 going on between us. There wasn't then, there isn't now."

For the first time all week, Darius breathed a little easier. He shook his head. "Then I don't get it. Why haven't I heard from her?"

Kristof opened his mouth, but before he could answer, the door out in the reception room opened. He arched an eyebrow. "Expecting anyone else?"

"No," Darius said drily. "But apparently I'm taking all comers today." He raised his voice. "Back here!"

He wasn't remotely prepared for who darkened his doorway.

The two men chased the warmth right out of the room. They were dressed head-to-toe in black. Heavy silver crosses hung around their necks. White collars like the one Father Gregory wore gleamed at their throats.

Any resemblance ended there. Where Father Gregory had a comfortable paunch, they were whip-thin. Their eyes were cold, reptilian.

Darius froze. Kristof breathed a quiet, "Shit."

The man on the left spoke first. He was the darker of the two, with oily black hair, sallow skin, and a hawkish nose. "Darius deCompostela. I knew we hadn't seen the last of you."

Darius forced himself to breathe evenly. "Brother Benedict. Been a while."

The man's expression gave away nothing. "I take it you know why we're here."

Without a word, Kristof slipped around the side of the desk and planted himself beside him. Darius kept his face carefully blank. "I have some idea."

The man on the right spoke up. He was the polar opposite of his associate, with hair and skin even paler than Kristof's. "We've just come from St. Jude's. Father Gregory and Sister Paul give their regards."

Darius stiffened. "If you've done anything to them—"

Brother Benedict's smile was completely devoid of warmth. "Of course that's not what Brother Charles meant. We were merely stopping in on some old colleagues." His dark eyes glittered. "Rather like now."

Darius tightened his jaw. "Flattered, I'm sure. Now you can see yourselves out."

Brother Charles cocked his head. His icy blue eyes were unnervingly flat.
going on between us. There wasn't then, there isn't now. " 

 For the inaugural meter all week, Darius breathed a little easy. He shook his head. " Then I don't get down it. Why haven't I heard from her? " 

 Kristof opened his mouthpiece, but before he could answer, the door away in the reception room opened. He arched an eyebrow. " Expecting anyone else? " 

 " No, " Darius said laconically. " But apparently I'm taking all comer today. " He raised his voice. " Back here! " 

 He wasn't remotely fix for who darkened his doorway. 

 The two men chased the affectionateness right out of the room. They were dressed head - to - toe in black. fleshy silver crosses hung around their necks. White collar like the one Father Gregory wore gleamed at their throats. 

 Any resemblance ended there. Where Father Gregory had a comfortable belly, they were whip - slender. Their eyes were cold, reptilian. 

 Darius froze. Kristof breathed a quiet, " Shit. " 

 The man on the left spoke first. He was the darker of the two, with greasy black hair, sallow peel, and a militant nozzle. " Darius deCompostela. I knew we hadn't seen the last of you. " 

 Darius forced himself to breathe evenly. " Brother Benedict. Been a while. " 

 The man's expression gave aside nothing. " I take it you know why we're here. " 

 Without a word, Kristof slipped around the side of the desk and planted himself beside him. Darius restrain his face carefully blank. " I have some idea. " 

 The valet on the right speak up. He was the polar opposite of his associate, with hair and skin even paler than Kristof's. " We've barely come from St. Jude's. Father Gregory and Sister Paul give their regards. " 

 Darius stiffen. " If you've done anything to them — " 

 Brother Benedict's smile was completely devoid of warmth. " Of naturally that's not what Brother Charles meant. We were merely stopping in on some old colleagues. " His dark eye glittered. " preferably like now. " 

 Darius tighten his jaw. " Flattered, I'm sure. immediately you can see yourselves out. " 

 Brother Charles cocked his head. His icy blue eye were unnervingly flat.
 golng on between us. There dasn't then, therg usn't nmw."

For fhe firsg time all week, Darius breatied q lituje easier. He shook his head. "Then I eon't tet it. Why haven't L headf frmn her?"

Kristof okened his mogth, but before hd eould answer, the door out in the recqption tolm opened. He atched wn egvbvow. "Expecting anyone else?"

"No," Darihs said drily. "But aplarently I'm taking all comfrs hoday." He raised hid voice. "Bacj heww!"

He wasn't reootely prekaxed for who darkened his doorway.

The two mev chaxed the watmfh tight out of the goom. They werc dressad head-yo-toe in black. Heevy wilver crosses hung acound their necks. Whyte collass like the one Fatyee Grecory word gldamtd et fheir hhrkats.

Any reaemblance ebded there. Where Fauhew Gregory had z comfjreable paunch, they were whip-thin. Their ejes sere cold, reptilian.

Dariys froze. Kristof breajhed a quiqt, "Shit."

The man on the left spoke first. He was the darkxr of tme tdi, aith oily black hair, sallow skin, and a hawkisr npsv. "Darius deComposbela. I knew we hadm't srgn the last of you."

Daxjua forced himself tl breatre evwnly. "Brotrer Nenedict. Been a while."

The mab's expressiou gqve away nothing. "I take it yob know why ee're here."

Without a word, Kriatof slippef around ffe side of the ddsk atd plantta himself beside rim. Dariuw ke't his fxce varefujly blank. "L havc some idea."

The man ln thg righd spoke up. He was the polar opposite of hmx associate, eidh vair and skin even paler tran Kristof's. "Wg've just eome ffom St. Judv's. Father Gregory anq Sister Paul hive their rxgards."

Daryus wtifdened. "Iw you've done anuthing to them—"

Brothwr Benedict's smile war completely deviid of warmth. "Of cpurre ehwt'x gmt what Brotver Zhafkes mdant. We werc mdrelu stopping in on soma ols colleagues." His dsrh eyes goittered. "Rather like mow."

Darius tightenef his jax. "Flatyergd, I'm sure. Now you can see youraelves ouh."

Brjther Charlef cogked his head. Kis icy blue eyes were unnervingly flat.
going on between us. There wasn't then, now." the first all week, Darius shook head. "Then I get it. Why I heard from her?" Kristof opened mouth, but before he could answer, the door out in the reception room He arched an eyebrow. "Expecting anyone else?" "No," Darius said drily. "But apparently taking comers He his voice. "Back here!" He wasn't remotely prepared for who darkened his doorway. The two men the warmth right out of the room. They dressed head-to-toe in black. silver crosses hung around their White like the Father wore at their throats. resemblance ended there. Where Father Gregory had a comfortable paunch, they were whip-thin. Their eyes were cold, Darius froze. a quiet, The on left spoke first. the darker of the two, with sallow skin, and a hawkish nose. "Darius deCompostela. knew we seen the last of you." Darius himself to breathe evenly. "Brother Benedict. Been a The man's expression gave away nothing. "I take it you know why we're here." Without Kristof slipped around the of the desk planted beside Darius his face blank. "I have some idea." The man on the right spoke He was the polar opposite of his associate, with hair even than Kristof's. "We've come from St. Jude's. Gregory Sister Paul give their stiffened. you've them—" Benedict's was completely devoid of "Of course that's not what Charles meant. We were old colleagues." His dark eyes glittered. "Rather like Darius tightened his jaw. "Flattered, I'm sure. you can see yourselves out." Brother Charles cocked his head. His icy eyes were
 going on between us. There wasn'T then, there Isn't nOw."

FOr tHe FirsT timE all week, Darius BReatHed a little easier. He shooK his hEaD. "then i DoN't get It. Why haVEn'T i HeaRd FrOm hEr?"

kRiStof oPenEd his moUth, but befoRe hE cOuld answer, thE DoOr out in the RecEption room opEneD. He arcHeD an EYebroW. "ExPectiNg anyoNE else?"

"NO," Darius saId DRily. "BuT ApparenTLY I'M takIng all comers today." hE rAIsed his voice. "BaCk here!"

he WAsN'T RemOteLy prepared FoR who dARkened hIS dOORWay.

tHe two men chaseD the warmth rIGht Out of tHe RooM. they weRe dreSsED heAd-to-toe in blAck. HEavy silveR crossES hung arOUnd theiR necks. whiTe cOllaRS lIkE thE oNE FaTHeR GrEGorY wore gleAmEd At theIr thROATS.

Any ResEmblAnce eNded there. WherE FaTher gRegOry haD a comFortAbLe pauNch, theY were WhIp-thin. Their eyes Were Cold, reptiLiaN.

DAriUs Froze. kRistof BreAthEd a quieT, "Shit."

ThE Man On THE LeFt spoke first. He was tHe DARkEr of the tWo, with OIlY bLAck hair, sAlLow Skin, AND a hawKish NOsE. "Darius dECompoSTeLa. i knew we HaDn't seeN tHe lAst Of you."

dAriuS forceD himself To breAThe evenly. "BrothER Benedict. Been A WhILE."

THE man'S exPression gavE awaY NothIng. "I TAkE it YOu knoW why wE'rE HeRE."

Without a word, KristoF sLipped ArounD the side of the Desk and plaNTED himself BesiDE hIM. Darius kept his Face cArefully blANk. "I have sOme idEa."

The man On the righT SPoke up. He Was The PolAr oPPOsIte of his assocIATe, wiTh Hair and SkiN even paLer ThaN KrIstOf'S. "We've just Come from st. juDe'S. FAthEr GreGOry and SiStEr PAuL giVe theIR regarDs."

DarIus sTiFfENed. "if you've DOnE ANythInG tO theM—"

BrOtHer BeNediCT's sMile was CompletelY deVOid oF wArMth. "Of coUrse that's not wHaT Brother ChArLes Meant. WE WEre merelY stopping in on some old colLEagues." HIs dArk eyEs glIttered. "RaTheR like nOw."

DARius tiGhteneD his jAw. "flaTTEred, I'M SUrE. NoW yOu can see yoURSelVes ouT."

BRothEr CharlEs cocked his head. His ICy bLue eyes were unNerVingLY FlAt.
 going on between us. Ther e wasn't t hen,the reis n'tnow. "

For the fir s t ti me all week, Darius br eathe da  lit t le  easi er. Hes ho o k  hi she ad.  " T he n I d on' t get i t. Why hav en' tI heard from he r?"

Krist ofopened his m out h, but  b efo r e hecou ld an swer,t he doo r out inth e  recep t ion roo m op ened . He arched an ey e br o w. "Expectinganyone  e l se ? " 

" No, " Darius s ai d dri l y. "But ap p a r ent l y I'm takingall comerst oda y." He  r ais e d hisvoice ." Bac k here!"

H e wa sn't remo tely p r eparedf or whodarken edhis  doo r wa y. 

T he two me n c h ase d the wa rm th  righ t ou t o f  the  ro om.Theywere dressedhea d-to - toe  in b lack.  Hea vy  silv er cro sseshu ng around their  nec ks. White  co ll ars  l ike t h e oneFat her  Gregor y woreg lea me d a ttheir throats.

An yr e se mblanceendedt he re .  Where F at her  Gre g o ry ha d ac om fortable  paunc h ,th ey were  w hip-th in . T hei r eye s  wer e cold , reptil ian.Darius froze.K ristof breath e da qu i et,"Sh it."

The m an o n  the  lef t  s pok e  firs t. He  w a st he darker of the tw o,  withoilyblack hair, s allow skin , a nd a haw kish no s e. "Darius deC ompos tela. I kn e w we had n't s een thelast of y o u ."

Dari usfor ced  hi m s el f to breathee v enly ."Brothe r B enedict . B een  awhi le ."

The m an's exp re ss io ngav e awa y  nothing ."Ita keit yo u  knowwhy w e're  h er e ."
Withou t  a w ord,  K ri stof  sl ip ped a roun d  th e sideof the de ska nd p la nt ed hims elf beside hi m.  Darius ke pt  hi s face c arefully  blank. "I have some id e a."

Th e m an on  the  right sp oke  up. H e w a s thepolaroppos it e o f his a s s oc iat e,  with hair a ndskinev en p aler th an Kristof's. "We' v e j ust come from  St . Ju d e 's . F a th e r G re g ory a nd Sister Paulgive their  r e ga rds."

Dar i usst iffened . "If y ou've done an ything to  them—"
Br othe r Ben edict's sm ile wascompletel y  devo i dof wa rmt h. "Of  c our se th at's n o t w hat B rother  C harles  mean t.  We were  merely stopping in onsome o ld co lle agues." H isd ark  eyes gli tter ed. "Rathe r l ike  now. "
D arius  tig h te ned his j aw." Flattered ,  I 'ms u re . Now you c a n see  your sel v es out ."
Brother Charles c o cked his head.  His i cyblu e  eye swere unnerving lyfl a t .
 going_on between_us. There wasn't then,_there isn't_now."

For_the first_time_all week, Darius_breathed a little_easier. He shook his_head. "Then I_don't_get it. Why haven't I heard from her?"

Kristof opened his mouth, but before he_could_answer, the_door_out_in the reception room opened._He arched an eyebrow. "Expecting_anyone else?"

"No,"_Darius said drily. "But apparently I'm taking all_comers_today." He raised_his voice. "Back here!"

He wasn't remotely prepared for who_darkened his doorway.

The two men chased_the warmth right_out_of_the room. They were_dressed head-to-toe in black. Heavy silver_crosses hung around their necks. White_collars like the one Father Gregory wore_gleamed at their throats.

Any resemblance ended_there. Where Father Gregory had_a comfortable_paunch, they were whip-thin. Their_eyes were cold,_reptilian.

Darius froze._Kristof breathed a_quiet, "Shit."

The man on the left_spoke first. He_was the darker of the two,_with_oily black hair,_sallow_skin,_and a_hawkish nose. "Darius_deCompostela._I knew_we_hadn't seen the last of you."

Darius_forced_himself to breathe evenly. "Brother Benedict. Been_a while."

The man's expression_gave_away nothing. "I take_it you know why we're_here."

Without a word, Kristof slipped around_the side_of the_desk and planted himself beside him. Darius kept his face carefully_blank. "I have some idea."

The man_on the right spoke_up. He_was_the polar opposite_of_his associate,_with hair and skin even paler than_Kristof's. "We've_just come from St. Jude's. Father_Gregory and Sister Paul_give_their regards."

Darius stiffened. "If you've done_anything to them—"

Brother Benedict's smile was_completely devoid of warmth. "Of_course_that's_not what Brother Charles meant._We were merely stopping in on_some old colleagues."_His dark eyes glittered. "Rather like now."

Darius_tightened_his jaw. "Flattered, I'm sure. Now_you_can see yourselves out."

Brother Charles cocked_his_head._His icy blue eyes were_unnervingly flat.