Courtney held her breath as she watched the Light Orb slowly, slowly rise, a tiny, tremulous illumination in the vast darkness of the room. Would it lead her to the secret of setting the trapped souls free?

Cowman felt a jab in his ass. Stopping from the gorging of hay, he pulled out of his pocket a soul crystal. "Well, this should come in handy. After I finish this pile of hay." he stuffed it in his pocket, along with a handful of hay. and slipped out the open door. Along the way, he met with one of Courtney's followers.

"The evil dude wants to corrupt Courtney's soul!" Azeran panted, after introductions were made. "That crazy Thaumatarge! He's evil! Gender-changing a perfectly normal male into a female and obviously filming the goings-on between him/her and Courtney for his personal, sick, perverted pleasure!" Cowman steamed. "Let's get his family jewels and stuff it up his mouth!" suggested Cowman. "Wait. That might not be such a good idea. I have a better plan. Now listen....." Cowman listened intently as Azeran outlined his plan, which involved a string, Osterbaum, lots of anvils and the NaziGLOP. And Steven L. (L stands for Luckless, in this case.)

"Ok," Azeran whispered to Cowman, "First, we need Steven L.'s cell phone. Once we get that, we will go to Thaumaturge's throne room, and set up the trap. Then we need to tell Thamaturge that Osterbaum is in his throne room, and then tell Osterbaum how to get to Thaumaturge's throne room. Follwing that, we tell the GLOP this, and it'll head off to get all of the soul crystals that the two of them have. At this point, there will be a LOT of Anvils set up above the throne room, in the rafters. Then, having told Steven L. that his cell phone is in Thamaturge's throne room, and that he "missed" a call from his mother, he will run in to the throne room to get his cell phone back, consequently stepping on the string that is connected to the restraints on the anvils, which will let them loose, wreaking havoc on both leaders. After we set it all up, though, I'm going to look for Courtney. You can come along, if you want. Hey, I've got voicemail." As Azeran listened to the message, his face took on a look of half relief, half horror. "Yep, she's been captured by the bad guys already, but she's not hurt. If they hurt her, though, they'll wish they had never even laid eyes on her when I get through with them. Let's get to work."

Izumo portaled in behind courtny, "ah, there you are" "My name is izumo ashido and I'm here to see that your comfort is inshored" he smiled pollitly... well as pollitly as a fallen angle could, sad creatures realy, cast from heaven there only home. he slouched slightly his homeland always saddened him.

Startled, the magelet's concentration wavered and almost broke, but she managed to hold on to the spell.

"Oh! Uh, heh, that's...very nice of you. Thanks for the concern. I'm just, y'know, exploring the library here...in a totally non-escaping way, of course."

She forced her eyes not to follow the glowing sphere in its slow ascent. "Please, let it find the books in time.." She thought urgently.

In the meantime, she studied the person-creature?-before her, darkly radiant in his own way. He reminded her for some reason of an aging rockstar who used to dream, but long since forgot how. Courtney glanced away and sighed. Was this the fate of all good things, to slowly break down and descend into darkness?

Several anvil-related injuries later, the trap was set. "Now, all we have to do is let both Osterbaum and Thaumaturge know that the other is in the throne room. Cowman, can you do that, as well as let Steven L. know where his cell phone is? Remember to stay out of the throne room once Steven L. enters the room. I'm going to find Courtney. You can catch up with me, right? See you when I do." With that, Azeran went to go find Courtney.

Succubus Dante was not God, but she moved in mysterious ways, and as the magelet was musing to herself, she slipped behind the latter, snaking a pair of sinuous arms around her neck.

"What are you looking for, Courtney?"

Osterbaum woke up...He saw his beatiful teapot collection smashed in to tiny bits...(Evil little bits!) Anger and rage lurked inside Osterbaum. He was furious!

"THATS IT!" "Minions!!! Here! Now!"

Osterbaum yelled in anger as he thought of his beatif...EVIL teapot collection!!! "BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAA!!!"

*Ahem*

Osterbaum quiqkly came up with a genious evil plan...All he needed now, were his minions...

Steven L. knew Osterbaum would be irate. That was one beautiful, albeit evil, tea set. Steven L. ran to his master, dropping his cell phone in his haste.

sudunly one of the traps set of and was heading for the girl, witch izumo could idmit was not with out her beauty. he instantly threw a knife at the trap and mubled as he paced god damn traps... god damn repair man, place is faling apart. He looked at courtney some belived that pure hearts could save the blackend restoring izumo to his former glorey befor thumaturge tainted him.