“People can perfect whatever facade they want, but everyone holds their sins close to their skin.”

“Most people don't have facades," Natalie said drily. "Oh everyone thinks they do, but when you dig below the facade, there is only more facade.”

“I told you once before,” I said, the words husky from remembrance. “Everyone holds their sins close to their skin.” Fangs gleamed for an instant before Vlad bit into his wrist, pooling up two deep crimson holes. “Then come,” he said, holding it out. “And taste mine.”

“HOW do you define a word without concrete meaning? To each his own, the saying goes, soWHYpush to attain an ideal state of being that no two random people will agree isWHERE you want to be? Faultless. Finished. Incomparable. People can never be these, and anyway,WHENdid creating a flawless facade become a more vital goal than learning to love the personWHOlives inside your skin? The outside belongs to others. Only you should decide for you -WHATis perfect.”

“Shame is a hold that sin uses on you. As long as you're ashamed of the sin, it has a hold on you. When you can name it and walk away from it, you're walking in the power of God. That's what the Lord wants from His people. Sin and shame have no place in the life of a man or woman of God.”

“In the dark you can feel really close to a person. You can say whatever you want.”