Horvath stepped out from the service staircase and looked carefully out onto the roof. There had been power behind the blast, more than one of the mere peons on the lower levels had possessed. He wondered vaguely if they had been hiding someone in reserve, but he had studied the small group for far too long for them to be able to do something like that successfully. He had also studied them far too well for any of the members to be pretending to be weaker than they were.

Still, he hadn't gotten where he was by taking things for granted. Remaining careful he walked towards the rail. There was a small noise behind him and he lashed out with his cane in its direction. A plasma bolt left the blue jewel in the top of the cane, and a flurry of feathers was all that remained of the rather unfortunate pigeon. Horvath stared distastefully at it and rested his hand on the railing.

Immediately the rail twisted so that it wrapped itself firmly around his hand. Another one gripped his cane and jerked it away from him. Once more, a complicated piece of magic was being performed that required power which didn't fit the profile of any member of the New York Merlinians. He stared angrily at the metal and tried to jerk his imprisoned hand from its confines. It wouldn't budge though and he reached for his cane.

A fist hit him in the chin and he stumbled backwards. He blinked; the impact momentarily hurt his vision, blinding him as to who his attacker had been. However, they had been wearing rings. The pain he was feeling on his face was a truthful testament to that. His lip was even bleeding. It had been centuries since he had last bled. Oh, it would not be quick for them when he got free.

That was the last thought he had before he looked up to glare at whoever had trapped him in the first place. He rolled his eyes in irritation.

"Really, I should've known," Horvath said.

"Probably," agreed Balthazar nonchalantly, reaching inside his coat.

Horvath wondered exactly what Balthazar was doing when he withdrew the Grimhold. He laughed then.

"Oh dear, you really are very unoriginal," he said, "I always thought that when it came down to it you would just kill me. I suppose I overestimated you."

"You don't deserve that," he said, his tone still casual, "Too quick."

"Now that's very judgmental of you," he said, "You're forgetting that I was with the Spanish Armada."

Something dark and angry flashed in Balthazar's eyes. He had to suppress a laugh. Well, he was making some progress. That old wound still smarting? That had only been a passing incident. He wondered just how angry he was at certain…older...incidents. When Balthazar responded, it was angry and bitter.

"I've never tortured children."

Horvath raised his eyebrows.

"So that was you and not Steed back at the Belleclaire then?" he asked, "Wondered why you didn't say anything. And I suppose that's why you're here now; running errands for American Merlinians."

Balthazar began running a finger over the Grimhold. Horvath felt the grip of the metal slacken around his hand. The noticed that the same thing was happening to his cane. Not even Balthazar could hold this magic for much longer while distracted and trying to open the Grimhold. He grinned. This would be easy.

"You know," he said, "I never thought it would be the Grimhold for me."

"So you've said," Balthazar said, not looking up.

"Want to know why?" he asked, wriggling his hand slightly.

"I have a feeling that you're going to tell me anyway," sighed Balthazar in a mixture of irritation and anger.

Horvath leaned forward and smirked.

"I never thought you'd lock me in the same place with Veronica."

Balthazar's head shot up just as Horvath's hand came free. With one move he wrenched his cane free from its restraint and slashed at Balthazar with it. He was thrown over the rail, the Grimhold coming out of his grip. One of his hands gripped onto the rail which was the only reason he hadn't been thrown from the building entirely.

Smirking Horvath walked over to the Grimhold. He picked it up and rolled it around in his hands.

"It's heavier than I remember," he said, looking down at it, "Then again, you've made a few additions since I held it last."

He smirked again and looked over at Balthazar. In return his former friend glared back up at him.

"You're so easy to predict," he said, "And while it pains me to send someone off in such a crude way, these things do happen."

Bringing his cane back he slammed it down on Balthazar's hand. His fingers slipped a little and Horvath brought his cane back again.

"I'll give Lacy your regards," he said.

With another solid hit Balthazar lost his grip and plummeted downwards. Giving a contented smile Horvath turned and walked back inside the Chrysler building.

.

.

.

"Lacy," Robin said.

She swallowed hard but didn't say anything. He was obviously concerned about her, and she wished she could say something comforting. Honestly though; she was concerned about herself as well. It felt as though her throat was swelling, her own tissues choking her and destroying her own airways. Her tongue felt like it had swelled too, but she managed to choke out;

"I wanted to go to choir practice on Monday."

"You're going to," he reassured her.

She shook her head.

"Not in this state," she said, "I'm not gonna be able to see anyone."

"We can tell them you've got a fever," he said soothingly, "And all our friends will come just like they did when Angela got sick-"

"No," she said, shaking her head, "You don't…understand. I'm not gonna be able to see anyone. Anything either…for that matter."

Robin clenched his free hand into a fist.

"You'll be fine," he assured her, "You're Lacy Steed. You can do anything. That's what's best about you; your strength, your sweetness, and…and…"

Lacy tilted her head slightly to look at him.

"Are you trying to say something?" she asked sweetly.

"I…uh…I-"

"You don't need to worry. I like you," she said bluntly.

Before he could respond she tilted her head downwards and kissed him lightly on the nose. His face slowly turned a bright red, starting where she had kissed him and spreading to the tips of his ears. She giggled a little before it turned into coughing. He waited until they subsided until he said;

"If- when this is over," he stammered helplessly, "Can I take you to a movie?"

Lacy looked at him a little oddly. It seemed that he didn't quite understand.

"There's this one with Clark Gable and Vivienne Ley that looks pretty good," he babbled, "Dramatic but good."

"I…I won't be able to see it," she said softly.

Robin looked like he was fighting the urge to hit himself.

"I'll describe it to you," he said, determined, "Or I'll take you to the soda fountain. Either way it's my treat."

She smiled wanly at him and swallowed back the rest of the tears that were threatening to spill over.

"You should go."

"No."

"Things are…they're…they're gonna get nasty," she pleaded thickly, "Anyone can see that. I'll be fine. I…I'm…I'm valuable as long as I can keep having visions…and if it kills me…then there's nothing you can do about that…and I don't think Horvath's the merciful type so-"

"I'm a healer!" he insisted, "Of course I'd be able to do something about it!"

"Won't help," she said, shaking her head listlessly and fighting to keep her eyes open, "You…you've got to leave…"

"I'm not going to leave you," he said firmly.

"Touching."
Both of them looked up to see Horvath standing in the doorway. Robin's hands gripped Lacy's shoulders tightly, and licked his lips nervously. Nonchalantly Horvath swatted at the offices' few wards with his cane, and silver rippled through the air. He stepped in and brushed imaginary lint off of his clothes.

"I believe we have unfinished business Ms. Steed."

Very slowly and gently Robin got to his feet. The Circle that he had painted lit up and a shield formed around them.

"You call this a shield?" he asked, looking condescendingly and almost pityingly at the boy, "Is this some sort of a joke? Forgive me if I don't laugh; my sense of humor is just a touch more sophisticated."

Closing his eyes Robin took a deep breath, perhaps in an attempt to clear his mind. When he opened them again he had steeled himself. Knowing now that he was actually going to try and fight the man before them Lacy struggled to get up, attempting weakly to push herself into a sitting position.

"Balthazar's coming," he said, his hands clenching into fists by his side, "And everyone knows he's more powerful than you."

Lacy swallowed a cry when she saw Horvath's eyes go dark. Slowly he started fishing around in his coat.

"I don't think he'll be joining us."

Robin's eyes widened when he saw that he was holding the Grimhold. Lacy, who had already known this, finally found her tongue.

"Please don't try to fight him," she begged. "You can't-"

"No, I can't. But I can go down fighting," he said.

Horvath rolled his eyes.

"Kids these days," he said.

With a flick of his cane he sent a bolt of lightning towards him. Robin quickly strengthened his shield; his instincts were good although his powers were weak. Everyone in the room knew it was useless though even before the shield shattered on impact. The blast threw him into the opposite wall, breaking a lamp that was there. Glass flew everywhere and Robin slumped to the ground.