ed. She needed to get up, get untied. She was here for a reason. She'd come to stop Ellen. She still had a job to do.

But it was as if her will had turned to stone. She couldn't move, didn't even want to, really. Her stomach felt like lead. In the entire San Francisco Guild, there was only one witch she'd ever trusted implicitly. One witch who had seen past her family and her mistakes, who'd made her believe she still possessed something worth saving.

Georgia's tongue felt thick. "Was it all a lie?"

Ellen shifted. "What?"

"You being my friend. You bringing me into the coven. Were you just playing me the entire time?" Anger rose up inside her. "Look at me, damn it!"

Ellen had been staring off somewhere over her shoulder. Now, her eyes snapped back to Georgia's face. "No," she said after a long pause. "No, it wasn't a lie. You're the most gifted witch I've ever worked with. You have power like I've never seen." She looked away again. "That's why it has to be you."

"Why what has to be me?" Georgia started to move her wrists again, discreetly, so Ellen wouldn't notice. "What the hell is going on?"

Ellen didn't answer.

Georgia blew out a breath. "Look, we've been friends for a while now. Mass murder? A hellhound? The witch—the _woman_ —I know wouldn't go anywhere near this bullshit." She prayed her voice didn't betray the mess of emotions roiling inside her. "You're going to kill me. The least you can do is give me some answers."

Ellen's mouth worked. For a moment, Georgia didn't think she would respond. Then she nodded sharply. "Fine. I suppose I owe you that." She finally met Georgia's eyes. "That isn't just any hellhound. It's the goddess's familiar."

"The goddess...wait. _The Goddess_? " Georgia gaped. "As in, Hecate, Goddess of Witches? You mean to tell me you bound _Hecate's_ familiar?"

Ellen winced. "Like I said. It's complicated."

"Um, no. 'Complicated'
ed. She needed to get up, get untied. She was here for a reason. She'd hail to check Ellen. She still had a job to perform. 

 But it was as if her will had turned to stone. She couldn't act, didn't even desire to, really. Her stomach felt like lead. In the entire San Francisco Guild, there be only one witch she'd always trusted implicitly. One witch who had seen past her family and her mistakes, who'd made her believe she however possessed something worth saving. 

 Georgia's clapper felt thick. " Was it all a lie? " 

 Ellen shifted. " What? " 

 " You being my ally. You bringing me into the coven. Were you just playing me the entire time? " wrath rose up inside her. " Look at me, damn it! " 

 Ellen had been staring off somewhere over her shoulder. Now, her eyes snap back to Georgia's face. " No, " she said after a long pause. " No, it wasn't a lie. You're the most gifted witch I've ever worked with. You have power like I've never watch. " She looked away again. " That's why it has to be you. " 

 " Why what take to be me? " Georgia started to move her wrists again, discreetly, so Ellen wouldn't detect. " What the hell is going on? " 

 Ellen didn't answer. 

 Georgia blew out a hint. " Look, we've been friends for a while now. Mass murder? A hellhound? The witch — the _ woman _ — I know wouldn't go anywhere near this bullshit. " She prayed her voice didn't betray the fix of emotions churn inside her. " You're going to kill me. The least you can do is give me some answers. " 

 Ellen's mouthpiece worked. For a moment, Georgia didn't think she would react. Then she nodded sharply. " Fine. I suppose I owe you that. " She finally suffer Georgia's eyes. " That isn't precisely any hellhound. It's the goddess's familiar. " 

 " The goddess... delay. _ The Goddess _? " Georgia gaped. " As in, Hecate, Goddess of Witches? You mean to tell me you bound _ Hecate's _ conversant? " 

 Ellen winced. " Like I said. It's complicated. " 

 " Um, no.' complicate'
ed. Dhe needed to get up, get untied. She was here fmr a rsason. Shd'd come to stop Ellen. She stmll yad a job to do.

But it was ar if her aill had turied to stone. She couldn't move, sldn't zvxn want to, realky. Her stokach felt like ldab. In the entire San Francisco Guild, ehere wss only one witcr sht'd qver nrmsted implicitly. One witch who hzd seen past her famoly and her mistakes, who'd lade her believe she shill posseswed fimething worgh saving.

Gtoxgia's tongug felt thick. "Was it all a lie?"

Elldn shnfted. "What?"

"Yiu beltg my frienv. You fringing me lmto tha coven. Were you just pleyint me the entire time?" Enger rose up inside her. "Look ac me, damn it!"

Ellen had bwen sjarinc ofw sooewgece kver hfr ahoulder. Nkw, her eyes snapped back to Geprdps's face. "No," sge saiq wfter a long pause. "No, it wasn't a lie. Yol're fhe most gifted witch I'ce ever worked with. Ylu have pjwer like I've never seen." She looked away again. "Thdt's wiy it hwr tl be you."

"Why what has to be me?" Georgia started fo mpve her wrists again, discteftki, so Ellen wouudn't notide. "What the hell id going on?"

Eloen didn't anseer.

Georgia blew out a breaty. "Look, we've yeeb friends for a whnle now. Mass murcer? A hellhound? The witch—the _womzn_ —I know wluldn't go xnywhere near thks nulnshit." Sht prayed her voice didn't bevray che mess of gmotionf roiling lnsidc her. "You're going tl kilp ke. The leadt you can do is give me some aixwers."

Ellen's kogth worked. Yor a koment, Georgiw didn't think xhe woujd rerpond. Then she novded sharply. "Fine. I suppovg I owe you tiat." She fynaloy mwt Georeka's eyes. "That osn't just any hellhiund. It's the goddexs's ramiliar."

"The godbtss...qait. _The Goddesx_? " Eeowgpa japed. "Ds in, Hecate, Godaesr of Wktches? You ndan yo tell me you bound _Heczte's_ familiar?"

Ellen wlnced. "Likg I said. Yt's complicatrd."

"Um, no. 'Complicatef'
ed. She needed to get up, get was for a She'd come to a to do. But was as if will had turned to stone. She move, didn't even want to, really. Her stomach felt like lead. In the San Francisco Guild, there was only one witch she'd ever trusted implicitly. One who seen her and her mistakes, who'd made her believe she still possessed something worth saving. Georgia's tongue felt "Was it all a lie?" Ellen shifted. "What?" being my friend. You me into the coven. Were just me the time?" rose inside her. "Look me, damn it!" Ellen had been staring off somewhere over her shoulder. Now, her eyes snapped back Georgia's face. said after long "No, wasn't a lie. most gifted witch I've ever worked power like I've never seen." She looked away "That's why has to be you." "Why what to be me?" Georgia started to move her again, discreetly, so Ellen wouldn't notice. "What the hell is going on?" Ellen didn't answer. out a breath. "Look, been friends for while Mass A The witch—the —I know wouldn't go anywhere near this bullshit." She prayed her didn't betray the mess of emotions roiling inside her. "You're kill The least you do is give me answers." mouth worked. For a didn't she she sharply. I suppose I owe that." She finally met Georgia's "That isn't just any "The goddess...wait. _The Goddess_? " Georgia gaped. "As Hecate, Goddess of Witches? You mean to me you bound _Hecate's_ familiar?" Ellen winced. "Like I said. It's complicated." no. 'Complicated'
ed. She needed to get up, get untiEd. She was heRe for A reAsoN. SHe'd cOme tO stop Ellen. She sTIll hAd a job to do.

But it was as if Her wiLl HAd tuRNeD to stOne. She cOUlDN'T moVe, DiDn't EvEN wAnt to, ReaLly. Her sTomach felt LikE lEad. In the entiRE SAn FranciscO GuIld, there was oNly One witCh She'D Ever tRusTed imPlicitLY. One wiTch who had SeEN past hER family AND hEr miStakes, who'd made her BElIEve she still posSessed SoMEtHINg wOrtH saving.

GeoRgIa's toNGue felt THiCK. "wAs iT All a lie?"

Ellen sHifted. "What?"

"YOU beIng my fRiEnd. yOu brinGing mE iNTo tHe coven. Were You jUst playinG me the ENtire tiME?" Anger rOse up iNsiDe hEr. "LoOK aT mE, daMn IT!"

ElLEn Had BEen Staring oFf SoMewheRe ovER HER shoUldEr. NoW, her eYes snapped bacK to georGIa's Face. "NO," she sAid aFtEr a loNg pausE. "No, it WaSn't a lie. You're the Most Gifted witCh I'Ve EveR wOrked WIth. You HavE poWer like i've neveR SeeN." SHE LOoKed away again. "That's wHy IT HaS to be you."

"why whaT HaS tO Be me?" GeorGiA stArteD TO move Her wRIsTs again, dIscreeTLy, So ellen woUlDn't notIcE. "WhAt tHe helL Is goIng on?"

ELlen didn'T answER.

Georgia blew ouT A breath. "Look, we'VE bEEN fRIendS foR a while now. MAss mURder? a helLHoUnd? tHe witCh—the _WoMAn_ —i Know wouldn't go anywheRe Near thIs bulLshit." She prayeD her voice dIDN'T betray tHe meSS oF Emotions roilinG insiDe her. "You're GOing to kiLl me. THe least yOu can do is GIVe me some AnsWerS."

ElLen'S MOuTh worked. For a mOMEnt, GEoRgia didN't tHink she WouLd rEspOnd. thEn she noddEd sharplY. "FInE. I SuPpoSe I owE You that." SHe FinAlLy mEt GeoRGia's eyEs. "ThaT isn'T jUsT Any HellhouND. IT'S The gOdDeSs's fAmiLiAr."

"The GoddESs...wAit. _The GOddess_? " GeoRgiA GapeD. "AS iN, Hecate, goddess of WitcHeS? You mean to TeLl mE you boUND _Hecate's_ Familiar?"

Ellen winced. "Like i Said. It's ComPlicaTed."

"UM, no. 'CompliCatEd'
ed. She needed to get up,get untied . She  wa s h er e fo r areason. She'dc ometo stop Ellen. She sti ll ha da  job to  do.
But it wa s asif  h erwi l lhad t urn ed to s tone. Shecou ld n't move, di d n' t even wan t t o, really. H erstomac hfel t  like  le ad. I n thee ntireSan Franc is c o Guil d , there w as  onl y one witch she'd ev e r trusted impl icitly .O ne w itc h w ho had see npasth er fami l ya n d  he r  mistakes, wh o'd made he r  be lievesh e s t ill po ssess ed som ething wort h sa ving.

Ge orgia' s  tongue felt th ick. " Was  it  all ali e?" 
E lle n  s hif t ed.  "What?" 
"Y ou be ingm y f rien d.Youbring ing me into t hecove n . W ere y ou ju st p la yingme the  enti re  time?" Anger r oseup inside  he r.  "L oo k atm e, dam n i t!" 

Ellen  had be e n s ta r i n goff somewhere over  h e r  s houlder.  Now,h er  e y es snapp ed  ba ck t o Georg ia's fa ce. "No, " shes ai dafter a  l ong pa us e."No , itw asn' t a li e. You'r e the most gifted wi t ch I've everw or k e dw ith.  Yo u have powe r li k e I' ve n e ve r s e en."She l oo k ed away again. "That's  w hy ithas t o be you."

" Why what h a s to be me ?" G e or g ia started tomoveher wrists again, d iscre etly, so  Ellen wo u l dn't not ice . " Wha t t h e  h ell is goingo n ?"
El len did n't  answer .
Geo rgi a b le w out a b reath. " Lo ok ,we 've  been friendsfo r a  w hil e now .  Massmurde r? A  h el l hou nd? The wi t c h—th e_w oman _ — Iknowwoul d n't  go any where nea r t h is b ul ls hit." S he prayed her  v oice didn' tbet ray th e mess ofemotions roiling inside her. "Y ou' re go ingto kill m e.The le ast you ca n do i s giv emes o me an s w er s." 
Ellen's mo u t h w orked .Fora momen t, Georgia didn'tt hin k she would r esp ond. T he n s h en odd ed sha r p ly. "Fine. I su ppose I ow ey ou  that." Sh e  fi na lly met  Georgi a's e y es. "Th at isn'tjust anyhe llho u n d.It's the g oddess's  familiar . "

"T h egodde ss. ..wait ._Th e God dess_? " G eorgi a gape d.  "As i n, He ca te, Godd ess of Witches? You mea n to t ell m e y ou bound_He c ate 's_ famil iar? "

Ellen w inc ed.  "Lik e I said.  It' s  c omp l icate d.""Um, no.' Co mpl i c at ed'
ed. She_needed to_get up, get untied._She was_here_for a_reason._She'd come to_stop Ellen. She_still had a job_to do.

But it_was_as if her will had turned to stone. She couldn't move, didn't even want_to,_really. Her_stomach_felt_like lead. In the entire_San Francisco Guild, there was_only one_witch she'd ever trusted implicitly. One witch who_had_seen past her_family and her mistakes, who'd made her believe she_still possessed something worth saving.

Georgia's tongue_felt thick. "Was_it_all_a lie?"

Ellen shifted. "What?"

"You_being my friend. You bringing me_into the coven. Were you just_playing me the entire time?" Anger rose_up inside her. "Look at me,_damn it!"

Ellen had been staring_off somewhere_over her shoulder. Now, her_eyes snapped back_to Georgia's_face. "No," she_said after a long pause. "No,_it wasn't a_lie. You're the most gifted witch_I've_ever worked with._You_have_power like_I've never seen."_She_looked away_again._"That's why it has to be_you."

"Why_what has to be me?" Georgia started_to move her wrists_again,_discreetly, so Ellen wouldn't_notice. "What the hell is_going on?"

Ellen didn't answer.

Georgia blew out_a breath._"Look, we've_been friends for a while now. Mass murder? A hellhound? The_witch—the _woman_ —I know wouldn't go_anywhere near this bullshit."_She prayed_her_voice didn't betray_the_mess of_emotions roiling inside her. "You're going to_kill me._The least you can do is_give me some answers."

Ellen's_mouth_worked. For a moment, Georgia didn't_think she would respond. Then she_nodded sharply. "Fine. I suppose_I_owe_you that." She finally met_Georgia's eyes. "That isn't just any_hellhound. It's the_goddess's familiar."

"The goddess...wait. _The Goddess_? " Georgia_gaped._"As in, Hecate, Goddess of Witches?_You_mean to tell me you bound__Hecate's__familiar?"

Ellen_winced. "Like I said. It's_complicated."

"Um, no. 'Complicated'