The lines of purple and red magic travelled almost quicker than my eyes could comprehend but I knew they would hit their mark. His thin veil of protection flickered out and he fell to the ground, stunned for now. I hunched back down and turned my attention to Taylor.

"Can you walk?"

His face looks a tiny fraction healthier, "I think so."

He coughed awfully and reached out a shaky hand to me. I grabbed instantly it, pulling him to his feet and draping it around my shoulder. Propped up by my strength, we started to limp down the two-lane street.

"What's the fastest way out of here?"

"The same way we came in," he croaked out.

The relative light of the subway tunnel almost blinded my eyes, after stumbling through the dark narrow tunnel. I heard the non-existent door shut behind us, one glance over my shoulder and all I could see what the tiled wall.

"What do we do?" I asked under my breath to Taylor.

"We get somewhere safer," he responded quietly.

He gently released his arm from across my shoulders, he wobbled a little bit before seeming steadier. We started walking up towards street level, I threw a glance over my shoulder again but all I could see was a few people walking down towards the underground station. I could feel Taylor wobble unsteadily next to me again, so I linked my arm through his hoping that would support him.

Old Street's massive traffic junction bustled with activity, a steady stream of people and cars. I felt my eyes get lost in the crowd of people, overwhelmed by how exposed we were. Taylor stumbled towards the edge of the pavement, flailing his arm out for a black cab that was driving past. As soon as the car screeched to a halt, I pulled open the door and practically shoved Taylor in before me.

The middle aged balding driver craned his neck round and look at me, "Where to, love?"

"Archway," Taylor wheezed out.

The driver clearly hadn't heard so I repeated, "Archway, please."

As the driver pulled out into the traffic and we circled around the massive roundabout, I looked over at Taylor. His face was still extremely pale but at least he was responsive now.

"Archway?" I asked in a low voice.

"My flat," he pushed out.

I nodded slowly back in reply. I guess it made more sense than my place. Matthew wasn't exactly friendly to Taylor. Plus it would be hard to explain his state.

The cab drove onto a narrow street, low brick houses hugged the sides of the street creating the feeling of a maze.

"Just up here around the corner," Taylor indicated with his hand as he spoke.

After about twenty minutes of resting and silence in the cab during the drive, he looked remarkably refreshed. His face was still pale and grey, but at least he seemed to be functioning like a normal human. Sorry, normal warlock.

"Thank you, mate," as he spoke to the driver he handed over the money.

I opened the door and got out, finding myself looking around the small brick houses. I had no idea he lived here?

"Come on," Taylor grabbed my arm, snapping me out of my daze.

He pushed the keys into the blue door, opening it up and waiting for me to step in. I walked in and looked down the small hallway, before hesitantly starting to walk down it.

"The kitchen is straight ahead," Taylor added from behind me.

I continued walking down and into the small kitchen, as soon as Taylor entered he slumped down on a chair and threw his keys on the kitchen table.

"Are we safe here?" I heard the question roll out.

I just had to know, the uneasiness of feeling tracked by someone played on my mind.

"Yes," he sighed out.

"Could you make me something to eat?" if his voice hadn't been so fragile, I would have teased him or told him to get something himself.

I turned to the counter and grabbed a loaf of bread, popping to slices in the toaster.

As I was buttering the toast, it dawned on me. Taylor had told me before that sleep and food was the best way to recover your magic. I placed the toast in front of him, he devoured it within what felt like seconds.

"Look, I should probably get some sleep," Taylor admitted after a moment of silence.

"And then you'll be fine?" I asked hopefully.

"I probably won't be fine until tomorrow morning," he admitted.

I hesitated for a moment, wanting to ask more questions about how draining and recharging magic in a warlock worked. But I knew this was not the time to get into a deep conversation.

"Okay," I replied instead.

"Look, you can stay here if you want. It's better than you heading out there on your own."

I nodded. He grabbed hold of the kitchen table for support and pulled himself up to a standing position.

As he shuffled towards what I presumed was the way to his bedroom he added, "Wake me if you hear any strange noises."

"Okay," I replied voice slightly rose so he would hear me and walked the couple of steps to the adjacent room that he had disappeared into. I just caught a glimpse of his back as he shut the door behind me on the other side of the living room, to what I now deducted must be his bedroom.

And with that door shutting, I was alone in his living room. Alone, in this small little flat while he slept and hopefully recovered. I walked the few steps over to the small, bright blue couch and curled up on it. Mindlessly stroking the corduroy fabric with my fingers as my eyes examined every nook and cranny. It could do with some dusting and nothing was new, it was most likely the furniture that had come with the place. Who in London, in our position, bought furniture anyway?

A few hours later, I had read the back of each book in the bookshelf, I had washed the many weeks big pile of dishes in the kitchen, I had checked my whole laptop carefully for any cracks from the days crazy activities and I had tried and failed to find a duster. It was now early evening, but thankfully there was another hour or so of daylight left. My feet kept me pacing back and forth in the small kitchen. There had been no noises and no signs of Taylor all afternoon. I knew he was suffering and that the reason why was that he had been protecting me. He needed food, but the contents of his fridge were some mouldy carrots and potatoes, a couple of beers and a jar of mayonnaise. Hardly not the ingredients of a master chef meal.

I placed my laptop on the kitchen table, no point in dragging it around with me and threw my handbag onto my shoulder. I grabbed the keys from the table top, took a deep breath before heading for the door.

I locked it quickly behind me, looking around the small street and trying to peer down the small footpaths snaking their way between the low brick houses. I could hear some kids screaming and playing not far from where I was standing, the steady thump of a basketball being bounced against the side of a brick building. I scurried along the street, dipping into the small space between two buildings. The footpath between them was so narrow, I would have been able to touch both houses if I had stretched out my arms. Leaning against the rough brick wall, I listened. No signs of anything out of the ordinary, my heart was hammering in my chest. I closed my eyes, searching for any signs of magic. What was it that Taylor had told me? That I would be able to feel it, if there were any warlocks close by? My mind was blank as it searched for any sources of power. Nothing. I opened my eyes and started walking quickly, heading to what I was hoping was the edge of the estate and the road towards the high street. Even though my heart was hammering in my head and I twitched at any sign of movement, I knew I had to do this. Taylor had protected me, he had sworn an oath to protect me. Even though I didn't know what that meant, I owed him this.

I rush down the long road, past a small art college where the artsy and cool kids where smoking outside. When I saw them, a small pang of jealous bloomed in my chest. Life had been so easy when I was still at university, studying photography. I rushed past the group, a snip bit of their conversation about the next exhibition caught my ears. I felt myself scowl internally, those exhibitions used to be my favourite part. Having my teacher compliment my work, not knowing that compliments during university doesn't line up to jobs after graduation. I turned the corner and stumbled past a rickety table of watermelons set up at the entrance of the corner shop, my eyes spotted the small supermarket and I rushed across the street towards it.

The steam from the stir-fry heated my cheeks as I stirred around the vegetable and chicken, the noodles simmering in a pot next to it. I hoped that the food would help Taylor. If he still looked as ashen as he had done earlier... I would have to try to summon Lucas. My shoulders shuddered just at the thought of him. What I had seen so far of Lucas did not inspire me to trust him. The only thing he seemed to care about was power, but he was the only other warlock that I knew. Tethered... I cursed myself silently when the word popped into my mind.

"You made food?" Taylor's voice made me jump.

"Yes, I did," I replied, a little unsettled by the fact that he managed to sneak up on me.

"Thank you," he said and sat down at the table, sliding my laptop over to one side. "But you shouldn't have gone out on your own. It's too dangerous," his eyes shone with worry.

"And you are meant to be the one protecting me," I ended his sentence for him, placing a bowl of steaming stir-fry and noodles in front of him.

He started eating in silence, so I followed suit.

After a few moment, occupied by food and silence. I looked up at him, his face was starting to look healthier. In fact, as the minutes past it was gradually starting to look more and more alive.

"So is it because of this whole warrior and oath thing, that I shouldn't have gone out?" I asked, knowing in the back of my mind that I knew far too little about the implications of it.

"Yes, that's one reason. But you don't know how to protect yourself."

I heard myself huff.

"What?" Taylor's eyes examined me with curiosity.

"You probably don't remember, but when you were passed out during the attack. I used magic," I threw out the words triumphantly.

Taylor gasped, started at me for a moment before exclaiming, "How is that even possible?"

I shrugged my shoulder, "I don't know. I just did that whole, think it and it will happen thing you talked about and stunned the second guy."

"There was a second guy?"

I nodded and pushed some noodles and veggies onto my fork.

"Cara, I have never heard of anything like this before," Taylor frowned and stabbed his food with his fork. He chewed for a moment, but I could tell that his mind was working in high speed.

"I don't know how this is possible..." he put down his fork and pinned me down with his eyes, "You have to understand Cara. Magic can't solve all your problems. It doesn't work like that."

"But it can heal wounds," I counted. The moment he had healed my arm in that alleyway seemed pretty magical to me.

"Yes, but only small wounds. Magic can't heal deeper injuries and it can't bring you back from death."

"So what can it actually do, apart from the whole think it and it will happen thing."

"It's very immediate, you can't make something happened in a space where you aren't physically present. You can't place a spell and then walk away, the only way you could do that is if you place your magic in a Circle and someone else uses it."

"But then they would have to be in that space," I confirmed.

"Exactly," he added.

I returned to my food for a moment, taking in the information. This whole magic business is so complicated. How am I meant to deal with all of this? As the thoughts swirled around my head, I felt the fear of realisation crept up my spine.

"Why does Aaron's men keep finding me?" First in the alleyway when I was on my way home and now down in the magical network. I knew they were looking for me, but London was a big city. Twice in a couple of days seemed strange to me.

"They are probably using locator magic?"

"What now?"

"You can use your power to create a sort of compass in your palm," Taylor gestured with his fork as he spoke.

"They think about what they want to find..."

"...and it will happen," I finished off for him.

"Yeah, the compass shows them which direction to search in."

He looked me dead in the eyes, I could sense his worry, "They have found you around Old Street area twice now. If you keep hanging around here, they will continue to find you."

I felt a shudder rise up my shoulder blade, "What am I supposed to do?"

"We'll figure it out, but for now let's just rest up."

I nodded back at him, a good nights sleep was probably a good idea for the both of us.

I turned off the hot water, leaving me dripping water in the small shower cubicle. A smile crept up my lips, at least Taylor had offered me a clean towel. As I stepped out, I noticed how grimy the small bathroom was. His place is such a bachelor's pad. I towel dried my hair before wrapping the towel around my body. Hunched down I rummaged around in my handbag, grabbing a hair band and some bobby pins. My fingers quickly braided my long read hair, I twisted around so I could get a better look at the back of my head so I could pin the braid up on my head. My fingers froze as I stared into the mirror, on my shoulder blade a small circle had formed. The thin line was the same colour as a port wine birthmark, but I knew it wasn't a birthmark. Because at the edge of the circle, where the number six would have been on the face of a watch, was what looked like a small inverted 's'. My finger ran across the small symbol, which had the same colour as the circle, but all I could feel was the smoothness of my skin. What is happening to me?

Author's Note: Hello Lovelies. Sorry for not replying to comments. I will soon! I have all email notifications of comments saved in a folders so in about two weeks when the craziness at work dies down - I will reply to all. Please do keep commenting and voting! Just today, I was reading through comments on my email notification thing and it just inspires me to keep working harder and to keep posting.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I have a lot of things planned for Cara and Taylor and don't worry you'll see more of the other characters as well ;)

THANK YOU FOR BEING THE MOST AWESOME EVER!