Monster - A. Lee Martinez [27]
“Yeah.” Judy moved to the edge of the sofa because the angel’s wings were taking up a lot of space.
“I’m Gracie,” said the angel. “Judy.”
“So, I could show you a trick to help you with that. If you wanted.”
“What kind of trick?”
“Just a magic thing.”
“I can’t use magic,” Judy said. “Damn, I can’t even remember it.”
“Anybody can use magic,” said Gracie. “It’s not like it’s rocket science or anything. What you need is a memory charm. Something simple, easy enough for even you to remember.” She went to the shelf and found a book. “There should be something in here to handle it.”
Gracie handed off the bowl to Judy. The angel flipped through the pages before arriving at her destination. “Here we are. Memory enhancement glyph should do the trick.”
She found a marker on the coffee table and plopped down on the sofa. She leaned close to Judy and moved the marker to her forehead.
Judy blocked the tip with her palm. “What are you doing?”
“I’m helping. It’s what I do.” Gracie’s golden eyes sparkled, and she smiled. She had a crooked tooth. “It’s… like… kind of my job.”
“I don’t want to look like an idiot.”
“What are you worried about? Most humans won’t even notice it. Believe me—they miss a lot.” She spread her wings and flapped.
“No, thanks.”
Gracie capped the marker. “Suit yourself. No pinfeather off my wings. I don’t usually help people like you anyway.”
“Like me?” asked Judy. “Not-nice people.”
“I’m nice.”
“Well, you’re nice-ish.” An embarrassed look crossed Gracie’s face. “Let’s just drop it.”
“Let’s do that,” agreed Judy.
She finished off the rest of her cereal in angry gulps, stomped into the kitchen, and carefully balanced the bowl atop the pile of dirty dishes. She found a beer in Paulie’s fridge but decided it was too early for that. Afternoon was morning for a late-shifter. So she went for a soda instead.
She walked back into the living room. Gracie was gone. Paulie was still sitting immobile in his chair.
Judy drank her soda and fumed. Nobody was really nice anyway. The word didn’t mean anything.
Gracie returned wearing a backless shirt to accommodate her wings. “I’m sorry if I offended you. It’s not like you’re evil or anything.” She disappeared into the kitchen. There was the unmistakable clatter of foraging in Paulie’s fridge. “Are there any more sodas left?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.” Judy chugged the last half of her soda and crushed the can. She threw it behind the sofa just as Gracie returned.
“Now I feel bad. Let me make it up to you.” Gracie’s eyes went wide and soulful. “Pretty please.”
“Nobody is going to notice?” asked Judy. “Some people will notice. But most won’t.”
Judy considered the offer, but she didn’t see any other choice. She would forget otherwise. Even the notebook by itself could only slow the process. It couldn’t stop it. If she wanted to remember, she’d have to take radical steps. She consented.
Gracie drew the memory glyph on Judy’s forehead. After it was finished, Judy remembered again. It was a weird sort of memory, distant and without details.
“That’s all you have to do?” asked Judy. “Yep. Should work fine, although there are side effects you should—” Gracie checked her watch. “Oh, darn. I’ve got a transubstantiation in twenty minutes.” She prodded Paulie in the shoulder and his eyes snapped open. “You’ve got to give me a ride.”
“Can’t you just fly, babe?” he asked. “In this smog? Forget it.” While Paulie went to find some pants, Gracie pounced on Judy, seizing her in a powerful hug. “Good luck with your memory stuff.”
“Thanks.”
Paulie and Gracie left. Judy was relieved that he didn’t comment on the markings on her face. Maybe they weren’t as bad as she imagined. She checked herself in the bathroom mirror. The glyph occupied all of her forehead. It was hard to miss. She reminded herself that most people weren’t even as magically aware as she was, so it didn’t matter how much of her face was covered in special enchanted doodles. Heck, maybe even people who could