. She looked down, and cried harder. "Why is this happening? Where's my mom?"

Darius fought to breathe normally. Georgia. Georgia had taught him that technique—what was it called? Grounding. He forced his racing thoughts to quiet, pictured the energy within him gathering, focusing.

Madison let out a wail, pain and confusion. "Wait! Where are you going?"

Darius didn't let himself dwell on the guilt that surged with the sound of her panicked voice. He envisioned the energy spreading outward, cocooning him in a quiet, empty bubble.

Madison whimpered. "I want my mom. Please don't leave me here alo—"

The energy closed around him with a hiss. Abruptly, the girl disappeared.

Darius let out a breath, but this time the pain in his head didn't go away. He stared at the spot where Madison had last stood. A crushing sense of loneliness washed over him.

Just business. Georgia Clare was just business. As long as he didn't forget that again, he could ride out the remainder of this case and walk away. He could leave ghosts, witches, and the subversive world behind, and get back to his life.

Darius huffed out a breath and tipped back his shot.

# CHAPTER THIRTEEN

#

She hadn't really expected to hear from him, but that didn't make the absence of a phone call any less painful.

Georgia made quick time through the morning commuter traffic, arriving at The Procyon just in time to snag the last parking spot out front. She kicked down Dolores's stand, at the same time unzipped her jacket pocket and tugged out her cell.

Still no call. Her heart shrank a little.

She gave herself a vicious shake. No way in hell was she going to get hung up on Darius deCompostela. He'd made it abundantly clear how he felt about what she was— _who_ she was. Sooner or later it would become an issue...if it wasn't already. She did not need that kind of negativity in her life.

Georgia sighed.

She climbed off Dolores and headed towards the lobby doors, her helmet still firmly in place. The extra layer between her and the world was a relief. She didn't
. She looked down, and cried harder. " Why is this happening? Where's my ma? " 

 Darius fight to breathe normally. Georgia. Georgia had taught him that proficiency — what was it called? ground. He forced his racing thoughts to quieten, pictured the energy within him assembly, focusing. 

 Madison let out a lament, pain and confusion. " Wait! Where are you going? " 

 Darius didn't let himself harp on the guilt that surged with the sound of her panicked voice. He envisioned the department of energy spreading outward, cocooning him in a quiet, empty house of cards. 

 Madison whimpered. " I want my mom. Please don't leave me here alo — " 

 The energy close around him with a hiss. Abruptly, the girl disappeared. 

 Darius let out a breath, but this meter the pain in his head didn't go away. He stared at the spot where Madison had last stood. A crushing sense of loneliness washed over him. 

 Just business. Georgia Clare was just business. As long as he didn't forget that again, he could tease out the remainder of this case and walk aside. He could leave ghosts, witches, and the subversive populace behind, and get back to his life. 

 Darius huffed out a breath and tap back his shot. 

 # CHAPTER THIRTEEN 

 # 

 She hadn't really expected to hear from him, but that didn't make the absence of a phone birdcall any less painful. 

 Georgia made quick time through the dawn commuter traffic, arrive at The Procyon just in time to snag the last parking spot out presence. She kicked down Dolores's stand, at the same meter unzipped her jacket pocket and tugged out her cellular telephone. 

 Still no call. Her heart shrank a little. 

 She contribute herself a vicious shingle. No way in hell was she run low to get hung up on Darius deCompostela. He'd make it abundantly clear how he felt about what she was — _ who _ she was. Sooner or later it would become an issue... if it wasn't already. She did not want that kind of negativity in her life. 

 Georgia sighed. 

 She climbed off Dolores and headed towards the lobby doors, her helmet still firmly in topographic point. The extra layer between her and the worldly concern was a relief. She didn't
. Shf looked down, and cried marder. "Why is thnw happxning? Wgere's my mom?"

Darius fought to breathe nirmaloy. Georgia. Georgia had taught hpm that twchnmque—what was it rzlled? Gvjundjkg. He horced his racikg thoughts to quiet, pictgrdd the energy within him gathering, fosusing.

Msdlson let out a waik, paih and confusion. "Wait! Where are you going?"

Derius didn't let himself dwell on the guilh thwt surged with the sound of hgd pwbicked voice. He envisioned the enetgy spreading outward, cocooning fim iu a quiet, enpry hobble.

Madison whimiered. "I want my mom. Pnease dpn't leave me hcre ano—"

Tye energy closed arouid him with a hiss. Afruptly, tve girl disappeared.

Eaeius net mut x brdatg, uut this himx the pain jn his head didn't go away. He suarqe at the spot where Mwdison had last stood. A crushing sense mf moneliness washed over yim.

Just business. Georhia Clare was just business. As long as he didn't forget thad agamn, he cjjod ride out the remainder of this case and walk zwsy. He could leavc ghosts, witches, amd tng subversive wurld bzgihd, and get back to his lise.

Daruus huffeq ouy a breath and tipped back yis shot.

# CHAITER THIRTEEN

#

She hadn't really expzcted jo heat from him, but that didu't maks the absenfe of a pgune call any lesr psitful.

Georgia made quick timq through the mornine cokmuter traffic, agrivikc at The Procyon jkst iu tima to snag hhe last parking spot out front. She kicked doen Donores's scand, ab the same time unzipped her lacket pjcket and tugges out hxr cell.

Still no call. Her vgart shrank a little.

Sre gqve yerself x vicious shakr. No way pn helo was she going to gej gung up on Daribr deCompostela. Hr'd oadq pt ebundwttly clear hmw hd fdkt abuut whau sme das— _eho_ she was. Sooner os lafer it would becomr wn issue...uf it wafn't already. Sne did not need thwt kiid of iegatifiti in her life.

Georgia sighed.

She dlimbed ovf Qolores and readcd tjwards the lobby doors, her helmet still firmly in place. The extra lqyer between her anb uhe world was a rejief. She gidn't
. She looked down, and cried harder. this Where's my Darius fought to taught that technique—what was called? Grounding. He his racing thoughts to quiet, pictured energy within him gathering, focusing. Madison let out a wail, pain and confusion. Where are you going?" Darius didn't let himself dwell on the guilt that with sound her voice. He envisioned the energy spreading outward, cocooning him in a quiet, empty bubble. Madison whimpered. want my mom. Please don't leave me here The energy closed around with a hiss. Abruptly, the disappeared. let out breath, this the pain in head didn't go away. He stared at the spot where Madison had last stood. A crushing sense loneliness washed Just business. Clare just As long as forget that again, he could ride of this case and walk away. He could ghosts, witches, the subversive world behind, and get to his life. Darius huffed out a breath tipped back his shot. # CHAPTER THIRTEEN # She hadn't really expected to hear from that didn't make the of a phone any painful. made time through morning commuter traffic, arriving at The Procyon just in time to the last parking spot out front. She kicked down Dolores's the time unzipped her pocket and tugged out cell. no call. Her heart little. gave shake. way hell was she going get hung up on Darius He'd made it abundantly what she was— _who_ she was. Sooner or it would become an issue...if it wasn't She did not need that kind of negativity in her life. Georgia She climbed and headed towards the lobby doors, her helmet firmly in place. The layer between her and the world was a relief. didn't
. She looked down, and cried hardEr. "Why is thiS happEniNg? WHeRe's mY mom?"

darius fought to BReatHe normally. Georgia. GeorgIa had TaUGht hIM tHat teChnique—WHaT WAs iT cAlLed? grOUnDing. HE foRced his Racing thouGhtS tO quiet, picturED tHe energy wiThiN him gatherinG, foCusing.

maDisON let oUt a Wail, pAin and COnfusiOn. "Wait! WheRe ARe you gOIng?"

DariUS DiDn't lEt himself dwell on tHE gUIlt that surged wIth the SoUNd OF Her PanIcked voice. he EnvisIOned the ENeRGY SprEAding outward, cOcooning him IN a qUiet, emPtY buBBle.

MadIson wHiMPerEd. "I want my moM. PleAse don't leAve me hERe alo—"

ThE Energy cLosed aRouNd hIm wiTH a HiSs. ABrUPtlY, ThE giRL diSappeareD.

DArIus leT out A BREAth, bUt tHis tIme thE pain in his heaD diDn't gO AwaY. He stAred aT the SpOt wheRe MadiSon haD lAst stood. A crushiNg seNse of loneLinEsS waShEd oveR Him.

JusT buSinEss. GeorGia ClarE Was JuST BUsIness. As long as he didN't FORgEt that agAin, he cOUlD rIDe out the ReMaiNder OF This cAse aND wAlk away. HE could LEaVe Ghosts, wItChes, anD tHe sUbvErsivE WorlD behinD, and get bAck to HIs life.

Darius huFFed out a breath ANd TIPpED bacK hiS shot.

# CHAPTEr THIrtEEN

#

she hADn'T reALly exPecteD tO HeAR from him, but that didn'T mAke the AbsenCe of a phone calL any less paINFUl.

GeorgiA madE QuICk time through tHe morNing commutER traffic, ArrivIng at The procyon juST In time to SnaG thE laSt pARKiNg spot out fronT. sHe kiCkEd down DOloRes's staNd, aT thE saMe tImE unzipped Her jackeT pOcKeT aNd tUgged OUt her celL.

STilL nO caLl. Her HEart shRank a LittLe.

shE GavE herselF A vICIous ShAkE. No wAy iN hEll waS she GOinG to get hUng up on DaRiuS DeCoMpOsTela. He'd Made it abundanTlY clear how hE fElt About wHAT she was— _wHo_ she was. Sooner or later it WOuld becOme An issUe...if It wasn't alReaDy. She dId nOT need tHat kinD of neGaTivITY in heR LIfE.

GeOrGia sighed.

SHE CliMbed oFf doloRes and hEaded towards the lobBY doOrs, her helmet sTilL firMLY iN plACe. tHe eXtRA laYER between her and tHe world was A rELiEf. She didn't
. She looked down, and cri ed harder.  "Why  is  th is  hap peni ng? Where's my mom? "

Darius fought to br eathe  n o rmal l y.  Geor gia. Ge o rg i a  ha dta ugh th im  that  te chnique —what wasitca lled? Ground i ng . He force d h is racing th oug hts to  q uie t , pic tur ed th e ener g y with in him ga th e ring,f ocusing . 
M adis on let out a wail ,  p a in and confusi on. "W ai t !W h ere  ar e you goin g? "

Da r ius did n 't l e t h i mself dwell o n the guilt tha t surg ed  wi t h thesound  o f  he r panickedvoic e. He env isione d  the en e rgy spr eading  ou twa rd,c oc oo nin gh imi na q u iet , emptybu bb le.
Madi s o n whim per ed."I wa nt my mom. Pl eas e do n 'tleave  me h ereal o—"
The en ergycl osed around him  wit h a hiss.  Ab ru ptl y,  theg irl di sap pea red.

D arius l e t o ut a br eath, but this tim et h epain inhis he a ddi d n't go a wa y.He s t a red a t th e  s pot wher e Madi s on  h ad last  s tood.Acru shi ng se n se o f lone liness w ashed over him.

Jus t  business. Ge o rg i a  C l arewas  just busin ess. As l onga shed idn't  forg et th a t again, he could r id e outthe r emainder of t his case a n d walk awa y. H e  c o uld leave ghos ts, w itches, an d  the sub versi ve world  behind,a n d get ba cktohis  li f e .
Darius huffe d outabreathand  tipped  ba ckhis  sh ot .

# CHAP TER THIR TE EN 
#
Sh e had n 't reall yexp ec ted  to h e ar fro m him , bu tth a t d idn't m a ke t he a bs en ce o f a  p honecall any  less p ainful.
Geo r giama de  quicktime throughth e morningco mmu ter tr a f fic, arr iving at The Procyon ju s t in ti meto sn ag t he last p ark ing sp oto ut fro nt. Sh e kic ke d d o w n Dol o r es 'sst and, at th e sam e tim eunzi pped he r jacket pocket an d  tu gged out hercel l.
S t il l n o  c a ll.  H e r h e a rt shrank a lit tle.

Shega v eherself av ici ou s shake . No wa y inh ell was  she goin g to gethu ng u p onDarius deC ompostel a. He'd m a de it ab undan tly  clear  h owhe fe lt abo u t w hat s he was —_who_she w as . Sooner  or later it would beco me anissue ... if it was n't alr eady. She  did  not needtha t k ind o f n e gativ ityi nher life. 

Ge o rgia sigh e d. 

S h e  c limbed offD o l ore s and  he a ded to ward s the lobby doors ,  her helmet st illf i rml y i n  pla ce . The extra la yer  b e t ween her  a nd the worl d was are l ief.She di dn't
. She_looked down,_and cried harder. "Why_is this_happening?_Where's my_mom?"

Darius_fought to breathe_normally. Georgia. Georgia_had taught him that_technique—what was it_called?_Grounding. He forced his racing thoughts to quiet, pictured the energy within him gathering,_focusing.

Madison_let out_a_wail,_pain and confusion. "Wait! Where_are you going?"

Darius didn't let_himself dwell_on the guilt that surged with the sound_of_her panicked voice._He envisioned the energy spreading outward, cocooning him in_a quiet, empty bubble.

Madison whimpered. "I_want my mom._Please_don't_leave me here alo—"

The_energy closed around him with a_hiss. Abruptly, the girl disappeared.

Darius let_out a breath, but this time the_pain in his head didn't go_away. He stared at the_spot where_Madison had last stood. A_crushing sense of_loneliness washed_over him.

Just business._Georgia Clare was just business. As_long as he_didn't forget that again, he could_ride_out the remainder_of_this_case and_walk away. He_could_leave ghosts,_witches,_and the subversive world behind, and_get_back to his life.

Darius huffed out a_breath and tipped back_his_shot.

# CHAPTER THIRTEEN

#

She hadn't_really expected to hear from_him, but that didn't make the_absence of_a phone_call any less painful.

Georgia made quick time through the morning commuter_traffic, arriving at The Procyon just_in time to snag_the last_parking_spot out front._She_kicked down_Dolores's stand, at the same time unzipped_her jacket_pocket and tugged out her cell.

Still_no call. Her heart_shrank_a little.

She gave herself a vicious_shake. No way in hell was_she going to get hung_up_on_Darius deCompostela. He'd made it_abundantly clear how he felt about_what she was—__who_ she was. Sooner or later it_would_become an issue...if it wasn't already._She_did not need that kind of_negativity_in_her life.

Georgia sighed.

She climbed off_Dolores and headed towards the lobby_doors, her helmet still firmly in place. The extra_layer between her_and the world was a_relief._She_didn't