Page 27 of Of Sockets Of Stitches
The reason for The End.
The reason for monsters.
The reason for ruin.
That was the sickness and ruin of humans, and therefore everything else in the world, and unless I was successful, their convention would cause the end of life.
“Convention,” repeated King See, and as he answered my question, I felt the draw of my power.
Power ran from me to him. I did not enjoy giving him power at all, but I enjoyed the knowledge he had granted more in that it may help me to save my monsters.
For that, I felt grateful. “Thank you, sir.”
And in his milky gaze, I saw a shock at my gratitude.
I saw shock, and the third return of a tiny spark that did not fade, and that ice did not freeze away.
Chapter Eleven
A single loose stitch
In an expertly crafted garment.
“You have outdone yourself, Valetise,” I murmured.
Valetise had been the first monster of my queendom. How long ago were my memories of her as a suitcase?
“I could do no less for the feast celebrating your return.” She pulled a needle from the calloused pad on her forearm, then plucked a hair from her head. The strand of hair turned rich brown to match my outfit, though there was a subtle undertone of copper in the two-piece that only showed when I moved. The silk top hugged me to mid-rib, and the neckline dipped in a V that highlighted the swell of my breasts. A glimpse of my stomach through sheer organza led into a silk skirt that penciled from my waist to my bare feet. The slit up the skirt’s side hinted at seduction, but the simplicity of the outfit cried of its clear design as a blank canvas. The real beauty of her creation wasfound in the chainmail shrug that draped over my shoulders. That was her statement piece. That was where she showed me to the world as a beautiful being of war.
“My hair will stay down?” I enjoyed the way my tresses curled and tumbled over one shoulder.
“Yes, my queen, we need such softness and fullness tonight. Will you require your crown this evening?”
Goodness, my crown. I had not given it a thought since my return. “No, that will not be necessary. Monsters are in no doubt of my queendom.”
A skeleton in an armchair slid out of the stone wall.
Candor was here.
She stated, “Although the queen did not wish to consider King See’s opinion of her appearance, part of her wished to torture him bodily.”
My lips torsioned, and I glanced at her without otherwise moving so as not to disrupt Valetise’s final adjustments. “Candor, how do you fare?”
“Truthfully, as ever, my queen,” she squeaked.
This was the exquisiteness of her. For though our newest monster was wonderfully shy, she was never shy in the declaration of the truth.
The skeleton had dressed for the upcoming feast by draping jewels over and between her bones. Her ribcage was filled with gems, assumedly from my stores. Or from the kingly goods transported here by Princess Take.
Ah.
I grinned. “The monster of truth wishes to taunt a princess. Do you seek to bait Princess Take by using the jewels she is meant to safely transport here?”
“Yes, my queen. I do.”
She did not lie to herself, and that was very refreshing. “There is purpose to your ploy.”
The skeleton folded her hands on her lap. “There is.Monsters have largely become used to my candor. They require me less and less, opting to voice the truth of their thoughts and feelings before I do it for them. Princess Take resists the truth, however. She must be broken out of convention. And I will enjoy doing so.”
