Motif · Book 6, The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

The changelings

Shape-changers on Hump Street and in the bubbles — a school of principals, Svern's card, Henrik's confession — hunted for one creature, fed against Compression Sickness, promised a home on the sixth floor and a Gate they would not use; the survivors fly beside a house as geese to the Hunting Grounds. Carl's promise to bring them down every floor.

Segment appearances

• Chapter 12 — Shadow Boxer
• Chapter 20 — Ruby
• Chapter 22 — Uzi Jesus
• Chapter 30 — Four drugs
• Chapter 40 — The Book of Voodoo
• Chapter 48 — Mass Layoffs

Progression

Building Carl's stronghold on the ninth floor (ch. 12); only the ones with compression sickness came with Mordecai — Ruby among them, in six attendant slots (ch. 20); a movie (ch. 21); Juice Box in the faceless default form, her own team, and better at infiltrating castles every time (ch. 22); once the secret is out, Mordecai leaves them to the workers (ch. 30); asleep in a heap with the strippers (ch. 40); water balloons, and Christmas with Samantha chasing them in blinking lights (ch. 40, ch. 48).