Christmas Moon by J.R. Rain Read Free Book Online Page B

exactly, is a fallen angel?”
    “ A spiritual being that no longer commits itself to helping others evolve. In fact, quite the opposite.”
    “ A being who helps others devolve?”
    “ Close. A being who spreads fear. Living in fear, any kind of fear, separates the individual from the Creator.”
    My head began to throb. Headaches, for me, rarely lasted more than a few minutes. I chewed my lip and drove and didn’t like any of this. I said, “And so, what, one day he decides to turn bad?”
    “ It probably wasn’t just one day, Moon Dance. It had probably been a long time coming.”
    “ He said he’s no longer bound to me…”
    “ If he was your guardian angel, that makes sense. Why should one immortal protect another?”
    “ Now that he’s not bound to me…”
    “ Right,” said Fang, picking up on my thoughts. “Now that he’s not bound to you, he’s free to approach me. A sort of metaphysical loophole.” Fang paused. “I had a thought, Moon Dance, and a not very pleasant one.”
    “ Tell me.”
    “ What if he allowed you to be attacked?”
    “ What do you mean?”
    “ What if he not only allowed you to be attacked, but he had planned the whole night?”
    “ But why?” But even as I asked the question, I knew the answer.
    Fang voiced it for me. “To turn you, Moon Dance. To turn you into that which he could finally approach. Or that which he could finally love.”
    I shuddered as I drove on into the night, wending my way now through the streets of Yorba Linda. “But he said my destiny was to become immortal. To become a vampire.”
    “ Perhaps. Or perhaps he wasn’t telling you the truth.”
    “ But isn’t he, you know, obligated to protect me?”
    “ I don’t know, Moon Dance. We’re talking about the spirit world, something I’m not privy to. But I am familiar with the concept of spirit guides and guardian angels. From my understanding, yes, such beings are generally there to guide and protect and nurture. Unless…”
    “ Unless what?” I asked.
    “ Unless they decide not to.”
    “ A fallen angel,” I said.
    “ Exactly.”

Chapter Sixteen

    Christmas Day, late.
    They were all here. Mary Lou, her husband and three kids. Her three kids were about Tammy’s and Anthony’s ages, and they mostly all got along. Except when playing video games. Then, all bets were off.
    Kingsley was here, too, and he looked absolutely sumptuous in his thick sweater and scarf, which hung loosely over a chest that should be illegal in most states. Kingsley wasn’t a slender man. He was thick and hulking and as yummy as they get.
    Detective Sherbet and his lovely Hungarian wife swung by to say hello. He also pulled me aside and caught me up on another killing. Turns out the city of Fullerton had a bona fide serial killer. This would be the fifth body in as many months. He wanted me to come by the department tomorrow and compare notes, since I was an official consultant on the case. Sherbet was one of the few people who knew my super-secret identity. He and his wife stayed just long enough to drink some hot cider and eat some Christmas brownies, before moving on to another party.
    Danny even stopped by to drop off the kids’ presents. As he stood at the front door, peering over me into a home we had once shared together, no doubt taking in the dollar store decorations, the aromas, the laughter and even the corny Christmas music, he looked positively miserable and envious. I had it on good word that his relationship with his secretary was over. I also had it on good word that she was suing him for sexual harassment. Nice. But don’t feel too bad for the guy. Apparently, he was now dating one of his strippers. Yes, my ex-husband, besides being an ambulance chaser, was also part-owner of a strip club in Colton.
    Right. I couldn’t be more proud.
    As we stood awkwardly at the door, I sensed Kingsley watching us from within the living room, his hulking form backlit by the Christmas tree. Danny, it seemed,