Do you know what happened the last time I loved someone?” Growled against my skin with such tempered violence that my shiver turned into a shudder. I nodded. “No you don’t.” Another lethal growl. “You only know how she died. Let me tell you how she lived— in fear. My actions horrified her, as they horrify you. My enemies exploited her, as they exploit you, so it was more than an advancing army that made her throw herself from our roof. It was me.

Maximus grunted. "Some days you remind me of Vlad." "Meaning?" I said sharply. "Your obsession with revenge. Next you'll want to drive a pole through that vampire once you find her." The thought was appealing, but...

Try not to think too often, you'll only hurt yourself

Of course he wouldn't hesitate before trying something that had never been done before. He was Vlad Tepesh. How could he fail?

You can hear my dreams? God, you must never get any quiet. I'd be shooting myself in the head if I were you.

Then, when people saw you strolling around at high noon holding your rosary beads, they’d think, ‘Well, that can’t be a vampire.

Any situation was better faced with an empty bladder, a clean body, and a lack of morning breath.