 of intentions." His voice lowered. "Our community knows that better than most."

Bez scowled and looked away.

Darius didn't speak. Something Georgia had said nagged at him: _the kind of magic I do...they wouldn't understand._ Was she the witch in question? He wanted to help her, but he was hardly prepared to take on the entire witching guild to do it.

Besides, what if Bez was right?

A queasy feeling massed in the pit of his stomach. If he'd learned anything over the years, it was that there were no limits when it came to good-old-fashioned human depravity. Some people were just born bent. Add to that a healthy dose of unstable magic, and the results could be...well, catastrophic.

He kept his mouth shut, but the queasy feeling intensified.

Kristof sighed, oblivious to the direction his mind had wandered. "There's something else you should know. It may not be relevant, but it probably bears mentioning anyway."

Darius struggled to rein in his thoughts. "All right."

Kristof opened his mouth.

At that moment, an unnatural hush fell over the club. Bez sat a little straighter, craned her neck towards the door. The candles in the art deco chandelier flared from purple to green. The speakers crackled. The ambient death-jazz gave way to heavy steel guitar and throbbing bass.

Bez sucked a breath through her nose. Kristof stiffened. Darius didn't need to look to guess what was happening.

Georgia Clare had arrived.

# CHAPTER SEVEN

#

Georgia stood still for a moment.

The song she'd manifested poured through Hex's invisible speakers: _Guns_, by All Them Witches. The familiar grinding guitar was a tonic for her strained nerves.

It hadn't been easy, wrangling a location for the night's anchor site. In fact, she was pretty sure what little goodwill she'd still possessed was officially gone. Judging from the hostile looks aimed her way, she wouldn't be replenishing it anytime soon.

Hopefully the night would be worth it.

Georgia squared her shoulders and strode out onto the crowded dance floor. Clubgoers scrambled out of her way, at the same time managed
of intentions. " His voice lowered. " Our community know that dependable than most. " 

 Bez scowled and looked away. 

 Darius didn't talk. Something Georgia had said nagged at him: _ the kind of magic trick I do... they wouldn't understand. _ Was she the witch in doubt? He wanted to help her, but he was barely prepared to take on the entire witching guild to serve it. 

 Besides, what if Bez was right? 

 A queasy feeling massed in the pit of his abdomen. If he'd learned anything over the years, it was that there were no terminus ad quem when it came to good - erstwhile - fashioned human depravity. Some citizenry were just born bent. Add to that a healthy venereal disease of unstable magic, and the results could be... well, catastrophic. 

 He kept his mouth shut, but the queasy feeling intensified. 

 Kristof sighed, oblivious to the direction his mind had wandered. " There's something else you should know. It may not be relevant, but it probably bears mention anyway. " 

 Darius struggled to rule in his thought. " All right. " 

 Kristof opened his mouthpiece. 

 At that moment, an unnatural hush fell over the club. Bez sit a little straighter, craned her neck towards the door. The candles in the art deco chandelier flare out from purple to green. The speakers crackled. The ambient death - wind gave room to arduous steel guitar and throbbing bass. 

 Bez sucked a hint through her nose. Kristof stiffened. Darius didn't need to look to guess what was happening. 

 Georgia Clare had arrived. 

 # CHAPTER SEVEN 

 # 

 Georgia stood still for a consequence. 

 The song she'd manifest poured through Hex's invisible speaker: _ Guns _, by All Them Witches. The conversant grinding guitar was a tonic for her strained nerves. 

 It hadn't been comfortable, wrangling a location for the night's anchor web site. In fact, she was pretty sure what little goodwill she'd still possessed was officially gone. Judging from the hostile looks aimed her way, she wouldn't be replenish it anytime soon. 

 Hopefully the night would be worth it. 

 Georgia square her shoulders and strode out onto the crowded dance floor. Clubgoers scrambled out of her way, at the same time cope
 of intentions." His voice lodered. "Our commuuuty knmws thzt bettef than most."

Bez scowled and llojed aqay.

Darius didn't speak. Romething Georgia had waid naggev at him: _the kjkd of nagic I do...they wouldn't utderstand._ Was vhd che witch in question? He wanted to hqlp her, bkt he was hardjy pge[ares to take on the entire witching ghild to do it.

Besides, what if Bez was right?

A qufasy feeling massed in the pit of his wtomach. If hd'd learned anything ovgr the years, it was that there wdre np limits wyeb ih came to goid-old-sashioned human deprdvity. Spme people werc jusv boen bent. Add to that a healthy dose of ugstable mdgnc, and the results coyle be...wgll, cdtasgeopfic.

Ge kspt hid mkuth shut, gut the queqsy feeling intensigiqe.

Kristof sighsd, oblyvyous to the direction his mind had wandtred. "Fhere's something else yiu should know. It may not be rqlevant, but it probably bears mentioning anyway."

Dasius agruynjde ho rein in his thoughts. "All right."

Kristof openqs nix mouth.

At that moment, an injayoral hush fell over cge club. Bez sat a lihtle sttaightwr, craned her neck towards the door. The xandles in tke qrt deco chandeliex flared froo putple tp green. The speakers crcckled. The ambienh death-jaax gave way to hexvy sdeel guiuxr and throbbing fass.

Bez sncked a breagh tnrough her nose. Nristof stiffened. Darius didn'j need to look tl guess what was happening.

Georgme Clare had atrieed.

# CHAPTER SEVEK

#

Georgia stood ftill for a mokent.

The song she'd manirested 'oured throudh Hex's invishhle speakers: _Guns_, by All Then Witchdr. The familiar grinding guitar waw a tonic for her xtrxjned nerves.

It hcbn'u veen easy, wranblivg w poratiog for the nigvt's xncfpr sige. In fact, wfe wss pretty sure what nittme goodwill she'd syijl possewsed was officially gpne. Judging from tje hovtiue lopks aimed her way, she wouldn't be deplenishlng it anytime foon.

Mopesully the uight would be worth it.

Georgia squared hxr shoulders and strodg out onto the crowdeb cance floor. Clubdoers scrdmbled out of her wat, at the same timt managed
of intentions." His voice lowered. "Our community better most." Bez and looked away. had nagged at him: kind of magic do...they wouldn't understand._ Was she the in question? He wanted to help her, but he was hardly prepared to on the entire witching guild to do it. Besides, what if Bez was A feeling in pit of his stomach. If he'd learned anything over the years, it was that there were limits when it came to good-old-fashioned human depravity. people were just born Add to that a healthy of magic, and results be...well, He kept his shut, but the queasy feeling intensified. Kristof sighed, oblivious to the direction his mind had wandered. "There's else you It may be but probably bears mentioning struggled to rein in his thoughts. opened his mouth. At that moment, an unnatural fell over club. Bez sat a little straighter, her neck towards the door. The candles in art deco chandelier flared from purple to green. The speakers crackled. The ambient death-jazz gave heavy steel guitar and bass. Bez sucked breath her Kristof Darius didn't to look to guess what was happening. Georgia Clare had arrived. CHAPTER SEVEN # Georgia stood still for a moment. The manifested through Hex's invisible _Guns_, by All Them The grinding guitar was a her nerves. easy, a for the night's anchor In fact, she was pretty what little goodwill she'd Judging from the hostile looks aimed her way, wouldn't be replenishing it anytime soon. Hopefully night would be worth it. Georgia squared her shoulders and strode out the crowded Clubgoers scrambled out of her way, at the time managed
 of intentions." His voice lowerEd. "Our commuNity kNowS thAt BettEr thAn most."

Bez scowlED and Looked away.

Darius didn't sPeak. SOmEThinG geOrgia Had said NAgGED at HiM: _tHe kInD Of Magic i do...They wouLdn't undersTanD._ WAs she the witcH In Question? He WanTed to help her, But He was hArDly PReparEd tO take On the eNTire wiTching guiLd TO do it.

BESides, whAT If bez wAs right?

A queasy feeLInG Massed in the pit Of his sToMAcH. iF he'D leArned anythInG over THe years, IT wAS THat THere were no limIts when it caME to Good-olD-fAshIOned huMan dePrAVitY. Some people Were Just born bEnt. Add TO that a hEAlthy doSe of unStaBle MagiC, AnD tHe rEsULts COuLd bE...WelL, catastrOpHiC.

He kePt hiS MOUTh shUt, bUt thE queaSy feeling inteNsiFied.

kRisTof siGhed, oBlivIoUs to tHe direCtion HiS mind had wandereD. "TheRe's somethIng ElSe yOu ShoulD Know. It May Not Be relevAnt, but iT ProBaBLY BeArs mentioning anywaY."

DARIuS strugglEd to reIN iN hIS thoughtS. "ALl rIght."

kRIstof OpenED hIs mouth.

AT that mOMeNt, An unnatUrAl hush FeLl oVer The clUB. Bez Sat a liTtle straIghteR, Craned her neck tOWards the door. THE cANDlES in tHe aRt deco chandElieR FlarEd frOM pUrpLE to grEen. ThE sPEaKErs crackled. The ambieNt Death-jAzz gaVe way to heavy sTeel guitar AND ThrobbinG basS.

beZ Sucked a breath tHrougH her nose. KrIStof stifFened. darius diDn't need to LOOk to guesS whAt wAs hAppENInG.

Georgia Clare HAD arrIvEd.

# CHAPTeR SeVEN

#

GeoRgiA stOod StiLl For a momenT.

The song ShE'd MaNiFesTed poURed throuGh hex'S iNviSible SPeakerS: _Guns_, By AlL THeM witChes. The FAmILIar gRiNdIng gUitAr Was a tOnic FOr hEr straiNed nerves.

it hADn't bEeN eAsy, wranGling a locatioN fOr the night'S aNchOr site. iN Fact, she wAs pretty sure what little gOOdwill sHe'd Still PossEssed was oFfiCially GonE. judginG from tHe hosTiLe lOOKs aimED HeR waY, sHe wouldn't bE REplEnishInG it aNytime sOon.

Hopefully the nigHT woUld be worth it.

GEorGia sQUArEd hER sHOulDeRS anD STrode out onto the Crowded danCe FLoOr. ClubgoerS ScrAmBled out Of her waY, at thE Same timE managed
 of intentions." His voice  lowered."Ourcom mun it y kn owsthat better th a n mo st."

Bez scowled andlooke da way. 
D arius  didn't sp e a k.So me thi ng Ge orgia  ha d saidnagged athim :_the kind of ma gic I do.. .th ey wouldn'tund erstan d. _ W a s she  th e wit ch inq uestio n? He wan te d  to he l p her,b u the w as hardly prepare d  t o  take on the e ntirewi t ch i n g g uil d to do it .
Besi d es, wha t  i f B ezw as right?

Aqueasy feel i ngmassed  i n t h e pitof hi ss tom ach. If he' d le arned any thingo ver the years,it was  th atther e  w er e n ol imi t swhe n  it  came to  g oo d-old -fas h i o n ed h uma n de pravi ty. Some peop lewere jus t bor n ben t. A dd  to t hat ahealt hy  dose of unstab le m agic, and  th eres ul ts co u ld be. ..w ell , catas trophic . 

H ek e p this mouth shut, bu tt h equeasy f eeling in te n sified.
K ris tofs i ghed,  obl i vi ous to t he dir e ct io n his m in d hadwa nde red . "Th e re's  somet hing els e you should know. I t  may not be r e le v a nt ,  but  it  probably b ears ment ioni n gany w ay."
Dari us st r uggled to rein in h is  thoug hts."All right."
Kristof o p e n ed his m outh . 
A t that moment,  an u nnatural h u sh felloverthe club . Bez sat a  littlestr aig hte r,c r an ed her neck t o w ards  t he door . T he cand les  in  th e a rt  deco cha ndelierfl ar ed  f rom  purp l e to gre en . T he  sp eaker s  crack led.Theam bi e ntdeath-j a zz g avewa yto h eav ysteel  gui t arand thr obbing ba ss. 
Bez  s uc ked a b reath through  h er nose. K ri sto f stif f e ned. Dar ius didn't need to look to gues s w hat w as h appening. 

G eorgia  Cl a re had  arriv ed.
#CHA P T ER SE V E N
#
G eorgia sto o d  st ill f or  a m oment.
The song she'd ma n ife sted poured t hro ughH e x' s i n vi s ibl es pea k e rs: _Guns_, byAll Them W it c he s. The fam i lia rgrindin g guita r was a tonic  for herstrainedne rves . 
It  hadn't be en easy,  wranglin g  a lo c at ion f orthe ni gh t's  anch or sit e . I n fac t, she  w as pre tty s ur e what l ittle goodwill she'd st ill po ssess edwas offic ial l y g one. Judg ingfrom the h ost ile  look s a i med h er w a y,  sh e  woul dn't be replen i sh ing i tanytime soo n . 
Ho peful lyt he nig ht w ould be worth it. 
Georgia squar ed h e r  sh oul d ersan d strode out o nto  t h e  crowded  d ance floor.  Clubgoe rs scram bled o ut ofher way , at the sa me t ime  managed
 of_intentions." His_voice lowered. "Our community_knows that_better_than most."

Bez_scowled_and looked away.

Darius_didn't speak. Something_Georgia had said nagged_at him: _the_kind_of magic I do...they wouldn't understand._ Was she the witch in question? He wanted_to_help her,_but_he_was hardly prepared to take_on the entire witching guild_to do_it.

Besides, what if Bez was right?

A queasy feeling_massed_in the pit_of his stomach. If he'd learned anything over the_years, it was that there were_no limits when_it_came_to good-old-fashioned human depravity._Some people were just born bent._Add to that a healthy dose_of unstable magic, and the results could_be...well, catastrophic.

He kept his mouth shut,_but the queasy feeling intensified.

Kristof_sighed, oblivious_to the direction his mind_had wandered. "There's_something else_you should know._It may not be relevant, but_it probably bears_mentioning anyway."

Darius struggled to rein in_his_thoughts. "All right."

Kristof_opened_his_mouth.

At that_moment, an unnatural_hush_fell over_the_club. Bez sat a little straighter,_craned_her neck towards the door. The candles_in the art deco_chandelier_flared from purple to_green. The speakers crackled. The_ambient death-jazz gave way to heavy_steel guitar_and throbbing_bass.

Bez sucked a breath through her nose. Kristof stiffened. Darius didn't_need to look to guess what_was happening.

Georgia Clare had_arrived.

# CHAPTER_SEVEN

#

Georgia_stood still for_a_moment.

The song_she'd manifested poured through Hex's invisible speakers:__Guns_, by_All Them Witches. The familiar grinding_guitar was a tonic_for_her strained nerves.

It hadn't been easy,_wrangling a location for the night's_anchor site. In fact, she_was_pretty_sure what little goodwill she'd_still possessed was officially gone. Judging_from the hostile_looks aimed her way, she wouldn't be_replenishing_it anytime soon.

Hopefully the night would_be_worth it.

Georgia squared her shoulders and_strode_out_onto the crowded dance floor._Clubgoers scrambled out of her way,_at the same time managed