She licked her paw languorously pretending to preen herself as all cats do. But she was just waiting for her prey to let down his guard. Her jewel colored cat eyes scanned the room watching him as he searched for the lamp to light it feeling his way around the broken pieces of furniture littering the floor. With the silvery light of the moon creeping through the dirty window, he finally found the lamp. Shaking hands struck a match as dim light reached the spot where she reposed.  

Grimalkin tilted her head like a curious cat and wickedly smiled, her whiskers twitching.  He finally noticed her and she purred, liking the look of this one.  His pretty face held a look of terror in his innocent feline eyes increasing her predatory nature.  At this point, it was just a game to her.  She would devour those pouty lips before slaying him.  Why not? She loved to play with her food. Her strength, agility, and intelligence were no match for him.  He would be within her power in a blink of an eye.

Dust filled the air, and a dank, musty smell filled his nostrils. The tension in his shoulders intensified by the loudness of his beating heart. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the slow movement of her catwalk coming closer and closer , easily avoiding the obstacles in her way.  It seemed like nothing could dare get in her way.  As she approached, she used her magic to transform herself back to her usual form. As she softly spoke her incantation, a light mist filled the room , clouding his view. Suddenly a   beautiful woman stood before him , her unearthly appearance more intimidating than the wicked cat. He was transfixed by her shining emerald eyes and wicked grin. 

She strolled towards him, her strong lithe figure graceful as a cat and covered in leather sheaths that held her throwing knives, her weapons of choice. At her side, a long sword and at her belt, he saw the shimmer of scissors.  She had a long mane of dark hair cascading down her shoulders. With bated breath, he watched as she slowly sauntered towards him, her gaze never leaving his. He was transfixed by her intimidating sex appeal and his own fear of death. His brain screamed at him, "run!" his body didn't obey.

His eyes followed her eyes as she looked down at his chest to the pendant, a talisman given to him by someone dear.

"Where did you get this?" She demanded in a low, menacing tone. She stared at his features that bore an uncanny resemblance to the Spook's apprentice. 'This may be a fiendish trick to lure me to my  death," she thought.  She smiled wickedly to herself, indulging in the ways she would end her enemies.

"Grimalkin!" He finally managed to speak the paralyzing spell, finally breaking. "My brother has entreated me to seek your help."

"Your brother? Did he give you this?" The witch radiated menace with her fear-inducing spell once again, compelling him to say the truth.  

He felt helpless and naked before her.  His arm swung slowly to his chest, clutching the amulet Tom had given him for protection.  Sweat driped from his brow as he contemplated what to say.

'This might stop her from killing you. You have to make sure she sees it first, or she will kill you before you have a chance to speak.' He remembers Alice telling him. 

His throat so constricted and dry that he could barely get the words out. "I'm James Ward. Ttttt..om's brother, Alice sent me to fetch you! Please, I beseech you!  Alice says the fiend or his followers have taken him using her as bait!"

"I still hold the severed head of the Fiend, this may be a trap to capture me as well and get their hands on it." she said.

She read the shock in his eyes and the resolve in his heart as his limbs shook with terror.

In a low voice, he begged, "Please.  Will you come?  I will help any way I can."

Grimalkin pondered if this innocent was a trap set for her my her enemies , but her gut told her not to ignore Tom's plight.  

She stared at him with her piercing gaze, still emitting a powerful aura of intimidation and terror as she weighed the consequences of not coming to her allies aide.  But Tom was more than that. He was a friend.

There would be a heavy price to pay, and there was no guarantee of success.  Should she tell him he was going to his death?  What would be the point?

"Where is Alice?  Is she following them? Does she know where they took him?" she demanded.

"Alice thinks he was being taken to Mona, but who knows where they took him. I can take you to where I last saw him near Pendle Lane Bridge. That's where Alice found me."

"No, there is no time to waste. We need to get to Port Erin in Caster and get passage to Mona. If I know Alice she has scried their destination. It will save us 5 days of riding if we go by ship. Once there, I can track their path. Follow me," she said and took off running into the night. "I know the quickest way through the woods."

"What about horses and  provisions?" James said, panting at her side.

"The quicker we leave, the better. We will get things along the way, which will no doubt  include horses."

James nodded his head. At least he was doing something. He followed her, desperately clinging to hope.

James wondered if he was doing the right thing. He wanted desperately to save his brother, but even finding him seemed hopeless. He had never been in so much danger, and he was very afraid.