Scott Langston sat at his desk holding a glass of liquor. Unlike every other time in which he favored the bottle itself he has decided against it for once. Rather than drink it though he just stared at it while deep in thought. Elysif was sitting on the couch reading a book on disappearances but would glance over at Scott every now and then.

“Are you ever going to drink that or are you considering going cold turkey?” she asked.

“I’m worried about Lou.”

“So am I but didn’t you say he would be fine?”

“Yes but that was before he was missing for over a week. I was hoping that the changeling would attack in the same fashion as before where it attacked efter a week. That hasn’t happened though. The changeling hasn’t attacked and I assume it has something to do with Lou.”

“I have thought the same thing but it doesn’t make much sense. The only way that would sound rational is if Lou found the changeling and fought it. Either he lost and the changeling was terribly wounded or they both lost for that scenario to happen. Even if that was the case, we could have seen evidence of it like his body being found somewhere.”

“True. maybe he successfully time travelled? If he did that would be a good reason why he hasn’t appeared yet.”

“He seemed really torn up about the whole thing, like he knew it was going to happen.”

“He might have. That may be the reason as to why he attempted to time travel if he did.”

“I wish I had stopped him before he left. Then we wouldn’t be here wasting our time thinking about what could have happened.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it. There was nothing you could have done to make him stay there. What I am truly worried about is the possibility that he was captured.”

“By who, the changeling?”

“Maybe, or perhaps this Masked man.”

“What I find very strange is that no one was really talking about the Masked man except Mordred until Lou showed up. Now we see or hear about the Masked man all the time. He saved your drunk ass once and now there are rumors that he is working with a serial killer.”

“I know, it’s as if Lou is the catalyst for the Masked man appearing but if Mordred were to hear that she would find him and lock him as some sort of trap for the Masked man. I have my suspicions as to who this Masked man really is but I have nothing to base it on.”

“Really? You think so?”

“Yes.”

“If Mordred is so motivated to find the Masked man why don’t we have her come here and find Lou? we could tell her what you just said with the promise that Lou stays with us.”

“No, that is out of the question. We have to find Lou without bringing Mordred into it. She is just too unpredictable when it comes to the Masked man.”

“I don’t understand where you are coming from with that. Are you saying you don’t trust the one who is running the Agency with Lou’s life?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. I can’t trust Mordred to worry about the life of her subordinate when it comes to her vendetta. She is too hate driven to think rationally about it. Merlin knows this more than anyone so he always handles things involving that subject rather than have her do it.”

“Okay, but can that pervert actually be of use? I would never have thought he would care so much.”

“You don’t understand them do you? Merlin was good friends with Mordred’s father so when he was killed, he was filled with hate but he didn’t have time because he was too worried about Mordred to come to terms with it properly. Or at least that’s what I’ve heard.”

“I see.”

“He took care of Mordred in her father’s place. Merlin may seem perverted but that’s just a ruse he puts up to take Mordred’s mind off her hate. Haven’t you noticed that the only time he was truly perverted or obnoxious is when someone mentioned the Masked man?”

“I didn’t realize that.”

“He took as much weight off her shoulders as he could and is the laughing stock of the Agency for her sake. It’s his way of coping and the directors respect him for being that kind of person for seven-hundred years.”

“I guess I never understood why you didn’t want to bring in Mordred. You only wanted to protect her and make Merlin’s job easier. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, but we have to find Lou as well as this changeling. If we find the Masked man on the way then we’ll bring him in.” He said before drinking the glass of liquor.

“Got it.” Elysif replied with a determined smile.”