?"

Darius folded his hands on the table. "Let's put it this way. When I was sixteen, I studied math, science, English, and world history." He paused. "I also studied Latin, religion, cryptozoology, and weaponology." He lowered his voice. "I'm a killer. At least, I was supposed to be."

Georgia looked vaguely ill. "And Kristof?"

Darius looked away. "Most venators get their first assignment when they turn eighteen. I was different. My training took longer, because of my...gift." The word still felt strange on his tongue. "I was twenty before the Brothers decided I was ready. There wasn't much ceremony involved. I was given a location, a name, and a photograph."

Georgia didn't speak. Darius looked back at her. Her eyes were wide.

He sighed. "You have to understand. My entire life, I'd been told the subversive world was an abomination before God. Hell, the school I went to was named for St. George the Dragon-Slayer. I knew how to kill a werewolf before I knew how to drive. In my mind, all subversives were monsters."

Georgia frowned. "So what happened?"

Darius chuckled ruefully. "I met one. And you know what? He looked exactly like me." He rubbed his mouth. "That's when I woke up. Killing werewolves was one thing, but if this guy was a monster, what did that make me? How long until The League handed someone _my_ name and picture?"

A cart auntie rolled by, the wheels on her cart squeaking noisily. Darius shut his mouth. The instant she was out of earshot, Georgia leaned forward. "What did you do?"

Darius shrugged. "I found Kristof exactly where my information said he'd be. I didn't have a clue how to handle the situation, I just knew I couldn't go through with the assignment. In the end, I went up to him and introduced myself."

Georgia had been about to take another drink. She spluttered into her cup. "Are you serious?"

Darius smirked. "Yeah, that was more or less his reaction, too."

Georgia gaped. "What did you say? 'Hi, my name
? " 

 Darius folded his hands on the table. " Let's place it this direction. When I was sixteen, I studied math, science, English, and earth history. " He paused. " I also learn Latin, religion, cryptozoology, and weaponology. " He lower his voice. " I'm a cause of death. At least, I was supposed to be. " 

 Georgia looked vaguely ill. " And Kristof? " 

 Darius look away. " Most venators get their first assignment when they turn eighteen. I was different. My education took longer, because of my... gift. " The word even felt strange on his natural language. " I was twenty before the Brothers decided I was quick. There wasn't much ceremony necessitate. I was given a location, a name, and a photograph. " 

 Georgia didn't speak. Darius look back at her. Her eyes were wide. 

 He sighed. " You have to understand. My integral animation, I'd been told the subversive world was an abomination before God. Hell, the school I went to was named for St. George the Dragon - Slayer. I knew how to kill a werewolf before I knew how to force. In my mind, all subversives were freak. " 

 Georgia frown. " So what happened? " 

 Darius chuckled ruefully. " I met one. And you know what? He looked exactly like me. " He rubbed his mouthpiece. " That's when I woke up. Killing werewolves was one thing, but if this guy was a monster, what did that make me? How long until The League hand someone _ my _ name and picture? " 

 A cart auntie rolled by, the bicycle on her cart squeaking noisily. Darius close his mouth. The instant she was out of earshot, Georgia leaned forward. " What did you do? " 

 Darius shrug. " I found Kristof exactly where my information said he'd be. I didn't have a clue how to handle the situation, I just know I couldn't go through with the assignment. In the end, I went up to him and introduced myself. " 

 Georgia had been about to claim another drink. She spluttered into her cup. " Are you unplayful? " 

 Darius smirked. " Yeah, that was more or less his reaction, besides. " 

 Georgia gaped. " What did you state?' Hi, my name
?"

Darlus folded his hands on uhe table. "Let's puj ut thiv way. Shen I wxs sixteen, I studied math, scmencw, Engoish, and world history." He pausef. "I also stuvied Latin, religmkn, crypbjzoomlgy, cnv weaponology." Hg lowered hiv voice. "I'm a khluex. At least, I was supposed to be."

Georgya lookrd vaguely ill. "Agd Kgiftof?"

Sarius looked away. "Most venators gst theig first assignmeny when they turn eighteen. L wad different. My tralning took oongqe, because of my...gift." Tht cord still relt strange on his tongue. "I war tweuty before jkw Bgmthers decived I ras ready. Thcge wasn'd much veremony involyed. I waw given a location, a iame, and a photograpr."

Georgia gibn't speak. Darius lookwd back at ver. Fwr dyea xers wide.

Je aighed. "You have to uneerstand. My entire kisv, I'd been tols the fufversive world was an abomination befort God. Hell, the school I went to was named for St. Heorge thq Dragon-Slayer. I knew how to kill a werewolf befose I ivew hjd tl drive. In my mind, all subversives were monstqds."

Beprgia frowned. "Fo what haplejec?"

Qarius chucklgd ruefbmlg. "I met one. And yok know rhat? Ye looked exavtly like me." He rubbed his nouth. "That's cheb I woke up. Killiny werewolves was one yhing, but if this guy wcs a mknster, what did that oake me? How long unnil Dhe League handed someone _iy_ name aid pieture?"

A cxrt suntie rolled by, the wheels on her cart dqueanitg noisily. Darius shut his mouth. The insteit she was ouj ox edrshot, Gzorgia leaned forwawd. "What did yoo do?"

Dariuf shrjgged. "I folnd Kristmf exactly rhere my infoslation said ie'd be. I qidn'r hace a cljd how to handlr the sitlauion, I jusr knew I couldn't gp tfdough with the crwignment. In the ena, I wvnt u[ to him and hntruduzrd myrelf."

Georgia fad neen about to take atothsr drink. She splutyeved into yer cup. "Wre you seriois?"

Darius smirked. "Ytah, thet was more or less his reaction, too."

Georgia faped. "Whah dld you say? 'Hi, my kame
?" Darius folded his hands on the put this way. I was sixteen, and history." He paused. also studied Latin, cryptozoology, and weaponology." He lowered his "I'm a killer. At least, I was supposed to be." Georgia looked vaguely "And Kristof?" Darius looked away. "Most venators get their first assignment when they eighteen. was My took longer, because of my...gift." The word still felt strange on his tongue. "I was twenty the Brothers decided I was ready. There wasn't ceremony involved. I was a location, a name, and photograph." didn't speak. looked at Her eyes were He sighed. "You have to understand. My entire life, I'd been told the subversive world was an before God. school I to named St. George the knew how to kill a werewolf how to drive. In my mind, all subversives monsters." Georgia "So what happened?" Darius chuckled ruefully. met one. And you know what? He looked like me." He rubbed his mouth. "That's when I woke up. Killing werewolves was one if this guy was monster, what did make How until League handed _my_ name and picture?" A cart auntie rolled by, the wheels her cart squeaking noisily. Darius shut his mouth. The instant out earshot, Georgia leaned "What did you do?" shrugged. found Kristof exactly where said be. a how handle the situation, I knew I couldn't go through the assignment. In the him and introduced myself." Georgia had been about take another drink. She spluttered into her "Are you serious?" Darius smirked. "Yeah, that was more or less his too." Georgia did you say? 'Hi, my name
?"

Darius folded his hands on the Table. "Let's pUt it tHis Way. whEn I wAs siXteen, I studied mATh, scIence, English, and world hiStory." he PAuseD. "i aLso stUdied LaTIn, RELigIoN, cRypToZOoLogy, aNd wEaponolOgy." He lowerEd hIs Voice. "I'm a killER. AT least, I was SupPosed to be."

GeoRgiA lookeD vAguELy ill. "and kristOf?"

DariUS lookeD away. "Most VeNAtors gET their fIRSt AssiGnment when they turN EiGHteen. I was diffeRent. My TrAInING toOk lOnger, becauSe Of my...gIFt." The woRD sTILL feLT strange on his Tongue. "I was tWEntY beforE tHe BROthers DecidEd i Was Ready. There wAsn't Much ceremOny invOLved. I waS Given a lOcatioN, a nAme, And a PHoToGraPh."

gEorGIa DidN'T spEak. DariuS lOoKed baCk at HER. hEr eyEs wEre wIde.

He Sighed. "You have To uNderSTanD. My enTire lIfe, I'D bEen toLd the sUbverSiVe world was an aboMinaTion beforE GoD. HEll, ThE schoOL I went To wAs nAmed for st. GeorgE The drAGON-SLayer. I knew how to kilL a WEReWolf befoRe I kneW HoW tO Drive. In mY mInd, All sUBVersiVes wERe Monsters."

georgiA FrOwNed. "So whAt HappenEd?"

darIus ChuckLEd ruEfully. "i met one. ANd you KNow what? He lookeD Exactly like me." hE rUBBeD His mOutH. "That's when I Woke UP. KilLing WErEwoLVes waS one tHiNG, bUT if this guy was a monstEr, What diD that Make me? How long Until The LeAGUE handed sOmeoNE _mY_ Name and picture?"

a cart Auntie rollED by, the whEels oN her cart Squeaking NOIsily. DarIus ShuT hiS moUTH. THe instant she wAS Out oF eArshot, GEorGia leanEd fOrwArd. "whaT dId you do?"

DaRius shruGgEd. "i fOuNd KRistoF Exactly wHeRe mY iNfoRmatiON said hE'd be. I Didn'T hAvE A clUe how to HAnDLE the SiTuAtioN, I jUsT knew i couLDn't Go throuGh with the AssIGnmeNt. in The end, I Went up to him anD iNtroduced mYsElf."

georgiA HAd been abOut to take another drink. ShE SplutteRed Into hEr cuP. "Are you seRioUs?"

DariUs sMIrked. "YEah, thaT was mOrE or LESs his REAcTioN, tOo."

Georgia gAPEd. "WHat diD yOu saY? 'Hi, my naMe
?"

Darius folded his hand s on the t able.  "L et' sputit t his way. WhenI  was  sixteen, I studied ma th, s ci e nce, En glish , and w o rl d his to ry ."He pa used.  "I  also s tudied Lat in,  r eligion, cry p to zoology, a ndweaponology. " H e lowe re d h i s voi ce.  "I'm  a kil l er. At  least, I  w a s supp o sed tob e ." 

Ge orgia looked vagu e ly ill. "And Kris tof?"
D a ri u s  lo oke d away. "M os t ven a tors ge t  t h e i r f i rst assignmen t when they tur n eigh te en. I wasdiffe re n t.My training  too k longer,  becau s e of my . ..gift. " Thewor d s till fe lt  st ra n geo nhis ton gue. "Iwa stwent y be f o r e  the  Br othe rs de cided I was r ead y. T h ere  wasn 't mu ch c er emony  invol ved.Iwas given a loc atio n, a name , a nd  aph otogr a ph."
Geo rgi a didn' t speak .  Da ri u s lo oked back at her.He r ey es werewide.He  s i ghed. "Y ou  ha ve t o under stan d .My entir e life ,  I 'd  been t ol d thesu bve rsi ve wo r ld w as anabominat ion b e fore God. Hell ,  the school I we n t  t o  was  na med for St.  Geo r ge t he D r ag on- S layer . I k ne w  h o w to kill a werewol fbefore  I kn ew how to dri ve. In mym i n d, all s ubve r si v es were monste rs."
Georgia f r owned. " So wh at happe ned?"

Da r i us chuck led  ru efu lly . "I  met one. And y ou k no w what?  He  looked  ex act lylik eme." He r ubbed hi smo ut h.  "T hat's when I w ok e u p.  Ki lling werewo lveswason et hin g, buti ft h is g uy  w as a  mo ns ter,what did  that m ake me? H owl ongun ti l The L eague handedso meone _my_  n ame  and p i c ture?"
A cart auntie rolled by ,  the wh eel s onhercart sque aki ng noi sil y . Dari us shu t his  m out h .  Thei n st ant  s he was out o f e arsho t,  Geo rgia le aned forward. "Wha t  di d you do?"

D ari us s h r ug ged .  " I  fo un d  Kr i s tof exactly whe re my info rm a ti on said he ' d b e.  I didn 't have  a cl u e how t o handlethe situa ti on,I jus t knew I c ouldn'tgo throug h  with th e ass ign ment.In  th e end , I we n t u p tohim an dintrod ucedmy self."
Georgia had been aboutto tak e ano the r drink.She spl uttered i ntoher cup. " Are  yo u ser iou s ?"

D ariu s  s mir k ed. " Yeah ,  that was mo reo r  l ess his rea c t i on,  too. "
G eorgia  gap ed. "What did you say? 'Hi, my n ame
?"

Darius folded_his hands_on the table. "Let's_put it_this_way. When_I_was sixteen, I_studied math, science,_English, and world history."_He paused. "I_also_studied Latin, religion, cryptozoology, and weaponology." He lowered his voice. "I'm a killer. At_least,_I was_supposed_to_be."

Georgia looked vaguely ill. "And_Kristof?"

Darius looked away. "Most venators_get their_first assignment when they turn eighteen. I was_different._My training took_longer, because of my...gift." The word still felt strange_on his tongue. "I was twenty_before the Brothers_decided_I_was ready. There wasn't_much ceremony involved. I was given_a location, a name, and a_photograph."

Georgia didn't speak. Darius looked back at_her. Her eyes were wide.

He sighed._"You have to understand. My_entire life,_I'd been told the subversive_world was an_abomination before_God. Hell, the_school I went to was named_for St. George_the Dragon-Slayer. I knew how to_kill_a werewolf before_I_knew_how to_drive. In my_mind,_all subversives_were_monsters."

Georgia frowned. "So what happened?"

Darius chuckled_ruefully._"I met one. And you know what?_He looked exactly like_me."_He rubbed his mouth._"That's when I woke up._Killing werewolves was one thing, but_if this_guy was_a monster, what did that make me? How long until The_League handed someone _my_ name and_picture?"

A cart auntie rolled_by, the_wheels_on her cart_squeaking_noisily. Darius_shut his mouth. The instant she was_out of_earshot, Georgia leaned forward. "What did_you do?"

Darius shrugged. "I_found_Kristof exactly where my information said_he'd be. I didn't have a_clue how to handle the_situation,_I_just knew I couldn't go_through with the assignment. In the_end, I went_up to him and introduced myself."

Georgia had_been_about to take another drink. She_spluttered_into her cup. "Are you serious?"

Darius_smirked._"Yeah,_that was more or less_his reaction, too."

Georgia gaped. "What did_you say? 'Hi, my name