The Game is afoot! ...or blackjack.

"You should listen to my dear friend's advice, Miss SinClair." Herman Mercer's grin grew calculatingly menancing. "After all, she is the former Wotch."

Ugh, the Wotch. Everyone was always talking about Anne like she so important. Who even cared about her? Cassie rolled her eyes is disgust. "Whatever," she muttered under her breath and shoved the door open, face in a black scowl. Both of the store's other occupants watched Cassie go, each sizing her up in their own way.

"She has some considerable potential," Miranda said, not bothering to coneal her appraisal of Cassie's powers from the lanky man on the other side of the counter - - he had undoubtedly also noticed Cassie's unusually active aura, "Is that why you're trying to lure her in, Herman? Or do you want to steal something else from her? Who did you steal this store from for that matter?"

"I resent the implication, Ms. Miranda," Herman sniffed in a hurt manner before the slow grin spread back across his face like a cancer, "Believe it or not, I do in fact own the lease for this space in the mall. Everything is nice and legal."

"Please, you're a thief through and through and, frankly, I'm tired of having to run you out of whatever town I happen to be in," Miranda's voice grew a touch sharper, her tone more arch, "And I must warn you I am dealing with threats to myself or my apprentice in a much more permanent manner these days."

"You mean this silly little doll, Miranda?" Herman held up a floppy little patchwork doll with black string hair and button eyes, dressed in a blouse and brown skirt. His voice was all innocence, "It looked so cheerfully out of place in your home I thought I should remove it for you. I was thinking of naming it Natasha."

"Blast you, Mercer!" Miranda took an unusually, but unmistakably, aggressive step forward, "How dare you?!"

"Just to remind you there is no door that is shut to me. No tie that will bind. No sign that will ward," Herman said as if unaware that he might be in any physical or magical danger at all. He clasped his hands and when he reopened them the doll was gone, replaced by a deck of cards.

"She is dangerous - - perhaps more than you realize with as little as you value science," West said in a more restrained tone, trying to master her temper. No one could irritate her like this man.

"Then I'll give you the chance to win her back. My oath is in the cards," Herman smiled and the deck glowed a sickly gold as he shuffled it. "What shall it be? Seven card stud? Strip poker?"

"As if I would subject myself to your tawdry intentions," Miranda rolled her eyes, "If this is the only way - - the game will be blackjack. Now deal."