Run.

As Ares processed what had happened he glanced around. The spell had left destruction in its wake, the whole area was decimated, several broken cages lay against the walls and debris everywhere. Luckily due to the location there was no-one other then him and Mars but this would surely have killed him without Mars's interference .

The man seemed surprised at the appearance of Mars.

"It seems I wasn't the only one following this kid. What business do you have getting involved." The man said glancing at Mars. Despite his question he sounded arrogant as if Mars was beneath him.

"This child is under the protection of the Space Guild." Mars said whilst showing a medallion of stars to the man.

The man sneered as he spat on the floor.

"Who cares about a crappy guild like the Space Guild." The man pulled a badge of his own which was black and had some golden writing around the side. Ares could barely make it out but from what he could see it said "DARK GUILD".

Mars glanced backwards at Ares briefly. Inside Ares head he could hear Mars telepathy.

"Ares I cant fight this guy, he's at least a Spellcaster. I can buy some time but you need to get out of here as soon as I attack."

Ares nodded imperceptibly at the comment to show he acknowledged the request.

"Look, how about I take this boy and we go get a drink" Mars said as if he was talking to any other mate at the pub.

The man frowned and looked like he was about to respond. Without giving him an opportunity Mars threw a glowing orb directly at his face. Ares could barely see the movement of Mars as the orb exploded catapulting the man through a wall and back into the street behind.

"RUN" Mars voice resounded in his head.

Ares took off running back through the market as he heard a deep voice rumble behind him.

"Now you have really pissed me off."

Ares took a second to glance back and saw the man had reappeared next to Mars and had now grown to three times the size and was swinging a pitch black mace at Mars. There wasn't enough time to react as he felt a burning pain hit his back and throw him into the market. At this point the huge fight had begun to envelop the market.

Crowds of people were screaming and running out to the streets. Others were taking the opportunity to steal and were attacking store owners. Riots were not unknown to this part of the city.

Ares ran through the crowds as he felt numerous tremors behind him. He managed to get to the door of the church when he turned around to glance at the distant fight. A huge black spell was spinning around a huge blurry figure. The figure had another a choking grip around the neck of another small figure, the smaller figure was enveloped in yellow light but that was dimming by the second.

Ares continued to run out of the streets glancing back and praying for Mars to survive. As he made it outside onto a street a humongous explosion resounded and the whole Market behind him disappeared into a black beam. Ares took a breath and ran as fast as he could before being grabbed on the arm by a figure. He was about to swing a punch at him before recognising the man grabbing him.

"MARS" Ares shouted in happiness.

Mars was panting heavily and had a look of fear on his face as he glanced back towards the church.

"Come with me quickly" He said grabbing a bracelet from his wrist and breaking a bead on it. As he did a portal appeared with a red swirling light. He grabbed Ares by the arm and pulled him through the portal.

Ares found himself in an unknown room covered in dust. It was dark and there was a thick level of dust all over the items. A small table was in the room with chairs to either side. Mars collapsed into a seat and tried to calm his hurried breathing.

"That was damn close" he said muttering to himself.

"How did you escape? Who was that? Where are we?" Ares asked in quick succession.

Mars took a breath and then withdrew a flagon from somewhere and took a deep gulp. Only after closing his eyes for a second did he respond.

"Firstly I didn't "escape". I just tacitly retreated after sacrificing a clone." Mars said glumly.

"A clone?" Ares said interrupting Mars.

"Yes a magic clone I made 10 years ago and spent over five years perfecting. You better appreciate that." Mars said a clearly angry look on his face. Ares decided it was better not to continue probing.

"Secondly that was a Dark spellcaster, I have no idea how you have pissed him off but your life is going to be significantly harder." Mars said a look of pity flashing through his eyes.

"And as to your third question, this is a safehouse in which an emergency portal was pre-set up. Luckily I had an untraceable one with me or else we would already be dead. I think we are somewhere on the North side of the city now." Mars finished.

"How do we get back, Jessica has been taken." Ares said frowning as he found out he was on a different side of the city suddenly.

"Are you an idiot, I just told you one of the two largest guilds has targeted you and you want to go back!" Mars said almost shouting.

"My sister was taken from the slave pens" Ares said. Mars frowned as he realised this may have more to it then met the eye.

"Tell me anything you know about where she was taken and what happened." Mars said.

"She was taken in a slave Carriage pulled by large lizards; they disappeared just as the Dark spellcaster appeared." Ares frowned it did seem like suspicious timing that the Spellcaster intervened just as he was about to reach Blake.

Mars stroked his chin as he thought to himself.

"Its likely that they were together; your sister is probably on her way to the dark guild now. This is far beyond the scope of my control all I can say is slaves for the Dark guild are rarely seen again." Mars was sombre as he finished his sentence.

Ares was powerless, training and fighting small thugs was not going to help him here. He felt a sinking feeling in his mind.

"I need to see my family and tell them what happened." He told Mars.

Mars nodded. It was about time Ares returned to Eastwich to fulfil his deal and it seemed this kid just attracted more and more trouble.

"I will let you return and speak to them but we have to go back to the guild after. The situations are getting out of hand."

Ares nodded and after a brief five minutes Mars opened up a own portal back to the railway.

Ares ran straight back to the carriage and was met by the rest of the family. Carl had a concerned look on his face. Whilst they hadn't been at the Old Church the black pillar was visible from the whole corner of the city.

"Whats happened?" Carl asked as Ares came into the carriage in a fluster.