Ashley Maggio

“…Jackson muttered to me, ‘Bedlam.’
I was beginning to understand his compulsion to solve puzzles. Every few feet, a new mystery taunted me.
An eighteen wheeler lay atop a house. On my right, someone had painstakingly nailed a wedding dress and veil to a front door. A dingy sleeve waved in the wind.
To my left, a dead man and young boy were positioned in a front yard, as if they’d been making snow angels in the ash right up to the end.
On the side of a dumpster, someone had spray-painted: Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn…Whatever.”
― Kresley Cole, Poison Princess

“Why did bad boys like Jackson Deveaux always attract girls like Evie? It'd been that way at my high school. The only attention I had received from pretty girls was their laughter when I’d shown up for class with a busted lip or an awkward new cast.
They’d spurned me for things I could not control.
I remind myself that I took control of my parents – and I no longer have to worry about attracting a girl’s attention; I have a captive audience of beautiful females.
Yes, these days Arthur gets all the girls. I keep them in my basement. I nearly chuckle.”
― Kresley Cole, Poison Princess

“In the pool, I thought you were asking me if I wanted more kissing – then the next thing I see is a condom? You couldn’t have cared less if I was freaked out because you skipped over all the bases I’d thought to expect, or nervous about your ancient-looking protection or – or not ready to go that fast! In general. I didn’t expect you to declare, like, love for me forever or anything. But for my first time, I’d hoped for more than ‘It’s slim pickings out there.”
― Kresley Cole, Poison Princess

“Arthur, I…I’d just been released from a mental institution.' She looks up at me from under he lashes, gauging my reaction while seeming to dread it.
I just stop my jaw from dropping. 'Mental institution?'
I’d been sick the last quarter of my sophomore year, so my mom made me go to a clinic in Atlanta.'
This girl’s been heaven-sent for me! I, too, had been sick. Until I’d tested my concoctions on myself, eventually discovering a cure.”
― Kresley Cole, Poison Princess