Three days later, Mistoffelees closed his locker with a frown. Grids shut her own locker looking at him, "What is it?"

"I don't know, probably nothing," he replied. "Just got out of computers... I can't help but think something weird is going on. I mean, I know I've been spending more time in the library than I used to, and don't give me that look, but what Dave and Fritz have been working on... I don't get it at all."

"What do you mean?"

"It... it's strange. They've been in the lab almost non-stop and I don't recognize their coding at all."

"Wait, you don't recognize their coding?"

"Yeah, that's the thing. See, usually I don't want to worry about stuff like that, but now Sunnydale has made me all paranoid and I'm worried something's up."

"Well, huh." She thought for a minute, "If I play the ditz you think I could get one of 'em to tell me what's going on?"

He arched a brow at that. "You could try. Test Dave out first, he's nicer generally than Fritz."

"Alright, I'll do that."

"Good luck."

"Thanks. See you later."

Dave was sitting in the computer lab, furiously typing something. Grids entered quietly, "Hey there, Dave." He didn't look up. "Dave? Anybody home?" She moved over and set her hand on his shoulder.

He jumped, hands almost slamming against the keyboard. "Oh. What do you what?"

"Sorry...didn't mean to scare you. I was wondering if you had a minute?"

"A minute?" he asked, almost confused. "Okay, yeah, a minute. I have that. What is it?"

"Well, I've been having a hard time in computers, and you're, well a computer genius. I was wondering if you would be up for taking me through how to work with one? Maybe show me what you do?"

"That's... a lot to go over in a minute," he replied, still looking a bit dazed.

"Well, maybe a bit more than a minute then." She lay a hand on his arm, "Please? I'd love to see what you guys are able to do with a computer. I hear there's some really neat stuff."

"Well," he said, soothed somewhat. "What in specific would you like to know about?"

"I dunno." She looked at his computer screen, "What're you working on?"

He glanced at the screen and abruptly closed the window. "A project. It's pretty advanced."

She blinked at that, "Well...what can you tell me then about the computer thing?"

"The computer thing?" he frowned.

"Computer stuff? I really don't know what I'm doing with one of these."

He frowned again. "Can't you ask Mistoffelees? You always seem to be hanging around with him, and I'm sure he has more time."

"I...well, maybe..."

"Though," Dave frowned. "He's been acting weird too... spending more time around books and stuff. It's almost like he's regressing."

"...Regressing?"

"Spending more time around books? It's like moving backward in time rather than forward."

"Shouldn't books and computers be together? I mean we need both, don't we?"

Dave glared at her slightly and shook his head. "Sure, yeah, whatever."

She blinked at him, "Dave, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said, though his shifted his hands enough to draw attention to them.

She looked down, seeing the bandages on his fingertips, "God, Dave, your fingers."

"It's nothing," he said too quickly. "Just been typing a lot."

"What-what's going on?"

Nothing," he repeated, turning back to the computer. "I'll talk to you later. I've got work to do."

She rose, staring at him for a long moment before slipping out of the lab.

Mistoffelees was waiting outside. "Did you get a chance to talk to him?"

She nodded, "He's really jumpy. And wearing bandages on his fingers."

"From what?" Mistoffelees asked, adjusting his bag as they walked down the hall.

"He said it was from typing a lot."

"He had bandages on his hands from typing?" Mistoffelees asked, aghast.

"That's what he said."

"Good god," the smaller teen murmured.

Grids pushed the doors of the library open, "Well, we'd better figure out what it is."

"Sounds like a very good plan," Mistoffelees said, unable to help glancing around for Cori.

Cori came out of his office, "What on earth are the two of you talking about?"

"Something's up with the computers," Mistoffelees replied. "Or, rather, a couple of the students."

"That's...not exactly reassuring. What do you mean?"

Mistoffelees glanced at Grids. "Well, Dave's fingers are bleeding from typing, and I have no idea what either of them were doing. It started after we were scanning books."

"After you were..." He frowned, "I've been through those books. There's nothing that would have caused this."

"You hadn't been through all of them. There were a couple you had to look through first, remember?" Grids asked.

"Yeah," Mistoffelees frowned and went over to his pile, picking one up. "Like, this one was new and..." he frowned as he flipped through it. "...Totally empty."

Cori moved over, rapidly, "That makes no sense."

Mistoffelees glanced up and handed the book over. "There's nothing written in here, it looks old though."

Cori took the book, freezing as he saw the cover. "Damn it."

"Damn it?" Mistoffelees asked. "Damn it does not sound good."

"Damn it isn't good. I...will look into this before speaking more conclusively than that."

Mistoffelees just stared at him for a moment. "Any ideas?"

"Possibly."

"Cori, a little more help than 'possibly', please." Grids frowned.

"Well, this particular book was sent to me by an archeologist friend who found it in an old monastery. There are certain books that are not meant to be read. Ever. They have...well...things trapped within them."

"And that book is empty? Which means whatever was trapped might be out? But that doesn't make sense with the computer kids..." Mistoffelees' face paled dramatically. "Oh god."

Grids glanced at him, "What is it, Misto?"

"I-I-I... I think I scanned that one."

Cori considered that for a moment before paling, "Normally it is required to be read aloud, but...a scanner wouldn't read it as language. It would take it up as information-along with the demon."

"Demon?" Grids looked at him, "You said things. And now you say 'demon'. Cori, what is it that Misto scanned?"

"Unless I'm mistaken," he motioned to the image on the cover of the book, "This is Moloch, the corruptor. A very deadly and seductive demon. He draws people to him with promises of love, power, knowledge. Preys on impressionable minds. "

"Which means I might well have unleashed a demon on our school's computers?"

"And every computer connected to them by a modem..." Grids added quietly, earning her a look from Cori.

Mistoffelees sat down hard. "Meaning unleashed demon on internet. I'm never scanning a book again."

Cori moved over, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder, "You couldn't have known."

"I still... I..."

"Well, we'll simply have to rid ourselves of it," Cori continued.

The teen took a shuddering breath. "Any ideas how?"

"Well...off hand? Beyond deleting the original file, I'm not certain. It may be a start, though"

"Right," Mistoffelees said, moving over to the computer. He pulled up the file and moved it to the trash can... only the screen lit up and a green horned demon roared at them.

"Stay away from mine!" it thundered. "It's none of your business!" The computer screen went dark as it turned itself off.

Coricopat paled at that, glancing at Grids who swallowed hard. The teen spoke, "W-well, so much for delete file..."

Mistoffelees drew his hands away from the computer, shaking slightly. "I released... that thing?"

Cori turned his attention back to Mistoffelees, kneeling beside his chair and catching the boy's hands, "Shh. We're going to figure this out. We'll deal with this."

Mistoffelees glanced down at him in no small amount of surprise. "I...it just, that thing, and I..."

"And it's nothing we can't handle. I'm sure I can find record of the ceremonies for reinterring it."

The teen swallowed hard and nodded. "A-alright. We can do this."

The librarian nodded, giving Misto's hand a reassuring squeeze before rising again, "Alright, I'm going to see if I can find information about getting that thing back into the book."

"Right," he said. "Is... is there anything I can do?"

"I..." Cori shook his head, "Not unless you read Latin."

"Oh," Mistoffelees said softly. "No, I've not learned Latin."

"Thank you for the offer. I..." He sighed, "Perhaps its best the two of you head home, I'll call you if I find anything."

Mistoffelees glanced at him, almost saying that he would feel better staying there, but nodded mutely and rose.

"Cori?" Grids asked.

"Yes, Griddlebone?"

"Won't anything you find deal with something that takes solid form?"

He considered and then sighed, nodding, "Probably."

Grids thought for a long moment, "But this thing isn't in solid form."

"No. No it is not. It could be completely different, but I'll see what I can find nonetheless."

"Are you going to be alright with us home?" Mistoffelees asked softly.

Cori blinked at that, turning to look at Misto, "What? Yes, I should be fine, why?"

"I... just wanted to make sure," he said, looking at his bookbag to get it gathered together rather than Cori.

Cori glanced at Grids and then at Misto, "Are you sure?"

The younger teen glanced at the librarian. "I... yeah? What else would I be thinking?"

He shook his head, "I couldn't say. I'll see the two of you tomorrow."

"If you need help..." Grids started.

"I'll know where to reach you."

"Both of us," Mistoffelees said softly. "If anything comes up."

"Of course. Take care. Goodnight, both of you," Cori said, inclining his head to the teens.

Mistoffelees nodded and slipped out.

Grids waited another moment, "You could see if Miss Calendar could help with the computer stuff if you need it?"

Coricopat shook his head, "I'd have to convince her there's a demon on the internet in that case. I'll be fine. Good night."

She shook her head slightly before leaving.

o.o.o.o

Mistoffelees got home and looked around, calling through the empty house. "Uncle?" With no response, he shook his head and sat down on the couch, burying his head in his hands. He should have stayed at the library, he really should've, he thought. The door bell rang and he frowned, going to answer.

"Tugger, now is really not a good ti... Fritz?"

Fritz grabbed him, clamping a cloth doused in chloroform over his nose and mouth, "No more waiting."

Later that night ,Tugger bounded up to the door, a couple DVDs in hand, and looking forward to getting out of his house. He frowned at the open door. "Misto? Hey, Misto?" he asked, looking in and around. He checked all the rooms, calling out for the other teen. "This is not good." He went to the phone, dialing Grid's number.

Grids answered, "Hello?"

"Heya, Grids, this is your lovable Tugger. You hear anything from Misto lately?"

"Not since we left the library this afternoon, why?"

"Anything up with him when you guys left?"

"He was a bit on edge all things considered, but no? Why?"

"Cos I'm sorta standing in his house, and he's sorta not here, and the door was sorta standing wide open. If by sorta I mean really. And what things considered anyway?"

"I...we need to let Cori know."

"Yeah, sounds good. So, what's going on now?"

"He...may have released...okay, no maybe about it, he did release a rather serious demon into the internet."

"Oh great. Wait, what?"

"There is now a demon on the internet because Misto scanned the wrong book into the computer. Now, I need to hang up so I can meet you at the library, okay?"

"Alright, be there in a jiff," he said, leaving the DVDs on the side table by the phone on his way out, making sure to actually close the door behind him.

o.o.o.o

Cori looked up from the books he was pouring over as they entered, he scanned their expressions, "What's happened?"

"Misto's missing. As in, house standing empty, door wide open missing," Tugger replied.

Cori glanced at Grids for confirmation. She nodded. The librarian swore quietly, "Any idea where he may be?"

"I was kind of hoping he was maybe here," the girl replied softly. Tugger almost asked why Misto would be here and managed to bit that comment back hard.

"No. He's not here. I haven't seen him since the two of you left."

"You...you don't think Moloch would..."

The librarian glanced at the tomes he'd been perusing, "I, it's possible. But where?"

"It's a demon in the internet... does he need headquarters?" Tugger asked.

Cori glanced at Tugger, "He would need somewhere if he was having Mistoffelees brought to him. Some base of operations. Somewhere for his worshippers to gather."

"Well, who are his worshippers?" Tugger asked, feeling very behind.

"That we know of?" Grids shook her head, "Dave. And maybe Fritz."

"We don't know either of those for certain," Cori protested.

"Yeah, well they're all we've got." She shot back.

"So, computer nerds. And he lives in the internet?" Tugger frowned, a thought coming to him. "About seven months ago, one of my uncle got laid off as a janitor from this big computer place that went out of business. Last I checked, it was abandoned. But it's computery!"

Grids glanced at Cori, "It's all we've got right now. Have you had any luck on the binding stuff?"

He sighed, "Only for the physical."

"I still say call Miss Calendar. We'll go check out the place Tugger's uncle worked, see if we can find anything that might tell us where Misto is."

Tugger nodded, already heading for the door. Grids followed him as Cori went to contact the computer teacher

o.o.o.o

Shortly, Demeter entered. "So, I got your message. What's so urgent?"

He looked up from the binding ritual he'd finally found, "Thank you for coming. I need your help. But before that, I need you to believe something you may not want to." He took a deep breath, " Something has gotten into... That is there's something inside..." The librarian finally just said it, there wasn't time enough for him to hem and haw, "There's a demon in the internet."

For a moment she just blinked at him. "I know."

He eyed her. "You know. How exactly?"

"Come on," she said, closing the door behind her. "There've been portents for days. Power surges, online shutdowns, and you should have seen the bones I've been casting. I knew this was bound to happen sooner or later. It's probably a mischief demon, like, Kelkor or..."

He cut her off, his gaze going to the door, "It's Moloch."

Her jaw dropped slightly. "O-oh. So, not so much with the mischief then." She took a deep breath. "The corrupter. Oh boy. Wait, he was the one on your book! I should have remembered!"

"I'm sorry, I have to say - I mean, you don't seem terribly surprised by - who are you?"

She didn't look impressed by that, shaking her head so her honey blond hair swung back over her shoulder. "I teach computer science at the local high school."

"A profession which hardly lends itself to the casting of bones," Cori frowned, his grey eyes narrowing.

"Wrong, and wrong, Mr. Snobby," she replied, eyes narrowing in return. "You think the realm of the mystical is limited to ancient texts and relics? That bad old science made the magic go away?" she asked, pointing a finger toward his chest but not quite jabbing it into his layers of tweed. "The divine exists in cyberspaces same as out here. Besides, your the local high school librarian. It's not that much different."'

He ignored the comment about his profession as he returned to the main library from the office he had been in, "Are you a witch?"

She drew back slightly, shaking her head. "I don't have nearly that kind of power. Technopagan. There's more of us than you'd think."

Cori set the book down beside the computer Misto always used, "Well, regardless, I definitely need your help. What's in cyberspace at the moment is less than divine. I have the binding rituals at hand but I am completely out of my idiom."

"Well, I can try," she said, glancing at the computer. "I hope. I mean, this is my first real... Do you know how he got into the computer?"

"He was...scanned I believe the term is."

"So you want him back in the book? Okay. But, we need to make sure we have the right amount of ammo to do that..."

"There's no time. Mistoffelees has gone missing and we fear Moloch's involved.. We need to get him out now. "

"Mistoffelees?" she frowned. "Why would he go after Mistoffelees? Dave or Fritz I'd expect but..."

"As far as we know he's already got the two of them under his sway. But Mistoffelees is the one who scanned the book."

"Misto scanned the book?" Deme took a breath and let it out. "God, does he know? Wait, yeah, alright, so he's missing and it might be Moloch. You're right, we don't have time. What do we need to do?"

Cori opened his book again, seeking the binding ritual he'd already found. "We're going to need to form the Circle of Kayless."

"Well, there's only two of us. That's less a circle and more a line... No, wait! We have to form the circle inside. So I might be able to send a flash out and... if enough of my group responds we might be able to pull something off."

"Won't Moloch just shut you down?" He set the book down, moving to locate and light some candles.

"I'm betting he won't figure it out until it's too late."

He sighed, worry creasing his brow as he set the matches aside, "'Hoping' and 'betting'. That's what we've got."

"Well, you want to add praying to the mix, be my guest," Deme said, tone suddenly business like again.

In other words, the chapter that makes Mistoffelees hate his authors the most. Cheers from Ireland!