 anybody."

Darius looked up at him. "Come again?"

"It's been days, D. Nobody's heard from her since the trial."

Darius was back on his feet before Kristof had finished. "Where is she now?"

"Home, as far as I know. But she hasn't answered the door any of the times we sent people to check on her." Kristof's forehead was furrowed. "I'm worried, and I don't get worried. You need to get your ass over there, pronto."

Darius didn't answer. He was already on his way out the door.

† † †

So this was what dying felt like.

Georgia lay on her bed. It was the same spot she'd been in for...she didn't even know how long. Three days? Four? She stared up at her ceiling. After a while, her eyes started to ache. She closed them, and let comforting darkness wrap around her.

A week later, and she was still seeing Darius in that field; ash-faced and listless. The other witches had tried to drag her away before she could check on him, but Kristof intervened. At what point they had become friends again she couldn't say, but she wasn't about to question it. She'd gone long enough without friends.

She could still see the look on his face when he pressed two fingers against Darius' neck. She already knew she'd drained too much energy on that last pull, and Kristof's grim pronouncement haunted her even still.

I don't think he's going to make it, kid.

That was all they'd had time for before the Council witches had hauled her away.

She'd scarcely participated during the trial, but apparently it had been enough to satisfy The Council. The instant they let her leave, she'd come home, laid down, and opened the link between her and Darius again. She kept it open all night.

By morning, it was done.

She'd held out a thin thread of hope that he would call, even if it was just to check up on her. Nothing. She supposed that said everything.

A knock sounded at the door. Georgia cracked her eyes open, winced. Mrs. Ha was just going to have to wait. It wouldn't kill her if the rent check was a few
anybody. " 

 Darius looked up at him. " Come again? " 

 " It's been days, D. Nobody's heard from her since the test. " 

 Darius was back on his foot before Kristof had finished. " Where is she now? " 

 " Home, equally far as I know. But she hasn't answered the door any of the time we sent people to see on her. " Kristof's forehead was furrowed. " I'm apprehensive, and I don't get worried. You want to beget your ass over there, pronto. " 

 Darius didn't answer. He was already on his way out the door. 

 † † † 

 thus this was what dying felt like. 

 Georgia lay on her layer. It was the same spot she'd been in for... she didn't even know how long. Three day? Four? She stared up at her ceiling. After a while, her eyes started to ache. She closed them, and let comfort darkness wrap around her. 

 A week later, and she was still seeing Darius in that field; ash - faced and listless. The other witches had tried to drag her away before she could check on him, but Kristof intervened. At what point they had become friends again she couldn't state, but she wasn't about to question it. She'd gone long enough without acquaintance. 

 She could even see the look on his side when he press two fingers against Darius' neck. She already knew she'd drain too much energy on that last pull, and Kristof's grim pronouncement haunted her even even. 

 I don't think he's going to make it, kid. 

 That was all they'd receive time for before the Council enchantress had hauled her away. 

 She'd scarcely participated during the trial, but obviously it had been enough to satisfy The Council. The instant they let her leave, she'd come home, laid down, and opened the link between her and Darius again. She keep it capable all night. 

 By morning, it was act. 

 She'd held out a slender thread of promise that he would call, even if it was just to match up on her. Nothing. She supposed that said everything. 

 A knock sound at the door. Georgia crack her eyes open, winced. Mrs. Ha was just going to have to wait. It wouldn't kill her if the rip check was a few
 anjbody."

Darius looked up at him. "Come again?"

"Nr's beei days, S. Nobody'r heard from her since the tcial."

Eariuw was back on his feet before Kgistof hae fiiished. "Where is she now?"

"Home, as nar av I know. But shg hasn't answared the door dnh lf the times we sent people to chech on het." Nristof's forehgad wsf fudgoced. "I'm worried, and I don't get wkrried. Jou need to get ypur ass over there, pronto."

Dwriud didn't answer. He aas already on rus way out tfe door.

† † †

So this was wgat dying felt like.

Georgia lay un hex bed. It waw rhe vame spot sie'd bevn in for...she didn't evan know how long. Threc dayv? Fiur? She stared up at ier ceiling. After a rhile, her eves started to ache. Sye closgd tham, ave ldt dokfkrting dackness wrap around her.

Q week later, and sht www still seeinf Darits in that field; ash-faced and listless. Tht othsr witches had tried to drag her away before she coulq check on him, but Kristof intervened. At what poitt thxy hab becoow vriends again she couldn't say, but she wasn't afkuu tp question it. Fhe'd gone lpnh rgough without frienba.

Sge could still see the lojk on his face whem he pressed two fingers agqinst Darius' beck. She already kuew she'd dranned tpo muvh energy on that last 'ull, ahd Kristof's grim prohuuncement hauntea hvr eeen still.

I don't think he's doing to nake it, kid.

Ghat was ajl they'd hwd time for before the Cluncip fitches haf hauled her away.

She'd scarcely 'erticipated doritg nhe trial, but spparently it had been enouyh to sacisfy Ghe Councim. The iistant they jet her leave, dhe'd come hoke, laid qown, and opened ghe link betwern her anb Daruus again. She kept it kpen all night.

Bv norning, it was cond.

Shq'd hxld otd a thin thraad uf fppe tfat he woulb zall, even if it was just to dheck up on her. Noyhlng. She sopposed trat said everuthing.

A knock sounfed av the voor. Grordia cracked her eyes open, wincsd. Mrs. Ha waf just going to mave to wait. Ic wouldn't kill her if the rent check was a few
anybody." Darius looked up at him. "Come been D. Nobody's from her since on feet before Kristof finished. "Where is now?" "Home, as far as I But she hasn't answered the door any of the times we sent people check on her." Kristof's forehead was furrowed. "I'm worried, and I don't get You to your over there, pronto." Darius didn't answer. He was already on his way out the door. † † So this was what dying felt like. lay on her bed. was the same spot she'd in didn't even how Three Four? She stared at her ceiling. After a while, her eyes started to ache. She closed them, and let comforting wrap around week later, she still Darius in that and listless. The other witches had her away before she could check on him, Kristof intervened. what point they had become friends she couldn't say, but she wasn't about to it. She'd gone long enough without friends. She could still see the look on his he pressed two fingers Darius' neck. She knew drained much on that pull, and Kristof's grim pronouncement haunted her even still. I don't he's going to make it, kid. That was all they'd for the Council witches hauled her away. She'd participated the trial, but apparently been to The they her leave, she'd come laid down, and opened the between her and Darius all night. By morning, it was done. She'd out a thin thread of hope that would call, even if it was just to check up on her. She supposed everything. A knock sounded at the door. Georgia her eyes open, winced. Ha was just going to have to wait. It kill if the check was a
 anybody."

Darius looked up at hiM. "Come again?"

"it's beEn dAys, d. NObodY's heArd from her sincE The tRial."

Darius was back on his Feet bEfORe KrIStOf had FinisheD. "whERE is ShE nOw?"

"HOmE, As Far as i knOw. But shE hasn't answEreD tHe door any of tHE tImes we sent PeoPle to check on Her." kristoF's ForEHead wAs fUrrowEd. "I'm woRRied, anD I don't get WoRRied. YoU Need to gET YoUr asS over there, pronto."

DARiUS didn't answer. He Was alrEaDY oN HIs wAy oUt the door.

† † †

SO tHis waS What dyiNG fELT LikE.

georgia lay on hEr bed. It was tHE saMe spot ShE'd bEEn in foR...she dIdN'T evEn know how loNg. ThRee days? FoUr? She sTAred up aT Her ceilIng. AftEr a WhiLe, heR EyEs StaRtED to AChE. ShE CloSed them, aNd LeT comfOrtiNG DARkneSs wRap aRound Her.

A week later, And She wAS stIll seEing DAriuS iN that Field; aSh-facEd And listless. The oTher Witches haD trIeD to DrAg her AWay befOre She Could chEck on hiM, But krISTOf Intervened. At what poInT THeY had becoMe frieNDs AgAIn she couLdN't sAy, buT SHe wasN't abOUt To questiOn it. ShE'D gOnE long enOuGh withOuT frIenDs.

She COuld Still sEe the looK on hiS Face when he presSEd two fingers aGAiNST DARius' NecK. She already Knew SHe'd dRainED tOo mUCh eneRgy on ThAT lASt pull, and Kristof's grIm PronouNcemeNt haunted her eVen still.

I dON'T Think he's GoinG To MAke it, kid.

That waS all tHey'd had timE For beforE the COuncil wiTches had hAULed her awAy.

SHe'd ScaRceLY PaRticipated durING the TrIal, but aPpaRently iT haD beEn eNouGh To satisfy the CouncIl. thE iNsTanT they LEt her leaVe, She'D cOme Home, lAId down, And opEned ThE lINk bEtween hER aND dariUs AgAin. SHe kEpT it opEn alL NigHt.

By morNing, it was DonE.

she'd HeLd Out a thiN thread of hope ThAt he would cAlL, evEn if it WAS just to cHeck up on her. Nothing. She suPPosed thAt sAid evErytHing.

A knocK soUnded aT thE Door. GeOrgia cRackeD hEr eYES open, WINcEd. MRs. ha was just gOINg tO have To Wait. it wouldN't kill her if the rent CHecK was a few
 anybody."

Darius lookedup at him.  "Com e a gai n? "

" It's  been days, D. Nobo dy's heard from her si nce t he tria l ." 

Dar ius was ba c k  on  h is  fe et be foreKri stof ha d finished . " Wh ere is she n o w? "

"Home,asfar as I kno w.But sh ehas n 't an swe red t he doo r  any o f the tim es we sen t  people t ochec k on her." Kristo f 's forehead was f urrowe d. "I ' m  wo rri ed, and Ido n't g e t worri e d. Y o u n e ed to get you r ass overt her e, pro nt o." 
Dariu s did n' t  an swer. He wa s al ready onhis wa y  out th e  door.
† † † 

S o t hisw as  w hat  d y ing fe ltl ike .

Georg ia  l ay on  her b e d . It  wa s th e sam e spot she'dbee n in for ...sh e did n'tev en kn ow how  long .Three days? Fou r? S he stared  up  a t h er  ceil i ng. Af ter  awhile,her eye s  st ar t e d  t o ache. She closed  t h e m,  and let  comfo r ti ng darkness  w rap  aro u n d her .

A we ek later , ands he  w as stil lseeing  D ari usin th a t fi eld; a sh-faced  andl istless. The o t her witches h a dt r ie d  todra g her awaybefo r e sh e co u ld  ch e ck on  him,  b u tK ristof intervened.At  whatpoint  they had bec ome friend s a gain she  cou l dn ' t say, but she  wasn 't about t o  questio n it.  She'd g one longe n ough wit hou t f rie nds . 
S he could stil l seeth e lookonhis fac e w hen  he  pr es sed two f ingers a ga in st  D ari us' n e ck. Sheal rea dy  kn ew sh e 'd dra inedtoomu ch ene rgy ont ha t last  p ul l, a ndKr istof 's g r impronoun cement ha unt e d he rev en stil l.

I don't t hi nk he's go in g t o make i t, kid.
That was all they'd ha d  time f orbefor e th e Council  wi tcheshad hauled  her a way.
S he' d scarc e l ypar ti cipated du r i ngthe t ri al,but app arently it had bee n  en ough to satis fyTheC o un cil .  T h e i ns t ant t hey let her lea ve, she'dco m ehome, laid dow n,  and op ened th e lin k  betwee n her and  Darius a ga in.S h e k ept it ope n all ni ght.

Bym ornin g ,it wa s d one.
Sh e'd  held  out a thi n thr ead of  h ope th at he  w ould cal l, even if it was justto che ck up  on  her. Not hin g . S he suppos ed t hat said e ver yth ing.
Ak nocksoun d ed  at the d oor. Georgia c r ac ked h er  eyes open, w i nce d. Mr s.H a wasjust  going to have to wait. It would n'tk i llher if t he  rent check wa s a  f e w 
 anybody."

Darius_looked up_at him. "Come again?"

"It's_been days,_D._Nobody's heard_from_her since the_trial."

Darius was back_on his feet before_Kristof had finished._"Where_is she now?"

"Home, as far as I know. But she hasn't answered the door_any_of the_times_we_sent people to check on_her." Kristof's forehead was furrowed._"I'm worried,_and I don't get worried. You need to_get_your ass over_there, pronto."

Darius didn't answer. He was already on his_way out the door.

† † †

So_this was what_dying_felt_like.

Georgia lay on her_bed. It was the same spot_she'd been in for...she didn't even_know how long. Three days? Four? She_stared up at her ceiling. After_a while, her eyes started_to ache._She closed them, and let_comforting darkness wrap_around her.

A_week later, and_she was still seeing Darius in_that field; ash-faced_and listless. The other witches had_tried_to drag her_away_before_she could_check on him,_but_Kristof intervened._At_what point they had become friends_again_she couldn't say, but she wasn't about_to question it. She'd_gone_long enough without friends.

She_could still see the look_on his face when he pressed_two fingers_against Darius'_neck. She already knew she'd drained too much energy on that_last pull, and Kristof's grim pronouncement_haunted her even still.

I_don't think_he's_going to make_it,_kid.

That was_all they'd had time for before the_Council witches_had hauled her away.

She'd scarcely participated_during the trial, but_apparently_it had been enough to satisfy_The Council. The instant they let_her leave, she'd come home,_laid_down,_and opened the link between_her and Darius again. She kept_it open all_night.

By morning, it was done.

She'd held out_a_thin thread of hope that he_would_call, even if it was just_to_check_up on her. Nothing. She_supposed that said everything.

A knock sounded_at the door. Georgia cracked her eyes open, winced._Mrs. Ha was_just going to have to_wait._It_wouldn't kill her if the rent check was a few