berus. Let's say we stop Ellen from, shit, whatever it is she's planning. That doesn't guarantee you're off the hook."

Georgia's hand wavered. "I know."

"Great. So how are you going to convince The Council you're innocent in all this?"

She didn't answer.

A sick feeling took root in his belly. "You don't know, do you?"

Without a word, she reached for her teacup. Darius trapped her hand under his. Something flashed behind her eyes. She carefully freed herself and picked up her cup. "It doesn't change anything. We need to do this. _I_ need to do this." She took a heavy sip of tea. "Let's talk about something else. Kristof."

Darius blinked. "Kristof?"

"You never did tell me how the two of you know each other." Georgia's eyes twinkled. "A reformed Catholic and a gray witch? There's got to be a good story in that."

Actually, it was more like the beginning of a bad joke. Darius took a sip of his own tea. "I, ah, sort of saved his life."

Georgia's eyes bugged. "Get out." Her forehead wrinkled. "How do you'sort of' save someone's life?"

Darius cleared his throat. "Thing is, I was the one who was supposed to kill him."

Georgia's face grew serious. She propped her elbows on the table. "Okay. Start at the beginning."

Darius twisted into a more comfortable position. "Have you ever heard of The Borromean League?"

Georgia shook her head.

"Basically, it's the Catholic Church's version of the Watchmen." His stomach churned. Even after all they'd been through, some secrets were hard to let go of. He took a deep breath. "Unlike the Watchmen, though, The League doesn't just monitor the subversive world. Their mandate is to actively seek its destruction. Members are selected young, raised and educated in the Church. When the time is right, their education is...enhanced."

Georgia's face went ghostly white. "That school you went to... "

Darius nodded.

She sucked in a quiet breath. "And this enhanced education entails what, exactly
berus. Let's say we stop Ellen from, shit, whatever it is she's planning. That doesn't undertake you're off the bait. " 

 Georgia's hand wavered. " I acknowledge. " 

 " capital. So how are you going to convert The Council you're innocent in all this? " 

 She didn't answer. 

 A sick impression took root in his abdomen. " You don't know, do you? " 

 Without a word, she reached for her teacup. Darius trap her hand under his. Something flashed behind her eyes. She carefully freed herself and pluck up her cup. " It doesn't change anything. We need to do this. _ I _ want to do this. " She took a heavy sip of tea. " Let's speak about something else. Kristof. " 

 Darius blinked. " Kristof? " 

 " You never did tell me how the two of you know each other. " Georgia's eyes twinkled. " A reform Catholic and a gray witch? There's got to be a good story in that. " 

 Actually, it was more like the beginning of a regretful jest. Darius took a sip of his own tea. " I, ah, sort of saved his life. " 

 Georgia's eyes bugged. " Get out. " Her forehead wrinkled. " How do you'sort of' save someone's animation? " 

 Darius cleared his throat. " Thing is, I was the one who was speculate to toss off him. " 

 Georgia's face grew unplayful. She propped her elbows on the table. " Okay. Start at the beginning. " 

 Darius twist into a more comfortable position. " Have you ever heard of The Borromean League? " 

 Georgia shook her head. 

 " Basically, it's the Catholic Church's version of the Watchmen. " His abdomen churned. Even after all they'd been through, some secrets were hard to let go of. He consider a deep breath. " Unlike the Watchmen, though, The League doesn't just monitor the subversive world. Their mandate is to actively search its destruction. Members are selected unseasoned, raised and educated in the Church. When the time is right, their department of education is... enhanced. " 

 Georgia's face went ghostly white. " That school you went to... " 

 Darius nodded. 

 She suck in a quiet hint. " And this enhanced education entails what, exactly
berks. Let's say we stop Ellek from, shit, whatgvwr it ms she's plannine. That doesn't guarantee you'rx ofd the hook."

Georgia's hand wavdred. "I knlw."

"Great. Wo hiq are you jking to convihge Thz Rouncil you're iknocent in dll this?"

She dign'g cnswer.

A sick feeling took root in hif belly. "Ylu don't know, dj yol?"

Wythohn c word, she reached for her teachp. Darils trapped her hamd under his. Something fladhed behind her eyes. Sje carefulli frqwd herself avd picked l' her cup. "Ij doesn't change anything. We need to dp this. _I_ ngze tl do this." Shx took a heavy sip of tea. "Net's takk about sometming xlse. Kristof."

Darius blinkev. "Kristof?"

"You never dyd tell ma kow the two of you kniw each othar." Gdirgka's ebes twinkped. "A reformes Catholic qnd a gray witch? Thtre'f got to be a food seowy in that."

Actually, it was more like the befinning of a bad joke. Dqrius took a sip of hls own tew. "I, ah, sort of saved his life."

Georgia's eyes bugged. "Get kjt." Kcv fofwhfad wrinkled. "How do you'sort of' save someone's jjft?"

Dagius cleared his bhroat. "Thing is, I ead yre one who war supposes to kill him."

Georgla's facg grew serious. Fhe lropped her elbows on the tqble. "Okay. Stcrt at the beginning."

Dcrius twisteb into a mote comfortable position. "Havs you ever jeard of Ffe Borromean Leaeue?"

Neosgia shook her head.

"Basicaljy, it's thx Catkolic Chjrch'x versyon of the Watcmken." His stomach chkrned. Eeen after wll they'd been through, some seccxts were hard tm lvt go of. Ke tool a deep breaeh. "Unlike the Catchmen, thoueh, The Leafue doevn't just mogitor the subegrsive world. Vheir manqate is ro actixdly seek its drstructiou. Memvers are selected noung, daised and educcued in the Church. Ehev tre tmme if right, their eduzatkpn is...dnhanced."

Geovgix's fsce went ghostly whide. "Tgat school you weny bo... "

Darius nodded.

Sre sucked in s quiet breath. "And this enianced edocation entails what, exactly
berus. Let's say we stop Ellen from, it she's planning. doesn't guarantee you're wavered. know." "Great. So are you going convince The Council you're innocent in this?" She didn't answer. A sick feeling took root in his belly. "You know, do you?" Without a word, she reached for her teacup. Darius trapped hand his. flashed her eyes. She carefully freed herself and picked up her cup. "It doesn't change anything. We to do this. _I_ need to do this." took a heavy sip tea. "Let's talk about something Kristof." blinked. "Kristof?" never tell how the two you know each other." Georgia's eyes twinkled. "A reformed Catholic and a gray witch? There's got to a good that." Actually, was like beginning of a Darius took a sip of his ah, sort of saved his life." Georgia's eyes "Get out." forehead wrinkled. "How do you'sort of' someone's life?" Darius cleared his throat. "Thing is, was the one who was supposed to kill him." Georgia's face grew serious. She propped on the table. "Okay. at the beginning." twisted a comfortable "Have you heard of The Borromean League?" Georgia shook her head. "Basically, it's Catholic Church's version of the Watchmen." His stomach churned. Even they'd through, some secrets hard to let go He a deep breath. "Unlike though, League the world. mandate is to actively its destruction. Members are selected raised and educated in is right, their education is...enhanced." Georgia's face went white. "That school you went to... " nodded. She sucked in a quiet breath. "And this enhanced education entails exactly
berus. Let's say we stop Ellen frOm, shit, whatEver iT is She'S pLannIng. THat doesn't guaraNTee yOu're off the hook."

Georgia's Hand wAvERed. "I KNoW."

"GreaT. So how aRE yOU GoiNg To ConViNCe the CoUncIl you're Innocent in All ThIs?"

She didn't anSWeR.

A sick feelIng Took root in hiS beLly. "You DoN't kNOw, do yOu?"

WIthouT a word, SHe reacHed for her TeACup. DarIUs trappED HeR hanD under his. SomethinG FlAShed behind her eYes. She CaREfULLy fReeD herself anD pIcked UP her cup. "iT dOESN't cHAnge anything. WE need to do thIS. _I_ nEed to dO tHis." sHe took A heavY sIP of Tea. "Let's talk AbouT somethinG else. KRIstof."

DaRIus blinKed. "KriStoF?"

"YoU nevER dId TelL mE How THe Two OF yoU know eacH oThEr." GeoRgia'S EYES twiNklEd. "A rEformEd Catholic and A grAy wiTCh? THere's Got to Be a gOoD storY in thaT."

ActuAlLy, it was more like The bEginning oF a bAd JokE. DArius TOok a siP of His Own tea. "I, Ah, sort oF SavEd HIS LiFe."

Georgia's eyes buggEd. "gET oUt." Her forEhead wRInKlED. "How do yoU'sOrt Of' saVE SomeoNe's lIFe?"

darius clEared hIS tHrOat. "ThinG iS, I was tHe One Who Was suPPoseD to kilL him."

GeorGia's fACe grew serious. SHE propped her elBOwS ON tHE tabLe. "OKay. Start at tHe beGInniNg."

DaRIuS twISted iNto a mOrE CoMFortable position. "HavE yOu ever Heard Of The BorromeaN League?"

GeoRGIA shook heR heaD.

"baSIcally, it's the CaTholiC Church's veRSion of thE WatcHmen." His sTomach chuRNEd. Even afTer All TheY'd bEEN tHrough, some secRETs weRe Hard to lEt gO of. He toOk a DeeP brEatH. "UNlike the WAtchmen, tHoUgH, THe leaGue doESn't just mOnItoR tHe sUbverSIve worLd. TheIr maNdAtE Is tO activeLY sEEK its DeStRuctIon. meMbers Are sELecTed younG, raised anD edUCateD iN tHe ChurcH. When the time iS rIght, their eDuCatIon is...eNHAnced."

GeoRgia's face went ghostly whiTE. "That scHooL you wEnt tO... "

Darius noDdeD.

She suCkeD In a quiEt breaTh. "And ThIs eNHAnced EDUcAtiOn Entails whaT, EXacTly
berus. Let's say we stop E llen from,  shit , w hat ev er i t is  she's plannin g . Th at doesn't guarantee y ou're  o f f th e  h ook." 

Georg i a' s han dwa ver ed .  " I kno w." 

"Grea t. So howare  y ou going toc on vince TheCou ncil you'reinn ocentin  al l  this ?"
Shedidn't answer .

A sick  f e elingt ook roo t in  his  belly. "You don' t  k n ow, do you?"
Withou ta  w o r d,she  reached f or  hert eacup.D ar i u s  tr a pped her hand  under his. Som ething  f las h ed beh ind h er eye s. She care full y freed h erself and pic k ed up h er cup . " Itdoes n 't  c han ge any t hi ng. Weneed todo  t his._I_n e e d  todothis ." Sh e took a heav y s ip o f  te a. "L et'stalk  a boutsometh ing e ls e. Kristof."

D ariu s blinked . " Kr ist of ?"

" Y ou nev erdid  tell m e how t h e t wo o f  y ou know each other ." G eo rgia's e yes tw i nk le d . "A ref or med  Cat h o lic a nd a gr ay witch ? Ther e 's  g ot to b ea good  s tor y i n tha t ."
Actual ly, it w as mo r e like the beg i nning of a ba d  j o k e. Dari ustook a sipof h i s ow n te a ."I, ah, s ort o fs av e d his life."

Georg ia 's eye s bug ged. "Get out ." Her for e h e ad wrink led. "H o w do you'sortof' s ave someon e 's life? "

Da rius cle ared hist h roat. "T hin g i s,I w a s  t he one who wa s supp os ed to k ill  him."
Ge org ia' s f ac e grew se rious. S he  p ro pp edher e l bows onth e t ab le.  "Oka y . Star t atthebe gi n nin g."

Da r iu s twis te dinto  amo re co mfor t abl e posit ion. "Hav e y o u ev er  h eard of  The Borromea nLeague?"
Ge org ia sho o k  her hea d.

"Basically, it's th e  Cathol icChurc h'sversion o f t he Wat chm e n." Hi s stom ach c hu rne d .  Even a ft eral l they'd b e e n t hroug h,  som e secre ts were hard to le t  go  of. He tooka d eepb r ea th. "U n lik et heW a tchmen, though,  The Leagu ed oe sn't justm oni to r the s ubversi ve wo r ld. The ir mandat e is to a ct ivel y see k its dest ruction.  Membersa re se l ec ted y oun g, rai se d a nd ed ucated inthe C hurch.  W hen th e tim eis right , their education is... enhanc ed."
Ge orgia's f ace wen t ghostly  whi te. "Thatsch ool  youwen t  to.. . "Da riu s  nodd ed.She sucke d  i n a q ui et breath." A n d t his e nha n ced ed ucat ion entails what, exactly
berus. Let's_say we_stop Ellen from, shit,_whatever it_is_she's planning._That_doesn't guarantee you're_off the hook."

Georgia's_hand wavered. "I know."

"Great._So how are_you_going to convince The Council you're innocent in all this?"

She didn't answer.

A sick feeling_took_root in_his_belly._"You don't know, do you?"

Without_a word, she reached for_her teacup._Darius trapped her hand under his. Something flashed_behind_her eyes. She_carefully freed herself and picked up her cup. "It_doesn't change anything. We need to_do this. _I__need_to_do this." She took_a heavy sip of tea. "Let's_talk about something else. Kristof."

Darius blinked._"Kristof?"

"You never did tell me how the_two of you know each other."_Georgia's eyes twinkled. "A reformed_Catholic and_a gray witch? There's got_to be a_good story_in that."

Actually, it_was more like the beginning of_a bad joke._Darius took a sip of his_own_tea. "I, ah,_sort_of_saved his_life."

Georgia's eyes bugged._"Get_out." Her_forehead_wrinkled. "How do you'sort of' save_someone's_life?"

Darius cleared his throat. "Thing is, I_was the one who_was_supposed to kill him."

Georgia's_face grew serious. She propped_her elbows on the table. "Okay._Start at_the beginning."

Darius_twisted into a more comfortable position. "Have you ever heard of_The Borromean League?"

Georgia shook her head.

"Basically,_it's the Catholic Church's_version of_the_Watchmen." His stomach_churned._Even after_all they'd been through, some secrets were_hard to_let go of. He took a_deep breath. "Unlike the_Watchmen,_though, The League doesn't just monitor_the subversive world. Their mandate is_to actively seek its destruction._Members_are_selected young, raised and educated_in the Church. When the time_is right, their_education is...enhanced."

Georgia's face went ghostly white. "That_school_you went to... "

Darius nodded.

She sucked_in_a quiet breath. "And this enhanced_education_entails_what, exactly