Donna followed NT out of the alley, to see that they were on a deserted street. Well, not entirely deserted. There was one small figure ahead, huddled against a lamppost crying. NT ran over to it and Donna, not knowing what else to do, followed.

"Susan," NT called as she reached the little girl, "I'm here, and I'm going to take you back to my house, you'll be safe there, okay?"

On realizing just who `Susan' was, Donna's eyes narrowed. "Damn it this's the minister's daughter, isn't it? He wants her too!"

"Well he's not getting her!" NT snapped, putting her arms around Susan, "I told you he's through getting things his way, we're going to make sure of that once and for all."

Donna shook her head. She wanted to believe this but she'd been with Tompkins too long, she'd seen firsthand what he did to anyone who tried to get in his way. She only hoped this wouldn't end with him punishing her again. "If you say so." was all she said aloud, not wanting to argue with the girl.

NT shifted them again, and they stood inside a rather well furnished living room. "He can't get to either of you here," NT said, putting Susan down.

"Where's my father?" Susan cried, "why'd the creepy man hit him?"

Donna wasn't sure what to say. What could she say that wouldn't frighten Susan more than she already was? But before she had to try to answer, NT had done it. "That creep hit him because that's what creeps do. They like hitting people. We're gonna get your father out of there but you need to stay here with my friends so the creep doesn't get near you. He can't in this house." NT replied.

"OK." Susan whimpered. "Do you...do you th-think you can find my mother, too?"

"Yes, yes, just take it easy, alright, we'll find her." NT said.

Donna watched as NT took a few minutes to comfort the crying Susan. Then NT led her down to Ameh's room, where Pippi and Shirlee sat talking, and Ameh just lay in bed.

Donna, at NT's insistence, introduced herself. Then NT said she had an errand to run. "I'll need that magic device now," NT said, turning to Donna. "Can I have it please?"

"It wouldn't do you any good." Donna replied. "Tompkins can't control the collars. Only someone who has magic can do that. I know you do, but even then they have to be attuned to this," holding up the sphere. "Which I am, only because *Christine* realized I was the only one left besides her who had any magic, once Tracy was gone."

Ameh stiffened and glared daggers at Donna on detecting the magic presence, and hearing Christine's name. "Get this bitch outa here!" she growled.

NT put her finger to her lips and said, "Uh, let's go up to the kitchen. I don't know about you, but I could use a drink." And she looked at Donna and began to leave the room.

"Ameh, it's alright, NT wouldn't bring someone here if they were allied with Christine." Pippi reassured, putting a hand on Ameh's shoulder.

Once they got to the kitchen, NT said, "I'm sorry, that's Ameh, the friend I told you about. I should've warned you not to say anything in front of her yet. And I know Tompkins can't work the magic and he and Christine've fixed it the way you said. That's why I'm not going to try deactivating it myself."

"I could bring all four of them here right now, through this," Donna said, indicating the sphere. "But the minute I do that..." she swallowed, "Nathan'll know I betrayed him."

NT sighed again. "There isn't any need for that. Besides, the thing has to be deactivated. Now, can I have it please so I can send it on to Christine? Believe me, I know what I'm doing, she has a...weakness, and I know it."

"I'll believe that when I see it. Don't you think I've tried to...to get to her?" Donna said sadly, as she handed NT the sphere. "The Queen Bee, that's what the bitch is. And she never let me forget it, either. God I wanted to wipe that snotty smile off her face...but then she'd just hurt me again."

"All right," NT said firmly, "Just you watch."

Donna did so, as NT set up a link for Donna to observe, only Christine would not detect it. Next, NT established a link to Christine that she could not block, and another for two-way communication and transfers between Christine and her alone.

Christine had been asleep when it started.

_In the good old summer time In the good old summer time--_

Christine awoke, screaming and covering her ears, but the music continued. _Dammit stop it! Stop it stop it stop the !@#$@%#%@@! noise!_

_There is only one way you can make it stop._ a determined female voice said.

_This is nnot a circus for gawdsakes, kill that music!_ Christine screamed desperately through the link.

_Yes, yes, all in good time, my dear,_ NT replied, _But first, you must get rid of these enchantments._

_You stupid fool!_

_You're strollin down the shady lanes_

_Stop! Stop! Stop!_

_If you want it to stop, you have to stop it, and the only way you can is by undoing every last enchantment and then destroying its source!_

_Dammit! I can't stop the damn music! It won't stop_

_But I just told you, there is a way to stop it, otherwise you're stuck with it and it will ring in your ears 'til you--_

_Alright alright, alright! I'll do it! I'll do it! only just you wait, Nathan will get me out of here!_

_No he won't!_ and the music continued. NT transported the sphere, and Christine traced some symbols and uttered some words.

It was done, the enchantment was lifted, and the source destroyed.

The music stopped.

_Thank you, that was most helpful._

_Oh shut up and f*** yourself!_ Christine shrieked, bursting into a crying fit.

NT cut the links. "There. What did I tell ya?"

For the first time in months, Donna actually smiled. Maybe this was the way out she'd wanted for so long.

And there was no more time to lose, NT needed to get everybody out of there before the vampire decided to snack on them as well, or even worse, Nate was turned and did.

NT told Donna to stay and watch Susan, she would be back soon.