The Chicken Zombies

Chapter 28-- London, Baby!

Ace's family was wealthy.

Not nearly as wealthy as Hillbilly, but rich enough to own a large, four-bedroom, modern house in the city of London.

Ace had told the jet to park at Heathrow Airport, and they were having Ace's parents pick them up there.

There had been a spare credit card left in the plane, and the teens were thrilled to discover that they could go shopping in London and pay to keep the plane at the airport.

Ace, Dante, Shakira, Noah, Dolph, Abi, and Hillbilly walked through Heathrow in wonder. (Dante: "Ace, they all talk with the same stupid accent as you!")

Finally, they spotted a beautiful woman with long dark hair and the same green eyes as Ace. She wore a long purple sundress and a black cardigan, and she had a serene smile on her face.

"Ace!" the woman called. "Come give your mother a hug!" She spoke with a raspy voice that sounded lovely with her British accent.

Ace wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Been a while, yeah?"

"Oh, I've missed you. And I've been seeing so many things that just make me a little-" She cut off as she noticed the six other teens standing behind her son. "Oh, Noah!" She hugged him. "You've grown so tall since last I saw you in person! And so handsome. And William!" She placed her hands on Hillbilly's arms. "My sights told me you haven't got any brains yet. Is that true?"

"Hey! Hillbilly's plenty smart!" Dante argued. "Not quite as smart as me, but he's my second in command for brainliness."

"Ah, Dante," the woman breathed. "My sights told me you would be a feisty little thing." She extended a hand. "I'm Seraphina Ainsworth. Ace's mother."

Dante took the hand and shook it. "Ace says you're a psychic but I don't believe in all that stuff."

Seraphina smiled mischievously. "Trust me, dear. You will by the end of this." She released Dante's hand. "And you must be Abi! I can tell that you are a believer."

Abi smiled nervously. "I guess so."

"Then we will get along just fine." Seraphina laughed lightly. She moved on to Shakira and Dolph. "Now, you Shakira, I've seen before, but never this boy. What is your name, child?"

"Um, Dolph."

"Dolph, wonderful. I must do palm readings with all of you when we get back to my studio."

"Mom..." Ace said, a warning in his voice.

She waved her hand, as if shooing what he said away, and began walking towards the parking lot. "Hush. I just want to get to know their personalities. I won't tell them anything about their deaths." She leaned away from Ace. "He hates it when I do that. I'll never understand."

Ace rolled his eyes. "Mom..."

Seraphina held up her hand. "Ace, calm yourself. I'm just getting to know your wonderful friends."

After an awkward thirty minute drive in Ace's mom's minivan, they arrived at his house. It was nice, simple, big for a city the size of London.

As soon as they parked the car, Ace's mom suddenly gasped, freezing. She stared into space a few long seconds before shaking her head. "My goodness! I completely forgot about the gala!" She turned and shook Ace by the shoulders. "Your aunt's annual gala is tomorrow and I haven't even bought a dress yet!"

"So? What does that have to do with me?" Ace asked, puzzled.

"Ace, you've ought to attend!" Seraphina answered as if it were obvious. "You haven't been in three years because you've been in America at this time every year!"