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FENELLA
O ut on the penthouse terrace, Fenella leaned against the railing and watched the sprawl of Los Angeles. There were no birds so high up, but for some reason, she imagined a hawk gliding through the air, riding the thermal currents, free to do as it pleased—a king of the sky. For half a century, she'd been drifting wherever instinct led her. Now, she was about to join a community of immortals in a secret location that she wasn't sure she could leave if she didn't like it.
"Thinking about Din?" Jasmine joined her at the railing.
"Not at all. Just enjoying the view."
In truth, Fenella hadn't thought about Din the entire morning. She'd been weighing her options. She could still walk away and disappear into the urban maze below like she'd done countless times before .
"The girls are nervous about going to the village," Jasmine said. "They feel safe here, and they don't want to leave."
"Can you blame them? They've been through hell, and this penthouse is their sanctuary. Of course they are wary about leaving it."
Jasmine tilted her head. "Are you nervous about going to the village too?"
"For different reasons," Fenella admitted. "I'm an independent spirit who hates being tied down, literally and figuratively, and commune-style living is not for me."
Jasmine pursed her lips. "I think you will like the village, but I get how someone who is used to a nomadic lifestyle can feel restricted in a small community. On the other hand, aren't you tired of constantly being on the move? You did it out of necessity, but now you have an alternative."
Fenella turned around, leaning her back against the railing and folding her arms over her chest. "That's why it's not an easy decision. I just hope that the decision is still mine. I have a feeling that they wouldn't let me go now that they know of my existence." She leaned closer to Jasmine. "I'm too valuable."
She hoped that Jasmine would argue that she was not a commodity and that no one would force her to stay, but instead, Jasmine just sighed. "I need to check on the girls. I didn't tell them to pack so they wouldn't be scared. I told them that we were just going to visit and check out some houses. That if they like it there, we would come back for their things."
"Everything we have was bought for us by the clan," Fenella said. "I'm sure that they expect something in return." She pushed away from the railing and headed for the sliding doors. "My stuff is packed."
Everything fit in a single duffel bag.
Inside, the four girls were clustered around the breakfast counter, picking at fruit and pastries. The excitement from the day before had evaporated, and they'd been subdued all morning, worrying for their mothers, aunts, and cousins.
Kyra had called Jasmine once with updates, but it had been a while ago, and they hadn't heard from her in nearly twenty-four hours. Fenella was sure that someone would have notified them if something had gone terribly wrong, so she wasn't as worried, but she picked up on the nervous energy emanating from the girls.
"Are you all ready to go visit the secret village?" Jasmine asked, a little too cheerfully.
"What's the village like?" Azadeh asked.
Jasmine had talked about it constantly, so Fenella doubted there was much to add to what she'd already said, but the girl's question was a plea for reassurance rather than new information.
Jasmine sat down beside them. "It's beautiful— nestled in the mountains with views of the ocean. It's probably one of the safest places in the world. No one can get to you there, and you'll be among your own kind."
"We are not immortal yet," Arezoo said. "Are there other Dormants in the village?"
"Yes," Jasmine said. "Not many, though."
They hadn't told the girls how they would one day transition, and Fenella was glad it wasn't her job to educate them. These girls had led sheltered lives concerning anything and everything to do with sex, which was kind of paradoxical given how obsessed with it their male counterparts were and how entitled to it they felt.
Sexual assault victims could get executed in Iran if they reported the crime, while the violators got the equivalent of a slap on the wrist. In Iranian courts, it was always the woman's fault, no matter the circumstances. She wasn't even allowed to defend herself with something as small as a pocketknife because that, too, was an offense punishable by execution.
Talk about evil.
In the background, Fenella heard Jasmine selling the village to the girls. "We are going to eat lunch in the village café, visit the gym, the underground pool, and the movie theater, and then we are going to look at some houses. Or maybe we'll see the houses first and then check out the other stuff."
Jasmine was really good at this. She'd even convinced Fenella that life in the village would be wonderful and got her to voluntarily agree to join the merry band of immortals.
"When do we leave?" Laleh asked.
"In about half an hour," Jasmine said. "The big boss sent his butler to pick us up with a bus."
"A bus?" Donya wrinkled her nose.
"It's a very nice bus," Jasmine said. "It's like the kind they use for tours. Now, go put your shoes on, brush your hair, and whatever else you need to do to get ready."
Laleh chewed on her lower lip. "Can I wear the skirt you bought me in Universal Studios?"
Jasmine grinned. "Of course. You can wear whatever you want."
When the girls headed to their rooms, Jasmine walked over to the coffee carafe and poured three cups of coffee. "I should suggest a Harry Potter adventure for Perfect Match." She took the three cups and carried them to the living room, where Ell-rom was hunched over his laptop. "What do you think?" she asked as she put the cup in front of him.
"About what?"
"A Harry Potter Perfect Match adventure." She sat down next to Ell-rom.
"It's a good idea," he murmured while typing on the keyboard.
"How many kids do you have in the village?" Fenella asked.
"Not many, but adults also love Harry Potter." Jasmine took a sip of her coffee. "Besides, the adventures are designed for the general market, not just for those who live in the village. There is a whole generation of adults who grew up on those books and who are now in their prime earning years. I bet many would gladly part with their money to relive their childhood obsession."
Table of Contents
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- Page 32 (Reading here)
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