Embee Quotes & Sayings

Aren't there different electrical outlets here? And what about money? And isn't it-"
"Relax, Tess," Taylor told me. "I have everything covered. — Embee

You should know by now that I have eyes in the back of my head. -Mr. Bradshaw, Tess Embers — Embee

His hair was red, and his eyes were a color blue that put the ocean to shame. — Embee

Do you have anything to pick a lock?" She asked desperately.
"Always." I slid one of the three bobby-pins I always kept with me off of my waistband, tossing it to her. — Embee

Honestly, I'm sorry you have no more power over me, but I'm not scared of you anymore. It's just not worth my time. — Embee

Suddenly, I found myself running along the rooftop, leaping and falling. Falling until I caught the zip-line handle and then I was zooming, flying across the sky. I released the precious glass ball, not even glancing down to see it shatter. — Embee

Mr. Bradshaw was, in a way, my second father. I trusted him and wanted to make him proud. But that day, as I lowered myself to the ground in shock, it was hard to believe I was staring up at the same person. — Embee

One flub, one little mistake, could ruin everything. — Embee

I let out a helpless, frustrated noise that sounded like a combination of a cry and a growl. It took everything in me not to shout a stream of curse words. Seriously
out of all the things that could happen to me, I'd been the victim of a pickpocket? That wasn't supposed to happen
not to a spy. Not to me! — Embee

There's a lot more to say, but in simpler words ... it looks like there might be another adventure in our future. — Embee

For once in my life, I wished Mr. Bradshaw had slipped a tracker into my shoe or my coat pocket. I wished that he was still keeping tabs on me, even when I told him that I didn't need him to, or that I could take care of myself.
Because the truth was that I knew I'd always need help along the way. I needed help now, and at some point in my life I'd need help again. — Embee

Taylor," Nathan said, "Why didn't you take the rest of us?"
"I didn't want to put you in danger," she said.
"Gee, thanks," I said.
"Hey, I brought Jayden, remember? He insisted on bringing you."
"Gee, thanks," Jayden crossed his arms and frowned. — Embee

Why in the world did the most Pentagon-wanted girl out of all of us," he looked pointedly at me, "go to the place where most members of the Pentagon are located?"
I shrugged.
"It's not a rhetorical question, Ms. Embers," he said dryly.
"We got this," I said, holding up the Didot.
His gaze softened slightly. "Well. That's good. But that's still no excuse for not telling me where you were going! — Embee

I guess they knew me well, because they were right. They didn't have to capture me. Because I was going to follow. And even if I didn't make it out of wherever their new secret hideout was, I was going to do everything in my power to get Christina away from them. — Embee

Sometimes, even spies don't make the right decisions. Sometimes we get confused. And this isn't a movie," I added, "so there's no guarantee that the good side will win. Do you understand?"
"The good side will still win," she said bravely. "We're just going to have to work for it instead of watching it happen. — Embee

I know. It was hard to decide, but I knew if I told James, he wouldn't let me go, and ... and it's for his own good." After a deep breath, she continued. "Anyway, Jayden wanted to come, but he said he wasn't going to leave you here alone, so therefore you both have to come with me."
I glanced at Jayden and slowly nodded. "Okay ... when do we leave?"
"Now," they said in unison. — Embee

But one thing was for certain: something would happen next. Something always did. Especially when you live the life of a spy. — Embee

They question me everyday. There's always bright lights and they give me medicine that's supposed to make me tell the truth, but it doesn't work on me. Or maybe it only works when I start talking, but I never do. — Embee

I woke up in a dark room. The first thing I noticed was that my hands and wrists were not tied. That made me frustrated, because that meant that I was somewhere really isolated. It meant that they thought, and were probably correct, that I had no chance of escaping. — Embee

I'm going after Jayden. I don't care if that's what they want; if it's a trap, then they know me really well. No way I'm letting Jayden be tossed into a car and driven away by them. No way I'm letting you stand there and do nothing about it. Personally, Jayden's more important to me than the Didots. So I'm going, whether anyone's coming with me or not. — Embee

I kept thinking I was going to cry, but my eyes didn't well up. I was done wasting my tears on her and her pathetic mind games. Agent Fern didn't deserve anything from me
not even one little tear. — Embee

Jayden shoved through the crowd and pulled me to my feet. I hadn't realized I was crying until he wiped a tear from my face. What happened? — Embee

She was the best spy I knew, and that was the most terrifying thing of all. — Embee

At this point, I couldn't even make out the helicopter's shape; it was just a gray blur in the distance, and so was everything it represented. — Embee

Why would you tell us the truth? If Christina really wasn't here, you'd tell us she was, to stall us from finding her. If James taught us one thing, it's how to detect a lie. You just want us to leave so you can get her to talk. By the way, good luck with that
Ida can't even get her to admit that she stole her cousin's candy at Halloween last year. And that was pretty obvious. — Embee

I can't tell you the things I know," I repeated.
"Why not?"
"They aren't my secrets to tell. — Embee

Everything okay?" He asked, and I nodded hastily. "You sure?"
"Uh-huh."
"Mr. Bradshaw wouldn't be proud of your lying skills right now," he pointed out.
I rolled my eyes. "Mr. Bradshaw's not here. — Embee

Are you okay?" someone asked.
"I'm fine," I snapped, turning to face Jayden Griffin.
"I have to admit, you're getting better at lying, Tess Embers," he said quietly. "However, I know you're not okay. — Embee

I was sure the door was locked, so I immediately stuck the bobby pin inside and jiggled it around for a while. Then I gave up and looked at James Bradshaw. He grinned, showing his bright white teeth.
Then something occurred to me. He'd never said the door was locked. I dropped the bobby-pin and opened the door. — Embee

From the moment I met Christina Georgia, I knew why Mr. Bradshaw had chosen her. She was incredibly smart and thoughtful, and her emerald green eyes were huge and wise. Her wispy blond hair was beautiful and shoulder-length, and her bubblegum pink lips stood out on her pale face. She was awesome, and we were friends after about two minutes of talking. — Embee

I know you're hurting, Taylor, but grief is clouding your judgement and you need to stay focused. If you attack her now, you won't win. You know she has the advantage, Taylor. I've taught you this. Please, we just need to get out of here. — Embee

I ran, and I just kept running.
I wasn't going to stop until I got back to my family; I wasn't going to stop until I got home. — Embee

I had chosen. This was my family now. Mr. Bradshaw unhooked the zip-line, and since there were raindrops on my face, no one could tell I that was crying. — Embee

You underestimate us, Josephine," Taylor smiled. "A few guards, chains, and a locked door can't keep a family apart. — Embee

I really had come here.
And I really was staying
at least for now. — Embee

A shadow disappeared into one of the shops, but it could have been anyone. Nevertheless, I had the uneasy feeling that someone was following us. — Embee

In a way, she was right. But while she talked, she stared hungrily at the Didot in my hands. They all did, with the exception of Madison. — Embee

That was the problem with training to be a spy and developing your senses to the point that I had. Now, I was constantly alert
even when I wanted to relax, I couldn't. I was always waiting for someone to jump out and attack me. — Embee

Of course not, dear," Mr. Bradshaw said, tapping her nose lightly, and she giggled. "It's never the end
in fact, in my not-so-humble opinion, it's always the beginning. — Embee

I was going to die.
I was going to die, right now, right here, before I even had a chance to thoroughly apologize to anyone for what I'd done ... before I had a chance to forgive myself.
I wasn't even going to leave with a bang, one final act of dignity or at least the thought that I still belonged somewhere; I would die without even the simple acceptance that I'd done everything I could.
Tears welled in my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. I didn't want to die crying. — Embee

Hi, my name is Tess Embers.
A lot of thoughts are probably running through your mind right now. Who does this person think she is? Doesn't she know that you should never begin a story with a boring phrase like,'Hi, my name is...'? Doesn't she know to use a hook at the beginning to draw readers in instead of pushing them away?
Well, sorry, but I'm just a teenage girl and I don't necessarily want everyone to know everything about my life. Maybe I don't want to hook people. — Embee

The lie detector didn't react to anything I said, but I wouldn't dare smile. — Embee

Paige claimed my toothbrush!" I complained to no one in particular.
"I forgot to pack my own," Paige replied defensively, "not that I have one. I haven't brushed my teeth in months, Tess, I ran away, remember? So I deserve it."
"You could use mine," Jayden called, only half sarcastic.
"What makes you think that has any potential to be a solution? And just because we're dating now doesn't mean there's no such thing as germs!" I called back. — Embee

Waiting.
That's always what being a spy comes down to, isn't it? — Embee

You know, Tess, I could kiss you right now. — Embee

Taylor whispered the words, but her voice held the intensity of a shout. — Embee

Excuse me? I'm a girl? And what does that have to do with anything? I narrowed my eyes. If he didn't answer this correctly, he was in big trouble. — Embee

I was going to stick with them and find and destroy the Didot if it was the last thing I did. — Embee

I tried to blink back the tears that just kept coming. Eventually, I gave up and let my sight be obscured. — Embee

I felt my eyes widen slightly, feeling like the kid of the group who didn't understand anything and was a pain to have around. — Embee

The Didots created happiness and power, or in this case, pain and sadness ... but only within its subject's mind.
The power it held was real, but it was not a physical power. It was the power of persuasion, the power of illusion.
Mr. Bradshaw was a genius. — Embee

Aaron, we came here to find the Didot, not to spend our money on hotel movies! You're lucky I didn't plan for us to sleep outside or something! — Embee

That's not necessary," Mr. Bradshaw said, "although you are all perfectly welcome in the guest rooms upstairs, I won't ask you to lie to your-"
"Mr. Bradshaw." Nathan grinned. "You've been asking us to lie to our parents from the moment we each set foot in this house. We're spies; we'll all find excuses to stay here. No one wants to leave the only place in the city where the Pentagon won't dare enter. Not tonight. Not after what happened. — Embee

They might as well have been trying to fit a squirrel through the eye of a needle. — Embee

Hi, my name is Tess. — Embee

Every movement was sure and steady, and she always walked with purpose and seemed alert and ready for anything. I didn't know if these qualities meant that I could trust her with everything, or that I couldn't trust her at all. — Embee

Jayden stood facing me, his arms crossed, looking like he couldn't decide if he wanted to kiss me or punch me. — Embee

I should have been honored to have been part of the best pickpocket incident of the century, but instead I was just mad. — Embee

I'm fine. I'm at an antique store, by the clothes store just a mile or so from-"
"Which clothes store, Tess? If you haven't noticed, there are about a million. — Embee

What happened to, 'girls on left, boys on right?'" Mr. Bradshaw asked wearily.
Jayden shrugged. "We got bored. Nothing's fun without people of the opposite gender. — Embee

I shook my head. Maddie, it's more than a glass ball. — Embee

The thing is, Ms. Embers, they aren't exactly on our side. — Embee

Chills crept up my back. It may seem like nothing to a normal person, but I wasn't normal. I was a spy. And it takes a lot for someone like me to get chills. The scariest part was that I knew it wasn't from the coolness of the morning. Something felt wrong today; I just couldn't figure out what. — Embee

Taylor, listen to me. I could tell you that it's okay. That she wasn't a wonderful person, or I didn't love her. I could tell you that she's happier now, and her life would've been sad and filled with pain and longing to see her love again. I could say that I'm not struggling with her death, as well as the death of the hope that she could once again be part of my life. But instead I'll just say that I'm sad, too, sweetheart. That way I can spare you the struggle of detecting the lie in my words. — Embee

James Bradshaw
1313 Lemon Drive
(Yes, the 'haunted' house)
1:00 a.m. — Embee

I tried to figure out what everyone was so frustrated about. I thought maybe the Didot was going to show me an image or do something, but ... it did nothing. Nothing
so that's what everyone was so upset about. Silently, I passed it to Jayden.
"It's a fake," Chloe muttered. — Embee

With all due respect, Ms. Embers," Mr. Bradshaw started, and I couldn't help but notice how he emphasized the word due, "I'm quite disappointed. One of the very first things I taught you was not to overdo it. Try the obvious before using the complex techniques one might expect a spy to use. When lying or making excuses, make it simple. Ms. Embers: do not make up an elaborate tale involving a porcupine, hairspray, and/or a treasure chest. Say, 'I tripped and cut it on a nail on the sidewalk.' Don't make yourself suspicious. — Embee

What was that?" Taylor snapped, suddenly alert.
"Oh, sorry," Paige said, standing up and rubbing her eyes, "I fell off the bed."
Suddenly, I couldn't help it
I giggled.
"Oh, shut up, Tess," Taylor said at the same time as Paige snapped, "It's not funny! — Embee

I love you, Tess, he told me, tightening his arms around me as if he would never let go.
He'd better not.
We'd never let go of each other
not Jayden and me, and not the rest of us. We would always be together; we would always be a team.
No matter what happened. No matter what we went through. No matter where our lives took us.
We would always be a family. — Embee

I ... I'm going to show you where I've been going every Monday this summer. — Embee

I'd grown to trust Mr. Bradshaw, even though he was the one who had taught me how to lie. Not to mention the day he lectured me on how to get close to someone to find out the truth about them, as if he was the ultimate expert. Nevertheless, I trusted him. I really did. — Embee

I'm here for my parents, I thought, I'm here for my mom. Because of the letter. To give them a chance, since I never really did. I'll just leave if they really do turn out to be heartless, or if they really have gone insane because of their thirst for the Didot's power. I just want to see for myself. — Embee

Was it risky? Yep.
Was it rude? Oh, yeah.
Was it stupid? Most likely.
But I'd said it anyway. — Embee

I carefully returned the files to my mother's drawer and left the house with one objective: find Christina Georgia.
July 14th was today. — Embee

Paige cleared her throat. "Hey, Taylor?"
"What?" she snapped.
"Um ... he ... maybe he can help us?"
"He doesn't seem very helpful," Taylor said grumpily. — Embee

You know, for a spy as talented as you, you can really be ... obnoxious," I told her.
She grinned. "I know. — Embee

Rosalie had never been one to question or accuse, just to forgive
but I guess everyone had their limits when it came to tolerance levels, and I'd crossed the line. — Embee

These people, last seen referring to themselves as the 'Pentagon,' could be anywhere and anyone," the reporter said, looking behind her shoulder and seeming very confused. "It seems to be a huge group, and..." The woman ducked instinctively when she heard someone shout. "As I was saying, the 'Pentagon' is becoming worldwide news, and they are crazy, driven by something called a, 'Ditto?' No one is quite sure what they are planning on doing, or what their intentions are. Everyone is confused, and many are locking themselves in their houses. The Pentagon could be anywhere, anyone, and-"
Jayden turned off the TV. "You know what this means, don't you?"
I sat down, trying to keep my hands from shaking, and nodded. "They're not secret anymore. The Pentagon's gone public. — Embee

Something that happens once is nothing. Something that repeats itself, or happens twice, is a coincidence. Something that happens three times, or more ... then there's a reason behind it; whether it's dangerous or harmless, there's always a reason. — Embee