The house had a strange energy the next morning. It wasn't the same casual chaos that usually followed the six roommates—no, something had changed. The tension from the night before still hung in the air like a thick fog, and Kaelan could feel it pressing down on him.
He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection. His piercing blue eyes met his own, but they seemed distant, like he wasn't fully present. His mind was still on what he overheard last night: Thorne, Zephyr, and Lucifer. Whatever deal they had, it wasn't good.
But it wasn't just the dark secrets in the house that weighed on him. Ethan had been on his mind too, more than usual. Ever since they'd had that late-night conversation, something had shifted between them. And it wasn't just in the small, subtle glances they exchanged at the breakfast table. There was an unspoken thing now, something that hovered between them, waiting for one of them to break the silence.
"You're gonna burn a hole in that mirror if you keep staring," Ethan's voice cut through Kaelan's thoughts, making him jump slightly.
Kaelan turned to see Ethan standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, his deep blue eyes watching him with that same intensity that had kept Kaelan up all night.
"Didn't hear you come in," Kaelan said, trying to play it cool.
Ethan shrugged, walking further into the room. "You've been acting weird since yesterday. Something on your mind?"
Kaelan hesitated. Part of him wanted to spill everything—the overheard conversation, the creeping suspicions, all of it. But then he looked into Ethan's eyes, and suddenly, it was something else that pushed its way to the front of his mind. Something much more personal.
"It's just… a lot going on," Kaelan finally said, his voice quieter than he intended.
Ethan took a step closer, and Kaelan felt his heart do that strange flip it had been doing more and more often lately. "You know you can talk to me, right?"
Kaelan swallowed, unsure how to answer. He could talk to Ethan—he knew that. But was he ready for the conversation they were avoiding? The one that was hovering between them like a ticking bomb?
Before he could say anything, the bathroom door slammed open, and Damien stormed in, his crimson eyes blazing with frustration.
"Lucifer's hiding something," he growled, completely ignoring the obvious tension in the room. "I don't trust Thorne and Zephyr. And I sure as hell don't trust whatever deal they've made with him."
Ethan sighed, turning away from Kaelan. "We know, Damien. But charging in there and demanding answers isn't going to help."
"Then what's your plan?" Damien snapped, clearly frustrated by the lack of action.
Kaelan stepped in, trying to cool the situation. "We'll figure it out. But let's not turn the house into a battlefield. Yet."
Damien scoffed but didn't push further. Instead, he stormed out, leaving Kaelan and Ethan alone again.
The moment was broken, though. The tension was still there, but the conversation had shifted.
"This thing with Lucifer," Ethan said, his voice low. "It's dangerous, Kaelan. We need to be careful."
Kaelan nodded, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on him again. "I know. But we'll deal with it. Together."
Ethan smiled, that small, soft smile that always made Kaelan feel like things might be okay after all.
---
Later That Evening
The night air was cool, and the house was quieter than usual. Kaelan found himself sitting on the porch, staring out into the darkness, his thoughts still tangled.
He had just started to relax when the door creaked open, and Seraphina stepped outside, her golden wings shimmering faintly in the moonlight.
"You've been brooding again," she said with a teasing smile, sitting down next to him.
Kaelan chuckled softly. "Seems to be my thing these days."
Seraphina tilted her head, her celestial blue eyes soft and knowing. "It's not just Lucifer that's bothering you, is it?"
Kaelan sighed, resting his elbows on his knees. "It's everything. The house, the secrets, Ethan…"
Seraphina didn't say anything, just let the silence fill the space between them. Sometimes, that's all Kaelan needed—someone to just sit with him and not push for answers.
After a few moments, Kaelan spoke again, his voice quieter. "Do you ever feel like… you're not sure what you're doing anymore? Like you're just stumbling through things and hoping for the best?"
Seraphina smiled softly. "All the time."
Kaelan chuckled again, though it was more out of relief than humor. "I think I'm falling for him," he admitted, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.
Seraphina didn't seem surprised. "And that scares you."
Kaelan nodded. "Yeah. It does."
"Why?"
Kaelan thought about it for a moment. "Because I don't know how to do this. I've spent so long being… strong, I guess. Keeping everyone at arm's length. But with Ethan… it's different."
Seraphina rested a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay to be scared. But you can't let that stop you from going after what you want."
Kaelan nodded, feeling a little lighter. "Yeah. Maybe you're right."
---
The Storm Breaks
Back inside the house, Lucifer was pacing in his room, his fiery red eyes narrowed in frustration. Thorne and Zephyr sat across from him, their expressions unreadable.
"You're pushing your luck," Lucifer growled, his voice low. "I told you, I'm done with that part of my life."
Zephyr leaned back, her smile icy. "You don't get to just walk away, Lucifer. Not from this."
Thorne stood, his eyes locking with Lucifer's. "You know what's coming. You can't avoid it forever."
Lucifer's jaw clenched, but he didn't say anything. He knew they were right. And he hated it.
---
Closing Scene
That night, as Kaelan lay in bed, his mind finally settled. He wasn't sure what was coming—whether it was with Ethan, or the growing danger surrounding Lucifer. But one thing was certain.
He wasn't running from any of it anymore.
In the dark, as he stared at the ceiling, he let out a breath and closed his eyes.
Tomorrow, he thought. Tomorrow, I'll tell Ethan.
And for the first time in a long time, Kaelan fell asleep with a sense of calm.