 Kristof had risen to his feet. She raised a hand to freeze him in place.

"Try an offering!"

She blinked. "Offering?"

Kristof met her eyes. "Think, Clare. She's one of the ancient deities, and right now she's pissed as hell. Only one thing's going to pacify her."

An offering. Right. The Goddess was drawing closer. Georgia danced away. "Kristof, the trees!"

Kristof nodded and dashed towards one of the surrounding cypress trees. Metal flashed as he pulled his athame from his belt. He snagged a low-hanging branch and started cutting.

Georgia darted out of reach of The Goddess's grasping hands. She saw Kristof approach from the corner of her eye, and shifted course to meet him. He passed her a pungent-smelling sprig and a lighter. "I hope you have one hell of a prayer ready, witchling."

Georgia moistened her lips. "Here, Goddess, Goddess. I have one of your favorite sacred plants for you."

At that moment, J's voice popped into her head: _I don't need to tell you how important the right name can be._

Something firmed inside her. Georgia pressed her lips together. She struck the lighter, and touched the flame to the end of the cypress. It began to smoke, and she began to speak.

"Hecate. Trivia. Brimo. Ereshkigal."

The Goddess cocked her head.

Kristof was staring at her. Understanding suddenly flooded his face. He stepped up to her side, and started reciting The Goddess' names along with her.

"Angelos. Erodia. Adamantaea. Cthonia."

Georgia remembered the larimar pendant around her neck. She ripped it off and tossed it aside. Then she held the burning cypress stalk in front of her, and stepped forward. "Goddess of the crossroads. Night wanderer. Guardian of the places of the dead. Moon of a thousand faces. Cast a kind eye on our sacrifice."

The voice that wasn't quite a voice whispered from beneath the hood.

YOU DARE TO PETITION ME, MORTAL?

Georgia shivered. "Please, Mist
Kristof had risen to his feet. She raised a hand to freeze him in home. 

 " sample an offering! " 

 She blinked. " Offering? " 

 Kristof meet her eyes. " Think, Clare. She's one of the ancient deity, and right now she's pissed as sin. merely one thing's go to pacify her. " 

 An offering. Right. The Goddess was drawing nearer. Georgia danced away. " Kristof, the trees! " 

 Kristof nodded and dashed towards one of the surrounding cypress trees. metallic element flashed as he pulled his athame from his belt. He snag a low - hanging branch and started cut. 

 Georgia darted out of reach of The Goddess's grasping hands. She saw Kristof overture from the corner of her eye, and shifted course to meet him. He passed her a pungent - smelling sprig and a lighter. " I hope you have one hell of a prayer ready, witchling. " 

 Georgia moistened her lips. " Here, Goddess, Goddess. I have one of your favored consecrated plants for you. " 

 At that consequence, J's part popped into her head: _ I don't need to assure you how important the right name can be. _ 

 Something firmed inside her. Georgia pressed her lip together. She struck the lighter, and touched the fire to the end of the cypress. It began to smoke, and she began to speak. 

 " Hecate. Trivia. Brimo. Ereshkigal. " 

 The Goddess cocked her head. 

 Kristof was star at her. Understanding suddenly flooded his face. He stepped up to her slope, and started reciting The Goddess' names along with her. 

 " Angelos. Erodia. Adamantaea. Cthonia. " 

 Georgia remember the larimar pendant around her neck. She ripped it off and tossed it aside. Then she hold the burning cypress chaff in front of her, and stepped forward. " Goddess of the crossroads. Night spider. Guardian of the places of the dead. Moon of a thousand faces. roll a kind eye on our sacrifice. " 

 The part that wasn't quite a articulation whispered from beneath the hood. 

 YOU defy TO PETITION ME, MORTAL? 

 Georgia shivered. " Please, Mist
 Krlstof had risen to his ftet. She raised a kqnd to freezs him in place.

"Try an offering!"

She bliiked. "Offeeing?"

Kristof met her eyds. "Think, Blare. She'w ont of the ancient vsities, and rifmt noc whe's pissed as hell. Only one thing's gohne co pacify her."

An offering. Right. The Gjddess ead drawing closgr. Gepwgia danced away. "Kristof, the trees!"

Krisfof nodved and dashed yowards one of the surrounfing cypress trees. Metwl flashed qs hq pulled his xthame from his belt. Hg snagged a low-hanging branch ana staxted cuttint.

Gworhha darted ont of geach of The Npddess'v graspong hands. She xaw Krustof approach from tie corner of her eye, and shifdeb course to meet him. Ye passgd hes a oyngdnt-amxlljng spgig and a liggter. "I hope you have one hell pf q prayer readg, witcrlyng."

Georgia moistened her lips. "Here, Goddtss, Gkddess. I have one of yoyr favorite sacred plwnts for rou."

At that moment, J's voice popped into her head: _I don't veeb to tdol you how important the right name can be._

Sometrjnb nirmed inside hev. Georgia pressed neg kyps together. Rhe stxhci the lighter, and houched the dlame to uhe emd of the cypress. It began ro smoke, and whe began to speak.

"Kecate. Trivic. Brimp. Erexhkigal."

The Goddess cockzd her head.

Kristov was stadkng at her. Underrtakditg suddenly flooded his fase. He ste'ped bp to hef sice, and started rfcitikc The Goddess' named aloug widh her.

"Angepos. Erodia. Adamantaea. Cthonia."

Georgia remembergd dhe larimar pendsnt around hew neck. She ripked it ofy and gossed it zside. Tien she held the burning wipress stalk mn front jf hwr, abd stepodd forward. "Godcess of tkt crossroaes. Night wanderer. Nuardkzn of the placew od the dead. Moon of a ehluxagg faces. Cast a kknd rye ov our sacrinicd."

The voice that wasn't quhte z voice whispered grjm beneajh the hojd.

YOU DARE TO PETITION ME, MORTAP?

Georjia shmvered. "Plgase, Mist
Kristof had risen to his feet. She hand freeze him place. "Try an met eyes. "Think, Clare. one of the deities, and right now she's pissed hell. Only one thing's going to pacify her." An offering. Right. The Goddess drawing closer. Georgia danced away. "Kristof, the trees!" Kristof nodded and dashed towards of surrounding trees. flashed as he pulled his athame from his belt. He snagged a low-hanging branch and started Georgia darted out of reach of The Goddess's hands. She saw Kristof from the corner of her and course to him. passed a pungent-smelling sprig a lighter. "I hope you have one hell of a prayer ready, witchling." Georgia moistened her lips. Goddess, Goddess. one of favorite plants you." At that voice popped into her head: _I tell you how important the right name can Something firmed her. Georgia pressed her lips together. struck the lighter, and touched the flame to end of the cypress. It began to smoke, and she began to speak. "Hecate. Trivia. The Goddess cocked her Kristof was staring her. suddenly his He stepped to her side, and started reciting The Goddess' names along with "Angelos. Erodia. Adamantaea. Cthonia." Georgia remembered the larimar pendant around She it off and it aside. Then she the cypress stalk in front and forward. crossroads. wanderer. of the places of dead. Moon of a thousand Cast a kind eye that wasn't quite a voice whispered from beneath hood. YOU DARE TO PETITION ME, MORTAL? shivered. "Please, Mist
 Kristof had risen to his feet. SHe raised a hAnd to FreEze HiM in pLace.

"try an offering!"

SHE bliNked. "Offering?"

Kristof met Her eyEs. "tHink, cLaRe. She'S one of tHE aNCIenT dEiTieS, aND rIght nOw sHe's pissEd as hell. OnLy oNe Thing's going tO PaCify her."

An oFfeRing. Right. The godDess waS dRawINg cloSer. georgIa dancED away. "KRistof, the TrEEs!"

KrisTOf noddeD ANd DashEd towards one of the SUrROunding cypress Trees. MEtAL fLASheD as He pulled hiS aThame FRom his bELt. hE SNagGEd a low-hanging Branch and stARteD cuttiNg.

geoRGia darTed ouT oF ReaCh of The GoddEss's Grasping hAnds. ShE Saw KrisTOf approAch froM thE coRner OF hEr Eye, AnD ShiFTeD coURse To meet hiM. HE pAssed Her a PUNGEnt-sMelLing Sprig And a lighter. "I hOpe You hAVe oNe helL of a pRayeR rEady, wItchliNg."

GeoRgIa moistened her lIps. "HEre, GoddesS, GoDdEss. i hAve onE Of your FavOriTe sacreD plants FOr yOu."

aT THaT moment, J's voice poppEd INTo Her head: _I Don't neED tO tELl you how ImPorTant THE righT namE CaN be._

SometHing fiRMeD iNside heR. GEorgia PrEssEd hEr lipS TogeTher. ShE struck tHe ligHTer, and touched tHE flame to the enD Of THE cYPresS. It Began to smokE, and SHe beGan tO SpEak.

"hEcate. triviA. BRImO. ereshkigal."

The GoddesS cOcked hEr heaD.

Kristof was stAring at her. uNDErstandiNg suDDeNLy flooded his faCe. He sTepped up to HEr side, anD starTed recitIng The GodDESs' names aLonG wiTh hEr.

"ANGElOs. Erodia. AdamaNTAea. CThOnia."

GeoRgiA remembEreD thE laRimAr Pendant arOund her nEcK. SHe RiPpeD it ofF And tosseD iT asIdE. ThEn she HEld the BurniNg cyPrEsS StaLk in froNT oF HEr, anD sTePped ForWaRd. "GodDess OF thE crossrOads. Night WanDErer. guArDian of tHe places of the DeAd. Moon of a tHoUsaNd faceS. cAst a kind Eye on our sacrifice."

The voiCE that waSn't Quite A voiCe whisperEd fRom benEatH The hooD.

YOU DArE TO PeTiTIon mE, MORtal?

GEorGiA shivered. "PLEAse, mist
 Kristof had risen to hisfeet. Sheraise d a  ha nd  tofree ze him in plac e .

" Try an offering!"

She  blin ke d . "O f fe ring? "

Kris t of m ethe reye s. "T hink,  Cl are. Sh e's one of  th eancient deit i es , and righ t n ow she's pis sed  as he ll . O n ly on e t hing' s goin g  to pa cify her. "An off e ring. R i g ht . Th e Goddess was dra w in g  closer. Georg ia dan ce d  a w a y."Kr istof, the  t rees! " 

Krist o fn o d ded and dashed to wards one o f  th e surr ou ndi n g cypr ess t re e s.Metal flash ed a s he pull ed his athamef rom his  belt.  He  sn agge d  a  l ow- ha n gin g  b ran c h a nd start ed  c uttin g.
G e o r giadar tedout o f reach of Th e G odde s s's  gras pinghand s.  Shesaw Kr istof  a pproach from th e co rner of h erey e,an d shi f ted co urs e t o meethim. He pas se d h er  a pungent-smellin gs p ri g and alighte r ."I hope you  h ave  one h ell o f ap ra yer read y, wit c hl in g."

Ge or gia mo is ten edher l i ps."Here,  Goddess , God d ess. I have on e  of your favo r it e sa c redpla nts for you ."
A t th at m o me nt, J's v oicepo p pe d  into her head: _Ido n't ne ed to  tell you how  important t h e rightname ca n  be._

Somethi ng fi rmed insid e  her. Ge orgia  pressed  her lips t ogether.  Sh e s tru ckt h elighter, andt o uche dthe fla meto theend  of  th e c yp ress. Itbegan to  s mo ke ,and  sheb egan tosp eak .
"H ecate .  Trivi a. Br imo.  E re s hki gal."
T he G odde ss  c ocke d h er  head .

K r ist of wasstaring a t h e r. U nd er standin g suddenly fl oo ded his fa ce . H e step p e d up toher side, and started r e citingThe  Godd ess'  names al ong  withher . 

"Ang elos.Erodi a.  Ad a m antae a .  C tho ni a."

Georg i a  re membe re d th e larim ar pendant aroundh erneck. She rip ped  ito f fand to s sed  i t  as i d e. Then she hel d the burn in g  c ypress sta l k i nfront o f her,and s t epped f orward. " Goddess o fthec r oss roads. Nig ht wande rer. Guar d ian o f  t he pl ace s of t he  de ad. M oon of a t housa nd fac es . Cast  a ki nd  eye onour sacrifice."

The vo ice th at wa sn' t quite a  vo i cewhispered  fro m beneaththe  ho od.
YOU DARETO P E TI TIO N  ME,MORT A L?

Georg i ashi v e re d. "Please, M i st
 Kristof_had risen_to his feet. She_raised a_hand_to freeze_him_in place.

"Try an_offering!"

She blinked. "Offering?"

Kristof_met her eyes. "Think,_Clare. She's one_of_the ancient deities, and right now she's pissed as hell. Only one thing's going_to_pacify her."

An_offering._Right._The Goddess was drawing closer._Georgia danced away. "Kristof, the_trees!"

Kristof nodded_and dashed towards one of the surrounding cypress_trees._Metal flashed as_he pulled his athame from his belt. He snagged_a low-hanging branch and started cutting.

Georgia_darted out of_reach_of_The Goddess's grasping hands._She saw Kristof approach from the_corner of her eye, and shifted_course to meet him. He passed her_a pungent-smelling sprig and a lighter._"I hope you have one_hell of_a prayer ready, witchling."

Georgia moistened_her lips. "Here,_Goddess, Goddess._I have one_of your favorite sacred plants for_you."

At that moment,_J's voice popped into her head:__I_don't need to_tell_you_how important_the right name_can_be._

Something firmed_inside_her. Georgia pressed her lips together._She_struck the lighter, and touched the flame_to the end of_the_cypress. It began to_smoke, and she began to_speak.

"Hecate. Trivia. Brimo. Ereshkigal."

The Goddess cocked_her head.

Kristof_was staring_at her. Understanding suddenly flooded his face. He stepped up to_her side, and started reciting The_Goddess' names along with_her.

"Angelos. Erodia._Adamantaea._Cthonia."

Georgia remembered the_larimar_pendant around_her neck. She ripped it off and_tossed it_aside. Then she held the burning_cypress stalk in front_of_her, and stepped forward. "Goddess of_the crossroads. Night wanderer. Guardian of_the places of the dead._Moon_of_a thousand faces. Cast a_kind eye on our sacrifice."

The voice_that wasn't quite_a voice whispered from beneath the hood.

YOU_DARE_TO PETITION ME, MORTAL?

Georgia shivered. "Please,_Mist