Rachel Hawkins Quotes

Last semester was intense," I said to Dad.

"Intense?" he echoed, picking up my file. "Let's see. On your first day at Hecate, you were attacked by a werewolf. You insulted a teacher, which resulted in semester-long cellar duty with one Archer Cross. According to the notes, the two of you became 'close.' Apparently close enough for you to see the mark of L'Occhio di Dio on his chest.

I flushed at that, and felt Mom's arm tighten around me. Over the past six months, I'd filled her in on a lot of the story with Archer, but not all of it.

Specifically, the whole me-making-out-in-the-cellar-with-a-murderous-warlock-working-with-the-Eye-part. ~ Rachel Hawkins

All right then, Daisy and I will have our usual.
I wondered what that might be. Evil Juice? Some kind of demonic energy drink? ~ Rachel Hawkins

Is there any way to check and see if Nick and Daisy were ever at Hecate? They must have had different names or you'd remember them."
I don't know why I was holding out hope that Dad would be all, "Why, yes, let me check the Hecate Enrollment Roster 9000 computer database." Those lists were probably written on pieces of parchment with quill feathers. ~ Rachel Hawkins

The four of us sat around the pentagram holding hands. I wondered if we were about to sing Kumbaya. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Sophie, you saw Alice's transformation."
I nodded. "And the murder of my great-grandfather. Weird it showed me that when I've had so many other awful things happen directly to me," I said, beginning to tick them off on my fingers. "Elodie getting killed, having to kill Alice, escaping a burning building with the help of a ghost ... " And then, because both my parents looked so deflated, I added, "Oh, and this really heinous pageboy haircut in sixth grade."
A few wan smiles appeared, but I think it was just to humor me.
"Yes, but that was the act that was directly responsible for all of those other horrible events," Dad said. "Well, except for the haircut. I suspect that can be laid at your mother's door."
"James!" Mom protested, but I swear I heard affection behind it. I think Dad did, too, because his lips quirked upward briefly. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I did want to spend the ball with you. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Whatever shall you wear?' Torin observed, propping his chin in his hand. 'Let's see, there's the black T-shirt with black jeans. Or perhaps, if you're going for elegance over function, you could wear the black T-shirt with black jeans. Ooh!' He sat up, widening his eyes. 'Do you know what would be particularly fetching? The black-'
'T-shirt with black jeans,' I finished for him. 'Hilarious. ~ Rachel Hawkins

It'll make you feel better."
"By making me dead?" I asked. "I mean, I'm sure that would make my headache go away, but that's a heck of a side effect. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Weird it showed it me that when I've had so many other awful things happen directly to me," I said beginning to tick them off my fingers. "Elodie getting killed, having to kill Alice, escaping a burning building with the help of a ghost ... " And then because both my parents looked so deflated I added, "Oh, and this really heinous pageboy haircut in the sixth grade. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I had an incredibly nasty retort ready that involved his mother and the U.S. Navy. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Oh, come on, Sophie. Don't you get it? He's L'Occhio di Dio's ultimate weapon. They used him as a spy at Hecate for years, so what makes you think that's stopped now? This is probably just his new assignment, getting close to you so he can use you for information about the Council."
"Actually, I was just going to use her for her body, but that's a good idea, too. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Brannicks and magic and hell, oh my,"

~ Sophie ~ Rachel Hawkins

Operation Nancy Drew Goes To Hex Hall starts today! ~ Rachel Hawkins

I found her standing on tiptoes, scanning a shelf that was indeed next to a painting of a dude on a horse. I thought he looked awfully irritated for a guy in such a spiffy ermine cape. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I wondered what Finley would say if she were here. Probably something like, 'Stab him with silver and see if it kills him. ~ Rachel Hawkins

You're the healing janitor dude."
"Groundskeeper."
"Isn't that like a janitor?"
"No, it's like a groundskeeper. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Wow, Cross. I think you missed your calling. Screw demon hunting: you should clearly be writing Hallmark cards. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I'm sure we can manage without him for a few months. Although without his healing powers, we'll certainly have to invest in more bandages. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Maybe we can talk to them,' I said, tubbing my nose with the back of my hand. 'Have a little sit-down chat.'
'With tea.'
'Ooh, yeah, with the nice china, and those little sandwiches that don't have crusts. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Sophia Mercer," Elodie intoned, "we have come to induct you into our sisterhood. Say the five words to begin the ritual."
I blinked at her. "Are you freaking kidding me?"
Anna gave an exasperated sigh. "No, the five words are 'I accept you offer, sisters. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I've loved this house from the moment I set eyes on it," Dad said quietly.
"I just wish it were a little bigger," I said. "I need at least five hundred bedrooms to keep from feeling cramped, you know? ~ Rachel Hawkins

It's so obnoxious when you're right about stuff. ~ Rachel Hawkins

He ran his thumb over my lower lip, sending a flurry of sparks through me. "Good-bye, Sophie." -Cal ~ Rachel Hawkins

That's how I'd ended up lying flat on my back, Archer's sword still clutched in my hand, my head aching. Maybe I could just li here and wait for Mom to find me. That would be convenient.
I sighed as the wind rustled the leaves overhead. Yep, that was a solid plan. Lie here on the ground and wait for someone to come to me. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I stared at our hands. "Am I ever going to see you again?"
"You better believe it," he said. "Didn't I promise you we could make out in a castle?"
Chuckling, I drew my hand back. "You did. And to take me on dates. Real dates with no swords or ghouls or angst."
"Well, there you go," he said. "As soon as we've saved the world from a demon invasion, it's you, me, and Applebee's."
I rolled my eyes, but I was grinning now. "Oh, the romance."
His smile slowly faded. "I will see you again," he said, serious this time. "I promise." He moved closer to me so that his translucent legs disappeared into the bed. "Mercer, I-"
And then, just like that, be blinked out and was gone. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I had no idea what time it was, but my body told me it was roughly "Ouch, This Is Way Too Early" o'clock. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Dex was taller than me, and as he pressed me against him, he actually hauled me up on my tiptoes. His arm was around my waist, his other hand plunged into my hair, and he was kissing me. I mean, really, really kissing me.
I was kissing him back. And I was good at it. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I'm a lover, not a fighter. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I'd done lots of impossible things before. No one had thought we could afford five school dances in one year, and hadn't I found the funds? ... We could do this. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Okay," I finally said. "Can we all agree that this is maybe the most screwed-up situation we've ever found ourselves in?"
"Agreed," they said in unison.
"Awesome." I gave a little nod. "And do either of you have any idea what we should do about it?"
"Well, we can't use magic," Archer said.
"And if we try to leave, we get eaten by Monster Fog," Jenna added.
"Right. So no plans at all, then?"
Jenna frowned. "Other than rocking in the fetal position for a while?"
"Yeah, I was thinking about taking one of those showers where you huddle in the corner fully clothed and cry," Archer offered.
I couldn't help but snort with laughter. "Great. So we'll all go have our mental breakdowns, and then we'll somehow get ourselves out of this mess."
"I think our best bet is to lie low for a while," Archer said. "Let Mrs. Casnoff think we're all too shocked and awed to do anything. Maybe this assembly tonight will give us some answers."
"Answers," I practically sighed. "About freaking time."
Jenna gave me a funny look. "Soph, are you…grinning?"
I could feel my cheeks aching, so I knew that I was. "Look, you two have to admit: if we want to figure out just what the Casnoffs are plotting, this is pretty much the perfect place."
"My girl has a point," Archer said, smiling at me. Now my cheeks didn't just ache, they burned.
Clearing her throat, Jenna said, "Okay, so we all go up to our rooms, then after the assembly tonight we can ~ Rachel Hawkins

Finn," she protested. "I wasn't laughing like, with her." Izzy glowered at me. "She tried to kill me."
"Actually, I didn't," I broke in. There was a hard look in Aislinn's and Finley's eyes that scared the heck out of me. The last thing I wanted was to be held responsible for Elodie's actions, especially now that I was, technically, one of these women, and the words just came pouring out of my mouth. "See, I don't have powers anymore, because I was supposed to go through the Removal, and that sort of locked my magic away so that I can't use it. But there was this girl-well, this witch-Elodie, and because she passed her magic on to me when she died, we're connected. That means her ghost follows me around and stuff, so when you attacked me, she possessed my body. Which is new and, quite frankly, super freaky, and something that I haven't really processed yet. Anyway, she was the one who used magic on you. Oh, and held the sword to your throat, and said all that creepy stuff. I'm not creepy. At least not on purpose."
By now, all three Brannick women-all four, if you counted Mom-were staring at me. Man, what had that piney-tasting stuff been? The Brannick version of Red Bull?
"I'll, uh, stop talking now. ~ Rachel Hawkins

As I moved past him and into the house, I resolved to talk to Cal like a mature grown-up person. Eventually. For now, I gave him a little wave and ran away to my room. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I was supposed to watch you, yeah. They thought it was weird that Atherton would send his own kid to Hecate, so we wanted to keep an eye on you. No pun intended. (Archer) ~ Rachel Hawkins

That's it. Be yourself. Be Isolde Brannick, and they will have no choice but to adore you, He reached out and took my hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it. I was too stunned to do anything but sit there, my hand limp in his. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I'm sure you'd hate to miss everyone's felicitations.
David had beaten me in the final round of our sixth-grade spelling bee with that word and now, all these years later, he still tried to drop it into conversation whenever he could. ~ Rachel Hawkins

A few days later, I found myself back in the cellar. But this time, I was involved in an activity way more fun than cataloging magic junk.
"What happened to the promise of making out in castles?" I asked as Archer and I pulled back for a breather. I was leaning back against one of the shelves, my hands clutching Archer's waist. Over his shoulder, there was a jar of eyeballs staring at me, and I nodded toward it. "Because, see, things like that? Kind of a mood killer."
He glanced at the jar and then turned back to me, waggling his eyebrows. "Really? I find it has the opposite effect."
Giggling, I elbowed him in the stomach and pushed myself off the shelf. "You're sick."
He smiled and ducked his head to kiss me again, but I skirted around him. "Come on, Cross, we came down here for a reason, and it wasn't fooling around."
Smirking, Archer folded his arms over his chest. "May not have been your reason, but-"
I cut him off. "No. Don't distract me with your sexy talk. We need to search this place, and that spell Elodie did will only last so long." Elodie had swooped into my body at the cellar door, doing a quick spell to unlock it. She hadn't even looked at Archer, much less said anything. And the second the lock clicked open, she'd vanished.
The smirk disappeared from Archer's face, and he actually looked kind of sullen.
"Are you honestly that bummed about not hooking up right now?" I teased.
But he was deadly serious when he shook his ~ Rachel Hawkins

God, I was just six years older than you are now. That's terrifying." She raised her shoulder, nudging my head. "Please don't make me a grandmother in six years, okay?"
I scoffed. "Trust me, after the Boy Issues I've had, I'm becoming a nun."
"Well, that's good to know."
We stayed there, dangling our feet over the creek, talking, until the sun was high overhead. By the time we made our way back to the compound, I was feeling a little better. Sure, my life was still intensely screwed up, but at least I had some answers. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Then, like I wasn't thrown enough, Cal leaned down and picked up a potted African violet on the low table next to the sofa and brought it over to me. For a second, I wondered if this was his socially awkward way of trying to give me flowers. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I didn't actually think you were hanging out at Hex Hall because of your burning love for me. But that's what I'm telling all the girls back at school," I said, stabbing a forkful of eggs. "I'm thinking 'heartbreaker' might be a nice addition to my 'avenging witch' reputation. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I opened my eyes to stare at a bright blue tulle monstrosity with a skirt that would hit me at mid thigh. I'd look like the really slutty bride of Cookie Monster. ~ Rachel Hawkins

We're teenagers," I reminded her now. "They won't let us in."
"We're girls," Blythe countered. "They'll let us in. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Okay,so Mom had been freaked out by Dad being a warlock.Fair enough.But why couldn't she at least have let me talk to the guy? It would have been nice to get a little heads up about the Vandy. You know,just a friendly "Oh,and by the way, your gym teacher hates me a lot, and so, by extension, hates you! Best o' luck! ~ Rachel Hawkins

Why haven't you told me the truth about you and Archer?"
"We were just friends," I said. "How many times do I have to say it?"
When he didn't say anything, I rolled my eyes. "Okay,so I liked him. I had a crush on him,and-" I wasn't sure if the heat in my face was from embarrassment or anger. "And yes, one time we kissed. But it was just the once,and about ten seconds afterward,I found out he was an Eye."
Dad nodded. "And that's it.That's the whole story."
Why oh why wasn't there a giant hole in the floor that I could plummet through, perferably to my death? "That,that's it."
"Well,that's something," Dad said, running a hand through his hair. "At some point, I want you to add that to your original statement."
We were quiet for a long time before I wiped my sweaty palms on my dress and said, "Is there anything else horrible happening that I need to know about?"
Dad gave a humorless laugh as he ushered me toward the door. "I believe that covers all the current horror. ~ Rachel Hawkins

A startled giggle burst out of me. Paranormal Management Society. PMS. I hadn't even thought of it like that. ~ Rachel Hawkins

This thing with us is the only real thing I've had in a long time. You're the only real thing." He raised our hands and kissed my knuckles. "And I'm done pretending I don't want you. ~ Rachel Hawkins

If by 'graciously volunteered,' you mean 'was threatened and coerced,' then yes, I did, ~ Rachel Hawkins

This isn't just about me," he said. "You're supposed to be head of the Council one day. Prodigium have to trust you, and that's never going to happen if you have one of them in your bed."
A combination of anger and embarrassment rushed through me, burning my cheeks. "Okay, first of all, no one is 'in my bed.' Second, Archer has saved my life more than once. He's not what you think he is. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Jenna and Archer shared a look. "-Why would we need to 'stay in touch'?" Jenna asked. "-Well, because…Look, I can't ask you guys to stay at Hex Hall for a whole other year. Jenna, you have Vix, and Archer, you have…Actually, what DO you have?" "-You," he said firmly. "And a whole bunch of holy knights who want to kill me. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Believe me," he continued, "I want nothing more than to smite her out of existence.But I can't.Not until I have concrete evidence."
Smiting sounded good to me,but, as much as I hated it,I knew he was right. "Man,politics suck," I muttered. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I would kill Mrs. Casnoff. I would blast that stupid hairdo right off her head, once I had my powers back. ~ Rachel Hawkins

What the heck is that?" I asked, pointing to a dark stain in the nearest corner.
"Okay, number one question you *don't* want to hear in a creepy cellar," Archer said ... ~ Rachel Hawkins

Cal's face swam into view. I couldn't hear him over the ringing in my ears. I'm pretty sure he mouthed for me to lie still, which seemed easy enough.
He held my hand, and while the pain didn't go away, a woozy sense of calm spread over me. So I was pretty dispassionate as I rolled my head to the side and watched Cal pull a six-inch shared of demonglass out of my shoulder. As soon as it was out, the burning faded, but I knew I'd have yet another another scar. "That present sucked," I muttered. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Dad, she's just going to freak. And probably come here and get me, and then you guys will start yelling at each other, and I'll have to act out by wearing lots of eyeliner and doing the drugs ~ Rachel Hawkins

Taking deep breaths, I gathered my power until I could feel it crackling in my fingertips. "Let him go!" I commanded in what I hoped was my most "I am a powerful demon" voice. Probably would've been better if my voice hadn't cracked on the last word. I released the magic in my hands, which felt kind of like snapping a giant rubber band.
A bolt of power flew from my fingertips, crashing into a nearby tree with a thunderous crack. There was a bright flash like lightning, and a branch fell to the ground. The ghouls startled, which meant the one holding Archer jerked his head back even farther. The smallest one made a noise that might have been distress, but they certainly didn't seem under my control.
And they weren't letting Archer go.
Okay, so my first experiment with necromancy was an epic fail.Take two.
I fought panic and frustration. Shooting off my magic at the ghouls was no good, but what else was I supposed to try? "Think,Sophie," I muttered under my breath.
"Yeah,please do that," Archer replied, his voice slightly strangled. The ghoul holding him had wrapped a hand around Archer's throat. The thing's expression wasn't threatening, just curious, like he was little kid trying to see what would happen if he just kept squeezing.
I slammed my eyes shut. Okay, they were dead. Yucky dead things. That smelled like-okay, those thoughts were not helpful. ~ Rachel Hawkins

There will be Casnoff butt kicked and all sorts of names taken. And hey, maybe I'll get some new scars."
Both of them hugged me tighter. "We love you, Soph," Mom said.
"Quite right," Dad added, and I laughed, even as my stomach twisted itself into a balloon animal. ~ Rachel Hawkins

How? How did you get Torin to Hex Hall?"
Dad blinked rapidly, and at first, I thought he was surprised by my question. Then I realized that, no, he was fighting tears. Seeing my father, who practically had a PhD in Stiff Upper Lip, on the verge of crying because he was so happy to see me made my own eyes sting. Then he cleared his throat, straightened his shoulders, and said, "It was exceedingly difficult."
I laughed through my tears. "I bet."
"It was Torin's idea," someone said behind me, and I turned to see Izzy standing there. Like my parents and her sister, she was dressed in jeans and a black jacket, although she also had a black cap pulled over her bright hair. "We had tons of old spell books, and after you and Cal disappeared, he started looking through them. Found a spell that would let him travel to a different mirror."
"Of course, the problem was finding your mirror," Aislinn said, coming out of the darkness.
"Aren't you afraid that he'll permanently peace out from his mirror and start hanging out in girls' locker rooms or something?"
Aislinn's eyes slid to Izzy. "Torin has his reasons for wanting to stay with us," she said, and even in the dim light, I saw red creepy up Izzy's cheeks. Maybe one day, I'd get to the bottom of whatever was going on there. Preferably once I was done getting to the bottom of the thousand other things on my agenda. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Hey,Dad, remember earlier this week, when I got stabbed?"
"I have a hazy recollection, yes."
"Is it worth it? Being head of the Council? I mean, if people are always gunning for you, why not hand it over to someone else? You could go on vacation.Have a life.Date."
I waited for Dad to embrace his inner Mr. Darcy again and get all huffy, but if anything,he just looked rueful. "One,I made a solemn vow to use my powers to help the Council. Two, things are turbulent now, but that won't always be the case. And I have faith that you'll make a wonderful head of the Council someday,Sophie."
Yeah,except for that whole sleeping with enemy part,I thought.Wait, not that I would actually be sleeping with...I mean,it's a metaphor. There would only be metaphorical sleeping.
My face must have reflected some of the weirdness happening in my brain, because Dad narrowed his eyes at me before continuing, "As for dating, theres no point."
"Why?"
"Because I'm still in love with your mother."
Whoa.Okay, not exactly the answer I was expecting.
Before I could even process that, Dad rushed on, saying, "Please don't let that get your hopes up. There is no way your mother and I could or will ever reunite."
I held up my hand. "Dad,relax. I'm not twelve, and this isn't The Parent Trap. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Jenna and I had spent one very boring Magical Evolution class speculating on what her e-mail address might be. Jenna thought it was probably something dull, like just her name, but my personal vote (and a ten-dollar bet) was for [email protected]. I guess now I could find out. ~ Rachel Hawkins

So if you can heal with your touch, why are you working here as like, Hagrid, or whatever? ~ Rachel Hawkins

It has also been Lara's idea that I go as Hecate, as a nod to the school. I thought that was kind of crappy-it made me feel like I was Hex Hall's mascot or something-but Dad liked it, and since he was the one footing the bill for this whole thing, Hecate it was. ~ Rachel Hawkins

It's always going to get better someday. Sometime in the future, things won't be so crazy. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Archer Cross, resident bad boy and total heartthrob. Warlock. Every girl here is at least, like, half in love with him. Crushing on Archer Cross might as well be a class. ~ Rachel Hawkins

If she thought I was about to do the whole "have a conversation with the villain" thing, she was dead wrong. I raised one hand while the other reached into my waistband for the grimoire. One super magical destructo-blast coming up. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I'm not sure whether you're confident or delusional, but thanks anyway. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Because there's no way I can do that."

"Yes, there is." He reached out, startling me, and pressed his palm to my cheek.

Almost immediately, a sense of well-being flooded through me, a blissful numbness that started at the top of my head and spread all the way down to my toes. "Seriously, best powers ever," I mumbled drowsily.

"Go to bed, Sophie," he said, dropping his hand as if my skin had burned him. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I know 'What's Going On?' has practically become a catchphrase around here," I said to Jenna, "but seriously. What is going on? ~ Rachel Hawkins

Didn't I promise you we could make out in a castle?" Chuckling, I drew my hand back. "You did. And to take me on dates. Real dates with no swords or ghosts or angst."
"Well, there you go," he said. "As soon as we've saved the world from a demon invasion, it's you, me, and Applebee's" I rolled my eyes, but I was grinning now. "Oh, the romance. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Whatever. I can't even imagine having a fiance."
"You probably have one, you know."
I stared at him. "Excuse me?"
"Your dad is a really important guy. I'm sure he made a match for you when you were thirteen."
I didn't even want to get into that. The thought that there was some warlock out there who was planning on making me his missus one day was too much to handle. What if he was here at Hecate? What if I knew the guy? Oh God, what if it was that kid with bad breath who sat right behind me in Magical Evolution?
I made a mental note to ask my mom about all of this as soon as I decided to speak to her again. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Sophie, I have to tell your mother about what happened."
I suppressed a groan. I'd known this was coming, but I was hoping we could put it off until after Dad got back. I had a lot going on, and the last thing I wanted was a worried mom on top of all of that.
"Dad,she's just going to freak. And probably come here and get me, and then you guys will start yelling at each other, and I'll have to act out by wearing lots of eyeliner and doing drugs. Do you really want to deal with that? ~ Rachel Hawkins

Problem?" a silky voice murmured.
I ignored Torin and turned my attention to the stack of notebooks near the couch.
"I am sorry for what I said about your father this morning," he said. "It was beneath me."
I still didn't say anything.
"Being trapped thus is incredibly frustrating for me, and occasionally I take it out on others. Again, I apologize. Now, if you'd like, I can help you with what you're seeking."
Knowing I'd probably regret it, I crossed the rom and yanked the canvas off the mirror. As before, he was sitting on the table, smirking at me.
"Jackass, jackass on the wall, where's the info on Hex Hall?"
Torin laughed long and loud at that, and I saw that his teeth were slightly crooked. Seeing as how he was from the sixteenth century, I guess he was lucky to have any teeth at all.
"Oh, I do like you," he said, wiping tears from his eyes. "All these bloody warrior women are so serious. It's nice to have a real wit around the place again. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Trust me, after the Boy Issues I've had, I'm becoming a nun. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Honestly, not enough people know how to use good manners as a weapon. ~ Rachel Hawkins

At her door, Jenna stopped. "Soph, I really am
"
"Jenna, if you say sorry one more time, I'm going to punch you in your tiny pink head. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Jackass, jackass on the wall, where's the info on Hex Hall? ~ Rachel Hawkins

I wish I could say that I suddenly discovered my inner warrior princess and expertly leaped at Archer, weapon hoisted high, teeth bared.That would have been cool.
Instead I raised the stake to about shoulder height and took two, maybe three shuffling steps forward. ~ Rachel Hawkins

What else did he say?"
"Just that. He's going to The Eye, and he's sorry." She screwed up her face. "Oh, and some weird thing about telling you that he still feels the same way about that tent, and he promises to say it to you in person next time he sees you."
I gave a bark of laughter that was more of a sob, "That asshat," I blubbered.
Elodie nodded in sympathy. "Such an asshat."
When I'd left Thorne Abbey, I'd held Archer's sword and had a sense that somehow things would turn out all right. Please, I thought. The rest of my magic is back, so let me have that power, too.
But there was no reply except the whistling of the wind. ~ Rachel Hawkins

But as soon as I walked through the door, my happy feelings evaporated so quickly, I practically heard the pop.
"Oh, man," I said softly. "Why do I keep being surprised when everything turns out gross and depressing?"
Jenna was sitting in the middle of her bed. "I thought the window was the worst," she said quietly. "Or, you know. Evan getting eaten. But now I really feel like crying."
Our room had never been what anyone would call luxurious, but thanks to Jenna's obsessive love for pink, it had been…okay, I was going to say "comfortable" but "bright" and "maybe a little insane" were probably better descriptions. Still, it had been ours, and I'd never really realized how much Jenna's lights, scarves, and Electric Raspberry comforter had made that tiny dorm room feel like home. ~ Rachel Hawkins

There was an intruder on a forbidden part of the island, and the security system was compromised. Another image of Archer's sword slicing through a ghoul came to mind. Yeah, compromised was one word for it. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Ugh. A club for Prodigium? That conjured up images of way more velvet and dry ice and angst than I was up for. ~ Rachel Hawkins

As for Demonologies: A History, I was beginning to think it would have been better employed as a doorstop. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Oh, Tiny Pink Jenna," I half sobbed, half giggled. "I have never been so happy to see a vampire in my life."
She squeezed me tighter. "I've never been so happy to be squished by a demon! ~ Rachel Hawkins

How stupid, I thought dreamily, to have ever thought I could give this up. Not just the kissing, although, as Archer's hands cupped my face, I had to
admit that part was pretty awesome. But all of it: joking with him and working beside him. Being with a guy who was my friend and could stil make
me feel like this. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Someone on my other side nudged my shoulder, and I shifted closer to Jenna to make room. And then a hand closed over mine.
Before I even turned my head, I knew.
"Mercer." Archer smiled down at me. "Fancy meeting you here."
As much as I wanted to, I couldn't just throw my arms around his neck and kiss the heck out of him. And I really wanted to. So I settled for lacing my fingers with his and pulling him slightly closer.
Archer here, safe, his hand in mine. And Jenna, pressed tight to my other side. My heart was so full, I could hardly breathe, and even though I tried to keep it light, my voice was strained when I said, "Of course. Everything going to hell, and you turn up. I should've know."
He shrugged, even though his eyes were burning with the same emotion currently racing through my veins. "Eh, Italy was getting boring. Figured I might as well see what you ladies were up to. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Aunt Jewel, I just told you that I have superpowers. That my current boyfriend is an Oracle, and my ex-boyfriend is more or less a wizard. And you want to do a little shopping? I'd hoped you wouldn't freak out, don't get me wrong, but I expected some freaking out. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I knew."
"What?"
"I knew what you were then, Sophie. Your dad told me before the betrothal. And you told me about your grandmother, and what happened to your grandfather."
I shook my head. "Then, why?"
Cal took his time before answering. ~ Rachel Hawkins

In fact, there was an ancient bearded guy in the corner who looked like he'd probably palled around with Mary Shelley. ~ Rachel Hawkins

But this room looked like it had been decorated by the unholy lovechild of Barbie and Strawberry Shortcake. ~ Rachel Hawkins

By now, all three Brannick women - all four, if you counted Mom - were staring at me. Man, what had that piney-tasting stuff been? The Brannick version of Red Bull? ~ Rachel Hawkins

Your sister already did the 'villain explains it all' speech.I don't need another one. ~ Rachel Hawkins

You would be too stubborn to die. ~ Rachel Hawkins

You're the heir apparent to the head of the Council,ergo-"
"Dad,it is way to early to be using words like 'ergo. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Our lips met, and if this kiss wasn't as ... thorough as the first one, it felt bigger somehow. More important. ~ Rachel Hawkins

The "Holy-crap-that's-a-lot-of-pink" zone would have been a more accurate description. ~ Rachel Hawkins

Holy hell weasel! ~ Rachel Hawkins

I clutched at his shoulders, raising up on my tiptoes, and kissed him with everything I had in me. As the kiss deepened, we held each other tighter, so I didn't know if the pounding heartbeat I felt was mine or his. ~ Rachel Hawkins

You okay?" Archer asked as he opened the door.
"Yeah," I said, but I was freaked out. "It's just...Can I ask you something really weird?"
"Those are my favorite kinds of questions. ~ Rachel Hawkins

I'd spent the past six months trying not to think about all that had happened last fall. To have it all read out to me in Dad's emotionless voice ... well,let's just say I was beginning to wish I'd stayed in the pond. ~ Rachel Hawkins

She's keeping people down here in storage," I said, my voice echoing. "Like they're things. Archer. This is…Look, I knew whatever was down here would be bad. It's not like Lara Casnoff would use a powerful blood spell to guard her chocolate chip cookie recipe. But this?"
"Yeah," Archer said softly. "This goes beyond bad, and straight into nightmarish. ~ Rachel Hawkins

In the past few hours, I've been possessed, nearly had my head caved in, and found out my mom is secretly a Prodigium hunter. And before that, I lost just about everyone else I care about, and discovered that people I trusted are secretly demon-raising creeps. My life sucks pretty hard right now. So, yeah. I'm making jokes. ~ Rachel Hawkins

They have statues," Jenna said. "In a hallway." Sure enough, two bronze statues of veiled women guarded the massive staircase, where even more people were now lining up. They were all wearing black uniforms, and had nearly identical smiles plastered on their faces.
"What are those people doing?" Jenna whispered to me.
"I don't know," I replied through a frozen grin, "but I'm afraid a musical number might be involved."
"This is our household staff," Dad said, sweeping his arm toward the group. "Anything you need, they'll be happy to help you with."
"Oh," I said weakly, feeling like my voice echoed in the cavernous room. "Great. ~ Rachel Hawkins