CH 207: Ghost From the Past

They made it to the village right when the sun was setting. They decided to just camp on the outskirts and deal with everything the next morning. Claire got out of the driver’s seat and helped Lily down. She carried the tired alchemist into the back, where, surprisingly, her companions weren’t in the throes of lust. Instead, they just filed out and started on the camp.

Claire was confused for a moment before Elsie explained to her. “Jasmine said the goblins are close by. Don’t want to be caught off guard, even if they are goblins.”

Claire nodded and glanced at their surroundings. “Never underestimate them; they have numbers.”

“Indeed,” Elsie smiled. Then she leaned in and whispered into Claire’s ear. She had to get on her tiptoes and lean against Claire, but she made it. “But really, it’s to test if Toni is ready for the watch. Goblins are like 10 miles away from here.”

Claire chuckled. “That sounds like something Jasmine would do.”

“She seemed a bit better today,” Elsie added. “Was less spaced out and all.”

Lily let out a deep exhale. “Thank the Gods.”

“Was very hard not to jump her the moment she started acting normal,” Elsie giggled. She looked over at Jasmine, who was directing Toni.

“Well, hopefully, she explains herself,” Claire sighed. She looked over at Jasmine, too. “Otherwise, she might go back after we leave.”

“Any ideas about what’s causing it?” Elsie asked Lily.

The alchemist just shook her head. “We talked about what could cause it, but it was… inconclusive.”

“Ana and I couldn’t think of anything either,” Elsie agreed. She looked over at her sister, who was getting dinner ready. “We couldn’t come up with anything. Maybe residuals from Ursa and Hannah’s fight. Or her mothers, but we don’t know when those dates were.”

Lily shook her head again. “Earlier in the year. Can’t be the anniversaries.”

Elsie sighed. “Gods, can’t she just let us know?”

Lily chuckled. “No. Be too easy.”

“And she calls me a brat.”

“Just continue waiting,” Claire said. She could feel her stomach grumble after seeing their food. She started walking over to help as she continued. “It’s all we can do.”

Jasmine did seem more present during dinner and cleanup. She felt more normal than she’d been for the past two weeks. She was making jokes and returning advances, without spacing out. Maybe what she was worried about passed, or maybe she got over it naturally. Claire wasn’t sure, but she would take advantage of these moments.

She cuddled up to the assassin when it was finally time for bed, clinging tightly to her. Claire nestled her face into Jasmine’s back. She felt Jasmine relax in her arms, her hands grabbing Claire’s. She let out a deep sigh as her whole body seemed to completely relax in Claire’s embrace.

“Jazz,” Claire whispered in her ear. “Are you okay?”

She felt the woman stiffen for a moment before rolling to face Claire. She had a sad smile on her face, “I am now. Sorry for scaring you. Something from my past cropped back up…”

“Your old adventuring group or from your mothers?” Claire asked hesitantly.

“The old group. One member reached out to Elizabeth about me.” Jasmine explained. She shuffled and wrapped Claire in a tight hug. “They claimed to just want to talk, but part of me thinks they want revenge.”

“For what you did after finding your mother?”

Jasmine just nodded. Then, she leaned in and rested her head on Claire’s chest. She could hear her lover’s heartbeat, which soothed her. “She still might be angry for my… outburst. But she couldn’t stop me then. What hope does she have now?”

Claire felt reassured that Jasmine was giggling. She hoped that this truly was what was bothering Jasmine. Lily was right, it did have to do with her mother. The old companion must have brought all the bad memories back.

Claire relaxed, letting out a deep exhale. “Thank the Goddess. We were so worried.”

“Sorry,” Jasmine replied. She heard Lily shuffling behind her. She felt the alchemist’s arms wrapping around her waist. “I seize up when it comes to these things…”

“We know,” Lily whispered. She settled behind Jasmine, pressing closely to her lover’s back. “Please let us in. We want to help you.”

Jasmine nodded into Claire’s chest. “I-I’ll try.”

“You said I should lean on you when I need it,” Claire whispered to her. She could feel Jasmine shaking, almost like she was about to cry. “Please… Please do the same. I can’t handle you trying to shoulder these things alone.”

Jasmine nodded again. Claire felt Jasmine’s tears landing on her shirt and the woman’s muffled whispers. She ran her fingers through Jasmine’s hair in hopes of calming her down. Lily pressed closer behind her, pinning her between the two. They did their best to help Jasmine as she silently cried. None of them even remembered falling asleep that night.

When Claire was woken up for watch by Ursa, the northerner had a worried look. She had nothing to report and was quick to replace Claire. She cuddled close to Jasmine, who surprisingly hadn’t woken up. The northerner petted Jasmine’s head in her own attempt to soothe her before Claire was forced to leave the carriage. She wanted to watch Ursa be comforting for longer, but she also had her duty.

It did give her a lot of time to digest what Jasmine told them. One of her former companions reached out to Jasmine while they were in Restol. It explains why she never relaxed like she promised she would.

Claire’s chest tightened.

Maybe it was her ex-girlfriend. While she had felt jealousy before, she didn’t think that was the emotion she was feeling right now. Maybe it was anger? Or maybe sorrow for what Jasmine went through? Being used like that by someone Jasmine had loved. It was hard not to feel extreme emotions about it.

That woman broke Jasmine’s heart and treated her like entertainment. She listened to Jasmine talk about finding her mother while she, herself, had slaves. It boiled Claire’s blood to think about how heartless someone could be. She didn’t blame Jasmine for lashing out at everyone involved, just surprised that the law hadn’t followed Jasmine.

Claire took a deep, calming breath. She didn’t need to be distracted right now.

There’s the possibility that the person who reached out to Jasmine covered for the assassin. Maybe one of them felt true pity for Jasmine and obstructed her pursuers. Jasmine’s killing of those involved was a year and a half ago, too much time for the assassin to be tracked down. That could be why they reached out now. To make sure that Jasmine was still safe.

Or they could be trying to prosecute her.

Claire exhaled. She could understand now why Jasmine was so stressed. She didn’t want to burden Claire or the rest of the Scarlet Seraphs with her run-ins with the law. It was a lot to consider, but Claire already decided to support Jasmine and all of her lovers, with any trouble they were in. She’d stand beside Jasmine, even if the Royal Marshalls showed up to take her.

Claire felt a bit better knowing what was causing Jasmine so much stress, but all Claire could do was hope that the former companion reached out with good intentions. She wanted to believe there were others like Toni and Lady Efreit, nobles who didn’t use their power over people and corrupt themselves. But she’d just have to wait and see.

Right now, she should focus on the goblins they’re about to fight, not the hypotheticals. She’d have to get over seeing them like Firewater’s goblins. These were actual monsters, awful smell and all. Claire smiled as she remembered the goblins she had met. Firewater’s kin felt so human compared to other monsters that she was worried she might freeze when fighting these goblins.

She furrowed her brow for a moment. A thought struck her. She remembered her conversation with Lily earlier about what trolls used to be like. Then, she thought about the difference between Firewater’s kin and regular goblins. Were Firewater’s kin what goblins were like in the past? Before His time? Were they much more human-like?

That thought made her head hurt.

Maybe Firewater or Silkie had the ability to turn them into the monsters from their time? Or reverse the curse the Gods placed on them? If they truly were like Claire, that could be the blessings they provided.