by LJ Andrews
She slapped her knees and stood. “Well, I hope you have fun. But you must promise to at least call me once while you’re there, and I can count on you for Sunday dinner, right?”
I hugged her tightly, never wanting to let go, as the tears burned the back of my eyes. “I’ll be here, Mom. I promise,” I whispered.
“You okay, Lane?” she asked, squeezing me tighter.
Pulling back, I offered my most convincing grin. “Yes, it’s just been a long day. I’m going to head home and get some rest. I’ll call you later, okay? Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
Mom hugged me again before I left the house. I had a suspicion she didn’t believe everything I’d said, but she let me go. I shuddered against the cool air. Pumpkins and fall wreaths decorated the neighboring homes. I had always enjoyed the Halloween season, but now I was living my own horror story with my own monsters. As I trudged down to the corner to wait for Finn, I prayed we would be able to come out of this in one piece, because the alternative was something I couldn’t bear to imagine.
My cheeks were stinging from the icy night by the time Finn’s car rounded the corner. He waved, while opening the passenger door with the flick of his hand. Smells of juicy, greasy hamburgers calmed my nerves and made my mouth water. Finn handed me one of the bags, and I quickly munched on a handful of fries. I stopped when I realized I was devouring the fried potatoes like a lion mangling its prey. Finn watched me out of the corner of his eye while sipping a thick milkshake with significant effort through a narrow straw.
“I’ve been thinking,” I said through a mouthful of French fry. “How did you buy a car?”
Finn eyed me dubiously. “I didn’t buy this car,” he said. “It was just sitting in the parking lot of the restaurant. You drove away in a car, so I had to follow you.”
I coughed, feeling a large lump of fry catch in my throat. “You stole this car? Finn, we need to get going. It isn’t good practice to take a car just sitting there. It belongs to someone else,” I said, speaking slowly to drive my point.
He chuckled nervously, pulling away from my mom’s street. “Well, I suppose that is something good to know. I’ll be sure to drive inconspicuously.”
Once we’d established grand theft auto was frowned upon, I sat back, offering a grateful smile. “Thanks for the food, by the way. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
“I assumed you would be. It has been several hours since you had any sustenance.”
“You need to eat too. Or do you need to eat, being from Tala and all,” I said, nodding at his untouched, grease-spotted bag.
Finn lifted his shoulders as if deciding how to answer the question. “The only difference between Talans and you, Laney, is our gift of being in-tune with the elements of the earth and Ama’s energy. But I will admit, I haven’t found much food I like in this place,” he admitted, taking a ginger bite of one of the French fries. “So, back to Clement’s dwelling?”
I crinkled my nose thinking of sleeping on the lumpy, stained futon again. “Actually, would it be all right if I slept at my own place? Now that Justin is gone, it should be safe, right?”
Finn swerved into downtown Shadow’s Keep, driving far below the speed limit. His jaw clenched, but he nodded. “I suppose it would be all right, but I must stay as well. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone after the attack earlier.”
My stomach dropped, and the fries seemed to want to come back up as he spoke. “You want to stay at my place?”
He eyed me curiously. I chided myself for constantly forgetting how Finn didn’t view relationships the same. Who was I kidding—what relationship? I could see, in his mind, he was there to ensure I wasn’t murdered by imps, so I could successfully break through the Wander.
“Yes, where else would I stay?” he asked plainly. “Unless it is against a law of some kind, then we will have to rest at Clement’s home.”
I chuckled, tucking my hair behind my ears, trying to conceal the rushing pulse pounding in my head. “There isn’t a law about it. I just…wanted to make sure I understood you correctly. I have an air mattress you can use.”
“I’ll take your word that is a place to rest,” he responded, turning his attention along my street.
When we pulled into my apartment I realized how exhausted I was. My bed seemed to call for me from across the room, but I sauntered over to the closet and pulled out the folded air mattress. I taught Finn how to pump it up, since he seemed fascinated. I gladly let him try the hand pump, but he soon tired of the monotony and touched the mattress, filling it with air. I watched in subtle amazement as I finished off the cheeseburger and fries.
“How did you do that?” I asked. “I thought you could only use energy.”
Finn chuckled. “There is energy in the air, Laney. Energy is all around us; even our thoughts have energy. Some people who use the darkest of powers can manipulate thoughts of people or creatures to force them to act against their will.”
“I guess I didn’t realize how powerful it can be. How do the elders keep it under control?”
“We created the elder council after the ancient crusades. Those wars happened because of manipulation, as did many other genocides throughout history. But after the slaughter during the crusades, Talans decided it was best to have a governing body to judge those who tapped into dangerous energy.”
“You know Finn, you say you don’t harness energy well, but you’ve done some amazing things with just the flick of your wrist since I’ve met you,” I offered.
Finn chuckled. “Starting a car and filling this thing with air are hardly things to get excited over. But thank you.”
I handed Finn a couple fleece blankets I’d made in high school, and a pillow from my bed. “Here, it can get a little cold up here with the large window,” I explained. I ignored the spark igniting on my skin when our hands brushed against one another.
Why does he affect me so badly? I snarled inside my thoughts.
Finn kneeled on the mattress, then leapt off when it wobbled beneath his weight. I muffled a laugh when he tried once more. Slowly, he pawed across the mattress until he settled beneath the blankets, punching the pillow slightly under his head.
“What an odd thing to sleep on,” he concluded, folding his hands behind his neck and dramatically closing his eyes.
I tapped the mattress with my toe. “Well, trust me you’ll be more comfortable on this than the small loveseat. I’m just going to change, then I’ll flip off the lights,” I said, backing toward my dresser, finding it hard to peel my eyes away from him.
I gathered some shorts and a tight T-shirt. It was too small, but I’d won the shirt freshman year for being the first female student to master the spring relay race. I’d leapt over four consecutive hurdles, ran through a muddy puddle, and climbed a wooden wall with only a rope. The memory was one of the few where my peers cheered me on, rather than sneaking up behind me pretending to be the shadow people. If only they knew the truth about the well near Shadow Lake, they might not have been so quick to tease.
After brushing my teeth and combing the snarls of the day out of my hair I tip-toed toward my bed. There was only one switch which controlled the overhead lighting. I heard Finn’s steady breathing, telling me he’d already fallen asleep. I checked the door, making certain it was bolted shut, but the glint of Finn’s sword was across his chest. Releasing a long breath, I allowed myself to feel safe and comfortable—at least for tonight.
As I nestled beneath my sheets, allowing my eyes to droop as if weighted with lead. My body ached. Although Clement had healed me with the sticky potion, my muscles still screamed at me for being knocked around against the tiled bathroom. Just as I was about to doze off into a comfortable sleep I heard Finn whisper my name.
“Laney?”
“Yeah?” I returned the whisper.
“Why did you take my hand in yours earlier?”
My mouth dried like sandpaper as I stumbled for a response. “I uh…you mean when we were talk
ing about going to the Wander?”
“Yes,” he said simply.
Did I offend him? Did I cross some kind of Talan boundary?
“Laney?” he pressed when I didn’t respond.
“It’s…uh…it’s called holding hands. People do it for all kinds of reasons, like when they’re frightened, or to show…affection. You know, things like that,” I said carefully. I was grateful the lights were off, or I was sure Finn would see my cheeks were bright red.
“Oh. I’ve never seen something like it in Tala. I liked it. Sleep well, Laney,” he whispered matter-of-factly before squishing and tumbling on the air mattress and finding a comfortable position on his side.
My wide eyes watched the shadows on my ceiling from the cars driving by below as Finn’s steady breathing filled my apartment again. I couldn’t help but let my lips turn up into a smile. “Good-night, Finn.”
I curled around my pillow and drifted away with the smile still painted on my lips. I was content, for the first time in years—more than even after I’d met Justin, when I thought he was a normal human being. I fell asleep, not realizing I hadn’t relied on a sleeping pill since Finn had saved me from the imps.
Chapter 17
I woke to clanging metal. Shooting straight up in bed, I scanned the room in one glance, my senses sharp as adrenaline surged through my body. I sighed loudly and fell back against my pillow when I saw Finn scooping a heavy skillet off the ground. He stiffened, glancing in my direction apologetically.
“What are you doing?” I mumbled, rubbing the heavy sleep from eyes.
“I was just…curious,” he admitted, gently placing the skillet back on the stovetop.
I rolled over, glancing at the digital clock on my nightstand. Sighing, I sat up, knowing my hair was in tangles, but too irritated to care. “Finn, most people sleep longer than four hours in a night. It’s five in the morning!”
“I don’t need the same amount of sleep,” he said, folding his arms tightly across his chest, preparing to defend himself. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
I smirked rolling my eyes, admitting I secretly enjoyed his innocence about my culture. “Come here, I’ll turn on a movie.”
I rolled off my bed, the chill of the morning sending shivers up my arms. I dug through my movies, looking for something he might enjoy, but he snatched one out of my hands. “These are human entertainment, right?” His eyes brightened excitedly.
I nodded, taking the movie case out of his hand. He’d selected my season one collection of Friends. I shook it gently as if enticing him to join in the nineties sitcom, before placing the first disc in the player. “I think you’ll enjoy this. I’m going to get dressed and make something for us to eat. And then…I guess…” I trailed off, too afraid to say what we had to do.
Finn seemed to notice my hesitation and quietly took the small remote from my hands. “We go to Tala.”
I took a deep breath, meeting his knowing eyes. He stood close enough I could see the bluish swirls deep inside the color. I fought the urge to touch him, knowing he wouldn’t return the same emotions I wanted to share. To my surprise—and enjoyment—Finn took my hand in his, squeezing tightly.
“We will make it through safely,” he said with confidence.
“I hope you’re right, because I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing.” I tightened my grip around his hand, hoping he would close the gap between us.
I knew I was setting my heart up for a crushing blow. But Finn’s chiseled features, his fresh scent—despite never refreshing himself, his eyes which seemed to pour into my soul, created a connection I wasn’t strong enough to break.
He gently moved a bit of my hair from my face, and I could have sworn the gesture surprised him as much as it had me, because he cleared his throat and released my hand. “Clement will help us get through, and others in Tala will be there. We don’t have a choice but to be victorious. Too many lives are at stake if dark energy overtakes Ama.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “You don’t think the elders have been able to get a grip on the problem? Maybe the imps are already dealt with,” I suggested hopefully.
“It’s possible, but I hope not,” he said, his eyes nearly glowing from his declaration. “Because if Clement is right, I don’t want to stand by as the elders blame you for everything.”
He turned away as the first episode began and perched on the edge of the loveseat, engrossed in the show. I stepped into my bathroom after grabbing a fresh change of clothes. What does someone wear when they cross into an ultra-spiritual realm? I played it safe with a long-sleeve shirt and sturdy jeans.
Finn was relaxed against the sofa, chuckling at the slapstick behavior of the actors on the screen. I shook my head, a permanent smile seemed to be plastered on my face as I pulled out a carton of eggs and some chopped ham. Omelets were a specialty of mine. Tyler loved Saturday mornings when I would make them for the entire family. I added sweet peppers, fresh cheddar, and the sizzling meat. Each egg folded perfectly, and just to show-off, I garnished with parsley.
Finn drifted toward the kitchen area, a curious expression written on his face. “What is that smell?” he asked, ogling the prepared omelets as I poured orange juice.
“Eggs, with a kick,” I answered, squirting a bit of ketchup along the top of my omelet. I offered the bottle to Finn, who took it hesitantly. “Don’t be afraid of it. I promise it tastes good. I think I’m going to prove to you that human food can be tasty. We don’t always live on French fries. Sometimes we cook, and you can’t beat homecooked meals.”
Finn followed my lead and squirted the ketchup along his food in a thin, squiggly line. I watched over the rim of my glass as he took his first bite. His facial expressions always gave away if he was being sincere, so he wouldn’t be able to lie his way out of telling me the truth.
As he chewed, his eyes brightened, and he added a thick blob of ketchup. “What is this? It’s delicious.”
My brow crinkled. “The ketchup? Whoa, take it easy, don’t add too much,” I said, stopping him from adding another river to his plate.
He smothered the bite of egg in a thick blob before stuffing it into his mouth and sighing contentedly. “I like that a lot.” He pointed his fork at the squirt bottle. “You are skilled at food, Laney.”
“What in the world do you eat in Tala?” I asked incredulously.
Finn stopped chewing for a moment to reply. “We eat from the earth, whatever Ama provides. Many fruits, many plants, some creatures, should it be their time to leave this life,” he explained, taking another large bite of egg dripping in salty ketchup.
“I should’ve guessed it would come from Ama,” I teased.
It seemed he caught onto my tone for the first time. A coy smile spread across his face and his eyes twinkled in mischief. “You mean, I’ve told you about Ama?”
I chuckled. “Maybe a few times.”
We ate in silence for a moment, until Finn spoke pushing his last bit of egg around on the plate.
“You are not what I imagined humans to be, Laney.”
I wiped my mouth, and eyed him curiously. “What do you mean? What did you truly think of humans before you crossed the barrier?”
Finn paused, glancing at me through the corner of his eye as he dipped a finger in the final lump of ketchup. “I always thought humans to be interesting. I tried to learn of your culture, your technology—it’s how I knew the basics of driving the vehicle. But you are…exciting. You intrigue me.”
“You think I am exciting? Finn, I work at a bank and just barely moved out of my mom’s house. Most humans leave their parents a few years before I did,” I chuckled, finishing my last bite.
Finn shrugged, sipping the orange juice and making a squished sour face. “I still find you exciting. When we were attacked by the cryptfiends, I was certain you would die of shock, but you didn’t. How many mortals can witness such awful creatures and not find themselves completely out of their wits?”
“W
ell, the day is young,” I teased. My heart seemed to stop when Finn actually laughed.
“Anyway, I’ve been…impressed I guess you could say, by how you’ve handled everything. I was thinking while you were still sleeping this morning, how truly overwhelming it must be. I didn’t grasp it at first, but I am amazed how you have accepted what I’ve told you to be true. I don’t think any ordinary mortal could do such a thing. That makes you extraordinary, Laney.”
I pushed a pepper around my plate, a shy grin on my lips. “Well, thank you Finn. That means a lot.”
As he went on about the things he’d learned about Earth, I watched his excitement and replayed the words in my mind. He thought I was extraordinary, and it brought a calming peace to my heart. By the time he was finished talking, I noticed I had scooted closer to him, both of us leaning over my kitchen counter. An electricity burned my blood, the closer I came to his body. It was nearly unbearable, so I scooted away, brushing my hair from my eyes as I gathered the plates.
After we cleaned up the kitchen, I grabbed my shoulder bag and took one final look at my apartment. I wondered if I would ever see it again. It was cramped, and the heating and air was finicky, but it was my home. Finn tapped my arm, holding the door open.
“It’s time to go,” he said, though he seemed to recognize my reluctance, and waited as I slowly closed the door.
We made our way back to Clement’s apartment in silence, the looming tasks we were headed for building like a pipe about to burst from the pressure. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling I was not going to come out of this the same.
Chapter 18
Clement was waiting for us at the side of the apartment building. He seemed as if he hadn’t slept at all, with his wild hair and wrinkled clothes. He waved us over, acting suspicious once Finn parked the car. Clement clutched a leather notebook against his chest and kept glancing over his shoulder as if someone were watching.