Monster - A. Lee Martinez [70]
Lotus nodded to Ed, who stepped in Monster’s way. “Don’t make me kick your ass again,” he said.
She whirled, attempting to land a roundhouse across his chin. The pain of her bruised ribs startled her halfway through the maneuver, and she staggered, clutching her side.
Monster clocked her across the jaw. It wasn’t a well-aimed hit, but he put all his weight behind it. So much so that he nearly threw himself to the ground. But Ed was the one who fell.
“Warned you,” he said, shaking his bruised fist. “Goddamn, that hurts.”
Lotus stood before him. He glanced over his shoulder at the porch where she’d been only seconds ago. She could move fast.
“All right, old lady. You want a piece? There’s plenty to go around.”
Judy tried to warn Monster, but by the time she opened her mouth, he’d already thrown one of his trademark clumsy strikes. Though the aim was off and it probably wouldn’t have done much more than unsteady Lotus, the magic protecting her reacted with brutal power.
It hurled Monster across the lawn. Judy jumped aside just in time to avoid being struck by his flying body. He landed in the grass, sliding several feet before coming to rest at the porch steps.
Judy ran over and checked on him. He wasn’t moving, and his eyes were closed. She thought he might even be dead until she noticed he was breathing. His eyes fluttered, and his mouth opened, spilling out unintelligible syllables.
Ferdinand shoved Judy aside and picked up Monster’s limp form.
“You still want us to sanitize him?” asked Ferdinand.
Judy hadn’t seen Lotus move across the lawn to the table. It seemed impossible that she could run all the way over there without using the porch steps beside Judy, but Lotus was there now, pouring herself some tea as she considered the question.
“Hold on.” Judy held up her hands. “You can’t seriously be thinking about killing him. Sure, he’s an ass, but I thought you said we were going to fix the universe. And I don’t see how killing him would fix anything.” She paused. “Well, actually…”
Ferdinand wrapped a large hand around Monster’s face. He groaned.
“No, no,” said Judy. “It doesn’t matter. Still doesn’t make it right.”
“No, I suppose not,” agreed Lotus, though she sounded rather disappointed. “I don’t see the harm in keeping him safely out of the way until our plan comes to fruition. Won’t really matter after that. Ferdinand, show our guest to his new room. The one with the full bath. I’m sure he’ll be eager to take a shower once his pain subsides.”
Ferdinand dragged Monster, limping along without an ounce of fight left in him, into the house.
Ed wiped some blood from her mouth. “I don’t feel very well.”
“Oh, dear. That is rather nasty, isn’t it? Why don’t you go into the kitchen and brew up a pot of my special get-well tea? Second shelf, cabinet on the right, blue tin. You can’t miss it. Drink it right up, and you’ll feel right as rain in no time at all.”
Ed went inside, leaving Judy and Lotus alone on the porch. Lotus sipped her tea. Her smile never wavered, and she looked as warm and friendly as ever, an unlikely cross between a cool grandmother and a gracefully aging Rockette.
But she wasn’t either of those things, Judy realized.
“You didn’t really try to have him killed, did you?” Judy asked.
“Why all this bother over one insignificant life? I swear, it’s as if mortals have no perspective at all. It’s not as if their lives amount to much in the end anyway. In my time, I’ve seen untold billions live and die, and trust me, the world rarely notices or cares. Even kings and gods fade into oblivion, given enough time.” Lotus offered Judy a saucer with a teacup. “Care for some sugar?”
“No, thanks.” Judy accepted the saucer. “But you can’t blame him for being mad about it, can you?”
Lotus shrugged. “I suppose not. Still, he did ruin my garden, so I guess we’ll call it even. Have a sandwich, dear.”
“He’ll be okay, won’t he?” asked Judy. “You’re not going to hurt him?”
“Perish the thought.” Lotus chuckled. “His life means nothing to me, and I bear him no malice. Though I must say I’m a bit perturbed