“Are you armed?" Oliver asked her.She glanced down at her backpack and instantly, instinctively held back. "No.""Lie to me again and I'll put you out on the street and do this myself."Claire swallowed. "Uh, yeah.""With what?""Silver-coated stakes, wooden stakes, a crossbow, about ten bolts . . . oh, and a squirt gun with some silver-nitrate solution."He smiled grimly at the dark windshield. "What, no grenade launchers?""Would they work?""I choose not to comment.”

“Jack grabbed Phil's arm to teleport back to Romatech.Phil muttered a curse. "If you say one word about this to the other guys, I will stake you in your sleep.""Don't worry, sweetheart. If they find out about this, I'll stake myself.”

“Elora: "If you bite me, I'll stake you."Baka: "If I bite you, I'll stake myself.”

“So, the wooden stake through the heart thing is apparently a myth, but you can be killed by fire. Anything else?""Should I be concerned that one of your first questions is how to kill me?"Her jaw dropped. "What? No! I didn't mean... I was just curious."He snorted. "Well you can remain so.""What about the sun?" she asked. "Extra toasty?""I'm not going to burst into flames, but I avoid tanning beds.""Silver?""Some of my favorite cufflinks.""Garlic?""Please," he sneered. "I'm Italian.”

“Stick." I said in Russian. I had no clue what the word for stake was. I pointed at the silver ring I wore and made a slashing motion. "Stick. where?" He stared at me in utter confusion and then asked in perfect English, "why are you talking like that?”

“My name is Markowski. I carry a badge. Also a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.I was never a Boy Scout but "Be Prepared" is still a good motto to live by. Especially if you plan to keep living.”