13. Jasmine

13

JASMINE

E ll-rom looked tired, but given the stubborn expression on his face, he wasn't about to admit it or quit before he fell on his face.

Jasmine needed to coax him into returning to bed. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "The truth is that I've never been to their new location, but there is a whole beautiful world out there."

Perhaps as nature went, it was still true, but the state of humanity was a different story. The world wasn't as beautiful as it had been just a few years ago, with wars raging and hatred seeming to spread like wildfire. But Ell-rom was still too fragile, physically and emotionally, to be burdened with the harsh realities of the world he had woken up in.

She could shield him from that for a little longer.

"I'd like to see it," Ell-rom said. "I don't like being underground, and I miss seeing the sky and breathing fresh air."

Jasmine patted his arm. "You will. As soon as I can, I will sneak you up to the penthouse, and you can sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the Los Angeles smog."

He frowned. "The angels?"

She hadn't known that the Kra-ell religion had angels. Perhaps the teardrop translated the word to the closest thing it could find in Kra-ell.

"Angels are supposed to be God's servants. What do they mean in your language?"

He thought for a moment. "Good spirits. Metaphysical guardians who watch over warriors."

"That's similar enough. Many people believe that there are guardian angels watching over them. Anyway, the city we are in is called Los Angeles, which means the city of angels. It's a nice name, but it's not indicative of the people living in it."

"Are they wicked?"

"No. Most people are good or rather neutral. But deftly directed propaganda combined with the herd mentality of the masses often results in people promoting evil causes with no self-awareness." She sighed. "Or maybe there is a seed of evil inside all of us, just waiting for an excuse to germinate."

Ell-rom halted, leaning heavily on the walker. "I don't believe that even for a moment. There is none of that in you, Bridget or Julian, or any of the people I've met so far."

She tilted her head. "What about Jade?"

He closed his eyes. "I'm not sure about her. There is darkness in her."

He sounded so sure of his assessment that Jasmine was tempted to believe him. "Maybe you have a special talent for seeing the light or darkness in people."

"Doesn't everyone?"

"Not at all." She smiled sheepishly. "I thought that I was a good judge of character, but I let myself get blindsided by a charming guy who had very nefarious intentions. After Alberto, I don't trust my own judgment."

Ell-rom's eyes started to glow. "You told me about his subterfuge, but you didn't tell me what happened to him."

"I don't know. He's probably still serving the cartel boss, but instead of doing his evil bidding, he's now doing good deeds." She chuckled. "Compulsion can be used for good, and in this case, it was used exceptionally well. The cartel thugs are now compelled to rebuild the communities they destroyed." The smile slid off her face. "Not that it will help all the people they murdered and their families, or that it will help all the females their henchmen violated."

The horrified expression on Ell-rom's face gave her pause.

"I shouldn't have told you all that. You are not ready for the ugly side of humanity yet."

He shook his head. "I know that I lived a sheltered life, but it wasn't a pretty life. I know that even without remembering much. You don't need to coddle me or show me just the pretty things."

Jasmine let out a breath. "True, but I haven't shown you anything pretty yet while hinting at a lot of ugliness. When we get back to your room, I'm going to put the television on and show you the nicer things about living on Earth. Do you know what a television is?"

"It's a device that broadcasts programs. Entertainment and news." Ell-rom looked at the teardrop hanging from her neck and then looked up at her. "Will your translating device work together with the broadcasting device?"

Jasmine's excitement dimmed as she realized the complication. "You're right. You'd need the translating earpieces." She tapped her ear. "I'm not sure if they have a pair for you yet."

She would need to ask Bridget about that, or maybe William. She was quite certain that they wouldn't give Ell-rom the compulsion filtering earpieces, but maybe William had a pair that did the translating part without the filtering.

By the time they reached Ell-rom's room, his steps had grown more labored, and there was a sheen of sweat on his forehead.

"You did wonderfully," she praised. "I just need you to make it to the bathroom so we can wash your feet."

He looked at the door with a pained expression on his face. "I don't have the energy to do that."

"You just need to get in there." She held the door open for him. "I'll do the rest."

Somehow, he managed to walk up to the shower, and she helped him sit on the stool.

"If you turn the water on, I can do it myself," he said.

"Don't be silly." She kicked off her flip-flops and got inside the shower with him.

Holding the handheld spout, she turned on the water and checked the temperature. When it was just right, she grabbed the soap, crouched at Ell-rom's feet, and washed them until they were perfectly clean.

When she looked up, she was struck by the glow in Ell-rom's eyes, and to her surprise, she felt her cheeks heating up.

It hadn't occurred to her that he might find the experience arousing.

"I'll bring a towel." She pushed to her feet, grabbed a towel from the vanity, and returned to her spot. "Now you can get in bed and rest." She dried his feet as best she could, given that the shower floor was wet.

Tossing the towel back on the counter, she stood up and offered Ell-rom a hand up. "Careful now. The floor is slippery."

When she got him in bed, he sank onto the pillows with a grateful sigh. "I'm beyond exhausted," he admitted. "But it felt good to move. I just wish I had enough energy left over to go see my sister."

Jasmine smiled. "The day is still young. Rest a little, and when you wake up, you'll have lunch, and then we will go see your sister." She leaned over him and kissed his forehead. "I'm so proud of you. You're making incredible progress."

Ell-rom's eyes were already drifting closed, but a small smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Thank you," he murmured.