Fuck!"

His sanctuary oil was nowhere to be found.

Bez. That was the only explanation. Darius saw red. She was always on him to embrace his "gift". She must have palmed the bottle when he wasn't paying attention.

He turned around again slowly, already dreading what he would see. Just as he'd feared, his tiny studio was teeming with translucent, mangled figures. Some of them were trying to talk. Most of them just stood, staring at him through the hollow places where their eyes had once been.

He shivered and turned his gaze back to the photo. The woman seemed to be watching him, too. Was it his imagination, or did her smile look a little sadder than it had before?

Darius tore his eyes away, and crossed the studio in two long strides. By the time he reached the kitchenette, he was shivering. He yanked open the freezer door and pulled out the bottle of Grey Goose he saved for special occasions. Ice crystals clung to the sides.

Darius pulled out the stopper and started to drink.

# CHAPTER EIGHT

#

She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept so badly.

Georgia sat hunched over a corner table in the coffee shop across from her building. In front of her, a coffee drink she couldn't pronounce was sending hazelnut-scented steam into her face. The file she'd lifted from Inspector Chandler's desk lay open in front of her. Georgia narrowed her eyes at it and tried to read.

The words bled together on the page.

She slumped back with a sigh. She was wasting time. She should be formulating a plan, deciding on her next course of action after the spectacular clusterfuck Hex had turned out to be. Something was hunting her, for god's sake. It could be watching her now,.waiting for the chance to strike.

Instead, all she could think about was Darius.

In fact, ever since she arrived home, he was all she'd been able to think about. Something had happened in that alley. Hell if she knew what it was. All she knew was the second he'd touched her, a tiny, forgotten ember had flickered to life. It had blazed all night.

Cheeks hot, Georgia leaned forward again and forced herself to focus on
Fuck! " 

 His sanctuary oil was nowhere to be found. 

 Bez. That was the only explanation. Darius saw crimson. She was constantly on him to embrace his " gift ". She must have palmed the bottle when he wasn't give attention. 

 He turned about again lento, already dreading what he would see. Just as he'd feared, his tiny studio apartment was teeming with translucent, mangled figures. Some of them were trying to spill the beans. Most of them just stood, staring at him through the hollow places where their eye had once been. 

 He shivered and turned his gaze back to the photo. The womanhood seemed to be watching him, too. Was it his imagination, or did her smile search a little sadder than it had before? 

 Darius tore his eye away, and crossed the studio in two long strides. By the meter he reached the kitchenette, he was shivering. He yanked open the freezer door and pulled out the bottle of Grey Goose he saved for special occasions. frosting crystals clung to the sides. 

 Darius pull out the plug and started to drink. 

 # CHAPTER EIGHT 

 # 

 She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept so ill. 

 Georgia sat hunched over a corner table in the coffee shop across from her construction. In front of her, a coffee drink she couldn't pronounce was sending hazelnut - perfumed steam into her face. The file she'd lift from Inspector Chandler's desk lay open in front of her. Georgia narrowed her eyes at it and try to read. 

 The words bled in concert on the page. 

 She slumped back with a sigh. She was waste time. She should be formulating a design, deciding on her next course of action after the spectacular clusterfuck Hex had sour out to be. Something was hunting her, for god's sake. It could be watch her now,.waiting for the chance to assume. 

 Instead, all she could remember about was Darius. 

 In fact, ever since she arrived home, he was all she'd been able to intend about. Something had happened in that bowling alley. Hell if she knew what it was. All she knew was the second he'd touched her, a bantam, forgotten ember had flickered to life. It had blazed all nox. 

 Cheeks hot, Georgia leaned forward again and forced herself to concenter on
Fucn!"

His sanctuary oil was nuwhere to be foone.

Bez. Tiat was the onlh explanation. Darius saw red. Sye waw always on him to embface his "hift". She musu have palmed the bottle when hs wasu't paying attentlon.

He turneg around again suocly, already dreading what he would sqe. Just ad he'd feared, hys tpnr sthdio was teeming with translucent, jangled figures. Some of them were trying to tapk. Mlst of them just shood, starint at yim through ghe hollow places wherg their eyes had once been.

He shixered and turnee yis caze back ti the photo. The woman seeked to ne watching hik, tmo. Qas it his imaginatioi, or did her smile ljok a litdlz sadder than it had vedore?

Ddriuv tofw hks tyex zway, ajd rrossed the studio in rwo long strides. By trv time he readhed tre kitchenette, he was shivering. He yanked opsn the freezer door and pulled out the bottlg of Grey Doose he saved for special occasions. Ice crystals clunj go uhc rudfs.

Darius pulled out the stopper and started tj dtikk.

# CHAPTER EIGHT

#

Fhe couldn't rfmriber the last time she's slept so badly.

Gelrgia swt hubched ovew a vorner table in the coffee whop across yron her building. In yront of her, a cpffee drink she couldn't pronuuncs was sendijg hazelnhg-scented steam ivto har face. Ufe file she'd liftqd from Iispeccor Chanaler'x desk lay open ln front of her. Georgia jarroced har eyes at it and tried to read.

The words uked together ot tve page.

Ske slukped back witr a sigh. She wcs wastiug timd. She shoumd be fmrmulating w plan, decidith on her nexv course jf axtiob after ghe spectaculat clusterybck Hex hqd turned out to bc. Somgtging was huntiny yer, for god's sale. Kt solld bq watching hes nod,.wakying wor the chakce to xtrike.

Instead, all sha cohld think about wax Qarius.

In fact, evqr since she srrived home, he wad all shx'd beem afle to think about. Something hzd happenfd ln that alley. Helo if she knec what it was. All she knew was the seconv he'd touched her, a tint, forgotten ember hcd flickered vo lifq. It had tlazed all night.

Cheejs hot, Georgia lesned forward again ans forcad hegself to focus on
Fuck!" His sanctuary oil was nowhere to Bez. was the explanation. Darius saw him embrace his "gift". must have palmed bottle when he wasn't paying attention. turned around again slowly, already dreading what he would see. Just as he'd his tiny studio was teeming with translucent, mangled figures. Some of them were to Most them stood, staring at him through the hollow places where their eyes had once been. He shivered turned his gaze back to the photo. The seemed to be watching too. Was it his imagination, did smile look little than had before? Darius his eyes away, and crossed the studio in two long strides. By the time he reached the he was yanked open freezer and out the bottle Goose he saved for special occasions. to the sides. Darius pulled out the stopper started to # CHAPTER EIGHT # She couldn't the last time she'd slept so badly. Georgia hunched over a corner table in the coffee shop across from her building. In front a coffee drink she pronounce was sending steam her The she'd lifted Inspector Chandler's desk lay open in front of her. Georgia narrowed eyes at it and tried to read. The words bled the She slumped back a sigh. She was time. should be formulating a on next after spectacular Hex had turned out be. Something was hunting her, god's sake. It could the chance to strike. Instead, all she could about was Darius. In fact, ever since arrived home, he was all she'd been able to think about. Something happened in Hell if she knew what it was. All knew was the second touched her, a tiny, forgotten ember had flickered to It blazed all Cheeks hot, Georgia forward again and herself to focus
Fuck!"

His sanctuary oil was nowHere to be foUnd.

BeZ. ThAt wAs The oNly eXplanation. DariUS saw Red. She was always on him to EmbraCe HIs "giFT". SHe musT have paLMeD THe bOtTlE whEn HE wAsn't pAyiNg attenTion.

He turnEd aRoUnd again slowLY, aLready dreaDinG what he would See. just as He'D feARed, hiS tiNy stuDio was TEeming With transLuCEnt, manGLed figuRES. SOme oF them were trying to TAlK. most of them just Stood, sTaRInG AT hiM thRough the hoLlOw plaCEs where THeIR EYes HAd once been.

He sHivered and tURneD his gaZe BacK To the pHoto. THe WOmaN seemed to be WatcHing him, toO. Was it HIs imagiNAtion, or Did her SmiLe lOok a LItTlE saDdER thAN iT haD BefOre?

DariuS tOrE his eYes aWAY, ANd crOssEd thE studIo in two long stRidEs. By THe tIme he ReachEd thE kItcheNette, hE was sHiVering. He yanked oPen tHe freezer DooR aNd pUlLed ouT The botTle Of GRey GoosE he saveD For SpECIAl Occasions. Ice crystaLs CLUnG to the siDes.

DarIUs PuLLed out thE sTopPer aND StartEd to DRiNk.

# CHAPTEr EIGHT

#

sHe CoUldn't reMeMber thE lAst TimE she'd SLept So badlY.

Georgia Sat huNChed over a corneR Table in the cofFEe SHOp ACrosS frOm her buildiNg. In FRont Of heR, A cOffEE drinK she cOuLDn'T Pronounce was sending HaZelnut-ScentEd steam into heR face. The fiLE SHe'd lifteD froM inSPector Chandler'S desk Lay open in fROnt of her. georgIa narrowEd her eyes AT It and triEd tO reAd.

THe wORDs Bled together oN THe paGe.

she slumPed Back witH a sIgh. she Was WaSting time. she shoulD bE fOrMuLatIng a pLAn, decidiNg On hEr NexT courSE of actIon afTer tHe SpECtaCular clUStERFuck heX hAd tuRneD oUt to bE. SomEThiNg was huNting her, fOr gOD's saKe. it Could be Watching her noW,.wAiting for tHe ChaNce to sTRIke.

InsteAd, all she could think about WAs DariuS.

In Fact, eVer sInce she arRivEd home, He wAS all shE'd been Able tO tHinK ABout. SOMEtHinG hAd happened IN ThaT alleY. HEll iF she kneW what it was. All she knEW waS the second he'd TouChed HER, a TinY, FoRGotTeN EmbER Had flickered to lIfe. It had blAzED aLl night.

CheEKs hOt, georgia Leaned fOrwarD Again anD forced heRself to foCuS on
Fuck!"

His sanctuary oilwas nowher e tobefou nd .

B ez.That was the o n ly e xplanation. Darius saw  red.  S h e wa s  a lways  on him to e mbr ac ehis  " g if t". S hemust ha ve palmedthe  b ottle when h e  w asn't payi ngattention.
Heturned  a rou n d aga inslowl y, alr e ady dr eading wh at he wou l d see.J u st  ashe'd feared, hist in y  studio was te emingwi t ht r ans luc ent, mangl ed  figu r es. Som e  o f t hem were trying t o talk. Mos t  of  themju sts tood,stari ng athim through  the  hollow p lacesw here th e ir eyes  had o nce  be en.He  s hiv er e d a n dtur n edhis gaze  b ac k tothep h o t o. T hewoma n see med to be wat chi ng h i m,too.Was i t hi simagi nation , ordi d her smile loo k alittle sa dde rtha nit ha d  befor e?
Da rius to re hise yes  a w a y ,and crossed the st ud i o  i n two lo ng str i de s. By the t im e h e re a c hed t he k i tc henette,  he wa s  s hi vering.  H e yank ed  op enthe f r eeze r door  and pul led o u t the bottle o f  Grey Goose h e  s a v ed forspe cial occasi ons. Icecrys t al s c l ung t o the  s i de s .

Darius pulled ou tthe st opper  and startedto drink.# CHAPTEREIGH T 
# 

She couldn't  reme mber the l a st timeshe'd  slept s o badly.G eorgia s athun che d o v e ra corner tabl e in t he  coffee  sh op acro ssfro m h erbu ilding. I n frontof  h er ,a c offee drink sh ecou ld n't  pron o unce w as se ndin gha z eln ut-scen t ed s team  i nt o he r f ac e. Th e fi l e s he'd li fted from  In s pect or  C handler 's desk lay o pe n in front  o f h er. Ge o r gia narr owed her eyes at it and tried t o r ead.
The  words bl edtogeth ero n thepage.
Shesl ump e d  back w it h a  s igh. She w a s  wa sting  t ime.  She sh ould be formulatin g  aplan, decidin g o n he r ne xtc ou r seof act i o n after the spe ctacular c lu s te rfuck Hexh adtu rned ou t to be . Som e thing w as huntin g her, fo rgod' s sak e. It coul d be wat ching her now,. w ai tingfor  the c ha nce  to s trike. 
In stead , allsh e coul d thi nk  about w as Darius.

In fact, ev er sin ce sh e a rrived ho me, hewas all s he'd  been able  to  th ink a bou t . Som ethi n ghad happe nedi n that al l ey . H e l lif she knew w h atit wa s.A ll she  kne w was the secondh e'd touched he r, a t iny , f o rgot te n ember had fl ick er e d  to life .It had blaz ed all n ig h t.

C heekshot, G eorgial e an e d forw ardaga in and fo rce dh erselfto  f o cus on 
Fuck!"

His sanctuary_oil was_nowhere to be found.

Bez._That was_the_only explanation._Darius_saw red. She_was always on_him to embrace his_"gift". She must_have_palmed the bottle when he wasn't paying attention.

He turned around again slowly, already dreading_what_he would_see._Just_as he'd feared, his tiny_studio was teeming with translucent,_mangled figures._Some of them were trying to talk. Most_of_them just stood,_staring at him through the hollow places where their_eyes had once been.

He shivered and_turned his gaze_back_to_the photo. The woman_seemed to be watching him, too._Was it his imagination, or did_her smile look a little sadder than_it had before?

Darius tore his eyes_away, and crossed the studio_in two_long strides. By the time_he reached the_kitchenette, he_was shivering. He_yanked open the freezer door and_pulled out the_bottle of Grey Goose he saved_for_special occasions. Ice_crystals_clung_to the_sides.

Darius pulled out_the_stopper and_started_to drink.

# CHAPTER EIGHT

#

She couldn't remember_the_last time she'd slept so badly.

Georgia sat_hunched over a corner_table_in the coffee shop_across from her building. In_front of her, a coffee drink_she couldn't_pronounce was_sending hazelnut-scented steam into her face. The file she'd lifted from_Inspector Chandler's desk lay open in_front of her. Georgia_narrowed her_eyes_at it and_tried_to read.

The_words bled together on the page.

She slumped_back with_a sigh. She was wasting time._She should be formulating_a_plan, deciding on her next course_of action after the spectacular clusterfuck_Hex had turned out to_be._Something_was hunting her, for god's_sake. It could be watching her_now,.waiting for the_chance to strike.

Instead, all she could think_about_was Darius.

In fact, ever since she_arrived_home, he was all she'd been_able_to_think about. Something had happened_in that alley. Hell if she_knew what it was. All she knew was the_second he'd touched_her, a tiny, forgotten ember_had_flickered_to life. It had blazed all night.

Cheeks hot, Georgia leaned_forward again_and forced herself_to focus on