Page 139 of An Invocation of Monsters

I expected peace as usual, but… no. There was a new presence in the Void.

A sharp cry emanated from the clifftops, faint and wavering.

Kiraxis’s ears perked up, sharp points swiveling left and right. “Someone is hurt,” he announced.

I climbed on his back, and the Mlul’dra broke into a loping run as Toth swooped overhead, aiming towards the cliffs. Drazan was at my side, eyes glowing.

It is closer now, he informed us. Elle, you will be needed.

As the circle of destruction came into view, the cry came again—a shuddering gasp of pain that was much louder now.

“Over here,” Toth called from above, gliding towards the sacrifice circle.

There was an odd sensation building inside me.

A sense of purpose. Of being.

Before, I had thought I was a freak. I’d been terrified of myself, of what I could do.

When I’d found out the truth, I’d thought I might be a freak in a different way.

Daughter of a monster.

Half human, half creature.

But I couldn’t believe that all of our fates had twisted together just to create a freak accident.

There was a purpose to my existence. I was here for a reason. And as the guardian of these doors, it was up to me to find it.

I was not a freak. I was the proud daughter of a V’uthli.

And here was my purpose.

On the stone plate, lying strewn amidst the damage, was a kind of monster I’d never seen before.

I took in the sharp claws, the long fangs, the oil-spill scales.

He was massive, a reptilian hulk of a monster. Dangerous. Furious.

And gravely injured, black blood pooling on the floor from the deep wound in his side. All I felt emanating from him was pain and wariness at the approach of several monsters.

He’d dragged himself here and could go no further, probably believing he was going to die, wailing his death-song for all to hear.

But not for long. My purpose was to care for all the monsters in my territory, with my mates to guard my back.

Toth landed softly in front of me, and I slid from Kiraxis’s back. With Drazan to my left, I stood in front, meeting the scaled monster’s deadly gaze and holding it.

“We are the guardians here. I’m Ellerasha, and I can help you… if you’ll allow it.”

I held out a hand.

The monster hesitated a moment, and the fury in his gaze vanished, replaced with confusion and wariness, but more importantly, hope.

And he took my hand.

THE END

---