Page 52 of An Invocation of Monsters

I agreed whole-heartedly. The little round man had seen me only once, when I was caught pillaging the cold box where the food was kept, and now he made me grand offerings of food instead of running in terror.

I was happy with this arrangement. I did not have to pillage for feasts now.

“I found pictures of my mother here,” Elle said, turning in one spot on the summoning stone. “She managed to come through to the Void. But I want to know where else she went. I want to know how she managed to survive. Drazan told me he never spoke to her, but… maybe Toth did…”

She looked vaguely disturbed by this, although I didn’t know why.

“I never met her,” I informed her. “Nobody has come through the door except for you.”

“Maybe she was before your time.” Elle gazed out into the woods with frustration, then blew out a breath. “I feel like I’m working blind here.”

“I will be your eyes and take you into the forest.” I squinted at the sky. “But not now. It is becoming night soon in your world. That is when the predators come out. Even the creature might be emboldened under cover of darkness.”

“Night?” Elle glanced sharply at the sky. “I have to get back! The Society meeting is tonight!”

She started to dash for the steps to the lake, but I snagged her easily. “Don’t take that way. You will get wet again.”

I lifted her onto my shoulder and charged into the high grass. Elle held me tightly, making a surprised sound when I found what I was looking for at the edge of the forest.

“This is where…” she squinted at the two slabs of granite stacked in a triangle, forming a door of complete blackness between them. “The shed is, I think.”

“There are other doors if you know where to look.” I put Elle on the ground. “I will see you soon, my Elle. Go through before night falls. I do not want you out here alone with the Hunter or the creature.”

She nodded, about to go, then she paused. She put her hand on my arm, looking up into my eyes.

“Thank you, Kiraxis,” she said sincerely, and a low purr rumbled out of me. I had pleased her. I was a good mate.

Then she stepped through the door and was gone.

I waited a moment for my ruff to settle, glancing out at the wood. I smelled the creature nearby, and crouched in place to wait.

For whatever reason, it was drawn to my Elle. I would destroy it when it showed itself.

After an hour of waiting, I no longer felt the presence of the thing. The cowardly creature had run yet again. My Elle would be safe, and I could leave the door to go work on my surprise for our future az’hyrr’drgya.

16

Elle

Guided by Kiraxis’ gentle claws, I pierced a veil of darkness, feeling the membrane of the Void stretching across my face and hands, and popped through. Into complete, dusty darkness.

My nose twitched, and I sneezed violently. And sneezed again.

And realized I’d left my pants on the Void’s beach.

“Fuck!”

There was no going back now. I had to be at that meeting.

I stretched out my hands, almost running smack into a wall and rattling what sounded like shovels and rakes.

Swearing under my breath, walking through dirt and dust with bare feet, which made me shudder, I finally found the door and unlocked it.

Twilight had fallen over Deepwater Lodge, and there was still no one in sight. I shut the toolshed door behind me and crept up the lawn, retrieving my boots from under the bush and making my way to my room without incident.

There was no sign of Kase, but my heart was still thumping as I hurried through the motions of throwing on new clothes and brushing out my hair. There was still a bit of luminescence clinging to the strands, and I hoped no one would notice.

There was a knock on the door as I was pinning my messy bun on top of my head. I yelled for Kase to come in and quickly pulled on my gloves before leaving the bathroom.

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