Page 42 of Perfectly Perplexing Zombie

“Just one thing, Hellfire Rayburn.” Muriel used my full name, making certain I was listening. “I love that boy like he is my own, and, in a way, that’s not far off. I want him to live, but living a long life don’t mean shit if that life is full of pain. If you don’t plan on caring for him—and I mean really caring—then give this up right now. Don’t bind Wendall to your soul just because it’s what your queen wants. Do it because it’s what you want. Do it because Wendall is the best damn catch out there. Do it because you truly like Wendall. Do it because it’s what Wendall deserves. I don’t expect you to start spouting poetry and words of love. That takes time we don’t have. What I do expect is for you to treat Wendall like he’s the most precious creature in the world. If you just intend to bond and then run off and hide away in Fairy, then leave him to his fate. Bein’ dead is kinder than bein’ ignored, unloved, and unwanted.”

Finished with her threat, Muriel went back to her chopping block. The chunk of meat lying there didn’t stand a chance.

ChapterSixteen

Wendall

It was my day off. I had one or two of them a week, and I hated having free time. Johnny and Mr. Moony thought they were doing me a kindness, but the reality was different. When I was working, I could forget about the five new spots that had shown up on my skin. The first ones were still there, growing in size every day. I thought they should itch, but they didn’t. All they did was ooze and stink. The cream I used helped with the smell. It also helped dry them up to a degree. I’d started putting bandages over most of them. Everyone knew what was underneath. Out of sight, out of mind sounded good to me.

Trinket yawned, unhinging her jaw and showing off all her impressive needle teeth. I tossed her a chunk of cow liver, and she merrily shredded and swallowed it. I swore she hummed when she ate. I wished I got that much pleasure from the brain tissue I forced down my throat daily. I’d gotten used to the concept, but the texture was a different matter.

“What do you think we should do today?” I asked while scratching the top of her head.

Or maybe it was her body? I wasn’t sure. Trinket was kind of a ball with eyes, a nose, and a huge mouth on the front. Her stubby legs were often hidden beneath her dense fur coat. Her toes were awesome. Their pads were soft but grippy. Between her toes and long tail, when Trinket was latched on to me, I didn’t think anything could dislodge her. I didn’t like to think about how that might help her if she had to hunt down her food.

Trinket cooed in response, nuzzling my arm before settling on my lap. I swore she was related to a cat for all the time she spent sleeping.

Sinking deeper into my love seat, I played with her fur, allowing her soothing softness and constant humming coos to lull me into peace. I forced thoughts of Professor Stover and his djinn out of my mind. I’d been dwelling on it too much since finding out. All stressing did was give me a headache. I hadn’t even known it was still possible for me to get one. Thoughts of Professor Stover proved me wrong.

Dwelling didn’t solve anything. I couldn’t go back in time and unsee whatever he thought I’d seen. Trying to figure out what he thought I knew only made my head pound worse. It was crazy thinking I’d been murdered over something I didn’t even remember. Maybe there was a reason I didn’t remember. Maybe I hadn’t seen anything at all. And even if I did, I had no idea of its significance, so it didn’t matter anyway.

I couldn’t imagine being that paranoid. A strange part of me kind of pitied Professor Stover. Sure, he might be financially set for life, but I didn’t think that level of monetary wealth was worth the trust he’d given up. Was living in constant fear really living? I didn’t think so, and it was a lesson I needed to take to heart because that’s exactly what I’d been doing. There was a good chance I didn’t have much time left, and it was stupid to waste it on worries I couldn’t change and had no control over.

Professor Stover could decide to end me any minute, and I didn’t think there was much I could do to stop a djinn. And even if he didn’t wish me eliminated, I was still deteriorating. Neither Muriel nor I had any idea how long my body would remain viable. It might be days, weeks, or maybe a few months. Neither of us thought I’d still be here a year from now.

No, sitting on the couch was stupid and wasteful. I had a day and night off, and I needed to make the most of it.

Pushing off the love seat, I settled Trinket on my shoulder and said, “Let’s get out of here. It’s been a while since I’ve been to the art museum. I can call a rideshare, or maybe Johnny will let me borrow his car. If nothing else, there’s always the bus.”

Trinket made a noise between a coo and a hiss that sounded like agreement. I wasn’t sure if they’d let her into the museum, but I didn’t want to leave her home alone. Like I’d thought earlier, time wasn’t on my side, and I wanted to spend every second of it happily. Trinket had become a big part of that joy, and I didn’t want to let her go.

I didn’t really need a coat, but I grabbed one anyway. I felt cold and heat, but not as acutely as the living. Wearing a coat would help me blend in and might be a good place to stash Trinket and smuggle her into the museum.

After grabbing my apartment key and phone, I headed for my door. My hand fell on the knob, and I jumped a mile when there was a knock on the other side.

I didn’t bother asking who it was. Muriel and Johnny were my only visitors, so I figured it had to be one of them. For some reason, no one ever used my phone. They just showed up at my doorstep.

Swinging the door open, I stared up and blinked. It wasn’t Muriel or Johnny.

“Ray?” I questioned while looking around his lean body, expecting to see someone else with him. “Is everything okay?”

He appeared so stoic, not that his expression differed from usual. It just seemed like maybe he was a little more tense than typical.

“Did something happen with the djinn?” That seemed the most logical explanation for his visit. Or maybe it was about Trinket. My hands fisted as wild thoughts circulated through my brain. He couldn’t be here to take her back, could he? She wasn’t a conditional gift, one that depended on if I accepted his bonding offer. Please, don’t let that be what this was about.

“I have no news regarding Aurelia,” Ray answered, voice flat and unreadable. “Nothing new has happened that I am aware of.” He sounded a bit more frustrated on that issue.

“Okay,” I drawled out. “Then what—”

“You were on your way out,” Ray interrupted. “May I ask where you are going?”

My mouth snapped shut, and my teeth clattered. Worries regarding Trinket faded and now seemed foolish. “It’s my day off, and I thought I might head out to the art museum. I haven’t been there since… Well, not since this.” I waved a hand over my reanimated body. “I thought it might be nice to revisit some of my favorite pieces.”

I didn’t know if fairies had museums in their world. Maybe that was a strictly human concept, although more than a few museums were spread across the country for some of the other species. Some seemed keener on the idea than others.

Ray’s demeanor instantly relaxed, and an odd half smile tugged at his lips. “Would you allow me to join you?”

“I… What? You want to go with me? To a human museum?” That seemed more than odd. “Listen, Ray, you don’t have to do that. I know you’re still working the bonding angle, but I’m telling you, whether you go to a human museum with me or not won’t make a difference.” I said the words but didn’t feel nearly as confident as I sounded. Not that I thought I’d change my mind, only that I hadn’t expected Ray to put that kind of effort into things.

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