Sweep of the Blade (Innkeeper Chronicles, #4)

by Ilona Andrews

“So, I’m a mongrel.” “On Earth, that’s a word people use when they don’t know what breed a dog is. You know who you are. You are Helen.” Helen looked down and dragged her stick across the stone, her jaw set. “Each of us is more than just a human or just a vampire. There is only one you. Some people realize that, and others refuse to see it.” “Why?” Maud sighed. “Because some people have rigid minds. They like everything to be clearly labeled. They have a box for everyone they meet. A box for vampires, a box for lees, a box for humans. When someone doesn’t fit into their boxes, they panic.” “But why?” “I don’t exactly know, my flower. I think it’s because they lack confidence. They think they figured out the rules of their world and when something falls outside those rules, it scares them.” “So, I’m scary?” “To those people? Yes. If the rules they made up don’t apply anymore, they don’t know how to act, and it makes them feel like their survival is in doubt. Instead of adapting to a new situation and coming up with a new set of rules, some of them will fight to the death trying to keep the world the way it was. Do you remember when we lived in Fort Kur? What was written above the door?” “Adapt or die,” Helen said. “It’s impossible to stop change,” Maud said. “It’s the nature of life. Those who refuse to adapt will eventually die out. But before they do, they will get nasty. They might even hate you.”