Maybe just not exactly how I saw it.
“Corporate has its own public relations,” I confirmed. “This needs to be for the leader we have in power and the next one. The party and everything behind the scenes for the Germangovernment. Yes, the legislation we want to put in place, yada yada. Social media doing better. We’re always so focused on being so careful, but we have to do it better.
“Now we can with help. Also, with our council. PR to show demons we’re the real deal and getting the word out. Yes, we’re going to need friends, but we’re making headway with the vampires and at least some fighting us less and realizing they can’t shove us back in the box. We know the goals.
“But also better PR for supes in general in case we’re ever outed as being one. Obviously, we’re taking it to heart that we’re going to not be demons, but Nephilim, and we need to start working on that branding.” I hurried on when several people flinched. “No, I’m not evensuggestingwe out us. I cannot even consider that.
“It’s probably a discussion to truly have in a few decades or like a century.” I couldn’t even hide the sarcasm in my tone but whatever. “All of this is about being better prepared and ready for problems because they’re always around the corner. We know this.”
“So young to be so jaded,” Natalia teased.
“Doesn’t make me wrong,” I drawled.
“Unfortunately not,” she agreed. “I like the PR aspect about getting word out to demons that we’re real. That is important. That can be these extra ancient demons and even some unpaid overtime to spread the word. We also need to get feedings ramped up so…”
She chuckled when I tapped my nose, then gave me a wink like she knew I would have it covered.
I wasn’t sure I deserved that much faith, but as someone who struggled to feed because I was so different, it was always front of my mind.
“Health and social services,” I said as I read what was next, giving Natalia a wink back. “Feedings. Ramping up feedings and how to—” I nodded when they all chuckled.
“I’m just that insightful,” Natalia purred.
“You know me well,” I praised. “We have the same goals. But yeah, big one. That will also tie into your calendars. More events, more everything so we can get it all handled safely, especially with so many rescues. Also counseling. Trauma counselors and more. And quality of life. Are they trapped in their situation pretending to be human?
“Could reinventing themselves early get them somewhere better and just not the next one we have to save? So help them from what they’ve suffered and get them the tools to see there is more to life like we’ve had.” I cleared my throat when we all got a bit emotional.
“Yeah, we’ve done that,” Ally whispered with a smile. “We can do more and help so many. We will, Jasmine.”
“We will,” several agreed.
We had to. It was worth all the fighting and pain if we did.
“New demons and education,” I continued. “Yes, location, if we can figure out how with angels or—if that fucking vamp did, we can do. We know what to look for better than anyone. We just need more people to help, and now that we have more people coming in, we can fucking employ them to find our lost and clueless so they never suffer like we did.”
Like I had.
I was glad when no one pushed on it and let me move on. “Power training. Too many are clueless and need to be worked with who aren’t even newbs. So many who were rescued have no idea about themselves. Also, education. About us. About councils. Other supes. I’ve still had some ask me about Mason’s fucking wand and it wasn’t a cock joke.”
Relief filled me when several sighed or groaned.
Yeah, we had to do better.
“But also Elijah’s idea of continuing education to help demons as a people. Others do it. The wolf council has scholarship programs and so do packs. We can too,” I muttered as I scrolled down my notes and list. “Bureaucratic. Licenses—behind the scenes for Germany but also beyond their IDs and papers.
“Who should have a business license or learn to fucking drive where they’re living. A few ancients want driver’s licenses and admit they have no idea how to drive fuckingcarsthey’ve been so in the dark. So like yeah, not giving them one to have to explain how that came about or whatever. But also whatever we should license as council.
“Tying into that, life transition. Eventually, I think we need like a six-month transfer period from one cover to the other. Whatever is needed for reinvention which can tie into education as well and with me in IDs and Elijah for legal. Counseling and quality of life. All of it tying in and giving people multiple avenues sometimes to get help or figure things out.”
“Go back to that six-months idea?” Ally cut in.
I sighed and scrubbed my hands over my face and gave her a tired look. “I haven’t worked it all out yet.” I winced when Elijah flicked me on the forehead. “I’m sorry. I forgot about the meeting and—”
“That’s not why he did it,” Natalia said gently. “Jasmine, you’re pulled in more directions than Arthur and Ally. Even Elijah is law, legal, and rules. No one—you’re the boss, but stop saying it’s all on you. Tell us where you’re at. Please.”
I nodded but looked back at Ally. “I want to establish some type of program to get demons better acclimated. Maybe offer it if they’re in good standing with our council. A six-month program to help disentangle them from one life to the next—financials, all of it—while they are the ‘parent’ to one of the safe houses.
“Get that decompression time instead of always soon. Always pretending to be what we weren’t born as. It’s a miracle we’re not all psychos with switching and having to—I mean, I know that’s a joke coming from me and all my covers, but I hear others and how hard it can be to switch. I feel it too, and—I have no idea my identity as the owner.”
