Leno

I crossed Elise's gaze, and she smiled at me while pushing a curl of her hair behind her ear. It reminded me of the first time I had seen her. The softness in her eyes combined with joyful energy and an aura of indescribable strength: she had made me feel safe instantly. And it continued to work every time I met her.

"Thank you all for coming," Elise said. "I wanted everyone here because I would like to talk to you about a project."

Everyone nodded, sitting on the edge of their seats, as focused as they could be. She continued: "We all have been through a lot. Some of us were lucky enough to meet people who guided them when they needed it, and some were alone with their pain and struggle for a long time. We now have the incredible gift of having each other's back. I know how precious it is. But I would like to offer some help beyond our circle.

I want to open a shelter for supernaturals and to create a support network. For young immortals who have to navigate their new life, for vampires who are trying to stop drinking blood, for new elders who need help, for young magicians who need guidance, or sorcerers who want to leave their previous life. I know it is maybe utopian of me. But I think we are living proof that it can work.

I stayed apart from the supernatural world for a long time because it seemed pointless to me to keep on trying to mingle. But I met all of you. And you changed my mind without me even noticing it."

She smiled and turned her head to look at every single one of us. "Now perhaps it is time to see everything in a new light. We are many and we are experienced. We are a family. We helped each other countless times. Maybe we can help others.

It was what the Order and the Council were supposed to be about at first. And it did not turn out this way." Some of us snorted, and she grinned. "Not at all, indeed. But we can be that, or at least we can try. Together. I do not want to lead anything. I just want to be there for anyone who may need us.

I have not decided anything yet, but I thought that maybe we could use my mansion here in Paris to start. If you have other ideas, of course, I am listening. But I just wanted to tell you about this project to know if some of you were interested in contributing, in one way or another, or if you know others who could. So what do you think?"

She waited for our reaction maybe half a second before everyone lifted their hand, smiling widely or shouting "I'm in" in one single chaotic chorus of voices. I think I may even have heard Sonia's husky tone between two puffs of her cigarette.

Elise laughed. "I love you all."

"We love you too, Elise," everyone said, in an almost coordinated effort, this time.

She laughed again. "You are the best." She took a deep breath. "So we are doing this. Amazing. Let's get to work!"