“What's next? If there are vampires in there, they probably drink artificial blood plasma substitute.”

“We scarified a mosquito. I bet that's what did it. It was probably a virgin too.”

“Using supernatural beings to build the perfect weapon? Intriguing idea.""Not really," I said. "They did it on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A sub-par season. I slept through half the episodes.”

“If there's anything I can do- I know there probably isn't, but..."Just be here”

“One second he was in my face, making me feel stupid and useless. The next he was like this: hovering, concerned, worried.”

“I remember hearing myself start to whimper, a five-year-old, crouched by the side of the road, staring into my father's eyes, whimpering because it was so dark and there was no one coming to help, whimpering because my mother was back in the crushed car, not moving, and my father was lying here in the dirt, not answering me, not holding me, not comforting me, not helping my mother get out of the car, and there was blood, so much blood, and broken glass everywhere, and it was so dark and so cold and no one was coming to help.”

“The rottweiler stood his ground and waited for me to take the next step in the dance of ritualized intimidation. Instead, I leaped at him. Screw ritual. Now was not the time to stand on ceremony.”