4. Beyond Understanding

Chapter four

Beyond Understanding

D ressed in my regular clothes, I head downstairs, where I find Hugh has convened a house meeting. I quickly notice that Oliver is conspicuously absent.

“Alright, quiet down, everyone,” Hugh commands, silencing the chatter. With the room’s attention, he begins, “As some of you know, last night was a full moon, and Amelia, out of concern, ended up finding me in the basement.” A wave of murmurs and questions ripple through the room, directed at Seth.

“Relax, it was meant to happen,” Seth says nonchalantly, defusing the tension. Nolan, sitting apart, rolls his eyes at Seth’s casual demeanor.

“A heads-up would’ve been nice,” Nolan mutters, then addresses the room. “Amelia’s staying with us, and it’s only fair she knows the whole truth. Let’s reintroduce ourselves, along with the ‘what’. Then you can head to your lectures.”

The room fills with an air of anticipation as Nolan’s words settle among the fraternity members. One by one, they rise to reveal their true selves, adding layers of complexity to the already intriguing dynamic of the house. Seth, with a confident smirk, stands first. “I’m Seth, and I’m a psychic. But not the gimmicky kind you see in movies. I have genuine foresight – the who, what, and when of future events.”

“That’s... actually pretty cool,” I say, intrigued by the notion of someone who can peek into the future.

Next up is Hugh, who approaches with a friendly smile. “I’m Hugh. As you’ve probably guessed, I’m not your average guy. I’m a gargoyle. I can fly and am nearly indestructible.”

“That’s awesome!” I respond, my mind racing with images of Hugh soaring through the skies.

The triplets, a whirlwind of energy, introduce themselves in unison. “We’re Niles, Richard, and Hendrik – cat shifters. Don’t worry, we’re more playful than dangerous,” they say with a mischievous grin.

Valentine steps forward with a certain allure. “I’m Valentine, an incubus. But don’t worry, I’m not as bad as the legends make us out to be.”

I instinctively retract my hand, recalling our earlier encounter. “That explains the flirting then. Gross, dude.”

Kane, with a calm demeanor, reveals his secret. “I’m Kane, a merman. And yes, I do spend a lot of time in the water.”

Reyes, quiet and introspective, speaks softly. “I’m Reyes, a medium. I can communicate with spirits. It’s not always as spooky as it sounds.”

Finally, Hunter and Byron, who exude an air of mystery, simply nod in greeting. “We’re warlocks,” Hunter says, “Think of us as male witches with our own set of magical abilities.”

Byron adds, “It’s not all cauldrons and spells. We’re more about harnessing natural energies.” The room falls silent as I process this extraordinary information. Each of these individuals, with abilities and identities straight out of a fantasy novel, live under one roof. It’s a testament to the diversity and acceptance within these walls.

“What about you?” Valentine asks, breaking the silence.

“Me? I’m just human,” I reply, feeling oddly ordinary amidst such extraordinary company.

“Amelia,” Nolan interjects, “Val tried to entrance you, and you resisted. Humans can’t do that.”

“Maybe he just had an off day,” I suggest, not convinced myself. The group accepts my explanation with shrugs.

“Can I ask something? Do all kinds of mythological creatures exist?” I ask, curiosity piqued.

“Pretty much,” the triplets answer in unison.

“Even vampires?” I ask, a hint of fear in my voice.

“Yes, vampires too,” Nolan confirms, stepping closer.

“I’m really glad none of you are vampires. I have this irrational fear of them,” I confess, my heartbeat quickening at the thought.

Echo, the fae fairy, looks at me curiously. “Why’s that?”

“It’s a long story, and I don’t want to be late for my lecture,” I deflect, turning to leave. But then I stop, remembering something. “What about Oliver?”

“A hopeless case,” Seth says, startling me with his sudden appearance. “Don’t worry about him. It’s surprising you even know he exists.”

As I head towards the stairs, laughter from last night’s dinner resonates in my memory. Pointing at Kane and Valentine, I can’t help but laugh. “Oh my god, Flounder. I so get it now.”

The revelation of the house’s secrets makes my day at university feel surreal, like I’m walking through a dream. If I had friends to share this with, the conversation would be nothing short of incredible. But, as it stands, I carry this secret alone, a private trove of wonderment that both distracts and delights me in equal measure.

During my walk home, I stop by a nearby café displaying a ‘Help Wanted’ sign. On a whim, I decide to be honest about my unique living situation and availability. To my surprise and relief, they offer me a weekend and Thursday night shift, with the possibility of picking up more hours as I settle in. The café owner, sensing my enthusiasm, kindly hands me a box of muffins to take back to the house, explaining they’d go stale overnight otherwise.

Entering the fraternity house, the sounds of boisterous conversation and laughter greet me. The guys are all gathered around the dinner table, engaged in what seems like a heated debate. I can’t help but wear a wide grin as I approach with the box of muffins.

Taking a seat at the head of the table, opposite Nolan, I catch everyone’s attention. “What’s in the box?” Byron asks, curiosity piqued.

I slide the box across the table to him. “Take one, pass it on,” I say, still smiling.

Byron’s face lights up as he opens the box. “Score,” he says, picking a muffin and placing it in front of him before passing the box along. The intensity of their debate subsides as each of them takes a muffin. The atmosphere shifts from heated to a more relaxed, communal vibe.

As the box makes its way around the table and back to me, Nolan looks up, a question in his eyes. “I take it you found some part-time work?” he inquires.

Nodding, I can’t suppress my grin. “Yeah, I did,” I respond, my voice tinged with pride and excitement.

Taking the last muffin from the box, I stand up, feeling somewhat out of place at the table. Despite their hospitality, I’m not yet ready to fully immerse myself in their world, especially when it comes to sharing their food. With a quiet sense of satisfaction, I head upstairs, thinking about how leaving the sorority house, with all its superficiality and drama, was perhaps the best decision I’ve ever made. In the privacy of my room, I reflect on the day’s events. The house, with its assortment of extraordinary inhabitants, is nothing like I ever imagined or experienced before. Yet, in some strange way, it feels like I’ve stumbled upon something truly special – a place where the impossible is just another part of everyday life.

Sitting on my bed, I open my laptop to review tomorrow’s class schedule. But before I can get started, my phone rings, jolting me from my thoughts. Seeing my mom’s name on the screen, I realize with a pang of guilt that I haven’t updated her on my new living situation. The revelation of werewolves and mermen had completely taken over my mind.

“Hi, Mom!” I answer, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically.

Her voice comes through, playful and knowing. “Wow, you sound excited. Not trying to sound casual while hiding any boys under your bed, are you?”

I laugh nervously, caught off guard. “What? No, of course not.”

“I’m just teasing, honey. So, how’s the house? The school? Made any friends yet?” She’s genuinely curious, and I take a moment to gather my thoughts.

“The house I’m staying at is great,” I say truthfully. “Everyone’s really friendly here.” Another truth, albeit one that barely scratches the surface of my new housemates’ unique characteristics. “I did get a bit lost on my first day, but people have been helping me out.”

“That’s great to hear, honey. And how about boys? Any cute ones catch your eye?” The question makes my heart skip a beat as I recall the intriguing blend of brown and green in Oliver’s eyes.

“Oh, uh, I’m just focusing on my studies for now,” I stammer, my laughter sounding a bit forced.

Mom’s voice softens. “I understand, sweetheart. New places can take some getting used to. Make sure you get some good rest, okay?”

“Will do, Mom. I’m going to do some schoolwork and then head to bed,” I reply, feeling a twinge of sadness at not being able to share the whole truth with her.

“Alright, baby girl. Love you. Goodnight,” she says warmly.

“Love you too, Mom.” I hang up, feeling a mix of relief and regret. The last thing I want is to deceive my mom, but how could I possibly explain the reality of my new living situation? It’s a secret I have to keep, at least for now. As I close my phone, the weight of this new world I’ve entered presses on me, and I wonder how I’ll navigate this strange and hidden life I’ve stumbled into.