Page 85 of Of Skulls Of Shackles

Princess Raise burst back into my chambers. “The door has the plague, my queen! Was that your thought? Is it confirmed?”

“A door cannot have the plague,” drawled Princess Take.

“Black veins through it as black veins through pawns and kings alike,” retorted Princess Raise. “The door surely has the plague too.”

My heart sank.As expected,confirmation. The door protecting the olden rock that ancients had used to create monsterdom was dying. If the door was sick, then the olden rock beyond would fall victim to plague soon enough, if it had not already. That was the heart of monsterdom.

Monsterdom was dying—that had been my thought. I did not say so aloud, but I knew so in heart and mind and power.

“Skulls are skin,” I muttered. “That line of the verse has gained clarity too.”

“What?” grunted Princess Change.

“Skin. The cover of what is hidden beneath.” I raised my head. “Human skulls are indeed important. Maybe not as a cure for the plague, but in the fullness of my queendom. Mothers told me that kings must be lesser, that they must be placed in my prison, by my stitch. They told me that humans were crucial to the resetting of the world, where a queen rules instead of five kings. Yes, we must deal with human skulls immediately. I have been arrogant in dismissing their role, believing that the verse referred to kings as the skulls. Princess Raise is correct—if we affect humans, then they can affect us in return. Perhaps by gaining control of humans, I can influence the wellness of monsters.”

I felt certain humans were important in some way. With the lives of kings and pawns on the line, I would grasp at whatever straws I could in the hopes one straw proved vital.

Princess Bring was very quiet. Princess Change was simmering away.

Princess Take stared at them, then at me. “Well if no one will ask the real question… Howwill we erase human skulls in Vitale along with the skulls inseven hundred and thirteenother pulses? My queen.”

Quite easily.

Her befuddlement served as a reminder of what I was now—the most powerful monster in existence with a connection unseen by any immortal.

Goodness,but ancientness of connection was a double-edged blade. Power beyond measure and ever ill-equipped with enough connection to make sense until the last breath.

“Dear Princess, do not worry so about trifling issues. The answer is a simple and delightful one.”

She blinked. “But how?”

I arched a brow. “By doing what a monster does best.”

ChapterNineteen

Such ticklings

If the tomes that held records of the monstrous affairs of Queen Perantiqua wished to highlight the first great act of unity of all monsters, then it would be this dusk.

Though plague existed, and a possible slide to ruin, there was this dusk where monsters might share in great joy—in the greatest scare to exist.

Princess Raise entered my private chambers where Valetise frantically executed the last of her alterations. My wardrobe monster had woken already knowing of my human reset agenda. She had remained awake all day to create clothing for the event.

“My queen,” said the princess. “The radio broadcast is effective. The humans gather at the presidential grounds.”

I sensed that the princess had enjoyed her day in the shoes of a radio announcer. I was not sure what human could resist the monstrous tones of her voice. By the sounds none. “The event will broadcast through all pulses?”

“Yes, my queen. Your stairway pawns will record a visual of the scare. They are best equipped to quickly find the best angles for such a thing. Copies of this will be distributed.”

Movies did exist in this world. Mostly old copies of discs found in ruins and rubble, though rudimentary short films had been attempted by some of the rich with too much idle time. We were about to create the first horror movie since The End.

I smirked, feeling the magnificent tickle of impending fright.

My outfit was a floating gown of simple white that would supposedly brand the symbol of me in humans’ minds forevermore. I could not see how such a thing was very terrifying, but Valetise assured me that a stitched-together woman, barefooted in a flowing white dress would achieve everything necessary.

This dusk, the notion of skulls would be erased, and in its place? I had not decided on what to call myself to humans. Queen Perantiqua was commonplace and befitting of monsterdom, not humanity.

“I am done,” said Valetise, swaying on the spot after.

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