unted. "What the fuck are you doing?"

Georgia swallowed hard. "It wants me, right? Maybe it'll leave you alone if—"

"Absolutely not." She heard him struggle to his feet behind her. "No way are you going full-martyr on me. Not if I have anything to—"

The creature charged. Darius swore, and Georgia braced herself. Maybe it wouldn't kill her. Maybe if she just did what it wanted, it would let her go. At the very least, maybe she could get through to it somehow, convince it to leave Darius alone...

And maybe Hell wasn't hot.

The smell of brimstone and rank animal made her eyes water. Georgia held her ground. Darius clutched her arm and tried to drag her back, but his injury was showing. All he managed was a weak tug.

Suddenly, the creature stopped short. It huffed belligerently, paced one way, then the other.

Georgia blinked. "What the...?" Understanding slammed through her. "Of course. Of _course_."

"What? What the hell is—"

Georgia whirled, closed her fist around his St. Michael and yanked. The chain snapped. Darius growled. "You'd better have a damn good—"

Georgia faced the creature again and held the medal in front of her. It recoiled, snorted and pawed at the ground.

Darius gaped. "Well, I'll be damned."

Georgia didn't allow herself to dwell on the triumph that warmed her chest. She kept the hand holding the medal outstretched, hooked her free hand under Darius' arm. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

# CHAPTER TWELVE

#

Darius tried to find a comfortable position on Georgia's saggy couch.

In the street below, the creature let out howl after piercing howl. The sound easily penetrated the garbage bag that still covered the bay window. Georgia stood beside it, forehead drawn, a black candle in her hand. The wards protecting the apartment buzzed indignantly.

An eternity seemed to stretch by before the howling finally ceased. An unnatural silence blanketed the street. Georgia let out a breath and turned around. Her face was an unhealthy shade of gray.

Darius started to stand. Deep
unted. " What the fuck are you doing? " 

 Georgia swallowed hard. " It wants me, proper? possibly it'll leave you alone if — " 

 " Absolutely not. " She heard him contend to his foot behind her. " No way are you going entire - martyr on me. Not if I have anything to — " 

 The creature charge. Darius swore, and Georgia braced herself. possibly it wouldn't kill her. Maybe if she just did what it want, it would let her fail. At the very least, maybe she could get through to it somehow, convert it to leave Darius alone... 

 And maybe Hell wasn't blistering. 

 The smell of brimstone and rank animal made her eyes water. Georgia hold her ground. Darius clutched her arm and tried to drag her back, but his wound was showing. All he managed was a weak tug. 

 Suddenly, the creature check short. It huffed belligerently, paced one way, then the other. 

 Georgia blinked. " What the... ? " Understanding slammed through her. " Of course. Of _ course _. " 

 " What? What the sin is — " 

 Georgia twirl, closed her fist around his St. Michael and yank. The range snapped. Darius growled. " You'd better have a bloody good — " 

 Georgia face the creature again and held the decoration in front of her. It recoiled, snorted and pawed at the ground. 

 Darius gaped. " Well, I'll be damned. " 

 Georgia didn't allow herself to dwell on the triumph that warmed her chest. She keep the hand hold the medal outstretched, hooked her free hand under Darius' arm. " derive on. Let's get out of here. " 

 # CHAPTER TWELVE 

 # 

 Darius tried to witness a comfortable status on Georgia's saggy couch. 

 In the street below, the animal let out howl after piercing howl. The sound easily penetrated the drivel bag that still covered the bay windowpane. Georgia stood beside it, forehead drawn, a bootleg candle in her hand. The wards protecting the apartment buzzed indignantly. 

 An eternity seemed to extend by before the howling finally ceased. An unnatural silence blanketed the street. Georgia let out a breath and turned about. Her face was an unhealthy nuance of gray. 

 Darius started to stand. Deep
untfd. "What the fuck are you doing?"

Georgia scqllowev hard. "Jt wants me, right? Maybe it'll leave ylu alont if—"

"Absolutely not." Rhe heard him strygglt to his feet behmhd her. "Kj wag are bou going full-msrtyr on ma. Not if I hava xnvthing to—"

The creature charged. Darius swore, snf Georgia bracgd hegsqlf. Jaybe it wouldn't kill her. Maybe if she juvt did what iy wanted, it would let her ho. Ah the very least, mwybe she coomd dwt through tu it somehow, convince jt to leave Darius alone...

And mayce Hekl wasn't hit.

Rhe vmell of brmmstonv and rank anlkal mage her ryes water. Geovgia ield her ground. Darius clntched her arm and ttied to drdg her back, but his ibjury was shodung. Alm ie janagef wes a weak thg.

Suddenly, rhe creature stoppec fyort. It huffes bellygqrently, paced one way, then the other.

Geoggia blinked. "What the...?" Underwtanding slammed throogh her. "Of course. Of _course_."

"What? What the hell is—"

Georgia whisled, rluseb her wush around his St. Michael and yanked. The chain fhakpec. Darius growlcd. "You'd better havr w cwmn good—"

Georgka faczs fhe creature again and hejd thw medal ig frpnt of her. It recoiled, snorred and paweb ar the ground.

Darius gaped. "Well, I'll be dsmned."

Georgia didn't alloc hersslf to dwelp on the ffiumph that warmdd mer chest. She kept the hand hjlding thx medcl outstfetcned, hojked her fgee hand under Darius' arl. "Comg on. Lat's get ouh of here."

# CHAPTER TWELVE

#

Darius vcied to find s womxortable posibion on Georgia'f saggy couch.

Iu the stxeet bdlow, the cgeature lxt out howl wfter piercinc howl. The sonnd easilr pebetrqted thd garbage bag tnat still covered tye bay window. Geornia sjokd beside it, foxtheqd drawn, a blacl cxndje ii her vand. The wargs pfotdvting the apartmcnt buzaed indignantly.

An etarnify seemed to stretvh by befote the horling finally ceased. An unnaturwl sinenre blamkejed the street. Georgia let out z breath wnd turned arougd. Hcr fwce was an unhealthy shade of gray.

Darius started vo stand. Deep
unted. "What the fuck are you doing?" hard. wants me, Maybe it'll leave She him struggle to feet behind her. way are you going full-martyr on Not if I have anything to—" The creature charged. Darius swore, and Georgia herself. Maybe it wouldn't kill her. Maybe if she just did what it it let go. the very least, maybe she could get through to it somehow, convince it to leave Darius And maybe Hell wasn't hot. The smell of and rank animal made eyes water. Georgia held her Darius her arm tried drag back, but his was showing. All he managed was a weak tug. Suddenly, the creature stopped short. It huffed belligerently, one way, other. Georgia "What Understanding through her. "Of _course_." "What? What the hell is—" her fist around his St. Michael and yanked. chain snapped. growled. "You'd better have a damn Georgia faced the creature again and held the in front of her. It recoiled, snorted and pawed at the ground. Darius gaped. "Well, damned." Georgia didn't allow to dwell on triumph warmed chest. kept the holding the medal outstretched, hooked her free hand under Darius' arm. on. Let's get out of here." # CHAPTER TWELVE # to a comfortable position Georgia's saggy couch. In street the creature let out piercing The the bag still covered the bay Georgia stood beside it, forehead a black candle in the apartment buzzed indignantly. An eternity seemed to by before the howling finally ceased. An silence blanketed the street. Georgia let out a breath and turned around. face was shade of gray. Darius started to stand. Deep
unted. "What the fuck are you doiNg?"

Georgia sWalloWed HarD. "IT wanTs me, Right? Maybe it'll LEave You alone if—"

"Absolutely noT." She hEaRD him STrUggle To his feET bEHInd HeR. "NO waY aRE yOu goiNg fUll-martYr on me. Not iF I hAvE anything to—"

THE cReature chaRgeD. Darius swore, And georgiA bRacED hersElf. maybe It woulDN't kill Her. Maybe iF sHE just dID what it WANtEd, it Would let her go. At thE VeRY least, maybe she Could gEt THrOUGh tO it Somehow, conViNce it TO leave DARiUS ALonE...

and maybe Hell wAsn't hot.

The sMEll Of brimStOne ANd rank AnimaL mADe hEr eyes water. georGia held heR grounD. darius cLUtched hEr arm aNd tRieD to dRAg HeR baCk, BUt hIS iNjuRY waS showing. alL hE manaGed wAS A WEak tUg.

SUddeNly, thE creature stopPed ShorT. it hUffed BelliGereNtLy, pacEd one wAy, theN tHe other.

Georgia bLinkEd. "What the...?" undErStaNdIng slAMmed thRouGh hEr. "Of couRse. Of _coURse_."

"whAT? wHaT the hell is—"

Georgia wHiRLEd, Closed heR fist aROuNd HIs St. MichAeL anD yanKED. The cHain SNaPped. DariUs growLEd. "yoU'd betteR hAve a daMn GooD—"

GeOrgia FAced The creAture agaIn and HEld the medal in fROnt of her. It recOIlED, SnORted And Pawed at the gRounD.

dariUs gaPEd. "welL, i'll be DamneD."

GEOrGIa didn't allow herself To Dwell oN the tRiumph that warMed her chesT. sHE kept the Hand HOlDIng the medal outStretChed, hooked HEr free haNd undEr Darius' Arm. "Come on. lET's get out Of hEre."

# cHApTEr twElVE

#

Darius trieD TO finD a ComfortAblE positiOn oN GeOrgIa's SaGgy couch.

IN the streEt BeLoW, tHe cReatuRE let out hOwL afTeR piErcinG Howl. ThE sounD easIlY pENetRated thE GaRBAge bAg ThAt stIll CoVered The bAY wiNdow. GeoRgia stood BesIDe it, FoReHead draWn, a black candlE iN her hand. ThE wArdS proteCTIng the apArtment buzzed indignantlY.

an eternIty SeemeD to sTretch by bEfoRe the hOwlINg finaLly ceaSed. An UnNatURAl silENCe BlaNkEted the strEET. GeOrgia LeT out A breath And turned around. Her FAce Was an unhealthY shAde oF GRaY.

DaRIuS StaRtED to STAnd. Deep
unted. "What the fuck areyou doing? "

Ge org iasw allo wedhard. "It want s  me,  right? Maybe it'll le ave y ou alon e  i f—"
"Absolu t el y not ."  S hehe a rd  himstr uggle t o his feet  be hi nd her. "Now ay  are you g oin g full-marty r o n me.No t i f  I ha veanyth ing to — "

The  creature  c h arged. Dariuss w or e, a nd Georgia braced he r self. Maybe it  would n' t  k i l l h er.  Maybe ifsh e jus t  did wh a ti t wan t ed, it wouldlet her go. Atthe ve ry  le a st, ma ybe s he cou ld get thro ughto it som ehow,c onvince it to l eave D ari usalon e .. .
An dm ayb e  H ell was n't hot. 
Th e sme ll o f b r imst one  and  rank  animal madeher  eye s  wa ter.Georg ia h el d her  groun d. Da ri us clutched her  arm  and trie d t odra gher b a ck, bu t h isinjurywas sho w ing .A l l  h e managed was a we ak t ug .

Sudde nly, t h ecr e ature st op ped  sho r t . Ithuff e dbelliger ently, pa ce d one w ay , then  t heoth er.
G eorg ia bli nked. "W hat t h e...?" Underst a nding slammed th r o ug h  her . " Of course.Of _ c ours e_." 
" Wha t ? Wha t the  h e ll is—"

Georgia whirl ed , clos ed he r fist around  his St. M i c h ael andyank e d. The chain snap ped.Darius gro w led. "Yo u'd b etter ha ve a damn g ood—"

G eor gia  fa ced t he  creature aga i n  and  h eld the  me dal infro ntofher .It recoil ed, snor te dan dpaw ed at the grou nd .
Da riu s gap e d. "We ll, I 'llbe  d a mne d."

Ge o rg i a  did n' tallo w h er selfto d w ell  on the  triumphtha t  war me dher che st. She keptth e hand hol di ngthe me d a l outstr etched, hooked her free hand un der  Dari us'arm. "Com e o n. Let 'sg et out  of he re."
#  CH A P TER T W E LV E
#
Darius tr i e d t o fin da co mfortab le position on Geo r gia 's saggy couc h.
Int h estr e et bel ow ,  th e creature let ou t howl aft er pi ercing how l . T he  soundeasilypenet r ated th e garbage  bag that  s till c ove red the ba y window . Georgia stood be sideit,  foreh ea d d rawn,  a bla c k c andle  in he rhand.The w ar ds prote cting the apartment buz zed in digna ntl y.

An et ern i tyseemed to  str etch by be for e t he ho wli n g fin ally ce ase d . Anunna t ural sile n ce  bl a n ke ted the str e e t . G eorgi a l e t outa br eath and turned a r ound. Her face  was a n u nhe a lthy  s hade of gray.
Da ri u s  started  t o stand. De ep
unted. "What_the fuck_are you doing?"

Georgia swallowed_hard. "It_wants_me, right?_Maybe_it'll leave you_alone if—"

"Absolutely not."_She heard him struggle_to his feet_behind_her. "No way are you going full-martyr on me. Not if I have anything_to—"

The_creature charged._Darius_swore,_and Georgia braced herself. Maybe_it wouldn't kill her. Maybe_if she_just did what it wanted, it would let_her_go. At the_very least, maybe she could get through to it_somehow, convince it to leave Darius_alone...

And maybe Hell_wasn't_hot.

The_smell of brimstone and_rank animal made her eyes water._Georgia held her ground. Darius clutched_her arm and tried to drag her_back, but his injury was showing._All he managed was a_weak tug.

Suddenly,_the creature stopped short. It_huffed belligerently, paced_one way,_then the other.

Georgia_blinked. "What the...?" Understanding slammed through_her. "Of course._Of _course_."

"What? What the hell is—"

Georgia_whirled,_closed her fist_around_his_St. Michael_and yanked. The_chain_snapped. Darius_growled._"You'd better have a damn good—"

Georgia_faced_the creature again and held the medal_in front of her._It_recoiled, snorted and pawed_at the ground.

Darius gaped. "Well,_I'll be damned."

Georgia didn't allow herself_to dwell_on the_triumph that warmed her chest. She kept the hand holding the_medal outstretched, hooked her free hand_under Darius' arm. "Come_on. Let's_get_out of here."

#_CHAPTER_TWELVE

#

Darius tried_to find a comfortable position on Georgia's_saggy couch.

In_the street below, the creature let_out howl after piercing_howl._The sound easily penetrated the garbage_bag that still covered the bay_window. Georgia stood beside it,_forehead_drawn,_a black candle in her_hand. The wards protecting the apartment_buzzed indignantly.

An eternity_seemed to stretch by before the howling_finally_ceased. An unnatural silence blanketed the_street._Georgia let out a breath and_turned_around._Her face was an unhealthy_shade of gray.

Darius started to stand._Deep