Chapter 15: Lost One -------------------- The first thing Scarecrow knew was that there was someone else in the room with him. There was breathing that was not his own, and the faint rustle of cloth. Scarecrow opened one of his eyes a hair. In suprise at what he saw, both eyes flew open. "Indra?" Scarecrow gasped. The Master of Lightning smiled faintly. "It's been a long time." Scarecrow leapt out of the bed and to his feet, ignoring the pain that lanced through him. "Indeed it has. Where are we?" "The Land of Summoned Monsters, of course. Where else do you think I would be?" Indra raised an eyebrow. "I had thought YOU would be here. Me, however... I should be dead." "Perhaps I'll let Leviathan explain that. He's expecting you." Scarecrow nodded. "Where's my mask?" He hadn't mentioned it before, as Indra already knew who he was. Indra grinned. "Don't know what you need that thing for in here, but... it's under the bed, along with your cloak. Now hurry up. Leviathan's waiting!" Taking his time, Scarecrow pulled the mask and cloak from under the bed. He put them on even more slowly. Indra sighed. "Just like old times, eh, Scarecrow?" "Few things ever really change." Scarecrow paused for a moment before looking over at Indra. "You said Leviathan's expecting me. Am I going to be put on trial?" "I don't know, Scarecrow. Leviathan only told me to help your healing with what little skills I have. I wasn't even told what your crime was." "Why you? All you've learned about healing is non-magical. What happened to Asura?" "She's been missing for quite some time now. If you want more information, you'll have to speak to Leviathan. Come on." With that, Indra turned and walked out the door. Though he already knew the way, Scarecrow was contect to let Indra lead. ************** Leviathan was seated in the throne room, guised (as usual) in human form. As Scarecrow walked into the room, one of Leviathan's advisors stopped speaking and walked away. Leviathan's face was a mask. Scarecrow walked slowly to stand before him. Out of the corner of his eye, Scarecrow noticed all those in the room leaving, and the doors being shut. "We both know what terms we last parted on," Scarecrow began, "so let's get straight to the point. I want to know what happened. I should've died up there." "I saved your life and brought you here." "Why?" "Because if I hadn't you would have died." "And why do you care? I killed one of your own without reason. By your own law, I must die. I lived here, remember? I know the rules." "We all do things we are not proud of, Scarecrow. We all make mistakes." "Mistakes? You call repeated stab wounds a mistake? Are you kidding?" "You sound as if you want to die." "And you sound as if you want me to live. No one does something without a reason. Why?" At last Leviathan smiled grimly. "You see through me all too easily, Scarecrow. The truth is that I have need of your services." Scarecrow was incredulous. "What? Is this your idea of a joke?" "No, Scarecrow. Think of my saving your life as pre-payment for your services." "And what's the job?" "I want you to defeat... Atma." "I thought he was dead. How am I supposed to find him?" "You're the assassin, Scarecrow. You figure it out." "And what do you want him for?" Leviathan's face revealed nothing. "You have always let your clients maintain their secrecy. My reasons are my own." "And if I do? Your law still says I have to die." "If you complete this mission, I agree to give you a full pardon for your crimes." Scarecrow's eyes narrowed. "When I was young, Leviathan, you were like a father to me. To Canthra as well. I cared about you once, and so did she. You would let her death go unavenged, just so you can see Atma destroyed?" "You sound again as if you wish to die." "Maybe I deserve to die! Did that not occur to you?" "Will you take the mission, or should I sentence you right here?" Scarecrow hesitated a long moment, torn between past and present. "Damn you, Leviathan. My code does not allow me to not accept this mission. But somehow I get the feeling that you already knew that. Damn you!" Scarecrow took one step closer, staring Leviathan straight in the eye. Scarecrow's own eyes fumed in rage. Leviathan's, in contrast, were serene and composed. "I accept the mission," Scarecrow half-snarled, barely controlling his anger. Then he looked down, and spat at the great King's feet. "That's for making me care about you, once." Spinning on one heel, Scarecrow swiftly stalked away. **************** The door slammed shut behind Scarecrow. Breaking out of his composure, Leviathan hung his head in shame. "It would have been easier to have offered him gold," Leviathan sighed. "Even if we had to steal it from humans." A figure stepped from the shadows in the corner of the room. "But it would not have worked. Scarecrow has dealt with Atma before. Deep down, so deep that even Scarecrow does not know it, he is afraid of Atma. This was our only option." "I know, Canthra. It's just that... he already has so much pain." "I understand. I, too, almost stepped from the shadows several times. He is my friend too. I fear he would've seen through me in an instant had I been in your position." "He doesn't even think of me as a friend anymore. Or anyone. He keeps his walls so tight that no one could get through, even if they tried." The sphinx shook her head sadly. "It is the curse. Those who are closest to him he is most likely to harm. So he doesn't let anyone close anymore. I wish so much I could tell him what I know." "But we can't. The book was clear on that. If he is to become what he wants to be, he must discover how to do it on his own--no help from us." "That doesn't make it any easier. Scarecrow may be our last hope. If Atma is not stopped soon, he will destroy us all--before anyone knows what he is doing."