A/N - I'm getting this chapter up now cuz I am working a long day tomorrow so I am unlikely to get one up then. None of the upcoming chapters have good places to stop so there might be a bit of outcry at cliffhangers. I apologise! If I could get it all up in one go I would!

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Chapter 29

Elizabeth crept away from her Uncles house and tried not to let the dark disconcert her. The day had slipped away and night had fallen. She walked a few blocks and then hailed a Hackney, trying to give off an air of someone who travelled via hack regularly on her own. The driver raised an eyebrow but said nothing, clucking his tongue to get the horses moving.

The journey did not take long. Her Uncles house was conveniently located near the part of London that had many a warehouse.

"Ere we are miss. Not right nice around these parts" the driver had a kindly face.

"I know, I am meeting someone. Could you tell me which is the best direction to walk to find a Hackney for my journey home?"

The driver scrutinised the young lady, she looked a bit like his daughter, he did not like the idea of leaving a gentlewoman alone in this part of town.

"Would you like me to wait miss?"

"Oh, that is most kind, but I am not sure how long I will be."

He frowned "If ye walk ten minuets that way miss, there be a road that is frequented by hackneys. But I will wait a short while 'ere"

"Thank you"

She turned and got her bearings, she had not brought the Hackney to the building on the map, just round the corner, she did not wish to alert anyone to her presence.

She reached the corner and carefully peered round. A man was sat on a stoop lazing back against the wall smoking a cigarette and drinking something out of a bottle. She contemplated her options. She decided there wasn't many good ones and so decided on the most direct approach. She took a deep breath and walked out on the other side of the road from the man on the stoop.

A wolf whistle sounded and she looked over, then looked away as if she did not want bothering.

"Hey little lady, where you be headin'?"

She mumbled something and made to walk faster but he stepped across the street and blocked her way.

"Well, well, well, you be a nice bit o' muslin to be out late"

He reached out to touch her cheek, she suppressed the shudder and instead focussed on where their skin met, pulling magic as if through a straw. She saw his eyes widen in surprise and she pulled on his magic harder, depleting his store quickly. She watched him wobble and his eyes shut. She stopped pulling on his magic and she gave him a little push as he crumpled so he landed propped up in the doorway. He looked asleep. She checked, his magic was very low now and he would likely sleep for a good twelve hours.

She shuddered slightly as she thought about what she had done. It was cruel to deplete an energy source, it left the subject weak and poorly, much as Jane had been. There was nothing to be done for it, he was alive and would be well.

She nodded to herself then went to the door and listened.

There was nothing to hear, the building in front of her was old, not quite a warehouse but definitely an old business premises. It was completely dark. She extended her senses, looking for signs of magic or auras. She'd never tried this as a way of seeing people through walls before but it was similar to looking below the earth for Ley lines. She extended as far as she could and was rewarded with an aura, towards the back of the building. Definitely not Lydia's, not very powerful either. But he was pacing, as if guarding something.

She thought it was strange there was only one person so she extended upwards, still nothing. She thought through what she knew of this part of town, which was very little, but most houses in London had basements so she tried down.

Three auras became apparent. One was definitely Lydia. One seemed familiar but she couldn't place it, a militia man maybe? One was unfamiliar, but she wouldn't necessarily recognise everyone anyway. There were a few magical objects around too and she suspected Mr Wickham was there also.

Three people likely holding Lydia, possibly more if there were others like Wickham down there. Elizabeth knew she was getting herself in to something she would be unable to handle but what was the alternative? Turn back? Wait for her uncle who may still be over an hour away if the footman had any trouble finding him. Even with no trouble the footman likely had not yet reached the address and they would then have half an hours travel.

Too long.

She briefly thought about enlisting the kind Hackney coach driver but dismissed the idea. She could not put someone wholly unconnected to her in danger. He had no power and so would only be of use if he could fight, such was unlikely in a man of his profession.

No. Her only choice that she could see was to venture forward and try and delay whatever was going on downstairs, hoping that her father would arrive with some men. She took a deep breath and pushed open the door, wincing as the hinges squealed. She stopped and held her breath listening for sounds of discovery. After a minute of nothing she moved forward, leaving the door propped open with a brick. She crept through some large empty rooms and reached a door to the back room, she could hear the man inside pacing.

She stopped and thought again and decided that getting him out would be better than going in, so she scratched on the door until he stopped moving, she then stepped behind where the door would open and waited.

It pushed open and the man came out, a fireball in his hand, not well controlled but a flickering light filled the space. His hand curled around the door and she could see him scanning the room. She reached out and lightly touched his fingers and drew sharply on his power. His head whipped around but it was too late, the light in his hand flickered out just after she saw a look of surprise flit across his face. The next moment he collapsed to the floor with a thud. She managed to push him out of the doorway and allow the door to shut.

She felt the power of the two guards flowing through her. When you steal someone's power it can only stay with you temporarily, she could feel it leaking out of her, like sand through an hourglass. It would take a while to go completely. She rearranged her power shield to hide more of her magic aura, whatever she was facing downstairs would be better if they did not see how much she had.

She walked in to the back room, an old kitchen by the looks of it and immediately saw the door to the basement. There was a latch but no lock and rather than stop and wait she decided that pressing onward, before she lost her nerve, would be the best option.

She took a deep breath and started downwards.

A/N - so I don't usually shamelessly beg for reviews but I would love to know what your thoughts on who we will find in the basement? Three magical auras, one Lydia's one maybe familiar, one unfamiliar. (don't forget W doesn't have an aura, no magic!)

The possibilities are endless... Well not really! :)