 at Darius, then turned back to J. "What's not real?"

J took a deep breath, and visibly pulled herself together. She looked from one of them to the other, her forehead furrowed. "Hellhounds."

# CHAPTER TWENTY

#

"Let me get this straight. You're saying I've got a hellhound on my trail?"

Georgia couldn't make up her mind whether to laugh or cry. The idea was ludicrous, of course—something straight out of a Robert Johnson song—but J's face was deadly serious.

"That's exactly what I'm saying, honey." The older woman reached out a shaky hand and scooped her rings off the coffee table. One by one, she began sliding them back into place.

Georgia turned to Darius. His face reflected everything she was feeling. He met her eyes, and something beyond words passed between them. Georgia let out the breath she'd forgotten she was holding. The knot in her chest loosened.

Darius looked at J. "What can you tell us?"

J spun her last ring around her little finger. "Nothing solid. I mean, like I said, there are stories. But that's all I thought they were." Her eyes grew dark. "When you said you needed help, I thought you meant you'd been crossed. Maybe needed a nice mojo made up. This..." She shook her head. "This is trouble like I've never seen."

Darius' jaw flexed. "Just give us what you've got."

J nodded. "Well, the physical signs you described match to the legends to a tee. Black as coal. Smell like burning brimstone. Razor sharp teeth. Super strength and speed." She looked from one of them to the other. "What color were its eyes?"

Georgia had to swallow hard before she could answer. "Yellow."

"Yellow," J repeated. A strange look crossed her face. "Depending on the story, the eyes can be either yellow or deep, glowing red. I wonder..."

Georgia arched an eyebrow.

J shook herself. "Anyhow, according to most stories, hellhounds can appear, disappear, change size at will. Traditionally, they've been associated with electrical storms, crossroads, places of execution, cemeteries..."
at Darius, then turned back to J. " What's not real? " 

 J took a deep hint, and visibly pull herself together. She looked from one of them to the early, her forehead furrow. " Hellhounds. " 

 # CHAPTER TWENTY 

 # 

 " permit me get this straight. You're say I've got a hellhound on my lead? " 

 Georgia couldn't make up her mind whether to laugh or cry. The idea was farcical, of course — something straight out of a Robert Johnson song — but J's face was deadly dangerous. 

 " That's exactly what I'm saying, honey. " The old woman reached out a shaky hand and scoop her rings off the coffee table. One by one, she began sliding them back into plaza. 

 Georgia turned to Darius. His face reflected everything she was feeling. He met her eyes, and something beyond words passed between them. Georgia let out the breath she'd forgotten she was holding. The knot in her chest loosened. 

 Darius looked at J. " What can you tell us? " 

 J spin her last ring around her short finger. " Nothing solid. I mean, like I said, there are story. But that's all I intend they were. " Her eyes grew blue. " When you said you needed help, I thought you meant you'd been crossed. possibly needed a nice mojo made up. This... " She shook her head. " This is trouble like I've never seen. " 

 Darius' jaw flexed. " merely give us what you've got. " 

 J nodded. " Well, the physical signs you trace match to the legends to a tee. Black as ember. Smell like burn brimstone. Razor sharp teeth. ace strength and speed. " She looked from one of them to the other. " What color were its eye? " 

 Georgia had to immerse hard before she could suffice. " Yellow. " 

 " Yellow, " J recur. A strange look cross her face. " count on the story, the eyes can be either yellow or deep, glowing red. I wonder... " 

 Georgia arched an eyebrow. 

 J shook herself. " Anyhow, according to most narrative, hellhounds can appear, vanish, change size at will. Traditionally, they've been associated with electrical storms, crossroads, position of execution, cemeteries... "
 at Darius, then turned back to J. "What's not real?"

J vook a seep brexth, and visibly pulled hersepf togeuker. She looked from une of thvm to the othtr, her forehead fndrowed. "Mzllhohkds."

# CKA'TER TWENTY

#

"Let ke get thiv straight. You'se scying I've got a hellhound on my traij?"

Georgis fouldn't make uk her iind whether to laugh or cry. The idea sas ludpcrous, of course—spmething straight out of a Robfrt Johnson song—buh J's face wqs dqqdly serious.

"Ghat's exaculv what I'm szying, honey." The older woman reazhed put a shaki gajg and scoopxd her rings off tmv coffea table. One by one, shc begen soiding them back into place.

Georgia turngd to Darigs. His face reflectwd everithinc shd war ftelmng. He meh hxr eyes, and something veyond words passed bqneeen them. Gekrgia jee out the breath she'd forgotten she was homding. The knot in her cyest loosened.

Darius lloked at T. "What can you tell us?"

J spun her last ring around her mkttoe wunher. "Nothing solid. I mean, like I said, there arq suorpes. But that's all I thought yhfy rere." Her eyes grew bzri. "When you said yok needeq help, I thougrt ypu meant you'd been crossed. Naybe needed q nice mojo made u'. This..." She skook hgr heac. "This is trouble like N've neber seen."

Darlus' jaw fmdxed. "Just give ur wmat you've got."

J nodded. "Well, thq physicao siyns you aesctibed mwtch to thf legctds to a tee. Black as clan. Smell line burning brimstone. Razor shar' teeth. Super sdretgth and speec." She looked srom one of thgm to the othef. "What colkr were its eyes?"

Gejrgia had to vaallow hard uefore shq coyld qnswer. "Hdllow."

"Yellow," J tepeated. C strqnge look crossed mer fxde. "Depending on tht wtory, the eyes cav bq vitier yqnlow or deep, glodine red. K wonder..."

Geovgix arvhed an eyebrow.

J shomk hsrself. "Anyhow, accotdlng to mowt storiqs, hellhounds can appear, disapptar, chenge smze at wijl. Traditionally, they've been aasociated wibh electrical stovms, srossroads, places of execution, cemeteries..."
at Darius, then turned back to J. real?" took a breath, and visibly from of them to other, her forehead "Hellhounds." # CHAPTER TWENTY # "Let get this straight. You're saying I've got a hellhound on my trail?" Georgia make up her mind whether to laugh or cry. The idea was ludicrous, course—something out a Johnson song—but J's face was deadly serious. "That's exactly what I'm saying, honey." The older woman out a shaky hand and scooped her rings the coffee table. One one, she began sliding them into Georgia turned Darius. face everything she was He met her eyes, and something beyond words passed between them. Georgia let out the breath she'd she was knot in chest Darius at J. "What tell us?" J spun her last little finger. "Nothing solid. I mean, like I there are But that's all I thought they Her eyes grew dark. "When you said you help, I thought you meant you'd been crossed. Maybe needed a nice mojo made up. shook her head. "This trouble like I've seen." jaw "Just us what got." J nodded. "Well, the physical signs you described match to legends to a tee. Black as coal. Smell like burning sharp Super strength and She looked from one them the other. "What color eyes?" had before could "Yellow." "Yellow," J repeated. strange look crossed her face. on the story, the or deep, glowing red. I wonder..." Georgia arched eyebrow. J shook herself. "Anyhow, according to stories, hellhounds can appear, disappear, change size at will. Traditionally, they've been with electrical places of execution, cemeteries..."
 at Darius, then turned back to J. "what's not reAl?"

J toOk a DeeP bReatH, and Visibly pulled hERselF together. She looked from One of ThEM to tHE oTher, hEr forehEAd FURroWeD. "HEllHoUNdS."

# CHAPtER tWENTY

#

"LEt me get thiS stRaIght. You're sayINg i've got a helLhoUnd on my trail?"

geoRgia coUlDn't MAke up Her Mind wHether TO laugh Or cry. The iDeA Was ludICrous, of COUrSe—soMething straight ouT Of A robert Johnson sOng—but j's FAcE WAs dEadLy serious.

"THaT's exaCTly what i'M sAYINg, hONey." The older woMan reached oUT a sHaky haNd And SCooped Her riNgS Off The coffee taBle. ONe by one, shE began SLiding tHEm back iNto plaCe.

GEorGia tURnEd To DArIUs. HIS fAce REflEcted eveRyThIng shE was FEELIng. HE meT her Eyes, aNd something beYonD worDS paSsed bEtweeN theM. GEorgiA let ouT the bReAth she'd forgotteN she Was holdinG. ThE kNot In Her chESt loosEneD.

DaRius looKed at J. "WHAt cAn YOU TeLl us?"

J spun her last riNg AROuNd her litTle finGEr. "noTHing soliD. I MeaN, likE i Said, tHere ARe Stories. BUt that'S AlL I Thought ThEy were." heR eyEs gRew daRK. "WheN you saId you neeDed heLP, I thought you meANt you'd been croSSeD. mAyBE neeDed A nice mojo maDe up. tHis..." SHe shOOk Her HEad. "ThIs is tRoUBlE Like I've never seen."

DarIuS' jaw flExed. "JUst give us what You've got."

J nODDEd. "Well, thE phySIcAL signs you descrIbed mAtch to the lEGends to a Tee. BlAck as coaL. Smell likE BUrning brImsTonE. RaZor SHArP teeth. Super stRENgth AnD speed." SHe lOoked frOm oNe oF thEm tO tHe other. "WhAt color wErE iTs EyEs?"

GEorgiA Had to swaLlOw hArD beFore sHE could AnsweR. "YelLoW."

"YELloW," J repeaTEd. a STranGe LoOk crOssEd Her faCe. "DePEndIng on thE story, the EyeS Can bE eItHer yellOw or deep, glowiNg Red. I wonder..."

geOrgIa archED An eyebroW.

J shook herself. "Anyhow, accORding to MosT storIes, hEllhounds Can Appear, DisAPpear, cHange sIze at WiLl. TRADitioNALlY, thEy'Ve been assoCIAteD with ElEctrIcal stoRms, crossroads, placeS Of eXecution, cemetEriEs..."
 at Darius, then turned ba ck to J. " What' s n otre al?" 

Jtook a deep br e ath,  and visibly pulled he rself  t o geth e r.  Shelookedf ro m one  o fthe mt othe o the r, herforehead f urr ow ed. "Hellhou n ds ."

# CHAP TER  TWENTY

#
"Le t me g et  th i s str aig ht. Y ou'res ayingI've gotah ellhou n d on my t ra il?" 

Georgia couldn' t  m a ke up her mind  wheth er to l aug h o r cry. The  i dea w a s ludic r ou s , ofc ourse—somethi ng straight out  of aRo ber t  Johns on so ng — but  J's face w as d eadly ser ious."That's exactly  whatI'm  sa ying ,  h on ey. "T heo ld erw oma n reache dou t a s haky h a n d an d s coop ed he r rings off t hecoff e e t able.  Oneby o ne , she  began  slid in g them back int o pl ace.

Geo rgi atur ne d toD arius.  Hi s f ace ref lectede ver yt h i n gshe was feeling. H em e ther eyes , ands om et h ing beyo nd  wo rdsp a ssedbetw e en  them. G eorgia le tout the  b reathsh e'd  fo rgott e n sh e washolding.  Thek not in her che s t loosened.
D ar i u sl ooke d a t J. "Whatcany ou t ellu s? "
J  spun  herla s tr ing around her litt le  finge r. "N othing solid.  I mean, l i k e  I said,  the r ea re stories. Bu t tha t's all It hought t hey w ere." He r eyes gr e w  dark. " Whe n y ousai d yo u needed help , I th ou ght you  me ant you 'dbee n c ros se d. Maybeneeded a  n ic emo jomadeu p. This. .. " S he  sh ook h e r head . "Th is i str o ubl e likeI 'v e neve rse en." 

D ar ius'jawf lex ed. "Ju st give u s w h at y ou 'v e got." 

J nodded. " We ll, the ph ys ica l sign s you desc ribed match to the lege n ds to a  te e. Bl ackas coal.Sme ll lik e b u rningbrimst one.Ra zor s harpt e et h.Su per streng t h  an d spe ed ." S he look ed from one of the m  to  the other. " Wha t co l o rwer e  i t s e ye s ?"G eorgia had to s wallow har db ef ore she co u ldan swer. " Yellow. "

"Y e llow,"J repeate d. A stra ng e lo o k  cr ossed herface. "D ependingo n the st ory,the  eyesca n b e eit her ye l low  or d eep, g lo wing r ed. I  w onder... "

Georgia arched an ey ebrow. 

J s hoo k herself . " A nyh ow, accor ding  to most s tor ies , hel lho u nds c an a p pe ar, disap pear ,  change s i ze  at w il l. Traditio n a l ly,  they 've been a ssoc iated with electr i cal storms, cr ossr o a ds,  pl a cesof  execution, ce met er i e s..."
 at_Darius, then_turned back to J._"What's not_real?"

J_took a_deep_breath, and visibly_pulled herself together._She looked from one_of them to_the_other, her forehead furrowed. "Hellhounds."

# CHAPTER TWENTY

#

"Let me get this straight. You're saying I've_got_a hellhound_on_my_trail?"

Georgia couldn't make up her_mind whether to laugh or_cry. The_idea was ludicrous, of course—something straight out of_a_Robert Johnson song—but_J's face was deadly serious.

"That's exactly what I'm saying,_honey." The older woman reached out_a shaky hand_and_scooped_her rings off the_coffee table. One by one, she_began sliding them back into place.

Georgia_turned to Darius. His face reflected everything_she was feeling. He met her_eyes, and something beyond words_passed between_them. Georgia let out the_breath she'd forgotten_she was_holding. The knot_in her chest loosened.

Darius looked at_J. "What can_you tell us?"

J spun her last_ring_around her little_finger._"Nothing_solid. I_mean, like I_said,_there are_stories._But that's all I thought they_were."_Her eyes grew dark. "When you said_you needed help, I_thought_you meant you'd been_crossed. Maybe needed a nice_mojo made up. This..." She shook_her head._"This is_trouble like I've never seen."

Darius' jaw flexed. "Just give us what_you've got."

J nodded. "Well, the physical_signs you described match_to the_legends_to a tee._Black_as coal._Smell like burning brimstone. Razor sharp teeth._Super strength_and speed." She looked from one_of them to the_other._"What color were its eyes?"

Georgia had_to swallow hard before she could_answer. "Yellow."

"Yellow," J repeated. A_strange_look_crossed her face. "Depending on_the story, the eyes can be_either yellow or_deep, glowing red. I wonder..."

Georgia arched an_eyebrow.

J_shook herself. "Anyhow, according to most_stories,_hellhounds can appear, disappear, change size_at_will._Traditionally, they've been associated with_electrical storms, crossroads, places of execution,_cemeteries..."