Page 74 of Claiming Demons
A little over five months after I’d had the idea, we opened.
The facility had over a hundred suites, some singles, some for families, each with kitchens and luxurious bathrooms. There was also a cafeteria, a gym, daycare, laundry, and even an indoor swimming pool. It was perfect.
I stood on the stoop at the main entrance, a crowd of media and other curious folks gathered around below me. Since this was a somber occasion, I wore a cream blouse under a powder blue suit jacket with matching long pencil skirt.
Grey, Ramsey, and Fen were here, but they’d stayed down in the crowd since this was my moment and they didn’t want to overshadow it by looming behind me.
Harmonia had graciously offered to stay at home with the triplets. Having a nanny with the aspect of harmony was a godsend.
Caia, Eva, and Reia were also here, all beaming, so proud of me, and I knew Raphael and Inanna would be around, somewhere, watching.
They’d moved out of Grey’s place and found a quiet cottage near Poughkeepsie, but we saw each other often enough, catching up for half a lifetime of lost time together. They still hadn’t come out with their relationship yet, even though Raphael had said he didn’t care if everyone knew, but still, they’d wanted just a bit more time together in secret, before it became a well-known thing.
I tapped the microphone before me and sent a screech of feedback through the speakers.
“Uh… sorry,” I said, then cleared my throat and began. “Hello everyone, thank you for coming. We’re here today to mark the grand opening of Ana’s House.”
I waved a hand toward the door behind me.
“Not long ago, I was in a horrible relationship, part of a pattern in my life. I managed to walk out with no worries, but that’s not the case for many women in this city. They worry about their children. They worry about money and how they’ll take care of themselves. They worry about a vindictive man coming after them. And it’s for them that I created Ana’s House. This state-of-the-art facility can house up to one hundred and forty-three women or families. All suites have the same amenities as a high-end hotel or condo complex, and everything here is provided for free, at no cost to the women who stay here. We can do that, thanks to many generous donations from philanthropic businesses. It’s my hope that this can be a safe place and a place of healing for anyone who needs it.” I looked directly ahead at the one camera set up before me. “So please, if you’re in need of help, call the number you see on your screen. A small group will be sent, discreetly, to help you escape whatever situation you might be in. Thank you. Ana’s House is now officially open!”
There were questions after that from the assembled reporters below, lots of questions, but I answered them all with ease. I’d been practicing.
Although, there was one that caught me off guard, “Is it true you are in apolyamorousrelationship?” He made it sound like a scandalous thing.
I smiled at the man below me, who was clearly hoping to put me on the spot. I knew his type: righteously “moral” and superior, always looking down their noses and hoping to bring others down.
“I’ve been very lucky to find, not one, but three men who love me. I won’t hide that fact. I’m truly blessed to have found such an abundance of love in my life.” I turned toward that main camera. “And let it be known that Ana’s House is open to any woman or those who identify as women who are seeking solace, no matter what type of relationship you were in or hope to be in. We’re a caring and accepting home for any who need a little help. Next question.”
I slapped that reporter with a wallop of peace to shut him up and moved on.
Finally, there was an official ribbon cutting with lots of pictures and that completed the formal opening ceremony. After that, I led the press through a tour, which ended with a small reception lunch, and then everyone left.
Later, that afternoon, I sat up in my office, looking at our funding projections, wondering how long it might take before word spread.
My phone buzzed with a text. I looked and saw Trent’s sister Lisa — our receptionist — asking me to come down to the main reception area.
I arrived to find three families already here, and the phones ringing off the hook. Lisa looked a little frazzled so I helped with the intake of the families while she answered the phones.
By the end of our first day, we had five women or families already living with us and we’d be sending our “extraction teams” to pick up a half dozen more overnight.
I was stunned and thrilled that we were helping so many so soon, even though I was saddened that so many needed such help.
That evening, I left things in the capable hands of my dual night managers: Krystal and Maera, two of the daemons I’d worked with at Elysium. They’d wanted to help and were used to working late.
I was no longer living at Grey’s Penthouse. The renovations were done on the brownstone, and… it was truly mine now. Uncle Don had seen how much I’d changed and transferred ownership to me. He’d moved out and was now living closer to the financial district where he worked.
It had been a long and exhausting day, so I let Ramsey carry me up the stairs to our room. We relieved Harmonia of babysitting duty, though she didn’t look that tired, even after a long day taking care of three demanding infants.
“You’ll need to find another daemon to look after them,” she said. “As much as I’d love to be a full-time nanny, I’m still running Elysium.”
“Anyone you’d suggest?” I asked. Harmonia’s aspect made her ideal for looking after three super-powered toddlers.
“I could see if Eirene is interested,” she said after a moment’s thought. “I hear she’s getting tired of trying to make peace in the Middle East. She might be up for something different.”
I still didn’t know enough about all the gods and daemons. “And she is?”
“A daemon of peace, and a kind-hearted, long-suffering, good-natured woman.”