“I got this," said Nix, raising her bokken.”

“He clenched Nix's shoulders. 'Why did you hesitate? I saw you hesitate!' He shook her until her head lolled, while she grinned and said, 'Wheeee!”

“Lilah stood above them, tall and beautiful, her white hair whipping in the fresh breeze, her clothes streaked with gore, her hazel eyes glowing with fire.She turned slowly to Nix and in her ghostly whisper of a voice said, "I hate boys.”

“Temae looked at him with a raised eyebrow and he realized she was taking in his attire. “Are you really going to meet her dressed like that?”“These are the best clothes I’ve got.”“That is what you wear all the time.”“Like I said.”

“When the girl at the squat got her throat slit, and Jacob got marked, Nix had been in Portland a little under a year. He had just bought a SpongeBob sleeping bag from Goodwill and had started to feel something like safe. But then, a roll or two of dust every other week helped with that.”

“Nix: We're not leaving without her. So unless you want permanent houseguests of the destructive sort, just hand her over.”