Page 27 of Becoming Monsterous

The Colossus who eyed me idly cracks his knuckles, and I mentally revise my certainty. I could put up a fight... or I could get crushed underfoot. Maybe it's better to just let myself be used.

"What do we say, Houses? Shall we keep the girl or kill her?"

Dorian raises his voice and spins on his heel, surveying the Occult House members, then Greymark, Magna, Osseus, Brute, and finally Anima, though it's hard to say if the last few respond at all to his words.

One of the Reptilis guards leans down to whisper something towards the duststrikes, and several of their heads swivel towards me, tongues tasting the air.

It's Mera who answers first, her voice loud and clear. "I say we question her, find out what she knows. If Aphrodite's power of love can be on our side this time, instead of the summoner's side, then I'd like the opportunity."

"Agreed, as would I." The banestrike gets up on all fours and raises one of its wolf heads, speaking in a strange, growled language that my magic translates. "A war with the summoners is coming. Let us use our unlikely pawns, not spend them on petty grievances."

I think the giant is sayingdon't kill her,or at least I tell myself that she is.

The Osseus House is next. Stepping forward, the thing that looks like a dog made out of bones and metal simply says, "Make girl goddess."

Right, well. That isn't a death threat I suppose. Score another one for Team Let-Ellie-Live.

Anima House speaks in ghostly boos and whispers, which Jean Kincaide translates. Normally I wouldn't trust her translation, but she grudgingly admits, "They agree with Dorian and Madame Renoire. They believe it's advantageous to keep Ellie alive... for now."

"Brute House agrees," says one of the Reptilis guards, after conferring with the monsters in their unintelligible tongue. "They don't believe the girl is to be trusted, but would prefer to keep the summoners from having Aphrodite's power. If she's to be killed, apparently... they'd prefer to wait untilafterwe've won the war with the summoners and wiped them out of existence."

Lovely. Well, at least I'm number one million in line for execution. They don't seem enthused about it, and neither do the spirits—I swear one of the banshees is looking at me like she's contemplating my punishment. But there's not much they can do about it if all the houses are in general agreement.

Dorian claps his hands. "Wonderful. It seems our meeting has drawn to a close—for now, at least. I do have one last question for Ellie, though—if I may pose it to her?"

This last bit is directed at Angus, who's still standing protectively between me and the assembled monsters. He slowly steps aside, though he doesn't relax completely. Neither do Morpheus or Aleron, who are both at the ready with their powers.

It comforts me to know that no matter what, they're going to protect me. Even from their own kind.

That comfort is the reason why I'm able to look Dorian in the eyes and raise my chin. "Yes? What's your question?"

His eyes glimmer with cleverness, and I get the sinking feeling that I'll regret asking him.

"When you receive Aphrodite's powers of love, what will you use them for?"

Chapter22

Ellie

What will you use them for?

The power of love is the power to enslave and control.

The power to create loyalty and affection where there is none. To bring men and monsters to their knees. To destroy even gods, at times.

That's what Aphrodite's memories have shown me. She laid waste to entire civilizations with the ability to create love in others.

I don't know who she was before she received the power of love, but I do know that she became truly monstrous once she had them.

When I receive those same powers, what will I use them for? My triumvirate turns to me. So do all the houses.

I feel their eyes on me expectantly. Morpheus is observing me from a distance, no doubt considering whether or not I'm likely to change my mind about the dangerousness of monsters on Earth. Angus looks open and trustful; his wide eyes hurt my heart. Aleron... Aleron is looking at me with a narrowed expression, ready to mistrust me again at a moment's notice.

I want to be able to say that I'll let the monsters free, that I'll use the power of love to open up the gates between realms and influence the summoners into ending the contracts for good.

"She can't be trusted with Aphrodite's powers," Jean Kincaide declares, leveling me with an intense, disapproving glare. "No one can. The powers should die with Aphrodite."

"When Aphrodite dies, assuming the conditions are met, Ellie will receive her powers," Madame Renoire points out. "There's no way of stopping that."

---