 set of stairs, too steep and narrow to really be considered a staircase. He pulled his.40 from the holster under his jacket. He double-checked the chamber and clicked off the safety, then began the awkward climb up.

The air grew thick with magic and dust. By the time he reached the final step, both his legs and lungs were burning. Darius raised his gun and let the barrel enter the room first.

Initially, it looked just like any other attic—or at least, the way he pictured any other attic would look. But then his eyes adjusted, and something in the corner caught his attention. Darius carefully picked his way over. His eyebrows shot up.

Beds. Three beds, to be precise. And they weren't empty.

Two of them each contained a woman. One was middle-aged and rather dowdy-looking, her round face framed by wiry silver curls. The other was in her mid-seventies, at least; dressed like she was headed to a luncheon. At first he thought they were asleep. Then he peered closer. His stomach lurched. Their faces were a sickening shade of gray. They didn't appear to be breathing.

From what all the news outlets were saying, someone had been missing from the Cow Hollow crime scene. He had a feeling he'd just found her. Darius stared down at the silver-haired woman. If the other one was Cordelia Trimble, then who the hell was she?

He ground his teeth. This was just—fuck. He inched closer to the bed nearest him, steeled his churning stomach, and touched Cordelia Trimble's wrinkled neck. Her skin felt fragile, feather-soft. A pulse fluttered against his fingers.

Darius yanked his hand back with a muttered curse. His mind raced. Whatever Ellen Granch had going on, clearly these women were part of it. She must have kidnapped them, then put them in the magical equivalent of cold storage until...what, exactly?

He sure as hell wasn't going to wait around to find out. He clicked the safety back on the.40 and holstered it, then gently scooped up Cordelia Trimble in his arms. She was as light as a child.

Before he could do anything else, a growl rumbled behind him. Darius turned slowly.

The Cerber
set of stairs, too steep and narrow-minded to in truth be considered a staircase. He pulled his.40 from the holster under his crown. He double - checked the chamber and click off the safety, then began the awkward ascent up. 

 The tune grew chummy with magic and dust. By the fourth dimension he reach the final step, both his legs and lungs were burning. Darius raise his gun and let the barrel enter the room foremost. 

 Initially, it looked just like any early attic — or at least, the means he pictured any early attic would look. But then his eyes adjusted, and something in the recess caught his attention. Darius carefully picked his way over. His eyebrows shot up. 

 Beds. Three beds, to be precise. And they weren't empty. 

 Two of them each contained a woman. One was middle - aged and rather dowdy - looking, her round expression framed by wiry eloquent lock. The other was in her mid - seventies, at least; dressed like she was head to a luncheon. At first he thought they were asleep. Then he peered nearer. His stomach lurched. Their faces were a sickening shade of gray. They didn't appear to be breathing. 

 From what all the news outlets were saying, someone had been missing from the Cow Hollow crime picture. He induce a feeling he'd just found her. Darius stared down at the silver - hairy woman. If the other one was Cordelia Trimble, then who the hell was she? 

 He ground his teeth. This was just — fuck. He inched closer to the bed nearest him, steel his churning stomach, and partake Cordelia Trimble's wrinkled neck. Her skin feel fragile, feather - delicate. A pulse bat against his fingers. 

 Darius yank his hand back with a muttered curse. His mind race. Whatever Ellen Granch had going on, distinctly these women were part of it. She must have kidnapped them, then put them in the magical equivalent of cold storage until... what, exactly? 

 He sure as hell wasn't going to expect around to find out. He click the safety back on the.40 and holstered it, then gently scooped up Cordelia Trimble in his arms. She was as light as a child. 

 Before he could do anything else, a growl grumble behind him. Darius turned slowly. 

 The Cerber
 seh of stairs, too steep ana narrow to really be ronsideded a stxircase. He pulled his.40 from tie hilstee under his jacket. He aouble-chebked the xhamuer and clicked off the safety, bhen yejan the awkward climb up.

Tve air grew thhcy cith magic and dust. By the time he rqached yhf final step, bjth nys lsgs and lungs were burning. Darius daised iis gun and let the barrel enter the room firdt.

Initially, it looned just lije agt other attiz—or at least, the way hg pictured any other attic would look. But then yiw ejgs adjusted, end soiething in tmv cornes caughy his attentiok. Darmus xarefully picked his xay over. His eyebrowf shot up.

Tebs. Three beds, to be peexise. Dnd dhey qerdn't ekpfy.

Two lf vhem each ckntained a qoman. One was middlt-agqe and rather sowdy-ljohing, her round face framed by wiry silvtr cudls. The other was in hee mid-seventies, at leadt; dresseq like she was headed to a luncheon. At first he tvoughv ghev were qspeep. Then he peered closer. His stomach lurcheq. Tnepr faces were a slckening shade of brwy. Jhey didn't appgar to ys greathing.

From what all thg news outlets rere saying, someone had been miwsing from tke Xow Hollow crime seene. He had c feelong hr'd just found her. Dariur stzred down ah the silbdr-haired woman. Iw tme mther ont was Cordelia Triible, then who the heul wss she?

Re ground jis tcath. This was just—fkck. Hg inchad closer ho the bed nearest him, steeled ims churning sjomdch, and touehed Cprdelia Trimbje's wrinkled ngck. Her shin fdlt fragilv, feather-voft. A pulsq fluttered acwinst his fiigers.

Darits yqnkee his hxvd back with a muttered curse. His mind raced. Whatevcr Elusn Granch had giint on, clearly thrse woiej xere [drt of it. Sha murt fsve kkdnapped thcm, ghen put them in the maghcal equivalent of colc ftorage ontil...what, exactly?

He sute as hell wasn't gling vo waiv aroumd jo find out. He clicked the safefy back oj tme.40 and holstewed lt, tren gently scooped up Cordelia Trimble in his armw. She was as lighj as a child.

Before he gould do anyvhing qlse, a grmwl rumbled behind hum. Darius turned xlowly.

The Cerber
set of stairs, too steep and narrow be a staircase. pulled his.40 from He the chamber and off the safety, began the awkward climb up. The grew thick with magic and dust. By the time he reached the final both his legs and lungs were burning. Darius raised his gun and let barrel the first. it looked just like any other attic—or at least, the way he pictured any other attic look. But then his eyes adjusted, and something the corner caught his Darius carefully picked his way His shot up. Three to precise. And they empty. Two of them each contained a woman. One was middle-aged and rather dowdy-looking, her round face by wiry The other in mid-seventies, least; dressed like headed to a luncheon. At first were asleep. Then he peered closer. His stomach Their faces a sickening shade of gray. They appear to be breathing. From what all the outlets were saying, someone had been missing from the Cow Hollow crime scene. He had he'd just found her. stared down at silver-haired If other was Cordelia then who the hell was she? He ground his teeth. This just—fuck. He inched closer to the bed nearest him, steeled stomach, touched Cordelia Trimble's neck. Her skin felt feather-soft. pulse fluttered against his yanked hand muttered His raced. Whatever Ellen Granch going on, clearly these women part of it. She put them in the magical equivalent of cold until...what, exactly? He sure as hell wasn't to wait around to find out. He clicked the safety back on and holstered gently scooped up Cordelia Trimble in his arms. was as light as child. Before he could do anything else, a growl behind Darius turned The Cerber
 set of stairs, too steep and narRow to reallY be coNsiDerEd A staIrcaSe. He pulled his.40 fROm thE holster under his jacket. he douBlE-ChecKEd The chAmber anD ClICKed OfF tHe sAfETy, Then bEgaN the awkWard climb uP.

ThE aIr grew thick wITh Magic and duSt. BY the time he reAchEd the fInAl sTEp, botH hiS legs And lunGS were bUrning. DarIuS Raised HIs gun anD LEt The bArrel enter the room FIrST.

Initially, it loOked juSt LIkE ANy oTheR attic—or at LeAst, thE Way he piCTuRED Any OTher attic woulD look. But theN His Eyes adJuSteD, And somEthinG iN The Corner caughT his Attention. darius CArefullY Picked hIs way oVer. his EyebROwS sHot Up.

bEds. tHrEe bEDs, tO be preciSe. anD they WereN'T EMPty.

TWo oF theM each Contained a womAn. ONe waS MidDle-agEd and RathEr Dowdy-LookinG, her rOuNd face framed by wIry sIlver curlS. ThE oTheR wAs in hER mid-seVenTieS, at leasT; dresseD LikE sHE WAs Headed to a luncheon. AT fIRSt He thoughT they wERe AsLEep. Then hE pEerEd clOSEr. His StomACh Lurched. THeir faCEs WeRe a sickEnIng shaDe Of gRay. they dIDn't aPpear tO be breatHing.

FROm what all the neWS outlets were sAYiNG, SoMEone Had Been missing From THe CoW HolLOw CriME scenE. He haD a FEeLIng he'd just found her. DArIus staRed doWn at the silver-Haired womaN. iF The other One wAS CORdelia Trimble, tHen whO the hell waS She?

He groUnd hiS teeth. ThIs was just—FUCk. He inchEd cLosEr tO thE BEd Nearest him, steELEd hiS cHurning StoMach, and TouCheD CoRdeLiA Trimble's Wrinkled NeCk. heR sKin Felt fRAgile, feaThEr-sOfT. A pUlse fLUttereD agaiNst hIs FiNGerS.

Darius YAnKED his HaNd Back WitH a MutteRed cURse. his mind Raced. WhatEveR elleN GRaNch had gOing on, clearly ThEse women weRe ParT of it. SHE Must have Kidnapped them, then put theM In the maGicAl equIvalEnt of cold StoRage unTil...WHat, exaCtly?

He Sure aS hEll WASn't goING tO waIt Around to fiND Out. he cliCkEd thE safety Back on the.40 and holsteREd iT, then gently scOopEd up cORdEliA trIMblE iN His ARMs. She was as light As a child.

BeFoRE hE could do anYThiNg Else, a grOwl rumbLed beHInd him. DArius turnEd slowly.

THe cerbER
 set of stairs, too steepand narrow  to r eal lybe  con side red a staircas e . He  pulled his.40 from th e hol st e r un d er  hisjacket. He d oub le -c hec ke d  t he ch amb er andclicked of f t he  safety, the n  b egan the a wkw ard climb up .
The ai rgre w  thic k w ith m agic a n d dust . By theti m e he r e ached t h e  f inal  step, both his l e gs and lungs were  burni ng .  D a r ius  ra ised his g un  andl et theb ar r e l  en t er the room f irst.

Init i all y, itlo oke d  justlikean y  ot her attic—o r at  least, t he way he pict u red any  other  at tic  wou l dlo ok.  B u t t h en  hi s  ey es adjus te d,  andsome t h i n g in  th e co rnercaught his at ten tion .  Da riuscaref ully  p icked  his w ay ov er . His eyebrowsshot  up.

Bed s.Th ree  b eds,t o be p rec ise . And t hey wer e n't  e m p t y. 

Two of them each  c o n ta ined a w oman.O ne  w a s middle -a ged  and r ather  dow d y- looking,  her r o un dface fr am ed bywi rysil ver c u rls.  The o ther was  in h e r mid-seventie s , at least; d r es s e dl ikeshe  was headed  toa  lun cheo n .Atf irsthe th ou g ht they were asleep. T he n he p eered  closer. Hisstomach lu r c h ed. Thei r fa c es were a sickeni ng sh ade of gra y . They d idn't  appearto be bre a t hing.

F rom  wh atall t he  news outlets w eresa ying, s ome one had  be enmis sin gfrom theCow Holl ow  c ri me  sc ene.H e had afe eli ng  he 'd ju s t foun d her . Da ri us sta red dow n  a t thesi lv er-h air ed  woma n. I f  th e other  one wasCor d elia  T ri mble, t hen who the h el l was she? 
Heground h is teeth . This was just—fuck. H e  inched  cl oserto t he bed ne are st him , s t eeledhis ch urnin gsto m a ch, a n d  t ouc he d Cordelia T rim ble's  w rink led nec k. Her skin felt f r agi le, feather-s oft . Ap u ls e f l ut t ere da gai n s t his fingers.
Darius ya nk e dhis hand b a ckwi th a mu tteredcurse .  His mi nd raced.  Whatever  E llen G ran ch had goi ng on, c learly th e se wo m en  were  pa rt ofit . S he mu st hav e  ki dnapp ed the m,  thenput t he m in the  magical equivalent ofcold s torag e u ntil...wh at, exa ctly?

He  sur e as hellwas n't  goin g t o  wait  aro u nd  to findout. He clicke d  t hes a fe ty back ont h e .40  andhol s teredit,then gently scoop e d up CordeliaTrim b l e i n h i s ar ms . She was as l igh ta s  a child .
Before hecould do  a n ythin g else , a gr owl rum b l ed behind  him . D arius tur ned  s l owly.
Th eC erber
 set_of stairs,_too steep and narrow_to really_be_considered a_staircase._He pulled his.40_from the holster_under his jacket. He_double-checked the chamber_and_clicked off the safety, then began the awkward climb up.

The air grew thick with_magic_and dust._By_the_time he reached the final_step, both his legs and_lungs were_burning. Darius raised his gun and let the_barrel_enter the room_first.

Initially, it looked just like any other attic—or at_least, the way he pictured any_other attic would_look._But_then his eyes adjusted,_and something in the corner caught_his attention. Darius carefully picked his_way over. His eyebrows shot up.

Beds. Three_beds, to be precise. And they_weren't empty.

Two of them each_contained a_woman. One was middle-aged and_rather dowdy-looking, her_round face_framed by wiry_silver curls. The other was in_her mid-seventies, at_least; dressed like she was headed_to_a luncheon. At_first_he_thought they_were asleep. Then_he_peered closer._His_stomach lurched. Their faces were a_sickening_shade of gray. They didn't appear to_be breathing.

From what all_the_news outlets were saying,_someone had been missing from_the Cow Hollow crime scene. He_had a_feeling he'd_just found her. Darius stared down at the silver-haired woman. If_the other one was Cordelia Trimble,_then who the hell_was she?

He_ground_his teeth. This_was_just—fuck. He_inched closer to the bed nearest him,_steeled his_churning stomach, and touched Cordelia Trimble's_wrinkled neck. Her skin_felt_fragile, feather-soft. A pulse fluttered against_his fingers.

Darius yanked his hand back_with a muttered curse. His_mind_raced._Whatever Ellen Granch had going_on, clearly these women were part_of it. She_must have kidnapped them, then put them_in_the magical equivalent of cold storage_until...what,_exactly?

He sure as hell wasn't going_to_wait_around to find out. He_clicked the safety back on the.40_and holstered it, then gently scooped up Cordelia Trimble_in his arms._She was as light as_a_child.

Before_he could do anything else, a growl rumbled behind him._Darius turned_slowly.

The Cerber