How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Horace waved his hand dismissively. "Dave wouldn't listen. Neither would Sanford. They're both too scared—not like you. You have guts." (20.28)
What's that, Horace is calling Nina brave? Is it just us, or is he buttering her up a bit? Again, we know that vampires aren't the most courageous critters out there, so Horace must have a reason for complimenting Nina's courage—and that reason is a rescue mission that undoubtedly serves Horace's shady agenda.
Quote #8
Though he might have been tall, he wasn't that strong; he had the same brittle-looking wrists and hesitant, shuffling tread as I did. Yet over the past few days, he had demonstrated the most enormous courage. (20.29)
As Nina pauses to reflect on Dave, she realizes that he's actually a pretty courageous dude. He's been locked up with Father Ramon and Nina, and he helped rescue Father Ramon and Nefley from the McKinnons' death trap. So maybe it is possible for vampires to be courageous, after all.
Quote #9
With a magnificent display of self-possession, Dave took another step forward […] I was staggered by his courage. And for the first time ever, it occurred to me that Zadia Bloodstone wasn't such a fantastical creation after all. Because let's face it: I was standing in the presence of a genuine, top-grade, real-life hero. (22.7)
How brave is Dave? He's facing down Barry McKinnon, a violent smuggler/kidnapper, who's pointing a loaded gun at him. This is obviously impressive to Nina. It even makes her wonder whether Zadia Bloodstone is the escapist fantasy she's always thought Zadia was, since Dave is a real hero and standing right in front of her.