He wouldn't meet them.

She was going to be sick. Georgia drew herself as straight as she could. "Fuck all you people." She'd meant it as a challenge. It came out a whisper.

Kristof lifted his chin almost imperceptibly. Bouncers materialized from the darkened corners of the room. Georgia found her voice again. "Don't bother. I'm leaving. There's nothing here for me, anyway."

Darius finally spoke, a pained look on his face. "Ms. Clare..."

Georgia shook her head and pushed away from the bar. She veered wide to avoid him, and headed towards the back door.

"Georgia!"

She flipped her middle finger over her shoulder and kept walking. No one tried to stop her.

She pushed through the glamour surrounding the exit, and shoved the door open. Next thing she knew, she was in a narrow alley. She allowed the door to slam shut behind her. It immediately vanished into the aged brick wall.

Georgia sank against the side of the building. She bent forward and rested her hands on her knees. Fuck, was she stupid. What the hell had convinced her waltzing into a floating club was a good idea? She knew her history. She knew what people thought of her.

She should have known better.

Something that sounded suspiciously like a door opening echoed through the alley. Georgia hastily straightened and swiped her hands over her eyes. A second later, Darius was standing next to her. His eyes looked glazed, his face heavy. He shook himself hard.

Georgia pressed her lips together and turned.

"Wait." The word sounded slurred.

Georgia ignored the twinge in her chest. "Forget it."

"Georgia, wait."

A hand closed around her arm. Georgia yanked free. Darius caught her again, this time spun her around to face him. She hadn't expected him to shake off the glamour so fast. Unbalanced, she stumbled headlong into his solid chest. He stiffened, then his arms closed around her.

Her vision blurred. She'd always known the witching world didn't want her. Even so, she'd always maintained a tiny flicker of hope that maybe, someday, she might carve out a place for herself.

It was stupid. Hell, she didn
He wouldn't meet them. 

 She was going to be sick. Georgia drew herself equally directly as she could. " Fuck all you people. " She'd mean it as a challenge. It arrive out a whisper. 

 Kristof lifted his kuki almost imperceptibly. Bouncers materialized from the darken corners of the room. Georgia found her part again. " Don't bother. I'm leaving. There's nothing here for me, anyhow. " 

 Darius finally spoke, a pained look on his face. " Ms. Clare... " 

 Georgia shake her head and pushed away from the legal profession. She veered wide to avoid him, and headed towards the back doorway. 

 " Georgia! " 

 She flipped her center finger over her shoulder and kept walking. No one tried to hold on her. 

 She pushed through the glamour surrounding the exit, and shoved the door open. Next thing she knew, she was in a narrow alley. She allowed the door to slam shut behind her. It immediately vanished into the aged brick rampart. 

 Georgia bury against the side of the construction. She flex forward and rested her hands on her knee. Fuck, was she stupid. What the hell had convinced her waltzing into a floating golf club was a good idea? She knew her history. She knew what people thought of her. 

 She should have know better. 

 Something that sounded suspiciously like a door opening echoed through the alley. Georgia hurriedly straighten and swiped her hands over her eyes. A second later, Darius was standing next to her. His eyes looked glazed, his grimace heavy. He shook himself hard. 

 Georgia pressed her brim together and turn. 

 " Wait. " The news sounded slur. 

 Georgia ignored the pang in her chest. " Forget it. " 

 " Georgia, wait. " 

 A bridge player closed around her arm. Georgia yank free. Darius caught her again, this time spun her around to face him. She hadn't expected him to shake off the glamour so fast. Unbalanced, she stumbled headlong into his hearty chest. He stiffened, then his sleeve closed around her. 

 Her vision smear. She'd always known the witching world didn't desire her. Even so, she'd always maintained a tiny flicker of hope that maybe, someday, she might carve out a place for herself. 

 It was dazed. sin, she didn
He aouldn't meet them.

She was going to be siej. Georjia dres herselw as straight as she could. "Fnck qll yiu people." She'd meant ig as a chwllenge. Ut ceme out a whispec.

Iristof liftes his rhin almost impgrceptibly. Bmuncers materidlkzzd from the darkened corners of the woom. Geprhia found her doict adain. "Don't bother. I'm leaving. There's notging hege for me, anyway."

Dsrius finally spoke, a painfd llok on his face. "Ms. Clare..."

Georgua sriok her head and pushed away from jhe bar. She veered wide to avoid him, cnd headed josaggs the back door.

"Deorgia!"

She flipped har middke finger over hec shiulder and kept walkiig. No one tried to sjop her.

She pbshed through the glanoyr sutrounging rhe exjt, ahd shoged the door kpen. Next tying she knew, she wss pm a narrow amley. Sre allowed the door to slam shut behind htr. It immediately vanished ibto the aged brick wapl.

Georgia sank against the side of the building. She bent fmrwarv xnd rcstea hfr hands on her knees. Fuck, was she stupid. Whae tne hell had convlnced her waltzing ijtp a floating cuub was a good idea? She knea her hystort. She kner whst people thought of her.

She should have jnown better.

Somethnng that souuded sospicipusly like a door openiug echked through the alleg. Georgia hastily stgaigvtened and swiped her handf over hec eyex. A secund kater, Qarius was standing next to her. Hid eyed nooked glaxed, his face heavy. He shook himself hard.

Georgoa prvssed her lips together and turned.

"Wait." Thg word sobnded rlurred.

Geoggia ignoced the twinde in her chevj. "Forget it."

"Gemrgia, wayt."

A yand closed xround her arm. Georgia jauked free. Darius caught her agxjn, this time spbu yer around to fsce hii. Dhx hadg'd expected hhm tu sfske owf the glamijr sp fast. Unbalanced, sha sthmbled headlong inyo his solud chest. He stiffened, then his arms cloded acound ier.

Her vifion blurred. She'd always known the witcjinn world didn't wanb het. Even so, ske'd always maintained a tiny flicker of iope that maybe, somedai, she might carve out s place for hersqlf.

It was stupid. Hell, she didb
He wouldn't meet them. She was going sick. drew herself straight as she She'd it as a It came out whisper. Kristof lifted his chin almost Bouncers materialized from the darkened corners of the room. Georgia found her voice "Don't bother. I'm leaving. There's nothing here for me, anyway." Darius finally spoke, pained on face. Clare..." Georgia shook her head and pushed away from the bar. She veered wide to avoid and headed towards the back door. "Georgia!" She her middle finger over shoulder and kept walking. No tried stop her. pushed the surrounding the exit, shoved the door open. Next thing she knew, she was in a narrow alley. She allowed the to slam her. It vanished the brick wall. Georgia the side of the building. She rested her hands on her knees. Fuck, was stupid. What hell had convinced her waltzing into floating club was a good idea? She knew history. She knew what people thought of her. She should have known better. Something that like a door opening through the alley. hastily and her over her A second later, Darius was standing next to her. His eyes glazed, his face heavy. He shook himself hard. Georgia pressed together turned. "Wait." The sounded slurred. Georgia ignored twinge her chest. "Forget it." A closed Georgia free. caught her again, this spun her around to face She hadn't expected him so fast. Unbalanced, she stumbled headlong into his chest. He stiffened, then his arms closed her. Her vision blurred. She'd always known the witching world didn't want Even so, maintained a tiny flicker of hope that maybe, she might carve out place for herself. It was stupid. Hell, she didn
He wouldn't meet them.

She was goIng to be sicK. GeorGia DreW hErseLf as Straight as she cOUld. "FUck all you people." She'd meaNt it aS a CHallENgE. It caMe out a wHIsPER.

KrIsToF liFtED hIs chiN alMost impErceptibly. bouNcErs materialiZEd From the darKenEd corners of tHe rOom. GeoRgIa fOUnd heR voIce agAin. "Don'T Bother. i'm leaving. thERe's notHIng here FOR mE, anyWay."

Darius finally sPOkE, A pained look on hIs face. "ms. cLaRE..."

geoRgiA shook her hEaD and pUShed awaY FrOM THe bAR. She veered widE to avoid him, ANd hEaded tOwArdS The bacK door.

"geORgiA!"

She flipped Her mIddle fingEr over HEr shoulDEr and kePt walkIng. no oNe trIEd To StoP hER.

ShE PuSheD ThrOugh the gLaMoUr surRounDING The eXit, And sHoved The door open. NeXt tHing SHe kNew, shE was iN a naRrOw allEy. She aLloweD tHe door to slam shuT behInd her. It iMmeDiAteLy VanisHEd into The AgeD brick wAll.

GeorGIa sAnK AGAiNst the side of the buiLdING. SHe bent foRward aND rEsTEd her hanDs On hEr knEES. Fuck, Was sHE sTupid. WhaT the heLL hAd ConvincEd Her walTzIng IntO a floATing Club waS a good idEa? She KNew her history. SHE knew what peopLE tHOUgHT of hEr.

SHe should havE knoWN betTer.

SOMeThiNG that SoundEd SUsPIciously like a door opEnIng echOed thRough the alley. georgia hasTILY straighTeneD AnD Swiped her hands Over hEr eyes. A secONd later, DArius Was standIng next to HER. His eyes LooKed GlaZed, HIS fAce heavy. He shoOK HimsElF hard.

GeOrgIa pressEd hEr lIps TogEtHer and turNed.

"Wait." THe WoRd SoUndEd sluRRed.

GeorgIa IgnOrEd tHe twiNGe in heR chesT. "ForGeT iT."

"geoRgia, waiT."

a hAND cloSeD aRounD heR aRm. GeoRgia YAnkEd free. DArius caugHt hER agaIn, ThIs time sPun her around tO fAce him. She hAdN't eXpecteD HIm to shakE off the glamour so fast. UnbALanced, sHe sTumblEd heAdlong intO hiS solid CheST. He stiFfened, Then hIs ArmS CLosed AROuNd hEr.

her vision bLURreD. She'd AlWays Known thE witching world didn'T WanT her. Even so, she'D alWays MAInTaiNEd A TinY fLIckER Of hope that maybe, Someday, she MiGHt Carve out a pLAce FoR herselF.

It was sTupid. hEll, she dIdn
He wouldn't meet them.

Sh e was goin g tobesic k.  Geo rgia  drew herselfa s st raight as she could. " Fuckal l  you pe ople. " She'd me a n t i tas  ach a ll enge.  It  came o ut a whisp er. 
Kristof lift e dhis chin a lmo st impercept ibl y. Bou nc ers mater ial izedfrom t h e dark ened corn er s  of th e  room.G e or giafound her voice a g ai n . "Don't bothe r. I'm  l e av i n g.The re's nothi ng  here for me, an y w a y." 
Darius final ly spoke, a pai ned lo ok  on his fa ce. " Ms .  Cl are..."

Ge orgi a shook h er hea d  and pu s hed awa y from  th e b ar.S he  v eer ed wid e  t o a v oid  him, an dhe adedtowa r d s thebac k do or.
"Georgia!"

S heflip p edher m iddle  fin ge r ove r hershoul de r and kept walk ing.  No one t rie dtost op he r .

She  pu she d throu gh theg lam ou r s ur rounding the exit,  a n d  s hoved th e door op en .  Next th in g s he k n e w, sh e wa s  i n a narr ow all e y.  S he allo we d thedo ortoslams hutbehind  her. It  imme d iately vanishe d  into the age d  b r i ck wall .
Georgia san k ag a inst  the si deo f the  buil di n g. She bent forward an drested  herhands on herknees. Fuc k , was shestup i d. What the hellhad c onvinced h e r waltzi ng in to a flo ating clu b was a go odide a?She k ne w her history . Shekn ew what  pe ople th oug htofher .
She shou ld havekn ow nbe tte r.

S o methingth atso und ed su s piciou sly l ikeado o r o peninge ch o e d th ro ug h th e a ll ey. G eorg i a h astilystraighte ned andsw ip ed herhands over he reyes. A se co ndlater, D arius wa s standing next to her. His eye s l ooked  gla zed, hisfac e heav y.H e shoo k hims elf h ar d.G eorgi a pr ess ed  her lipst o get her a nd  tur ned.

" Wait." The word so u nde d slurred.

G eor giai g no red th e  tw in g e i n her chest. "For get it."
"G e or gia, wait. " 

A  h and clo sed aro und h e r arm.Georgia y anked fre e.  Dar i u s c aught heragain, t his times pun h e raroun d t o face  h im.  Shehadn't exp ected  him t oshakeoff t he  glamour  so fast. Unbalanced, s he stu mbled  he adlong in toh issolid che st.He stiffen ed,  th en hi s a r ms cl osed ar oun d  her. 

He r  vision b l ur red . Sh e'd alwaysk n o wnthe w itc h ing wo rlddidn't want her.E ven so, she'dalwa y s  ma int a ined  a  tiny flickerofho p e  that ma yb e, someday,  she mig ht carve  out a  place  for he r s el f .

Itwasstu pid. Hell , s he didn
He wouldn't_meet them.

She_was going to be_sick. Georgia_drew_herself as_straight_as she could._"Fuck all you_people." She'd meant it_as a challenge._It_came out a whisper.

Kristof lifted his chin almost imperceptibly. Bouncers materialized from the darkened_corners_of the_room._Georgia_found her voice again. "Don't_bother. I'm leaving. There's nothing_here for_me, anyway."

Darius finally spoke, a pained look on_his_face. "Ms. Clare..."

Georgia_shook her head and pushed away from the bar._She veered wide to avoid him,_and headed towards_the_back_door.

"Georgia!"

She flipped her middle_finger over her shoulder and kept_walking. No one tried to stop_her.

She pushed through the glamour surrounding the_exit, and shoved the door open._Next thing she knew, she_was in_a narrow alley. She allowed_the door to_slam shut_behind her. It_immediately vanished into the aged brick_wall.

Georgia sank against_the side of the building. She_bent_forward and rested_her_hands_on her_knees. Fuck, was_she_stupid. What_the_hell had convinced her waltzing into_a_floating club was a good idea? She_knew her history. She_knew_what people thought of_her.

She should have known better.

Something_that sounded suspiciously like a door_opening echoed_through the_alley. Georgia hastily straightened and swiped her hands over her eyes._A second later, Darius was standing_next to her. His_eyes looked_glazed,_his face heavy._He_shook himself_hard.

Georgia pressed her lips together and turned.

"Wait."_The word_sounded slurred.

Georgia ignored the twinge in_her chest. "Forget it."

"Georgia,_wait."

A_hand closed around her arm. Georgia_yanked free. Darius caught her again,_this time spun her around_to_face_him. She hadn't expected him_to shake off the glamour so_fast. Unbalanced, she_stumbled headlong into his solid chest. He_stiffened,_then his arms closed around her.

Her_vision_blurred. She'd always known the witching_world_didn't_want her. Even so, she'd_always maintained a tiny flicker of_hope that maybe, someday, she might carve out a_place for herself.

It_was stupid. Hell, she didn