Between Worlds

Chapter 17

Shadow had lingered close to Finch, intentionally unnoticed, not knowing how to offer comfort after Malyn and Tyla had left. Growing up around Luther hadn't prepared him for delicate emotional situations. Luther had feelings, but they were strange, often stunted things. Shadow had always felt that Luther's love for him was deep and true, but anything else was more questionable.

Finch started the bus, and for a few minutes Shadow watched him drive, but after a while it started to feel a little too voyeuristic. He went back to join Adin and Luther in the main area of the bus.

Shadow didn't do much to make himself known, but Luther immediately reached out and gave his shoulder a pat as he took a seat next to him at the small table. The bus didn't feel so crowded anymore.

"So, tell me more about this spiritual plane business," Luther said to Adin, who was seated across from him. "This world doesn't have one, you said?"

"It has a weak one," Adin corrected. "It's my understanding that, in a world that truly lacks a spiritual plane entirely, something like yourself could not exist in a half-living state and Tyla's magic wouldn't work. On the other hand, it takes a stronger spiritual plane to allow for a vampire to be created and a stronger one still for ghosts to exist."

"What about your world? What kind of spiritual plane did it have?"

Adin hesitated, his face tightening with a hint of discomfort. "I must admit, this is partly my fault for not being explicit enough. We have a house rule against asking about one another's pasts and you keep breaking it."

"Ah," Luther said. "I apologise. I won't do it again."

Adin shook his head. "I can't fault you for your curiosity, Luther. And actually, this ties into something I've been meaning to discuss with you in private. Now seems like the right moment."

Luther's gaze drifted to Shadow, giving his arm a gentle pat. "Just a reminder, Shadow is here," he pointed out. "But I suppose that's hardly an issue. I'm sure you realised he would be able to overhear regardless of where he was on the bus."

Adin's eyes flickered to Shadow, a hint of surprise crossing his face before settling into a thoughtful expression. "Of course, Shadow," he acknowledged. "Sometimes your presence is as subtle as a whisper. Regardless, it's not a concern."

"What would you like to discuss?"

"My world," Adin said. "It had a stronger spiritual plane than this one, perhaps on a similar level to your own. It had many things, and one of those things was vampires."

"Well, that is interesting."

"I've been reluctant to bring up the fact that your world isn't the only one with vampires," Adin admitted. "I'm not sure it's any secret, though. We call you this world's only vampire — or at least, we did — and what sense does that make if you're the only vampire anyone has ever heard of? Finch is the only one of his kind on this world and I the only one of mine, but we don't even bother putting names to what we are. It offers nothing extra when you're unique."

"I was somewhat aware of this as well, though I admit that I never looked into any of it too deeply. I think I was worried about what I might find. Vampires are rarely the protagonists of the tales they feature in."

Adin nodded, his tone growing more reflective. "That's precisely why I was cautious about bringing up the topic. I can't honestly tell you what the vampires on my world were like. My understanding of them was that they were evil, but I was a child in a world of humans who were a little too eager to condemn anyone different from themselves."

"I appreciate your discretion, though you have my permission to abandon it if this avenue might turn up something that could help us to defeat Katrina."