Lisa shouted, chasing after Ella with her hands outstretched.



Ella yelled back, jumping between the beds with the laptop in her arms. It was playing some anime, which Ella seemed to be trying to watch while running away from Lisa.

Saskia watched all of this from the desk chair, feeling her remaining sanity quickly slipping away. She couldn’t handle this. Lisa had been chasing Ella around for at least five minutes! But it felt like a century! Her head hurt.

"I’m going out," Saskia said, standing abruptly. "For snacks. Want anything?"

"Ooo, some sweetheart candy, and lollipops!" Ella said cheerfully, still running away from Lisa.

”... Don’t make me get out the spiders!” Lisa shouted.

"Not the spiders!" Ella screamed.

Saskia rolled their eyes. Whatever. She’d just buy a bunch of chocolate, and whatever was most pink from the vending machine, with the ten dollar bill she had in her pocket. She quietly left the room… without a keycard, but eh, they’d probably let her in. There wasn’t a vending machine on their floor, which was annoying… but meant she could be out for longer. She hummed to herself as she walked down the corridor towards the elevator- swiveling around it and going down the stairs instead.

She didn’t like feeling trapped. And it was nice and quiet here.

Down on the ground floor, it wasn’t that long of a walk to a vending machine. It had pitiful options, and absolutely nothing that would fit Ella’s cuteness criteria, but whatever. She pulled out the crumpled ten dollar note (haha British) as she thought about what to get.

A woman—a tall Caucasian lady with long brown hair—wearing jeans and a white button-up—walked up and seemingly walked by…

… However, Saskia felt what had to be a pistol press against the back of her head as the woman came to a stop. “Saskia Otten,” She said, “You are going to follow my instructions to the letter, or I will blow your head off, then your friends are next.”

She pressed the pistol harder against the back of her head, then said, “… Are we clear?”

"... Clear," Saskia said without any change in expression, slowly putting her hands up. Her gaze stayed fixed on the vending machine, and the chocolate she wasn’t going to get to eat. She felt a little sad. "I’m very obedient."

The woman stuck her hand out, “Jewelry, accessories, whatever, put them all in my hand.”

Saskia sighed, because it was an absolute pain. They took off their four rings, multiple bracelets (including their channeler), and a chain necklace. They then gestured to their four piercings. "Do you want my earrings too?"

She pressed the pistol even harder against her head. “All of it.”

"Alright," Saskia rolled her eyes, reaching up to take out the four earrings and put them in her hand. "There you go."

The mysterious lady put it all in her pocket, “… Your channeler is in there, right?”

"Yeah, it's the death note bracelet," they said as if she'd know which one that was.

The woman quickly shuffled through her pocket until she found it. However, with the bracelet around her finger, she patted Saskia down. The first thing she pulled out was Saskia’s knife, and the next thing she pulled out was Saskia’s phone. She dropped them both to the ground and kicked them under the vending machine.

“... You can get those back later,” She softly said. “Now you are going to to turn to the left, and walk down the stairs until we get to the ground level. Then we are going out through a side door, where a car will be waiting for us.”

She explained,

“That meeting you interrupted the other day… Those people want to have a talk with you.”

”Oh, how nice," was all Saskia said. It made sense. The other group, Dollhouse, was dangerous. Of course they wouldn't be happy about them interrupting.

Saskia did exactly as the woman had said, going back to the stairwell and walking down the stairs to the ground floor. She pushed through the side door and took a deep breath of the outdoor air it felt like she'd not felt in a long time. Being stuck in a room with Ella and Lisa had that effect. She then squinted, looking for the car she was going to be shoved into.

A black Cadillac Escalade pulled up, and the woman stepped in front of Saskia, keeping the pistol aimed at her, and threw the door open.

“Get in.”

”I'm not going to run, you can put the gun down," Saskia rolled their eyes. After all… this was the most fun she'd had since laying low again. Should she be scared? Definitely. Was she? Not right now.

She got in the car very calmly, immediately going to do her seatbelt. Safety was very important. ”So… what torture methods are you planning to use on me?"

“… Hopefully none,” Shayton sat in the front seat, with both hands on the wheel.

“What do we think we are?” The woman asked as she got in next to Saskia. Still aiming the gun at her. “Animals?”

The woman’s body changed, changing shape as if she was a liquid. When she finished the transformation she looked the exact same as that woman who accompanied the Dollhouse leadership in the meeting.

“We’re better than that,” Shayton said.

The woman smiled, “… Are we?”

“Boss isn’t that pissed anyway,” Shayton shrugged as he hit the gas pedal and started driving. “So that’s one thing you have in your favor.”

”Aw, I was looking forward to it," Saskia said in a tone that made it really difficult to tell if they were joking or not. They looked out the window for a moment, then back at the gun. ”Is that for intimidation? I'm already in the car. I'm not jumping out without my channeller. Do you know how hard it is to find that bracelet now?"

She paused. ”Shouldn't you blindfold me so I don't know where we're going?"

“One, you can use magic without a channeler, so we’re making sure you don’t try anything funny, and two, it doesn’t matter either way,” The woman kept her eyes on Saskia. “Now, I have a question for you, Saskia Otten…”

She narrowed her eyes and asked.

“SO GA, does that ring a bell at all?” She raised an eyebrow.

”No," Saskia tilted their head, eyes narrowing slightly. SO GA… was it some kind of code? SO were her initials, but why? ”Should it?"

“… That’s your name on their little memorial,” The woman said. “I have always been interested in the work of the Sycamore Tree Coven… I personally confirmed the deaths of every name on that memorial, including your three litle friends. So...”

She tilted her head, “... Why are you here? Are you just a shapeshifter assuming Saskia Otten’s identity?”

Oh. Of course, there was a memorial. If this woman could connect that to her specifically… she must know quite a lot. Why even bother kidnapping her?

”No shapeshifter could replicate my incredible wit," Saskia said in an incredibly dull tone. ”I’m the same Saskia on that memorial and I'm here because I really love killing shitty bastards."

They then pointed a finger at the woman, very bluntly saying, ”But who are you? I don't recognise you."

“You wouldn’t,” the woman answered. "My name is Shaquita Walker. I am a Green-Lux user just like you.”

She paused, “Green-Lux doesn't let you come back to life and the Hound gets pissy about resurrections. So how did you come back?”

"The Hound himself brought me back," Saskia shrugged. There weren't exactly any other reasons she could give or come up with, especially to another Green-Lux user. From what she remembered, even Black-Lux couldn't properly resurrect someone. ”He wouldn't get pissed at himself. That's all I know."

“Bullshit,” Shaquita said.

“... I have a feeling she’s not lying.”

“Stay out of this, Shayton,” Shaquita answered, looking to the front seat.

“Fine.” Shayton shrugged.

“... Why did the Hound bring you back?” Shaquita asked. “I did extensive research on your Coven, and there were far better options for him to revive than you.” She narrowed her eyes.

"Wow, that hurts," Saskia said, holding a hand to her chest. She didn’t look particularly upset. "You’re right, we weren’t the best. Someone called in a favour. He wouldn’t say anymore, believe me or not. Feel free to torture me to prove it."

“I might,” Shaquita said.

The car eventually, seemingly, left the bounds of Mirage Springs and drove into the Nevada desert. However, the SUV pulled into the parking lot of an abandoned gas station.

“Can you get the door, Shayton?” Shaquita asked as she pulled out her phone with her free hand. As asked, Shayton got out of the car and opened it, staring at Saskia as he said,

“... Get out.”

”Ohh, are there any vending machines here?" Saskia asked as she got out, hands stuffed into her trouser pockets. She looked around and grimaced. The desert was not for her. "I hope you’re not planning to leave me here."

“Shut up,” Shaquita said as she got out of the car and pulled out her cell phone. She lowered her pistol…

“... You’re not getting away from Shayton if you try anything funny,” Shaquita said as she put the cell phone to her ear. “We’re at the spot.”

Then hung up the phone. A few moments later, a swirling purple portal opened up in front of them. Shaquita pointed at it.

Wow, these guys were really boring. Maybe this wasn’t going to be the fun break from their two friends fighting that Saskia thought it was. They shrugged, and stepped through the portal. They were greeted to a dark room… The portal closed behind them.

The light switched on.

The first thing Saskia saw was Luis and Henrich.



Natalie screamed as she bashed Saskia in the face with the butt of an AK-47, knocking her out completely.

---

---

“... I had the situation under control,” Shaquita could be heard saying. “There was no need to do that.”

“‘Under control’?” Natalie snorted. “Bitch had free reign to do whatever she wanted to!”

“She was cooperating,” Shayton said.

“Again. She. Has. Magic.” Natalie said, “What is this? Amateur hour?”

“... Is that also why you felt the need to strip her naked?” Shayton said.

“Motherfucker you saw that other bitch!” Natalie shouted. “You know! The one that had the fire demon sealed in her panties!? I’m not taking chances.”

“... She’s waking up,” Saskia heard the cold whisper of Heinrich.

“Ooooooooooh!” Natalie laughed, as she turned towards Saskia, “Rise n’ shine, lil’ bitch!”

Saskia was, like they said, completely nude, with their hands binded by chains - which were hanging them from the ceiling. Natalie walked over to Saskia and said, “... How’s it hangin’?” She laughed.

Saskia slowly opened their eyes, squinting. Fuck, their head hurt. Didn’t seem to be bleeding. They were much more bothered by their lack of clothes than anything else- a hint of discomfort crossed their cold eyes.

”It’s just great," they intoned, twisting their wrists to check the chains. Of course, they could actually get out of them if they really wanted to by breaking their wrists… But that wasn’t worth it. ”Shame is an interesting form of torture. Effective. What else do you have planned?"

They almost seemed… excited?

“Well,” Natalie laughed, putting her hands in front of her and smiling like she was containing laughter. “For starters, we’re going to figure out why the fuck you thought it was cute to interrupt our million-dollar deal!”

“Then we’re going to figure out what you can do to make it up to us,” Luis said, leaning against a nightstand with his arms crossed.

“That too,” Natalie said, before she walked over to Saskia, grabbed her side, and gave her a little spin. “So… let’s get to know each other…”

”Righhhhhtttt," Saskia said, voice elongated with the spin. They winced slightly. It would be more fun if they got out really torture devices… ah well. ”Well, my name’s Saskia Otten. I was dead for ten years. Bled to death, really fun. I’d honestly recommend it if you want a once in a lifetime experience."

“Been there, done that,” Luis rolled his eyes.

They shrugged as best they could. ”It was less about you, more about the other side."

“Oh, you mean those Society retards?” Natalie laughed. “I mean, I don’t like them either, but they got money and resources. So we make due.”

“I’m still trying to figure out why you’re back,” Shaquita said, narrowing her eyes and putting a hand on her hip.

Luis smiled.

“... Even if she doesn’t tell us, time will tell,” He answered.

“Not important!” Natalie said as she walked up to Saskia, and squeezed her lips with her thumb and index finger. “Lemme tell you about us, sweetheart.” She laughed, raising a finger to her face.

“Dollhouse? Unlike those Society dumbasses, we don’t fuck around!” Natalie laughed. “Oh! Let me ask ya’ a question! Take a guess on how we found you so easily?”

”He," Saskia looked at Shayton, ”injected one of my friends with a tracker. Or maybe both- it’s not something that’ll kill them, is it?"

“Bingo!” Natalie laughed, then her expression went flat. “... Sort of.” She shrugged.

“... I slipped it in your two little girlfriends' pockets,” Shayton piped up. “Neither of you noticed.”

”They’re too busy fighting over a laptop," Saskia muttered. It wasn't like she'd felt up Lisa and Ella since the fight.

Luis pushed off the nightstand, and folded his arms behind his back, “But, we can forget about this… It's not like we can’t meet the Society later.” He spoke as he walked over to Saskia.

“How about we make a deal?” He said before he spun Saskia.

“... That's weirdly fun, right?!” Natalie laughed.

“Will this deal involve putting her clothes back on?” Shayton tilted his head.

“Why are you acting like you ain't seen a naked bitch?” Natalie laughed.

”I would appreciate clothes being part of the deal," Saskia said drily. ”Even a sheet. But sure, let me hear this deal."

“Maybe if you accept,” Natalie scoffed.

Luis clapped both of his hands together.

“We assist you…” Luis grinned. “... In your fight against the Society.”

”Oh?" Saskia tilted their head. That did sound like a good deal, on the surface. She was sure Ella would take it immediately if offered. ”And what do I do in return?"

They were silent.

“Eliminate Morningstar!” Natalie shouted. “It's that easy.”

”... Huh?" Saskia's eyes widened just slightly. That seemed too easy. ”What’s the catch."

“Well, how do I say there is no catch?” Natalie tilted her head. “Baaaaaaaaasically, Morningstar? He’s bad news. And while we are scumbags: at least we won’t lie to your face.”

"He is awful," Saskia agreed. She didn't really trust them - she wasn't the trusting sort. But they needed help with Morningstar, and if they didn't kill him they'd be dead again anyway. Plus this lot could've very easily killed her. "We plan to kill him anyway, so that's an easy deal to agree with- assuming there's no catches. And you keep my friends out of it."

Her lips then twisted down into an almost mournful look. "I lost the drawing of what we plan to do to Morningstar, it was very good… Maybe I can recreate it?"

“Whatever you plan on doing,” Shayton said. “Make sure it is solid.”

“We have something that can turn the tide in your little fight,” Natalie said, nodding her head at Shaquita - who walked out of the room for a moment, and then came back with a suitcase, which she opened and Natalie put on a thick leather glove, before she pulled out a orange gem wrapped in a necklace, and held it with her thumb and index finger. “This is just a random ass rock. Nothing important about it. It’s definitely not the incredibly powerful ^{and dangerous} Orange Stone.”

”Right, so normal you need a thick glove to hold it," Saskia said drily. They narrowed their eyes at it. Whatever it was, they'd take it and use it because they needed to… but they definitely wouldn't let Ella or Lisa touch it. For their safety. "Orange Stone as in orange lux, abstraction boosting? Or does it do something else?"

“It makes your abstraction sooooooo much stronger, like you might be able to topple buildings,” Natalie said. “Except… if you use it too much, you’ll become consumed by your abstraction.”

She grinned, “So, use it wisely. Lest you want to become a rampaging monster.”

”I see, sounds fun, I've always wanted to be a monster," Saskia said nonchalantly. She planned to use it very carefully, though. And she definitely wasn’t going to give it to the other two. If anyone was going to risk their sanity, it should be her. ”But of course, I’ll use it wisely… to kill Morningstar."

They then looked up at the chains still around their wrists. ”Since we’ve made a deal, can I get out of these? And get some clothes. Ah, if you want to see something fun, I can get out myself."

“We got you,” Natalie said, before turning to her bodyguard. “... Shaquita!”

The silent woman stuck her hand out, and a bladed tendril made out of flesh came out of her hand, and sliced through the chains, letting Saskia drop to the ground. Shayton walked over, holding her clothes neatly folded, and presented it to them.

“I'm sorry about that,” Shayton said. :The bosses wanted to make sure you weren’t hiding any artifacts.”

Natalie spun the Orange Stone around her finger. “Before we give this to you, two things!”

She raised one finger, “One, this conversation never happened. You never got this from us. Where would you have gotten this from? Who the fuck knows! Figure it out.”

Then she raised a second finger, “And two, when Morningstar is defeated. You return this to us… we’ll find you.” She smiled.

”You better be quick about it, the Hound might want us back right after," Saskia shrugged. They very quickly got dressed, immediately feeling more comfortable… if a bit disappointed that this talk had been more boring than they expected. The only cool thing was the bladed flesh tendril at the end. ”Agreed. Making something up is easy… ah, do I get my Channeler back too?"

Shaquita dug into her pocket and threw the Death Note bracelet at Saskia.

Saskia caught it and put it on. They twirled it around their wrist a couple of times. All good, still their Channeler. ”It was nice meeting you all, even if you could do with better methods of torture. If you'd been trying to get me to talk you wouldn't have gotten anywhere."

Natalie laughed as she glanced at Heinrich.

“Oh, we could have gotten you to talk, sugar,” Natalie laughed. As a swirling purple portal appeared behind Saskia, Luis scribbled something on a notepad. Then he shoved it into Saskia’s hand. Then Natalie handed her The Orange Stone.

Then Natalie shoved Saskia through the portal.

“... Hugs and kisses!” Natalie shouted. Before the portal closed, and Saskia was right outside the Holiday Inn where they took them.

Saskia sighed. She put the necklace around her neck and under her shirt, and looked at the note. An address… with a handy note that it was Morningstar's lair. Handy, but a bit of a pain to explain. She shoved it back in her pocket and headed inside. She went to the vending machine first, collecting her phone and knife. Then… she bought the chocolate bar she'd been really craving. Munching it, she went back up to her floor. Ah. She didn't have a key card.

With another sigh, Saskia loudly knocked on the door.

Lisa opened the door… the laptop in one hand. And Ella bonded and gagged with spiderwebs in the background. Lisa smiled.

”... Where were you! We were worried sick! Did you get lost?! Did you cut yourself on all that edge again?!”

Saskia looked past Lisa to the bound Ella, then back at her as if it was nothing strange, stepping into the room. "Yes, I lost so much blood that I got dizzy and fell over near the vending machine. When I came too I had this mysterious stone and handy note on me."

She pulled out the address and showed the Orange Stone.

”Oooooooooooooooh!” Lisa looked on with wonder. ”... What is it?”

"Well I feel stronger with it on, so an abstraction booster, maybe," Saskia shrugged. "Finders keepers, so it's mine."

”Well, sure!” Lisa shrugged, before she grinned, looking over her shoulder at Ella. ”Let’s watch anime alllllllllllllllll night long! But with our headphones on, so Ella can’t hear it!”

Saskia nodded with a small, evil smile. "Perfect, I know just the one… it's got loads of gore. Very fun."

Ella struggled in the background, eyes filled with despair.

A few days after that eventful night at the Devil’s Fortune (And Saskia just finding a peculiar, glowing rock on the ground), it was time for the group to plan their next move—especially now that they had information on Morningstar’s lair, where his lackeys make their evil schemes. Lisa opened the door, where Kimberly and Jordan were standing over a table with a large piece of paper with some drawings on it she couldn’t see from across the room.

The two turned towards the trio.

“Ah, you’re all just in time,” Kimberly said. “Come here! We have been tracking the movements of the Endless Seven…”

“... Up until they found the tracking devices,” Jordan rolled her eyes.

“We’re gonna scope them-”

"What do you mean by scope them?" Ella tilted her head in confusion.

“You know… Give them a look to see if it's worth our time and not go in guns blazing,” Jordan answered.

"Oh, are we drawing together?" Saskia asked, walking right up to the paper. ”Let me join."

“No! No! It's good!” Kimberly bubbly said, laying her torso over the paper.

"Shame," Saskia shrugged, looking at Lisa. "I don't think they think I'm good at art, isn't that cruel?"

Lisa smiled.

”Not everyone can comprehend art, after all!” She said to Saskia.

Kimberly got up and pointed at various locations on the paper, which turned out to be a map of Mirage Springs. Some locations were circled, and others were crossed out.

“Now, by bugging them we have tracked the members of the Endless Seven to these locations,” Kimberly explained, pointing at several different circles on the map. “After the Devil’s Fortune fiasco, each member of the Endless Seven went to a different location… one of which being Morningstar Banking.”

“… Before they noticed the bugs and they all went offline one by one.”

“One went to this restaurant, and another to a warehouse,” Kimberly explained. “We’re going to go there, and do the same thing we did at the Devil’s Fortune, bug the place and see what we can glean. No fighting this time, hopefully.”

"We could do that, Orrrrr…" Saskia walked up to the table and slapped down the piece of paper, with the address and ‘Morningstars’ lair on it. "We go bug his evil lair."

”Don't worry, it's not a drawing!" Ella piped up.

Kimberly and Jordan looked between each other.

“… What’s this?” Kimberly asked as she grabbed it and examined it.

“Yeah,” Jordan looked at Saskia, “Where did you get this from?”

"I passed out from blood loss a few days ago, and when I woke up it was just beside me," Saskia said with a completely straight face. "I suppose a good Samaritan gave it to me."

They looked between each other.

“… You really think we were born yesterday?” Jordan raised an eyebrow. “Really? Really?”

“Yeah, this is really sus,” Kimberly added.

”Look," Saskia said, holding their hands up. "I can't tell you where I got it from. You'll just have to trust me."

“Remember the other day you were complaining about us not keeping you three in the loop?” Jordan asked, raising an eyebrow at Saskia. "Now, you want us to trust a note someone just left on you? We aren’t stupid.”

“... Who gave it to you?” Kimberly asked.

”I can’t tell you," Saskia shook their head, grimacing. ”But fine, it wasn’t left on me. It was given to me, I know who gave it to me, but I can’t say who. They’ll probably shoot me if I do."

“... We’re not going to let them hurt you,” Jordan asked.

“Tell us who, because if we go here, we might be walking into a trap,” Kimberly explained.

”Fine." Saskia pinched the bridge of their nose. ”But it doesn’t leave here. It was the Dollhouse. They want Morningstar dead too.”

Both Kimberly and Jordan’s jaws dropped.

“... You know who Dollhouse are, right?” Jordan raised an eyebrow. “Shady motherfuckers. Doing shady-motherfucker things.”

”You think I’m stupid?" Saskia rolled their eyes.

“When did this happen? You know what?” Kimberly said before turning back to the map on the table, “It’s not important. So, let’s get back on track. These are the locations we are going to check out and bug today.”

”If you don’t want to use the information, fine, we’ll do your plan." Saskia held up their hands again. ”But don’t blame me if we go there later..."

"Wait, wait, but if they got rid of the bugs before, won’t they get rid of these ones too?" Ella piped up.

“They found the bugs we planted on them,” Kimberly clarified. “Unfortunately, in the fight the other bugs we planted in their dining room were destroyed. So we’ll have to bug it again later.”

Lisa quietly listened to them go back and forth… nodding her head as she absorbed all of the information. And man, Saskia should have waited just a lil bit before coming out with it! Lisa didn’t know what Dollhouse had to do with this, or if they could be trusted, but she is putting all of her love and faith in the hands of the other two magical girls. So, she turned her head towards Kimberly and said,

”I mean… we’re just checking out some places, right?” Lisa asked.

“Right,” Kimberly answered.

”Then, what’s the difference if we scope out the place Dollhouse told Saskia?” Lisa answered. ”I don’t trust Dollhouse either… but, can we just look at the place? That’s it?”

"Yeah, we should scout it out! If it's a trap then we'll have foiled it, and if the information's right then we'll have found has evil lair!" Ella grinned.

"Right,” Saskia intoned. "I said we go bug it, not raid it. I don't trust them either."

“Fine,” Jordan said. “But, if this blows up in our faces… heh, don’t say we didn’t tell you so.”

“Get ready; we’re going to head out in an hour,” Kimberly told them. “I think it’s going to work out fine, but we shouldn’t rush in there. Take things slower this time.”

Lisa fist-pumped, then grinned like an idiot. She wrapped her arms around Ella and Saskia, and said, ”See girls, I did it!” She began. ”Let’s find out where Morningstar does his evil schemes!”

"Yeah, let’s beat his ass- I mean investigate it!" Ella shouted, hugging Ella and Saskia back and practically lifting them into the air.

Saskia smiled slightly. "I can’t wait.”

---

The Morgenstern Manor was a secluded location outside of Mirage Springs. They couldn’t find it because it was placed in someone else’s name. Clever… Unfortunately, the issue was that it was on an open plain with little to no cover or concealment. It didn’t matter much since they approached under the veil of darkness, and Kimberly demanded that they dress like ninjas… and also had to buy them clothes that made them look like ninjas. Lisa was wearing a Balaclava with a hoodie and some leggings… and of course her boots. They approached on a giant spider… a massive huntsmen spider the size of an entire car! Jordan sat up as she looked through the binoculars.

“There’s not a whole lot of activity,” Jordan began, continuing to look through it.

“But, let’s not teleport inside and get caught off guard,” Kimberly said. “Remember, we’re just bugging some locations like the bedrooms, dining rooms, any place they would have a conversation over the phone….”

”You know you’re probably going to hear them having sex at least once?” Lisa said.

Both of them looked at Lisa.

“... Moving on,” Jordan said.

"There’s no way Morningstar gets any action,” Saskia muttered, narrowing their eyes at the looming mansion they were approaching. They were dressed in all black - black sweater, black jeans, black Balaclava.

”What if he has like a harem? A room of naked women? Wouldn’t that be amazi- crazy, I mean crazy!” Lisa said.

"Couldn't we wear something less… black?" Ella whined. She looked completely different from normal with an oversized black hoodie, black skirt and tights. Jangling could be heard from their arms - probably covered in bright jewelry like normal. "I hate this!”

Saskia rolled their eyes, ignoring Ella to ask, "Before we go in… what’s the plan if we’re caught again?”

“We immediately teleport out,” Kimberly answered. “If that’s not an option, we run. We’re not going to be fighting anyone.”

"That worked so well last time."

”… Can I at least put spiders in his underwear?” Lisa weakly asked.

“No,” Jordan answered, lowering her binoculars. She pointed at a room on the second floor, “Let’s go, take us up that wall.”

With a nod of her head, Lisa commanded the giant spider to scale up the wall. They climbed up to the desired window, and Jordan used her telekinesis to pop the lock. The window slid open, and Kimberly unholstered her pistol then climbed through. Then gestured for the rest, Lisa was the second one through…

It was a study, with a red carpet and fancy wooden walls. Massive bookshelves on both sides of the room held what had to be hundreds of books.

"Whoa," Ella gasped, coming right after Lisa. She looked around, hands on her hips. "I wonder if he has-"

"He does not have anime," Saskia rolled their eyes, climbing in after Ella. They went over to the bookshelves and narrowed their eyes, reading the spines but not touching anything. "I wonder if he has any interesting magic books…"

Kimberly had crawled underneath the desk, and planted the bug there with some tape… As Jordan gently pushed the door open and stuck her ear out.

Saskia was still looking at the bookshelf. They paused in front of a slightly out-of-place book, frowning, before reaching out to pull it out…. Some gears could be heard turning on the other side as a section of the bookshelf lowered, unveiling a torch-lit stone pathway that led downwards.

“... Oh, you gotta be fuckin’ kidding me,” Jordan said.

“Cliche…” Kimberly shrugged.

"Well," Saskia turned around, holding up their hands. "We have to go down there."

”... It could be where he keeps all his whores!” Lisa added.

Jordan facepalmed.

“I’ll go in first, you three are behind me,” Kimberly said, as she walked over to a torch, grabbed one, and then added, “Jordan, you’re in the back.”

With a shrug, Lisa followed behind Kimberly as they descended into the labyrinth that she was hoping wasn’t a trap. Eventually, they made it to the bottom, and there were three stone paths. This place was massive! Really raised the question of how he got this place made but magic.

“Okay let’s-” Kimberly tried to say before they were cut off by some guttural screaming. Bright red lights and a loud buzzing sound could be heard down the hall to theit right.

"... oh, I think they’re torturing someone down there," Saskia said with a hint of excitement.

"We can’t let him get away with whatever evil thing he’s doing!" Ella shouted. She pushed past Kimberley and Lisa and ran right down the hall the screaming was coming from, Channeler already out. Lisa just followed after them.

“Wait- fucking…” Jordan hissed as she chased after them.

“Assess the situation!” Kimberly said. “Aw screw it!”

As they got closer, the screaming and electricity came to a pause… Then they approached a massive chamber. Morningstar and his remaining Endless Seven gathered around a seemingly bottomless pit, in front of the wall, on the opposite side of the room. Looming over the wall was , a tall, mixed woman bound to the wall by metal restraints.

“Now Monica, you're not making it easy for us,” Morningstar said, one hand behind his back and the other drinking wine that looked suspiciously like blood.

“Fuck you, Morningstar!” Monica spat out at him.

“... Dr. Cross,” Morningstar turned to Dr. Cross, who reached out in the air, and several glowing runes appeared in front of her. Then she gave it a touch as Monica was violently electrocuted.

“Find the All-Blade! Comply!” Morningstar demanded.

Ella went to run out, but Saskia shot out an arm and pulled her back.

"We can't just rush in against that many," she whispered.

"But they're going to kill her! And there's almost as many of them as there are us!"

Saskia shook their head, turning it towards Kimberley and Jordan. "Do you think we can take them?"

Kimberly smiled.

“... No.”

“But we are not going to leave her there,” Jordan shook her head. I can teleport her out... but it will be a few minutes before I can teleport us out.”

“So get ready,” Kimberly said.

"I'm always ready," Ella brandished her channeller.

"You need to transform first," Saskia pointed out. They pulled out their knife and sliced their hand, blood pooling around it in a light armoured coating.

"Oh yeah!" Ella's eyes widened. She step back so she was at the back of the group, quietly muttering to herself about light and beating darkness as a soft glow coated her body and she spun around to transform.

Saskia, meanwhile, was forming a long blood blade. "I'm ready. Let's save her."

Well, it was Lisa’s turn as she made a wave of spiders appear… however, five of them, the limit for her Enlarge spell, were wrapped in a glowing cocoon that grew to sizes far larger than average. A few moments later, they burst out, and three of the spiders had dragonfly wings, and the last two had mandibles like ants. Lisa grinned ear to ear, as she said….

”... Let’s kick their ass!”

“Alright, get ready,” Jordan said as she stuck her hand out… a swirling coral-pink orb of energy appeared around the woman as various members of Morningstar’s inner circle made sounds of shock…

… Then she was gone.

Jordan grinned, and Lisa thought they could just walk out....



Dr. Cross shouted… as various members of the Endless Seven turned off their glamour, and converted into hellish monsters, a familiar rush of adrenaline surged down Lisa’s spine.

”We're here to end your evil plan, Morningstar- again!" Ella shouted. Her legs lit up with a rainbow light that contrasted the rest of her dark clothing. She pushed herself back in front - next to Lisa's spiders.

”Just a few minutes" Saskia said softly behind her. From the back of one hand was a blood blade, and she raised the other.

A blood bullet shot out of it, right towards Dr Cross, hitting her in the titty.

Morningstar sighed, wiping a hand across his face.

“… Can somebody tell me why they haven’t been dealt with yet!?” Morningstar complained.