Harbor Festival is. My family pays for half of the food," she said pointedly. "I just didn't know that's today…"
She remembered everyone dancing on the large boardwalk, fireworks shooting up from the white ships and music playing all night long. It was the one day of the year when the Flevance merchant fleet celebrated their success by inviting the city to dance, eat and drink at their expense.
Savenna loved the festival. She got to stay up as long as she wanted, dance with her father's crew and listen to their stories while imagining being married to the most handsome one of them. But with stupid Amber Lead poisoning there was no way her parents or the doctor would let her go. Unless…
"Lamie?" She put on her sweetest voice.
"Yes?"
"Of course you can borrow the jewels for tonight." She watched the girl's eyes widened with anticipation. "You can even keep them if you do me a tiny favor."
"Anything!"
Savenna's twisted into a mischievous grin. "Would you tell your brother to come down here for a minute?"
"No way I'm doing this." Needless to say Law wasn't on board with her plan. Every bit of shyness had left his system as he refused to consider her potentially suicidal plan.
"Please, Law! Only this one time. No one will find out, I promise!" Savenna had never thought she'd hear herself beg before any resident of this house, but if this was to work out she had to swallow her pride. Plus, to give the impression of a good patient she had loosened her hair and slid under the woolen blankets.
Law was harder to crack than expected. "There is absolutely no chance I'm taking you to the festival. You're sick."
"But I hate being sick!" she moaned with tragic emphasis. "It's the most boring thing ever. I don't even remember the last time I did anything fun!"
Law rolled his eyes. "Being sick isn't supposed to be fun. As long as it's boring it means you're not in actual danger."
"What danger? They're just white spots. What can they possibly do to me in one night?"
"Kill you, naturally."
"Don't be so dramatic, Mushroom Head!"
"And you should be more careful," he insisted. "I wouldn't even know how to help you in case you have another attack. And how did you imagine doing this in the first place? Climb down the rain gutter and hope you don't die?"
Savenna knitted her brow. "Are you mad? That would completely ruin my dress."
A pointed comment was about to be fired her way but something in her pleading, lamenting face shut it down. "Fine… What's the plan then? Hypothetically speaking, of course."
"Finally!" Now she could fill him in on her carefully crafted master plan. "You're something like a doctor, right?"
Law nodded, fathoming that this wouldn't end well.
"So you'd know how to get people to pass out?"
"Again, hypothetically, yes. But I'm not supposed to…" He sighed. "Why exactly am I listening to this?"
"Because when everyone goes to the festival tonight, you're going to stay here with me."
"Because…?"
"Because if you stay here Sophia will let her guard down. For some reason she trusts your psychopath conscience or whatever. So when she's not looking you'll mix some of those stinky herbs in her tea that knocks her out for the rest of the night. With her out of the picture, we march directly out of the front door."
Law did not share her enthusiasm. "This is a terrible plan."
"Excuse me? What do you know about escape plans?"
"I read that book and the sleeping pills didn't work, remember?" Savenna opened her mouth to find out where on earth he'd picked up Grand Line Prisoner Vol.1. It had just come out and she had Madgalena bribe the editor to get an advanced copy. Maybe he'd threatened his pet. She should have thought of that. It would have been cheaper.
"What about the rest of the staff? Have you thought about them?" Law pointed out. "Or the fact that somebody might see us at the harbor?"
Savenna rolled her eyes. "It's the Festival! Everyone is going. And I guarantee that no one will recognize us in the crowd."
"I have a bad feeling about this…"
"Come on! Don't be such a coward, Mushroom Head!"
Law remained silent for a moment. He suspected his answer would probably provoke some kind of natural disaster but he had no choice. "I would like to help you but I can't. Even if your plan was failproof, I could never let you walk out of that door as sick as you are. Releasing a patient before they've recovered is irresponsible and unprofessional. I'm sorry."
Now it was Savenna who watched him as if a second mushroom had sprouted out of his head. He must be the only kid in the world who refused to have fun. Jaw set counted her odds. There was one tactic she hadn't tried yet.
She threw herself into the pillows and started crying.
"Oh no, what is it?" Law's voice took that confused and frightened tone again. Perfect. She gave a large sob and kept on weeping, her hands pressed over her eyes. She heard him come closer and smiled into her pillow.
"Please, I didn't mean to make you cry…" he stammered.
Intently, Savenna sat up and stared at him with reddened eyes. "I don't want to cry but I'm just so sad. Staying in bed makes me sicker every day and I can't stand it any more!"
She felt him thinking, hesitating.
"Okay, maybe. If it will make you feel better, medically speaking, we could go but…" He hadn't even finished the sentence when Savenna's arms were flung around his neck.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she cheered. She didn't care for him smelling like disinfectant, death and hospital and hugged him even tighter. "I will never forget it!" Behind her whitening hair clinging to his face, she couldn't see him blush. Trying and failing to navigate her sudden closeness, Law awkwardly hugged her back.
Once Law had disappeared, guilty conscience in tow, Savenna heard Magdalena sneak down the hallway. "Finally! Where have you been?" Savenna hissed hurrying her into her room. ""It's way past six! The Trafalgars are leaving any moment now."
"I had to wait until your parents were out." Magdalena was unable to hide her concern. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Miss?"
"Of course it is! I haven't missed a single festival in my life and I'm not starting now. Baby doctor is going to be with me so it's no big deal." A thought just popped into her head and Savenna hesitated. "You're not going to tell on me, are you?"
"I won't," the governess replied. "Though it'll probably get me fired…"
"If I bore myself to death you won't have a job anyway."
"Very funny, Miss."
"Have you brought the things I've asked for?" Savenna wanted to know. Reluctantly Magdalena handed her the package. "It's everything I could find."
Soon the doctor, his wife and Lamie adorned with Savenna's diamonds left the house to Sophia. Law turned out to be marvelous when it came to playing sick. He presented his father with a full diagnosis so the doctor, who would never suspect his son of anything but irritating honesty, left without him.
It was already dark when Law, after crumbling the pills into Sophia's drink, crossed a tired-looking Magdalena in the hallway. "You better hurry. She's getting cranky…" she said before smiling at him. "Don't worry. I know this wasn't your idea. I'll keep an eye out so you won't get caught. Just help her bring herself home in one piece, okay?"
Law nodded, serious frown in place, before stepping into Savenna's room. "Sophia's asleep and everybody's gone," he reported. "Coast is clear."
"I'm not going anywhere!" She was sitting at her dressing table. She was crying. Instead of looking up, she buried her head deeper in her hands.
Law didn't understand. "You bet we're going! Do you have any idea how much work that was?"
She gave another sob and turned around. Law fought to keep a straight face.
"What are you looking at, idiot?" Savenna hissed. "Does this look funny to you?"
"Actually… it does. What is that thing in your face?"
"That's called make-up," she sniveled, sincerely this time. "I didn't want anyone to see the marks so I tried painting them over. It didn't… work." That was somewhat of an understatement. The make-up had clotted into pinkish pulp slowly flowing down her cheeks. It wouldn't stick to the white parts, no matter how many layers she applied.
"If you're so sure that nobody will see us, why are you trying to hide them?" Law asked.
"I don't know…" she admitted. "I guess I'm sick of looking ugly. You wouldn't understand."
Law gave her a blank look. "You're right. It's stupid. I'm the only one who's going to know you're even there. I don't think you look any different but you don't care what I think so it doesn't matter, right?"
She frowned. "Right…"
"Now come on. We have to get going if we want to catch the fireworks." For the first time she caught him smiling with both corners of his mouth. It looked creepy but she didn't mind it as much.
They sneaked past Sophia drooling over the kitchen table, slid through the metal bars at the front gate and made their way into town. Like every year, the whole city was teeming with joyful, slightly drunk merchants, very drunk sailors and old people cursing the noise before they got drunk enough to join the party.
Law wondered how much it took to dislocate a shoulder when Savenna dove into the crowd, dragging him along. He flinched at the firecrackers going off left and right and tried not to stare at the people pushing past them. Savenna had been right to presume him the most antisocial person and the worst option to accompany a girl anywhere but she didn't really care. "Come on! I want to see the ships!"
"I'm going to regret this…"
"What?" Savenna called over the music.
"Nothing…" He did his best to keep up with her until they reached the harbor. Huge flash lights illuminated the proud ships of the merchant fleet. The market stalls had gone and the rest of the docks had been transformed into a chaotic dance floor. Forgetting everything she'd promised Law about being careful, Savenna elbowed her way through the crowd before coming to a halt at the harbor railing. "Just in time," she beamed.
"To be crushed to death?" Law yelped while fiercely trying to get out of the way of a dancing couple.
"No, look. The ships are leaving," she said pointing to the two cruisers slowly making their way into the
"Why are they docking off?" Law wondered.
"They always shoot from the bay so the whole city can see the show." Savenna smiled, watching the ships move with a lazy pace while the party around them kept getting louder.
"I think I just saw your parents…" Carefully Law gestured toward the merchant's lodge above the orchestra. Her father was surrounded by his carpenter, his banker and the leaders of the Amber Lead mining company. Her mother looked radiant, shaking hands and accepting glasses of cold drinks she never drank.
The fireworks went off and Savenna's heart sank. This was what home had always been like. Being up there with her family, laughing and eating too much. She had never thought that one day it would change.
She felt Law watching her and there was no doubt that he knew what she was thinking. On any other day she'd get angry, but she didn't want to. Neither did she want to be sad. Not on Festival day. If she had come this far, she'd at least have some fun before returning to her prison.
"The fireworks are over. We should go now…" Law suggested.
"Are you kidding? Now we dance!" Decidedly, she grabbed Law's hand and pulled him into the crowd.
"Wait, I can't…"
She gave him an incredulous smile. "You know how to stitch people back together but you don't know how to dance? Don't they teach you anything fun in medical school?"
"Stitching people up is fun…"
Savenna rolled her eyes. "It's really not that hard. You just listen and move. That's all."
She was used to dancing with her father's crew. Tall, handsome sailors who adored her and brought her gifts from everywhere around the world. Every year she went home with either a scorpion from Grand Line's desert islands or jewelry from a sunken pirate fleet. But tonight the baby doctor would have to do.
Suddenly she felt sorry for the way she had treated him. After all, he was the only one who cared enough to make her feel better. He had even dumped his own family to do her a favor. Creepy or not, he tried really hard.
Holding that thought, she stopped and shook her head.
"What?" Law put on his grumpy face again. "I'm dancing!"
"You're not. That's pitiful. I'll show you." He didn't resist when she grabbed his hand. His grip was cold and too shaky for a surgeon. Luckily, none of that was important for dancing. Following his awkward steps, she showed him how and when to spin, how to move his arms and bend his knees from time to time.
Giggling, they imitated an old couple dancing, sang along to the occasional song and she stole his mushroom hat when he shook his head at her wrong notes. Without the hat he looked surprisingly normal. Dead animals aside, he might have been like any other boy, maybe even a little more handsome under the harbor lights. But the thought left as quickly as it came.
"Isn't that our little princess?" Savenna froze. "Long time no see. Has your daddy taken you to a special school because ours wasn't good enough for him?"
Dirty grin in place, Pablo appeared behind Law. He wasn't alone. Faces she remembered from school sneered at her from the crowd. Savenna lifted her chin in defiance. "Curious, I don't remember them giving garbage the permission to speak."
The leader of the group who gave her a poisonous look before turning to Law. "And who's this? The freak from school? I'm really disappointed in your choice of friends, princess. You could have done so much better!"
"Leave him out of this." Savenna felt her hands clench to fists.
"Or what? You're going to tell daddy?"
"More like beat your ass to a pulp."
Pablo's eyes narrowed before he stepped closer, watching her with disgusting precision. "When did you grow so ugly? I bet that's why they're not letting you out anymore."
"Don't talk to her like that!" She could hardly believe it when he heard Law raise his voice. It wasn't something that happened often with no china around but gave her enough time to shake off the sting in her eyes. Then before this could get any worse, she said, "Come on, Law. Let's get out of here!"
Her hands were shaking while searching for a way through the chaos of the festival. Suddenly Law stopped.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I thought somebody was calling my name. But maybe it's nothing. There are so many people. It's impossible we get recognized twice."
Savenna shrugged and kept on walking. Soon they had reached the narrow streets in a quiet part of the city. Their steps echoed as they walked silently side by side. "I'm sorry for what he said earlier. Don't think about it, he's just a jerk," Law said kicking an empty beer can over the pavement.
Savenna hugged her arms around her upper body. "He hates me."
"Why? I mean none of the others who dislike you seem so … assertive."
"Mushroom Head!" she started but decided to let it go. Missing tact or not, he was right. " I was never good at making friends. People get scared by dirtbags like Pablo. But I'm not. That's what drives him crazy."
"I see…" He remained silent but she figured that somehow he could relate. "But that's not all," she sighed. "What he really hates me for is my father."
"That makes no sense. Genetics aren't your fault."
She chuckled. She could have known he'd say that. But it wasn't that simple. "His father worked for mine a long time ago. Then he lost his job and Pablo made me pay for it."
"That's not fair," Law reasoned. After a while he tried that smile of his again. "But at least you could go to the festival tonight. I hope it made you feel better."
Hesitantly she looked at Law, imagining the doctor's face if he found out they had sneaked out of the house and that someone had seen her with Amber Lead poisoning. A little
voice in her head told her to tell Law everything, before he heard it from somebody else. But again, she had no time.
A scream tore through the quiet. Both of them swirled around. "Law! Please, help!"
"Lamie?" Law's face flushed when Pablo and his friends stepped out of the shadows, holding his sister by the arm. Savenna's diamonds sparkled in Pablo's hands while the girl twisted in his grip.
"They followed us…" Savenna whispered. She didn't like this. Law didn't answer. Quietly he approached the group. "Let her go. Now."
Pablo smirked. "Sure!" He let Lamie go and the girl dropped to her knees. "She was searching for you two freaks. So we gave her a hand."
Law was at his sister's side in a heartbeat. "What are you doing here, Lamie? Why aren't you with mother and father?"
"I saw you dancing and then I thought…" Her eyes brimmed with tears before she could finish. Law took a deep breath. That's where their plan had backfired. "Don't such a stupid thing ever again, do you hear me?"
Savenna's features twisted with burning revulsion, when Pablo approached her. Of course this wasn't about Lamie. She took a careful look around. There were six of them, and there was little chance they would let her or the Trafalgars go if she managed, in whatever way, to get rid of Pablo.
"Where is your daddy now, princess?" Pablo snickered.
"What is it you want?" she asked sharply.
Her opponent cocked his head to the side. "What could that be? Yes! How about revenge? It's high time you get what you deserve. Especially now that there won't be anyone to help you."
"I had nothing to do with what happened! And if you had left me alone I wouldn't have done anything to you!"
"Do I look like I care?" The blow to her face was so sudden she staggered. Had that just really happened? Savenna wouldn't have believed it if it wasn't for the burn on her cheek. She roared and aimed her fingernails at his face.
Unfortunately that wasn't all Pablo had in store. He was taller and stronger and his next punch knocked her to the ground. Aiming a kick at her stomach, he didn't see it coming when two hands clenched around his throat. Pablo choked but managed to push Law to the ground.
"Feeling brave today, freak?" Pablo rasped. "Too bad." Two of his friends punched Law in the face, blood spurting from his nose. Savenna cried out when they started kicking him instead.
"What is it, princess? Worried about your boyfriend?"
Law tried to keep quiet until the next kick landed in his face. It was a soundless yap, almost an exhale. It made Savenna's blood boil. She took momentum, latched herself on to the attacker's back and drove her teeth into his neck.
She felt the taste of blood soothed her, but before she could aim for the jugular she landed flat on her back. Pain shot through her side when a boot was rammed into her ribs. One time. Two times. Three… She lost count.
She pressed her eyes closed. Maybe it was easier that way. It wasn't. Pain spread through her limbs like fire, drilled itself into her bones until she started shaking. She couldn't feel the kicks anymore. That's when she realized it wasn't pain.
It was rage. She felt nothing, not the Amber Lead, not the boots, as her blood pumped pure wrath through her veins. Like a wounded animal she let it take control. Slowly, almost lazily, it pushed her back on her feet. Pablo had become a blurry ghost in the distance when something wild flared up in her voice. "I said leave them alone!"
She didn't care about anything. She had forgotten where she was. She barely recalled her own name. The only thing she wanted was for her enemies to die. She liked the way it felt when she drove her fist into Pablo's ribs. She wanted to do it again. She didn't want to stop. But something was wrong. His expression was already blank. Instead of hitting back furiously he fell to the ground with no sound at all. Savenna staggered to turn around and watched their opponents collapse one after the other.
Law was the only one remaining, staring up at her with confused awe. What had she done? Before Savenna could understand what had happened, everything turned black and her lifeless body hit the pavement.