Dark Awakening: Echoes of Destiny (The Children Of The Gods #88)

31. Jasmine

31

JASMINE

A s Jasmine walked into the penthouse clutching Ell-rom's hand, the spacious living area, with its wall of glass windows offering a view of the city, felt like a sanctuary after the harrowing events in the alley. Soft afternoon light filtered through the glass, casting long shadows across the polished hardwood floors and luxurious area rugs.

She was surprised that she felt almost okay.

The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving her a little dizzy, but the need to stay strong for Ell-rom had helped her push past the worst of the shock.

Acting, it seemed, had its uses beyond the stage and screen.

Ell-rom, on the other hand, looked like he was barely holding it together. His face was pale, and his eyes were distant, as if he was replaying the events in his mind in an endless loop.

Jasmine couldn't blame him. Killing someone, even in self-defense or in the defense of a loved one, wasn't something you could just shrug off.

"Why don't you sit down?" she suggested, guiding him toward the plush leather couch. "I'll get us something to drink."

Ell-rom nodded mutely, sinking onto the couch with a heaviness that spoke volumes about his emotional state. He hadn't said a word since they'd left the clinic.

At the bar, she scanned the stock on offer. Bottles of various shapes and colors were lined up on the shelves, evoking an image of soldiers awaiting orders. She hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the selection.

Ell-rom hadn't had any alcohol yet, but he should probably be okay with a light cocktail.

She selected a bottle of whiskey, its amber liquid catching the light. "I promise, it'll help take the edge off."

She set about making two whiskey sours, the familiar routine of mixing drinks helping to calm her nerves. The clink of ice against the glass, the subtle aroma of lemon, and the rich scent of whiskey all felt comfortingly familiar and normal after the surreal events of the day.

Drinks in hand, Jasmine returned to the couch, setting the glasses on the coffee table before settling beside Ell-rom. She curled her legs under her, angling her body toward him. "Here." She offered him one of the glasses. "Sip it slowly."

Ell-rom took the glass, staring at the pale yellow liquid as if it held the answers to all his questions. He took a tentative sip, his face scrunching up slightly at the unfamiliar taste.

"It's interesting," he said.

Jasmine smiled. "Interesting, as in good? Or interesting, as in I'd rather not drink it?"

"Interesting, as in it's an acquired taste."

"You'll learn to like it." She took a long, grateful sip. "This is so good. I call it liquid courage."

Ell-rom lifted the glass so it was at his eye level. "Really? Is that supposed to boost confidence?"

"For some, it does."

They sat in silence for a while, sipping their drinks. With the incredibly well-insulated windows and doors blocking the city noise from intruding on the turmoil in Ell-rom's mind, the ice clinking softly in their glasses was the only sound in the otherwise quiet penthouse.

Finally, Jasmine couldn't take the silence anymore. "Talk to me, Ell-rom. Stewing in a negative thought loop will not help you."

He set his glass down, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. "I feel like the right thing to do is to come clean. I need to tell Julian the truth about what happened."

Jasmine felt a jolt of fear. She set her own drink aside, turning to face him fully. "Ell-rom, we've been over this," she said, trying to keep her voice calm and reasonable. "There are many reasons why that's not a good idea."

"I know, but?—"

"Just think about it," Jasmine pressed on. "If the clan finds out about your ability, they might fear you. Or worse, they might want to use you as an assassin." She saw Ell-rom flinch at the word and hurried on. "I know that you don't want that."

Ell-rom shook his head. "Of course I don't. But I believe that my sister will protect me. The clan will accept me no matter what because Annani wants me in the village. And if I refuse to be their assassin, Annani won't force me."

Jasmine sighed, running a hand through her hair. She understood his faith in Annani—the goddess had that effect on people—and it was true that she would do her best for Ell-rom. But the world wasn't as simple as he wanted to believe it was.

"I know Annani is a force for good," Jasmine took Ell-rom's hand and brought it to her lap. "But sometimes the good guys need to do things that aren't so good. You heard Julian talking about the traffickers, right?"

Ell-rom nodded.

"Well, think about it. If you had the power to stop people who abuse women and children, who ruin lives, would you stand by and do nothing?"

"Of course not."

"Exactly." She patted his hand with her other one. "And that's the problem. Your sister is trying to help many people, and she might need your help when your talent can make the difference between saving many or letting the bad guys win. She might pressure you to use your ability when there's no other option."

Ell-rom was quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed on their intertwined hands. "Don't you think that I've considered that? I did, and I felt ashamed about shying away from the dubious gift the Mother of All Life gave me. That's one more reason I need to tell Julian about what happened. It's not okay for me to hide it now that I know for sure I can do it."

Jasmine squeezed his hand gently. "I know you want to be honest, Ell-rom. It's one of the things I love about you. But sometimes, keeping a secret isn't about avoiding responsibility. It's about protecting yourself and the people you care about." She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "What you can do is incredible and terrifying. If the wrong people find out about it, they might try to use and manipulate you. We don't know all the players in the village yet, and if immortals are like humans, I bet there are nasties hiding among the good ones. Then there are the fearmongers who might try to pressure your sister into putting you back in stasis because they think you are too dangerous."

Ell-rom's grip on her hand tightened. "Do you really think they would try to do that?"

The fear in his voice broke Jasmine's heart. She pulled him into a tight embrace. "Annani won't let them. But why put yourself and her in the position of having to defend you?"

Ell-rom pulled back. "So, what do we do?"

Jasmine reached up, cupping his face in her hands. "We keep this between us for now. When we are in the village, and you are alone with Annani, you can tell her, and only her. She will know whether it's okay to reveal your ability to the rest of them or keep it a secret."

"That's a good idea," he admitted.

"It's a compromise." Jasmine leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. When she pulled back, she was relieved to see some of the tension had eased from his features. "Now." She reached for their forgotten drinks. "Why don't we finish these and warm up dinner? I don't know about you, but near-death experiences always make me hungry."