They crept through the dark tunnels, neither of them wanting to break the silence as they strained to hear into the cave. Several times the walls got so close they had to inch their way through, often causing Gajeel to help Laxus because of his injury. Laxus had to admit, the smaller mage had really aided him a lot since they'd started their mission together, although he was sure he would have been fine without him. Actually, if it hadn't been for Gajeel's insistence on being discreet he probably would have gotten to the bottom of the whole thing by now. But it was becoming clearer and clearer that although Gajeel was quite impatient, he enjoyed missions where he could get in and out without anyone noticing he was there until they found the damage he'd done.

He had to hand it to the Iron Mage, though. His skills had proved very useful.

"Alright Sparky," he heard his guarded voice from ahead, "No more light,"

"Don't call me Sparky," Laxus growled, but complied and stopped sending charges into the air. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust but he could clearly see that around the bend there was a faint light, "What's up ahead?"

"I'm not sure…" Gajeel seemed hesitant as they neared, like he didn't want to see what was around the corner, "But I smell blood and iron. This place… it's not good."

"Do you hear anyone?" Laxus pressed close to his side, towering over him slightly.

"Yes… but it doesn't seem threatening," Gajeel slowly began to ease around the bend. The crevice was small and Laxus wasn't quite sure if he'd fit through or not. The light was faint on the other side, enough so that they didn't have to worry about being seen as they slipped through to the other side. As soon as they made it through, Gajeel froze.

"Dear Mavis…" his voice was barely above a whisper, shaking as it left his lips.

"What is it?" Laxus wrinkled his nose as the smell of sweat and human waste filled his nose. He could barely make out the silvery shines of metal bars in the faint light but there was only darkness past them.

"The missing boys…"

Laxus followed him quietly as they passed cage after cage. Dark figures were hunched as far back from their entrances as possible. He could hear them crying as they passed, some of them cringing back in fear at their presence. Gajeel walked ahead shakily, not looking from side to side as he went. He seemed to be staring at something into the darkness and heading for it. All Laxus could do was follow quietly, not wanting to lose his way in the maze of cages.

"Where are you going?" Laxus whispered harshly into the metal-studded ear, "We need to get them out of here."

"I have to see something first," Gajeel growled back, walking up to a table that was situated towards the back of the giant room, "What they're here for."

"Does it matter? Look at the condition they're in," Laxus snarled.

"Human trafficking…" Gajeel mumbled, shifting through papers laying on the desk, "And… what's this?"

"The hell if I know," Laxus growled as Gajeel's red eyes shifted towards something else in the dark. He grabbed a handful of the papers and stuffed them into his pockets before walking off again. He walked stealthily in the darkness, a level of silence in his footsteps that Laxus couldn't imagine how long it took to perfect. He stalked around like a predator with his red eyes seeing masterfully into the darkness. Grudgingly, ignoring the voice telling him to start freeing the boys in the cages, he followed.

It took everything in him not to allow electrical charges to spark into the air in his agitation.

They came to another table, this one covered in potion bottles and research equipment. There were several utensils on and nearby, proving the lengths the researchers would go to test their results on their caged victims.

"Looks like we've found your burglars," Gajeel's voice sounded off, nervous and unsure. He was rummaging through papers again, his nose curling up as he read what was written on them in the near pitch black.

"What is it?" Laxus whispered as Gajeel hastily stuffed the papers into his pockets.

"We need to go get help," Gajeel growled, grabbing Laxus by the arm and pulling him back down the line of cages.

"Are you kidding me? We are the help!" Laxus jerked away from him, "What's going on?"

"This is large scale human trafficking," Gajeel growled, his voice so silent Laxus almost couldn't hear, "And even worse, they're experimenting with-"

Suddenly, lights blared down on them from above and he felt Gajeel grab him by the arm and throw him down to the ground. There was a whoosh sound and something wet and hot splattered across his chest and face. He heard Gajeel grunt and falter and Laxus felt pain lance through his side where his wound reopened.

"Well, found you at last," a woman's voice came from somewhere above and Laxus pushed himself up and squinted into the light to see the labcoat-clad figure with long black locks sitting atop one of the large cages. Gajeel was standing over him, Iron Scales activated and snarling loudly at the doctor they'd met just the day before. He was gripping his shoulder tensely and Laxus could see blood slipping down the iron shield.

"Surrender, Fairy Tail Mages," Laxus pushed himself up, wincing from the pain and sent a bloody glare at the mage from the woods that had injured him earlier. He could see him clearly now, short brown locks with hauntingly bright blue eyes. His skin was pale and there were thin scars laced across his forearms along with a few fresh lacerations on his face. Gajeel had definitely hit him with his roar.

"I would but I'm not in the mood," Gajeel sneered, not moving his eyes from the woman as she jumped from her perch to land gracefully just a few short meters away. She looked casual, not a hint of worry or frustration on her face as she made her way towards the two mages.

"You seem like two rather strong men," she cooed silkily as she approached, "We have ways of breaking that here,"

"I think you underestimate us," Gajeel smirked back, baring his fangs at her menacingly.

"I take it you two are Dragon Slayers? Never met any first hand before, although I'd always hoped to," she smiled.

Gajeel's arm transformed into a serrated blade and his smirk vanished, a much more threatening stance taking its place. The woman stopped her approach, her smile fading.

"Now, now, there's no need for violence here. You wouldn't want to upset the poor boys, would you? They're already terrified of you," she leaned against the bars gently, her look causing the teens in the cage to shrink away, "Besides, we have no reason to cause each other harm."

"A deal?" Laxus snuffed, "You expect us to walk out of here without alerting the Magic Council about this place?"

"There are only three ways you're leaving here today," the woman sighed as if the whole thing was just some taxing business meeting, "Either part of my guard, part of my business, or two more bodies we have to hide out here in the woods. Your choice,"

"We have people who'd come looking for us," Gajeel growled, inching back towards Laxus, his bloody eyes still on the woman.

"Everyone can be bought. And I do know a few people who do very well at forging handwriting," she crossed her arms, "Please, you don't think I'm new at this, do you?"

"I think whatever you are, you're sick and need to be taken down," Laxus growled, hiding the pain in his voice with the anger he felt.

"You don't look too well, dear," she gave him a calculating look, "With as much blood as you've lost today I'm surprised you haven't passed out. We do have healers here, that is, if you'll come quietly."

"Why don't you go fuck yourself," Gajeel growled, backing up another step. It was clear he was thinking about something and Laxus could tell he was trying to think up an escape route. The only problem was neither of them knew what the woman could do or what kind of threat she was. Laxus cursed himself for his weakness. If he hadn't lost so much blood, attacking and getting them all out would be a cinch. But he felt lightheaded and knew in his state he wouldn't be able to control his magic well. He could just as well fry himself and Gajeel as the other two mages if he attacked in his current state.

"Ceatus, if you wouldn't mind?" the woman waved over her shoulder dismissively.

"Of course, ma'am," the mage conjured a large attack, his magic circle spreading out around him as he summoned blades from thin air.

"Last chance, boys," she pulled a vile out from her pocket and swished the liquid inside of it dismissively, "Come quietly or die,"

"You have our answer," Laxus roared, lightning sparking from his body to ignite the air around them.

The mage fired, sending blades hurtling at them. Laxus dodged back and covered his face, bracing for the hit. Before it came, however, Gajeel blocked with his shield, cursing as the blades sought to pierce his skin.

"Go!" Gajeel roared, grabbing Laxus's arm and pulling him. Laxus gritted his teeth against the pain as he ran, letting Gajeel take the brunt of the attacks as they rushed for the exit. He could feel his flesh ripping with each step, the crude stitching not holding against the natural movement of his body as they fled. Something smashed against his side and shattered, sending glass shards to puncture the already painful flesh. He gasped and stumbled, only to have Gajeel haul him to his feet and force him back through the place they'd come from.

"Don't pursue, Ceatus,"

The mage halted, letting his magic calm as he turned to face his master. She tossed her black hair over her shoulder and turned back towards her workbench. Her fingers delicately went over the different bottles and she began mixing as if nothing had ever happened.

"May I ask a question, ma'am?" he said quietly, bowing his head respectfully when she looked up at him.

"Yes?"

"Why throw one of the potions, ma'am? Aren't they for your customers?"

"I guess your stupidity really can't be helped," she scolded him harshly, her eyes giving him a venomous look, "Dragon Slayers go into heat like their bestial counterparts. Male dragons are such violent creatures… no doubt he'll wake up tomorrow wondering why he's covered in his friend's blood."

"But… doesn't it have to be swallowed?"

"Any way of getting inside the body will work. Including the wound you gave him earlier,"

"Cunning as always, ma'am,"

"I wouldn't have to be if you did your job," she berated, raising her hand so that he flinched away. She stopped for a moment and looked down on him the way one might look at a dying rat that crawled out of the sewer, "Why don't you gather your idiot mages and get them to start cleaning up. Even if the red-eyed one doesn't survive, he took enough evidence that the Magic Council will be on us within the week."

"Right away, ma'am,"

"Such a shame," she sighed absent-mindedly, "They were such handsome young men, don't you think?"