1606010611-When-a-Good-Angel-Falls-Kougar.doc (17 page)

The blue water dragon
.

He’s taking a lake dip. Has a fondness for the water on Earth.

Unpolluted I hope.

By agreement the rebels and the alien allies have a cleansing operation. One layer at a time.

Works for me.
Awe-struck, Sedona watched as they descended.
The Sonoran desert is so gorgeous. Used to love driving through. Wow!
Beneath her a huge serpentine shine of blue scales coiled above the shimmer water. “Fantastic,” she murmured. “I feel like I’m suddenly in a storybook fantasy.”

Volcano glided to a rise of ground, clear of desert scrub brush and the dry stems of abundant wildflowers. Wintering ducks had taken refuge in a stand of cattails. Herons took elegant flight. Even the fine ash couldn’t dispel the idyllic quality of the scene before her.

Entranced Sedona dismounted, and noticed she didn’t feel cold, even though the temps were probably mid fifties. “Like thermal underwear?” she asked when the cherub dismounted beside her.

“Magically designed for body maintenance. Want me to hold your hand?” he smooth-talked her, took her helmet.

“Keep me from being scared of the big ole’ dragon?” she sassed, but gave him her hand.

Dreaming of seeing a dragon was different than meeting one up close and personal. Even if he rose magnificently, benignly from the lake near them – blue glimmers of twisting sorcery, he had membranous sapphire wings. His head reminded her of Chinese dragon depictions. He towered above them as he writhed majestically, then waded onto the shore. His eyes surprised her, looking human and reptilian. Their mesmerizing glow greeted her
.

“Zerr Dann of the Cherubim,” he bellowed, his voice reverberating around them.

“Dragon leader, Xanuvvi, your vitality is rewarding. May I present Sedona Khali, my angel incarnate charge.”

“Would you like to pet me?” Xanuvvi eagerly boomed. He smiled, carefully lowered his head, all the while blinking slowly.

“I would love to pet you,” Sedona crooned softly. Her stomach quivering, she stepped forward. Her fascination took over, and the pure thrill coursed through her. Besides he was cute in a bold enormous dragon way.

She caressed down the front of his face. He closed his eyes, seemed to purr, and looked blissful. She kept caressing his face. He felt miraculous, like resplendent slick silk. Feeling bolder, she caressed more of his face, then his cheeks, using both her hands. His ears gently flipped back in enjoyment. And she was in utopia.

“He’s an angelaholic,” Volcano whispered. “Just eats up the attention of women angels.”

Sedona knew he good-natured teased the dragon. “You don’t eat princesses, do you?” she cooed, stroked one huge ear.

“No!” Volcano laughed. “He doesn’t eat them. He just tells them he will if they don’t pet him.”

Xanuvvi opened one brilliant rapturous eye. “Take mythological advantage where you can,” he low rumbled. He snorted an ephemeral mist, carefully stepped back. “Much superior to a princess,” he praised, straightened to his height. “You sing like exquisite fire, angel Sedona Khali.”

“Violets,” Sedona murmured happily, breathing in his mist. “Thank you.”

“Your color, angel Sedona,” Xanuvvi flourished. He bowed his head briefly.

“Before he takes you for a ride.” Volcano pulled her back beside him. “Carries you off to his secret cave ship.”

“Zerr Dann, I am willing to make an appearance. If you and angel Sedona will greet me, show those around us that I and my people mean no harm. However, we have recently discovered the Mayan LA festivities have been infiltrated with those who would use subterfuge, use sound to cause our violence, as one tactic against us.”

“Let us stay in contact. I will commune with the Cherubim watching over LA.”

“Of course. I would prefer to make a grand spectacle entrance. Prove our existence to those who are ready.”

“You should be on with George, the NightHawk zone. Radio,” Sedona offered when he cocked his head.

“Yes.” The Dragon Leader savored, legs across his chest, his great claws shining, deadly curved. “That would be a splendid radio first. Indeed.”

“Indeed,” Volcano joyous teased, and agreed. “Your voice is perfect for radio.”

“You must visit our caldera base soon, Zerr Dann, angel Sedona.”

More swiftly than she could blink, the amazing blue dragon phased into flight over the lake and became a dot against the sky, as if he had only lived in her imagination.

“Zerr Dann?” she asked, still staring at the sky.

“Cherubim name. I didn’t want it found in your mind.”

“Yes, I remember. Why Volcano?” Sedona faced him.

“Translates to volcano. Thought it fit the guy-on-a-cycle image.” He grinned rakishly, put her helmet back on.

“Let me guess. We have to get out of here. Caldera base?”

“
Yellowstone
. The caldera. His dragon people are singing, soothing it.”

“Do you mean we, humans, animals, plants have a shot at not being wiped off the continent?”

“Yep, little lady. Hop astride before the bad guys shoot us.”

“When you put it like that.” Sedona swung behind him as soon as he mounted the cycle.

“Pancakes. Hungry for pancakes? Know a little out-of-the-way diner. No bad guys allowed.”

“Sure,” she sang. “A cherub’s got to keep his strength up. No, never mind! I didn’t mean that kind of ‘strength’.” Her cheeks burned.

“With a fiery little angel like you.” Volcano gunned them forward, only there was no sound.
A cherub has to keep his strength up.

Sedona ignored him. Monst
e
rously conflicted, and still in a euphoric daze, she reviewed what had already occurred since escaping with him. Soon they soared upwards, a gradual climb toward the sun, the haze-glimmering disc now in the western sky.

California here we come,
she eventually crooned, fascinated with the gorgeous scenery below.

California or bust,
he teasing sang.

Stop! You’ll jinx us.

California girls,
he sang.
Here we come.

That’s right, cherub. You should be on the beach with all the golden
California
girls, clinging onto your sexy bronze body.

Moonlit beach with you, my naked foxy lady.

Does that weapon in your pocket work on ‘stunning’ carnal cherubs?

My creation. You could tickle me with it.

Tickle me, cherub? Oh no! Are those black helicopters in the distance?

Searching for us. Yes.
Volcano descended toward a tiny town hidden in the reddish shadow of a mountain butte. It also sat near a major river winding westward.

They see us?

Black helicopters, no. The remote viewers have a distorted visual.

Let them believe they’re on our trail?

Crumbs to the evil witch’s oven, true. But the danger of their godforsaken evil is ever present.

As they angled closer, Sedona could see the town’s collection of buildings were geodesic domes and trailers, painted to appear like part of the scenery.
Old hippie commune?

Hippie, then yuppie, then artist colony, the like-minded. Cherubim hangout.

Is that why there’s no bad guys?

Spiritual protection and patrol protection. They’re on the underground pipeline.

I’d heard that existed. A separate highway, river, train economy.

Setup before the official arrival of the UN.

Circumvents all the big brother tech of the North American Union?

Any technology can be defeated by another created technology. Law of the material universe.

Law of every thief since time immemorial. Thank God!

Correction is ever present in the divine order.
Volcano chuckled joyfully. He circled the signal over Haven, then eased them down, floating inside a parking garage.

“The diner looks like an early sixties place, even the Christmas decorations. All we need is snowfall.” Sedona dismounted, took off her helmet, and glanced outside. She saw no one.

“Underground walkways,” Volcano explained. ”This way, foxy lady.” He offered his hand, grinned so adorably his angel woman didn’t refuse. She grasped his hand, trusted his lead. A priceless gift to his heart, his heart for her.

A side panel opened. He lead her down a short flight of stairs, then up a short flight into the diner.

“Looks as advertised,” she whispered to his ear. Only the people, about thirty of them, were eclectic, except for the flannel shirts and the ubiquitous denims. And the smiling faces. Sedona hadn’t seen smiles like that in forever. She couldn’t help smiling inside.

“Volcano!” a distinguished male voice hailed.

“Don’t be surprised. He likes to play Santa.” Volcano held out his hand. “Eldridge,” he greeted boisterously.

Sure enough, Eldridge was Santa sans the pot belly, and sans the elderly age.

“And what do you want for Christmas, angel Sedona?” Elridge jovial asked, his dark blue eyes gleaming.

“The dismantling and destruction of the New World Order,” she promptly answered.

“On Santa’s list. How about a candy cane in our north pole hot chocolate?”

“Is my name and hot chocolate craving transmitted on some celestial channel?” Sedona smiled only because he was so Santa charming.

“Santa knows all. Sees all. Mostly, Santa isn’t a voyeur,” he happily assured, gave Volcano a knowing wink.

“I don’t get to sit on Santa’s lap, do I?” Sedona naughty swiped at Volcano, squeezed his hand.

“My lap,” he possessed. Sitting down in the booth, he grabbed her onto his lap.

“Oooh, Santa, he’s such a brute with me.” Sedona clung to Volcano’s neck, raised her shoulders, then wiggled, just a little. “My goodness, I wonder if you have a stocking that big,” she crooned, Marilyn Monroe breathless.

Santa Elridge laughed like a bowl full of jelly. “Hot chocolate and merry berry pancakes on the way.” He pivoted from them wisely.

“Want to see ‘how big’?” Volcano whispered lust into his woman’s ear. “I’m glowing like Rudolph the reindeer’s nose, for you.”

“Take it out only if we’re flying through fog, delivering presents to all the good little boys and girls,” Sedona sarcasm whispered.

“Red and glowing, I’m delivering this gift to you later. I’ll create all the fog you want,” Volcano passionate whispered, his lips pressing the delicate lobe of her ear.

Melting, her eyes shut, her heart pounding elation, she whispered, “Naughty, naughty, cherub.”

“Just a peek,” he bad boy enticed. Gently, he placed her next to him.

“Not fair!” she whispered. “What if I like what I see? Want it?”

“I promise an early Christmas present.” His voice was pure wicked invitation.

“Just a peek,” she relented, even as he shifted toward her, undid his pants.

Sedona inhaled sharply, her eyes grew two sizes too big. “Rudolph’s nose!” she whispered, hyperventilating. His tip protruded, bright, bright, glowing red. Enormous.

“Merry Christmas,” he seductively whispered. Gripping her hand, he touched her fingertip to his red engorged tip.

The sweetest sensation of bliss filled her. “My god,
Merry Christmas,” she softly moaned.

“And a happy new cherub,” he growled. Sedona heard his pleasure as he dropped her hand. “Before I’m sinfully tempted to forget my mission.” Grabbing the back of her head, he brought her mouth to his, then planted a kiss on her mouth.

“Do you know what you taste like?” He spoke against her lips.

“A candy cane?”

“Strawberry. Luscious strawberries with clouds of whipped cream.”

“Room available at the inn.” A cheery woman’s voice interrupted, along with the sound of plates being set down, then mugs and glasses. Silverware clinked on top of the formica table.

“Thanks, Gabrielle.” Volcano turned, gave her his boyish appreciative grin. “Jealous?” he teased her. Picking up her pleasingly plump hand, he princely kissed.

“Not over the likes of you, pretty whelp. Give me a real older man. Lots of experience, if you know what I mean.” She winked saucily at a mountain man type, rough and tumble beard. He winked back. “Now, the angel, she’s got the sparkling eyes for you.”

Sedona blushed hotly. Sure she did. After his ‘Merry Christmas’. “Ho, ho, ho,” she dryly commented.

Gabrielle released a large dynamic laugh, leaving them.

“Looks scrumptious. Let’s eat,” Sedona quickly encouraged. She picked up her fork, before anything else could be said or done. “Thank you, Goddess,” she prayed, then plunged her fork into the piled pancakes. They dripped with berries and sauce.