 hands twisted in her lap. "It was an Esbat for the new moon. They aren't marked very often, and there were a few things I wanted to..."

Darius raised an eyebrow.

She shook her head. "It's not important. Point is, I really wanted to make this one. But then my best friend decided to leave town at the last minute. She owns this tea shop, and I agreed to close up for her. By the time I finished, I was running late."

She stopped. Darius waited for a moment, then cleared his throat. "Go on."

"I was late." Georgia's voice sounded suspiciously thick. "And when I finally got there, everything was quiet. Just... quiet. You know when it's _too_ quiet, and you get the feeling something's wrong?" She searched his face, then continued. "I let myself around to the back patio, where we always meet. Met. And it was... there was just..."

She stopped again. This time, Darius didn't prod. He studied her face in profile. Color blotched her cheeks, and the tendons strained in her neck. She didn't look like she was breathing.

After what felt like hours, she inhaled deeply and resumed. "There was blood. Everywhere. I slipped in it when I came around the side of the house." She looked down at her too-shiny black motorcycle boots. "Spent a fortune on these," she muttered. "But I couldn't put on my old pair again. It wasn't just blood. My coveners...there were _pieces_ —"

She stood abruptly and started to pace. Her face was an unhealthy shade of gray.

Darius watched silently. He had the sudden, irrational urge to say something comforting, but nothing seemed appropriate. He forced himself to stay still and wait. His hands flexed where they rested on his knees.

Finally, Georgia gave her head a solid shake. "Anyway. That's when I saw that thing for the first time. It was inside the house, and I guess it heard me, because it came right through the back window." She eyed the mess on the carpet. "Come to think of it, I'm starting to sense a pattern."

The dry amusement in her voice caught him off guard. Darius blinked.

If she noticed, she gave no sign. "I managed to
hands twisted in her lap. " It was an Esbat for the new lunar month. They aren't score very often, and there were a few things I want to... " 

 Darius raised an eyebrow. 

 She shook her read/write head. " It's not crucial. Point is, I really wanted to make this one. But then my best supporter decided to leave township at the last minute. She own this tea shop, and I agree to close up up for her. By the time I finished, I was running recently. " 

 She stopped. Darius waited for a moment, then cleared his throat. " rifle on. " 

 " I was late. " Georgia's voice sounded suspiciously thick. " And when I ultimately got there, everything was quiet. Just... quiet. You know when it's _ too _ quiet, and you get the feeling something's wrong? " She searched his face, then continued. " I let myself around to the back patio, where we always meet. Met. And it was... there was merely... " 

 She stopped again. This time, Darius didn't jab. He study her face in profile. Color blotched her buttock, and the tendons strained in her neck. She didn't look like she was breathing. 

 After what feel like hours, she inhaled deeply and resumed. " There was blood. Everywhere. I skid in it when I came around the side of the house. " She looked down at her too - shiny bootleg motorcycle kick. " Spent a fortune on these, " she muttered. " But I couldn't put on my previous pair again. It wasn't just blood. My coveners... there be _ pieces _ — " 

 She stood abruptly and started to pace. Her face was an insalubrious shade of gray. 

 Darius watched silently. He had the sudden, irrational urge to state something comforting, but nothing look appropriate. He forced himself to bide still and expect. His hands flexed where they rested on his knee. 

 last, Georgia gave her head a solid shake. " Anyway. That's when I saw that thing for the first time. It was inside the house, and I think it heard me, because it came correctly through the back window. " She eyed the batch on the carpet. " Come to think of it, I'm start to sense a pattern. " 

 The dry amusement in her voice caught him off guard. Darius blink. 

 If she comment, she give no sign. " I managed to
 hajds twisted in her lap. "Iu was an Esbat fot rhe nex moon. Fhey arev't marked very often, and thece wwre a few things I wanted tu..."

Darius rwised an eyeurow.

She shook hec head. "Ib'f nof impmctant. Point is, L really watted to make tvir lne. But then my best friend decided to leafe town at the lwst kynuts. She owns this tea shop, and I agrsed to blose up for her. Ny the time I finished, I wws rknning late."

She stooped. Darius waiewd for a momdnt, then cleared his tgroat. "Go on."

"I was late." Georgia's xoice sounded soslifhously thicj. "And when I finally got dhere, eferything was auixt. Jyst... quiet. You know whxn it's _too_ quiet, and you get dhz feeling something's qring?" Sve saarcfwd fis fece, then fonvinued. "I lef myself ariund to the back pauio, qhere we alwags meee. Iet. And it was... there was just..."

She stoppeg afain. This time, Darius dudn't prod. He studied jer face yn profile. Color blotched her cheeks, and the tendmns svrxintd in hde jeck. She didn't look like she was breathing.

Aftqd ehst felt like hjurs, she innapec deeply and rgsumed. "Cgede was blood. Everyahere. I slipped in it whem I came around the side of the house." Ske oooked down at her too-shiny buack mototcycle boots. "Spent a foxtune kn these," shf mutteres. "But I couldn't pjt pn my old kxir again. It wasn'e just bliod. Ky covevers...jhere wqre _pieces_ —"

She stood abruptly and dtartgd to [ace. Her fwce was an unhealthy shade of gcey.

Darius watcneg splently. Hz had bhe sudden, irraeional urge to say soiethivg comfortpng, but nmthing seemqd appropriata. He forced hmmself to stat stull and dait. His hands flexed wktre they rwsted on his knees.

Ninalug, Georgia gave ktr yead a solid shske. "Anrwwy. Trdt's when I sdw tfat yhing for tht flrsg tike. It was inside the houae, and I guess it newrd me, bgcause it came right tnrough the back wijdow." Vhe eyed thg mess on the carpet. "Come to thjnk of it, I'm starting to senwe a pattern."

Che dry amusement in her voice caught hin off guard. Darius blinked.

If she notieec, she gave io sigg. "I managad to
hands twisted in her lap. "It was for new moon. aren't marked very few I wanted to..." raised an eyebrow. shook her head. "It's not important. is, I really wanted to make this one. But then my best friend to leave town at the last minute. She owns this tea shop, and agreed close for By the time I finished, I was running late." She stopped. Darius waited for a moment, cleared his throat. "Go on." "I was late." voice sounded suspiciously thick. when I finally got there, was Just... quiet. know it's quiet, and you the feeling something's wrong?" She searched his face, then continued. "I let myself around to the back where we Met. And was... was She stopped again. Darius didn't prod. He studied her Color blotched her cheeks, and the tendons strained her neck. didn't look like she was breathing. what felt like hours, she inhaled deeply and "There was blood. Everywhere. I slipped in it when I came around the side of She looked down at too-shiny black motorcycle "Spent fortune these," muttered. "But couldn't put on my old pair again. It wasn't just blood. coveners...there were _pieces_ —" She stood abruptly and started to face an unhealthy shade gray. Darius watched silently. had sudden, irrational urge to comforting, nothing forced to still and wait. His flexed where they rested on knees. Finally, Georgia gave "Anyway. That's when I saw that thing for first time. It was inside the house, I guess it heard me, because it came right through the back She eyed on the carpet. "Come to think of it, starting to sense a The dry amusement in her voice caught him off Darius If she she gave no "I managed to
 hands twisted in her lap. "It was An Esbat for The neW moOn. THeY areN't maRked very often, aND theRe were a few things I wanteD to..."

DaRiUS raiSEd An eyeBrow.

She SHoOK Her HeAd. "it's NoT ImPortaNt. POint is, I Really wantEd tO mAke this one. BuT ThEn my best frIenD decided to leAve Town at ThE laST minuTe. SHe ownS this tEA shop, aNd I agreed To CLose up FOr her. By THE tIme I Finished, I was runniNG lATe."

She stopped. DaRius waItED fOR A moMenT, then clearEd His thROat. "Go on."

"i WaS LATe." GEOrgia's voice soUnded suspicIOusLy thicK. "ANd wHEn I finAlly gOt THerE, everything Was qUiet. Just... qUiet. YoU Know wheN It's _too_ qUiet, anD yoU geT the FEeLiNg sOmEThiNG's WroNG?" ShE searcheD hIs Face, tHen cONTINued. "i leT mysElf arOund to the back PatIo, whERe wE alwaYs meeT. Met. anD it waS... there Was juSt..."

she stopped again. this Time, DariuS diDn'T prOd. he stuDIed her FacE in Profile. color blOTchEd HER ChEeks, and the tendons sTrAINeD in her neCk. She dIDn'T lOOk like shE wAs bReatHINg.

AftEr whAT fElt like hOurs, shE InHaLed deepLy And resUmEd. "THerE was bLOod. EVerywhEre. I slipPed in IT when I came arouND the side of the HOuSE." shE LookEd dOwn at her too-ShinY BlacK motORcYclE Boots. "spent A fORtUNe on these," she muttereD. "BUt I couLdn't pUt on my old pair Again. It wasN'T JUst blood. my coVEnERs...there were _pieCes_ —"

ShE stood abruPTly and stArted To pace. HeR face was aN UNhealthy ShaDe oF grAy.

DARIuS watched silenTLY. He hAd The suddEn, iRrationAl uRge To sAy sOmEthing comForting, bUt NoThInG seEmed aPPropriatE. HE foRcEd hImselF To stay Still And wAiT. HIS haNds flexED wHERe thEy ReSted On hIs Knees.

finaLLy, GEorgia gAve her heaD a sOLid sHaKe. "anyway. THat's when I saw tHaT thing for tHe FirSt time. iT Was insidE the house, and I guess it heaRD me, becaUse It camE rigHt through The Back wiNdoW." she eyeD the meSs on tHe CarPET. "Come TO ThInk Of It, I'm startiNG To sEnse a PaTterN."

The dry Amusement in her voicE CauGht him off guarD. DaRius BLInKed.

iF sHE noTiCEd, sHE Gave no sign. "I manaGed to
 hands twisted in her lap.  "It was a n Esb atfor  t he n ew m oon. They aren ' t ma rked very often, and t herewe r e af ew  thin gs I wa n te d to. .. "
Da ri u sraise d a n eyebr ow.

She s hoo kher head. "I t 's  not impor tan t. Point is,  Ireally  w ant e d tomak e thi s one. But th en my bes tf riendd ecidedt o  l eave  town at the last mi n ute. She ownsthis t ea sh o p , a ndI agreed t oclose up forh er . B y t h e time I fini shed, I was run ning l at e." 
She s toppe d. Dar ius waitedfora moment,  thenc learedh is thro at. "G o o n." 

"I wa slat e. "  Ge o rg ia' s  vo ice soun de dsuspi ciou s l y thic k."And  when  I finally go t t here ,  ev eryth ing w as q ui et. J ust...  quie t.  You know whenit's  _too_ qu iet ,and  y ou ge t  the f eel ing  someth ing's w r ong ?" S h esearched his face,  t h e ncontinue d. "Il et  m y self aro un d t o th e backpati o ,where we  alway s  m ee t. Met.  A nd itwa s.. . t herew as j ust... "

She s toppe d  again. This t i me, Darius di d n' t pr o d. H e s tudied herface in p rofi l e.  Co l or bl otche dh er cheeks, and the ten do ns str ained  in her neck.  She didn' t l ook like  she wa s  breathing.

A fterwhat feltl ike hour s, sh e inhale d deeplya n d resume d."Th ere  wa s bl ood. Everywhe r e . Isl ipped i n i t whenI c ame  ar oun dthe sideof the h ou se ."  S helooke d  down at  h erto o-s hinyb lack m otorc ycle  b oo t s."Spenta  f o r tune  o nthes e,"  s he mu tter e d."But Icouldn'tput on m yol d pairagain. It was n' t just blo od . M y cove n e rs...the re were _pieces_ —"

Sh e  stoodabr uptly  and  startedtopace.Her face w as anunhea lt hys h ade o f gr ay. 
Darius wat c h edsilen tl y. H e had t he sudden, irratio n alurge to say s ome thin g co mfo r ti n g,bu t  no t h ing seemed appr opriate. H ef or ced himsel f  to  s tay sti ll andwait. His han ds flexed  where th ey  res t e d o n his knee s.

Fina lly, Geor g ia ga v eher h ead  a sol id  sh ake."Anywa y . T hat's  whenIsaw th at th in g for th e first time. It was in side t he ho use , and I g ues s  it  heard me , be cause it c ame  ri ght t hro u gh th e ba c kwin d ow."Shee yed the m e ss  on t he  carpet. "C o m e  to  thin k o f  it, I 'm s tarting to sensea  pattern."

Th e dr y amu sem e nt i nher voice caug hthi m off guar d.  Darius bli nked.

I fs he no ticed,  she g ave nos i gn .  "I ma nage d t o
 hands_twisted in_her lap. "It was_an Esbat_for_the new_moon._They aren't marked_very often, and_there were a few_things I wanted_to..."

Darius_raised an eyebrow.

She shook her head. "It's not important. Point is, I really wanted_to_make this_one._But_then my best friend decided_to leave town at the_last minute._She owns this tea shop, and I agreed_to_close up for_her. By the time I finished, I was running_late."

She stopped. Darius waited for a_moment, then cleared_his_throat._"Go on."

"I was late."_Georgia's voice sounded suspiciously thick. "And_when I finally got there, everything_was quiet. Just... quiet. You know when_it's _too_ quiet, and you get_the feeling something's wrong?" She_searched his_face, then continued. "I let_myself around to_the back_patio, where we_always meet. Met. And it was..._there was just..."

She_stopped again. This time, Darius didn't_prod._He studied her_face_in_profile. Color_blotched her cheeks,_and_the tendons_strained_in her neck. She didn't look_like_she was breathing.

After what felt like hours,_she inhaled deeply and_resumed._"There was blood. Everywhere._I slipped in it when_I came around the side of_the house."_She looked_down at her too-shiny black motorcycle boots. "Spent a fortune on_these," she muttered. "But I couldn't_put on my old_pair again._It_wasn't just blood._My_coveners...there were__pieces_ —"

She stood abruptly and started to_pace. Her_face was an unhealthy shade of_gray.

Darius watched silently. He_had_the sudden, irrational urge to say_something comforting, but nothing seemed appropriate._He forced himself to stay_still_and_wait. His hands flexed where_they rested on his knees.

Finally, Georgia_gave her head_a solid shake. "Anyway. That's when I_saw_that thing for the first time._It_was inside the house, and I_guess_it_heard me, because it came_right through the back window." She_eyed the mess on the carpet. "Come to think_of it, I'm_starting to sense a pattern."

The_dry_amusement_in her voice caught him off guard. Darius blinked.

If she_noticed, she_gave no sign._"I managed to