“In the center was a tiny handprint in red paint.”

“The princess stood in the center of the cabin, her brilliant red robes and the rubies at her throat and her bloodred eyes all the color of hatred. With her stark hair twisted up off her neck, and her pale skin, and the live albino scorpions she wore as earring, she was an exquisite horror, a Kabuki doll constructed by an evil hand. And she was evil, her darkness coming to him in waves, emanating from the center of her chest even as nothing about her moved and her moonlike face remained unmarred by a frown.”

“Blay said roughly,"I'm still in love with him" Saxton dropped his eyes and brushed at the top of his thigh, as if there might have been a tiny piece of lint there. " I know. You thought you weren't?”

“Butch: -I hear ya. No one's biz but yours. One question thoughVishous: -WhatButch: -When the females tie you down, do they paint your toe-nails and shit? Or just do your makeup? Wait... they tickle your pits with feather, right?”

“Red Sox looked around Jane at the patient, “Your mind reading coming back?”“With her? Sometimes?”“Huh. You getting anything from anyone else?”“Nope.”Red Sox repositioned his hat. “Well, ah…let me know if you pick up shit from me, k? There are some things that I’d prefer to keep private, feel me?”“Roger that. Although I can’t help it sometimes.”“Which is why I’m going to take up thinking about baseball when you’re around.”“Thank fuck you’re not a Yankees fan.”“Don’t use the Y-word. We’re in mixed company.”

“Hello? You tracking at all? Or were you planning on sleeping through this round."The lids on that red stare lifted. "I'm not sleeping.""Meditating. Whatever.""I wasn't meditating.""Fine. Psychically manipulating energy fields——""You make me dizzy when you pace. It's vertigo diversion.”

“In the far corner, a tenor began to sing, Zsadist's crystal-clear voice sailing up toward the warrior paintings on the ceiling far, far above them all. At first John didn't know what the song was...although if he'd been asked what his name was, he would have said Santa Claus, or Luther Vandross, or Teddy Roosevelt. Maybe even Joan Collins.”