Chapter 5 The Heat Beneath the Surface

Elias flopped face-first onto his bed with a groan that could've shattered glass.

"She's still ignoring me," he muttered into his pillow. "It's like I don't even exist anymore."

Across the room, Kain lay upside down on his own bed, his legs propped up against the wall, tossing a rubber ball against the ceiling.

"That's wild, considering how obsessed you are," Kain said casually, catching the ball with one hand.

"I'm not obsessed."

"You are absolutely obsessed. You wake up mumbling her name. Yesterday, you almost brushed your teeth with shaving cream."

Elias turned to glare at him, his cheeks pink. "Okay, maybe I'm a little interested."

Kain snorted. "Bro, you've got 'crush' written all over your face like bad eyeliner. Just talk to her."

Elias sat up, frustrated. "I tried. I swear, she's hiding something. It's not just normal 'don't talk to me' energy. It's like she's... scared. Or guarding a secret."

Kain raised an eyebrow and swung his legs off the wall. "So figure it out."

"Like how?"

Kain grinned. "Use that stubborn dog part of your soul. You've got instincts. Trust them."

"You make it sound like I'm a tracker."

"You kind of are," Kain teased, then stood up and plopped down right beside Elias, stretching like a cat. "Come here, lover boy."

Elias groaned. "Kain, don't"

Too late. Kain wrapped an arm around his little brother and dragged him down with him, burying his face into Elias's neck in an exaggerated cuddle.

"You're such a baby," Elias muttered, but he didn't move away. Despite everything, the warmth felt good.

Kain sighed dramatically. "You're lucky I'm adorable and wise. And clearly the only reason you haven't combusted into a hormonal fireball."

Elias laughed for the first time in days. "You're an idiot."

"But I'm your idiot."

They lay there for a minute, tangled up in shared silence and brotherly affection, until Kain said quietly, "Just be yourself with her. But don't be afraid to show the fire underneath. Girls like fire."

Elias tilted his head. "Since when did you become a poet?"

"Since always, baby boy."

Meanwhile, across town, Nyxa stood with her arms crossed in the kitchen of their temporary apartment, glaring at Dareon, who was practically glowing.

"I think she likes me," he said with a smug grin.

Nyxa narrowed her eyes. "She?"

"My new partner," he said, spinning a spoon in his fingers. "Cute, nerdy, likes poetry. She practically turned into a tomato when I smiled at her."

Nyxa leaned against the counter. "She's human."

"So?" Dareon teased. "So are half the people in this world."

Nyxa sniffed. "Better tell that human kid to stay away from you."

Dareon gasped with mock offense. "Is that jealousy I hear in your demonic voice?"

Nyxa rolled her eyes. "Please. I just don't want some weak girl hanging around my best friend like he's a prize."

He laughed, resting his elbows on the counter. "So I am a prize?"

"Don't flatter yourself, idiot."

Dareon smirked, then leaned a little closer. "Finally remembered me, huh? Took you long enough. Was starting to think your new human crush erased my existence."

Nyxa's face went scarlet. "I don't have a crush on Elias."

"Mmmhmm. Sure."

She huffed, grabbing an apple and biting into it aggressively.

"Just admit it," Dareon said, poking her side. "You like him."

"I don't even know what I like anymore," she muttered.

The next morning, the gym echoed with sneakers squeaking on the polished floors and voices bouncing off the high ceilings. The students were split into groups for dodgeball, sprints, and unfortunately free games.

Mira hobbled toward the teacher with a limp, clutching her ankle.

"She pushed me!" she pointed at Nyxa. "I was just walking past, and she shoved me! I think I twisted my foot!"

Nyxa's eyes widened. "I didn't touch you."

"You bumped me with your bag," Mira snapped.

Nyxa started toward her. "That's not pushing."

Dareon stepped in between them quickly. "She didn't mean to. Calm down."

Mira looked like she wanted to cry. Elias appeared out of nowhere, his brows furrowed.

"Mira, it's okay," he said gently, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Let's go to the clinic."

Nyxa watched them walk off, her fists clenched at her sides.

"You good?" Dareon asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm great," she said through her teeth. "Why wouldn't I be great? Watching my not-crush carry that whiny little"

"Green looks good on you," Dareon said, laughing.

She punched him lightly on the shoulder.

When Elias returned from the clinic, Dareon stepped onto the court and tossed him a basketball.

"You and me, human," Dareon said, twirling the ball.

Elias blinked. "What?"

"Basketball. Let's go."

Elias hesitated, but something about Dareon's smirk ticked him off. He stepped forward, fire quietly building beneath his calm.

Dareon dribbled once, passed the ball behind his back, then charged at Elias.

It was supposed to be a playful game but from the first contact, everything felt different.

Elias moved fast. Too fast. His feet glided over the court like air bent around him. His hands met the ball before his mind fully registered the pass. He leapt. The world slowed.

And Dareon noticed.

His smile faltered for just a second. His eyes narrowed.

Elias dunked with more force than he meant to, the rim rattling loudly.

The gym fell silent.

Nyxa stared from the side. Her breath caught. That... wasn't normal.

Dareon jogged up to Elias, chest heaving. "Okay. What the hell was that?"

Elias looked down at his hands, sweat coating his brow. "I I don't know."

His heart was pounding, but not from the game. Something was buzzing inside him, under his skin, like a second heartbeat trying to burst free.

"I gotta go," he said quickly.

Nyxa's eyes followed him as he rushed across the gym, disappearing toward the school hallway.

She bit her lip.

Dareon walked back to her slowly, still watching the door.

"That wasn't just adrenaline," he said softly.

"I know."

"Your human boy might not be so human after all."

Nyxa swallowed hard. "We need to find out who he is. Before he finds out what we are."

Elias slammed into the nearest restroom, gripping the sink with both hands. He stared at himself in the mirror.

His pupils were... not right.

His breath fogged the glass.

"I'm not normal," he whispered.

Something was waking up. And whatever it was, it had been waiting a long time.