Page 31 of Becoming Monsterous

He doesn't greet Madame Renoire, I notice. Another slight against our kind.

It's almost as if hewantswar between our people and his.

"I have good news for all of you that I wish to share." Percy strides among us, that booming voice of his filling the room. "The opportunity to renegotiate all of your contracts at once is going to open up soon."

There's a murmur in the crowd, rising to a fever pitch. Among the Magna House group, two of the Colossus begin to growl, their eyes swirling with anger, their massive hands turning into fists. The banestrike has to calm the giants down, swiveling her heads back and forth to snap her teeth at them.

Even Greymark House, which has the most favorable contracts and freedom, seems on edge at this news. Mera holds out a hand to keep her people from shifting into their animal forms—though I would love to see them try to take the Magistrate down.

Not noticing or caring about the upset, the Magistrate magnanimously holds his hands out and spins around to slowly address each group in turn.

"All of you have a choice in front of you. You can be freed from your current contracts for good." Tension rises in my chest, and I find myself holding my breath. It's too good to be true. "Yes, really. That is what we're willing to offer you."

You could hear a pin drop in the room. Even Dorian, who almost never has an expression on his face other than cold calculation, looks shocked.

"New contracts will be negotiated with more lenient terms, and you'll be given the great privilege and honor of remaking the Shadow World," the Magistrate declares, "we will set aside territories for each of your houses. Magna, Anima, Osseus, and Brute House will receive in-between realms to live in, just like Greymark and Occult House. And just like those houses, you will be permitted to walk on Earth—as long as summoners are with you to shield you from the humans, of course."

Of course.He offers to free us from our contracts, then immediately sets out terms that sound nothing like freedom at all.

But the non-privileged houses are eager to hear more. I can sense it in the way they tense their bodies, staring hungrily at Percy.

It's worked. By giving some of us privileges denied to others, the summoners have slowly chipped away at our bonds. Now they may be able to peel most of the monsters away for good.

The catch is coming. I can feel it. The Magistrate seems to look me right in the eye before he pivots towards the giants to announce what it is.

"All of this can be yours, under one simple condition. Give us the power of Aphrodite," his voice takes on a hard tone, "which we know you have."

His eyes land on Ellie.

And I feel the urge to throttle him to death rising.

Chapter24

Angus

War.

It's inevitable.

Even if we try to avoid it, the summoners have unrolled it in front of us and dared us not to fight them.

We are too tired and broken down to declare war, but I don't know what the other option is.

After all, we'd have to trust the summoners to be willing to give them the power of Aphrodite.

"It really is quite simple," the Magistrate says, in that arrogant, bullshit voice of his. "You have the power of a goddess that should not be yours. Give it to us, and we'll keep it safe. Then everyone here can have what they want: freedom."

A rumble of anger starts in my chest. I can't help it; just looking at the man's arrogant fucking face makes me want to punch him right in the teeth.

He isn't proposing freedom. What he's suggesting is just a little taste of it. Some space in the Shadow World, which is already a torturous realm. A few occasional treats for some of the houses, which may or may not even materialize.

They could bring a few members of Brute House out onto Earth for thirty seconds and call the terms of their "agreement" fulfilled. It's something they've done before.

Surely no one here forgets this.

But as I look around at all the assembled monsters, then glance at Morpheus's grim expression, I wonder if I'm wrong. Maybe the other houses so desperately want more privileges that they're willing to settle for crumbs.

"We will consider your offer." Dorian has his best false smile on. "It's certainly something new and... interesting. But of course we have to discuss it amongst ourselves, withoutanysummoners present."

---