Chapter 14 #2
We ordered and they even sat for a bit to enjoy their coffee and pastries, chitchatting a bit about how good it was or that it was nice to have an outside meeting.
No more than twenty minutes really, but not once was there a human who bitched that a supe touched their food or a vampire was behind the bar.
No one accused anyone of trying to get blood or… It was like any other coffee shop.
We got more to go since we were spoiling them and supes were always hungry but then moved on to what was next. I activated the portal and went through first, ignoring when the demons flinched as they realized where we were.
“Just hear me out,” I begged when the other shifters started to get clued in.
“This is a dog park for our people,” the wolf growled even as he stepped away from me to show he wasn’t being aggressive towards me.
“Yes and no,” I sighed. “It was designed by wolves. It’s managed by them and shifters, but with government funds.
” That instantly chilled the annoyance and aggression from the shifters there.
“Yes, it’s a park, but—just look. We’re in the middle of a busy city and it’s a safe place for them to shift and run, play, and get their energy out safely. ”
“And for humans to gawk at like the zoo,” one grumbled, focused on a particular bench where a few humans were sitting and watching several wolves play.
Elijah waved me off and stepped up, not just because it was wolves involved, but because they would be more receptive to hearing this from him as an ancient. And a man.
It was best to just be honest about that.
“You’ve people-watched,” he countered. “I’ve sat at the park and watched children play and let the innocence fill my soul.
I—there is a park near my residence and sometimes I take lunch when I know the high school teams will have their games.
Watch the games that were not in existence when I was born and sports that were not like that for us as children.
“Simply enjoy and think of another life where I could be one of them.” He gestured to the humans. “They think the same. Their minds wander and they enjoy the fun. It’s understandable where your mind goes given how much you and yours have suffered and for so long. It is.”
“We know that well even if it’s not the same,” Arthur muttered.
“And it has not gotten better with comic books and ‘Hulk smash’ nonsense to throw at us. We all suffer. We do not make light of that.” He nodded towards the wolves playing.
“But this is not humans buying peanuts to feed the elephants in an enclosure. See it without your pain.”
“They look so free,” Ricco whispered after a moment, wincing as if realizing he said it out loud. Then he slowly looked at me. “Are you saying that is what it’s like for shifters born in Germany now? This is all they’ve known? This freedom and ease?”
“No, nothing is that simple, and I have no idea if they are that young,” I admitted, pulling out my tablet.
I loaded up what I had prepared. “But according to the reports, there have been two instances here in the past year. One was teenage vandalism. Spray paint.” I nodded when a few snorted. That was everywhere.
“And one was a man harassing a woman,” Arthur said without even having to look. He nodded when I blinked at him. “I remember. It wasn’t even about her being a shifter. A vile man is a vile man. There was a shifter hate incident the year before. It does happen. We have issues now and again.”
“But one in two years at one location is…” someone whispered, staring at the wolves playing.
“And from a place that had the most hate of all supes at one point,” I said gently.
“Never forget that Germany had a darkness that most could never rival and more recently than most would like to admit.” I nodded towards the park.
“We did this. We did this for all of us. Not demons. Not shifters—all people. This peace. This acceptance. This…”
“Harmony,” the only female leader whispered, giving me an impressed look. “This is true harmony. Nothing is perfect, but I felt that harmony in the coffee shop. One was nervous and I would bet they were a new resident or visitor.”
I nodded. “That’s what we find, but our customs agents warn humans at length before they are allowed into Germany.”
“And you are offering us this?” that first guy who had taken the bracelet asked.
“No,” I said firmly, everyone flinching.
“I’m not offering you anything or trying to sell you us or our council.
I’m giving you the truth. I’m letting you see with your own eyes what you haven’t been able to.
Enough with the bullshit and lies. This is what we built and fought for. Not as rich whores or evil as demons.”
He studied me carefully but then frowned. “Your power unsettles me. You read in a way I don’t like.”
“There is a reason she is on the council so young,” Elijah said as he moved to push me behind him. “You have extraordinary pups too. It’s no concern of yours.”
He noted Elijah’s change but also how Arthur and Rita immediately went to block me as well. “I’m no threat to her. I appreciate her candor. I was simply warning you in case she gets something from me that could scare her. My wolf does not like her power.”
“Bain sensed it too,” I told them. “It might be a wolf thing, which seems really shitty given they’re the shifter species I have the most problems with.
” I peeked out around Elijah. “It’s the magic to hide my power.
I piss people off being powerful young, and most think that an immediate challenge. It’s time-consuming and annoying.”
He blinked at me a full minute before bursting out laughing, several others amused with what I said as well.
Good, amused was good.
We showed them a few more places, including the habitat various species of cat shifters used, admitting that one had been vandalized a few years ago.
We weren’t even sure it was humans, but somehow a few of the trees inside had been cut down.
We honestly suspected vampires not from Germany being assholes or with an axe to grind with the local cats.
Luckily, the ancient vampires of the group weren’t offended and even agreed it could be possible. It sounded like the way a vampire would get revenge, so public like that.
But we let them see there were safe spaces like that for shifters and vampires—all kinds of supes, along with humans, and tons of places they all comingled.
How well it worked if everyone played nicely together and just behaved.
If they focused on life being better than tomorrow instead of their past or the bad.
Yeah, that was loaded, but it wasn’t meant to be pointed, just a hope of… Fine, it was a hint.
“There is still more to this,” that wolf pushed. “There is an agenda here. We all sense it. Do not lie to us.”
I sighed, frustrated with my lack of communication skills or diplomatic abilities. I chilled a bit when Rita, Elijah, and Arthur chuckled.
“We’re not bullying her,” Rita clarified, reading the surprise of the others. “We know her well, and politics isn’t her thing. But I don’t really know the goal here either, Jasmine. So we can’t help you this time.”
Arthur snorted. “It’s also a lesson in teaching you to stop flying solo and work as a team.”
Yeah, that was definitely more of what was going on.
I stuck my tongue out at them and focused on the wolf.
“The agenda is you guys stop treating lust demons like trash and whores. Come see the clubs and experience what Ricco and the other leaders of Rome did. Spread the word. Get the real information so we don’t have problems later. ”
I was relieved when the female leader stepped up. She was so fucking powerful that I honestly couldn’t even tell what she was. She wore her power and more like a fucking cloak and shield all in one and it was… Unreal.
Her lips twitched. “You are truly a unique one. Most are unsettled when meeting me, as he is with your power, or jealous. Desire to do the same.”
I blinked at her, realizing I’d been rude trying to read her.
Then what she’d said hit me and I frowned.
“Yes, I would like to learn how to hide my power better and do what you can. That’s awesome.
But if I have the time to be jealous, waste that energy, then I should use it to do better—better myself and push harder.
You made yourself impressive. It means I can too. ”
Something flashed in her eyes and she looked past me at the other demons.
“She will make it to ancient. This one is a gem among so many sheep. You chose well in which young one to listen to.” She dipped her head to me.
“Let me aid you in what you are trying to reach as your goal because I would like to learn more and get to the next step of your education.”
I tried to swallow a flinch, but she chuckled, busting me.
And the demons sighed.
“You are laying out long-term goals,” she said for others.
“Clarifying mistakes of knowledge like we have learned ISLE was rotted in ways none of us knew. Or the lies that some had a few willing demons at their sides, and it’s even reached my ears that you pulled twenty abused demons out of small locations. Some before they became demons.”
“Yes,” I confirmed, glad when that last bit disgusted all of them.
She smirked at me. “And you are letting us know that demons are no longer fractured and ripe for picking off. That you are organized—this organized and established that you can now come for yours even in areas that our councils do not risk.”
“Yes.” I held her gaze and let her see the determination in mine even as others around us had a slew of reactions.
“But you did not set this up to start war,” she continued.
“No.”
“She is too hard for me to read,” someone growled.
“She speaks the honest truth and has only told one lie,” the woman confirmed, studying me closely. “It was inconsequential and polite. She wants peace but will make war for her people.”