How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
My pulse began to speed up despite my attempts to stay calm. This huge guy was talking about my blood, and he looked really, really happy about it. But I wasn't just going to hang here and die in the parking lot of Plumpy's. (2.38)
Running into a scary looking dude in a dark parking lot isn't an ideal position to be in, and having him talk about your blood like he's talking about a chocolate craving probably isn't so awesome either. Sam's first encounter with Michael provides a glimpse into the twisted role that blood plays in the paranormal world.
Quote #2
Douglas sighed. The old adage was true: It was so hard to find good help these days. Not that he cared about Michael smacking the boy around. Violence certainly didn't bother Douglas. No, what bothered him was Michael's lack of finesse. He'd simply escalated the violence too quickly. (3.4)
We're not super surprised to hear Douglas admit to not being bothered by violence, especially if it has a means to an end. What's interesting is that he sees violence as a tool that needs to be carefully wielded to get your desired outcome—so apparently, there is such a thing as too much violence, even for someone who kills people to steal their powers.
Quote #3
Auntie Lynn never tastes the sedative in her sherry, and she didn't wake up when he slit her open and stole her gift. As he'd knelt there, covered in her blood, his hand lolling to the side but still holding the dagger, drunk on her power, he couldn't help but think she'd be proud. He'd become the perfect pupil. (3.33)
Whoa. This description of Douglas stealing his aunt's power is one of the more frightening moments in the book, not just because it shows what Douglas is capable of, but because it reveals the bloody nature of the path he's chosen in using his gift. Covered in blood? Drunk on power? That's pretty intense, guys.
Quote #4
Long, bloody furrows went from my shoulders to the bottom of my rib cage, like I'd been pawed by a giant cat. I'm sure all the blood, dirt, and bruises made it look worse than it actually was. Or, at least, that's what I was hoping. (4.31)
Regardless of how bad it really is, the grotesque appearance of Sam's back gives a grisly picture of the aftermath of Michael's attack. The phrase "long, bloody furrows" alone is enough to make us feel Sam's pain.
Quote #5
Frank managed a quick hop as Brooke's head rolled to a stop in the middle of the floor. It had been severed cleanly at the neck, making her ponytail appear longer as it trailed behind like the trail on a grotesque comet. I couldn't see any blood. In fact, the wound looked cauterized, which didn't make it any more pleasant. (4.87)
Everyone loves getting packages in the mail, unless they contain your dead best friend's head. Then things get a little less festive. Especially when it rolls across your kitchen floor and starts yelling at you.
Quote #6
The spirits poured into me, hands grabbing, slicing, hurting. The pain drove me screaming to my knees. I dropped Brid's hand on the way down. I shut my eyes and tried to curl up into a ball. All I know if that when Douglas finally called them off and the pain stopped, I couldn't get up. (19.170)
As if getting attacked by Michael wasn't bad enough, Sam has to endure violence at the hands of dozens of angry spirits Douglas summons for the purpose of torturing him. We weren't aware that ghosts have the ability to slice into your body, but apparently, they do.
Quote #7
The whip-crack of pain across my already injured back made my whole body seize up. It didn't bring me to my knees. I'd been on those. Now I was on my hands and knees trying to breathe past the pain. Either Douglas was tired of the visceral thrill involved in beating me bare-handed or his hands were getting sore from smacking me around. (23.1)
We already know that Douglas considers violence to be a useful tool of manipulation, but it actually seems like he's sort of enjoying beating the snot out of Sam as he tries to force his power out of him. There's no way around it, folks—this guy's pretty sadistic.
Quote #8
He came at me with the knife, slicing into the still-bound arm. I gritted my teeth, but the scream came anyway. A long thin line of red erupted along my arm, right above the blue of my vein. He caught my blood in a bowl that was way too big for my liking. Big bowls meant more blood, and Douglas was the greedy type. (27.2)
Giant bowls of blood? If you have somehow managed to go this whole book without being totally grossed out, this detail just might be the one that breaks you. Nobody likes having blood drawn for medical reasons, so having your arm sliced open so someone can put it in a huge bowl is just… shudder.
Quote #9
He jerked away from me, pulling the knife free from his neck. Blood fountained, spraying me in the face. I must have hit an artery. His blood struck my tongue—a viscous, heavy saltiness. My heart shuddered. No, not my heart. Douglas's heart. (29.8)
Let's face it: There's no getting around describing Douglas's death without using graphic imagery. And as graphic imagery goes, this is pretty sick. Douglas's blood goes in his mouth. Ugh. Not only is that all kinds of unsanitary, but the description of the "viscous, heavy saltiness" almost makes us able to taste it. No thank you.