Section 9: Chapter 13 Summary

While Jaguar tends to Turquoise's injuries, he tells her about Pyrige, the town bordering Midnight, and Turquoise is surprised to realize she does not want to kill him, though she will be forced to do so if he tries to protect Jeshickah. Instead, Turquoise focuses on working out. Telling her how Jeshickah kept an albino leopard to sharpen its claws on those who displeased her, Jaguar notes that "only humans have it in their nature to torture" (page 126), insisting that vampires' desire to cause pain comes only when their human mind is in control. Turquoise notes that Jaguar does not seem like the type who would enjoy manipulation, but he argues that he learned the skill of manipulation very early and works hard to let his morals control that instinct. He tells Turquoise about the horrors of the old Midnight and...