I am so sorry. Sorry doesn't even begin to convey how bad I feel :( I have had a whole bunch of assignments and projects due all over the place, and I've been trying to find time to write this story. To be honest, I forgot about it for awhile just because school was taking up so much of my life. But I'm back now, and I hope that you guys are still reading this!

So, any feedback on Knight? And if any of you were wondering he may be the other guy in Faye's little love triangle. Maybe. Anyway, I would LOVE to know what you guys think about him. Anything you don't? I know that the armor description was a little bad, but there should be a link on my profile if you want to see him in the armor as well as the amulet he stole. So, without further interruptions, allow me to present chapter nine!

Wayne Manor

September 25th, 10:17 PM

I looked at the clock as feelings inside of myself tumbled around, trying to tell me what to do. More than half of me wanted nothing more than to put on Panthra's uniform and run out the door, looking for that flash of silver armor. But the rational side said that it would be best to just forget about him and leave it alone. My fingers twitched as I turned the page of my book. I looked at the pages but didn't read the words. With a frustrated snap, I tossed my book aside. It was no use. No matter how much I hated it, I knew that I would go out tonight. Never mind the fact that it was a school night – just had to sneak out under Bruce's nose. Simple.

I snuck into the Batcave and walked over to my Panthra uniform in its case. I pulled open the glass door and changed, tossing my clothes the floor as I pulled on my boots. At Batman's request, I'd had padded armor sewn into the material for my added protection. I hadn't put up a fight about it – about that little brush with the CADMUS cat-morph things, I had welcomed more armor. I decided that now speed was my ally, so I ran to my bike and opened the door to the Batcave, speeding out into the streets of Gotham.

Okay. Now that I was out I had to find out where he would be. Stealing another item from a museum? Breaking into a bank? Mugging? I had no idea who this guy even was – I realized how stupid I was as I turned into an alley to hide my bike. He could be anyone, like a murderer or something, and I was running around looking for him. Worse, I didn't even know for sure why I was looking for him. To talk to him? Turn him in? I set the bike to defensive mode, so that if anyone got too close it would go back to the Batcave. I climbed up the wall to stand on the roof between the random apartment buildings. I looked out across Gotham, deciding where to go first. The logical place to look first would be the museum. Maybe there was something else in the museum he needed. Or wanted back. Or whatever his excuse was.

I jumped across the buildings towards the museum, trying to decide what I would do if I saw him. Sure, he had stolen something. But he had also said that he was just taking back what was his. Maybe he was just confused – or mentally ill. Either way, I'd talk to him first and try to decide for myself just how sane he was. You never knew with people in Gotham. I idly wondered whether or not this was betraying all the others – Batman, Robin, KF, Aqualad, etc. – and if it was the right thing to do. I was meeting up with a villain, and I don't think they all would see it as I did. But then I remembered Selina (AKA Catwoman) and Bruce, and how he would randomly go out on patrol alone, or split us up. I knew who he was meeting up with. A thief. A burglar. It would by hypocritical if he tried to lecture me about Knight.

I crawled up the museum walls, careful this time to only lodge my fingers into the stones that stuck out from the walls, acting as natural hand holds. I easily swung up to the roof and stopped, my ears straining to hear any sounds. Satisfied, I stood and walked around on the roof, debating whether or not to just go back home since no one was here. I suddenly thought that maybe our meeting hadn't made him feel anything – what if flirting was just his way of getting away from female superheros? That angered me, because if that was it then he was probably long with the amulet. And I had no other way of tracking him because I didn't even know his name – knight in shining armor! As if! More like play boy. . .

"Pointless," I muttered, and walked back towards the ledge. I ran towards the docks, deciding that I may as well do something productive while I was out. No sense in going home and moping over the fact that I let a criminal get away because of raging hormones. I was mentally raging at myself for actually letting him get away last night instead of chasing after him. Ugh, I made myself so mad sometimes. . . I dropped to the docks and looked around. Nothing unusual I was walking around the boxes when my foot bumped into something. I bent down and picked the object up to inspect it.

It was a stuffed animal. I could see myself in its plastic eyes. I frowned. Something didn't feel right about it. I turned it over in my hands. I looked at the stitching around its neck and found that it had hastily been sewn shut. I whipped out a claw and sliced through the cheap thread easily. The bunny's head fell backwards to let me see inside.

At first all I saw was white stuffing, but I knew better than to believe that. I felt around inside and pulled out a plastic bag of drugs. Great. This was such a classic. Putting the drugs in little stuffed animals? Drug dealers needed to get more ideas fast. It was getting too easy. I turned around, intending to call Batman when a voice between some crates stopped me. "Leaving so soon?"

I turned to look up. The shadowy figure stepped forward into the orange lights of the street lamps and I felt fear clog my throat. The horrible face of Scarecrow looked down at me, plastic buttons for eyes and a sewn on mouth on the rough flour sack. I swallowed hard and took half a step back. (This is the Scarecrow from Batman Arkham Asylum)

"Clumsy," said Scarecrow, looking that the animal in my hand. "I shouldn't have hired locals – they always do such sloppy work."

"What is this?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Come now," Scarecrow cooed. "You work with Batman. Surely you know what I do?"

"It's your fear toxin," I said. "But in solid form."

"So smart," Scarecrow murmured sarcastically, walking closer. I noticed shapes coming out from behind other crates. "What do you think I'm going to do with that little bag there, kitten?"

I felt annoyance inside but knew better than to snap at him. "Something expected, I would think," I told him, glancing around for escape routes. "Like slipping it into some food meant for a rather important person in Gotham."

"Close, but not close enough," said Scarecrow, the needles strapped to his hands glowing with the orange toxin. They twitched and shuffled around as I stared at them warily. "Care to try again?"

"I'm afraid not," I said, wincing as I realized what my words meant for him.

"Interesting choice of words, kitty cat," Scarecrow was closer now. Too close. "What are you afraid of?"

"Not you, that's for sure," I said, braver than I felt as I flipped backwards, my feet connecting with the edge of his jaw. He fell backwards with a grunt. A second later, he was on his feet, shouting, "Don't let her escape!"

I ran and hid between the crates, trying to determine exactly how many thugs Scarecrow had. I could tell there were more than ten by how many footsteps and voices I heard. I swallowed hard and pressed my hand to my ear, pushing the com link that connected me to the Batcave. "Batman? Batman, it's Panthra! Answer!"

There was silence for a while before an answer came. "Panthra?" It was Robin. "What the heck are you doing? Where are you?"

"Robin, Scarecrow's here and there's way too many of these guys for me to take out on my own. I need help."

"Panthra, wait –" But the com link fell silent. I tapped it. "Robin? Robin, what happened? Robin!" Nothing. "Crap," I muttered. I peered around the corner of a box and whipped around again. There was one coming closer. I stuck myself to the side of the crate and stayed there, watching his shadow get bigger until he was close enough. I grabbed him, swung him into the shadows, and delivered one swift punch to his temple, effectively knocking him out. I laid him down and left him there, swiftly moving because I was sure that others had heard. I did this about five times in two minutes. I saw another shadow coming and swallowed hard.

I was getting worried about how many there actually were. I'd already taken care of six and these guys were running now. After I took care of the fourth guy, I found that some of them had guns. That didn't calm me hardly any at all, though. I was getting ready to jump him when something unexpected happened. One thug jumped on me from above, and two from the sides. I was pinned to the ground quickly, struggling under their hands as they dragged me into the light of one of the street lamps. Orange filled needles shone dimly in the light as Scarecrow approached. One man slipped a gag into my mouth as two others pressed on my shoulders hard, preventing my escape as other men tied my hands and ankles together. I looked up at Scarecrow defiantly. I wouldn't scream. I wouldn't. He lifted his hand and the tips of the needles ran down my cheek softly, sending a sick feeling in my stomach and shiver of horror down my spine.

"Such a pretty little thing," He whispered. "I am so looking forward to see you writhe."

He brought a hand up to strike me with the needles when a voice rang out. "Where is the honor in attacking a lady?"

We all looked up to see a boy standing on top of some crates, silver armor shining. Knight. I almost felt relieved. Was he here to help? He dropped to the ground and then he was gone. I blinked. Where'd he go? One of the men went down, then another and another. There wasn't anyone around them, yet they were all falling to the ground, unconscious I didn't understand it until I realized something – Knight could turn invisible. It was the only explanation. It was also the only explanation as to why I was suddenly picked up and carried away.

Scarecrow roared at the men to get up and go after us, but I could tell that they were in a lot of pain so they would take awhile to even think of coming after us. Knight's form slowly slipped into view as he ran with me in his arms, helmet over his face. I wished he would take it off – I wanted to see his eyes. Just to make sure that it was him. But that was ridiculous – who else would run around in a suit of armor?

Knight finally stopped running to sling me onto his back and begin climbing up a fire escape. I would've gotten off his back if I could, but having your mouth gagged and ankles and wrists tied usually tends to make a person vulnerable. I really had no idea where he was taking me, or why he didn't just drop me off in the street and leave. All I knew was that at that moment, I was holding onto him to get keep from falling. I couldn't do much with my hands all tied up. Knight heaved himself over the roof. He took me off his back and put me sat me down to kneel in front of me, working at the knock that tied the gag. When it was undone, I spat it out of my mouth, revolted at how dirty it was. He undid my bonds and stood up as I rubbed the circulation back into my wrists. I looked up at him suspiciously. "How did you know where I was?"

He looked down at me. It made me feel uncomfortable and weak, so I stood. Even though I was almost a head shorter than him, and his helmet only made me more uncomfortable, I felt a bit stronger knowing that I could get away if necessary. "I was just. . . Well, I was around and decided to see what you were up to. Good thing I did, too." I didn't understand why Knight wore the helmet – I couldn't see his face with it on. Maybe that was the point. But how did he see, anyway?

"Knight," I began, but he interrupted me.

"Knight?" His voice was questioning. He looked down at his armor. "Huh. I suppose it is fitting."

"You didn't give me much else to go on," I pointed out. "But, if you don't mind me asking, how can you see with your helmet on?"

"Oh." He reached up and slipped it off, shaking out his hair. "Helmet hair," he grinned as he swiped his hand through the blond locks. "This suit has some history to it. Could you spare some time?"

I pursed my lips. "Where's the amulet you stole?"

He scoffed. "You're not still going on about that, are you? I told you, it was mine to begin with. Besides, it's right here." He pulled at a chain around his neck. Out appeared the amulet, which I realized had a cross pattern on it identical to his armor. Maybe he was telling the truth. "if you don't mind conversing with a 'criminal', have a seat." He sat down on the cement roof and warily, I sat down across from him.

"I'm not from this world." I was slightly shocked as he said those words. I frowned at him.

"If you want me to believe you, starting off like that isn't helping you," I said. Was this guy for real? The knight's armor was a little eccentric, yes, but was he legitimately crazy?

"Let me explain," He said, beginning to draw pictures in the dust on the building. I watched as he drew a large circle and then four circles scattered around it, connecting them all with lines to the center circle. "This center circle here is Earth," Knight said, labeling the biggest circle. "The other four realms are centered around it. There's Agrilion," Knight said, labeling the farthest circle from the center. "This is Afravene, Espyrus, and Myrillian." He labeled the last three and began to draw a few waves on the lines that connected them. "Each realm is different. You can travel to each realm, but to do so you have to be transported by the divine ruler of your realm. I was only able to get here because of Tagiah, goddess of my home." He pointed to Myrillian. "That is my home. Tagiah has sent me here with a mission. And it's rather important."

"And what mission would that be?" I asked, trying to wrap my mind around it all. Maybe he was just crazy. Maybe he was telling the truth. How was I supposed to know? If anything it was an entertaining notion.

"That's not for you to know right now," Knight said quickly. "But this armor was given to me by Tagiah. I can see through the metal of this helmet completely, like it isn't there. To all others, though, they see a helmet. My sword, however, is very real." He pulled it from its scabbard and I sat a bit more rigid, clenching my fists in my lap. Batman had taught to always be wary in a place you don't know with a possibly crazy person. I believe that rule applied here.

"The sword will destroy certain creatures like a normal sword," Knight said. "But it's works more like a rather blunt object on mortals. So I cannot hurt humans with this like a normal sword would, unless I bludgeon them to death, of course." Somehow I didn't put it past him. He sighed when he saw my face. "I know what you are thinking – that I'm crazy and need to be put in a psycho house. But I'm not. These are real, and I'm not from here." He pointed to one of the circles.

I pursed my lips. Other worlds had always been something I had liked to think about as a child. But I wasn't a child anymore, and I honestly didn't know what to think about this. But didn't magic exist? And aliens? Life on other planets? If that could exist in a rational world, why couldn't alternate dimensions? Places where there was an all-powerful being? Maybe. I didn't have much reason not to believe him.

"And this amulet," I pointed at his chest, though the amulet was hidden beneath the metal. "It really is yours? Why did you have to steal it back?"

"This," Knight, said, pulling it out, "is a lucky charm. Anyone wearing it has protection from tdarkness. It also allows me to travel between my world and yours. Tagiah had sent it with a previous champion, but it was taken from him when he failed his mission."

"What was his mission?" I asked, more out of curiosity than anything.

"The same as mine," Knight answered vaguely.

I was quiet for awhile. "So there's a chance that you'll fail too?"

Knight looked up and grinned. "Is little kitten scared for me?"

"No," I said indignantly, a red blush creeping up my face anyway. "I was just wondering!" I got control of myself before asking, "What happens when you fail your mission?"

"We die," Knight shrugged. He continued hastily when he saw my expression. "Calm down! We just get re-born at the beginning of our life cycle. You know, back as babies. We never really die because we're always re-born."

"I see," I said, looking at my fingers. I looked up. "And this darkness. What's that?"

"The typical," Knight shrugged. "Evil. It protects you from dark forces."

"And I'm not allowed to know anything else?"

"It's not like you've told me anything about you." That was true, but I had more reason to be skeptical of him that he did of me. I returned my gaze to my fingers.

"Do you believe me?" Knight asked. I continued to look at my fingers, not saying anything. "Come now, look at me!" I felt the warm metal of his glove touch my chin and make me look up. Knight's face was teasing, but his eyes were serious.

I swallowed before saying, "I don't see any reason not to believe you, so, yes, I do."

"Fantastic," Knight said, and I don't believe I'd ever seen a person smile so much. He stood up and quickly grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet. "It was good to see you again, princess."

"Why do you keep calling me that?" I asked, realizing that he hadn't let go of my hand.

"It suits you," he said with a smile. He looked over my head suddenly. "It seems like your companions are coming." As I turned my head to look behind me (and indeed see black shapes running across rooftops) Knight bent down, kissed my cheek, and then disappeared. My entire face flushed and I tried to calm it as Batman and Robin dropped beside me. I turned my back tot hem so they wouldn't see my face.

"Where's Scarecrow?" Robin asked.

"He was at the docks," I said, trying to think of something to cover up Knight. But there was no way around it. They knew that I wouldn't have left the fight.

"Then why are you here?" Batman asked. I could tell that he knew something was up.

"Scarecrow had me," I said quietly. "He was going to inject his fear toxin into me." I turned to look at them. Robin looked worried, but Batman's face was stoic as ever. "But someone saved me and brought me here."

"Who?" Robin asked, coming closer.

I smiled for a moment. I wondered if Knight was still around, invisible, but watching. "A Knight," I said, and couldn't help but keep the admiration out of my voice. "He took out the rest of Scarecrow's men and saved me. He brought me here, and now you're here."

"Your last communication with us was over half an hour ago," Batman said. "There must have been a lot of them for it to have taken you so long."

"Yes," I said. "There were a lot of them. But they had guns, so I was trying to be more careful." I looked up at him. His eyes told me he knew. He knew that I was friends with this person, this other hero. But I could tell he was worried as well, because there was another vigilante running around Gotham City.

"If you see this Knight again, bring him in to the police." Batman said harshly. He turned his back on me and began to leave.

"Why?" I asked, horrified. "He saved me! I owe him my life!"

"He's another vigilante that could be playing by his own rules. We don't know his intentions, we don't know his background, and we don't know whose side he's on."

I didn't argue anymore. I returned to the Batcave, undressed, and went to bed. I knew that Batman was right. Knight could be crazy for all I knew. But the way he spoke, and the ways his eyes looked – I knew he was telling the truth. I knew he was. I also knew that Batman would be keeping a close eye on me whenever I went out, now. But he was right. In reality, Knight was someone that we didn't know about. And as I laid under the blankets in my bed, I tried not to think of him. I tried to focus and think of something else, but I couldn't. So I closed my eyes, and entered the Crossroads. I quickly took care of Dick's nightmares and then Bruce's. And when I finally went to sleep that night, I was afraid. Because lately, whenever I used my powers, the dreams only got worse.

They were piling up and I didn't know what to do about it. Every night, horrible faces, ripping claws, gnawing teeth flooded my dreams. I was beginning to be afraid to even close my eyes. I was afraid now. A person is supposed to feel safest in their bed, a place that is warm and familiar and comfortable. But it brought me no safety. I thought it odd that the one thing I was afraid of was, initially, was my own mind. But I faced my fears and I closed my eyes, and the nightmares flooded my dreams, washing away the light.