I tip-toed through the winding stairwell of the tower, trying my best not to make any noise. I was on a mission tonight to steal some spell books from the mage that called this relic home. If the old fool woke up, he would burn me alive or worse; I shuddered at the thoughts. Still, my employer was paying a reasonable sum of gold to get her hands on the items at the top of this tower, so it was worth taking the risk.

It wasn't the first crazy situation that I had found myself in the middle of. I frequently found myself taking jobs for people who wanted me to gather information or steal items from high profile targets; it was a good thing that I was good at what I do. Otherwise, I might have seen my hide mounted on a guard post years ago.

Still, life was hard when I had to keep to the shadows; the number of people searching for me to get revenge for one reason or another made it so I couldn't walk through a town's main streets. My name Xelena was posted on every signpost with a three hundred gold bounty on it, one of the most wanted women on this side of the Ruby Sea.

I pulled my dark hood tighter onto my head as my blue eyes scanned my surroundings. I thought I heard something below me. I looked tentatively over the wooden railing beside me, only seeing inky blackness below me. There was an unnatural darkness in this tower, only pierced by a few and far between torch lights. If there was something down there, I wouldn't see the threat until it was on top of me. I hate this place. The sooner I am out of here, the better.

I continued my ascent. I had arranged things so the mage who called the tower home would be gone for a few days on business, believing his apprentice was in danger. Fooling the mage had been easy enough, and I didn't even have to put the unlucky lad into some dark pit. All I had to do was leave a note at the foot of the tower saying his student had a hard time with wolves in one of the neighboring forests, and the wizard went running.

I soon came to a locked door. Normally I had no problem dealing with such issues; I was a renowned thief after all. But this lock was reinforced with magic, a force that I wasn't too familiar with. I preferred to work with anything grounded in reality, tools, weapons, and such. Even my sleight of hand tricks was better than the insanity brought by magic wielders who could burn down entire forests with a careless flick of their wrist or burry a village in the snow because they were angered by something. Magic was just something too dangerous to deal with.

I sighed as I examined the door. I had no way to know just what would happen when I tried to break the seal, which scared me. I backed away and produced a small knife from my boot. I then turned when the door had almost faded into the unnatural darkness. Taking a deep breath, I threw the projectile at the door. For a moment, nothing happened, but as I reached down to grab another knife, there was a flash of light and scorching heat. I shielded my eyes as a small inferno erupted between me and the door, lasting but a few moments before extinguishing.

Once the flames died down, I tried to look at the door only to hear the sounds of a second trap go off in the room behind the doorway. All I could hear was more crackling flames. Why do people have to like fire? I don't want to go out being burned to a crisp.

Thankfully the magical seal had been broken and did not seem to reappear. Still, I walked tentatively towards the door, wary of any other traps that the master of the tower might have in store for me. I was greeted by nothing but smoke as I made my way to the door. So far, so good.

With the magical seal broken, I was able to just open the door. I was a bit sad; I had hoped to put my skills to the test, trying to break a physical lock. Still, I couldn't complain much. The sooner I was out of this creepy place, the better.

I made my way into a room that looked like a study. There were books and vials all around me. Thankfully there were multiple torches in this room, so I didn't have to worry as much about the darkness issue. I pulled out my employee's parchment had given me as all these magical artifacts looked the same to me. "What is it that stuffy old fool wants me to find again. Ugh. Let's see. A book on the Flames Ever-Changing Properties and You. Three vials of violet Thornberry powder.  And a book on Transmutes Magic." I looked around the study, raising an eyebrow. "Should be easy, I guess."

I started my search, beginning with the vials. I did not trust spellbooks for a moment. I had a bad experience with another job where I had to gather a simple book, and when I tried to grab the damn thing, a ring of fire exploded around me and burned down the house I had been inside, alerting the town guards to my presence.

Thankfully the mage who owned the place put labels on all of his potions. Made my job of stealing him blind much more straightforward. Still, there were hundreds of vials to rummage though. I am glad I send the man on a trip to last a few days. This is going to take me a few hours to sort out.

I slowly went through the collection of vials and did not find the one labeled violet Thornberry powder. I scratched at my head, letting my hood fall, revealing short black hair. "This isn't right. Everything on the list should be here."

I started going through the cabinets, careful not to disturb any spellbooks that might be waiting inside. I didn't want to give myself any nasty surprises. After a few more minutes of searching, I found the vails hidden away behind a dusty box. "One down, two to go."

Searching for Flames Ever-Changing Properties and You was easier. The book was on the first shelf I laid my eyes on. That was easy enough.

When I pulled the book off the shelf and reached to put it into my bag, flames erupted from the book's bindings. "Crap. I hate these things." I dropped the hot potato and jumped behind a nearby table, wary of another explosion of fire. Yet as I looked from behind my cover, all I could see was slight smoldering from beneath the surface of the book. I took a deep breath and stood back up. "That could have been much worse."

I walked over as the smoke cleared, picked up the book, and put the dangerous item into the sack. The sooner I was rid of the spellbook, the better. "Now to find the other troublesome book and get out of here."

I started looking for the last item on the list, the book on Transmutes Magic. Again I wasted a good half hour searching the room and yielded no results. Even double-checking every book in the study did not help in locating the book.

I snorted as I looked around the room. I didn't want to spend another minute in this creepy place looking for a volatile book. I had to find that spellbook, though. My employer wasn't going to pay me if I didn't bring him the goods, and I had the sneaking suspicion that if I screwed him over, he would turn me into the city guards.

There were still a few places I had yet to check; doorways led out of the study that wound further up the tower. I had no choice but to try my luck further up. I continued my ascent, leaving my sack in the study. The less I had to carry the fiery spellbook, the better. The first doorway I tried led to a bedroom. From the pictures lying around, I assumed the room belonged to the apprentice as they were all of a young man, far too young to be the mage that owns the tower.

As I neared the straw bed, I noticed a dark leather book on the dresser nearby. I walked up and saw the title Transmutes Magic in bold letters. "Finally, I can get out of this creepy place." I tripped as I neared the dresser and knocked the book off the table, sending it flying onto the floor. "Crap."

The book hit the floor with a thud, and I held my breath. Seconds passed, and nothing happened; I wiped the sweat from my brow, a crisis adverted. But as I stepped forward, the book opened, and sparks flew out of the pages. "Shit."

I rushed forward, trying to shut the book, only to be struck by one of the flying bolts of energy, causing me to fly back into the bed. As I shook my head and sat up, I saw the book start to spin, and with a geyser of energy, propel itself into the other room. "Great. Just what I need."

I stood up and started to walk after it as my body started to quiver. I held my hand to my head. "What is going on? What do I feel so weird?"

My arm started to feel like it had a bunch of little needles poking at it. As I looked at my shaking arm, thick white fur quickly sprouted out of my arm. The hair multiplied and poofed out, and as I touched it with my other arm in disbelief, it felt like wool. "What is going on?"

The wool traveled up my arm, growing out of my clothing. I tried shaking my arm, hoping the wool would just fall from my arm, but it had no effect. Wool started to grow out of my other arm as my legs began to wobble. I looked down to see my pants starting to turn white. "This isn't good. I am having a hard time standing up."

I knew I had to get that book before the transformation took full effect. Despite my shakiness, I walked forward, every step harder than the last one. I could feel the thick hair of my legs brushing against each other with every step. Just a bit further, and I will be out the door.

My strength gave way, and I fell down onto all fours. I shook my head as I tried to steady my limbs. They felt like they were on fire.  Wool was starting to grow out of my torso, causing my vest to vanish. My arms and legs began to shrink, becoming stubby. My hands and feet melded into hooves.

"This isn't happening. I need to stop this. I. . . Baah." The wool was now growing from my face as my nose pushed itself out. I shuttered as the transformation finished, my wool growing one last time.

I looked around, knowing that I had to get that book and change myself back. I tried to walk, but my legs did not respond, and I fell over onto my pillowy side. This isn't going to be good. Rocking back and forth, I managed to get back onto my stubby little legs. Ok, one step at a time. Time to get that book and change myself back.

I slowly started walking forward, just moving a monumental task. This was the reason why I hated dealing with magical artifacts. Something always went wrong. But as I neared the door, I realized that I had no idea how to change myself back, even if I got to the book, and with the dam thing spinning out of control with wild magic, it could cause more mayhem before the night was over.

Before I reached the door through my body tingled once more. My wool began to shrink, and my arms lengthened. The spell didn't seem to last that long. In mere moments I returned to myself, brushing some loose hairs off my clothing. "Now to get that dam book. I will have to be more careful this time to avoid being hit by a rouge spell."

I ran into the other room to see pure chaos. The spellbook was a fountain of raw magic in the center of the room. The energy poured out of the pages caused the room to alter itself into many, many different gems, but only for brief moments. The books on the walls becoming gold one moment before returning to their normal state and then turning into lead.

"This is a nightmare." I shook my head, wondering just what I was going to do to quell this madness. I knew if I rushed in, I was just going to be struck again by raw magic, and who knows what I was going to be turned into. But I needed that book. My life was going to be on the line if I did not deliver the goods.

I had no choice but to rush in and shut the dam thing. Hopefully, that would stop the raw magic from overflowing, which was my guess at least on how to stop the magic. That meant being struck once more by the spell and having to endure another change. I shuddered just thinking about it. At least the spells don't last that long. Just rush in, close the dam thing and get this over with.

Taking a deep breath, I ran for the spellbook. I didn't make it two steps before a rouge beam of energy struck me and sent me hurtling into the corner of the room. "Oww." I shook my head and slowly stood up, my body shaking. I have to hurry and get that book.

It was already too late; the transformation was starting. My legs became harder and harder to move. I looked down and saw my legs were becoming more extensive and developing thick bark like on trees. My feet started to sprout roots that dug through the floor. "Why do I get into these scenarios?"

I started growing as my legs turned into a stem. As I could still bend my torso, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to grab the book. I tried to reach out with my extending limbs only to feel my body stiffen. I was being forced upright and away from the book just as my fingers that were becoming tree branches could touch it. With a curse, I stood fully upright, pushing my head against the ceiling.

The ceiling creaked as I continued to grow and shape into a tree. New limbs grew out of what used to be my chest and my hair. Leaves and flowers started to sprout at the tips of my limbs. I pushed through the ceiling as the transformation fished, and my body settled. I tried to move but found myself unable to. This sucks.

I waited and waited, but I remained stuck in the form that I was. How long does it take for this spell to end? Then all at once, I started to shrink, my hard bark becoming soft. My branches and leaves fell off in droves, and my roots shrank back into my feet. In moments I was myself again. Thankfully the end of the spell was quicker than the initial transformation.

I brushed some loose dust off my clothes. Now there was a massive hole in the ceiling and small holes in the floor below me. That mage was going to know he was robbed the moment he returned. I had to trash the place.

I sighed when I saw the spellbook was still going wild. I had done little to change the nightmare of my existence. I needed a new plan besides just rushing in. I didn't want to turn into a tree again. I looked around, hoping to find something to chuck at the book in an attempt to close the thing. "I am not putting my hide on the line again if I don't have to."

I didn't see anything around that would be of use. Sure, there were many items around I could easily throw, but none of them would be able to close a book that would transform the object I chucked in the process.

I needed a different approach; I rubbed my forehead, trying to think. How can I do this without being struck by magic again? Think. I looked over at one of the tables in the corner of the room I had knocked over when turning into a tree, an idea forming. I can use that as a barrier between me and the magic, get close enough, and shut the dam thing. I might be struck again, but I won't have to worry about the scenario that happened last time where I didn't even get close.

I rushed over to the table and flipped it over like a wooden shield. I peeked over one last time to make sure I was facing the right direction and then started pushing. The magic that was erupting from the spellbook hit the table and pushed back against me. Even so, I did not relent, digging in my heels and pushing harder; I had to reach that book. The table started to feel wet. I knew my barrier wasn't going to last long. I have to get to that book.

The table started to turn to water. I had no choice; I had to make a jump for the spellbook. I waited for the last second as my barrier melted before me and then leaped out to shut the magical menace. My fingers grasped the pages and pulled them shut as a burst of energy struck me in the chest. Still, I managed to close the book before sliding a few feet backward.

"I did it. I did it." I jumped up with joy. "I stopped the magical nightmare. I. . ." My body started to feel strange again. I knew I had one more transformation to endure as I had been struck with magic as I was closing the book's cover. Unlike the last two times through, my body felt numb with energy. I better get out of here while I can.

I picked up the book and rushed it over to my sack, which, thankfully, had not been touched during the madness. As soon as I slipped the book inside, the changes started to occur. My mouth started to itch horribly. "I need to get out of here." I threw the pack over my shoulder and ran for the exit. Am I growing new teeth?

I shook off the strange feeling and continued down the wooden stairs. In a few minutes, I reached the base of the tower and took a few steps outside. Once I was in the fresh air, the transformation started to take more drastic effects.

I bent over, hands on my knees as a long scaly tail grew out of me. As I stood back up, my new tail brushed against the ground; the damn thing made balance tricky. I tried to speak, wanting to curse at this recent misfortune, but my mouth was pushing itself out, rows upon rows of new shiny teeth appearing as my face became longer and longer. I held my hands up to my face and felt the scales form on my head. What is this new madness?

My arms started to shrink as my hands began to morph. My head pointed to the sky as I turned hard and rigged. I can't stand up anymore. I fell to the ground as my spine pushed outward, and my legs shrank. I took deep breaths as my new crocodile body took shape.

I tried to move but found myself suddenly tired. I remembered that the temperature was supposed to be a brisk thirty degrees. Why did I have to turn into something cold-blooded? At least these spells don't last that long.

Despite my low energy, I moved over to where my pack had fallen. While I was stuck in this form, I would make as much distance as I could. There was no reason to stick around the scene of the crime. Every step forward felt like I was lifting concrete. I gritted my teeth, wishing for the spell to come to an end. Why is this taking so long?

After seven minutes, I was able to reach my pack. I then had the issue of trying to pick the thing up. My arms and legs were of no use now. Maybe I should just wait for the spell to end? Even if I can find a way to grab the damn thing, I am way too slow right now.

As if responding to my thoughts, my body began to shift. In mere moments I was back to my old self. I took a sigh of relief. I reached down and grabbed the sack. "Time to hand off this crap. The sooner I get rid of this, the better. I have had enough magical woes to last me a lifetime." I picked up the sack and ran off into the foothills. It was time I delivered the goods and put his chapter of my life behind me.