Page 62 of The Cruelest Undead

Is that what Fate wants though? Is that what she expects us to do, and then we have two dead zombies who look like my parents forever safe from even you?

And that was a problem.

I can’t answer that. She hates me enough to go for you through me. I’m sorry, but if she finds out about them, she will use it to hurt you.

Yeah, and that was his big issue.

Instead of going there, he focused on the people across from him, and opened the line of conversation to get through this.

“You’ve both been dead a while,” he admitted.

His mother stared at him.

“So we’ve heard. Are you really carrying a demon in your body, Flynn Xavier?” she asked, immediately going there.

His mother only called him that when she was unhappy, or he’d done something that pissed her off. Well, she was about to become angrier.

Only, with this, the truth was the truth.

He didn’t deny the reality of the matter. He’d been chosen to be Rinnon’s vessel. Basically, he was possessed, and his Catholic mother wasNOTgoing to accept that easily.

“Actually, yes, I am. I willingly accepted the offer to be his vessel.”

His mother just stared in silence, and that spoke volumes. Next, she’d be crossing herself, which was going to be counterproductive with The Big Scary.

I hate that name.

It’s accurate though.

Point made, Flynn.

“What happened, Son?” his father asked, getting his attention. “We are missing pieces of this. I don’t remember much.”

Because they were his‘parents’, and this was his duty, he carried it. With Jolie’s hand on his thigh, he had a little strength to do it.

“Mom died after fighting cancer, and you quit living to follow her. Oh, and you both bailed and left me here alone. I moved on and found a life I love. This is my life now.”

It was the Cliff Notes version of the story.

Clearly.

His mother reached across the table, and immediately, he moved his hands away from her.

Why?

It had nothing to do with being afraid of them. He was Rinnon’s vessel, and strong.

Instead, touching them…hurt.

Maybe that was very human of him, but he had learned through much pain that he was going to get his heart handed to him over and over again.

“Son…”

He stopped that again.

“No. I can’t do this again. I can’t watch you die and mourn all over. Please don’t ask me to. I had to say goodbye to you guys back-to-back, and it took years to get over it. I had to stand there alone and say goodbye. I have to protect myself from that!”

His mother watched him, and then, she went there.

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