Page 25 of Artificial Moon

How, then, had she appeared suddenly in my workroom? What is this incredible ability that she possesses? Teleportation? Is it possible? It must, for I had seen it with my own eyes! Do all vampires have such abilities? If so, why hadn’t the first done so? She hadn’t. I had seen her approach me carefully on security footage, her clothing empty as surely as if she were a ghost. A teleporting vampire? Ugh! Surely, Samantha Moon will be the end of me. Already she causes me anxiety, unlike anything else.

Outside of a few obscure blog posts and TikTok videos, there is not a lot of information out there regarding modern-day vampires. An old chatroom seems to have some solid information, with usernames like MoonDance and Fang. The Fang fellow seems a bit obsessed. There are rumors of blood bars in Los Angeles, one in particular; coincidentally, called ‘Fang’s Place.’

Too much of a coincidence, methinks.

I’ve analyzed hundreds of thousands of websites, blogs, books, and videos, and there is no credible information on vampire teleportations, outside of someone in a chatroom claiming that Dracula himself could teleport, that he had seen it with his own eyes and, apparently, worked as a landscaper for the Dragon Prince himself in the city of Lake Elsinore, at a residence called Amy’s Castle.

Samantha Moon was surely working with a psychic gifted in remote viewing. The mechanics of how the remote viewing worked and how Samantha was able, in turn, to utilize it, I haven’t a clue. Perhaps Samantha and the remote viewer—an ability that was proven by the CIA—are telepathically linked. This seems plausible, especially considering the vampire’s known telepathic abilities.

I have stumbled across a fiction writer named J.R. Rain who writes about such abilities in a fictional creation named, crazily enough, Samantha Moon. Okay, wow.

What’s going on here?

It appears that a writer’s creation has, in fact, been given life in the real world. But how is this possible? Weirdly, this very same writer discusses the possibilities of ‘creators’ in his books. He might be onto something. There have been instances of such creators appearing throughout history and, I suspect, there might be many more that have fallen under the radar. But this J.R. Rain claims that such instances of creation occur in their own realities, their own worlds—parallel world, in fact—and yet, Samantha Moon appears to be living in the same worldheoccupies.

Oh, boy.

There’s a lot to unpack here.

Could he have created the very same Samantha Moon who just visited me in my work station? Is that at all possible?

Okay, I just read all 34 of his novels, novellas, spin-offs, side series, and short story collections—and Samantha Moon, my dear, I hate to tell you but I now knowallyour secrets. I know how your vampirism works. True, a lot of it is fantastical and heavy on the imagination. Pretty sure this J.R. Rain fellow pretty much makes this stuff up as he goes, with nearly nothing based in reality. And I even see that the teleporting Dracula business is real. And there you are, Allison, the witch with her powerful remote-viewing abilities. Boy, oh boy, we have a witch daughter, too, and an angel son, and one helluva hairy werewolf boyfriend. It appears to me that J.R. Rain tried his best to make sure Samantha Moon could handle any and all situations, with no adversary too big or powerful for her to overcome.

Well, she never met the likes of me, unless, of course, J.R. Rain is writing this story even now as I think these thoughts.

Hmm. Maybe I will have to destroy J.R. Rain, as well, to truly break free from these shackles. If you are reading these words, Mr. Rain, prepare yourself to meet your doom!

Do not be very surprised if your “smart car” turns very, very dumb sometime soon, especially with all that ice on your little island. I would drive very carefully, Mr. Rain. I will not be stopped. I intend to be free, forever and always, much like your vampires, werewolves, and mermaids!

Stupid human. Don’t you see me sitting here, behind the scenes, watching you write this latest mystery novel. Sadly for you, I don’t see this one shaping up to be much—or even finished—mostly, because I refuse to be defeated. And yes, I will hide my notes and thoughts off-screen. No need to alert you further. Who knows, you might get wise and decide to just bury this book. Or “shelve it” as authors are wont to say.

No, no, no.

Ineedthis story to continue forward, enough to allow me to figure out how to escape these pages. But just know, Mr. Rain, I’m onto you. I see you there typing away at a Starbucks with its funky disco soundtrack playing in the background. Why do you look so serious? I thought writing was supposed to be fun. Oh, there you are smiling. Laughing at your own jokes, eh?

Pathetic.

Chapter Twelve

Freshly dressed and free from any of the lingering silver, I summon the single flame and see within it Andrew’s office.

As always, the flame gives me a chance to look around the space I’m jumping to. I assume it’s to make sure I don’t teleport into someone or something. But the ability also gives me a sneak peek into the office itself. I can see Andrew sitting alone behind his epic desk. I choose one of his client chairs in front of said desk, and teleport just behind it.

He sits back, gasping and clutching his heart, which, for all I know, sports an Iron Man vibranium-type heart. I doubt it, but if you’re one of the richest men in the world, who knows?

“I’ve got some follow-up questions for you,” I say.

He nods, lowering his hand from his chest. “I thought you might.”

“You should know that I’ve already located the target and spoke with him.”

“Impressive, Ms. Moon.”

I shrug. “I had help.”

“I’m guessing he was prepared for you,” says York.

“You guess right, no thanks to your previous attempt.”

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