“Are you ready?” Theo asked as they paused at the edge of the woods and glanced at the huge ancient trees.
She nodded, squeezing his hand in assurance before they both disappeared under the huge canopy of half-bare trees. The ground was littered with a carpet of colorful leaves that crunched underfoot with every step. For Olivia, it was like stepping straight back into her childhood. Apart from the night she had stumbled drunkenly across Adam Miller’s body and the night she had wandered in a dream-like trance, she hadn’t set foot inside the woods since she’d returned home.
The rusty, slightly damp smell was familiar and oddly comforting. She’d allowed the murders and her own fear to change her love for this place into something darker, but the truth was these were her woods and that would never change.
They moved forward warily, deeper into the trees, but nothing seemed amiss. The stillness was punctuated every now and then by the ripple of leaves falling or the rustle of small creatures burrowing into the undergrowth. A bird’s cry echoed high above them, but they didn’t pause or slow down, knowing that soon they would lose the light, and they definitely didn’t want to be caught there after darkness fell.
The closer they got to the clearing, the quieter the woods became; Theo felt the hairs at the nape of his neck rise. Suddenly, the tree line opened, and he got his first look at the clearing.
The Hollow speared up from the center, twisted and cruel looking. The ground itself was nothing but hardened mud. Olivia was right, nothing grew here, not even a stray weed.
“Look at this,” Olivia called to him.
She stood in front of one of the trees encircling the clearing. Pulling away some of the moss covering the thick trunk, she traced her fingers along the markings carved deep into the bark.
“These are wards.” She moved to the next tree and found another one. “And they’re old, very old.”
“Are they here to protect the circle?”
“No,” she decided. “More like the other way around. They were designed to keep something in the circle from getting out.”
She stroked the bark of the tree and closed her eyes. She could feel the low thrum of power surrounding the clearing. It was weak but still there.
“You said that Hester sealed the devil’s trap with her own blood?”
Olivia nodded. “Blood magic. It’s very old and very powerful,” she replied. “Even I don’t have the skill necessary for something like that.”
“Do you think Hester placed these wards on the trees?”
“I would imagine so.” Olivia glanced into the center of the clearing, her gaze falling on the dead tree. “Is there really a demon locked in there?” she murmured.
“Let’s take a closer look.”
“Theo, no!” She reached for him, but it was too late. He had stepped across the line.
“What?” He turned back to look at her.
She opened her mouth, but a sudden growl had her eyes widening in alarm. Both turned, their eyes scanning their surroundings, but they couldn’t see anything. The growl came again, closer and more chilling. Theo grabbed Olivia’s hand and yanked her close to his side.
“RUN!”
Holding hands tightly, they darted into the woods. Olivia tried to steer them through the trees back toward the house and the safety of her protective wards, but every time they turned in the right direction, the growling was in front of them. It didn’t take long for them to realize they were being herded further and further away from the safety of the house.
They finally broke through the tree line and came to a grinding halt. Far from home, they were standing at the edge of a sheer drop down into the icy waters of the lake. The shoreline had obviously eroded over time, causing earth to tumble into the water, leaving no easy way down. Sharp, jagged rocks just below the water’s surface also meant they couldn’t jump. Turning back, they watched a shape emerge from the woods. It rippled like a mirage in the dying light The growl was deep and menacing as the churning mass coalesced into a solid form. Theo’s eyes widened and he pushed Olivia behind him, drawing his weapon and releasing the safety.
“Another hellhound,” Olivia gasped.
The beast took a slow step toward them, like it was stalking them. Theo raised the gun and aimed. Olivia’s heart pounded wildly in her chest, adrenaline surging through her veins like fire. There was a strange, tinny ringing in her ears and a feeling of detachment washed over her. She felt as if she’d stepped outside her body and once again left her emotions behind. Now able to view the perilous situation with a clinical indifference, she became aware of someone standing behind her.
“Metal and gunpowder will not harm it,” a familiar voice murmured in her ear. “It is a creature of the Hell dimensions, and only a weapon of Hell can stop it.”
Olivia turned, her gaze falling on the beautiful form of the goddess Diana. She was dressed the same as when she had appeared to Olivia in front of her house the night they had encountered the first hellhound. How had she forgotten?
“How?” Olivia’s thoughts drew back to the hellhound as it released another wet, menacing growl.
“The fire, daughter. You called it forth before, and it will heed your call again.”
“I’m afraid.” Olivia swallowed as her heart began to pound.
