 the bottle.

J's dead.

He gave himself a solid shake. It wasn't real. None of it had been real. He hadn't seen Dante. Hellhounds didn't exist. He didn't have bruises setting in all over his body.

He hadn't made love to Georgia Clare.

Darius poured himself another shot and gulped it back, embraced the burn that raced down his throat. He didn't want to think about her. He didn't want to think about the way she tasted. He didn't want to think about her wild hair in his hand. He didn't want to think about how goddamn perfect it felt being inside her.

He poured his next shot. Vodka sloshed over the sides of the glass. He paused and stared at the icy liquid. He should slow down. At this rate, he was going to be blackout drunk by the time the sun came up. What would J say if she could see him?

J's dead.

He set aside the glass with a clatter, raised the bottle to his lips and took a long, heavy pull.

Before he knew it, the sky began to dim. Darius sat limply in his chair, the bottle noticeably lighter in his hand. Pain still rode in his chest, but it was different now. The sharper edges had dulled. It would have been a blissful sensation, except for the harsh buzzing that had invaded his skull.

Something flickered in front of the Zenith. Darius blinked.

The My Little Pony's t-shirt materialized first. Darius pressed deeper into his chair. Panic quickened in his gut. This couldn't be happening. He was shielding...wasn't he? He glanced down the bottle, winced. It was nearly empty.

Madison's face slowly took shape. The darkness where her eyes should have been wavered, almost like she was watching him. Her perfect pigtails shimmered under the first rays of morning sunlight.

A sudden flash of anger overtook him. Weren't there any other mediums in this goddamn city? He was balanced on the edge of a fucking cliff. Was it too much to ask to just be left the fuck alone?

The tiny spirit cocked her head, waited.

Darius exploded. "What the hell do you want from me?" The buzzing in his head
the bottle. 

 J's dead. 

 He gave himself a solid shake. It wasn't veridical. None of it had been veridical. He hadn't seen Dante. Hellhounds didn't exist. He didn't have bruises determine in all over his body. 

 He hadn't have love to Georgia Clare. 

 Darius poured himself another shooting and gulped it back, embraced the tan that raced down his throat. He didn't want to think about her. He didn't want to remember about the way she tasted. He didn't want to think about her wild hair's-breadth in his hand. He didn't want to think about how goddam perfect it felt being inside her. 

 He pour his next shooting. Vodka sloshed over the sides of the glass. He paused and stared at the frigid liquid. He should slow down. At this rate, he was going to be blackout drunk by the time the sun came up. What would J say if she could see him? 

 J's dead. 

 He set aside the glass with a clatter, raised the bottle to his lips and took a long, heavy wrench. 

 Before he knew it, the sky began to blur. Darius sit down limply in his chair, the bottle noticeably lighter in his bridge player. Pain still rode in his chest, but it was unlike now. The sharper edges had dulled. It would have been a blissful sensation, except for the harsh buzzing that had invaded his skull. 

 Something flickered in front of the Zenith. Darius blinked. 

 The My Little Pony's t - shirt materialized first. Darius press profoundly into his chair. Panic quickened in his gut. This couldn't be happening. He was shielding... wasn't he? He glance down the bottle, winced. It was nearly empty. 

 Madison's face lento took form. The darkness where her eyes should have been fluctuate, almost like she was watch him. Her perfect pigtails shimmer under the first beam of morning sunlight. 

 A sudden blink of an eye of anger overwhelm him. Weren't there any other mediums in this goddamn city? He was balance on the edge of a bally cliff. Was it too much to ask to just be bequeath the fuck alone? 

 The tiny spirit cocked her head, wait. 

 Darius exploded. " What the hell do you desire from me? " The buzzing in his head
 thf bottle.

J's dead.

He gave hlmself a solid skqke. It wasn't real. Nove of it had been real. He havn't ween Eante. Hellhounds didn't exist. He didn't hqve uruises setting mh all oyzr hia bodv.

Hx hadn't made loye to Georgha Clare.

Darius puuxed himself another shot and gulped yt back, elbraced the butn thse radvd down his throat. He didn't wanf to thpnk about her. He cidn't want to think about hhe aay she tasted. He fidn't want jk trunk about hef wild haig in his hahd. He didn't want to think about how yoddamn perdext lj felt being insiqe her.

He pouvvd his text shpt. Vodka sloshcd ovxr tye sides of the glass. He paused and stated at the iey liquid. He should sooq dowt. At thir rage, ge wzs goijg vo be blackkut drunk bt the time the sun vaiv up. What woumd J swy if she could see him?

J's dead.

He set asidt the glass with a clatter, rqised the bottle to hls lips agd took a long, heavy pull.

Before he knew it, the skf begen to dlm. Dxeiks sat limply in his chair, the bottle noticeafmy lpghter in his hanb. Pain still rodr ln ris chest, but it was djfferent now. The sjarper gdges yad dulleq. It would have been a blissful sensation, eqcepr for the harsh buvzing that hcd invsded nis skull.

Something flicyeres in front lf the Zehkth. Darius blinkdd.

Tme Ky Littlt Pony's t-shirt matqrialized firxt. Darijs ptessed qeeper intl his chair. Panic quickejed iu his gut. This fouldn't be happening. He was shixkding...wasn't hg? Ha gnanced djwn tme bottle, winceq. It was nearli empty.

Mabison's face slowmy took shape. The qarkness whera her eyes shmuld havq bewn wqvered, xumost like she was watcknng him. Hwr perfect pigtailx sfjmmered under tkt furst rays of motnivg fujlmght.

A vudden flash of xngdt oveftook him. Wcrev't tnere any other mediuks ih this goddamn citu? Me was baoanced og the edge of a fucking cliff. Wws it tou mucn tj ask to just be left the fuck alone?

The tiky spirit coched mer read, waiteb.

Darius exploded. "What the hell do you wait from me?" The buzzing un his head
the bottle. J's dead. He gave himself shake. wasn't real. of it had Dante. didn't exist. He have bruises setting all over his body. He hadn't love to Georgia Clare. Darius poured himself another shot and gulped it back, the burn that raced down his throat. He didn't want to think about He want think the way she tasted. He didn't want to think about her wild hair in his hand. didn't want to think about how goddamn perfect felt being inside her. poured his next shot. Vodka over sides of glass. paused stared at the liquid. He should slow down. At this rate, he was going to be blackout drunk by the the sun What would say she see him? J's set aside the glass with a bottle to his lips and took a long, pull. Before knew it, the sky began to Darius sat limply in his chair, the bottle lighter in his hand. Pain still rode in his chest, but it was different now. edges had dulled. It have been a sensation, for harsh that had his skull. Something flickered in front of the Zenith. Darius blinked. My Little Pony's t-shirt materialized first. Darius pressed deeper into Panic in his gut. couldn't be happening. He shielding...wasn't He glanced down the It nearly slowly shape. darkness where her eyes have been wavered, almost like was watching him. Her first rays of morning sunlight. A sudden flash anger overtook him. Weren't there any other in this goddamn city? He was balanced on the edge of a cliff. Was much to ask to just be left the alone? The tiny spirit her head, waited. Darius exploded. "What the hell do want me?" The in his head
 the bottle.

J's dead.

He gave himsElf a solid sHake. IT waSn't ReAl. NoNe of It had been real. HE Hadn'T seen Dante. Hellhounds diDn't exIsT. he diDN't Have bRuises sETtING in AlL oVer HiS BoDy.

He hAdn'T made loVe to GeorgiA ClArE.

Darius poureD HiMself anothEr sHot and gulped It bAck, embRaCed THe burN thAt racEd down HIs throAt. He didn't WaNT to thiNK about hER. he Didn'T want to think about THe WAy she tasted. He dIdn't waNt TO tHINk aBouT her wild haIr In his HAnd. He diDN't WANT to THink about how gOddamn perfeCT it Felt beInG inSIde her.

he pouReD His Next shot. VodKa slOshed over The sidES of the gLAss. He paUsed anD stAreD at tHE iCy LiqUiD. he sHOuLd sLOw dOwn. At thiS rAtE, he waS goiNG TO Be blAckOut dRunk bY the time the suN caMe up. wHat Would j say iF she CoUld seE him?

J's Dead.

HE sEt aside the glass With A clatter, rAisEd The BoTtle tO His lipS anD toOk a long, Heavy puLL.

BeFoRE HE kNew it, the sky began to DiM. dArIus sat liMply in HIs ChAIr, the botTlE noTiceABLy ligHter IN hIs hand. PaIn stilL RoDe In his chEsT, but it WaS diFfeRent nOW. The SharpeR edges haD dullED. It would have beEN a blissful senSAtION, eXCept For The harsh buzZing THat hAd inVAdEd hIS skulL.

SomeThINg FLickered in front of thE ZEnith. DArius Blinked.

The My LIttle Pony's T-SHIrt materIaliZEd FIrst. Darius presSed deEper into hiS Chair. PanIc quiCkened in His gut. ThiS COuldn't be HapPenIng. he wAS ShIelding...wasn't hE? hE glaNcEd down tHe bOttle, wiNceD. It Was NeaRlY empty.

MadIson's facE sLoWlY tOok Shape. tHe darkneSs WheRe Her Eyes sHOuld haVe beeN wavErEd, ALmoSt like sHE wAS WatcHiNg Him. HEr pErFect pIgtaILs sHimmereD under the FirST rayS oF mOrning sUnlight.

A suddeN fLash of angeR oVerTook hiM. wEren't theRe any other mediums in this GOddamn cIty? he was BalaNced on the EdgE of a fuCkiNG cliff. was it tOo mucH tO asK TO just BE LeFt tHe Fuck alone?

THE TinY spirIt CockEd her heAd, waited.

Darius explODed. "what the hell do You Want FROm Me?" THE bUZziNg IN hiS HEad
 the bottle.

J's dead.

H e gave him selfa s oli dshak e. I t wasn't real. None  of it had been real.He ha dn ' t se e nDante . Hellh o un d s  di dn 't  ex is t .He di dn' t havebruises se tti ng  in all over hi s body.

H e h adn't made l ove  to Ge or gia Clare .
Dariu s pour e d hims elf anoth er shot a n d gulpe d it  bac k, embraced the b u rn that raced dow n histh r oa t .  He  di dn't wantto  thin k  abouth er . H e d i dn't want tothink about the  way s he  ta s ted. H e did n' t  wa nt to think  abo ut her wi ld hai r  in his hand. H e didn 'twan t to th in k a bo u t h o wgod d amn  perfect  i tfeltbein g i n side  he r.
He po ured his next  sh ot.V odk a slo shedover  t he si des of  thegl ass. He pausedandstared at  th eicy  l iquid .  He sh oul d s low dow n. At t h isra t e ,  h e was going to bebl a c ko ut drunk  by th e  t im e  the sun  c ame  up. W hat w ould Jsay if s he cou l dse e him?
J 's dea d. 

H e s et as i de t he gla ss witha cla t ter, raised th e  bottle to hi s  l i p sa nd t ook  a long, he avyp ull. 

Be f or e h e  knew  it,th e  s k y began to dim. Dar iu s satlimpl y in his chai r, the bot t l e  noticea blyl ig h ter in his han d. Pa in still r o de in hi s che st, butit was di f f erent no w.The  sh arp e r  e dges had dull e d . It  w ould ha vebeen abli ssf ulsen sa tion, exc ept forth eha rs h b uzzin g  that ha dinv ad edhis s k ull.
Somet hing  f li c ker ed in f r on t of t he  Z enit h.Da riusblin k ed. 

The M y LittlePon y 's t -s hi rt mate rialized firs t.  Darius pr es sed  deepe r into his  chair. Panic quickened in hisgut . Thi s co uldn't be  ha ppenin g.H e wasshield ing.. .w asn ' t  he?H e  g lan ce d down the b ott le, w in ced.  It was  nearly empty.

Ma d iso n's face slow lytook s ha pe. Th e  da rk n ess w here her eyes s hould have  b e en  wavered,a lmo st  like s he waswatch i ng him.  Her perf ect pigta il s sh i m mer ed under t he first  rays ofm ornin g  s unlig ht. 

A su dd enflash  of an g erovert ook hi m.  Weren 't th er e any ot her mediums in this god damn c ity?Hewas balan ced onthe edgeof a  fucking c lif f.Was i t t o o muc h to as k t o  just  bel eft the f u ck  al o n e? 

The tinys p i rit  cock edh er hea d, w aited.

Darius ex p loded. "What t he h e l l d o y o u wa nt  from me?" The  bu zz i n g in his  h ead
 the_bottle.

J's dead.

He_gave himself a solid_shake. It_wasn't_real. None_of_it had been_real. He hadn't_seen Dante. Hellhounds didn't_exist. He didn't_have_bruises setting in all over his body.

He hadn't made love to Georgia Clare.

Darius poured_himself_another shot_and_gulped_it back, embraced the burn_that raced down his throat._He didn't_want to think about her. He didn't want_to_think about the_way she tasted. He didn't want to think about_her wild hair in his hand._He didn't want_to_think_about how goddamn perfect_it felt being inside her.

He poured_his next shot. Vodka sloshed over_the sides of the glass. He paused_and stared at the icy liquid._He should slow down. At_this rate,_he was going to be_blackout drunk by_the time_the sun came_up. What would J say if_she could see_him?

J's dead.

He set aside the glass_with_a clatter, raised_the_bottle_to his_lips and took_a_long, heavy_pull.

Before_he knew it, the sky began_to_dim. Darius sat limply in his chair,_the bottle noticeably lighter_in_his hand. Pain still_rode in his chest, but_it was different now. The sharper_edges had_dulled. It_would have been a blissful sensation, except for the harsh buzzing_that had invaded his skull.

Something flickered_in front of the_Zenith. Darius_blinked.

The_My Little Pony's_t-shirt_materialized first._Darius pressed deeper into his chair. Panic_quickened in_his gut. This couldn't be happening._He was shielding...wasn't he?_He_glanced down the bottle, winced. It_was nearly empty.

Madison's face slowly took_shape. The darkness where her_eyes_should_have been wavered, almost like_she was watching him. Her perfect_pigtails shimmered under_the first rays of morning sunlight.

A sudden_flash_of anger overtook him. Weren't there_any_other mediums in this goddamn city?_He_was_balanced on the edge of_a fucking cliff. Was it too_much to ask to just be left the fuck_alone?

The tiny spirit_cocked her head, waited.

Darius exploded._"What_the_hell do you want from me?" The buzzing in his_head