NO!" Raffle grips me as if he can bind my soul to my body. An upside-down view of the doorway shows up in my field of vision. Smoke wafts through it. Although the pain obscures Raffle's warmth, I feel the pressure of his hug, the rocking of our bodies back and forth as he repeats the word, "No.

— Susan Ee

Nothing short of the end of the world would get our eco-conscious techies to toss their latest gadgets onto the street.

— Susan Ee

Of course, she’s right. How bad are things when your clinically insane mother is more rational than you are?

— Susan Ee

One second, we are surrounded by angels holding their swords. The next second, one of their arms drops and his sword thunks to the grass like a lead weight. The angel stares at his blade uncomprehendingly. Another sword drops. Then another. Then a bunch, until all the other unsheathed swords fall, thudding on the grass like subjects bowing down to their queen. The angels stare at the swords at their feet in utter shock. Then everyone looks at me. Actually, it’s probably more accurate to say they’re looking at my sword.“Whoa.” That’s about the most intelligent thing I can say right now. Did Raffle say something about an archangel sword intimidating other angel swords if she could gain their respect? I swivel my eyes to look at the blade in my hands. Was that you, Spooky Bear?

— Susan Ee

Raffle arches his brow at me. ‘You should be with a nice human boy. One who takes your orders and puts up with your demands. Someone who dedicates his life to keeping you safe and well-fed. Someone who can make you happy. Furthermore, someone you can be proud of.’ He waves his hand at the Watchers. ‘There’s nobody like that in this lot.’ I glare at him. ‘I’ll be sure to pass him by you first before I’ – settle for – ‘choose him.’ ‘You do that. I’ll let him know what’s expected of him.’ ‘Assuming he survives your interrogation,’ says Howler. ‘Big assumption,’ says Cyclone. ‘I’d like to be there to watch,’ says Hawk. ‘Should be interesting.

— Susan Ee

So does anyone have a good survival strategy, or is there no hope for getting out of this nightmare?’ asks the Colonel.‘We came up with a big, fat zero. I don’t know how we’re going to survive the blood hunt,’ says Dee.‘That wasn’t the nightmare I was referring to,’ says the Colonel. ‘Death by stupid comments is what I was talking about.

— Susan Ee

Sometimes, as we're stumbling along in the dark, we hit something good.

— Susan Ee

So that’s your sister?” asks Dee in a quiet voice.“Yeah.”“The one you risked your life for?”“Yeah.” The twins nod politely in that automatic way that people do when they don’t want to say something insulting.“Your family any better?” I ask. Dee and Due look at each other, assessing.“Nah,” says Dee.”Not really,” says Due at the same time.

— Susan Ee

That's crazy," I say"In case you hadn't noticed, the whole world has gone crazy. It's time to adapt or die."" By throwing crazy at crazy?

— Susan Ee

The feedback from the speakers changes and begins blasting death metal music so loudly into the sky that I swear the bridge suspensions are vibrating. The twins were in charge of the music selection. I catch sight of them on the side of the bridge, each with an arm raised, holding up their forefingers and pinkies in a devil sign, head-banging to the beat. They’re mouthing the words to the garbled voice screaming over the intense electric guitar and drums blasting out of the speakers. They might look pretty badass if it weren’t for their hobo clown outfits. It’s the loudest party the Bay Area has ever heard.

— Susan Ee