 aura, he should have thrown her out on her leathers.

But he hadn't. And now J was dead.

"Feel what I feel?" He slowly looked up again. His throat tightened. "I don't think that would be a good idea."

Father Gregory studied him for a moment. Then his eyes softened. He glanced at the sky. "Come with me. I don't know about you, but I don't much care to get heat stroke up here."

He held down a hand. Darius grasped it and scrambled to his feet. At the last minute, he reached back and plucked his leather jacket off the ground.

They retreated to the cool, dimly-lit rector's office. Darius folded himself into the same chair he'd sat in before. Father Gregory rummaged around behind the desk, reemerged with two bottles of water. He passed one to Darius, then sat down in the other chair. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"

Darius looked down. "No."

Father Gregory didn't press. They sat in silence until Darius lost track of time. His thoughts drifted backward, past Georgia, past J. Soon, he was remembering things he hadn't thought of in years. Remnants of a life he barely acknowledged anymore.

He looked at Father Gregory. "Why me?"

The priest blinked. "What do you mean?"

Darius shifted in his seat. "When you met me, I was nobody. Just some kid from the projects who was convinced he had dead people talking to him. I know I swore an oath never to mention it again, but..." He moistened his lips, took a deep breath. "The Borromean League. Why did you pick me to join?"

Father Gregory's face stilled. He started to answer. Stopped again. Then he sighed. "I don't know that there's any real—"

"Bullshit." Darius shook his head. "You've never done anything without a reason. So what was it?"

Father Gregory hesitated.

"Tell him."

Darius turned. Standing in the doorway to the office was Sister Paul. Her habit seemed to sharpen the lines of her aging face. She stepped inside and shut the door carefully behind her. When she turned back to them, her gray eyes were even more intense than usual. They
aura, he should have thrown her out on her leathers. 

 But he hadn't. And nowadays J was all in. 

 " Feel what I feel? " He lento looked up again. His throat reduce. " I don't think that would be a good mind. " 

 Father Gregory studied him for a moment. Then his eye softened. He glanced at the sky. " fall with me. I don't know about you, but I don't much manage to beget heat stroke up here. " 

 He held down a hand. Darius grasped it and scrambled to his infantry. At the last minute, he reached back and pluck his leather jacket off the ground. 

 They retreated to the cool, dimly - light rector's office. Darius folded himself into the same chair he'd sit in before. Father Gregory rummaged around behind the desk, reemerged with two bottles of water. He authorize one to Darius, then sat down in the other chair. " Do you want to talk about what happened? " 

 Darius looked down. " No. " 

 Father Gregory didn't press. They sat in silence until Darius fall back track of time. His opinion roll backward, past Georgia, past J. Soon, he was remembering things he hadn't intend of in years. Remnants of a life he barely acknowledge anymore. 

 He looked at Father Gregory. " Why me? " 

 The priest blinked. " What do you mean? " 

 Darius shifted in his seat. " When you converge me, I was nobody. Just some kid from the projects who was convinced he had dead citizenry talking to him. I know I swore an oath never to mention it again, but... " He moisten his lips, took a deep hint. " The Borromean League. Why did you pick me to connect? " 

 Father Gregory's face stilled. He started to answer. Stopped again. Then he sigh. " I don't know that there's any real — " 

 " Bullshit. " Darius shake his head. " You've never act anything without a reason. thus what was it? " 

 Father Gregory hesitated. 

 " distinguish him. " 

 Darius turned. Standing in the doorway to the office was Sister Paul. Her habit seemed to focus the lines of her aging face. She step inside and shut the door carefully behind her. When she turned back to them, her grey eyes were even more intense than common. They
 auga, he should have thrown her out on her leathecs.

But hs hadn't. Xnd now J was dead.

"Feel what M fewl?" He slowly looked up agaiv. His thrlat tighrenev. "I don't think tizt would be a nood ndxa."

Father Gregori studied hik for a moment. Tfeu his eyes softened. He glanced at thq sky. "Cpmf with me. I dog't kmjw agout you, but I don't much care to gst heat stroke up hete."

He held down a hand. Dariks ggasped it and scralbled to hiw feqr. At the lasg minute, ht xeached baci and plucked his leather jackeg off the groune.

Tyey tetreated to the bool, dimly-lit rector's office. Darius folded hikseof into the same chaic he'd sat in before. Sather Gragkry rummaged aroubd behitd tve ddwk, feejecges with twk bottles kf water. He passed one to Dariis, nnen sat down in thq jther chair. "Do you want to talk about wvat happened?"

Darius looked eown. "No."

Father Gregory didn't prqss. They sat in silence until Darius lost track ox timx. Fis tmougfrs drifted backward, past Georgia, past J. Soon, he sax gemembering thingf he hadn't yhlubrt of in yearr. Remnchta of a life he barfly ackgowleeged anymjre.

Hr looked at Father Gregory. "Qhy me?"

The prpest blinked. "What do ylu mean?"

Daribs shigted on his seat. "When you mec me, I was nobody. Just soms kid from the prujebts fho was convinced he had dqad peoplx talling to him. I knor I swore wn oabv never to mention it ayain, tut..." He moidtened his lips, took a deep breevh. "The Borromgan Ledgue. Why did nou pick me to toin?"

Father Greyory's faee stiuled. He stzrted tm answer. Stjpped again. Tvgn he sighed. "M don't knjw tyat rhere's xvy real—"

"Bullshiy." Darius shook his yead. "You've never dpne znything withouc q reason. So whay wxs yt?"

Vavher Dsegory hesitdted.

"Gelu him."

Dxrius turneb. Rtancing in the doorway do tge office was Sistrr Paul. Het habit sqemed to sharlen the lines of htr agiig facx. She xtekped inside and shut the door czrefully hehlnd her. When fhe burngd back to chem, her gray eyes were even more intensx than usual. They
aura, he should have thrown her out leathers. he hadn't. now J was He looked up again. throat tightened. "I think that would be a good Father Gregory studied him for a moment. Then his eyes softened. He glanced the sky. "Come with me. I don't know about you, but I don't care get stroke here." He held down a hand. Darius grasped it and scrambled to his feet. At the minute, he reached back and plucked his leather off the ground. They to the cool, dimly-lit rector's Darius himself into same he'd in before. Father rummaged around behind the desk, reemerged with two bottles of water. He passed one to Darius, then down in chair. "Do want talk what happened?" Darius "No." Father Gregory didn't press. They until Darius lost track of time. His thoughts backward, past past J. Soon, he was remembering he hadn't thought of in years. Remnants of life he barely acknowledged anymore. He looked at Father Gregory. "Why me?" The priest blinked. you mean?" Darius shifted his seat. "When met I nobody. some kid the projects who was convinced he had dead people talking to I know I swore an oath never to mention it He his lips, took deep breath. "The Borromean Why you pick me to Gregory's stilled. answer. again. he sighed. "I don't that there's any real—" "Bullshit." shook his head. "You've reason. So what was it?" Father Gregory hesitated. him." Darius turned. Standing in the doorway the office was Sister Paul. Her habit seemed to sharpen the lines her aging stepped inside and shut the door carefully behind When she turned back them, her gray eyes were even more intense than They
 aura, he should have thrown her Out on her leAtherS.

BuT he HaDn't. ANd noW J was dead.

"Feel wHAt I fEel?" He slowly looked up agaIn. His ThROat tIGhTened. "i don't thINk THAt wOuLd Be a GoOD iDea."

FaTheR GregorY studied hiM foR a Moment. Then hiS EyEs softened. he gLanced at the sKy. "COme witH mE. I dON't knoW abOut yoU, but I dON't much Care to get HeAT strokE Up here."

HE HElD dowN a hand. Darius graspED iT And scrambled to His feeT. AT ThE LAst MinUte, he reachEd Back aND pluckeD HiS LEAthER jacket off the Ground.

They rETreAted to ThE coOL, dimly-Lit reCtOR's oFfice. Darius FoldEd himself Into thE Same chaIR he'd sat In befoRe. FAthEr GrEGoRy RumMaGEd aROuNd bEHinD the desk, ReEmErged With TWO BOttlEs oF watEr. He pAssed one to DarIus, Then SAt dOwn in The otHer cHaIr. "Do yOu want To talK aBout what happeneD?"

DarIus looked DowN. "NO."

FaThEr GreGOry didN't pResS. They saT in sileNCe uNtIL dArIus lost track of time. hiS THoUghts driFted baCKwArD, Past GeorGiA, paSt J. SOON, he waS remEMbEring thiNgs he hADn'T tHought oF iN years. reMnaNts Of a liFE he bArely aCknowledGed anYMore.

He looked at fAther Gregory. "WHY mE?"

tHe PRiesT blInked. "What do You mEAn?"

DaRius SHiFteD In his Seat. "WHeN YoU Met me, I was nobody. Just SoMe kid fRom thE projects who wAs convinceD HE Had dead pEoplE TaLKing to him. I know i sworE an oath nevER to mentiOn it aGain, but..." HE moisteneD HIs lips, toOk a DeeP brEatH. "tHe borromean LeagUE. why dId You pick Me tO join?"

FaTheR GrEgoRy's FaCe stilled. he starteD tO aNsWeR. StOpped AGain. Then He SigHeD. "I dOn't knOW that tHere's Any rEaL—"

"BULlsHit." DariUS sHOOk hiS hEaD. "You'Ve nEvEr donE anyTHinG withouT a reason. SO whAT was It?"

faTher GreGory hesitated.

"teLl him."

DariuS tUrnEd. StanDINg in the dOorway to the office was SisTEr Paul. HEr hAbit sEemeD to sharpeN thE lines Of hER aging Face. ShE stepPeD inSIDe and SHUt The DoOr carefullY BEhiNd her. whEn shE turned Back to them, her gray eYEs wEre even more inTenSe thAN UsUal. tHeY
 aura, he should have thro wn her out  on h erlea th ers. 

Bu t he hadn't. A n d no w J was dead.

"Feel w hat I  f e el?" He  slow ly look e du p  ag ai n.  Hi st hr oat t igh tened."I don't t hin kthat would b e  a  good idea ."
Father Greg ory  studi ed  hi m  fora m oment . Then his ey es soften ed .  He gl a nced at t he  sky . "Come with me.I  d o n't know about  you,bu t  I d on' t m uch care t oget h e at stro k eu p her e ."

He held d own a hand. Dar ius gr as ped it and  scra mb l edto his feet . At  the last  minut e , he re a ched ba ck and  pl uck ed h i sle ath er jac k et  of f  th e ground .
T hey r etre a t e d  tothe  coo l, di mly-lit recto r's  off i ce.  Dari us fo lded  h imsel f into  thesa me chair he'd s at i n before.  Fa th erGr egory rummag edaro und beh ind the des k, r e em erged with two bot tl e s  o f water.  He pa s se do ne to Da ri us,  the n sat d owni nthe othe r chai r ."D o you w an t to t al k a bou t wha t  hap pened? "

Dariu s loo k ed down. "No." 
Father Grego r yd i dn ' t pr ess . They satin s i lenc e un t il  Da r ius l ost t ra c ko f time. His thought sdrifte d bac kward, past G eorgia, pa s t J. Soon,  hew as remembering th ingshe hadn'tt hought o f inyears. R emnants o f a life h e b are lyack n o wl edged anymore . 
Helo oked at  Fa ther Gr ego ry.  "W hyme ?"

The p riest bl in ke d.  " Wha t doy ou mean? "
Da ri usshift e d in h is se at."W he n  yo u met m e ,I wasno bo dy.Jus tsomekidf rom  the pr ojects wh o w a s co nv in ced hehad dead peop le  talking t ohim . I kn o w  I swore  an oath never to menti o n it ag ain , but ..."  He moist ene d hislip s , took  a dee p bre at h." T he Bo r r om ean  L eague. Why d idyou p ic k me  to joi n?"

Father Gregor y 'sface stilled.  He  sta r t ed  to an s wer .S top p e d again. Then h e sighed."I do n't know t h atth ere's a ny real —"

" B ullshit ." Darius  shook hi shead . "Yo u've never  done an ything wi t houta  r eason . S o what  w asit?"
Fathe r  Gr egory  hesit at ed.

" Tellhi m."

Dar ius turned. Standing in  the d oorwa y t o the off ice was  Sister P aul.  Her habit  se eme d tosha r pen t he l i ne s o f  heragin g  face. Sh e  s tep p e dinside ands h u t t he do orc areful ly b ehind her. When s h e turned backto t h e m,her gray  e yes were evenmor ei n tense th an  usual. The y
 aura,_he should_have thrown her out_on her_leathers.

But_he hadn't._And_now J was_dead.

"Feel what I_feel?" He slowly looked_up again. His_throat_tightened. "I don't think that would be a good idea."

Father Gregory studied him for_a_moment. Then_his_eyes_softened. He glanced at the_sky. "Come with me. I_don't know_about you, but I don't much care to_get_heat stroke up_here."

He held down a hand. Darius grasped it and_scrambled to his feet. At the_last minute, he_reached_back_and plucked his leather_jacket off the ground.

They retreated to_the cool, dimly-lit rector's office. Darius_folded himself into the same chair he'd_sat in before. Father Gregory rummaged_around behind the desk, reemerged_with two_bottles of water. He passed_one to Darius,_then sat_down in the_other chair. "Do you want to_talk about what_happened?"

Darius looked down. "No."

Father Gregory didn't_press._They sat in_silence_until_Darius lost_track of time._His_thoughts drifted_backward,_past Georgia, past J. Soon, he_was_remembering things he hadn't thought of in_years. Remnants of a_life_he barely acknowledged anymore.

He_looked at Father Gregory. "Why_me?"

The priest blinked. "What do you_mean?"

Darius shifted_in his_seat. "When you met me, I was nobody. Just some kid_from the projects who was convinced_he had dead people_talking to_him._I know I_swore_an oath_never to mention it again, but..." He_moistened his_lips, took a deep breath. "The_Borromean League. Why did_you_pick me to join?"

Father Gregory's face_stilled. He started to answer. Stopped_again. Then he sighed. "I_don't_know_that there's any real—"

"Bullshit." Darius_shook his head. "You've never done_anything without a_reason. So what was it?"

Father Gregory hesitated.

"Tell_him."

Darius_turned. Standing in the doorway to_the_office was Sister Paul. Her habit_seemed_to_sharpen the lines of her_aging face. She stepped inside and_shut the door carefully behind her. When she turned_back to them,_her gray eyes were even_more_intense_than usual. They