Page 31 of Dark Awakening: Hidden Currents

Jasmine's smile widened. "Thank you." She sauntered closer to him. "How are you doing? Nervous about meeting the family?"

"A little," he admitted. "But if Annani's daughters are as filled with light as her son, I'm sure I'll enjoy their company as much as I do Kian and his wife's."

Jasmine's eyebrows rose at his words. "Filled with light? That's an interesting way to put it." She glanced at the Odus, then back to Ell-rom. "Can you sense them? I mean, like you sensed light in Kian and darkness in Jade?"

He winced. "Those are just expressions. They don't mean that Kian is good and Jade is bad. Everyone has both light and darkness in them, and they take turns manifesting. Some have more of one than the other, but you are overestimating my ability to sense them. It's not a talent. It's just an instinctual sense."

Jasmine leaned closer to him. "As I said before, not everyone has that sense. Just try. I'm curious."

Ell-rom closed his eyes and turned his focus inward. "It's faint. They're machines, so there isn't much in there, but they are not entirely artificial. I can sense some emergent self-awareness in them, and they think of themselves as good, helpful, and needed, but I might be projecting my own feelings on them, so I wouldn't base any important decisions on what I've just said."

"Fascinating. What about Kian's bodyguards? What did you sense about them?"

"Like everyone else, they have both light and darkness in them. The blond guy lets his darkness manifest more, but I sense more light than darkness in both."

Jasmine frowned. "They're warriors, Ell-rom. I know for a fact they've killed people. Frankie saw them do that."

"They did what needed to be done to protect others. They're protectors, not killers. Kian is like that, too." Ell-rom shrugged. "All able-bodied males need to protect the vulnerable members of the community. If they are incapable of doing that, what are they good for?"

As soon as he asked the question, Ell-rom felt a wave of self-consciousness wash over him. He was acutely aware of his own lack of defensive or offensive capabilities. He was physically weak, and he couldn't even bite. "What am I good for?" he murmured.

"Oh, Ell-rom." Jasmine reached for his hand. "Not every male needs to be a warrior. That's why people live in a society and divide tasks between individuals based on their aptitude. Maybe you were meant to be a spiritual leader? Or a healer? Or a poet? And even if you were meant to be a warrior, you still have a long way to go till you are fully recovered. Once you're feeling stronger, you could start training with the Guardians. I could even arrange that for you if you'd like."

"I think every male should be able to defend his family, even if he is a poet or a healer. I don't know yet what the future holds for me, but I have to be able to do that, or I won't feel worthy."

Before Jasmine could respond, the doorbell rang, and one of the Odus rushed to open the door.

"Good afternoon, Clan Mother." He bowed nearly in half. "The luncheon is ready."

"Thank you, Ogidu." Annani glided into the living room with Kian and Syssi right behind her.

Kian had his little daughter in his arms, a beautiful child who looked like her mother but had her father's piercing gaze.

Kian's bodyguards entered next, which Ell-rom found curious. Shouldn't they have entered first and secured the place for their Clan Mother?

Evidently, he wasn't considered a threat.

Ell-rom bowed, and next to him, Jasmine did the same but with much more flourish.

"Ell-rom, my dear brother," Annani said warmly as she embraced him. "How are you feeling today?"

"I'm well, thank you. I'm excited to meet everyone." He shifted his gaze to the little girl. "I haven't been introduced to this little lady yet."

"This is our daughter, Allegra," Kian said.

"Lala," the baby said with a surprisingly resolute tone while still regarding Ell-rom with her piercing eyes.

"Remember me?" Jasmine walked over to her and kissed her cheek.

"Jaja." Allegra patted Jasmine's face before shifting her gaze back to Ell-rom.

"I can't believe she remembered my name," Jasmine said.

Syssi smiled proudly. "Allegra has a great memory for names. People fascinate her."

Ell-rom took the child's tiny hand between two fingers and bowed over it. "I'm Ell-rom. Your uncle," he said before he remembered that Allegra wasn't wearing earpieces and couldn't understand him.

"Om," she said with the same resolute tone she'd used for her own name.