Page 110 of Of Monsters Of Kings

I had to jump higher.

I crawled to the next landing.

“They come to your aid,” said Prince Sign, appearing beside me in a crouch. “Why do they come to your aid?”

King Raise’s power pinned me to stone, and I couldn’t answer.

“Lady,” Huckery called. “You must come higher. We can go no further.”

Tears pinched at the corners of my eyes. “I do not think I can close the gap.”

“You must,” the prince informed me.

The other princes shouted encouragement.

“Here,” said Sign as he helped me to stand. “This surely isn’t defiance. You’d likely stand again soon anyway.”

I couldn’t jump to the next landing. Bending my knees, I tried to hop halfway up the next stairwell. Knives sliced at me, or the feeling of them anyway. I didn’t have the energy to check my body.

I hopped another few steps, then again before collapsing on the next landing.

Still too far.

“Keep going, lady,” Loup cried.

I needed a rest first.

There was a great cheer from above.

“Dusk has arrived,” Hex yelled. “We’ll stretch our blob.”

My monster form was back again? I smiled to check the news and nearly wept at the torsion of my lips. But we might not have long in this form.

Hex, Toil, and Sigil stretched like slime, and my breath caught when Huckery, now werebeast, lowered more. So close.

“Hold on,” Is yelled down. “Our sinew is tough enough to hold us together. Will Be, Has Been, get dislocating.”

Pop, pop, squelch.

Huckery lowered again, not as far this time.

“Our forms don’t change as the other princes’,” Sanguine mourned. “But wait!”

There was frantic whispering, then Huckery lowered again. I peered beyond but couldn’t tell what the princes of Take had done.

“They’ve used their spears to add length, lady,” Sign said. “You’re very close.” He scooped me up and set me on my feet.

“Thank you.” I swayed.

Huckery was two landings above. I had to make it, and to do so, I’d need to ignore my instincts.

I blinked six feet up the next stairwell, then screamed at the slashing sensation. Red dripped from my fingertips, and I could assume the slashing was more than phantom sensation.

I blinked halfway to the next landing and sank into a bloody heap.

“Stop, please,” Toil cried. “You injure yourself.”

“I can’t think how else to get to you, princes.” My voice hitched.

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