Chapter 9: Reality

Clarissa's P.O.V

The clock on my wall ticked by slowly as it closed in closer to 8 a.m. I knew that at any moment, Alyssa would come walking through my front door, and the questions would start to fly.

Once again, I was left with a sleepless night trying to grasp the reality of everything that happened. Antonio had been in my apartment and had kissed me.

The shock of that situation still reeling through my mind.

It was not the kiss that had thrown me completely off guard, but how I had felt about it. I craved more, and it did not matter how much I tried to control myself; my touches would not extinguish the fire. I was burning with a realization that my life may not be what I had thought.

Antonio was adamant that I was not human, which was an absurd thought.

Of course, I was human, wasn't I?

My door opened slowly, and in stepped a very well put together Alyssa.

A calm presence seemed to settle over her face as she made eye contact with me. I knew exactly what she wanted. Gesturing towards the coffee pot she smiled and nodded. It was funny how even in silence, I could read her posture and tell she was nervous about the conversation we would have.

"So... how was last night?" Alyssa whirled around, a decorated smirk on her face.

"If you're wondering if I slept with that lunatic, the answer is no." I was very rigid in my response, and she seemed to shrug it off, taking the barstool opposite of me.

"So, he told you what he was then." Alyssa casually said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

I could not stop the scoff that left my mouth. " We are all human, you weirdo. I take it you seem to know him, and Brantley, more than you let on before."

Alyssa smiled, setting down her cup. "I do."

"Explain." I replied with a frown, my brows narrowing.

"Of course." Alyssa said with hesitation, "but first, let me show you something."

Before another word could leave my lips, her hand swirled and engulfed in fire. My eyes widened in shock as I jumped back from my seat. There was no way that was possible. "Holy shit! How did you do that?"

Flicking her hand again, the flames disappeared, and a complex smile was left on her face. Alyssa seemed to be deep in thought before her eyes found mine again. Sadness seemed to overflow her as she stood, taking her coffee cup and making her way to my sofa.

"Come sit. I will explain everything. No matter what, I would never hurt you. You are like my sister Clarissa."

"Alyssa, how are you so calm?. Your hand was literally on fire."I asked as we slowly made our way towards the sofa.

"Yes, I know." She sighed, "I will explain everything, but I need you to pay attention, girl, because I will not keep repeating myself." Agreeing, I quickly closed my mouth and listened.

Chuckling, I nodded my head, "of course."

"The supernatural world is real, Clarissa. Those stories you read and write. It is all true... well, most of it. Humans have watered down truths over the generations, but the basics are still valid. Brantley, Antonio, and I; are all supernatural creatures. There are a lot of us out there. Many species are coexisting together." She replied softly, "You are not crazy, Clarissa."

"So, what are you? A fire demon or something?" I asked as Alyssa burst into laughter, shaking her head.

"No!" The question more than humorous. "That would be the conclusion you come to, huh?" Smiling, she stood shaking her body with pent-up energy.

"I hope you're ready." Alyssa calmly said as shehorts as she started to undress into her naked glory.

"What are you doing?!"

"I am going to show you, but these are my favorite shorts and I don't plan on destroying them." Alyssa shrugged like it was the most ordinary thing in the world.

It did not take but a moment, and in a blur, she had shifted from the woman I knew to a white fox.

The creature moved towards me with caution; its frame towered over any fox I had ever seen. But, instead of one tail, she adorned three.

"What in the absolute hell?" I said, dumbfounded and in shock.

Alyssa was a fox— a bloody white fox with multiple tails.

As fast as she had turned into a fox, she became the girl I once knew again.

"What the absolute fuck are you? How in the..." Alyssa cut me off giggling again as she dressed.

"First off, I am not just a fox. To be honest, I am not fond of that term. I am Kitsune. Even though I do not look Asian, I have been a human for many lifetimes. My mother was half- Japanese. She was also a Kitsune, just like her mother before her.

"So, why do you have three tails?" Laughter filled the room as Alyssa shook her head. I did not understand how she thought this all to be amusing.

"Everything I just told you, and you want to know why I have multiple tails?" She stared at me as if I were stupid, but all I could do was nod my head.

"Well, the older I get. The more tails sprout and the more powerful I become. I don't know, honestly. I never really got to learn everything because I was raised without my kind. Viloria tried to help me the best she could, but she was not a Kitsune."

"Why did Antonio say I wasn't human?" This question was the one that kept me up all night. The one that made me question everything about my life.

Was there truth to what he claimed?

Did my parents' dying cause me to miss out on everything I should have known in my life?

"That would be a correct statement, Clarissa. You are not entirely human, but I am not entirely sure what you are. I know your mother was human, but your father was not. Your father was a werewolf, but when you were born, you became something more." Alyssa's words flooded my mind.

"You have known about this the whole time?' I gasped. "You never thought to tell me the truth? I trusted you, Alyssa! How long? How long have you known?!"

Heavy irritation settled within me knowing that my friend had kept something so serious from me. How could she see me as a sister and keep the truth about her world, our world, from me?

How could she not want to tell me what was going on?

A twisted sense of betrayal swept through me knowing that my life had been a lie. Slowly but surely I was figuring this out everyday— and I hated it.

"It is a lot to explain, but something we should probably do with Antonio. You are supposed to be meeting him in just a little while, aren't you?" My eyes widened in surprise.

"Let me guess, he told you." My tone was flat, as if I should have been surprised to know she already knew.

Walking towards the door, I grabbed my car keys and looked back at her. "Well, bring your ass on." I groaned in irritation. "Let us see this supposed mate of mine. That way, you both can finish explaining to me all the shit I should have been told years ago."

Alyssa flinched at my words before following behind me.

I knew the drive was going to be silent for the most part.

The only thing that girl better say to me is where to turn, because I was beyond furious that I had been in the dark this whole time.