 stolen from it, the house in Forest Hill, the other witches. Georgia.

And he saw an aqua-blue house with a terraced yard and a red door. He saw a woman with russet-colored skin in a baggy bathrobe, horror etched on her face.

He saw flames.

Darius jerked back, his head spinning. The truth came crashing over him like an icy wave. Bile rose in his throat. The fire hadn't had anything to do with death magic. J's death hadn't been Georgia's fault, after all. He stared up at the hound. It stared back at him.

"Why?" His voice cracked. "Why her? What did that woman ever do to deserve you?"

The answer popped into his head. It took him a second to realize the creature had put it there.

INTERFERED.

Darius stared. At this distance, the hellhound didn't look nearly as bloodthirsty as it had before. If anything, it looked tired; a dog who had seen too many fights, and just wanted to crawl back to its kennel and go to sleep. Darius started to speak.

The hound moved in a blur, and a blow to his chest ripped the words from his throat.

He flew backwards through the French doors with a deafening crash, and landed on the small balcony amidst a blanket of splinters and shattered glass. His chest ached. He tried to take a breath. His lungs refused to inflate. Inside the house, the shadows stirred. Darius tried to roll over. His muscles twitched uselessly.

He could only watch, mute, as the hound slunk towards him. The light of the full moon glinted off its razor-sharp teeth.

† † †

She'd never had unlimited strength before.

_That's not what this is_, Georgia reminded herself. This wasn't unlimited strength. This was Darius' strength. He would definitely be feeling its loss by now. She pushed aside the guilt that twinged in her belly. This was the plan. Anyway, he was with Dolores. Safe.

A storm of energy was coming towards her. Georgia sucked another tendril of energy through the link, used a little less than half of it to create a solid shield in front of her. She fed the remainder into her wand, and let
stolen from it, the house in Forest Hill, the other witches. Georgia. 

 And he see an greenish blue - blue house with a terrace cubic yard and a red door. He experience a woman with russet - colored hide in a baggy bathrobe, horror etched on her font. 

 He saw flames. 

 Darius twitch back, his head spinning. The truth came crashing over him like an icy wave. Bile rose in his throat. The fire hadn't accept anything to do with death magic trick. J's death hadn't been Georgia's fault, subsequently all. He gaze up at the hound. It stared back at him. 

 " Why? " His voice cracked. " Why her? What did that woman always do to deserve you? " 

 The answer popped into his head. It took him a second to gain the creature had put it there. 

 INTERFERED. 

 Darius stared. At this distance, the hellhound didn't look nearly as bloodthirsty as it had before. If anything, it looked banal; a frump who had seen besides many competitiveness, and just wanted to crawl back to its kennel and function to sleep. Darius started to speak. 

 The hound moved in a blur, and a gust to his chest ripped the words from his throat. 

 He flew backwards through the French doors with a deafen crash, and landed on the small balcony amidst a blanket of splinters and shattered looking glass. His chest hurt. He tried to take a breath. His lungs refused to balloon. Inside the house, the shadows stirred. Darius tried to roll over. His muscles twitched uselessly. 

 He could only watch, dumb, as the hound slunk towards him. The light of the full moon glinted off its razor - crisp teeth. 

 † † † 

 She'd never induce unlimited forte before. 

 _ That's not what this is _, Georgia reminded herself. This wasn't inexhaustible strength. This was Darius' military capability. He would definitely be palpate its loss by now. She pushed aside the guilt that twinged in her abdomen. This was the plan. Anyway, he was with Dolores. dependable. 

 A storm of energy was coming towards her. Georgia sucked another tendril of department of energy through the link, used a little less than half of it to create a solid shield in front of her. She fed the remainder into her wand, and permit
 stllen from it, the house ik Forest Hill, thg ither xitches. Georgia.

Xnd he saw an aqua-blue house wuth a terraced yard and a rdd door. Hv saw a wiman qith russev-dolored skin jk a bcgjy bathrobe, hortor etched ot her face.

He sdw fpames.

Darius jerked back, his head spynning. Yhf truth came ctashimd ovsg mim like an icy wave. Bile rose ih his tiroat. The fire nadn't had anything to do wlth feath magic. J's deahh hadn't begh Gqirgia's fault, after all. He stared uk at the hound. It stared back at him.

"Wky?" His voicg drwwked. "Why hec? What did that woman ever do to ceserve you?"

The anvwee popped into his heav. It took him a secogd to reanive the creature had pyt it tvere.

HNTEFDERDD.

Dzrmus staref. Av this distznce, the heolhound didn't look mewgky as bloodtgirsty af it had before. If anything, it looked tpred; a dog who had seen too many fights, and just wanted tj crawl back to its kennel and go to sleep. Darius starvea ti fowan.

The hound moved in a blur, and a blow to his sgext ripped the wovds from his throay.

Hf gjew backwards throuyg fhe French doors wlth a dgafenibg crash, wnd kanded on the small balcony amidst a blcnkwt of splinters anb shattered ylass. Nis cnest ached. He tried to cake a breath. His lungs rerjsed to inflate. Knspde dhe houst, the shadows stirwed. Dariuw trned to rull pver. Hys muscles twitgved uselessly.

He cokld ouly wdtch, mute, ws the hound slunk towards him. Vie light of tne funl moon ylintec off its razjr-sharp teeth.

† † †

She'd nzver hxd unlimitvd strengvh before.

_Thae's not what tvls is_, Georgie remindeq heeseld. This dxsn't unlimited strength. This was Earius' strength. He wools definitely be fetlung its loss bu nuw. Fhv pnshed dside the guhlt ghag twineed in her neluy. Tnis was the plan. Anyfay, ge was with Dolorex. Fafe.

A stirm of egergy was comong towards her. Gelrgia surked amotrer tendril of energy through fhe link, kseq a little lqss bhan half of ic to create a solid shield in front of hxr. She fed the remaindgr into her wand, and ktt
stolen from it, the house in Forest other Georgia. And saw an aqua-blue and red door. He a woman with skin in a baggy bathrobe, horror on her face. He saw flames. Darius jerked back, his head spinning. The came crashing over him like an icy wave. Bile rose in his throat. fire had to with death magic. J's death hadn't been Georgia's fault, after all. He stared up at the It stared back at him. "Why?" His voice "Why her? What did woman ever do to deserve The popped into head. took a second to the creature had put it there. INTERFERED. Darius stared. At this distance, the hellhound didn't look nearly bloodthirsty as before. If it tired; dog who had many fights, and just wanted to its kennel and go to sleep. Darius started speak. The moved in a blur, and a to his chest ripped the words from his He flew backwards through the French doors with a deafening crash, and landed on the amidst a blanket of and shattered glass. chest He to a breath. lungs refused to inflate. Inside the house, the shadows stirred. Darius to roll over. His muscles twitched uselessly. He could only as hound slunk towards The light of the moon off its razor-sharp teeth. † never before. not this is_, Georgia reminded This wasn't unlimited strength. This Darius' strength. He would by now. She pushed aside the guilt that in her belly. This was the plan. he was with Dolores. Safe. A storm of energy was coming towards Georgia sucked of energy through the link, used a little than half of it create a solid shield in front of her. She the into her and let
 stolen from it, the house in ForEst Hill, the Other WitCheS. GEorgIa.

AnD he saw an aqua-blUE houSe with a terraced yard and A red dOoR. he saW A wOman wIth russET-cOLOreD sKiN in A bAGgY bathRobE, horror Etched on heR faCe.

he saw flames.

DARiUs jerked baCk, hIs head spinniNg. THe trutH cAme CRashiNg oVer hiM like aN Icy wavE. Bile rose In HIs throAT. The firE HAdN't haD anything to do with DEaTH magic. J's death hAdn't beEn gEoRGIa's FauLt, after all. he StareD Up at the HOuND. iT stARed back at him.

"WHy?" His voice cRAckEd. "Why hEr? whaT Did thaT womaN eVEr dO to deserve yOu?"

ThE answer poPped inTO his heaD. it took hIm a secOnd To rEaliZE tHe CreAtURe hAD pUt iT TheRe.

INTERFeReD.

dariuS staRED. aT thiS diStanCe, the Hellhound didn'T loOk neARly As bloOdthiRsty As It had Before. if anyThIng, it looked tireD; a doG who had seEn tOo ManY fIghts, ANd just WanTed To crawl Back to iTS keNnEL ANd Go to sleep. Darius staRtED To Speak.

The Hound mOVeD iN A blur, and A bLow To hiS CHest rIppeD ThE words frOm his tHRoAt.

he flew bAcKwards ThRouGh tHe FreNCh doOrs witH a deafenIng crASh, and landed on tHE small balcony AMiDST a BLankEt oF splinters aNd shATterEd glASs. his CHest aChed. HE tRIeD To take a breath. His lunGs RefuseD to inFlate. Inside thE house, the sHADOws stirrEd. DaRIuS Tried to roll oveR. His mUscles twitCHed useleSsly.

HE could onLy watch, muTE, As the houNd sLunK toWarDS HiM. The light of thE FUll mOoN glinteD ofF its razOr-sHarP teEth.

† † †

shE'd never haD unlimitEd StReNgTh bEfore.

_tHat's not wHaT thIs Is_, GEorgiA RemindEd herSelf. thIs WAsn'T unlimiTEd STRengTh. thIs waS DaRiUs' strEngtH. he wOuld defInitely be FeeLIng iTs LoSs by now. she pushed asidE tHe guilt thaT tWinGed in hER Belly. ThiS was the plan. Anyway, he was wITh DolorEs. SAfe.

A sTorm Of energy wAs cOming tOwaRDs her. GEorgia SuckeD aNotHER tendRIL oF enErGy through tHE LinK, used A lIttlE less thAn half of it to create A SolId shield in froNt oF her. sHE fEd tHE rEMaiNdER inTO Her wand, and let
 stolen from it, the house  in Forest  Hill , t heot herwitc hes. Georgia.Andhe saw an aqua-blue ho use w it h  a t e rr acedyard an d  a r eddo or . H es aw  a wo man  with r usset-colo red  s kin in a bag g ybathrobe,hor ror etched o n h er fac e. 

H e  sawfla mes.
Dariu s  jerke d back, h is head s p inning. T he  tru th came crashingo ve r  him like an i cy wav e. Bi l e  ro sein his thr oa t. Th e  fire h a dn ' t had anything to d o with deat h  ma gic. J 's  de a th had n't b ee n  Ge orgia's fau lt,after all . He s t ared up at thehound.  It  st ared ba ck  at  h i m."W hy? "  Hi s voicecr ac ked."Why h e r ? Wh atdidthatwoman ever do  to  des e rve  you? "

Th e an sw er po pped i nto h is  head. It tookhima secondtore ali ze  thec reatur e h adput itthere.INT ER F E R ED .

Darius stared.At t hi s distan ce, th e  h el l hound di dn 'tlook n early  asb lo odthirst y as i t  h ad  before .If any th ing , i t loo k ed t ired;a dog wh o had seen too manyf ights, and ju s tw a nt e d to  cr awl back to  its kenn el a n dgot o sle ep. D ar i us started to speak.
Th e houn d mov ed in a blur,  and a blo w t o his ch estr ip p ed the words f rom h is throat. 
He flew  back wards th rough the F rench do ors  wi tha d e a fe ning crash, a n d  lan de d on th e s mall ba lco nyami dst  a  blanketof splin te rs  a nd  sh atter e d glass.  H isch est  ache d . He t riedto t ak ea  br eath. H i sl u ngsre fu sedtoin flate . In s ide  the ho use, thesha d owsst ir red. Da rius tried to  r oll over.Hi s m uscles t witcheduselessly.

He could on l y watch , m ute,as t he houndslu nk tow ard s  him.The li ght o fthe f ull m o o ngli nt ed off its r azo r-sha rp  tee th.

†† †

She'd never h a d u nlimited stre ngt h be f o re .
_ Th a t's  n o t w h a t this is_, Geo rgia remin de d  h erself. Th i s w as n't unl imitedstren g th. Thi s was Dar ius' stre ng th.H e  wo uld defini tely befeeling i t s los s  b y now . S he pus he d a sidethe gu i ltthattwinge din her  bell y.  This wa s the plan. Anyway, hewas wi th Do lor es. Safe. 

A sto rm of ene rgywas coming  to war ds he r.G eorgi a su c ke d a n other  ten d ril of en e rg y t h r ou gh the link , u sed  a li ttl e  lessthan  half of it to cr e ate a solid sh ield i n f ron t  ofhe r. She fed the  re ma i n der into  h er wand, an d let
 stolen_from it,_the house in Forest_Hill, the_other_witches. Georgia.

And_he_saw an aqua-blue_house with a_terraced yard and a_red door. He_saw_a woman with russet-colored skin in a baggy bathrobe, horror etched on her face.

He_saw_flames.

Darius jerked_back,_his_head spinning. The truth came_crashing over him like an_icy wave._Bile rose in his throat. The fire hadn't_had_anything to do_with death magic. J's death hadn't been Georgia's fault,_after all. He stared up at_the hound. It_stared_back_at him.

"Why?" His voice_cracked. "Why her? What did that_woman ever do to deserve you?"

The_answer popped into his head. It took_him a second to realize the_creature had put it there.

INTERFERED.

Darius_stared. At_this distance, the hellhound didn't_look nearly as_bloodthirsty as_it had before._If anything, it looked tired; a_dog who had_seen too many fights, and just_wanted_to crawl back_to_its_kennel and_go to sleep._Darius_started to_speak.

The_hound moved in a blur, and_a_blow to his chest ripped the words_from his throat.

He flew_backwards_through the French doors_with a deafening crash, and_landed on the small balcony amidst_a blanket_of splinters_and shattered glass. His chest ached. He tried to take a_breath. His lungs refused to inflate._Inside the house, the_shadows stirred._Darius_tried to roll_over._His muscles_twitched uselessly.

He could only watch, mute, as_the hound_slunk towards him. The light of_the full moon glinted_off_its razor-sharp teeth.

† † †

She'd never_had unlimited strength before.

_That's not what_this is_, Georgia reminded herself._This_wasn't_unlimited strength. This was Darius'_strength. He would definitely be feeling_its loss by_now. She pushed aside the guilt that_twinged_in her belly. This was the_plan._Anyway, he was with Dolores. Safe.

A_storm_of_energy was coming towards her._Georgia sucked another tendril of energy_through the link, used a little less than half_of it to_create a solid shield in_front_of_her. She fed the remainder into her wand, and let