Maybe you're going insane." "Maybe," agreed Kernel. "I was joking." "I wasn't.

But you're like me,” he says. “An outsider. Different. A freak. We're both weird, which is why we get along.

I'd like to do something to help the worst afflicted, but I can't. It's not possible to save everybody. Even heroes have their all-too-human limits.

The pair smiled desperately at one another. And for the first time ever, despite the fact that everyone he knew - even the gods themselves - would condemn him for it, Jebel didn't think of Tel Hesani as a slave, but as an equal.

No. You know this is wrong and you want to feel better about it. You don't want to admit your as ruthless and monstrous as the demons you claim to hate.

Destiny's what you make of it. You have to face whatever life throws at you.

Yes?" she asked, eyeing me guardedly. I struck out a hand and said "Shake." Arra stared at the hand, then into my unfocused eyes. "One good fight doesn't make you a warrior," she said. "Shake!" I repeated angrily. "And if I don't?" she asked. "I'll get back up on the bars and fight you till you do," I growled. Arra studied me at length, then nodded and took my hand. "Power to you, Darren Shan," she said gruffly. "Power," I repeated weakly, then fainted into her arms and knew no more till I came to in my hammock the next night.