The tall man walked over the body of the fallen elf and to the display case which held the amulet. With a triumphant smirk on his face, he tapped the display case's glass with his curved ebony wand. But nothing happened. He tapped the glass again, but like before, nothing happened. His triumphant smirk was soon washed away his face, and another look took its place, one of utter annoyance. Under his invisibility cloak, Constantine smiled at his predicament. It would appear that the museum had placed some sort of protection charm on the glass as a last line of defence against theft. It'll take them awhile to break through the glass. Hopefully Haashid would arrive back before they do.

The tall man took a few steps back from the display case. He then raised his wand, pointing it at the display case.

"Zerstoren!" shouted the tall man, his voice echoing throughout the circular chamber.

A beam of pure magical energy surged out of the tall man's wand and through the air before hitting the display case in a brilliant flash of light. Constantine could feel the hairs on the back of his head stand up and the air around him crackled as the beam of energy continued surging through the air, bombarding the display case. It was evident to Constantine that the tall man's wand was not crafted for the average wizard or witch. The Strain caused by the spell he was currently using would have surely destroyed the average person's wand or staff. It won't be long until he manages to break the glass, thought Constantine, seeing the glass of the display case beginning to crack slightly. Haashid, it would be really swell if you turned up with the cavalry right about now. After a few brief moments, the enchanted glass of the display case shattered into a thousand tiny fragments. Constantine, who stood behind one of the circular chamber's marble pillars, still under his invisibility cloak, watched in horror as the tall man slowly approached the shattered display case to retrieve the amulet. I have to act. I can't let them escape with the amulet.

Constantine lifted his wand under his invisibility cloak and took aim at the tall man. He took in a deep breath and released it slowly. Constantine then chanted a stunning spell under his breath, a spell he has used over a hundred times during his many adventures spanning the globe. A blue magical bolt shot out of Constantine's wand flew towards the tall man. The blue magical bolt hit the tall man, but instead of falling down to the ground incapacitated, the tall man still stood upright. The tall man had enchanted his clothing with a protection charm. This is not good.

"It looks like we still have company. Search the room," ordered the tall man to his two subordinates as his eyes swept across the room, looking for the origin of the spell which hit him.

The tall man's two subordinates nodded and proceeded to carry out his command. Constantine who was under the protection of his invisibility cloak, watched as the two men tried to find him in vain. After a few moments, the two men returned to the tall man's side.

"There's no one else here besides us, Hans."

Hans shook his head. "No. There is someone else here."

Constantine, still under the protection of his invisibility cloak, witnessed Hans press his curved wand on his right temple. The tall man began to mutter an incantation that was incomprehensible to Constantine. What's he doing? As soon as he had finished chanting, Hans opened his eyes. It glowed an eerie green glow. Hans began sweeping the room with his eerie gaze. He then stopped, looking directly at Constantine. C-Can he see me? An evil grin formed on Hans's face. He can see me.

Hans raised his wand. A red bolt of magical energy surged out of his wand and towards Constantine. The spell hit Constantine. It had broken through the shield charm Constantine had cast to protect himself. The force of the spell sent him flying off his feet and to the ground. Constantine tried to get back on his feet. But before he could even sit upright or raise his wand, he had three wands pointed at him. One of Hans's subordinates, kicked Constantine's wand out of his hand, disarming him.

"Who. Are. You?" asked Hans in an icy and professional tone.

Before Constantine could even mutter a single word, the sound of approaching footsteps echoing in the distance distracted him and Hitler's people. By the sound of it, there were a lot of people coming. A lot. That must be Haashid and the cavalry. Just in time.

"L-Let's just get the amulet and leave," stuttered one of Hans's subordinate.

"Your penchant for stating the obvious is truly remarkable, Franz," remarked Hans, looking at Franz. "Got get the amulet."

Franz bowed his head slightly and left to carry out Hans's command.

"What do we do about him?" asked Hans's other subordinate, still pointing his wand at Constantine

"We take him with us," stated Hans.

"Why?"

"I want to know just exactly who he is. And why he's here."

As much as Constantine wanted to act, he couldn't. He didn't have his wand with him. One wrong move could lead to his demise. Right now, he just had to wait. Wait for Haashid to arrive with the cavalry.

"I say we kill him. Leave no witnesses."

"And you can do that, Max, once I get what I want from him. He may have information useful to our master. Until then, he stays alive and comes with us. Is. That. Understood?"

Max nodded slowly.

Hans looked at Constantine, his face serious and his dark eyes cold. As their eyes met, Constantine felt an ominous feeling swell up within him. He knew in his gut that Haashid won't be able to come to his aid in time. Hans lifted his curved wand, pointing it at Constantine. Without uttering a single word, the tip of Hans's wand emitted a purplish mist which sparkled ever so slightly. The mist crept up Constantine's nostrils, assaulting them with an intoxicating sweet smell. Almost immediately, Constantine could feel his eyes begin to grow heavy. He developed an unexplained urge to fall asleep. The last thing Constantine saw before succumbing to Hans's sleeping charm was Franz returning with the amulet in hand.

###

Constantine groggily opened his eyes. He woke up to find that his arms and legs were bound to a chair by rope. He also realised that he was no longer wearing his dark brown leather jacket and that his wand was not in its shoulder holster. The last thing he could remember before passing out was Hitler's people managing to get their hands on the amulet which would lead them to the Library of Thoth."

"Good, you're finally awake," said a familiar voice, its tone icy and professional. "We can now begin."

Constantine groggily raised his head to see Hans standing in front of him, a malicious grin plastered on his face. He could also see that Hans had his curved wand drawn.

"Tell me," began Hans, his tone icy and professional. His body language also decidedly unfriendly. "What were you doing at the Grand Library?"

"I was there to see the exhibits," replied Constantine after remaining silent for a few brief moments. "I heard they had a new collection come in about a week ago. So I wanted to check it out."

Hans chuckled. "Funny. Very funny." Hans began to pacing around Constantine like a lion does to his prey before it struck. Constantine started to feel a horrible twisting sensation in his gut which only grew worse. He also started to feel a blinding sensation ignite at the back of his eyes. Constantine writhed in agony. W-What's h-happening t-to me?

"So tell me, why were you at the Grand Library?"

To Constantine's horror, his tongue began to move on its own accord, crawling, probing, straining against the roof of your mouth. It was struggling for release. Constantine knew that on an instinctive level, that the sensation he was being subjected to would only get worst. Much worst. He knew that speaking the truth was the only way out of the pain which coursed throughout his body. I-I have to r-resist t-this. Constantine tried to focus his thoughts. Focus it away from the pain.

"Not bad, young man," remarked Hans. "Not bad. Your willpower is admirable. But you. Will. Break."

The horrible twisting sensation in his gut intensified. The blinding sensation at the back of his eyes also grew worst, and it was getting harder to breathe. He knew that speaking the truth was the only way out of the pain which coursed throughout his body. His mind wanted to resist, to tell Hans nothing, but his body could not. It could not take any more of the pain it was subjected to. Constantine began to unclench his jaw to speak.

"I-I was there to s-stop you. F-From getting the a-amulet to t-the m-map room."

Immediately after he had answered Hans's query, Constantine could feel the pain begin to subside. His breathing also became less laboured.

"Interesting," said Hans, beginning to pace around Constantine again. "Most interesting indeed." Hans stopped and looked at Constantine. "Tell me, who sent you?"

Constantine remained silent. He did not want to divulge any more information. But deep down, he knew that he could not resist. Not when Hans could easily torture the answers out of him. But Constantine knew that he had to try. Even though he didn't have any training in the art of resisting torture.

"Not going to talk?" Hans sighed. "Very well then."

Hans lifted his wand and pointed it at Constantine. The tip of Hans's curved wand then began to glow red. Constantine began to feel yet again the same horrible twisting sensation in his gut he had felt earlier. The blinding sensation at the back of his eyes also started to return. Constantine grit his teeth and tried to will himself to resist the pain. I-I have to r-resist. I-I have t-to. I c-can't l-let them k-know SIS is o-on to t-them. Without warning, Constantine felt a white burst of pain in his arm and into his shoulder. Constantine who was bound to the chair jerked back involuntarily before screaming in agony.The twisting sensation in his gut intensified. I-I c-can't do it. Constantine unclenched his jaw. He was on the verge of telling Hans everything he wanted to know when one of Hans's men entered the tent, distracting him. Constantine let out a sigh of relief. The pain which tormented him began to subside.

"What is it?" asked Hans with a hint of annoyance in his voice

"Miss Bell as you requested, sir," said the man who had entered the tent.

"Bring her in."

Constantine slowly raised his head. He saw Miranda just as she entered the tent. Constantine could see a look of utter shock form on her face as soon as she laid her eyes on him.

"Constantine?" gasped Miranda.