 the others weren't satisfied with just gathering under the dark moon and dancing widdershins around a statue of the Triple Goddess. They started dabbling in death magic, gathering strength and stockpiling power in secret."

Darius whistled quietly.

Georgia nodded. "It was as bad as it sounds. Magic is meant to be worked, not stored. If you keep it too long, eventually it turns necrotic, and will rot out whoever tries to use it. Not just their body, but their soul. Their essence. It destroys the core of who they are."

Darius grimaced. "I'm guessing the Witching Council didn't look too kindly on that."

"You could say that." Georgia looked down. "Black witches tend not to get the benefit of a trial when things go bad. The Council ordered a cleansing of the entire coven. A pogrom, essentially. My mother barely escaped the city with her life. Of all the black witches, she was the only survivor."

She closed her eyes. Her mother had talked about the other witches throughout her childhood, so much that she felt like she knew them. There was Bill Bevel, who could transmogrify into a cricket during the new moon. Antonella Peters, who could scry the future in a cup of Lapsang Suchong. They hadn't all been guilty of the crimes laid at their feet.

In the end, it hadn't mattered.

She opened her eyes again. "The Council chased Mom all the way to Auburn, out near Sacramento. They gave her a reprieve when they found out she was pregnant. With me. It caused a massive rift in opinion. Even today, there are plenty of witches around here who think we both should have died." She curled her lip. "Never suffer a black witch to live, I guess."

Darius didn't say anything. He just looked at her, his face yet another mask she couldn't read.

Georgia waited a few minutes, then sighed loudly. "Say something, would you?"

Darius stood, picked up the manila envelope and tucked it under his arm. "I think I have an idea who might know something about this."

Georgia blinked. His eyes lingered on her a moment longer, then he started towards the exit. Georgia watched him go, deflated a little with every step he took
the others weren't satisfied with just gathering under the dark lunar month and dance widdershins around a statue of the Triple Goddess. They started dabbling in death magic trick, gathering strength and stockpiling world power in secret. " 

 Darius whistled softly. 

 Georgia nodded. " It was as regretful as it sounds. Magic is meant to be worked, not stored. If you observe it too long, eventually it turns necrotic, and will rot out whoever tries to practice it. Not just their body, but their soul. Their effect. It destroys the core of who they are. " 

 Darius grimace. " I'm guessing the Witching Council didn't search too kindly on that. " 

 " You could say that. " Georgia looked down. " Black witches tend not to catch the benefit of a trial when things go bad. The Council ordered a cleaning of the integral coven. A pogrom, basically. My mother barely escaped the city with her life. Of all the black witches, she was the only survivor. " 

 She closed her eye. Her mother had talk about the other hag throughout her childhood, therefore much that she felt like she knew them. There constitute Bill Bevel, who could transmogrify into a cricket during the new moon. Antonella Peters, who could scry the future in a cup of Lapsang Suchong. They hadn't all been guilty of the crimes lay at their feet. 

 In the end, it hadn't mattered. 

 She opened her eye again. " The Council chased Mom all the way to Auburn, out near Sacramento. They gave her a reprieve when they found out she was meaning. With me. It caused a massive rift in opinion. Even today, there are plenty of wiccan around here who think we both should have died. " She curled her sass. " Never suffer a black witch to live, I estimate. " 

 Darius didn't say anything. He precisely looked at her, his face so far another mask she couldn't take. 

 Georgia waited a few minute, then sighed forte. " Say something, would you? " 

 Darius stood, picked up the manila envelope and tucked it under his arm. " I intend I have an idea who might know something about this. " 

 Georgia blinked. His eyes lingered on her a moment longer, then he started towards the exit. Georgia watch him go, deflated a small with every step he took
 thf others weren't satisfiea with just gatkwring nnder tge dark ooon and dancing widdershins aeound a statue of the Tripld Goddess. They stqrtev dabbling in deefh magig, gatgcring wtrength and sjockpiling pmwer in secret."

Gafibs whistled quietly.

Georgia nodded. "It was as bwd as it soundf. Mabyc ia meant to be worked, not stored. If you ketp it too long, evemtually it turns necrotic, wnd aill rot out whoevfr tries to use ut. Not just gheir body, but their skul. Their essence. It destroys tfe coxe of who tyet agg."

Darius grimeced. "I'i guessing tmv Witchhng Coumcil didn't lool tmo jindly on that."

"You cound say that." Georgiw looked gocn. "Black witches tend nit to get the vendfiu oh a trial whxn things gk bad. The Ciuncil ordered a cltanfpmg of the enfire cjvqn. A pogrom, essentially. My mother barelj esdaped the city with her life. Of all the blacn witches, she was the only survivor."

She closed her eyes. Her mothxr hab talkde wbout the other witches throughout her childhjkd, sp much that shc felt like she knrw tngm. There was Bkll Bersl, who could transmohrify igto a cricket qurimg the new moon. Antonella Pwters, who colld wcry the future in a cup of Lcpsang Suchpng. They hadn't all been guimty of the frimes laja at their feet.

Iv tme and, it hadn't mattered.

She o[ened her eyex again. "The Councyl chased Lom all the way to Auburj, out naar Sacramfnto. They gave her a reprieve wixn they found ogt vhe was 'regnakt. With me. It cwused a massivg rift in opinkon. Even tkday, thxre are pleney of witches wround here xho think we voth should fave died." She vurled heg jip. "Bever suffer a blagk wijcg to live, I guews."

Dqrius didn't say anhthynh. Ie jufd looked at ver, fis gace het anouker oask she couldn't read.

Geosgia waited a few minuyef, then sughed lotdly. "Say someyhing, would you?"

Darlus svood, pmcked ip jhe manila envelope and tucked jt under jis arm. "I think I hqve an idea cho might know something about this."

Georgma blinked. His eyes lintered on her a momeut longer, thei he searted tofards the exit. Georgua watched him go, deflated a little wifh evesy stfp he took
the others weren't satisfied with just gathering dark and dancing around a statue started in death magic, strength and stockpiling in secret." Darius whistled quietly. Georgia "It was as bad as it sounds. Magic is meant to be worked, stored. If you keep it too long, eventually it turns necrotic, and will out tries use Not just their body, but their soul. Their essence. It destroys the core of who they Darius grimaced. "I'm guessing the Witching Council didn't too kindly on that." could say that." Georgia looked "Black tend not get benefit a trial when go bad. The Council ordered a cleansing of the entire coven. A pogrom, essentially. My mother barely the city life. Of the witches, was the only closed her eyes. Her mother had other witches throughout her childhood, so much that felt like knew them. There was Bill Bevel, could transmogrify into a cricket during the new Antonella Peters, who could scry the future in a cup of Lapsang Suchong. They hadn't guilty of the crimes at their feet. the it mattered. opened her again. "The Council chased Mom all the way to Auburn, out Sacramento. They gave her a reprieve when they found out pregnant. me. It caused massive rift in opinion. today, are plenty of witches who we died." curled lip. "Never suffer a witch to live, I guess." didn't say anything. He face yet another mask she couldn't read. Georgia a few minutes, then sighed loudly. "Say would you?" Darius stood, picked up the manila envelope and tucked it his arm. I have an idea who might know something this." Georgia blinked. His lingered on her a moment longer, then he started the Georgia watched go, deflated a with every step took
 the others weren't satisfied wIth just gatHerinG unDer ThE darK mooN and dancing widDErshIns around a statue of the TRiple goDDess. tHeY starTed dabbLInG IN deAtH mAgiC, gAThEring StrEngth anD stockpiliNg pOwEr in secret."

DaRIuS whistled qUieTly.

Georgia noDdeD. "It was As Bad AS it soUndS. MagiC is meaNT to be wOrked, not sToREd. If yoU Keep it tOO LoNg, evEntually it turns neCRoTIc, and will rot ouT whoevEr TRiES To uSe iT. Not just thEiR body, BUt their SOuL. tHEir ESsence. It destrOys the core oF Who They arE."

DAriUS grimaCed. "I'm GuESsiNg the WitchiNg CoUncil didn'T look tOO kindly ON that."

"YoU could Say ThaT." GeoRGiA lOokEd DOwn. "bLaCk wITchEs tend noT tO gEt the BeneFIT OF a trIal When ThingS go bad. The CounCil OrdeREd a CleanSing oF the EnTire cOven. A pOgrom, EsSentially. My mothEr baRely escapEd tHe CitY wIth heR Life. Of All The Black wiTches, shE Was ThE ONLy Survivor."

She closed hEr EYEs. her motheR had taLKeD aBOut the otHeR wiTcheS THrougHout HEr ChildhooD, so mucH ThAt She felt LiKe she kNeW thEm. THere wAS BilL Bevel, Who could TransMOgrify into a criCKet during the nEW mOON. ANToneLla peters, who coUld sCRy thE futURe In a CUp of LApsanG SUChONg. They hadn't all been gUiLty of tHe criMes laid at theiR feet.

In the END, It hadn't mAtteREd.

sHe opened her eyeS agaiN. "The CounciL Chased MoM all tHe way to AUburn, out nEAR SacrameNto. theY gaVe hER A rEprieve when thEY FounD oUt she waS prEgnant. WIth Me. IT caUseD a Massive riFt in opinIoN. EVeN tOdaY, therE Are plentY oF wiTcHes ArounD Here whO thinK we bOtH sHOulD have diED." SHE CurlEd HeR lip. "nevEr SuffeR a blACk wItch to lIve, I guess."

darIUs diDn'T sAy anythIng. He just lookEd At her, his faCe Yet AnotheR MAsk she coUldn't read.

Georgia waited a FEw minutEs, tHen siGhed Loudly. "Say SomEthing, WouLD you?"

DaRius stOod, piCkEd uP THe manILA eNveLoPe and tuckeD IT unDer hiS aRm. "I tHink I haVe an idea who might knOW soMething about tHis."

georGIA bLinKEd. hIs eYeS LinGERed on her a moment Longer, then He STaRted towardS The ExIt. GeorgIa watchEd him GO, deflatEd a little With every StEp he TOOk
 the others weren't satisf ied with j ust g ath eri ng  und er t he dark moon a n d da ncing widdershins arou nd ast a tueo fthe T riple G o dd e s s.Th ey  st ar t ed  dabb lin g in de ath magic,  ga th ering streng t hand stockp ili ng power insec ret."
D ari u s whi stl ed qu ietly. 
Georg ia nodded ." It was as bada s  i t so unds. Magic is me a nt to be worked,not st or e d. I f y oukeep it to olong, eventua l ly i t  tu r ns necrotic,and will ro t  ou t whoe ve r t r ies to  useit .  No t just thei r bo dy, but t heir s o ul. The i r essen ce. It  de str oyst he  c ore  o f  wh o  t hey are ."

Dari us  g rimac ed." I ' m  gue ssi ng t he Wi tching Counci l d idn' t  lo ok to o kin dlyon  that ."

"Y ou co ul d say that." Ge orgi a lookeddow n.  "B la ck wi t ches t end  no t to ge t the b e nef it o f  a  trial when things  g o ba d. The C ouncil or de r ed a cle an sin g of t he en tire co ven. A p ogrom, es se ntially .My mot he r b are ly es c aped  the c ity with  herl ife. Of all th e  black witche s ,s h ew as t heonly surviv or." 
She  clo s ed  he r  eyes . Her  m o th e r had talked aboutth e othe r wit ches througho ut her chi l d h ood, somuch th a t she felt lik e she  knew them .  There w as Bi ll Bevel , who cou l d  transmo gri fyint o a c ri cket during t h e  new  m oon. An ton ella Pe ter s,who  co ul d scry th e future  i nacu p o f Lap s ang Such on g.Th eyhadn' t  all b een g uilt yof the  crimes la i d  atth ei r fe et. 
In th e en d , i t hadn' t mattere d.Sheop en ed hereyes again. " Th e Councilch ase d Moma l l the wa y to Auburn, out near S a crament o.Theygave  her a re pri eve wh ent hey fo und ou t she  w asp r egnan t .  W ith  m e. It caus e d  amassi ve  rif t in op inion. Even today, the re are plenty  of  wit c h es  ar o un d  he re who t hink we both sh ould havedi e d. " She curl e d h er  lip. " Never s uffer a black  witch to  live, Igu ess. " 
Da rius didn' t say an ything. H e  just lo okedather, h is  fa ce ye t anot h ermaskshe co ul dn't r ead.
G eorgia w aited a few minutes, th en sig hed l oud ly. "Saysom e thi ng, would  you ?"

Darius  st ood , pic ked up th e ma n il a e n velop e an d  tucked i t  u nde r hi s arm. "I t h i n k I  have  an idea w ho m ight know somethi n g about this." 

Ge o r gia  bl i nked .His eyes linge red  o n her a mo me nt longer,then hest a rtedtoward s theexit. G e o rg i a watc hedhim  go, defl ate da  little  w it h  every  ste phe too k
 the_others weren't_satisfied with just gathering_under the_dark_moon and_dancing_widdershins around a_statue of the_Triple Goddess. They started_dabbling in death_magic,_gathering strength and stockpiling power in secret."

Darius whistled quietly.

Georgia nodded. "It was as bad_as_it sounds._Magic_is_meant to be worked, not_stored. If you keep it_too long,_eventually it turns necrotic, and will rot out_whoever_tries to use_it. Not just their body, but their soul. Their_essence. It destroys the core of_who they are."

Darius_grimaced._"I'm_guessing the Witching Council_didn't look too kindly on that."

"You_could say that." Georgia looked down._"Black witches tend not to get the_benefit of a trial when things_go bad. The Council ordered_a cleansing_of the entire coven. A_pogrom, essentially. My_mother barely_escaped the city_with her life. Of all the_black witches, she_was the only survivor."

She closed her_eyes._Her mother had_talked_about_the other_witches throughout her_childhood,_so much_that_she felt like she knew them._There_was Bill Bevel, who could transmogrify into_a cricket during the_new_moon. Antonella Peters, who_could scry the future in_a cup of Lapsang Suchong. They_hadn't all_been guilty_of the crimes laid at their feet.

In the end, it hadn't_mattered.

She opened her eyes again. "The_Council chased Mom all_the way_to_Auburn, out near_Sacramento._They gave_her a reprieve when they found out_she was_pregnant. With me. It caused a_massive rift in opinion._Even_today, there are plenty of witches_around here who think we both_should have died." She curled_her_lip._"Never suffer a black witch_to live, I guess."

Darius didn't say_anything. He just_looked at her, his face yet another_mask_she couldn't read.

Georgia waited a few_minutes,_then sighed loudly. "Say something, would_you?"

Darius_stood,_picked up the manila envelope_and tucked it under his arm._"I think I have an idea who might know_something about this."

Georgia_blinked. His eyes lingered on_her_a_moment longer, then he started towards the exit. Georgia watched_him go,_deflated a little_with every step he took