Between Worlds

Chapter 7

It was a long, long drive home with Malyn repeatedly attempting to call Adin and getting more and more worried. Tyla had his hand on Malyn's shoulder. He kept it there for the entire drive.

When they reached home, Finch had to run after Malyn and grab him by the arm to keep him from charging into the house. There was a bloody handprint on the front door. Tyla had approached more cautiously, but after opening the door, Finch took hold of his wrist as well to make sure he didn't do anything stupid.

Adin was crouched in the middle of the kitchen, head down and antlers covered in dry blood. His clothes were torn and his body was covered in scratches, but they were only superficial as far as Finch could see. Malyn tried to move towards Adin again, but Finch held him back.

"Adin," Finch said, not moving from in front of the front door.

There was a long moment where it seemed like Adin wouldn't respond, but finally he lifted his head.

"Is Shadow still here?"

Adin stared at them for such a long time and so vacantly that Finch almost repeated the question, but eventually he nodded.

"Are you or he seriously injured?"

Adin lifted his hand to touch a gash on his forehead, but it wasn't very deep. He shook his head.

"Shadow," Finch said to the room. "Can you make your location known without coming out?"

One of the kitchen cabinets cracked open and Shadow peeked out.

"Okay." Finch took hold of Malyn and Tyla's wrists and pressed their hands together, making them accountable for one another. "Don't move. I mean it."

"Finch, what's going on?" Malyn asked. "What's wrong with Adin?"

"He'll be fine, but he needs us to respect his personal space right now even though we're worried."

Malyn didn't look happy, but he did nod.

Finch took the long route around the perimeter of the room to get to Shadow's cabinet to avoid getting too close to Adin. He opened the door, half expecting Shadow to have vanished to places unknown in the half a minute it had taken Finch to reach him, but he was still there. Finch took hold of his hand and guided him carefully out of the cabinet and then led him back around the room to Malyn and Tyla.

Finch ushered them all over to the couch. It was about the furthest point in the house they could get from Adin while still keeping him within their sights. Finch kept hold of Shadow's hand as they sat down and then took hold of Malyn's as well. Malyn was still holding Tyla's hand with his other hand.

"So," Finch said to Shadow. "Katrina, right?"

Shadow nodded.

Finch sighed. "Figures."

"I'm sorry," Shadow said.

"Not your fault."

"I really didn't think she would find me here."

"If I'd known she would, the only thing I might have done different was keeping a closer watch on you. Part of our code is never letting ourselves be intimidated out of doing the right thing. That's where most power comes from, really. Not from someone being stronger than the whole world. Just strong enough that most people will do what you say without you having to do a single damn thing."

"Why can't we go near Adin?" Tyla asked.

"Same reason why a man who just chased off a vampire is working reception instead of coming out on jobs with us," Finch said. "It takes him a little bit to cool off from a fight. That's all."