Stella the Zombie Killer

Stella the Zombie Killer Part 12

'Where are all the flies?' said Stella to Vine. The two of them strode confidently, even aggressively through London's deserted streets. She walked fast to work out her frustrations with Hook, the argument with him simmering in her brain. Finding Vine's friend Tash was an excellent excuse to get away from the confines of the Victoria and Albert.

'No idea,' said Vine. He looked to the dead vehicles, cars, vans, a police car, an ice cream truck that formed a rusty tunnel of decay. 'When the music plays the ice cream has sold out,' said Vine. 'It's what my mum used to say when the ice cream truck came down our street,' he said in response to Stella's raised eyebrows.

Stella smiled. 'Bet my mum wished she'd thought of that.'

'Bugged her for frozen treats, did you?'

'Yeah. There was always some kind of reward after every class. In the summer it was ice cream.'

'Class?'

'Dance classes, gymnastic classes, karate classes, tennis classes, cricket classes, piano lessons, my parents always kept me busy.'

'How come everything is a class but piano is a lesson?'

Stella stared at Vine, slightly annoyed at her slip. She hadn't realised she had said it. She shrugged. 'Only one I was no good at, I suppose.'

'You were good at cricket?'

'How about you?' said Stella, smoothly avoiding the question. 'How was your childhood filled?'

'Estate gangs and empty ice cream cones.'

Stella glanced at the angel, thought better of questioning him further.

They walked on, the aggression in Stella's stride fading with every step while Vine continued in the exact stride he had employed since they had left the Victoria and Albert.

Looking over the derelict vehicles, she realised she hadn't taken any notice of what they had once been, only seeing them as hiding places behind which danger could lurk. 'Why does danger always lurk?' she said, changing the subject for the second time in as many minutes.

Vine glanced at her, amusement evident in his face. 'Because it sounds creepier. More monstrous.'

Stella looked the battered, once gleaming cyborg up and down. 'You're pretty monstrous, but I can't see you lurking.'

Vine grinned. 'No, I suppose I would loom or tower.'

'You're a good size for a bit of looming,' Stella agreed. 'You make Hook look small.'

'I'm no threat to him. I can't hurt him.'

'So you tell us.'

Vine shrugged. 'No way to find out for sure except letting you all beat me to death.'

'Kinda defeats the purpose, I suppose. And I was so looking forward to a little extra-curricular beating,' said Stella, sighing dramatically.

'I'm sure Hook would volunteer.'

Stella laughed ruefully. 'Don't worry about Hook. We have a periodic need to blow off some steam and then have a couple of days' sulking. We'll be back to the Good Life, hoeing and sorting out the chickens before you know it.'