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

56. Jasmine

56

JASMINE

" N ot yet." Jasmine sipped on the coffee, feeling a little less groggy and more alert. "Most of my things are in suitcases anyway, so I only need to pack what I used recently, which is not much."

It would all fit in one suitcase, but even that felt like a monumental task. Ell-rom was right that it was strange she was still feeling tired after sleeping for almost twelve hours.

Frankie sat on the bed, holding her coffee cup and smiling. "If you need help packing, I'm an expert on stuffing suitcases."

"Thanks, but I think I can manage." Jasmine sighed. "Maybe I'm feeling down because I'm sad. I will miss you and the others if the experiment later today doesn't work. If your mates head out to Tibet or Siberia, the three of you will go with them, and it will be months before I see you again."

"I'll miss you, too," Frankie said. "I'm crossing my fingers for a successful result of the test and for your quick and uneventful transition."

Jasmine took another sip of the coffee. "There is no guarantee that I will transition, but thank you for the well-wishing."

"You will," Frankie said. "Assume the win, or in other words, if you believe it's going to happen, it will."

There was something to that belief. Even her Wiccan guides said so.

"I will." She lifted a fist in the air.

"That's my girl." Frankie leaned over with a high five. "I'm hoping that your fatigue is a symptom of the transition."

"It's possible," Jasmine admitted. "What did you feel when your transition started?"

"Well, at first, I thought it was just stress. I was nauseous and dizzy, and everything I tried to eat or drink just made it worse. Then I started feeling warm, but I didn't have a full-blown fever yet."

Jasmine nodded. "That sounds pretty intense. Did it come on suddenly?"

"Kind of." Frankie pulled her leg up and tucked it under her, then adjusted her short robe so she wasn't flashing Ell-rom. "It was like one moment I was fine, and the next, everything felt off. Mia was actually the one who suggested it might be my transition starting."

Jasmine glanced at Ell-rom, who had concern etched on his face, and offered him a reassuring smile before turning her attention back to Frankie.

"You know, I've been pretty stressed, too. But I don't feel nauseous or dizzy. I'm just more tired than I should be after nearly twelve hours of sleep."

Frankie's eyes widened. "What if you are pregnant? My cousin Jessica couldn't keep her eyes open when her pregnancy started. She used to joke that the little alien growing inside of her was sapping her life energy."

"I'm not pregnant," Jasmine said. "I'm still on contraceptives."

"Oh." Frankie's face fell. "Well, everyone's different. Some people barely notice the start of their transition, while others get hit hard and fast."

Jasmine sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I guess I'll just have to wait and see."

"Yep." Frankie slid off the bed. "Try not to stress too much over it. You have other things to worry about, like making a grand entrance to the village. Do you need to borrow a dress for this evening?"

Jasmine laughed. "Are you offering me one of yours? I'm twice your size."

Frankie pouted. "No, you're not. But whatever. I can ask Margo for you. You two are about the same height."

Jasmine was taller and curvier, but she didn't point it out.

"I'm fine. I've already decided on what I'm going to wear, and it's a knockout outfit."

Frankie's eyes lit up. "Can I see?"

"Sure. I'll model it for you after I'm showered and my hair is done."

Frankie sighed. "You'll have to send me a picture. I have Perfect Match training today. It's so frustrating not knowing whether I'm going to do this or follow Dagor across another crazy mountain trek."

"I'm crossing my fingers for you." Jasmine lifted her hand and demonstrated.

Frankie leaned over and gave her a one-armed hug. "You and Ell-rom must come visit us. If we can't make it to the village, we need to have a proper goodbye party."

Tears stung the back of Jasmine's eyes when she thought about not seeing her new friends every day. "Remember what you told me? Believe that it will happen, and it will. Visualize yourself living in the village."

Frankie chuckled. "Oh, I do. Every day." She blew her and Ell-rom a parting air kiss and sauntered out of their room.

"I'm going to miss her so badly." Jasmine put her empty coffee mug on the night table and stretched her arms above her head. "I think I'm going to draw myself a nice bath. I want to wash my hair and style it for the welcome party. As Frankie said, I need to make a grand entrance." She stood up and made her way to the bathroom.

Ell-rom followed close behind her. "I'm going to watch over you while you bathe," he declared.

Jasmine paused at the bathroom door, turning to face him. "Ell-rom, that's sweet but unnecessary. Don't you have a physical therapy session with Julian this morning?"

He shook his head stubbornly. "I'm not going. You're more important."

Before she could protest further, Ell-rom pulled out his phone. "Call Julian."

When the doctor answered, Ell-rom didn't hesitate. "I won't be coming to the session today. I need to stay with Jasmine and keep an eye on her."

There was a pause as he listened to Julian's response. "Oh, I see. Well, that works out, then. Thanks for understanding."

Ending the call, Ell-rom had a smug expression on his face. "Julian says it's just as well. They're busy preparing everything to move Morelle."

"Wow. It's really happening. It didn't really sink in until now."

She felt a flutter of excitement despite her fatigue. In just a few hours, they would be in the village, starting their new life together.

When the bath was full, Jasmine removed her nightgown, stepped inside, and sank into the warm water, letting out a contented sigh as the soothing scent of lavender enveloped her.

Ell-rom lowered the lid on the toilet and sat down.

"Sweetheart? Can you please bring me my phone? I've forgotten it on the nightstand."

"Of course." He pushed to his feet, walked out, and a moment later walked back with her phone.

It dawned on her then how much he had improved physically and otherwise. It was no longer an effort for him to stand up from a sitting position, and he looked good in the T-shirt and jeans he had on. He was changing right in front of her eyes at a rate that would have been impossible for a human.

"Thank you, love," she said, taking the phone from him. "Why don't you pick out your outfit while I soak? We want you to look dashing for your big debut in the village."

Not that he had a large selection to choose from. He had just one nice outfit, and it would have to do.

She should have ordered him a suit.

Ell-rom nodded. "Alright. But call if you need anything, even if it's just a glass of water or a towel."