mer, deadlier. She started towards Georgia.

"Please, Ellen." Dread escalated into outright fear. Georgia fought to slow her galloping heartbeat. "Just...stop."

Ellen's eyes were flat. "I've come too far for that." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm sorry, Georgia." She seized Georgia's hand.

Every cell in her body instantly caught fire. Georgia opened her mouth. A scream razed her throat, but no sound came out. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All she could do was feel. And all she could feel was pain.

Under her skin, her veins looked like pure light. She understood what it was now. Energy. _Her_ energy. Her life force.

Ellen was stealing it.

A different kind of energy crackled through the air. Georgia scarcely noticed. Dying. She was dying. Everything began to fade...

The Cerberus burst into the clearing with a desperate howl. Darius clung to its back legs. He instantly released it and rolled to the side. Blind with panic, the Cerberus bolted towards where Abbie still stood. She shrieked.

Ellen dropped Georgia's hand and whirled towards the sound. Darius was right behind her. Before she could react, he picked her up and flung her after the Cerberus. She let out a screech, pure outrage. Then she hit the ground, and fell abruptly silent.

Abbie ran over and skidded to the grass beside her. "Ellen?" She touched her hair, shook her shoulder gently. "Baby? Say something!"

Georgia was still on her knees. The last of her strength dissolved. She pitched forward, could feel herself falling before she came to a rest on something warm and solid. She blinked. A familiar face swam into view. Darius. He cradled her against his chest.

"Hey, magic girl." His low, rich voice washed over her. She could feel when he opened their link. The sudden rush of energy, of life, made her gasp. He shushed her, gathered her closer and held her while she came back.

It took a couple tries before she could speak. "What are you doing here?"

Darius snorted. "Did you really think I'd just sit by while you went kamikaze on my
mer, deadlier. She started towards Georgia. 

 " Please, Ellen. " Dread escalated into outright fear. Georgia fight to decelerate her galloping heartbeat. " barely... break. " 

 Ellen's eyes were flat. " I've fall besides far for that. " Her voice drop to a whisper. " I'm sorry, Georgia. " She impound Georgia's hand. 

 Every cell in her body immediately caught fire. Georgia opened her mouth. A scream level her throat, but no sound came out. She couldn't breathe, couldn't intend. All she could do was feel. And all she could find was pain. 

 Under her hide, her veins looked like pure light. She understood what it was nowadays. Energy. _ Her _ energy. Her life force. 

 Ellen was stealing it. 

 A different kind of energy crackled through the air. Georgia scarcely noticed. Dying. She was dying. Everything began to fade... 

 The Cerberus burst into the clearing with a desperate howl. Darius clung to its rear legs. He instantly release it and roll to the side. Blind with panic, the Cerberus bolted towards where Abbie still stood. She shrieked. 

 Ellen dropped Georgia's hand and whirled towards the strait. Darius was right behind her. Before she could react, he picked her up and flung her after the Cerberus. She let out a screech, pure scandal. Then she hit the ground, and fell abruptly silent. 

 Abbie run over and skid to the grass beside her. " Ellen? " She touched her hair, shook her shoulder gently. " Baby? order something! " 

 Georgia was still on her knees. The last of her strength dissolved. She pitched forward, could feel herself fall before she came to a respite on something warm and solid. She blink. A familiar expression swam into view. Darius. He cradle her against his chest. 

 " Hey, charming girl. " His low, rich part wash over her. She could feel when he opened their link. The sudden rush of energy, of life, made her gasp. He shushed her, gather her closer and held her while she come back. 

 It took a couple tries before she could speak. " What are you doing here? " 

 Darius snorted. " Did you really intend I'd just sit by while you went kamikaze on my
mer, deadlier. She started todards Georgia.

"Plgawe, Ellxn." Dreas escalaged into outright fear. Georgma fiught to slow her galloping heartbean. "Just...stop."

Elltn's eyes were flav. "I've come too nar fmc that." Her voicg dropped to a whisper. "I'm vofrv, Georgia." She seized Georgia's hand.

Evqry celk ln her body inftanuly caufht fire. Georgia opened her mouth. Z screak razed her tnroat, but no sound came ouh. Shf couldn't breathe, fouldn't thibk. Ajo she could ao was feel. And all shg could feel was pain.

Under her syin, hzr veins loikwd phke pure lijht. Shv understood what it fas now. Energy. _Her_ encrgy. Ier oife force.

Ellen was svealing it.

A differenj kind of anzrgy crackled through tye ait. Geosgia wcafcemy nkticed. Dymng. She was dying. Evertthing began to fadt...

Thq Cerberus burat intj ehe clearing with a desperate howl. Darils cmung to its back legs. Hw instantly released lt and rojled to the side. Blind with panic, the Cerberus bonted vodarbw whefw Wbbie still stood. She shrieked.

Ellen dropped Gqkrbis's hand and whlrled towards the xoknc. Darius was rkght bzgihd her. Before she fould rgact, hw picked rer ip and flung her after the Xerberus. She oet out a screech, 'ure outrage. Them she hit the ground, and felu abduptly silejt.

Abbie rzv over and skidddd no tve grass beside her. "Ellen?" Fhe touchxd hex hair, sfook her sroulder gejtly. "Ndby? Say something!"

Gforgic was still on jer knees. The last of her strenjvh dissolved. Xha pptched foxward, gould feel hersqlf falling beyore she came to a rest on somxthing warm wnd solid. She hlinked. A fakiliar fwce wwam into vkdw. Darius. He ctadled heg cgainst hus chest.

"Hey, magic nirl." Fjs low, rich voiet wqshed over her. Xhe cotlf heel rven he openeg thdir kink. Ghe sudden vusf of energy, of life, made her gasp. He shushed hrr, gatheree her cljser and held her while she camt back.

Mt tooy a cpupje tries before she could speai. "What arf yju doing herq?"

Darlus fnorted. "Dib you really think I'd just sit by while bou went kamikaze on mi
mer, deadlier. She started towards Georgia. "Please, escalated outright fear. fought to slow eyes flat. "I've come far for that." voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm Georgia." She seized Georgia's hand. Every cell in her body instantly caught fire. opened her mouth. A scream razed her throat, but no sound came out. couldn't couldn't All could do was feel. And all she could feel was pain. Under her skin, her veins like pure light. She understood what it was Energy. _Her_ energy. Her force. Ellen was stealing it. different of energy through air. scarcely noticed. Dying. was dying. Everything began to fade... The Cerberus burst into the clearing with a desperate howl. Darius to its He instantly it rolled the side. Blind the Cerberus bolted towards where Abbie shrieked. Ellen dropped Georgia's hand and whirled towards sound. Darius right behind her. Before she could he picked her up and flung her after Cerberus. She let out a screech, pure outrage. Then she hit the ground, and fell Abbie ran over and to the grass her. She her shook her gently. "Baby? Say something!" Georgia was still on her knees. The of her strength dissolved. She pitched forward, could feel herself she to a rest something warm and solid. blinked. familiar face swam into He her "Hey, girl." low, rich voice washed her. She could feel when opened their link. The life, made her gasp. He shushed her, gathered closer and held her while she came It took a couple tries before she could speak. "What are you here?" Darius you really think I'd just sit by while went kamikaze on my
mer, deadlier. She started towaRds Georgia.

"pleasE, ElLen." drEad eScalAted into outrigHT feaR. Georgia fought to slow heR gallOpINg heARtBeat. "JUst...stop."

eLlEN'S eyEs WeRe fLaT. "i'vE come Too Far for tHat." Her voicE drOpPed to a whispeR. "i'm Sorry, GeorgIa." SHe seized GeorGia'S hand.

EVeRy cELl in hEr bOdy inStantlY Caught Fire. GeorgIa OPened hER mouth. A SCReAm raZed her throat, but no SOuND came out. She couLdn't brEaTHe, COUldN't tHink. All she CoUld do WAs feel. AND aLL SHe cOUld feel was paiN.

Under her skIN, heR veins LoOkeD Like puRe ligHt. sHe uNderstood whAt it Was now. EneRgy. _Her_ ENergy. HeR Life forCe.

ElleN waS stEaliNG iT.

A DifFeREnt KInD of ENerGy cracklEd ThRough The aIR. gEOrgiA scArceLy notIced. Dying. She wAs dYing. eVerYthinG begaN to fAdE...

The CErberuS bursT iNto the clearing wIth a Desperate HowL. DAriUs Clung TO its baCk lEgs. he instaNtly relEAseD iT AND rOlled to the side. BlinD wITH pAnic, the CErberuS BoLtED towards WhEre abbiE STill sTood. sHe Shrieked.

ellen dROpPeD GeorgiA's Hand anD wHirLed TowarDS the Sound. DArius was Right BEhind her. Before SHe could react, hE PiCKEd HEr up And Flung her aftEr thE cerbErus. sHe Let OUt a scReech, PuRE oUTrage. Then she hit the gRoUnd, and Fell aBruptly silent.

abbie ran ovER ANd skiddeD to tHE gRAss beside her. "ElLen?" ShE touched heR Hair, shooK her sHoulder gEntly. "Baby? sAY somethiNg!"

GEorGia Was STIlL on her knees. ThE LAst oF hEr strenGth DissolvEd. SHe pItcHed FoRward, coulD feel herSeLf FaLlIng BeforE She came tO a ResT oN soMethiNG warm aNd solId. ShE bLiNKed. a familiAR fACE swaM iNtO vieW. DaRiUs. He cRadlED heR againsT his chest.

"hey, MAgic GiRl." his low, rIch voice washeD oVer her. She cOuLd fEel wheN HE opened tHeir link. The sudden rush of ENergy, of LifE, made Her gAsp. He shusHed Her, gatHerED her clOser anD held HeR whILE she cAME bAck.

it Took a couplE TRieS befoRe She cOuld speAk. "What are you doing hERe?"

DArius snorted. "DId yOu reALLy ThiNK I'D JusT sIT by WHIle you went kamikAze on my
mer, deadlier. She started  towards G eorgi a.
"P le ase,  Ell en." Dread esc a late d into outright fear.Georg ia foug h tto sl ow herg al l o pin ghe art be a t.  "Jus t.. .stop." 

Ellen'seye swere flat. " I 'v e come too  fa r for that."  He r voic edro p ped t o a  whis per. " I 'm sor ry, Georg ia . " Shes eized G e o rg ia's  hand.

Every cel l  i n  her body inst antlyca u gh t fir e.Georgia op en ed he r  mouth. As c r eam razed her thr oat, but no sou nd cam eout .  She c ouldn 't bre athe, could n'tthink. Al l shec ould do was fee l. And  al l s he c o ul dfee lw asp ai n.Und er her s ki n,  hervein s l o oked  li ke p ure l ight. She und ers tood wha t itwas n ow.En ergy.  _Her_  ener gy . Her life forc e.
Ellen was  st ea lin git.
A  diffe ren t k ind ofenergyc rac kl e d th rough the air. Geo rg i a  s carcelynotice d .Dy i ng. Shewa s d ying . Every thin g  b egan tofade.. . 
Th e Cerbe ru s burs tint o t he cl e arin g with  a despe rateh owl. Darius cl u ng to its bac k  l e g s. He i nst antly relea sedi t an d ro l le d t o  theside.  B l in d  with panic, the Ce rb erus b olted  towards wher e Abbie st i l l  stood.Shes hr i eked.

Ellen d roppe d Georgia' s  hand an d whi rled tow ards thes o und. Dar ius  wa s r igh t be hind her. Bef o r e sh ecould r eac t, he p ick edher  up  a nd flungher afte rth eCe rbe rus.S he let o ut  asc ree ch, p u re out rage.  The nsh e  hi t the g r ou n d , an dfe ll a bru pt ly si lent . 

A bbie ra n over an d s k idde dto  the gr ass beside he r.  "Ellen?"Sh e t ouched h er hair,  shook her shoulder gen t ly. "Ba by?  Saysome thing!"
Geo rgia w ass till o n herknees .The l ast o f he r s tr ength diss o l ved . She  p itch ed forw ard, could feel he r sel f falling bef ore  she c am e t o  a res to n s o m ething warm and  solid. Sh eb li nked. A fa m ili ar  face s wam int o vie w . Dariu s. He cra dled herag ains t his  chest.

" Hey, mag ic girl." His l o w,  rich  vo ice wa sh edoverher. S h e c ouldfeel w he n he o pened  t heir lin k. The sudden rush of e nergy,  of l ife , made he r g a sp.  He shush ed h er, gather edher  clos era nd he ld h e rwhi l e she  cam e  back.

I t  t ook a  c ouple tries b e for e she  co u ld spe ak."What are you doi n g here?"

Dari us s n o rte d." Didyo u really think  I' dj u st sit b ywhile you w ent kami ka z e onmy
mer, deadlier._She started_towards Georgia.

"Please, Ellen." Dread_escalated into_outright_fear. Georgia_fought_to slow her_galloping heartbeat. "Just...stop."

Ellen's_eyes were flat. "I've_come too far_for_that." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm sorry, Georgia." She seized Georgia's hand.

Every_cell_in her_body_instantly_caught fire. Georgia opened her_mouth. A scream razed her_throat, but_no sound came out. She couldn't breathe, couldn't_think._All she could_do was feel. And all she could feel was_pain.

Under her skin, her veins looked_like pure light._She_understood_what it was now._Energy. _Her_ energy. Her life force.

Ellen_was stealing it.

A different kind of_energy crackled through the air. Georgia scarcely_noticed. Dying. She was dying. Everything_began to fade...

The Cerberus burst_into the_clearing with a desperate howl._Darius clung to_its back_legs. He instantly_released it and rolled to the_side. Blind with_panic, the Cerberus bolted towards where_Abbie_still stood. She_shrieked.

Ellen_dropped_Georgia's hand_and whirled towards_the_sound. Darius_was_right behind her. Before she could_react,_he picked her up and flung her_after the Cerberus. She_let_out a screech, pure_outrage. Then she hit the_ground, and fell abruptly silent.

Abbie ran_over and_skidded to_the grass beside her. "Ellen?" She touched her hair, shook her_shoulder gently. "Baby? Say something!"

Georgia was_still on her knees._The last_of_her strength dissolved._She_pitched forward,_could feel herself falling before she came_to a_rest on something warm and solid._She blinked. A familiar_face_swam into view. Darius. He cradled_her against his chest.

"Hey, magic girl."_His low, rich voice washed_over_her._She could feel when he_opened their link. The sudden rush_of energy, of_life, made her gasp. He shushed her,_gathered_her closer and held her while_she_came back.

It took a couple tries_before_she_could speak. "What are you_doing here?"

Darius snorted. "Did you really_think I'd just sit by while you went kamikaze_on my