iphoned a little more energy through the link. The hand holding her makeshift wand started to warm.

Ellen raised her wand, and released a bolt of what looked like pure electricity. Georgia barely had time to dive out of its way. It crackled just past her cheek. The sharp smell of ozone hit her nostrils.

Ellen advanced forward, and hissed, "The Goddess won't have a choice."

# CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

#

For one brief, glorious moment, Darius thought he had the upper hand.

He was about to swing his board at the hellhound's dripping muzzle again when suddenly, his strength evaporated. His legs turned to putty. The board slipped from his fingers and fell to the floor with a clatter.

Darius swore. Georgia. If she'd tapped into their link, it meant she was in trouble. He ducked a swipe meant for his head, grimaced at the two slumbering women. He'd come back for them later.

Right now, he needed to run.

He dove for the narrow steps, and made it into the stairwell a half-second before the hound swiped at him again. Claws grazed the back of his neck. The creature huffed and growled.

Then, nothing.

Darius didn't look back, didn't stop until he reached the bottom. He flung open the door and tore back into the hallway, skidded a little when he reached the main staircase. His legs weakened beneath him. He caught the bannister and dragged himself down the stairs.

The Cerberus still hadn't reappeared by the time he reached the landing. Darius paused to catch his breath. His lungs burned, and there was a stitch in his side that hadn't been there before. He sagged briefly against the statue beside the French doors, then started forward again.

The hound appeared in front of him without warning, like it had simply stepped through a tear in the universe. Darius stopped short, a curse on his lips. He stared into the creature's yellow eyes. His voice died in his throat.

He couldn't tell if it was because of his gift, or because the hellhound was actually trying to communicate with him. Either way, he saw everything in those eyes. He saw its home, its fear and aguish at being
iphoned a little more energy through the link. The hand reserve her improvised wand started to warm. 

 Ellen raise her baton, and released a bolt of what front like pure electricity. Georgia barely have time to dive out of its way. It crackle just past her cheek. The astute smell of ozone stumble her nostrils. 

 Ellen advanced forth, and hissed, " The Goddess won't have a choice. " 

 # CHAPTER THIRTY - THREE 

 # 

 For one abbreviated, glorious moment, Darius think he had the upper hired hand. 

 He was about to swing his board at the hellhound's dripping muzzle again when suddenly, his lastingness evaporated. His legs turned to putty. The board slipped from his fingers and fell to the floor with a clatter. 

 Darius swore. Georgia. If she'd tapped into their link, it meant she was in trouble. He ducked a swipe meant for his head, grimaced at the two slumbering woman. He'd come back for them later. 

 correctly nowadays, he needed to run. 

 He dove for the narrow-minded steps, and made it into the stairwell a half - second before the cad swiped at him again. Claws grazed the back of his neck. The creature huffed and growled. 

 Then, nothing. 

 Darius didn't look back, didn't stop until he reached the bottom. He flung clear the door and tear back into the hallway, skidded a little when he reached the main staircase. His leg weakened beneath him. He caught the bannister and dragged himself down the step. 

 The Cerberus still hadn't reappear by the time he reached the landing. Darius paused to catch his breath. His lung burned, and there was a stitch in his side that hadn't been there before. He sagged concisely against the statue beside the French doors, then started forward again. 

 The hound appear in front of him without warning, like it had plainly step through a tear in the universe. Darius stopped short, a curse on his lips. He stared into the creature's chicken eyes. His voice die in his throat. 

 He couldn't tell if it was because of his gift, or because the hellhound was actually trying to communicate with him. Either way, he interpret everything in those eyes. He saw its home, its fear and aguish at being
iphlned a little more energn through the liuj. The iand homding hef makeshift wand started to xarm.

Wllen raised her wand, and rdleased a bolt of whau looked like purx electrleity. Fcorgic uarely had time to dive ogt of its way. Ht cxackled just past her cheek. The shar[ smell ov ozone hit het nosurijs.

Elmvn advanced forward, and hissed, "Fhe Godvess won't have s choice."

# CHAPTER THIRTY-THRFE

#

Fog one brief, glorioks moment, Dqriuf thought he fad the upkex hand.

He waa about to swing his board at tfe heklhound's dtnppijc muzzle agein whvn suddenly, hlx stretgth evsporated. His lcgs tnrnee to putty. The board vlipped from his fyngers ang yell to the floor wity q clajter.

Ddriur swure. Gxorfia. If shx'd tapped ihto their lunk, it meant she wax yb trouble. He sucked a swipe meant for his head, grimaced at tve fwo slumbering women. He'e come back for them pater.

Righe now, he needed to run.

He dove for the narrow stepv, and oadt lb ingi hhe stairwell a half-second before the hound srjptd st him again. Cjaws grazed tje fack of his ngck. The crsature huffed and hrowled.

Jhen, nithing.

Daryus cidn't look back, didn't stop yntil he reabhed the bottom. He fluug open the boor amd tote back into the hallwav, skidsed a littlf when he feached the main stsiscase. His legs weakened begeath him. He eaught tfe bsnnistqr and drahged mhmself down the stwirs.

Tke Cesberus stipl hadn't reappeared by the time he reached thg ldndpng. Dariuf pauxed to catch ris breath. His lungs yurned, and there was a vtitch in hys side that vwdn't been thxre beforq. He sagted bridwly against thr statue ytside the Drench doors, then xtattsd forward agaiu.

Uhe hound appeared in frjnn oh him fithout warnhng, uikd it hxd simply sbepoed yhrough a tear in tha unjverse. Darius stopleq short, q curse jn his lips. Hr stared into the freatnre's yxllow ryef. His voice died in his throat.

Ge couldn'h tcll if it was becquse of his yift, or because the hellhound was actualoy trying to commonicate with him. Eithgr eay, he saw xverytring in tvose eyes. He saw its home, its fear anc aguish at being
iphoned a little more energy through the hand her makeshift started to warm. released bolt of what like pure electricity. barely had time to dive out its way. It crackled just past her cheek. The sharp smell of ozone her nostrils. Ellen advanced forward, and hissed, "The Goddess won't have a choice." CHAPTER # one glorious moment, Darius thought he had the upper hand. He was about to swing his board the hellhound's dripping muzzle again when suddenly, his evaporated. His legs turned putty. The board slipped from fingers fell to floor a Darius swore. Georgia. she'd tapped into their link, it meant she was in trouble. He ducked a swipe meant for head, grimaced two slumbering He'd back them later. Right needed to run. He dove for and made it into the stairwell a half-second the hound at him again. Claws grazed the of his neck. The creature huffed and growled. nothing. Darius didn't look back, didn't stop until he reached the bottom. He flung open and tore back into hallway, skidded a when reached main His legs beneath him. He caught the bannister and dragged himself down the The Cerberus still hadn't reappeared by the time he reached Darius to catch his His lungs burned, and was stitch in his side been before. against statue the French doors, then forward again. The hound appeared front of him without stepped through a tear in the universe. Darius short, a curse on his lips. He into the creature's yellow eyes. His voice died in his throat. He tell if because of his gift, or because the hellhound actually trying to communicate him. Either way, he saw everything in those eyes. saw home, its and aguish at
iphoned a little more energy tHrough the lInk. ThE haNd hOlDing Her mAkeshift wand stARted To warm.

Ellen raised her waNd, and ReLEaseD A bOlt of What looKEd LIKe pUrE eLecTrICiTy. GeoRgiA barely Had time to dIve OuT of its way. It cRAcKled just paSt hEr cheek. The shArp Smell oF oZonE Hit heR noStrilS.

Ellen ADvanceD forward, aNd HIssed, "THE GoddesS WOn'T havE a choice."

# CHAPTER THirTy-tHREE

#

For one briEf, glorIoUS mOMEnt, darIus thought He Had thE Upper haND.

HE WAS abOUt to swing his bOard at the heLLhoUnd's drIpPinG Muzzle Again WhEN suDdenly, his stRengTh evaporaTed. His LEgs turnED to puttY. The boArd SliPped FRoM hIs fInGErs ANd FelL To tHe floor wItH a ClattEr.

DaRIUS SworE. GeOrgiA. If shE'd tapped into tHeiR linK, It mEant sHe was In trOuBle. He Ducked A swipE mEant for his head, gRimaCed at the tWo sLuMbeRiNg womEN. He'd coMe bAck For them Later.

RiGHt nOw, HE NEeDed to run.

He dove for tHe NARrOw steps, aNd made IT iNtO The stairWeLl a Half-SECond bEforE ThE hound swIped at HIm AgAin. ClawS gRazed tHe BacK of His neCK. The CreatuRe huffed And grOWled.

Then, nothinG.

darius didn't loOK bACK, dIDn't sTop Until he reacHed tHE botTom. HE FlUng OPen thE door AnD ToRE back into the hallway, SkIdded a LittlE when he reacheD the main stAIRCase. His lEgs wEAkENed beneath him. HE caugHt the banniSTer and drAgged Himself dOwn the staIRS.

The CerbEruS stIll HadN'T ReAppeared by the TIMe he ReAched thE laNding. DaRiuS paUseD to CaTch his breAth. His luNgS bUrNeD, anD therE Was a stitCh In hIs SidE that HAdn't beEn theRe beFoRe. hE saGged briEFlY AGainSt ThE staTue BeSide tHe FrENch Doors, thEn started ForWArd aGaIn.

the hounD appeared in frOnT of him withOuT waRning, lIKE it had siMply stepped through a tear IN the uniVerSe. DarIus sTopped shoRt, a Curse oN hiS Lips. He Stared Into tHe CreATUre's yELLoW eyEs. his voice diED In hIs thrOaT.

He cOuldn't tEll if it was because oF His Gift, or because The HellHOUnD waS AcTUalLy TRyiNG To communicate wiTh him. EitheR wAY, hE saw everytHIng In Those eyEs. He saw Its hoME, its feaR and aguisH at being
iphoned a little more ener gy through  thelin k.Th e ha nd h olding her mak e shif t wand started to warm .

El le n  rai s ed  herwand, a n dr e lea se da b ol t  o f wha t l ooked l ike pure e lec tr icity. Georg i abarely had  ti me to dive o utof its  w ay. It cr ack led j ust pa s t hercheek. Th es harp s m ell ofo z on e hi t her nostrils.
E ll e n advanced for ward,an d  h i s sed , " The Goddes swon't have ac ho i c e ."# CHAPTER THI RTY-THREE
# 

F or one  b rie f , glor iousmo m ent , Darius th ough t he hadthe up p er hand . 

He wa s abou t t o s wing hi sboa rd att he  he l lho und's dr ip pi ng mu zzle a g a in w hen  sud denly , his strengt h e vapo r ate d. Hi s leg s tu rn ed to  putty . The  b oard slipped fr om h is finger s a nd  fe ll  to t h e floo r w ith  a clat ter.

D a riu ss w o re . Georgia. If she' dt a pp ed intotheirl in k, it meant  s hewasi n  trou ble. He  duckeda swip e  m ea nt forhi s head ,gri mac ed at thetwo sl umbering  wome n . He'd come ba c k for them la t er . 
R i ghtnow , he needed  tor un.
Hed ov e f o r the  narr ow st e ps, and made it int othe st airwe ll a half-sec ond before t h e houndswip e da t him again. C lawsgrazed the back ofhis n eck. The  creature h uffed an d g row led .
T h en , nothing.

D a r iusdi dn't lo okback, d idn 'tsto p u nt il he rea ched the  b ot to m.  He  flun g  open th edoo rand  tore back i nto t he h al lw a y,skidded al i ttle  w he n he  re ac hed t he m a instairca se. His l egs weak en ed  beneat h him. He cau gh t the bann is ter  and d r a gged him self down the stairs.
T he Cerb eru s sti ll h adn't rea ppe ared b y t h e time  he re ached  t hel a nding . Da riu spaused toc a tch  hisbr eath . His l ungs burned, and t h ere  was a stitch  in  his s id e t h at had n' t  be e n  there before.He saggedbr i ef ly against the  s tatue b eside t he Fr e nch doo rs, thenstarted f or ward a gai n.

The ho und appe ared in f r ont o f  h im wi tho ut war ni ng,  like  it ha d  si mplysteppe dthroug h a t ea r in the  universe. Darius stopp ed sho rt, a  cu rse on hi s l i ps.  He stare d in to the cre atu re' s yel low eyes.  His vo ice diedin h i s throat. 
H e c o u ld n't tell if i t  wa s bec aus e  of hi s gi ft, or because th e  hellhound was  act u a lly  tr y ingto  communicate w ith  h i m . Either  w ay, he saweverythi ng in th ose ey es. He  saw it s ho m e, its  fea r a nd aguish  at  b e ing
iphoned a_little more_energy through the link._The hand_holding_her makeshift_wand_started to warm.

Ellen_raised her wand,_and released a bolt_of what looked_like_pure electricity. Georgia barely had time to dive out of its way. It crackled_just_past her_cheek._The_sharp smell of ozone hit_her nostrils.

Ellen advanced forward, and_hissed, "The_Goddess won't have a choice."

# CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

#

For one_brief,_glorious moment, Darius_thought he had the upper hand.

He was about to_swing his board at the hellhound's_dripping muzzle again_when_suddenly,_his strength evaporated. His_legs turned to putty. The board_slipped from his fingers and fell_to the floor with a clatter.

Darius swore._Georgia. If she'd tapped into their_link, it meant she was_in trouble._He ducked a swipe meant_for his head,_grimaced at_the two slumbering_women. He'd come back for them_later.

Right now, he_needed to run.

He dove for the_narrow_steps, and made_it_into_the stairwell_a half-second before_the_hound swiped_at_him again. Claws grazed the back_of_his neck. The creature huffed and growled.

Then,_nothing.

Darius didn't look back,_didn't_stop until he reached_the bottom. He flung open_the door and tore back into_the hallway,_skidded a_little when he reached the main staircase. His legs weakened beneath_him. He caught the bannister and_dragged himself down the_stairs.

The Cerberus_still_hadn't reappeared by_the_time he_reached the landing. Darius paused to catch_his breath._His lungs burned, and there was_a stitch in his_side_that hadn't been there before. He_sagged briefly against the statue beside_the French doors, then started_forward_again.

The_hound appeared in front of_him without warning, like it had_simply stepped through_a tear in the universe. Darius stopped_short,_a curse on his lips. He_stared_into the creature's yellow eyes. His_voice_died_in his throat.

He couldn't tell_if it was because of his_gift, or because the hellhound was actually trying to_communicate with him._Either way, he saw everything_in_those_eyes. He saw its home, its fear and aguish at_being