Page 65 of Becoming Monsterous

I justfeelfor one.

Somewhere beneath the aching surface. Beneath the hunger, the violence, and the centuries of darkness. Somewhere in the place where its memories reside, of holding souls carefully in its giant belly, and floating them up towards a better place.

My eyes flutter closed. I lean into Morpheus's arms. The King of Dreams brings me closer and closer to the monstrous beast.

And I feel it.

Love.

Warmth, affection, humor. All buried deep. All cold and forgotten.

It cared for others, once. I think it wants to again.

Opening my eyes, I startle to discover that we're only a few feet away from the Shade. Morpheus nudges my cheek with his nose, murmuring softly to me.

"It can't see us from down here. Its eyes are closer to the top of its head, and its ears are tiny." His voice skims my skin, and his lips kiss my cheek. "Try your powers on it. Let's find out if it's truly heartless."

"It isn't." Marveling at the welling of emotion I feel from what looks like a cold, dead thing, I reach my fingers out towards the Shade. "It's the furthest thing from heartless a spirit could be."

The surface of its "body" looks like a cold white-blue color. But itfeelslike warmth, like energy, likelife.

As I touch it, the Shade changes color, shifting towards a warm pinkish hue. It shivers all over, and makes a loud, deep sound, almost like a purr.

"Go home," I tell it, softly stroking its warmth. "I'll find a place for you. You'll never be trapped in darkness again."

I stoke the love inside it until it flares to life. Like coals hidden beneath a pile of ash, they long to burn. All I have to do is nudge them.

The Shade purrs again. Then it moves—slowly, but urgently, towards Aleron's wings.

Morpheus and I turn to watch it go.

It isn't a Shade, I decide to myself. It's a Soul Protector. A beloved part of a world that forgot about its existence.

I won't forget it.

And I promise myself that I'll look after it, and all its kind, no matter what that looks like.

If I have to force every summoner to their knees, I will.

It deserves to have a sky.

Now I have to finish things.

I have to face the Magistrate.

Chapter42

Ellie

Aleron takes me to the combat room in Occult House first, to get a sword and a shield.

"You have the memories of a warrior and the powers oftwogoddesses," he points out. "It would be a waste not to give you a proper blade."

I pick a short sword. It feels familiar in my hand. The small round shield, strapped to my forearm, fits as well.

Shifting into my gorgon warrior form, I look into the mirrors along one wall and nod decisively. "Looking good."

"Damn right you are. Unlike this room," Aleron agrees.

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