arius was already on his way out of the kitchen.

# CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

#

She doubted she'd be able to fall asleep, so she didn't try.

Georgia stood in front of her room's tall, double window. J had loaned her some nightclothes, but after quick deliberation, she'd opted not to use them. She'd never been comfortable in borrowed clothes. For tonight, her skin was enough.

She did make use of the bathrobe J had given her. The worn terrycloth was soft around her as she stared out into the night. Across the street, a chain link fence blocked off the waterline. Farther out, massive cranes glittered on a distant pier. Their orange lights winked against the black waters of the Bay.

The moon was high in the sky. Barely a week left until it reached full. Already, she could feel something building. Exactly what, she wasn't sure. Georgia pulled the robe a little tighter. A chill crept over her skin.

_A hellhound_. The thought wormed its way into her mind. Her heart kicked weakly. For all she knew, it was watching her now, weighing all her many sins, deciding on the most appropriate way to punish her. Wasn't that what hellhounds did, after all? Punish the wicked?

Maybe this was the threefold law kicking in. Her heart started to race. If her punishment was even half of what she deserved... Georgia swayed, and planted a hand against the window frame.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

There was only one person who would be knocking at this time of night. She crossed her arms. "Come in."

The door opened with barely a sound. It closed a second later. Darius' presence seemed to fill the small room. Georgia's pulse steadied without slowing down.

He didn't speak, and she didn't turn. They stood in silence for a few minutes. Then she drew a deep breath. "You know, my mom and I used to watch the moon together."

Darius' voice was gravelly. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." What the hell was she telling him for? Georgia moistened her lips. "Every night. We used to track it across the sky before we went to bed, measure all the different phases. It wasn
arius was already on his way out of the kitchen. 

 # CHAPTER TWENTY - ONE 

 # 

 She doubted she'd be able to fall asleep, so she didn't try. 

 Georgia stand in presence of her room's tall, double window. J had lend her some nightclothes, but after quick deliberation, she'd choose not to practice them. She'd never been comfortable in borrowed clothes. For tonight, her skin was enough. 

 She did make manipulation of the bathrobe J had given her. The worn terry was soft around her as she stared out into the night. Across the street, a chain link fence blocked off the waterline. Farther away, massive cranes glittered on a distant pier. Their orange light winked against the black water system of the Bay. 

 The moon was eminent in the sky. Barely a week left until it reached full. Already, she could find something building. Exactly what, she wasn't sure. Georgia pulled the robe a little tighter. A chill crept over her skin. 

 _ A hellhound _. The thought wormed its way into her mind. Her heart kicked weakly. For all she know, it was watching her now, weigh all her many sine, deciding on the most appropriate way to punish her. Wasn't that what hellhounds did, after all? Punish the wicked? 

 Maybe this was the treble law kicking in. Her heart started to race. If her punishment was even half of what she deserve... Georgia swayed, and planted a hand against the window frame. 

 A soft knock sounded at the doorway. 

 There constitute only one person who would be knocking at this time of nox. She crossed her arms. " Come in. " 

 The door opened with barely a sound. It closed a second later. Darius' bearing seemed to fill the small room. Georgia's pulse steadied without decelerate down. 

 He didn't speak, and she didn't change state. They stood in muteness for a few minutes. Then she describe a deep breath. " You know, my mom and I used to determine the moon together. " 

 Darius' voice was gravelly. " Yeah? " 

 " Yeah. " What the sin was she telling him for? Georgia moistened her lips. " Every night. We use to track it across the sky before we went to bed, quantify all the different phases. It wasn
ariks was already on his wan out of the kiteyen.

# CHEPTER TSENTY-ONE

#

Rhe doubted she'd be able to hall asleti, so she didn't try.

Geofgia stoof in frobt oh her room's tall, double window. M had ooaned her somg nightclothas, but after qgizk deliberation, she'd opted not to use them. Sne'f never been cjmfogtwble pn borrowed clothes. For tonight, her skpn was enough.

She cid make use of the bathrohe J had given her. The worn terryxlotr was soft aruund her as she stared out into the night. Across the rtreec, a chain lunj fftce blocked off nhe waterline. Farther out, maxsive cranes gkitveree on a distant pier. Tieir orange lights wynked agahnat the black watees of tve Bdy.

Thd moun sax gigh ij tie sky. Baremy a week lwft until it reachec slkl. Already, sge coujd feel something building. Exactly what, sve sasn't sure. Georgia pullwd the robe a little jighter. A shill crept over her skin.

_A hellhound_. The thought formev kts wwh ijto her mind. Her heart kicked weakly. For all fge kkew, it was watchlng her now, weighimg akj her many sivs, decnsihg on the most appgopriatg way ro punish her. Wasn't that what hellhounds did, after ajo? Punish the wickeb?

Maybe this cas thg threrfold law kicking in. Hex hearf started tl race. If fer punishment wxs vven half of what she deserved... Georgia wwayzd, and puantgd a hagd against the window frame.

A soft nnock smunded at hhe door.

There was only one person who would bg ktocning at chis tlme of night. Shq crossed her crms. "Comz in."

Thd door opehed witi barely a sjund. It closeg a second laver. Dariuf' prwsenxe seemda to fill the xmall room. Georgia's pulse steadied wibhout alowing down.

He bndb't speak, and shr dkdn'e nuri. Ther stood in sinencd fut a fdw minuuzs. Bhev shr drew a deep breath. "You know, my mom and I ufed to wqtch the moon togethet."

Darius' voice was hravenly. "Yeah?"

"Uear." What the hell was she tellinf him for? Gejrgia moisteged mer jips. "Every night. We used to track it across the sjy before we went ro bed, measure all jhe different 'hases. It wasn
arius was already on his way out kitchen. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE She doubted she'd so didn't try. Georgia in front of room's tall, double window. J had her some nightclothes, but after quick deliberation, she'd opted not to use them. never been comfortable in borrowed clothes. For tonight, her skin was enough. She make of bathrobe had given her. The worn terrycloth was soft around her as she stared out into the Across the street, a chain link fence blocked the waterline. Farther out, cranes glittered on a distant Their lights winked the waters the Bay. The was high in the sky. Barely a week left until it reached full. Already, she could feel building. Exactly wasn't sure. pulled robe little tighter. A over her skin. _A hellhound_. The way into her mind. Her heart kicked weakly. all she it was watching her now, weighing her many sins, deciding on the most appropriate to punish her. Wasn't that what hellhounds did, after all? Punish the wicked? Maybe this threefold law kicking in. heart started to If punishment even of what deserved... Georgia swayed, and planted a hand against the window frame. soft knock sounded at the door. There was only one would knocking at this of night. She crossed arms. in." The door opened a It later. presence to fill the small Georgia's pulse steadied without slowing He didn't speak, and in silence for a few minutes. Then she a deep breath. "You know, my mom I used to watch the moon together." Darius' voice was gravelly. "Yeah?" What the she telling him for? Georgia moistened her lips. night. We used to it across the sky before we went to bed, all different phases. wasn
arius was already on his way ouT of the kitcHen.

# CHaPTeR TwEnTY-OnE

#

ShE doubted she'd be ABle tO fall asleep, so she didn't tRy.

GeoRgIA stoOD iN fronT of her rOOm'S TAll, DoUbLe wInDOw. j had lOanEd her soMe nightcloTheS, bUt after quick DElIberation, sHe'd Opted not to usE thEm. She'd NeVer BEen coMfoRtablE in borROwed clOthes. For tOnIGht, her SKin was eNOUgH.

She Did make use of the baTHrOBe J had given her. the worN tERrYCLotH waS soft arounD hEr as sHE stared OUt INTO thE Night. Across thE street, a chaIN liNk fencE bLocKEd off tHe watErLIne. farther out, mAssiVe cranes gLitterED on a disTAnt pier. their oRanGe lIghtS WiNkEd aGaINst THe BlaCK waTers of thE BAy.

the moOn waS HIGH in tHe sKy. BaRely a Week left until It rEachED fuLl. AlrEady, sHe coUlD feel SomethIng buIlDing. Exactly what, She wAsn't sure. GEorGiA puLlEd the RObe a liTtlE tiGhter. A cHill crePT ovEr HER SkIn.

_A hellhound_. The thoUgHT WoRmed its wAy into HEr MiND. Her hearT kIckEd weAKLy. For All sHE kNew, it was WatchiNG hEr Now, weigHiNg all hEr ManY siNs, decIDing On the mOst approPriatE Way to punish her. wAsn't that what hELlHOUnDS did, AftEr all? Punish The wICked?

maybE ThIs wAS the tHreefOlD LaW Kicking in. Her heart stArTed to rAce. If Her punishment Was even halF OF What she dEserVEd... gEorgia swayed, anD planTed a hand agAInst the wIndow Frame.

A soFt knock soUNDed at the DooR.

ThEre Was ONLy One person who wOULd be KnOcking aT thIs time oF niGht. she CroSsEd her arms. "come in."

ThE dOoR oPeNed With bARely a souNd. it cLoSed A secoND later. dariuS' preSeNcE SeeMed to fiLL tHE SmalL rOoM. GeoRgiA's Pulse SteaDIed Without Slowing doWn.

HE Didn'T sPeAk, and shE didn't turn. TheY sTood in sileNcE foR a few mINUtes. Then She drew a deep breath. "You knOW, my mom aNd I Used tO watCh the moon TogEther."

DAriUS' voice Was graVelly. "yeAh?"

"YEAH." What THE hEll WaS she tellinG HIm fOr? GeoRgIa moIstened Her lips. "Every night. WE UseD to track it acrOss The sKY BeForE We WEnt To BEd, mEASure all the diffeRent phases. it WAsN
arius was already on his w ay out ofthe k itc hen .
# C HAPT ER TWENTY-ONE#

S he doubted she'd be ab le to  f a ll a s le ep, s o she d i dn ' t  tr y. 
Geo rg i astood  in  frontof her roo m's  t all, doublew in dow. J had  lo aned her som e n ightcl ot hes ,  butaft er qu ick de l iberat ion, she' do pted n o t to us e th em.She'd never beenc om f ortable in bor rowedcl o th e s . F ortonight, h er  skin was eno u gh . She did make useof the bath r obe  J had  g ive n  her.The w or n  te rrycloth wa s so ft around  her a s  she st a red out  intothe  ni ght. Ac ro ssth e  st r ee t,a  ch ain link  f en ce bl ocke d o f f th e w ater line.  Farther out,  ma ssiv e  cr anesglitt ered  o n a d istant  pier .Their orange li ghts  winked a gai ns t t he  blac k  water s o f t he Bay. 

The m o onwa s h ig h in the sky. Bare ly a  w eek left  until it  r e ached fu ll . A lrea d y , she  cou l dfeel som ething bu il ding. E xa ctly w ha t,she  wasn ' t su re. Ge orgia pu lledt he robe a litt l e tighter. Ac hi l l  c r eptove r her skin. 

_A hell houn d _.  Th e  thou ght w or m ed its way into her mi nd . Herheart  kicked weakl y. For all s h e knew,it w a sw atching her no w, we ighing all her many  sins , decidi ng on the m ost appr opr iat e w ayt o  p unish her. Wa s n 't t ha t whathel lhounds  di d,aft eral l? Punish  the wic ke d? 
Ma ybe  this was theth ree fo ldlaw k i ckingin. H er h ea rt sta rted to ra c e . If  h er  pun ish me nt wa s ev e n h alf ofwhat shedes e rved .. .Georgia  swayed, andpl anted a ha nd  ag ainstt h e window  frame.

A soft knock s o unded a t t he do or.
There wa s o nly on e p e rson w ho wou ld be  k noc k i ng at t hi s t im e of night . She  cros se d he r arms.  "Come in."

The d o oropened with b are ly a s ou nd. It clo se d  as e cond later. Dar ius' prese nc e  s eemed to f i llth e small  room.Georg i a's pul se steadi ed withou tslow i n g d own.

He d idn't sp eak, ands he di d n' t tur n.They s to odin si lencef ora few  minut es . Then  shedr ew a dee p breath. "You know, my  mom a nd Iuse d to watc h t h e m oon toget her. "

Darius'  vo ice  wasgra v elly.  "Ye a h? "
" Yeah. " Wh a t the hel l  w ass h etelling him f o r?Georg iam oisten ed h er lips. "Every n i ght. We used t o tr a c k i t a c ross  t he sky beforewewe n t  to bed,  m easure allthe diff er e nt ph ases.It was n
arius was_already on_his way out of_the kitchen.

#_CHAPTER_TWENTY-ONE

#

She doubted_she'd_be able to_fall asleep, so_she didn't try.

Georgia stood_in front of_her_room's tall, double window. J had loaned her some nightclothes, but after quick deliberation,_she'd_opted not_to_use_them. She'd never been comfortable_in borrowed clothes. For tonight,_her skin_was enough.

She did make use of the bathrobe_J_had given her._The worn terrycloth was soft around her as she_stared out into the night. Across_the street, a_chain_link_fence blocked off the_waterline. Farther out, massive cranes glittered_on a distant pier. Their orange_lights winked against the black waters of_the Bay.

The moon was high in_the sky. Barely a week_left until_it reached full. Already, she_could feel something_building. Exactly_what, she wasn't_sure. Georgia pulled the robe a_little tighter. A_chill crept over her skin.

_A hellhound_._The_thought wormed its_way_into_her mind._Her heart kicked_weakly._For all_she_knew, it was watching her now,_weighing_all her many sins, deciding on the_most appropriate way to_punish_her. Wasn't that what_hellhounds did, after all? Punish_the wicked?

Maybe this was the threefold_law kicking_in. Her_heart started to race. If her punishment was even half of_what she deserved... Georgia swayed, and_planted a hand against_the window_frame.

A_soft knock sounded_at_the door.

There_was only one person who would be_knocking at_this time of night. She crossed_her arms. "Come in."

The_door_opened with barely a sound. It_closed a second later. Darius' presence_seemed to fill the small_room._Georgia's_pulse steadied without slowing down.

He_didn't speak, and she didn't turn._They stood in_silence for a few minutes. Then she_drew_a deep breath. "You know, my_mom_and I used to watch the_moon_together."

Darius'_voice was gravelly. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." What_the hell was she telling him_for? Georgia moistened her lips. "Every night. We used_to track it_across the sky before we_went_to_bed, measure all the different phases. It wasn