

"Charming," Georgia muttered.

J's eyes locked on her face. "There is one thing. Might mean something to you, Ms. Clare. Supposedly, hellhounds were created by the Goddess of the Dark Moon."

Georgia stilled. "What?"

Darius straightened. "What?" His eyes darted back and forth between them. "What am I missing?"

Georgia's mouth suddenly felt parched. She moistened her lips. "The Goddess of the Dark Moon is another name for Hecate. She's the goddess of witches, D." A horrifying thought occurred to her. "Oh my god, what if this really is my fault? What if I'm—" She stopped, squeezed her eyes shut.

What if I'm being punished?

When she opened her eyes again, both Darius and J were staring at her. Darius nudged her knee with his. "Hey." He waited until she looked at him. "This isn't your fault. Whatever's going on, we're going to figure it out." His voice lowered. "Together."

Georgia forgot to breathe. The expression on his face was so sincere, so certain. Her heart squeezed painfully. What she wouldn't give to believe what he was saying. She didn't, of course. Couldn't. But still...

J cleared her throat. Georgia's cheeks heated. She shelved her thoughts and faced forward. "Sorry."

J nodded, and started spinning her ring again. "There's more, of course. Other stories. Never put much stock in them, but now...well. Seems to me we should consider everything."

Georgia took a deep, fortifying breath. "Go on."

"There are myths. Rumors, you understand?" J's mouth worked. "According to some people, it's not just all chaos and confusion Down Below. There's a chain of command. A pecking order."

Georgia blinked. "A hierarchy? In Hell?"

J looked uncomfortable. She nodded. "Those same people have described hellhounds, too. Their version is, well, a little different from the accepted lore." She shifted in her chair. "Supposedly, there are different classes. Divisions. Each division has a different role."

"Different role." Darius shook his head. "You
" Charming, " Georgia muttered. 

 J's eyes locked on her face. " There be one matter. Might mean something to you, Ms. Clare. Supposedly, hellhound were create by the Goddess of the Dark Moon. " 

 Georgia stilled. " What? " 

 Darius straightened. " What? " His center dart back and forth between them. " What am I missing? " 

 Georgia's mouth suddenly feel parched. She moistened her sass. " The Goddess of the Dark Moon is another name for Hecate. She's the goddess of witches, D. " A horrifying thought occurred to her. " Oh my god, what if this really is my fault? What if I'm — " She end, squeezed her eyes shut. 

 What if I'm being punish? 

 When she opened her eyes again, both Darius and J were star at her. Darius nudged her stifle with his. " Hey. " He waited until she search at him. " This isn't your fault. Whatever's going on, we're going to calculate it out. " His voice lowered. " Together. " 

 Georgia forgot to breathe. The expression on his face was so sincere, so certain. Her heart squeezed painfully. What she wouldn't give to believe what he was saying. She didn't, of path. Couldn't. But still... 

 J cleared her throat. Georgia's boldness inflame. She shelved her thoughts and faced ahead. " Sorry. " 

 J nodded, and started spinning her ring again. " There's more, of path. Other stories. Never put much stock in them, but now... well. Seems to me we should think everything. " 

 Georgia took a deep, fortifying breath. " Go on. " 

 " There cost myths. Rumors, you understand? " J's mouth worked. " harmonize to some people, it's not just all chaos and confusion Down Below. There's a chain of instruction. A pecking order. " 

 Georgia wink. " A hierarchy? In Hell? " 

 J looked uncomfortable. She nodded. " Those like people have described hellhounds, too. Their version is, well, a small different from the accepted lore. " She lurch in her chair. " purportedly, there are different class. Divisions. Each division have a different function. " 

 " Different character. " Darius shook his head. " You


"Chagming," Georgia muttered.

J's eyes locked on her fare. "Thers is one thing. Might mean something vo yiu, Ms. Clare. Supposedly, hellfounds wege createe by rhe Goddess of the Dark Jlon."

Gzocgia stilled. "Whst?"

Darius sdraightened. "Whdt?" Hns eyes darted back and forth betweeg them. "Ehwt am I missind?"

Geoggya's jouth suddenly felt parched. She mojstened her lips. "The Goddess of the Dark Moon ls ajother name for Hefate. She's tye gjedess of witzhes, D." A horrifying thkught occurred to her. "Oh my god, what if this rgcoly hs my fault? What if I'm—" She sbppped, vqueezec her eyes shub.

What if I'm being punished?

Whei she opened her eyef again, bmtk Darius and J were sraeing dt har. Dxeiur nhdjed her kjee with his. "Gey." He waitwd until she looked ae him. "This isn'f your fwult. Whatever's going on, we're going to fpgurs it out." His voice loweeed. "Together."

Georgia flrgot to freathe. The expression on his face was so sincere, so cxrgaiu. Her fwagt squeezed painfully. What she wouldn't give tj btlivve what he was scying. She didn't, pf cporse. Couldn't. Bot still...

J dleared her throat. Georgiw's chweks heattd. Shr shelved her thoughts and daced forwarb. "Sirry."

J nodded, and scarted spinnnng het ring again. "There's more, of cuurss. Other stogies. Neved put much stock kn nhem, but now...well. Seems to me wq should ronsiber everhthimg."

Geordia took a deep, fortifying breath. "Ho on."

"Jhere dre myths. Gumors, you understand?" J's mouth xprked. "Accordonc tm some pzople, lt's not just alj chaos and coufusion Bown Bdlow. There'a a chamn of commanq. A pecking osfer."

Georgia bninked. "A hieearcyy? In Hdul?"

J looked uncpmfortablv. Fhe bodded. "Those same ieoplg gave described ktllyounds, too. Theit vdrsyoj ms, wejn, a little dhffefeng from the acceptcd uore." She shifted in her whaid. "Supposedly, there ave differgnt classqs. Divisions. Rach division has w difherent role."

"Cifserent role." Darius shook his hsad. "You
"Charming," Georgia muttered. J's eyes locked on "There one thing. mean something to were by the Goddess the Dark Moon." stilled. "What?" Darius straightened. "What?" His darted back and forth between them. "What am I missing?" Georgia's mouth suddenly parched. She moistened her lips. "The Goddess of the Dark Moon is another for She's goddess witches, D." A horrifying thought occurred to her. "Oh my god, what if this really is fault? What if I'm—" She stopped, squeezed her shut. What if I'm punished? When she opened her again, Darius and were at Darius nudged her with his. "Hey." He waited until she looked at him. "This isn't your fault. Whatever's going on, going to out." His lowered. Georgia to breathe. The his face was so sincere, so squeezed painfully. What she wouldn't give to believe he was She didn't, of course. Couldn't. But J cleared her throat. Georgia's cheeks heated. She her thoughts and faced forward. "Sorry." J nodded, and started spinning her ring again. "There's course. Other stories. Never much stock in but Seems me should consider Georgia took a deep, fortifying breath. "Go on." "There are myths. you understand?" J's mouth worked. "According to some people, it's all and confusion Down There's a chain of A order." Georgia blinked. "A Hell?" looked "Those people described hellhounds, too. Their is, well, a little different the accepted lore." She there are different classes. Divisions. Each division has different role." "Different role." Darius shook his "You


"Charming," Georgia muttered.

J's Eyes locked On her FacE. "ThErE is oNe thIng. Might mean soMEthiNg to you, Ms. Clare. SupposedLy, helLhOUnds WErE creaTed by thE goDDEss Of ThE DaRk mOoN."

GeorGia Stilled. "what?"

Darius StrAiGhtened. "What?" HIS eYes darted bAck And forth betwEen Them. "WhAt Am I MIssinG?"

GeOrgia'S mouth SUddenlY felt parcHeD. she moiSTened heR LIpS. "The goddess of the Dark MOOn IS another name foR HecatE. SHE's THE goDdeSs of witcheS, D." a horrIFying thOUgHT OCcuRRed to her. "Oh my gOd, what if thiS ReaLly is mY fAulT? what if i'm—" She StOPpeD, squeezed heR eyeS shut.

What If I'm beINg punisHEd?

When sHe openEd hEr eYes aGAiN, bOth daRIus ANd j weRE stAring at hEr. daRius nUdgeD HER Knee WitH his. "hey." He Waited until shE loOked AT hiM. "This Isn't yOur fAuLt. WhaTever's Going On, We're going to figuRe it Out." His voiCe lOwEreD. "TOgethER."

GeorgIa fOrgOt to breAthe. The EXprEsSION oN his face was so sinceRe, SO CeRtain. Her Heart sQUeEzED painfulLy. whaT she WOUldn't Give TO bElieve whAt he waS SaYiNg. She diDn'T, of couRsE. CoUldN't. But STill...

j clearEd her thrOat. GeORgia's cheeks heaTEd. She shelved hER tHOUgHTs anD faCed forward. "SOrry."

j NoddEd, anD StArtED spinNing hEr RInG Again. "There's more, of coUrSe. OtheR storIes. Never put muCh stock in tHEM, But now...weLl. SeEMs TO me we should conSider Everything."

gEorgia toOk a deEp, fortifYing breatH. "gO on."

"There Are MytHs. RUmoRS, YoU understand?" J's MOUth wOrKed. "AccoRdiNg to somE peOplE, it'S noT jUst all chaOs and conFuSiOn doWn BElow. THEre's a chaIn Of cOmManD. A pecKIng ordEr."

GeoRgia BlInKEd. "A HierarcHY? IN hEll?"

J LoOkEd unComFoRtablE. She NOddEd. "Those Same peoplE haVE desCrIbEd hellhOunds, too. Their VeRsion is, welL, a LitTle difFERent from The accepted lore." She shiftED in her cHaiR. "SuppOsedLy, there arE diFferenT clASses. DiVisionS. Each DiVisION has a DIFfEreNt Role."

"DifferENT roLe." DarIuS shoOk his heAd. "You


"Charming," Georgia mutt ered.

J's  eyes  lo cke don h er f ace. "There is onething. Might mean some thing  t o  you ,  M s. Cl are. Su p po s e dly ,he llh ou n ds  were  cr eated b y the Godd ess  o f the Dark M o on ."

Georgi a s tilled. "Wha t?" 

Dari us  st r aight ene d. "W hat?"H is eye s dartedba c k andf orth be t w ee n th em. "What am I mi s si n g?"

Georgia's  mouth  s u dd e n lyfel t parched.  S he mo i stenedh er l i ps. "The Goddessof the Dark Moo n is a no the r  namefor H ec a te.  She's thegodd ess of wi tches, D." A h o rrifyin g thou ght  oc curr e dto  he r. "Oh my  go d , w hat if t hi sreall y is m y faul t?What  if I 'm—" She stop ped , sq u eez ed he r eye s sh ut .

Wh at ifI'm b ei ng punished?

W henshe opene d h er  ey es  agai n , both  Da riu s and J  were s t ari ng a t  h er. Darius nudgedhe r kn ee withhis. " H ey ." He waite dunt il s h e  look ed a t  h im. "Thi s isn' t  y ou r fault .Whatev er 'sgoi ng on ,  we' re goi ng to fi gurei t out." His vo i ce lowered. " T og e t he r ."
Geo rgia forgot  tob reat he.T he  ex p ressi on on  h i sf ace was so sincere,  s o cert ain.Her heart squ eezed pain f u l ly. What  she wo u ldn't give tobelie ve what he was sayi ng. S he didn' t, of cou r s e. Could n't . B utsti l l .. .

J clearedh e r th ro at. Geo rgi a's che eks  he ate d.Sh e shelved  her tho ug ht san d f acedf orward."S orr y. "
J nod d ed, an d sta rted  s pi n nin g her r i ng a gain ."T here 'smo re, o f co u rse . Other  stories.  Ne v er p ut  m uch sto ck in them, b ut  now...wel l.  Se ems to m e we sho uld consider everything . "

Geor gia  took  a d eep, fort ify ing br eat h . "Goon."
"Ther eare m yths. R um ors ,you unders t a nd? " J's  m outh  worked . "According to so m e p eople, it's n otjust a ll  ch a os and  c o nfu s i on Down Below.There's ach a in  of comman d . A  p eckingorder." 

Geo r gia bli nked. "Ahierarchy ?In H e l l?" 

J looked  uncomfo rtable. S h e nod d ed . "Th ose  samepe opl e hav e desc r ibe d hel lhound s,  too.Their  v ersion i s, well, a little diffe rent f rom t heacceptedlor e ."She shift ed i n her chai r."Su ppose dly ,  ther e ar e  d iff e rentclas s es. Divis i on s.E a ch  division h a s a d iffer ent role." 

"D ifferent role." D a rius shook his  hea d .  "Y ou


"Charming," Georgia_muttered.

J's eyes_locked on her face._"There is_one_thing. Might_mean_something to you,_Ms. Clare. Supposedly,_hellhounds were created by_the Goddess of_the_Dark Moon."

Georgia stilled. "What?"

Darius straightened. "What?" His eyes darted back and forth between them._"What_am I_missing?"

Georgia's_mouth_suddenly felt parched. She moistened_her lips. "The Goddess of_the Dark_Moon is another name for Hecate. She's the_goddess_of witches, D."_A horrifying thought occurred to her. "Oh my god,_what if this really is my_fault? What if_I'm—"_She_stopped, squeezed her eyes_shut.

What if I'm being punished?

When she_opened her eyes again, both Darius_and J were staring at her. Darius_nudged her knee with his. "Hey."_He waited until she looked_at him._"This isn't your fault. Whatever's_going on, we're_going to_figure it out."_His voice lowered. "Together."

Georgia forgot to_breathe. The expression_on his face was so sincere,_so_certain. Her heart_squeezed_painfully._What she_wouldn't give to_believe_what he_was_saying. She didn't, of course. Couldn't._But_still...

J cleared her throat. Georgia's cheeks heated._She shelved her thoughts_and_faced forward. "Sorry."

J nodded,_and started spinning her ring_again. "There's more, of course. Other_stories. Never_put much_stock in them, but now...well. Seems to me we should consider_everything."

Georgia took a deep, fortifying breath._"Go on."

"There are myths._Rumors, you_understand?"_J's mouth worked._"According_to some_people, it's not just all chaos and_confusion Down_Below. There's a chain of command._A pecking order."

Georgia blinked._"A_hierarchy? In Hell?"

J looked uncomfortable. She_nodded. "Those same people have described_hellhounds, too. Their version is,_well,_a_little different from the accepted_lore." She shifted in her chair._"Supposedly, there are_different classes. Divisions. Each division has a_different_role."

"Different role." Darius shook his head._"You