Chapter 56: Game
Robin had woken up in the same place that he'd come to since yesterday. Now he was locked inside a bedroom that was as small as a closet. Slade knew he'd gotten too much to do in the castle of sands when last they'd met. His new place to stay restricted any coming and going of the sort. Oh Slade had let him got to bed down the hall form where they were last night but locked the door immediately as soon as Robin had entered the room. He didn't even know Slade had followed. He had deliberately banged on the door just to get it to open. But to no use... He wanted to tear up the door, the room, Slade's FACE! But no, he would wait until morning, which he did.
There was a knock on the door, and to Robin's surprise it opened on its own, though no one was outside it at all. Robin peeked through and saw that the hall was dimly lit with candles in holders on the side of the walls. Robin knew that if he'd been any quieter he'd have Slade or Hsari running after him. But now was an opportunity to stretch his legs a bit. No one stood in his way of that.
"What are you doing?"
Robin jumped. Surely enough it was Slade right behind him. He was just looking down at Robin with that baring eye of his. Robin gave up and decided to play along, also waiting to hear the man speak. "Come." He said. Stepping past Robin he headed down the hall, then looking back he repeated the old words. "Apprentice, now." Robin walked slowly watching his steps as he followed the man down the shadowy hallway.
"You found him?" Malchior and Wizardmon had returned though another portal to the real world. They were holding a blue satin sack full of crystals, which they explained calmed an enraged power source. (Or a controlled one for that matter.) "Robin is in the world we've found. In a secluded spot outside of the borders of the Asian realm. Perhaps Scotland..."
"Or Russia
Or Germany
Or some other place…WE can't TELL!" Verra looked at them. "Why so soon Mal? Is he that far?"
Malchior sighed. "There were dark borders and the castle, it moves..."
"Whaaaat! Ohh no! I am not going back to creepsville, no way nuh uh!" Beastboy crossed his arms.
Cyborg smacked his forehead. "Am I the only one who thinks this could be a trap?" Starfire floated over through the door. "Red X is healed, mostly. He is not able to move very well." She answered. Her head lowered. "He told me that the man who had given him the vile was also a magician, he did not wish to be rude."
"Why? Why tell you? Or us!" Cyborg went over to the computer and got back into the main. "We shouldn't trust him Star he's bad." Beastboy looked up from the couch. "He hurt Robin!"
"Who? The magician or the X man." Verra was stretching from the pain that enveloped his shoulder. Raven came in next and had the book with the goddess and her prisoner behind them. "He's not even trying to help." The goddess pulled at the chains that bound the guardian. "He is not going to let them go that far!"
Raven turned around. "What are you talking about? This isn't the-
It will be once I talk some more with him through memory." The goddess excused herself and returned with the fox god. "Sheesh what was that?" Raven avoided anger issues with Beastboy at the moment. Her main focus was on the book she held. "Guess what! We found him Rae." Raven was in shock, her arms closed around the book and suddenly she burst out laughing!
"Thank Azar!" she prayed. The rest of the team looked at her wide eyed, Starfire went over to her friend. "Raven? Are you well?" Raven chuckled. "I've found him too." She replied.
"Are you quite ready now?' Slade waited for Robin in the changing room. He was being dressed by the same maid from before into a new uniform. This one was lighter and did not have an insignia on it at all. Robin was glad that Slade had not asked her to put one on but he hoped this would all end soon so he could sleep some more. "Hurry up Adela. I haven't got all day."
Slade was tapping his foot against the wall as he leaned into it. What was going on between the two? Robin wondered to himself. Slade sighed. "She is a maid, my servant, her soul belongs to Roku and is not for questioning."
Robin protested this, which beings even if they were not human could live a life so cruel, Slade had no right. The woman straightened his sleeves. "You have the command of your grandfather…" She whispered. But the two jumped as the door was suddenly slammed open and the maid drew back from her newly dressed prince-to-be. "A-all done sir." she disappeared past Slade leaving Slade to drag Robin out without his shoes.
The stone floor was freezing as it touched the bottoms of Robin's feet. Slade said nothing. They were going down a stair that led to a dark, dank place. When they were at the bottom Slade directed Robin to follow again. "Here." Was all that had been uttered by him. They were standing on a platform that spread across the entire room. The designs on the flooring were like that of the ceiling of a church. So intricate and masterfully done. The tiles made robin worry about getting a cut so Slade materialized Asian bottom slip on's for him. "Better?" he asked. Robin looked up at him. He was still wearing his uniform even after all this! Soon Hsari joined them and watched from the sidelines. "Begin!" He said aloud.
Robin, desperate enough looked at his surroundings. "What! Wait a sec – this is a fighting platform?"
"Correct." Slade make the ground shake with his powers and waited until Robin had fallen onto his bottom. Then he flew up into the air and came at his target mercilessly. Robin's eyes grew wide as he got up and flipped out of the way.
"Wait! You can't do this to me!" Robin was in panic all because Slade was stronger than before. "And why not." The man hissed. "Go ahead and run if you'd like, this place is big enough even if I catch you." Robin gasped in small breathes, he was after him!
"The game is simple really. Whoever activates Roku's power first is the winner."
"But it can only be done through fighting each other? What kind of game is that?' Robin tensed now knowing Slade wasn't going to go easy on him anymore.
"An easy one." Hsari sneered
"Let the games begin!"
