Tempting the Light: Legends and Myths Police Squad (L.A.M.P.S. Book 1) Read Online Free

snapped back to the horrifying reality. Shivers ran up her back, climbed her neck, and jumped over her scalp. She washed off all the mucus gel clinging to her body in the gentle flow of the stream, and watched it descend down the river. Tiny cold bumps popped up on her chilled body.
    Flashbacks of her feet turning into hooves and her hands changing into clawed talons slammed into her vision. Her foggy memory relived the nightmare. She had changed into a beast.
    “I’m going to kill that stupid genie.”
    She followed the bank of the river as it wound around to a road, but she stayed far enough away and out of the vision of passing cars. The last thing she needed was to add getting arrested for streaking naked to her list of bad luck. After walking for a while she found a street sign, and some of the tightness in the back of her neck relaxed. A half-mile from safety.
    She padded on through the brush, careful of saplings in the forest, and watched where to place her soft bare feet to avoid the sharp branches. She was alone in the forest.
    Naked.
    Cursed.
    Pepper’s barn appeared in the distance like a beaming star on a moonless night guiding her home. Abby wiped the hair from her eyes and took off running, ignoring the pain where the sticks stabbed the bottoms of her tender feet.
    “Glad you’re back.” Pepper’s happy tone indicated that nothing was wrong and she continued to hang towels on the clothesline.
    She wrapped her arms around Pepper for a hug and wouldn’t let go. Overjoyed that Pepper didn’t become a Scooby snack for her monster side, she hugged her tighter.
    “Wow, this is the only time you’ll be allowed to naked-hug me. Are you okay? I’m glad you’re human again. Do you know how hard it is to find a new best friend?” Pepper stepped back and checked Abby’s arms and legs.
    “Yes, which is why I was so worried for you.”
    “I’m fine. Go get dressed. I have a million questions.”
    She skedaddled into her room and pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt. She tucked a tube of lip balm and a box of Tic Tacs in her pocket.
    With her Tic Tacs rattling in her pocket, she bounded out the door and rushed over to Pepper. “What happened last night?” Did she really want to know?
    Pepper bopped up and down with excitement. “It was so cool. Your eyes glowed red, then you changed into a horse with bat wings and a pointy forked tail. You’re a Jersey Devil.”
    “That freaking genie.” She paced around in a circle and kicked a rock. “How come you’re so cheerful? I’m doomed to change into a ferocious beast every time I get my period and you look like you want to throw a party.”
    “I’m sorry you turned into that thing. But strange shit happens to you all the time. So, maybe I’m used to it.” Pepper lifted her palms. “It could be worse. Everyone has their demons.” Her smile straightened to a firm line as if her thoughts drifted to another subject.
    “I know I attract weird stuff, but tampon genies don’t exist and neither do Jersey Devils. I don’t remember anything after you ran into the house.” She raised her arms, flung her hands in the air, and paced. Tufts of grass flew in her wake.
    “Calm down. We’ll figure this thing out.”
    “Easy for you to say. You didn’t turn into a flying devil monster. Oh my God, I’m a freak. What if I get captured by one of those traveling freak shows? Oh, what if the government finds out and wants to shove . . . probes up my orifices? This is so not good. I can’t remember anything.”
    “Nothing?”
    “Nothing. It’s like that time I drank too many cosmos at Donna’s party and wore panties on my face and draped a sheet over my shoulders for a Superman cape.”
    “You ran around cheering ‘I’m a superhero.’” Pepper wore a grin that granted no-mercy. “Ha! Then you kissed Johnny stinky pits.” Pepper shivered as if the temperature outside dropped twenty degrees.
    “I can’t remember any of that night either, but I’m