With her heart pounding in her chest,  Alice ran up to the Spooks western garden gate stopping only to catch her breath and ring the bell.  She sniffed the air sweeping the area for any danger.    She had run full speed for the last mile and although tired her senses were heightened by her rising anxiety.  In her heart, she trusted Old Gregory would know what to do.  

Between the four of them, Tom, Gregory, Grimalkin, and herself, they had hobbled the Fiend.  No small task even with the help of Tom's mom that was an old god and the original lamia witch, but this was the Kobalos.  These dark beasts practiced powerful magic that was unfamiliar to them.  They were fearsome and dead set on invading other territories and now had set their sights on the county.  Hearing of Tom's special abilities they had targeted him and used him to spar their best warriors for the entertainment of their leader mages.  

Haizda mages had infiltrated the county gathering wisdom for their prince.  They captured Alice using trickery by making her think they had Tom and then used her to get him.  At the time, she found out that the Kobalos were immune to her 'wave of fear' spell.  She knew better than to fight them herself.  She would need help and knowledge from the Spook and Grimalkin and anyone else she could convince to assist.

The Spook hurried to the call of the bell.  He knew better than to ignore any call for help.  When his eyes set on Alice's frantic look, he knew this was bad. He hadn't seen Tom today and a seed of anxiety had started to grow in him even before Alice arrived.  He immediately assumed Tom was in danger.

"Come, girl, take a seat and have some water.  What is the emergency?"

Alice did not mince words, "Tom has been captured by the Kobalos.  I heard them say they will make him fight for their entertainment.  I'm guessing he has to fight to the death each time.  We must hurry!"

The Spook could not ignore her cry for help nor his affection for Tom his favorite and best apprentice, but his old bones were weary of the fight.  With a deep sigh, he ran back into his house to collect his weapons including his trusted staff and a bit of cheese for the road. 

They set off on the road by foot hoping to find fresh horses on the way.  Although speed was of the essence, Alice knew they had to make one more stop.  

"Please, Mr. Gregory, we have to enlist his aid. He is a powerful mage," Alice pleaded having spent the last ten minutes trying to convince the spook.  "We can use his magic to distract them while we rescue Tom."

"No!"  Old Gregory was against using dark magic even for the greater good.

"But, why?  This is Tom we are talking about.  He is not just the hope of the country but of the world."

"Why do you think he would help us?"  The Spook asked.

"I believe even the witches of Pendle would help us if they knew the threat they face.  I have seen them, Gregory.  They are relentless and will soon invade us.  We need to be ready and we need his help now!"

"You used dark magic to scry this girl, you know I don't approve of this! It will cost you your soul."

"Mr. Gregory, I only do it to save others.  I am not like my mother.  You insult me, sir," Alice retorted.

It was more than a half-day walk, but at least it was north of Chippenden and on the way to Caster. As they made their way thru the town of Highchester trying to procure rides, the townsfolk gave them weird looks and even crossed the street to avoid them.  Alice wondered what they thought of a witch traveling with a Spook.  No wonder the townfolk stopped and stared. These were strange times indeed with strange alliances.  

Alice realized peopled feared the Spook as much as they feared her which made her laugh to herself.  She knew the Spook did not have an evil bone in his body but she sure did.  She was made of pure evil, the spawn of the devil and a witch, but her soul was still hers, uncorrupted by the evil she came from, no small thanks to the love she felt for Tom.  No one except her and her mother knew who her true father was for Bony Lizzy had taken a Dean as her mate to hide the fact.   If the Spook became aware of this, he most certainly would try to kill Alice, not for anything she had yet done, but to prevent her from becoming the powerful witch she could become.

Still, her pointy shoes revealed her a witch and most folks had no use for her.  Some would not even glance at her for fear of being hexed.  Only Tom's kind heart could see beyond her appearance.  From their first meeting, she had helped him, and he knew in his heart that she was good.  The Spook was warry though.  Always vigilant and threatening to put her in a pit.

With no success getting horses, they continued to Lukrasta on foot, her witchy shoes clicking on the cobblestones. The Spook held up the lantern to light the path ahead of them. They were nearly there, but it was starting to get dark as rain clouds covered the sky giving both of them a foreboding feeling.  

At the top of the hill, the ominous castle stood out amongst the trees.  With elaborate golden gates, its owner's wealth and greed blatant for all to see.  Lukrasta was not a subtle character by any means.  Even the powerful witches stayed away from the aristocratic mage.  Only the boldest, like Alice's mother, Bony Lissie, had the power to socialize with the mage as head of their order.  Now, Alice needed to propose an alliance with him to save Tom and eventually the country.  Alice suspected her mother and the mage had been lovers.  Maybe he would consider Alice a friend as well.  The Spook was especially wary since Lukrasta was a close ally to the Fiend and thus his mortal enemy.

"Wait here," Alice said walking up to the gates.

The full moon hung low on the horizon as she approached the massive doors.  Her legs shook a little as they opened on their own.  She could feel his power.  The Fiend had been very accommodating to his loyal subject.  One of his many powers was the ability to bend one's will to his own.  This is what Alice feared the most.  She was afraid Lukrasta could make her forget about Tom.

She boldly walked in only thinking of Tom and his predicament.   She had to be strong for him.  She walked to the center of the room.  Lukrasta sat there smoking with his back to her. 

"Welcome, Alice Dean," his deep voice resonated making Alice jump. 

"You remember me."

"You look just like your mother and you are here to ask for my assistance," he drawled

Alice thought he must have foreseen their visit or he had sentries posted that warned him of their imminent arrival.  "Yes."

"What can you give me in return?" He responded gazing at the drink in his hand.

"What more can you want?  I have nothing to give you but if you are victorious it will prove your excellence and strength."

"It's very tempting, but not good enough."

"What then?"

"I want you to be my lover."

She would agree to anything to save Tom, the love of her life.   She could always worm her way out of it later.  "Agreed," she said.

"Tell me more about your quest."

Alice began, "It's the Kobalos."

"Those creatures live far to the north," Lukrasta said.  His interest now piqued.

"You have heard of them then!"

"Yes, they are mages after all although uncivilized, hairy creatures," he laughed at his own private joke.

"Their goal is to destroy or enslave the human race and they are closer than you think.  They have captured Tom and taken him for their games," Alice stared at him trying to gauge which side Lukrasta would choose to be on.

Lukrasta found this amusing allowing a giggle to escape his lips.  "I am intrigued so I will help you, Alice Dean.  You know my price. Do you agree?"

"Yes, thank you.  Tom's friend, Old Gregory is waiting outside.  He is coming with us to help."

"He is a spook!"

"Yes, but he is our ally."  

Lukrasta laughed again shaking his head in wonder.  He clapped his hands and a servant entered.  "Get my carriage ready. We travel in haste."