The sharp crack split the quiet afternoon like lightning.
Aiden froze in the middle of the hallway, heart leaping into his throat. It came from below — deep, echoing, like something heavy snapping apart. For one terrified second he thought the floorboards had given way, or the pipes had burst again.
Then he remembered the basement.
Without thinking, he bolted down the stairs two at a time, the wooden steps creaking under his weight. "Kael?" he called out, his voice echoing faintly off the cold stone walls.
The air felt strange down there — thick and humming, like a storm had passed through just moments before. Dust still hung in the air, glittering faintly in the dim light.
At the far end of the room, Kael stood near the base of the stairs. His back was turned, his long dark hair trailing down the gold embroidery of his robe. The look on his face was hard to read — calm, almost distant, but his golden eyes flickered with something he quickly hid.
And then Aiden saw it.
The painting.
It lay on the floor in ruins — the frame splintered, the glass shattered into a hundred shards. The once-pristine canvas was torn right down the middle, slashed clean through the figure's chest.
Aiden stopped dead, staring. His stomach dropped.
"Did—did you…?" he began, but his voice caught halfway out. Kaelan didn't answer. He didn't even look back.
"I'll clean it," Aiden muttered after a moment, his voice quieter now, trying not to sound angry even though confusion swirled through him.
Kael finally turned his head slightly, those golden eyes flicking toward him, unreadable. "Do as you wish," he said simply, before walking past him and climbing the stairs. His tone was smooth, almost careless, but there was a strange tension in the way he moved — like a man holding something inside.
Aiden let out a long breath once Kael was gone.
He crouched down, sweeping up the broken glass with his bare hands, careful not to cut himself again. As he gathered the torn pieces of canvas, he noticed faint scorch marks along the edges — like something had burned through, not broken.
"Right," he muttered, staring at the mess. "Not haunted. Just cursed. Totally better."
When he finally made his way upstairs, Kael was standing by the window, arms crossed, his golden eyes fixed on the trees swaying outside. He didn't turn around when Aiden entered.
"I cleaned it up," Aiden said quietly.
"I did not ask you to," Kael replied. His tone wasn't sharp — just tired, detached.
Aiden rubbed the back of his neck. "I know. But I couldn't just leave it there. You… you seemed upset."
That earned him a glance — brief, skeptical, but softer than before.
Kael sighed through his nose, shoulders straightening again. "I do not require pity from mortals," he said, though there was no venom in his voice this time.
"I didn't mean it like that," Aiden replied carefully. "Look, I get it. You don't want to be here. I don't even know how to explain what's happening either, but… until we figure something out, maybe we can try not to destroy any more artwork?"
Kael arched a brow. "You speak as though this were my choice."
Aiden met his gaze, unsure whether to laugh or not. "Well, if you want to stay somewhere else, I can help. But until then, we'll have to make this work. House rules, food, the whole… roommate situation."
"Roommate?" Kael repeated, the word rolling awkwardly off his tongue.
Aiden nodded. "Yeah. You stay here. I'll help you blend in until we figure out… you know, what comes next."
Kael tilted his head, studying him in silence for several seconds. Then, to Aiden's surprise, the corner of his mouth curved faintly — not a full smile, but close enough to one.
"You are… strange, human," he murmured. "Most would have fled screaming by now."
"Trust me," Aiden said, exhaling, "I considered it."
Kael's faint smirk lingered a moment longer before fading back into his usual composed expression. "Very well," he said finally, voice low and regal again. "Until I decide otherwise, I will remain here. But understand this — I am no pet, no guest, and certainly no… roommate."
Aiden gave a small, exhausted laugh. "Noted."
As Kael turned back to the window, sunlight spilled over his dark hair, making the golden threads in his robe glint faintly. For a moment, Aiden just watched him — this impossibly ancient being standing in his quiet little living room, so proud and so alone at the same time.
Maybe this arrangement was insane. Maybe he'd regret it.
But as Kael stood there in silence, looking out at a world that had forgotten him, Aiden couldn't bring himself to send him away.
"Guess we're stuck with each other," he murmured under his breath.
Kael didn't answer — but the faintest ghost of a smile tugged at his lips before he turned away.