Jingle Hells Read Online Free Page A

for a
pound.
    The smell of burning candles, wet wool and
stale perfume assaulted my nostrils as the choir put the finishing
touches on a carol. I moved another step in and saw the lights in
the nave had been dimmed. Candles burned on an altar in front of
the pulpit. Behind the choir seats was a Christ figure on the
cross.
    A shiver ran through me and my feet stuck to
the floor. The magic in my chest recoiled. My bones trembled. What
the hell was wrong with me?
    I didn’t belong here, that’s what. Even as
the man started to guide me farther into the church, another shiver
rose from my bones. My magic struggled to break free, snapping at
the church air like Luc had just done outside.
    I needed to get out and fast. Yanking away
from his hand, I backed toward the front door and glanced at my
watch. “You know, I just remembered another appointment I have
tonight. Could you tell Father Leonard I’ll call him tomorrow?”
    Humor lighted his eyes. “Father Leonard will
be disappointed.”
    Well, that was too damn bad. A massive
weight pressed on my chest, trying to crush it. Continuing to face
the man, I backed toward freedom. I would have bolted, but I still
needed some questions answered about my sister and the Samson and
Delilah story. “I promise. I’ll call.”
    He took a step forward, following me.
Concern creased his forehead. “Sorry for being so elusive. If you
need immediate assistance, I assure you, I can help. I’m Father
Leonard.”
    The light behind him from the nave’s candles
glowed softly, outlining his upper body. The magic in my chest
protested again, or maybe I was having a heart attack. “You’re
Leonard?”
    He nodded one quick downward tilt of his
head. “You need help with a demon possession?”
    Okay, that was too much coincidence. He had
to be reading my mind. I stopped moving backwards and challenged
him. “How do you know?”
    Voices rose in jovial sounding conversations
behind us. The choir had called it quits for the night. “It’s not
every day a witch is willing to take on the Devil to seek out
assistance from me.”
    Okay, so he couldn’t read my mind. My heart
relaxed a smidge. “It might not be demon possession, or at least I
don’t think it is. Have you ever heard of angel possession?”
    One of his dark brows lifted into a
skeptical arch. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could
answer, two female choir members sidled up to flank him on each
side. The women were identical twins, right down to the pinpoint
pupils of their green eyes.
    “Father Leonard,” one of them said. Her
voice was so smooth, so polished, she sounded like a cat purring.
She laid a hand on his arm, continued to address him, and glared at
me. “We missed you at practice tonight.”
    Her twin mirrored the movement and the
territorial look. Maybe it was the low light, but their long gray
hair seemed tipped with blue. “I hope it’s nothing serious keeping
you from our company.”
    Father Leonard didn’t seem to mind being
caught between them, but he patted their hands in turns and broke
free from their invasion of his personal space with grace. “I’ll be
with you in a moment, ladies. Please excuse us?”
    The twins released their grips with slow
deliberation before slinking a few steps away, all the while
continuing to stare me down behind his back. I swear their pupils
turned diamond shaped. The look reminded me of Siamese cats and my
magic hissed and spit in response. No way was I discussing my
business within earshot of those two.
    Preparing to whirl around and head straight
for the double doors, I forced a polite smile. “I should be going
and let you get back to your…” I motioned at the choir cats eyeing
me like I was a piece of raw tuna. “Congregation. I’ll catch up
with you another time.”
    I didn’t wait for him to answer before
jogging the last few feet to the doors. As I pushed my way out, I
glanced over my shoulder. The Siamese cats were once again arm in
arm with Father