Page 40 of Of Monsters Of Kings

“I do feel that way, and then your visit a month ago confirmed what I knew I should do.”

He grimaced. “It is good that you protect yourself. Very good. And tell me, how exactly did you pull out the bars and crush them together?”

I rapped my knuckles against the bars. “Exactly that, Prince Toil. I yanked them from the concrete walls of the top-level rooms, which made a terrible mess, I’ll admit.”

I had a feeling that recent slumber was behind my remarkable new strength too. I’d also found myself able to deny dawn sleep for longer and to wake earlier. Did monsters usually change over time?

He said in awe, “I can see how you’ve pinched the metal frames together to create the wall.”

The barricade blocked the entrance beyond reception. Tall walls already surrounded the hotel, but anyone could undertake to scale them without much difficulty. I’d fortify those in a different manner, and if those combined with a wall of metal bars didn’t put a person off, then likely as not, that person was a prince. I didn’t have much power against princes anyway, and recognizing my limits was a good thing.

“I’ll deliver your letter now,” Toil announced. “Just remember that I’ll return with Sigil and Hex later to capture you.”

I dipped my head. “I’ll remember. Thanks for the warning.”

He frowned. “Is that what I’ve done? King Bring won’t like that at all. Why did I do that?”

I watched the powerful man stride away through the lupins covering the outside road. How odd that such a conventionally handsome male could turn into something so unconventional and monstrous at dusk. The same could be said of all the princes’ handsome daylight forms. From dawn until dusk, they existed as beautiful statues, sculptured magnificently to make humans revere and not fear.

To think I might never have known the truth.

After stopping in the kitchen to enjoy some lentil soup, I returned to the top level to yank out more metal bars for my wall. I had to admit that this strength had its perks, and I enjoyed that the strength remained in my daylight form, even though the strength was monstrous in origin.

I wrinkled my nose at the chunks of concrete and thick layer of dust littering the landing. That would be quite the clean-up job. I couldn’t do anything about the great holes left in the window frames, and I’d managed to crack most of the windows, too, and shattered more than one.

Once my entranceway wall was complete, I carefully gathered my supplies to fortify the tall, outer wall.

“Good evening, lady,” said a man. He was echoed by two other men.

I peered down at Sigil, who stood between Toil and Hex. “Goodness, is that the time? I meant to be away from here before you arrived. Oh, but you’re still in daylight form.”

Toil lifted a shoulder. “We came earlier than intended to trick you.”

I considered his words. “A wise idea when capturing someone you’ve warned.” I couldn’t begrudge him that.

“Lady, why do you sit up there with a box of broken glass?” Sigil asked.

“I had an idea to fortify these walls by cutting mirror shards into the top. No one would wish to climb them then.”

“You decided to sit with the box of shards for a time?” Hex inquired.

I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Can I admit something hard to the three of you?”

Three nods.

“When I became a monster, I also became unable to bear even the thought of looking at my monster form. Now, I also find myself unable to bear the thought of looking at my day form because I’m reminded of how I don’t look at night.”

Three vacant stares.

Perhaps they needed more information. “So I’m sitting here with the mirror shards face down, afraid to do more work in case I accidentally glimpse myself, no matter the day or dusk.”

“You’re afraid to see yourself,” Sigil said oh-so-slowly.

They had it now. “You see the matter at hand. I would not have expected to ever have such a problem, but I feel topped up with dread and doom when I consider seeing what I’ve become, and what I’m no longer.”

Toil and Hex gaped.

Hex asked, “Why do you feel dread and doom, lady?”

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