title: Malled by Christmas
author: Grace, Viola
description: Dancer craves social interaction, so when she takes the chance to run, she heads to the mall.
  Dancer joined the exodus from the workshop in a chance to experience life and possibly love.
  She focuses on life and finds herself working in a mall as a security guard. Watching humans in their preparations for Christmas gives her a feeling of purpose and renews her energy for the holiday.
  A new photographer at Santa’s Grotto gains a crowd and Dancer’s admiration. He handles children with skill and coaxes smiles out of the most recalcitrant little ones.
  Dancer catches his eye, and she acknowledges the mutual attraction. A bit of light flirting and fending off attackers creates a bond that definitely embodies the spirit of giving.
  Excerpt:
  Ru handed her the Christmas snowflake with the utmost care. Dancer returned the favour with the sealed letter to Santa.
  “So, I just put this on my skin and stick to my alias?”
  Ru nodded. “Yup. Just like Dasher. Press it against your skin and think of your alias and what you want to do. It will bind to you and let you remain with the humans as one of them. They won’t think anything of you simply turning up for work.”
  “And I have to stick to the alias?”
  “You do. Christmas magic needs honesty to power it. Splitting your name to incorporate your actual name is part of that honesty.”
  “What happens if the alias slips?”
  Ru smiled. “Then, you are going to flare high and wide on Santa’s radar. Your time out from under their gaze will be over.”
  Dancer held the snowflake between her finger and her thumb. She eased her tunic away from her shoulder and pressed the snowflake into her skin. “Dana Certic.”
  Her collar popped off, and Ru caught it, wrapping it around her wrist. “Two down, six to go. Now focus on what you want.”
  Dana Certic closed her eyes and imagined where she wanted to be. She wanted to be around people, wanted to be able to watch to her heart’s content and able to gain access to male companionship when it was available. She wanted a small home and a modest vehicle, just like any other human woman.
  The blizzard of magic surrounded her, and when she opened her eyes, she was standing in a hallway where she could see humans walking around inside a huge space and there was a weight around her hips. The magic filled in the blanks. Dana Certic was a mall security guard.