"What are we doing here?" Claudette asked. She looked around to see that they were at Judge Oakley's mansion.

"Breaking in," Laela said with a straight face. Claudette looked uneasy as Laela approached the guard dogs. They were barking fiercely at first but she heard Laela say something in a language she didn't understand and almost instantly the dog quieted down and lay down on the ground whimpering a little.

She was impressed, thinking that the woman had some kind of connection with animals. Laela only had to throw her a look to tell her to come along. Whatever this woman's power was she didn't want to be on the receiving end of it.

They had an open invitation into the house, because somehow it was unlocked. That was peculiar, Claudette thought. She would think the Judge would lock up his house tight, especially if he wasn't there. Claudette followed Laela through the house, marveling at the way she didn't make a sound. Somehow she had been trained in stealth. A person couldn't come across that naturally... not any normal person. They had entered the kitchen and Claudette marveled at the sight. It was very large and very modern. She let her mind go and thought about what she could create in a kitchen like that.

"Stay here," Laela whispered to her, "and stay quiet."

Claudette obeyed knowing better than to argue. She looked on as Laela walked silently through the open doorway and disappeared down what appeared to be a hallway. It was quiet, too quiet, but not for long at Claudette saw a figure enter the kitchen. She knew better than to speak out so she did her best to hide.

"Mrs. Polk, what do I owe the pleasure?"

Claudette looked shocked seeing who it was, although she shouldn't have been. "Enjoying your little bracelet," a woman with reddish brown hair said.

Claudette gave her a look of contempt. "Pamela, how nice to see you."

"Hand it over, Claudette," Pamela said, but Claudette ignored her. "Oh, come one, we know what that bracelet can do, and it won't make you younger. It'll just make you look like you are. Now, hand it over."

"No," Claudette said, being protective of her new trinket. "The only person I'll give it to is the girl it belongs to."

"Too late," Pamela said. "She's going to die, so she will not be needing it."

"Then you won't have it either, because you're going to die not her," Claudette said coming closer to her. "I see you lying helpless as the fire slowly burns every inch of that beautiful body. Yes, you, Pamela Essex, done in by the object of your desire. He will kill you."

"Who, Oakley?" Pamela said laughing out loud. "He adores me. That old fool would never hurt me."

"Not Oakley, the man with the yellowy green cat eyes," she said. "I see him reveling in your death as you scream and take your last breath.

"Shut up, you crazy woman," she said. "You keep talking like that and you will be the one to burn, witch."

Pamela came at Claudette but she was ready for her and gave her one swift punch in the face. Pamela fell to the floor unconscious as Claudette stood over her smiling.

Meanwhile Laela made it to Judge Oakley's study. He didn't seem to be home so it was the perfect time to investigate. Everything was quiet and nothing seemed out of place, but Laela knew that looks could be deceiving. She was careful and completely silent. She was looking for something, the thing that would tip the scales in her favor. She felt someone watching her, and she knew it wasn't Claudette.

She suddenly turned and saw the finely dressed bulbous man who was slightly bald. She didn't flinch at the sight of him, knowing he would show up sooner or later. After all, that was her plan.

"Judge Oakley," Laela said with a bit of contempt in her voice.

"If it isn't our friendly neighborhood blacksmith," he said and gave a courteous bow. She wasn't one bit impressed with his pleasantries. "What do I owe the pleasure?"

"Where is it?" Laela asked point blank.

"Oh, so demanding, and even after you're the one who broke in my house," he said. There was a dark angry look in his eye.

"Where is the crystal?" she said in a calm voice. It took everything in her to keep her composure.

"Oh, yes, that little bobble dear Charles has kindly given me," the Judge said as he reached into his pocket. It was glowing dimly, and Laela knew somehow she had to get it away from him. "Is this what you're looking for?"

There it was, the object of everyone's desire. She was out to claim it, not that she wanted its power, but so Oakley couldn't misuse it against to people of this town. He already had half the town swayed to his way of thinking and the other half was too scared to protest.

Suddenly a troop of guards entered the room, but Laela wasn't scared. She had handled far worse. She changed into her Lycanthrope form which put the idea in her head that none of these men would make it out alive.

Her claws came out to strike the first of her attackers, who she easily threw off of her and into Judge Oakley's antique clock. "Do you know how much that thing costs?" Oakley snarled at Laela and his henchman.

She knew he didn't care anything about the clock. He just wanted to distract her. She wasn't about to let that happen. She made short work of the others slashing with her claws and hitting one guy in the balls with her tail.

"Enough of this!" Oakley shouted as he witnessed his guards writhing on the floor. They were in shambles, bleeding and some half dead.

"That's right, Oakley, and you're next," she said as she came at him.

He was ready though and held up the crystal that illuminated the room disorienting her. Suddenly a blast came out of it and she which through her across the room right into a glass case that held some very expensive china. She hit the floor with a loud thud as some of the glass fell on and around her body. Her tiger form slowly faded away as her body grew weak. The Judge had a needle in his hand, and Laela tried to jump to her feet to get away from him, but she was too weak. She knew exactly what needle contained.

"Recognize this?" he asked as he grabbed her arms and injected the liquid. "Good, I will get no more trouble from you."

He squatted down and chuckled as she struggled to regain her strength, but it was no use. "You will pay for this," she said and spit in his face.

One of his henchman recovered enough and dragged himself over to the Judge to awaits new orders. "Tie her up with the special ropes," the Judge ordered. "The injection should render her powerless, but I'll take no chances with this one.

"Just kill me now," Laela spat out in her weakened state.

"I have no intention of killing you, my sweet flower," he said caressing her face. She tried to fight back, but she could barely move. "You will come to me willing."

It was the last words she heard e before losing consciousness.

To Be Continued...