Hello Lovelies :) Sorry for being gone for so long - I have been so busy and I have been travelling for two weeks with little access to email. To make up for it I have posted two new chapters of Magic's Mark and Steel: The Transformation. :) I am also part of the Wattpad Block Party - Summer Edition (more info in my bio) and will be doing a post about some of the inspiration behind Magic's Mark :) So I will let you know when that goes live :)

Chapter 14

"Taylor," I breathed out a sigh of relief. I was so happy that he wasn't one of Aaron's warriors that I forgot that I was angry with him.

"I just came to say that I'm sorry," he grabbed my hand gently.

"Why didn't you tell me that you called Lucas?"

"I wasn't sure he was going to show up," he shrugged.

I was about to argue back and tell him that he was wrong but he stopped me, "Look, you have to understand, I need help holding off Aaron's warriors. If my parents don't accept my oath to you..." his voice died off.

How ungrateful I had been suddenly hit me, "Look I'm sorry. Lucas might not be as bad as he would like people to think."

"Maybe not. Be he still has one goal in mind, you have to remember that," Taylor added.

"Okay," I agreed hesitantly.

"Look I have to go," he released the grip of my hand and with those words he turned around and swiftly walked away.

I walked into the hallway and mulled over the day's events as I headed upstairs when I heard my phone buzz.

I looked down on the text from Tanya, "Lunch tomorrow?"

I texted back, "Sure."

~*~

The terrace of the pub almost felt like a roof terrace, wide hedges closing us in from the street below. I turned my face towards the sun and pulled on my sunglasses.

"It is lovely here isn't it?" Tanya added.

It was our go-to place for lunch, just down the street from The Royal Star but this pub was far nicer with a menu putting it into the gastro pub bracket.

"So what's new with you?" I looked over my sunglasses at her. Since all the madness started I had barely seen her around.

"Not much," she shrugged her shoulders and examined me.

"I like working with Taylor, he's a good guy," she added, a smile playing on her lips.

"So what's going on between the two of you?" she stared at me expectantly, clearly anticipating that I would have a lot to say on the topic.

I took another sip of my ice tea, considering for a moment to eat the last remaining chip on my plate but something distracted me. I could sense his energy before I could see him. This is really getting old.

I saw his blonde hair reflect in the sun as he slipped into a chair on the other side of the terrace.

"I don't know Tanya, nothing's really going on between us," I replied, keeping my eyes peeled on Lucas whilst thanking my lucky star that I was wearing dark sunglasses.

"Oh really?" surprise was mixed with something else in her voice. 

I was too distracted to dissect her reply and try to read her emotions like a good girlfriend should. My hand rifled through my handbag, grabbing my phone and my purse.

"Oh god," I acted surprised at the fake email on my phone, quickly grabbing some money from my purse and tucking it in under the side my plate.

"I'm sorry but I have to rush. Work stuff,"

"Really?" I could hear the disappointment in Tanya's voice.

"Let's do something soon," I said as I gave her a brief hug before rushing off. 

I didn't have to turn to check that he was following me, at least he was predictable on that point.

I pushed open the door of the pub and quickly rushed down the street. I knew he would be behind me but I wanted make sure I was out of earshot of Tanya, because when I laid eyes on him, he would get an earful.

At the corner of the street, I turned into a small residential side road. Spinning around and staring straight into his cool blue eyes.

"There is no point in running Cara. I will still find you."

The calm tone of his voice only sparked my anger further, I felt my hands close into fists.

"What do you think you are doing? You can just keep stalking me!"

"I am not enjoying this," his cold annoyance washed over me. "But we are tethered together," he drew a deep breath before hissing out, "until I am crowned king you have no choice in the matter."

"I can take care of myself! I know how to protect myself now!"

"So I have been told but I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes," he snapped back.

I shrugged my shoulders, "That's not my problem."

I turned and walked down the street, Lucas was annoyingly keeping up with my brisk stomp. My mind was raising, trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my day now that I would have an angry Lucas in tow. Because my eyes were glued to the floor I nearly bumped into him. Lucas was by my side instantly, steading my shoulders.

"So another day and you're with another guy?" Josh voice was triumphant but his face remained stone like. I stared back at him as his facial features shaped into the jubilant smile that a Grand Prix winner would have. Why is he taking so much pleasure in this?

"So who is this delinquent?" Lucas asked, staring at Josh as if he was dirt on his shoes.

"I didn't know you got around that much?" Josh asked gleefully.

I stared at him blankly, he was clearly acting out because of how things ended between us and I was not going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

"You have really downgraded since me, sweetheart," he smiled and brushed past us.

Lucas held a firm grip around my shoulder still as he turned us around.

"Go on. Walk away," he said.

We both stared as Josh froze, his back facing us. Before he had a chance to turn around Lucas continued, "You can say whatever you want but you know you lost the best thing in your life when you let her go."

Josh stayed still for a moment as I held my breath, half expecting him to turn around and lunge for Lucas. It wouldn't be the first time he had tried to get out of an argument that way. But to my surprise, he slowly started to walk away.

As he disappeared out of view, I turned to Lucas. His blue eyes still fixed in the direction where Josh had disappeared.

I gently turned his chin to me. His blue eyes seemed darker now compared to when I had looked into them last.

"You didn't have to do that."

"He's clearly an idiot. If he ever bothers you again, I can have him taken care of," his voice was a blend of concern and ice cold rage.

I shuddered for a moment, contemplating what 'taken care of' might imply before shaking my head slowly.

"No that's okay. It's just my ex," I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't bump into him that often. It's not a problem." I didn't know if I was trying to convince him or myself.

"I do appreciate it though. I owe you one," I replied mindlessly.

Excitement flickered in Lucas' eyes, "So show me."

"What?"

"You said you owe me one. So why don't you show me that you can use magic?" he continued.

"Fine," I agreed, not really looking forward to it. But if it is going to get him off my back, then why not?

"But not here. I know just the place."

~*~

We had been driving for the past hour, the city had passed us by and we were slowly reaching the suburban edges of West London. Lucas hand was resting on the steering wheel as the car sped forwards, I caught a sideways look at him. Since he had maneuverered me into his car, I had stayed silent. Part of me was annoyed at both him and myself. Why did I let myself get swept up by his stupid plan? Why did he constantly keep popping up?

"Not long now," he said confidently.

I broke my hour long silence, "Where are we going anyway?"

"My family owns a string of warehouses not far from here. I figured it would be a good enough place for you to show off your skills."

He smirked at his own cleverness and added, "I don't think the magical network would be safe."

"Tell me about it," the words slipped out together with a sigh.

"Really?" his face snapped around, focused on me as the car kept speeding forward.

"Keep your eyes on the road."

He kept staring at me, pushing his foot down on the accelerator, "You have been in the magical network?"

His face was set in grime determination, anger swelling into his eyes that were coldly locked on me.

I looked from the empty, narrow road in front of us and back to his set face.

"Tell me," he growled.

"I was practicing with Taylor. We ran into some of Aaron's men but it turned out fine," I pushed out, trying to ignore the memory of Taylor's lifeless body.

"Fine," his voice was cold and he calmly turned his eyes back to the road while allowing the car to continue on in its unrelenting pace.

He pulled hard on the steering wheel, causing the car to whip forcefully around the corner before sliding to a stop in front of a grey, steel warehouse.

"Let's get this over with."

Lucas slid gracefully out of the car not bothering to see if I was following. I pushed open the door and walking behind him, slightly hesitant. His demeanour had changed and if I moved to close to him the frostiness surrounding him might turn me into ice. From what I knew of him, ignoring his demand would only make it worse. Just get it over with. Show him that you know how to use magic and you can go back to ignoring him again.

My footsteps echoed as I walked into the empty shell of the warehouse, Lucas was standing on the fare side of the empty building, his eyes illuminated and glistening in the distance. His hand rose, flames of ice blue light torching up towards the iron beams in the ceiling.

"Deflect my attack," his command bounced against the thin steel walls.

Before I even had a second to grasp what he had said the ice blue flashes where rushing towards me. My feet glued to the floor and my body felt rigid as I braced myself for the attack that never came. The magic rushed through my skin and into my veins, as if it had learnt by now what to do.

"Why are you acting like this?" I shouted at him. What is he playing at? Why is he so angry at me?

"Clearly you need more motivation."

He opened his palms once more, allowing the force to flow freely.

I started running towards him, a strong urge to punch him straight in the jaw was welling up inside me. I crashed into his wave of power as I ran, it clung to my skin as I pushed forward through it.

"Stop acting like an idiot. I said I would show you!"

"Then do it."

"Not when you are acting like this. What did I ever do to you?"

He flinched, almost as if I had jabbed him in the ribs. A darkness flew across his face before he turned his face away from me. His open hand allowing the ice blue rays to flow out, snaking their way around a steel beam laying on the concrete floor.

I froze in horror as I saw his magic holding the beam far above both of our heads, as a bat threatening to strike down on me at any moment.

"What are you doing?" I shouted in sheer panic.

"If Aaron's men attack you again, there will be no time to think." He closed his eyes and I saw the force of magic and steel crash towards me.

I stared it straight in the face as it rushed towards me, feeling as if the moment was playing out in slow motion. Think it and it will happen.

The beam rushed towards my face. Leave me alone. Each word created a tingle across my skin, for a moment I felt as if power was exploding through every pore on my skin. I saw the beam stop mid-air, breaking across a border of blue lightning. I stared around, seeing an orb of ice blue magic envelope me. Straight in my line of sight I saw Lucas' mouth fall open as he lowered his hands. The pieces of the beam fell to the ground between us and as the last pieces of it hit the ground, it was as if it pulled all of my energy with it. My knees buckled, as I folded into a heap on the floor the burning on my shoulder blade blacked out my vision.

For a moment, in the darkness I saw the circle on my shoulder dance in front of my eyes. As if it was taunting me.

"Cara!" A brisk shake of my shoulder.

"Stop it! It hurts." I pulled away from his grip and forced my eyes open.

"Are you okay?"

"Not thanks to you, mentalist," I snapped back.

He grabbed hold of my shoulder and pulled me up to a siting position. His eyes examining me carefully, I stared back at his soft expression annoyed that it showed no recognition of how much of an idiot he had be acting just moments before.

"I told you it hurts." I shoved his hand away from my shoulder, gently rubbing at the top of my shoulder, where I could feel the mark burning closely underneath.

"You know you have a split personality don't you?" I gave him a black stare.

"Look I am sorry. I didn't know you were that weak," his words were harsh even though they were delivered in a soft tone.

"And you didn't stop to ask?"

He drew a ragged breath, hesitating for a moment, "He should not have taken you into the magical network. It's too dangerous."

"So you decided to take your anger out on me?"

"He has been sheltered from the way things run in London. It is not as pleasant as New York. He has been over there for long enough to forget."

"But it turned out fine. We got away," I argued back.

He grabbed my hands, his finger nails digging into my skin, "I have never been responsible for a human before and I don't want to be. You just have to listen to me and stay away from warlocks. My life is already under constant threat. At least until I become king."

"Have you ever stopped to think that I didn't ask for any of this?" I felt the anger rise up within me, whatever emotional issues he was dealing with I wasn't responsible for solving them.

"Have you ever stopped to think that you are the one that tethered us? You are the one with the magical powers after all!"

I pushed myself up to standing, getting ready to stomp out of the warehouse. But my anger got the better of me, "If your life is the one that's under threat and Aaron really wants to kill you. How about just staying away from me? I had no issues before you showed your ugly face!"

His facial expression went from angry to concerned in an instant. As he rushed to his feet, my eyes closed up on me again and I felt my legs give in again.

Author's Note:  Soo?  :) What did you think of this chapter? I had so much fun writing it, especially the back and forth between Cara & Lucas. If you're enjoying this story it would mean so much to me if you could vote for the chapter and share it with your friends. Thank you for being so awesome <3

Song: You Can Go - Aeli