Page 55 of Becoming Monsterous

But if it'll make her happy, and keep that monstrous lion inside her from eating anyone alive, I'll do it for her.

Clearing my throat, I press my thumb against her forehead and do my best to summon my newfound powers.

You can do this,Medusa encourages me, her will and belief in me like a warm balm to my chest.I believe in you.

Licking my lips, I stare into Lise's eyes and do my best to believe in myself like Medusa believes in me.

"Lise Sandstrom, I bless you with love and affection. Gratitude and devotion will always be yours, and you'll never find yourself alone and without love in your life again. Umm... from your devoted goddess of love, Ellie Blackburn."

I cringe at my improvised sendoff, which sounds like the sort of thing a Boomer would sign at the end of a text message. But despite my babbling nonsense, I feel a well of power flow from me and into her.

Love. Worship. Gratitude. Affection. And friendship. They well within me and in the air around us.

Lise gasps, blinking as she looks around, as if she can see it too.

"Is that... is that love?" She rises to her feet, whirling around to stare at the moats of worship and praise floating in the air. "Or something like it?"

"It's—yeah, it's love, basically." My eyes widen as Lise turns her back to me, and a lump forms in my throat. "Uh, Lise. The mirror on the other side of the room... I think you might want to look in it."

Nervousness flutters inside me. What have I done? Did I fuck it up? Is Lise cursed twice now?

"What is it—oh." Lise blinks as she moves across the room towards the mirror in the corner, then blanches in nervous fear. "Is that what I think it is?"

Joining her in the mirror, I stare at the two small, white, feathered wings that sprout out of her back, and feel incredibly stupid. "I think I just turned you into a cupid."

We both stare at the mirror for a long time.

Then Lise lets out a little giggle, puts her hands on her knees, and starts to laugh hysterically.

Louder and louder, until her voice fills the room.

Until I join her too.

And suddenly, the wings on her back unfurl and turn into large white wings. She gasps, then leaps into the air, floating effortlessly.

When she looks down at me from above, I notice with wonder that her eyes are blue. "The curse... I think it's lifted."

"Really?"

"Really. Though I don't know if this is better..."

"Let's find out." Lise glides to the floor and folds her wings up again, until they're nothing but little hand-sized feathered bits against her back. "These, I can hide. Being a terrifying, man-eating lioness for an hour? Not so much."

"It's almost noon," I point out, reaching for the dagger at my hip and carefully unsheathing it. "I can sit with you. And if the worst happens..."

"At least you'll be able to defend yourself." Her eyes well up with uncharacteristic tears. "Thank you, Ellie."

We sit together, waiting for the minutes to pass by.

Then we wait for a while after noon passes, just in case.

Until Lise is grinning at me, a different kind of tear swimming in her eyes. "Thank you, Ellie. Really. I mean it."

She throws her arms around me in a hug.

And I feel like I've finally gotten the true female friendship I've wanted my whole life.

Chapter37

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