"The greater sin then," he continued, "is to ignore the beauty surrounding you."
A star-shaped glint bounced off the brass railing from one of the lights overhead. A breeze touched the dim lamp, making it sway and the light shimmer before me. Reflecting on it, the halo shining now somehow greater than its source, it became a pinhole looking into heaven. A similar constellation shone from the choir of bottles beside the cash register. I imagined each one looked into a different heaven.
"And they do," he said. Limitless? "No. Only as many as my brothers."
"There are fewer of us the longer we're here." This from his brother sitting on a fresh napkin. "But as we go, we can show you more. Like her."
Her damaged eyes grew bright when they reached mine. Pockmarks smoothed themselves into her skin. Her scarred smile became alluringly crooked. This was powerful magic.
