JESSIE
I haven't left my house since the day I was told that I was killed and brought back to life by my best friend, and that my best friend has been lying and keeping secrets from me, and he's a supernatural cat creature who has turned me into a supernatural cat creature.
And the worst part is, I am both dead and alive, and according to Pilar, I am going to go insane, and I'm going to attack people, even the ones I love. So yes, it's been a good couple of days. Strange things have been happening to me.
The claws I have are still there, but the only difference is that now I can control them. I can bring them out anyhow I like, and I can put them back in anytime I want. I can also make my green eyes appear too. I only bring up those eyes to admire how beautiful they are.
Those eyes are used to see in the dark and to catch people's auras, to see if they have darkness surrounding them. I used my sight on my mom, and all I saw was golden, and it was so beautiful. I think I stood and watched her for a solid ten seconds because that's how beautiful her aura is.
I did a lot of research on these Nytheri creatures, but I couldn't really find anything. I only found a YouTube video of this guy who was talking about the supernatural creatures I encountered. Turns out werewolves aren't even called werewolves, they're called Veyraths and vampires aren't called vampires, but they're called Nocturnes, and there's nothing sexy about them like in the movies.
He has met Nytheris, and what he said about them was that they're mysterious, very secretive, and they protect people from evil, just like what Pilar said. They're not cursed like the Veyraths. But they can shapeshift. They're emerald green eyes can see through people's auras, and he mentioned all the other qualities they have.
I check the comments, and some people are actually buying this; they're eating this up, they believe him.
That was what I used to understand myself.
He didn't say anything about a Nytherkin, and it was a long time since a human got turned into a Nytheri, and I'm the first person in years.
Who knows? Maybe I'm an exception, maybe I won't attack people or hurt people for no reason.
I just don't understand why that monster attacked me. What the fuck did I ever do to him?
Today, I'm not going to be thinking about all this; today is the day I finally bury my dad.
I stand in front of my mirror. I'm in a black suit. And tie, staring at the man I have become, and that is not my father. I never wanted to be him, and I'm glad that I'm not him.
But I can't help but think. What if Sebby didn't bring me back to life? What would my mother have done? She would have been a huge wreck. I sit on the bed and I think.
I died, I actually died.
But I don't remember anything that happened when I died. I don't remember being in an afterlife or going to an afterlife. So I don't understand.
I died.
Vampires, werewolves and werecats are real. Monsters are real. Everything, all the New Orleans stories are real, well, not all of it, but there is some truth to the stories being told about this city.
I still can't believe I'm not human anymore.
My phone rings and I look to see it's Jeremy. I've been debating with myself on whether I should tell him what happened to me. There are no secrets between us, but this isn't something that I can just tell him over the phone. I have to tell him this in person.
I answer the video call.
"Hey, hon-whoa, have I ever told you you look hot in a suit?"
I roll my eyes, and I keep my smile. "Yes, Jer, so many times."
"Well, I'm going to tell you again. You look hot in a suit," he says.
"Yeah, thanks."
"Are you okay? You feel some kind of way."
I genuinely want to tell him, but I can't. I don't know what is stopping me from telling him, we promised each other no secrets. And this was after I caught him cheating on me. My keeping this from him makes me feel like a hypocrite.
But it's not like I'm not going to tell him at the end of the day. But I'm going to tell him when we're together.
He would have been here, but he's been busy with his acting.
I'm not worried that he'll cheat on me again because he calls me all the time. And how I knew he was cheating on me was when he barely talked to me and was always "busy" at first. I thought it was all just overthinking, but then I found out that, truly, he was cheating on me.
I was hurt, and I planned on not speaking to him again forever. But he begged and pleaded and said he made a mistake. He took full accountability, and I forgave him, and we've been stronger than ever. He was even the one who suggested we share each other's location.
Right now, he's at home, the ring light shining on him, and it's either he's about to start filming for an audition or he's done already.
Jeremy is that handsome, the auburn hair, the blue eyes, the biceps, because he works out. I don't work out, but I got biceps simply because I was turned into a Nytheri.
Oh God, I still cannot believe this is happening to me.
"I'm fine, I just need to get through this weekend and I'll be all yours in no time."
"You know you can stay longer if you want. Spend more time with your mom and your friends."
Jeremy White, always so thoughtful.
But honestly, I don't want to be here. I hadn't even spent a day in this city, and already, weird, traumatic things are happening to me. How am I going to tell Jeremy that I was killed by a monster on the first night I arrived?
"I'll consider it," I say to him.
"Okay, you can do anything you want, no pressure, okay?"
"Okay, I love you."
"I love you too, my dark chocolate." I giggle. And then end the call.
I sigh, then I leave the room and head downstairs.
"Jessie, are you ready? We should be at the church now?"
"Yes, Mom, I'm ready."
"Oh." My mom says, pausing to look at me. "You look so handsome, my love."
"Thanks, Mom, you look beautiful as always."
"Oh, thank you, son." She flips her hair. "Now come on, we have to go or else we're going to be late."
And I cannot have been late to my late father's funeral. So we rush out the door and we get into dad's pickup truck, which is kinda triggering for me because I remember the days when my dad would teach me how to drive.
We almost got into two accidents, but we caused one because of his inability to teach someone how to drive patiently.
I know how to drive because Sebby taught me how.
Sebastian has always been there for me. I've never been angrier with him than I was yesterday. I hate being angry, especially with him.
I should understand where he's coming from. He was probably told not to tell any humans about his identity because it's dangerous for them. I'm more scared for him because he's going to be in trouble. He's not even supposed to bring humans back to life.
Because…
I'd rather not think about it.
The church is packed, and we just finished talking to Pastor Reece. He and Dad were good friends. I wonder how, because Pastor Reece is gentle and my dad was… well, he was my dad.
I receive a group hug from my other two best friends, the girls who made me feel safe in high school. Sofia Rodriguez and Elsa Roman.
"Oh, Jessie, we've missed you so much," Sofia says. She places a hand on my cheek.
"Yeah, and we are so sorry for your loss," Elsa says.
"Thanks," I say to her.
I actually did miss these girls. At first, I thought they were only planning on using me as a gay best friend accessory, but they genuinely cared about me. When I wasn't hanging out with Sebby, I was hanging out with these girls.
They were the first to know that I had a huge crush on Sebby.
"How about Sebastian? Have you seen him?" Elsa asks, and just like clockwork, the devil appears.
Well, he's not the devil, he's just a rebellious angel. A very sexy, rebellious angel.
He's just walked in, and as soon as he does, he finds me and we're both staring at each other.
Like we always do, it's like our eyes are magnets to each other.
Sometimes I hate it.