“Jack nodded. 'No,' he said.Was that a trick answer?”

“Finish your beer,” he says then nods to the bartender. “Jack. Neat.”

“Thats not what I mean." He seemed flustered. Very un Jack-like. "I just mean...What do I mean?""Are you asking me?"He nodded, now completely at a loss.I tilted my head, thrilled to see that even Jack could get flustered. "Maybe you mean, 'Hey Becks, you have such natural beauty, even without effort you shine like the stars.'"He stared at me and nodded slowly. Which was not the reaction I'd been expecting. For the first time since I'd known Jack, he looked...vulnerable. And I was the person who could hurt him. What was going on?”

“The head has no answers, and the heart has no questions, Jack would say."Quoting his teacher and good friend Jack Kakakaway”

“Do Engineers have stories, Jack?" he asked. "What?" Jack said, without moving."Stories. Myths. Things to keep the boredom out on a long shift.""I think they play cards, mostly," Jack answered. It was a lie, but he told it with surprising deftness; not a waver in his voice or a hesitation in his words. Only the tightening of his shoulders told Ellis he was lying.”

“Is he... is Dimitri a Strigoi?" Mason hesitated only a moment, like he was afraid to answer me, and then—he nodded. My heart shattered. My world shattered.”