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"Listen I’ll coet there"

"Thanks, honey I know things’ll be fine once you’re here" In the space of a few one from breathless panic to breezy confidence

Madison clicked off and stood clutching the receiver During the course of the conversation, a weight had descended A yoke of responsibility, fa sure everything turned out all right

Seph was still there He stood, a little shakily, using the back of the chair for support "What happened?" he asked

"I have to go home Family crisis"

"Can I help?"

"No" She didn’t really want to discuss her sad-assed family

Seph reached for her, she took a step back, and he dropped his hands "Look, I’ll talk to h New Year’s, anyway If he can help with the boundary, I’ll go with you"

Madison’s heart lurched in gratitude She could really use a friend It had been so long since she’d had soht of Seph in Coal Grove,Carlene and the rest Seph, who’d been born to one to school in Switzerland and spoke French like a native

No Seph was her friend--ether, but she still didn’t want to look into his eyes and find ee of saving everybody else

"Thanks I mean it, but I’d better handle this on ood idea for you to leave the sanctuary by yourself"

Madison’s s she had to do Now it stumbled "What? Why not?"

"It’s just a bad tie--D’Orsay, the Roses Soht have re for you"

So his concern for her had to do izards Alizards Madison thrust her face into his "Listen I Have To Go I have no choice, understand?"

He raised his hands, capitulating "When will you be back?"

"Not this seuess, I’d say I’ll be lucky to be back in the fall"

Seph frowned down at her "You’re not serious You’ve been working so hard to get to art school And now you want to drop out of high school?"

She turned away, rounding her shoulders against his questions "Don’t worry I’ll think of soet down there"

"I wish you’d letover the chas totally alone Maybe Seph couldn’t leave But she could It would give her ti a hard tiether in a frown "You’re shaking"

"Look, it’s late," she said, backing away, putting her hands behind her back and nodding toward the door "You’d better go I need to pack"

He hesitated, as if he would say soone She didn’t even hear the front door open and close

As soon as Seph was out of sight, Madison raced up three flights of stairs to the third floor, taking them two at a time She shouldered open the door to her rooht switch The bulb in the overhead fixture fizzed, then exploded in a shower of glass

Crossing to thein the dark, she ripped open the curtains, her fingers leaving s open the wardrobe and snatched off the sheets draping the painting that stood inside