Chasing the Clouds.

Harry lay in bed, it was quite a few hours into the night and he couldn’t sleep. This was the second time, he had awoken. His head hurt considerably less, but now it was his stomach that hurt. And it felt as if as dead weight had been left upon him. Liam was across the room, sitting on his bed and working on an assignment, typing furiously away on his laptop, the white glow illuminating his face in the dark of the room.

“Li?”

Liam looked up immediately, before asking “You’re awake, Harry?”

Harry nodded.

“Can’t sleep.” He croaked, his voice hoarse.

“You don’t look so good.”

“I feel awful.“

“You look pale.” Liam said worriedly, he folded his screen before he placed his laptop down on the bed. He stood up and strode over to the bed to get a better look at Harry. Harry wasn’t very sun-kissed for someone who spent a considerable amount of time outside, but now he looked a pale as a ghost.

“Are you cold?” He asked.

Harry shook his head. Liam placed the back of his hand on Harry’s forehead, before frowning.

“You’re not warm.” Liam mumbled.

“But, I feel so hot.” Harry groaned.

“I’ll get you some medicine.”

Harry nodded, too weak to even argue about the harmful effects of modern medicine on the body. But as Liam turned to his side of the room Harry felt his stomach churn and lurch.

“Harry?”

The curly-haired young man in question jumped out of bed, before rushing to the dorm bathroom. He threw the door open and staggered in, before he leaned against the sink and coughed and coughed until he found himself in a coughing fit.

“You alright?” Liam followed him into the bathroom.

Harry tried to answer but he gagged and retched. Liam quickly guided him to the toilet and next Harry knew he was heaving and he threw up into it. Liam held his long hair out of his face and soothingly patted his back.

“Harry?”

Harry had a few tears streaming down his face. “Ugh, hurts, Li…”He croaked, before gagging, retching again and then repeating the previous cycle. And then it continued once more, until Harry was sure he had heaved whatever was left of the contents that had occupied his stomach.

“Better?”

All Harry could do was weakly nod. His body was trembling and shaking, Liam helped him gingerly to his feet, next waited while Harry brushed his teeth and then when he was done, guided the tall young man to his bed.

“Thanks, Liam.” Harry weakly said as Liam pulled the covers over him.

“No problem.”

“I’m almost 18 years old, in Uni and you still tuck me in.”

Liam laughed.

Harry and him had been friends for years, Liam had always looked out for him- sort of like the older brother he never had and the younger brother Liam had always wanted. Harry’s older sister Gemma had always teased the two when they were younger, saying that Liam as a bossy little child had acted like he was Harry’s dad.

“I won’t tell anyone, Harry.”

Harry nodded.

“Except Danielle.”

Harry tossed his pillow at Liam who caught and threw it back.

“Go to sleep.” Liam said.

“Yes, Dad.” Harry teased, before turning on his side. Liam snorted. ”Go to sleep, son.” He responded.

--
Niall glanced over to Zayn, memorizing his beautiful profile, his dark eyes, furrowed eyebrows and tousled hair, his long eyelashes, the curve of his nose, chin and perfectly chiseled cheekbones and not to forget his lips that were parted in the slightest.

The flat was quiet and Niall stood in the doorway of the kitchen while Zayn looked through the fridge. Niall felt comfortable to be with Zayn though, even if the silence was slightly awkward. He was wearing a white Bring Me the Horizon tank top and some black sweatpants that he had borrowed from Zayn, who wore a black Nirvana t-shirt with some gray sweatpants.

“You hungry?”

Niall nodded, glancing at the demon as he moved food around the fridge.

Zayn paused. “Are you hungry or…?” He began, trailing off.

“I haven’t drunk any blood in a few months, Zayn… “

“The hunger’s coming back, isn’t it?”

Niall nodded again. Zayn closed the fridge and his dark eyes met Niall’s baby blue eyes. “Do you want to do what we used to?” He asked.

“Huh?” Niall asked, confused.

“Feed off of each other, a bit.”

Niall’s blue eyes dilated and licked his lips. His mouth felt dry at the prospect of drinking from Zayn. The blonde man didn’t trust his voice, afraid of it cracking- so he was quiet.

“Well?”

“Yes.” Niall whispered.

Everything happened so quickly, Zayn was guiding him somewhere. Next thing Niall knew Zayn and him were in the flat’s bathroom, in the shower. Doors closed and slammed, shower curtain slid open, showerhead and the bathroom fan turned on. And Niall was pinning Zayn to the shower’s tiled wall. The warm water ran and soaked them and their clothes, but it was better than trying to clean the bloodstains out of everything later.

Zayn pulled Niall’s face to his throat and Niall’s human teeth retracted and his fangs slid out of his gums. Zayn’s hands ran along Niall’s torso as the young demon’s fangs sunk into the juncture of where Zayn’s neck and shoulder met. Zayn grunted in pain and Niall moaned as the first trickles of blood flowed onto his tongue and at Zayn’s hands moving to stroke his sides. Blood filled Niall’s mouth, it gushed in, warm and sweet. It tasted so good- similar to cinnamon and the tang of a sweet fruit with a pinch of the bitterness of what cocoa used to taste like.

It was how he had always tasted.

Zayn.

“Shh. “ He whispered, hushing Niall’s little moans and whimpers as he greedily sucked and drank from Zayn. “Slow down there, love.” His voice murmured, lightly tugging at Niall’s now messy lilac locks. The color dye was dripping slightly and staining Zayn’s hands.

Niall didn’t want to stop- not now. No, he wanted to feel like this forever. To be here, drinking from his once lover, from his mate. They had to have been a bonded pair. They said when a demon caught the scent of his mate nothing else would smell so sweet and no other’s blood could taste so good.

At any rate, under no circumstance would he ever hurt Zayn. So he slowly withdrew, his fangs sliding back in, his human teeth replacing them, wiping the blood dripping down his chin with the back of his hand.

“Feel better?” Zayn asked, his wound’s bleeding was slowing until moments later all together halting. Niall nodded, before he slowly leaned in again, tenderly kissing the bite mark on Zayn’s neck with his warm lips. Zayn shuddered and Niall thought for a moment Zayn would scold him, telling him how they couldn’t be together again.

Astonishingly, he didn’t. In fact, Zayn ran his right hand through Niall’s hair soothingly, stopping and gripping the back of his neck. Like he used to do all the time, mostly when Niall had felt sad.

But, he used to do it always back when Niall was human.

--

Louis was hunting again, but this time not for blood. He needed information and he needed it quickly. He thought perhaps the passive approach would work and he would’ve done it. But, not in this era, not when he was so alone.

Before, Zayn would be at his side.

The both of them making an intimidating team, Louis was of short stature- but he had always been a vicious fighter. There was no honor to be had when fighting a demon, so why would he show any? At any rate, Louis usually he used his voice to intimidate information out of anyone. Not because it was frightening, in fact it was soft like clouds and sweet as honey.

Perhaps, that was what unsettled them.

His voice was powerful after all; being a cambion he could usually use his voice to get what he wanted. Be it his bidding, a powerful enemy killed, to get someone to be his lover or information on demons. Most couldn’t resist his charms and that was the nature of his demonic paternal parentage.

But it wasn’t the only thing.

It was because they knew who he was. Most did not forget his days as a pit fighter when he was young. He had been a vicious little thing. He was ravenous and solely his hunger and hatred guided him. If he killed his opponent in a particularly entertaining way, he got fed.

They also never forgot his final fight that had earned him his freedom. But, that was a tale for another time.

At any rate, if his voice failed him- then he had other skills; his fangs, his claws, and the magic spells he could do at his strength’s peak would work without fail. If all else failed, his ferocity was it. In comparison with Zayn who was quiet, but had this aloof cold stare that turned even some of strongest of demons’ bowels to water. Zayn had always been at Louis’ side. They had met in the pits. Their cruel masters wanted them to fight as they thought it was a dream match, because the two could not have been anymore different.

However, Zayn and Louis found friendship in one another and formed an alliance. They became a dream team of sorts- Louis was quick yet better suited at magic and considerably more fierce than strong. He was reckless, constantly as he threw personal caution to the wind and fought with everything he had, even deteriorating his body in the process. Zayn wasn’t nearly as fierce or reckless as Louis but his fighting had more skill and method to it with of course better results, and he was great judging an opponents’ skill, protecting himself and copying their techniques.

Louis remembered a few of the moves that Zayn had taught him. So, for the first part of plan he’d crawl into the seediest demon gathering spots in town. If not, there were a few by the Uni that was seated about 15 or so miles from the disgusting budget hotel he had been sleeping at. The owner was a lesser demon that recognized Louis within a heartbeat. Louis had been cold and then night freezing, so he ground out his a request for a room before threatening that if he did not get it, he’d take it by force.

However, he hadn’t had to because the owner’s face turned the shade of curdled milk and he offered Louis a room key with trembling hands.

“I get my way sometimes.” Louis said aloud to himself with a smug grin as he turned into an alleyway. His hands skimmed around the brick walls before finding a small opening. He flicked his wrist, allowing one of his claws to poke out before he lightly ran it over a purple glowing sigil that appeared. It flashed and then a doorway of sorts appeared on the wall and another sigil appeared with the question “Open?”.

Louis cleared his throat and said a raspy “recludo” or open in Latin and watched as the dark red mahogany door opened. Yet, Louis saw nothing but darkness in it. He blinked a few times to allow his eyes to adjust as they weren’t as strong as other demons’ thanks to his human mother’s DNA in him.

Once his eyes adjusted he saw it was a hallway with candles at the end, at another door. He stepped into it, his footsteps loud in the deafeningly silent hall. He stopped in front of the door, pressing his hand on it to see if there was a hidden sigil. But, there wasn’t so here merely turned the doorknob and walked on.

The scene was a low lit room, a club almost but it was moderately quiet for a demon gathering excluding the sound of people- or rather, demons talking to one another some in Latin, some English, the Old Language of demons and he even heard the language of the angels being spoken. However, it was in a dark guttural tone suggesting whatever they were currently talking about was anything but angelic.

There was rock music was loud yet not blaring. ‘Ah, wonderful. They’re playing Green Day’s American Idiot.’ Louis mused in his thoughts. He glanced about, searching for a familiar scent or face in the crowd.

A unfamilar woman with shoulder length blonde hair walked up to him, her pale blue eyes scanning him with a look of distaste. “Are you Lewis?” She asked.

Louis’ nose crinkled.

“No. It’s not Lewis. But, I’m Louis.” He corrected her, curling his lip.

She looked as though she wanted to roll her eyes.

“Come with me.“ She said simply.

Louis looked her up and down, eyebrows raised and his lips slightly turned down in a frown. “Why?” He asked.

“My master asked me to get you.”

“I don’t think so, drudge.”

She froze, startled. However, she should have known that would’ve been able to smell her status as a blood slave. Plus, whoever was her master had their scent reeking about her. Perhaps they recently fed off of her or indulged in some odd sort master/drudge play-

“Shall I have to use force?” She asked interrupting his thoughts.

“No.” Louis said carefully, his eyes settling on hers. She should know better than to talk to a freed demon like him. Even if he was a cambion, meaning he was partially human, even though he was born in this body and didn’t have to possess one or become a demon through the infection like Niall or Zayn.

Both Niall and Zayn were actually a type of sub group of demons, the race that had inspired the human myth of vampire; they were made with a bite and an exchange of the predator and prey’s blood. But, Louis wasn’t sure what his other half was. He thought perhaps something similar to Zayn and Niall.
However, his mother only was with his father for seven days and seven nights, he left as soon as he impregnated her, his purpose fulfilled. He moved on probably to do the same to another woman. There was no telling how many cambions Louis could be related to through him.

Though, he needed to get back to the matter at hand. No point in thinking of the past and the questions he had that’d never be answered, no matter how much he desired.

“Who is your master?” Louis asked.

She shook her head. “I won’t tell you.” She replied.

“Then who are you?” Louis asked.

Her eyes shifted and then she leaned on one of her legs, adding more of her body weight to right one than the left. She debated whether or not to give out her name, worrying about the consequences of doing so.

“My name is Perrie.” She said, confidently. Or rather tried to sound confident. But, Louis heard the little tremor in her voice. You’ve got to get better at this game, sweetheart. I’ve met sprites more terrifying than you. You would’ve been eaten alive in the pits on the arrival day, both figuratively and literally. He thought to himself.

“Well, Perrie. I’m Louis Tomlinson.”

She gasped, eyes widening.

“The… Louis Tomlinson the cambion… the demon that nearly destroyed the entire pit when he won his last fight? Who killed thousands of lesser demons, angels and humans?” She asked, voice trembling a bit.

Louis smirked. “The very same, babe.” He replied.

She looked at him with a sense of awe.

“Now… take me to your leader, drudge.”

-
“D’you want to feed off of me?” Niall asked quietly, he and Zayn still in the shower, in their embrace as Zayn was slightly weakened by feeding the younger demon.

Zayn shook his head.

Niall bit his lip, before frowning and moving to look him in the eyes. “Zayn… when was the last time you fed?” He asked.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Zayn-“

“I said don’t worry about it.” Zayn snapped.

Normally Niall would’ve been upset. 60 years ago, he might’ve dropped it, cried or apologize to Zayn. Maybe, even all three. But, it was different now. He wasn’t going to take this. Niall wouldn’t back down.

“Oh, yeah? You’re going to kill yourself if you don’t at least feed.” Niall replied, brusquely.

“Niall.” Zayn said simply in a tone that clearly meant 'drop it.'

“What’s this whole not feeding thing?”

“Shut up.”

“No really, tell me, Zayn.”

“It’s not any of your business.”

“Yes it is.”

“It’s not.”

“Zayn.”

“Drop, it, Niall.”

“No!”

“Niall-“

“Zayn. Don’t kill yourself for your ideals.”

“Excuse me?”

“What are you trying to do? Be good? There’s no such thing as a good demon.” Niall quipped, arching an eyebrow.

“I said it wasn’t any of your business!”

“Or really? After all these years, you finally feel guilty?” Niall wasn’t going to stop, he couldn’t. He needed to talk and words kept pouring out of his mind to his mouth.

Zayn’s jaw was clenched, his eyes narrowed. “Get out.” He said quietly.

“Huh?”

“Get out of my flat. Now.”

Niall blinked, surprised. He frowned. “Zayn-“

Zayn put a hand on Niall’s chest and gave him a shove. Niall nearly slipped and grabbed onto Zayn’s wet sleeve to steady himself.

“I told you to get away from me.” He said coldly.

Niall glared. “Why? Just talk to me!” He shouted.

Zayn’s eyes were filled with rage and hatred, and they flashed black. It was a warning of his anger to come, a show of his true nature. He growled at Niall, the sound low in his throat. He was serious. This was another warning.

“GO.” He said, fangs sliding out of his gums.

Niall nodded. He could’ve fought Zayn, because he wasn’t weak- but he wouldn’t hurt him. Not now, not ever. Not in a million years, if he lived that long. Because he couldn’t forget the way Zayn and he used to be.

How Zayn would hold him and sing softly until dawn’s light came out and they slept all day. The way they hunted during the night. Kissing Zayn. And he could never forget Zayn making love to him slowly, gently and thoroughly, Zayn would kiss Niall’s lips until they were bruised ruby red; before he’d mark the younger blonde demon as his own- Niall’s neck, shoulders, back, hips and thighs; Niall’s slim body littered with love bites.

Zayn would show him what love meant and what it really was. As he worshipped Niall's body with his mouth, hands and all- until Niall forgot his own name and his pale thighs were trembling and until Zayn’s hips were jerking and he was gasping for breath. Their hands connected palm to palm, fingers intertwined just like their bodies were.

Niall loved him.

So, the young demon turned away and scrabbled out the shower and then bathroom door, grabbing his jacket and shoving his phone into its pocket before he ran out the flat. He didn’t care that his clothes were soaking wet.

Niall couldn’t feel anything. Was he in shock? He wasn’t crying. He wasn’t happy. He felt drained and empty, in spite of his belly filled being warm and with filled with Zayn’s blood.

Zayn’s a liar.

It was present in every piece of him. His face was beautiful more beautiful than any demon had the right to be. His voice so lovely and when he sung it was like harmonized angels.

But, Zayn was no angel. He had made it present the moment he tore into Niall’s neck, all those centuries ago in Ireland. He made it present that he wasn’t Niall’s friend, that he only wanted the young Irishman for sex and blood. He had used him then, but he had gotten tired of his toy.

Why had I been so naïve, so foolish?

Niall couldn’t feel anything.

It was so clear to see, clear as the daylight his second life had taught him to fear.

He was numb.

--
“Harry? Do you feel better?” Liam asked.

“A bit.” The curly-haired young man replied. It was nine in the morning now, so Harry sat up slowly. Instantly, he felt a little queasy.

“I think you should stay here today.” Liam said, matter-of-factly.

“Yeah.” Harry agreed, lying back down.

Liam frowned. “I’ll go see what you missed in your classes, you should email your professors.” He said.

“Can you come back later after your classes? To give me cuddles?” Harry asked innocently, as Liam threw the blanket back over him and felt his forehead for a temperature.

“Hmm? Sure, Harry.”

--

It had been last night before they left.

When Zayn’s dark eyes flickered over to Harry, anger struck Niall to the core of his heart. Harry had his fingers pressed to his temples. When he turned his head to glance behind him and the vein in his neck showed, Zayn licked his lips.

Zayn was hungry.

--

Niall knocked on the door of Liam’s dorm.

The nasty thought that had crawled into his mind a few days ago was so fresh in his mind. The seeds of it flowering, blossoming and its thorny vines were entangling his mind. He couldn’t stop think about it. Zayn had always liked brunettes, but claimed once he never had feelings for Liam. So, why did Zayn hang around him so much?

Perhaps, Zayn had his eye on Liam’s roommate, with his big innocent green eyes that contained this intelligent sharp gaze to them, pretty pink lips, pale smooth skin, aquiline nose, bright cheery smile, the slow drawl in his voice and the flowers in his wild brown mane of curls.

Why not? Harry seemed so naïve, so innocent and trusting, just as Niall had been. He was too trusting; Niall had said he knew Liam and Harry let him in without a second thought. Niall could’ve been a murderer for all he knew.

Niall was.

How many victims had he had? Even excluding the ones Zayn had gotten or helped to get- it was in the high hundreds, he knew.

Harry was in danger. Zayn would hurt him. It was inevitable. How could Liam be so blind as to see it?

“Hello? Oh, hi- Niall!” Harry said cheerily, after opening the door.

Niall contemplated slamming him into a wall, tearing his throat open and drinking him dry. It wasn’t as if Zayn wouldn’t do the same to him- especially when he had already done it to Niall back when he was human.

“Hey. Is Liam here?” Niall asked. If Liam were here, it’d ruin everything, every single thing. He couldn’t let Zayn leave him- not for Harry. He wouldn’t let Zayn have Harry. He should drain the boy dry. It was revenge, for the lost human years Niall would’ve had and revenge his stolen away innocence. Harry was too young, too innocent, too stupid to realize that Zayn wasn’t his friend.

This was a mercy if anything.

“Uh, no. I wasn’t feeling too well so I stayed here. Liam’s in class right now.”

Perfect.

“Can I come in?”

“Sure.”

Niall smiled and came in. Everything was going perfect. Harry turned around for a moment. This was too easy. Harry was too trusting. The human world would eat him alive, never mind the supernatural one. Liam would be angry at first, but he’d understand. Niall wasn’t cruel or mad.

He was saving Harry.

The boy would be a little angel in heaven where no one would hurt him.

Not now, or ever.

Zayn wouldn’t poison him and turn him into a twisted creature until his humanity was only a wish of dandelion seeds floating away on the wind.

“I made you this.”

“H-Huh?” Niall stammered, ripped out of his musing.

Harry held out a flower crown with daisies and pink and white roses. “I made it for you. I thought it’d be nice. You looked so sad yesterday when you left. So, I picked happy colors.” He said.

Niall looked Harry for a moment. Harry had this sweet air about him, like hadn’t ever hurt anyone ever in his life. He looked like a little boy. Then Niall saw the pale blue flowers he was wearing today and the few in the crown Harry had made him.

He had seen those flowers before.

In another life, when he was just Niall James Horan, a simple farm boy with a poor family from early 20th century Ireland. He lived in a small little towns-village in what was now county Westmeath, Mullingar.

“Niall!” Uncle Niall!”

Niall turned around. “Theo?” he said as the little boy ran up to him and hugged him tightly.

“Flowers! Flowers for Niall!” Theo said and Niall kneeled down in the middle of the field that was a part of his brother Greg’s farmland. Theo kissed his cheek, before putting the flowers in his hands. Niall smiled and put one or two in Theo’s hair.

“There, baby. Now you have flowers in your hair.”

“Will Uncle Niall puts some in his hair too?” Theo asked, little blonde eyebrows furrowing and his lips pouting.

“Of course!” And he did, because he'd do anything for Theo.

“How do I look, Theo?”

“You look lovely!”

“Yes?”

“And happy!”

“D’you like it?” Harry asked.

Niall held the flower crown in trembling hands.

“Yeah. It’s lovely, it’s- it’s great. Thank you, Harry.” He said as he set it on his head.

Harry smiled brightly. “No problem. You look quite lovely and happy too, so that’s thanks enough.” He said.

Niall froze.

In that moment, seeing Harry’s gleeful expression, the way he smiled and his eyes shone- he couldn’t hurt him. There was this innocence in him and he saw that in Harry just like he'd seen it Theo.

“I miss you, Uncle Niall.”

‘Before I’m a demon, I’m myself.’ Niall was going to cling to his humanity. But, not in that false way in chich Zayn was starving himself, until he became so ravenous he’d drink anyone dry. He was going to protect and be there for Harry, because he hadn’t been able to watch Theo grow up.

Niall had to hold back tears.

“Hey… You can play guitar, right? Erm… Maybe you could show me how to play?” Harry asked hesitantly as to break the awkward silence.

“Of course!” Niall replied almost a little too quickly.

“Good. I really suck.” Harry said, frowning a little.

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

Harry shrugged.

“C’mon. Just show me what you know.” Niall said encouragingly.

--

Louis walked into the back of the club, lead by Perrie and entered a dark room, lit solely by candles and contained the heavy scent of incense. It had odd objects- skulls, ancient books, bones and herbs. “Ah, thank you, Perrie.” A woman’s voice said from behind a curtain.

Louis had heard that voice before.

A slim woman dressed in modern stylish clothes stepped through the curtain, her wavy dark brown hair gleaming in the orange glow of the room.

“Louis.” She said.

“Eleanor.”

“Long time no see. Almost a century or so.”

"Doesn’t matter. Why are you keeping a drudge? You’re a witch not a demon.” Louis stated, arching an eyebrow.

“She’s a fledgling demon, but I disguised her as a drudge. I needed to talk to you and she owed me a favor. My magic’s grand, though. Even, got some low-life demon’s scent on her. Brilliant, eh?” She asked, smirking and she winked at Perrie, who smiled in response.

“What do you want, Eleanor?”

“Why, the same thing as you.”

“I’m avenging my lover."

“Romantic. Who was the lovely lad?”

”You know, him. I haven’t got time to play games.”

“What if I said you shouldn’t be chasing a lie?”

“What if I said to you need to sod off?”

“I sense his soul. On earth, I mean.”

“What d’you mean?”

She rolled her eyes. “Ever so dense, little Lou.” She teased, before sighing.

“El-“

Eleanor raised a hand to cut him off, before she whispered two words that changed everything- the whole game.

“He’s alive.”

Notes

(Warning: Do NOT steal my fic. I worked hard on coming up with it and writing it. If my story gets stolen, I will stop writing it.)

- Hiya!
Sorry it took so long to write. Had a bit of writer's block.
This is the flower Harry had in his crown, that reminded Niall of his human days and what not.


Anyways, did you guys enjoy this chapter? :D
Also, we'll be seeing more Eleanor and Perrie in the future. Harry and Louis are going to meet soon. ^u^
I also want to apologize for any grammatical or spelling errors, usually a few slip by me and i can't catch them all.
Please comment, rate if you read. It'll make me update faster.
Hoped you liked it.
Thanks for reading.
Lots of love, Jazzy. xxx