“So.... You are well equipped for our service.''Which is?''We kill people.”

“Surely He does not give us hearts so we may spend our lives ignoring them.”

“Truly, we are the gods' own children, forged in the fire of our tortured pasts, but also blessed with unimaginable gifts.”

“He smiles then, and even though it is well past midnight, its as if the sun has just come out.”

“I am sorry,' he whispers. 'I am sorry I treated you so ill. I thought only to protect Duval.''It was not I who was poisoning him,' I say.'No, but you had stolen his heart and I was afraid you would rip it from his chest when you left.”

“I cannot tell her I have been moping over a broken heart when I have worked so hard to convince her I have no heart at all.”

“I will sit here but an hour or two, then leave."I yawn. "So very long as that?"When he answers, there is a wry note in his voice. "I do have my reputation to protect.”