Page 25 of Becoming Monsterous

Floating above the howlers are two cryptwings, large winged bats that have human hands for feet. One of them flies down to land on the Reptilis guard in front, using its hand-feet to grab onto his shoulder for purchase. I shudder at the nausea-inducing way it moves.

There are also five duststrikes, three-headed snakes that undulate on the ground. Their many heads swivel back and forth, surveying every direction. One points all three of its heads towards me, and Cornelia raises up, flicking out her tongue suspiciously. I get the immediate sense that she doesn't like the creatures.

I don't blame her. Neither do I. There's something about the way each of them moves that's eerie.

"Brute House," Morpheus comments dryly. "Incapable of shifting into human form or moving among humankind. It's... strange to think that we're like them, but the gods made us from the same cloth at the same time. Their Reptilis escort will translate for them, since they're incapable of speech."

They aren't the last creatures to be brought in. A group of four summoners strides to the middle of the room, like Jean Kincaide. Opening up their own portal next to hers, they draw it wide and begin to chant.

The creatures that come through are nothing short of nightmares. First up are the rottinglings, cute, small undead creatures that smell terrible and swarm their prey. I recognize them from the Shadow Realm and feel only a little bit of relief when one of the summoners snatches them up into the cage.

"Osseus House—the undead and dying, as well assummoner-created monsters. Not exactly First Children," Morpheus comments dryly, "but made in our image, and from our flesh. Ah—the rotflayers are here."

Rotflayers are essentially zombies. Despite their decaying flesh, though, they move fast, which is why I'm glad a second summoner steps in, this time to chain them to each other, then to herself.

The last creature that comes through is something I'm not familiar with. Walking on on four legs with a boxy shape for a body, it looks more machine than monster. It has mechanical eyes and legs made of bone, as well as a strange, long tail that drags on the floor.

Looking over at us, it wags its tail. I shiver.

"A Machina. That's a summoner creation. A friendly one, but who knows what it'll do next."

Angus leans in from behind and tells me, "Don't worry, Ellie. I've got your back." He cracks his knuckles. "Ain't nothing getting through me."

Aleron elbows him in the side. "This is a house meeting, not an all-out brawl. We can't start anything here. It could result in a war."

On that sobering though, the meeting begins.

Each of the summoners chains the Osseus House members up against the far wall, and they close their portal. Then they leave—though Jean Kincaide stays behind, an honorary monster in her own way, standing watch near the spirits.

At first, I think there's no leadership. Nothing planned. Then I see Dorian stride into the middle of the room, and feel a prickle of wariness.

"So." He smiles round at all of his, something about it so fake that my teeth are on edge. "What are we going to do about Aphrodite? We all felt her—the goddess of love, returned to our realm. Her disturbance is a danger. Something must be done."

The Colossus who eyed me earlier steps forward and raises his chin in the air. "Forget Aphrodite. What about the summoners? Their meeting is trouble for us."

"We can't fight the power of love," one of the shifters argues. "Aphrodite could enslaveallof us. The intel we received is right—a group of mortals is trying to summon her. For all we know, that's what the summoners are up to right now."

Fights spark up. Voices are raised. Dorian raises his hand to calm them, and I feel tension in my middle. Even with Morpheus's arm around me, I can't quite settle down.

I want to say something, but I know that I shouldn't. No one here trusts me. If I tell them about Aphrodite's body... they'll just want to kill her. Then I'll have her powers, and what about after that? What will I do when the men who love me expect to be freed, but I can't do that without unleashing nightmares on the world?

Dorian starts to speak, but a new voice cuts through the rest.

"What about her conduit?"

Jean Kincaide's soft voice is a shock to the system.

So is the way she gestures her staff towards me.

"I sensed something off about her from the moment I met her," she says, turning towards me with a placid look on her face. "She may be innocent, but that changes nothing. The vessel of Medusa is also a conduit to Aphrodite—I smell it on her.

"The goddess entered this world through her," she says, spelling my doom with her words, "and if we wish to stop her from rising again, all we need to do is kill the mortal girl."

Chapter21

Ellie

They surround me immediately.

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