Page 58 of Becoming Monsterous

Chapter38

Ellie

"Iknow that you've done it somehow," the Magistrate declares, looking at me with those hateful eyes of his. "I don't know how, but that doesn't matter. You have her powers. We all know what you plan on using them for."

What seems like almost all the summoners are gathered in a ring behind him, so numerous that they can't all fit in the room. Even Jean Kincaide is among them—either the memory wipe worked on her, or she just doesn't care about killing me anymore.

Be brave, little warrior,Medusa reminds me, as I clench my hand around my dagger and let my snakes fan around my head.Percy may be a formidable man, but he's no god. He won't make a move right here, right now.

"I have them," I admit to the Magistrate, lifting my chin and forcing myself to sound calmer than I feel. "Aphrodite has passed away, and I'm the goddess of love now. There's nothing you can do to change that."

Fear ripples through the room, along with some shock. Apparently the summoners with Percy didn't all know I'd inherited Aphrodite's powers. A few of them shrink away, or look at each other warily.

I may not be able to see fear like I can see love, but I can still read body language and facial expressions. This isn't what they signed up for.

Hopefully that'll work in our favor.

"Those powers aren't meant to be yours. You aren't strong enough to hold them, little girl." Percy steps forward and stares at me with a cruel, pitying expression. "You should give them up. I know a few spells... it wouldn't even hurt very much."

Anger whips through me, faster than I thought possible. A few of my snakes hiss, opening their mouths to reveal fangs that drip with venom. My men step forward to take position beside and behind me, ready to start something at my behest.

But I hesitate. Because we can't fight Percy, not really. If Angus, Morpheus, or Aleron tries to hurt or kill him, they won't be able to. The contracts they agreed to in exchange for staying here forbid them.

"We'll do what we can," Morpheus tells me grimly, standing at my right side. "Even if all we can do is help you escape through a portal back to the Shadow World, and hope the monsters on the other side get Percy before they get all of us."

Aleron quips, "At leasttheyaren't under contracts. Maybe that's a good thing now."

I don't know what to do. I can take him alone, but... there are all the other summoners behind him. I'm not sure if I can makeoneof them love and obey me, much less all of them.

And I know that I don't want to force them. It's one thing to imagine stoking their existing love and affection to strengthen in. The thought of turning their will makes my stomach turn.

Madame Renoire steps forward, placing a gentle hand on my arm. She speaks calmly and straightforwardly, directly to the Magistrate.

"You won't be taking Ellie's powers, with or without consent. The houses are still debating your proposed terms, and no agreement has been made. Trying to circumvent our negotiation is changing the terms, and we won't stand for that."

"Actually." A familiar voice floats through the crowd, and my heart sinks. Dorian steps through the summoners, a cross expression on his face. "We've spoken, Madame. The six houses have agreed that it makes the most sense to try to circumvent war. We're willing to at least hear Percy's terms—he's a reasonable man, after all."

"That I am." Percy's smile makes me want to peel the skin off his body and watch him slowly bleed to death. "Of course, I won't be able to get Ellie's powers without her consent. Unless... well. It's gauche to suggest it, but unless there's some other option on the table."

Dorian looks to me and says, "He's suggesting killing you, which we'd previously discussed."

The Magistrate smiles. "Yes. Regrettable, but..."

There's the portal behind me.

My men at my side.

An entire army in front of me.

I don't know what to do. Any choice I make will result in war. All of humanity could be wiped out—or every person I care about could be enslaved forever. On top of that, I'm quite likely to wind up dead.

Thinking about it hasn't helped me. So instead, I decide to act.

I let the instincts of a warrior take over me.

My arm moves. The dagger swings outward. My snakes strike.

One, a small reddish-brown snakes, sinks his fangs into Dorian's neck and fill him with venom.

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