Page 44 of Perfectly Perplexing Zombie

Silence descended, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Kicking off the ground, the rattle of the swing chain echoed through the frosty air. Ray didn’t swing as vigorously as me, but he did sway a little. Leaning back, I stared at the sky as my body rose and fell. I’d forgotten this feeling of pure freedom and sighed with pleasure.

“It is good to see you happy,” Ray softly said, breaking the stillness.

Sitting back up, I allowed my swing to softly still until I was barely moving. “It’s good to feel this happy,” I answered with a genuine smile. “It’s easy to forget what living is really like, what it was to be young and without a care in the world.” I was still chronologically young, but being murdered and reanimated into a zombie sort of tarnished my shiny, youthful worldview.

“I do not know if I can remember that far back.” Ray kicked off the ground, and his swing rattled. “I have been alive a long time and considered an adult for most of that time. Childhood seems a million years ago. Some would say I was called into service younger than I should have been. Even from a young age, my powers were apparent and desired.”

I kicked off the ground too. At first, our swings weren’t in sync, but they soon evened out, and when Ray rose, so did I. Leaning back, I watched the gray sky pass above. Winter’s sun was never as brilliant as the other seasons, but I appreciated its effort.

Without much thought, I asked, “What is it you can do?” I didn’t stop to consider if the question was rude or not. Curiosity got the better of me before I could engage my filter. I gripped the swing chains tighter as I bolted upright. “I mean…” I stuttered. “Most are afraid of fairies in general, but Johnny and Mr. Moony seem especially…” I mentally searched for the word and finally came up with, “Reverent when they speak of you. Respectful might be a better word.” My toes dragged the worn dirt path below my feet, slowing my swaying. “If you can’t say, then it’s okay.” I wasn’t certain if fairy abilities were confidential. My face painfully twisted in confusion.

Ray’s responding smirk was more amused than demeaning. There was a subtle difference I was beginning to learn.

“It is not a secret, though I do not make a habit of proclaiming my attributes. Only the weak are boastful. Those who are truly powerful have no need to do so.”

“Yeah, that holds true with humans too.” I’d seen it plenty of times in my short life.

“As to your inquiry, my abilities are in tune with fire.”

“Whoa.” My grip tightened. My attention became fixed. “Like, you burn things?” I ran my gaze up and down Ray’s body and couldn’t figure out how that might happen. I’d touched him a couple of times, and he hadn’t felt overly hot.

“Easily,” Ray solemnly answered. “When I was young, it was more of a curse than a welcome gift. There were several…incidents that I do not wish to recall. Given such a destructive ability, it was imperative that I gain control quickly. Perhaps that is why I was considered more capable than others my age.” Ray casually shrugged as if it weren’t important or, perhaps, was simply a moot point. Holding his hand palm up, a small flame danced upon his flesh. It flared up and then calmly retreated back to little more than a flicker. Ray’s skin was untouched by the heat.

I swallowed painfully. One of the first things Muriel told me after I’d been reanimated was that little could harm me except fire. That seemed to hold true for nearly every species. Even the mightiest fell beneath fire’s breath. And here, sitting beside me, was a fairy that could control that equalizing factor.

“Is Queen Silvidia afraid of you?” I asked, voice hushed. “I know she’s powerful, but I don’t think even she’s impervious to fire.”

Ray made a fist and promptly extinguished the flame. “No. I would never betray my queen. But even if that were a concern, she could easily end my life before I got close enough to be a threat.”

“Wow.” My eyes felt huge, and for a hot minute, I was afraid my eyeballs might pop out of my head. Given that I was a zombie and my flesh was deteriorating, it wasn’t such a foolish thought. Thankfully, my eyeballs stayed where they were supposed to, leaving only my completely inadequate response as my sole source of embarrassment.

“Wow, indeed.” Ray sounded amused again. “And to think you are related to her.”

I scoffed and pushed off the ground again, restarting my swing. “By, like, how many distant generations?”

“I’ve no idea, though we could probably trace your lineage if you desire.”

I shook my head. “Not really. I don’t think it matters much. Whatever fairy blood I’ve got is so diluted that the only positive it’s given me is retaining my mental awareness.”

Ray didn’t swing as much as me. Instead, he gently swayed. “And it is that same fairy blood that is causing your deterioration. It is fighting Muriel’s hold. Are you resentful?”

It didn’t take me long to answer. “No. I’m not resentful. I’m grateful. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it royally sucks, but if it weren’t for my fairy blood, then I never would have gotten to know Johnny, Lizbeth, Mr. Moony, Peaches, and you.” I barely hesitated on the last. “Not to mention all the others I’ve met while working at Dusk. I don’t regret the extra time I’ve gotten, even if it’s too short.”

Ray’s swaying stopped.

I squirmed beneath his fixed gaze. Dragging my feet, I brought my swing to a halt again and asked, “What?”

With a slow blink, Ray’s usually hard lips softened into the gentlest of smiles. “You are a unique individual, Wendall. When my queen ordered me to bond with you, I had not thought I would like you so much. I saw it as a task and duty that I would fulfill just like every other request she has ever made of me. I was surprised and…upset when you declined my offer. I thought I had failed my queen.”

“And now?”

“And now, I find myself less upset about failing Queen Silvidia and more dismayed at failing you. I also believe I will miss your company when you are gone.”

Imaginary warmth bloomed within my chest, and my gaze became fixated on my feet. “I don’t know about all of that. I’m sure you could find someone else that—”

“Not possible,” Ray interrupted. “You forget how many centuries I’ve been alive, Wendall. Trust me when I say you are very special. Your second death will be everyone’s loss.”

I wasn’t sure what I would have said. Trinket frantically scrambled up my leg, zooming up my arm, and perched herself on top of my head. Her tail wrapped around my neck probably would have been suffocating if I’d needed to breathe. Once situated, she started hissing and spatting up a storm. Sounds I’d never heard erupted from her giant maw.

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