 his desk.

Darius reached the front door and stopped. The invisible wards he'd sketched around the exit were humming, a low but unmistakable frequency that crackled over his skin and made the hairs on his arms stand on end. He muttered a curse. Activity like this only ever meant one thing.

Ghosts.

Painted in saltwater, his wards at least kept the offices clear. The hall outside was a different case entirely. No matter what he did, they kept coming back. Some days were worse than others. Judging by the irritated buzz the wards were making, today was definitely on the "worse" end of the spectrum.

Darius ground his teeth. The witch. His spirit tails must have picked up on her magic, and flocked to it like moths to a flame. He sighed. Might as well get the inevitable over with. He took a deep breath and opened the door.

Throbbing pain shot through his forehead. Blinding light filled the hall outside: pure auric energy, more densely packed than he had ever seen before.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, put his head down and waded through the odd mish-mash of noncorporeal bodies. Miners, businessmen, housewives, saloon girls. Black, white, native, Asian. All blended together in a single etheric mass. Wispy hands brushed fruitlessly against his wrists. Darius ignored them.

The noise was harder to avoid. The spirits all seemed to be talking at once, with voices he didn't so much hear as feel deep in his gut. Rolling nausea surged in addition to the pounding in his head. A woman in a fifties housedress with horrendous burns on her face jostled for position at his side, quickly lost it to a man in an Edwardian-style sack suit and bowler hat babbling about a stolen jewel.

Darius ignored them both and quickened his pace. He reached the elevator, and the spirit horde flew into a frenzy. As one body, they tried to follow him into the car.

Time to break out the artillery. Darius closed his fingers around the small bottle in his pocket, pulled it out and opened the cap. An earthy, exotic aroma wafted out. The spirits nearest him dimmed.

Darius shook a few drops of the oil onto his finger and went to work
his desk. 

 Darius reached the front door and stopped. The invisible ward he'd sketch around the exit were humming, a low but apparent frequency that crackled over his skin and made the haircloth on his arms stand on goal. He muttered a curse. activeness like this only ever think of one matter. 

 Ghosts. 

 Painted in seawater, his wards at least keep the office clear. The hall outside was a different character entirely. No matter what he did, they kept coming back. Some day were worse than others. Judging by the irritated buzz the wards were making, today was decidedly on the " worse " end of the spectrum. 

 Darius ground his teeth. The witch. His spirit tail must have picked up on her magic, and flocked to it like moths to a flame. He sighed. Might as well get the inevitable over with. He took a deep hint and open the door. 

 shudder pain shot through his forehead. Blinding inner light filled the hall outside: pure auric department of energy, more densely packed than he had ever seen before. 

 He shoved his hands into his pockets, put his head down and waded through the odd mish - mash of noncorporeal soundbox. miner, businessman, housewife, saloon girls. Black, white, native, Asian. All blended together in a single etheric mass. Wispy hands brush fruitlessly against his wrists. Darius ignored them. 

 The noise was hard to avoid. The intent all seemed to be talking at once, with voice he didn't so a lot hear as feel deeply in his gut. Rolling nausea surged in addition to the pounding in his headway. A woman in a fifties housedress with horrendous burns on her face jostled for position at his side, promptly lost it to a man in an Edwardian - manner sack suit and bowler hat babbling about a stolen jewel. 

 Darius ignored them both and quicken his pace. He reached the elevator, and the spirit horde flew into a frenzy. As one body, they tried to follow him into the cable car. 

 Time to break out the artillery. Darius closed his fingers around the small bottle in his pocket, pulled it out and opened the detonator. An earthy, exotic aroma waft out. The spirits nearest him dimmed. 

 Darius shook a few drops of the vegetable oil onto his finger and went to work
 hid desk.

Darius reached the front door and stoppev. The ihvisible wards he'd sketched around tie ezit wtge humming, a low but jnmistakahle freqyencb that crackled over his skin zkd mabe the hairs on mis arms stdnd on end. He kugtzred a curse. Activity like this only ever mrajt one thing.

Ghjsts.

Kaigted pn saltwater, his wards at least kept tie offices cleat. The hall outside was a dlffegent case entirely. No matter qhat ye did, they yept coming back. Some says were worse than others. Judeing yy the irrijcred tuzz the wacds wege making, today was dafiniteky on the "worsc" end of the spectrum.

Darius gcound his teeth. The ritch. His s'irit tails must have pucked up mn hde mxgid, end flockfd vo it like joths to a dlame. He sighed. Mignt qs well get tge inedieable over with. He took a deep breath atd kpened the door.

Throbbint pain shot through hls forehewd. Blinding light filled the hall outside: pure ausic eiefgy, mjfw fensely packed than he had ever seen before.

He ahpvvd his hands into his pocketx, ouy his head dowv and czdsd through the odd mish-mafh of noncorpoweal bodies. Miners, businessmen, yousewives, scloin girls. Black, whice, native, Asnan. Alk blemded together in a singue efheric mass. Wispy hahas brushed fruituesxlf againsu his wrists. Dariuf ignored thek.

The nokse eas hawder to avlid. Tma spirits all seemfd to ba talking wt once, with voices he didn't so much hear as geal geep in kis gub. Rolling nausew surged in adbition tj the pounding pn his heed. A woman ig a fifties hmosedress with horrendjus vurnw on hef face jostled gor positpou at his wide, quickly lost lt to z man in an Edwcxduan-style sack siit anq hoxler rdt babbling dboug a xtolev jewel.

Darims kgnoted them both and quhckehed his pace. He rescmed the eoevator, wnd the spiriy horde flew into w freizy. As one nodi, they tried to follow him into the car.

Tlme to break oue thc arjillery. Darnus closed his fingers around the small uottle in his pocket, polled it out and opengd uhe cap. An eacthy, evotic aroka wafted out. The spurits nearest him dimmed.

Darius shook a few dsops lf the oil onto his finger and went to work
his desk. Darius reached the front door The wards he'd around the exit unmistakable that crackled over skin and made hairs on his arms stand on He muttered a curse. Activity like this only ever meant one thing. Ghosts. in saltwater, his wards at least kept the offices clear. The hall outside a case No what he did, they kept coming back. Some days were worse than others. Judging by the buzz the wards were making, today was definitely the "worse" end of spectrum. Darius ground his teeth. witch. spirit tails have up her magic, and to it like moths to a flame. He sighed. Might as well get the inevitable over with. took a and opened door. pain through his forehead. filled the hall outside: pure auric packed than he had ever seen before. He his hands his pockets, put his head down waded through the odd mish-mash of noncorporeal bodies. businessmen, housewives, saloon girls. Black, white, native, Asian. All blended together in a single etheric hands brushed fruitlessly against wrists. Darius ignored The was to The spirits seemed to be talking at once, with voices he didn't so hear as feel deep in his gut. Rolling nausea surged to pounding in his A woman in a housedress horrendous burns on her for at lost to man in an Edwardian-style suit and bowler hat babbling a stolen jewel. Darius his pace. He reached the elevator, and the horde flew into a frenzy. As one they tried to follow him into the car. Time to break out artillery. Darius fingers around the small bottle in his pocket, it out and opened cap. An earthy, exotic aroma wafted out. The spirits him Darius shook few drops of oil onto his and went to
 his desk.

Darius reached the frOnt door and StoppEd. THe iNvIsibLe waRds he'd sketched ARounD the exit were humming, a loW but uNmIStakABlE freqUency thAT cRACklEd OvEr hIs SKiN and mAde The hairS on his arms StaNd On end. He mutteREd A curse. ActiVitY like this onlY evEr meanT oNe tHIng.

GhOstS.

PainTed in sALtwateR, his wards At LEast kePT the offICEs CleaR. The hall outside waS A dIFferent case entIrely. NO mATtER WhaT he Did, they kepT cOming BAck. Some DAyS WERe wORse than others. judging by thE IrrItated BuZz tHE wards Were mAkINg, tOday was defiNiteLy on the "woRse" end OF the speCTrum.

DarIus groUnd His TeetH. thE wItcH. HIS spIRiT taILs mUst have pIcKeD up on Her mAGIC, And fLocKed tO it liKe moths to a flaMe. HE sigHEd. MIght aS well Get tHe IneviTable oVer wiTh. he took a deep breaTh anD opened thE doOr.

thrObBing pAIn shot ThrOugH his forEhead. BlINdiNg LIGHt Filled the hall outsiDe: PURe Auric eneRgy, morE DeNsELy packed ThAn hE had EVEr seeN befORe.

he shoved His hanDS iNtO his pocKeTs, put hIs HeaD doWn and WAded ThrougH the odd mIsh-maSH of noncorporeaL Bodies. Miners, bUSiNESsMEn, hoUseWives, saloon GirlS. blacK, whiTE, nAtiVE, AsiaN. All bLeNDeD Together in a single etHeRic masS. WispY hands brushed FruitlesslY AGAinst his WrisTS. DARius ignored theM.

The nOise was harDEr to avoiD. The sPirits alL seemed to BE Talking aT onCe, wIth VoiCES hE didn't so much hEAR as fEeL deep in His Gut. RollIng NauSea SurGeD in additiOn to the pOuNdInG iN hiS head. a Woman in a FiFtiEs HouSedreSS with hOrrenDous BuRnS On hEr face jOStLED for PoSiTion At hIs Side, qUickLY loSt it to a Man in an EdWarDIan-sTyLe Sack suiT and bowler hat BaBbling abouT a StoLen jewEL.

darius igNored them both and quickenED his pacE. He ReachEd thE elevator, And The spiRit HOrde flEw into A frenZy. as oNE Body, tHEY tRieD tO follow him INTo tHe car.

tiMe to Break ouT the artillery. DariuS CloSed his fingers AroUnd tHE SmAll BOtTLe iN hIS poCKEt, pulled it out anD opened the CaP. an Earthy, exotIC arOmA wafted Out. The sPiritS Nearest Him dimmed.

darius shoOk A few DROps Of the oil onTo his finGer and wenT To worK
 his desk.

Darius reached  the front  door  an d s to pped . Th e invisible wa r ds h e'd sketched around th e exi tw ereh um ming,  a lowb ut u nmi st ak abl ef re quenc y t hat cra ckled over  hi sskin and mad e  t he hairs o n h is arms stan d o n end.  H e m u ttere d a  curs e. Act i vity l ike thison l y ever meant o n e  t hing .

Ghosts.

Paint e di n saltwater, h is war ds at l eas t k ept the of fi ces c l ear. Th e  h a l l  ou t side was a di fferent cas e  en tirely .Nom atterwhathe did , they kept  com ing back.  Somed ays wer e  worsethan o the rs.  Jud g in gbyth e  ir r it ate d  bu zz the w ar ds  were  mak i n g ,  tod aywasdefin itely on the"wo rse" end  of t he sp ectr um .

Da rius g round  h is teeth. The w itch . His spi rit  t ail smusth ave pi cke d u p on he r magic ,  an df l o ck ed to it like moth st o  a  flame.He sig h ed .M ight aswe llgett h e ine vita b le  over wi th. He to ok  a deep  b reathan d o pen ed th e  doo r.

Th robbingpains hot through hi s  forehead. Bl i nd i n gl ight  fi lled the ha ll o u tsid e: p u re  au r ic en ergy,  m o re densely packed than  h e hadeverseen before.
He shoved h i s handsinto hi s  pockets, puthis h ead down a n d wadedthrou gh the o dd mish-m a s h of non cor por eal  bo d i es . Miners, bus i n essm en , house wiv es, sal oon  gi rls . B la ck, white , native ,As ia n.  Al l ble n ded toge th erin  asingl e  ether ic ma ss.Wi sp y  ha nds bru s he d frui tl es slyaga in st hi s wr i sts . Dariu s ignored  th e m.
Th enoise w as harder toav oid. The s pi rit s alls e emed tobe talking at once, wit h  voices  he  didn 't s o much he aras fee l d e ep inhis gu t. Ro ll ing n ausea s ur ged  i n addition t o t he po un ding  in his  head. A woman ina  fi fties housedr ess  wit h ho rre n do u s b ur n s o n her face jostle d for posi ti o nat his sid e , q ui ckly lo st it t o a m a n in an  Edwardia n-style s ac k su i t  an d bowler h at babbl ing about a sto l en  jewe l.
Dariu sign oredthem b o thand q uicken ed  his p ace.He  reached  the elevator, and thespirit  hord e f lew intoa f r enz y. As one  bod y, they tr ied  to  foll owh im in to t h ecar . 

Tim e to break out th e a r t il lery. Dariu s c los ed hi s f i ngersarou nd the small bott l e in his pocke t, p u l led  it outan d opened the c ap.  A n earthy,ex otic aromawafted o ut .  Thespirit s near est him d im m ed.

D ariu s s hook a fe w d ro p s of th eoi l  ontohisfi nger a nd wen t  tow o rk
 his_desk.

Darius reached_the front door and_stopped. The_invisible_wards he'd_sketched_around the exit_were humming, a_low but unmistakable frequency_that crackled over_his_skin and made the hairs on his arms stand on end. He muttered a_curse._Activity like_this_only_ever meant one thing.

Ghosts.

Painted in_saltwater, his wards at least_kept the_offices clear. The hall outside was a different_case_entirely. No matter_what he did, they kept coming back. Some days_were worse than others. Judging by_the irritated buzz_the_wards_were making, today was_definitely on the "worse" end of_the spectrum.

Darius ground his teeth. The_witch. His spirit tails must have picked_up on her magic, and flocked_to it like moths to_a flame._He sighed. Might as well_get the inevitable_over with._He took a_deep breath and opened the door.

Throbbing_pain shot through_his forehead. Blinding light filled the_hall_outside: pure auric_energy,_more_densely packed_than he had_ever_seen before.

He_shoved_his hands into his pockets, put_his_head down and waded through the odd_mish-mash of noncorporeal bodies._Miners,_businessmen, housewives, saloon girls._Black, white, native, Asian. All_blended together in a single etheric_mass. Wispy_hands brushed_fruitlessly against his wrists. Darius ignored them.

The noise was harder to_avoid. The spirits all seemed to_be talking at once,_with voices_he_didn't so much_hear_as feel_deep in his gut. Rolling nausea surged_in addition_to the pounding in his head._A woman in a_fifties_housedress with horrendous burns on her_face jostled for position at his_side, quickly lost it to_a_man_in an Edwardian-style sack suit_and bowler hat babbling about a_stolen jewel.

Darius ignored_them both and quickened his pace. He_reached_the elevator, and the spirit horde_flew_into a frenzy. As one body,_they_tried_to follow him into the_car.

Time to break out the artillery._Darius closed his fingers around the small bottle in_his pocket, pulled_it out and opened the_cap._An_earthy, exotic aroma wafted out. The spirits nearest him dimmed.

Darius_shook a_few drops of_the oil onto his finger and went to work