Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Everyone deserves death. Niall was going to die of old age. That was his plan. Louis was going to go down as a victim of the worst plague that spread throughout Europe. He was cold, alone, and terrified. Death is always a certainty, a punchline we could all see coming - but not for Louis. He never thought he’d get a second chance. For a vampire, death isn’t the end, but the beginning. 

Then there are the ones like Harry -- the ones who should have died. Shattered and bloody, he was able to walk away from a disaster. But at what cost? They’re scarred in every way possible, while transforming into monsters now, too -- an abomination. What you would see in nightmares. The Big. Bad. Wolf.

Unnatural and supernatural, they’re overlooked and forgotten by the human world who thinks they're merely fictitious.

So what have they got to look forward to now? Three supernatural beings all with a common goal must work together, right?

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Louis squeezes through the tight crowds in the nightclub holding an alcoholic beverage in his hand. The heartbeats of those who surrounded him reverberated in his ears, drowning out the blaring music. He could hear the rush of their adrenaline, especially those drugged up on whatever drugs they had taken to intensify their experience. The scent of the pulsating blood circulating through their veins traveled up his nostrils, forcing his mind to travel elsewhere to avoid the morbid thoughts from entering his thought process. 

He knew it was never a good idea to be surrounded by so many humans, considering he was in the early stages of being on the wagon. However, for him, as much as he desperately tried, it never usually lasted very long, and once you start craving and killing again, it’s never easy to stop. With his drunken state, tonight may be the night and he'll have to start all over again. 

He continued to sift through the tight areas. Louis’s feet don’t stop until his eyes rest upon a particular person who attracted him. The raven-haired young, olive-skinned man leaned against the wall, a drink in his hand. His demeanor struck Louis, as he seemed unhappy. 

Louis proceeded to approach him, a stinging sensation surging through his veins, goosebumps rising all over his skin. The slightest thought or sight of blood caused a twinge of ache in his canines, and an unexplainable sensation would surge through him, causing the lust and hunger to intensify. Though he made a promise, and he was determined to keep it, the terrible thoughts began to invade his mind, making it harder for him to suppress the monster. 

The young man seemed a bit drunk as Louis approached him. His mind wasn’t registering what was happening around him. The strobe lights bounced off the walls, dancing around the room. His eyes rested upon Louis as the light hit him. He had come to the club with a group of friends, but he had lost them during his time in the crowded and boisterous space. 

Louis was cunning, and he knew exactly how to manipulate the human mind. Having centuries of experience he has learned a lot, understanding what they want to covertly slip in and achieve what he wants. He whispers several words in his ear, suggesting some ideas he would be fond of. 

The young man nods and his lips quirk upwards into a smile, agreeing to follow him.

For more privacy, Louis leads him into a custodial closet nearby, then closes and locks the door behind him. The young lad retreats towards the wall, resting his back against it as Louis quickly approaches him. Louis presses his lips against him, their lips moving in sync. 

Louis eventually dips his head down to his neckline, kissing all over the boy’s soft, delicate skin, causing further arousal. 

Louis feels the boy’s hands working on the buttons and zipper of his trousers, eventually pulling them down. But he doesn’t stop as he feels fingers trace around the waistband of his boxers, only causing Louis to quicken his pace. He lifted his head back up to meet the boy’s soft lips again. The dangerous hunger started to awaken inside him, growing more powerful every second that passed by, which made it less and less possible to restrain.

As much as it annoyed him to constantly confess it when asked, he was never fond of labeling himself when it came to sexual orientation. He was quite ambiguous. However, having sex with women wasn't his favorite, as he had a preference for men instead.

The lust had begun to intensify and escalate, now starting to control him. His heartbeat thrummed in Louis’ ears, and the scent of his blood was too vivid for him to ignore any longer. It hadn’t even gotten too sexual before the bloodlust began to overpower him, but he was at a point of no return. 

Subconsciously, Louis broke his lips away and began to dip his head down towards his neckline. He began to lose focus of his surroundings as the intensity of his bloodlust started to worsen at every passing moment. As much as he attempted to continue repressing it, it was too late.

Unable to attain self-control any longer, the sharpened canines slide out of their sheaths, and his eyes turn a midnight black. Tightening his grip around the lad with his hands, Louis carelessly rips through the skin, his teeth latching on to his jugular.

The young man’s eyes went wide in shock, the pain was unbearable. He screams and tries to kick and push him away, but his efforts are unsuccessful as Louis overpowered him. He started to become weaker the longer his blood was drained from him.

Unable to snap himself out of the compulsion, Louis continues - the euphoric sensation flowing through him that satisfied his unyielding hunger. The young man’s body eventually fell too weak, unable to sustain his life much longer. His cries were minimized, and soon no sound emitted from him.

____

Walking up to the door of his home, Louis stops and takes a glimpse down at his clothes that were soiled from the mess he created tonight. He managed to hide it on the way back as he had his jacket zipped up most of the time, but he absentmindedly unzipped it once he was on an empty street with nobody around to scrutinize him.

“Shit,” he murmured, noticing the range of the stains on his shirt. He had done as much as he could to get rid of the blood on his face and hands, but getting it out of clothes was going to be a different story. 

He had a mere hope to be able to slither inside without being seen, that Harry had gone to bed and Niall wasn’t lurking downstairs. He dreaded the idea of being caught, and could only imagine their reactions when they see his appearance and realize what he had done. 

He fishes for his keys out of the pocket of his jacket, proceeding towards the door. Anxiousness increases inside him, Louis unlocks the door, pushing it open. His feet languidly carried him inside. 

“Well, it’s about time.” 

The voice which belonged to Niall startled him, jumping out of his own skin. Louis slowly and hesitantly spins around as soon as he closes the door, being rendered speechless. He could only begin to prepare himself for what is about to occur. He was more than aware they still didn’t trust him, and he just gave them another reason.

Niall’s eyes lay upon Louis’s disheveled appearance. The red stains near the collar of his white shirt were easily recognizable as blood. He crosses his arms over his chest and scoffs, shaking his head in disgust. 

He turns to Harry who sat on the sofa, scrutinizing Louis’s presence with his stark malachite eyes filled with scorn. Harry stood up and stepped towards Louis until they were less than five feet apart, a rage boiling inside him.

“I manage my condition - bloody hell, I hide in a decrepit, abandoned warehouse so I don’t hurt anybody,” Harry exclaims, slightly raising his voice as he became more infuriated, “But you? You don’t even fucking try.” His eyes are stone cold as his animosity for the shorter lad grows. 

Louis scoffs, then heaving a deep sigh and his eyes drop to the floor. But he broke his promise to them and they had valid reasons to be pissed. Before he could start to explain, Harry put his hand up, stopping him.

“Don’t even bother. I don’t want to hear it.” Sickened, he takes a step backward, shaking his head, “What’s the point of trying to be normal while you are attacking innocent people and killing them?” Harry finishes his lecture as he emphasized his point by throwing his arms up in the air.  His heartbeat pounded in his chest and sweat trickled down his forehead as he was fired up. 

“You have a right to be angry,” Louis pleads, despair in his eyes, “I fucked up, and it was a mistake.” He quickly realizes he should have put more thought into the choice of words before he spoke them.

“A mistake?” Niall repeats as his eyes were stormy cobalt and his eyebrows frowned. across his forehead. He took a heavy step toward him with his arms crossed over his chest still, “You’ve been killing again.” He was just as furious as Harry.

“Listen,” Louis spoke, having been trying to say his piece, “It’s not as easy as you think it is. I want to stop, I really do.” He met their gazes with doleful eyes, full sincerity in his voice, regretting his actions. He focuses his attention on Harry. “How do you think I’ve survived all these years? This is my life every day and I don’t get a break from it like you do.” His voice almost broke as he felt tears sting his eyes, threatening to spill over onto his cheeks. He hated what he was, and neither Harry nor Niall would ever understand how much he struggles with it. 

Harry’s rigid facial expression didn’t change, but he could see Louis meant his words, causing him to have at least some sympathy. However, he also didn’t want to accept his excuse. 

“Then what’s the point of us even trying?” Harry fiercely retorted, tired of Louis’ excuses. He was almost becoming hysterical, but he was trying to control his emotions before he said anything he’d regret.

He glances at Niall for support who agrees with him. Harry observed as Louis’s face fell back into despair, his eyes glassy with tears and his cheeks pink. But Louis had nothing to respond with, knowing Harry was right. 

“If you really want to blend in and stop, you’ll get a job,” Harry sighs in between sentences, “You need a distraction,” he pauses for a moment, thinking, “Plus you need to get a job anyway. I can’t pay the rent all on my own.” 

“I’ll consider it.” Louis shrugs apathetically. He wouldn’t put much thought into Harry’s offer right now, considering he preferred to have less human interaction if possible. His train of thought travels elsewhere, and he figures it’s best to end the conversation and take a shower. He felt grimy as a result of his soiled clothes. 

“I think we’re done here.” Disgusted, Niall ushers Louis to exit the room. 

Without a word, he obeys, starting up the staircase. The animosity the two felt for him had been strong lately, but now he could feel it radiate from them more than ever. 

“I’m going to bed,” Harry tiredly announced with annoyance in his tone. He starts up the staircase to finally get ready for bed. He didn’t know how he managed to stay up so late, but his concern over Louis is what drove him to. Harry had reasons why he still didn’t trust him.

Louis hears Harry’s footsteps approach, causing him to proceed up the staircase at a quickened pace. Now he was trying to avoid Harry. Although Harry was an all-around favorable and humble lad and was barely uncivil to anyone, he made it obvious when he wasn’t too fond of a person. As soon as Louis told them one night Harry changed his demeanor around him and he picked up on it immediately. Louis didn’t expect Harry to react that negatively, especially to the point Harry acted like he was the worst person he ever met. 

Louis shuts the door behind him to his messy bedroom. He sauntered over to his drawers to grab a new pair of clothes. Though he shouldn’t be victimizing himself, Louis felt numb. He couldn’t explain it, but it was a mixture of different contributions. He was quite isolated in this house, as he made little interaction with Harry ever since he found out what he is, and Niall also started keeping his distance. But he considered it's his own actions that are driving them away because, at the beginning of their relationship, it wasn't like this.

He turns around, starting for the bathroom to take a shower. Louis freezes in his doorway as Niall appears, crossing the hallway. They both make eye contact, the seconds passing by intensely. Niall doesn’t say anything, but turns around and starts for the staircase. Louis proceeds into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He tears his bloodied shirt off him, tossing it to the floor. He didn’t know if there was a point in trying to clean it, but rather just toss it in the trash bin instead. 

The torrid water rained down on him, steam permeating around him as he stood motionless. Louis’s gut wrenches as he reflects on the memories at the club, but more importantly, the lives he had taken. But there was another part of him that caused his mind to drift elsewhere because it definitely won’t be the last time. He has ruthlessly killed people over the centuries, and once he came to his senses he hated himself for it and was determined to stop once and for all - however, there have been hindrances in this effort; internal and external factors both playing a huge role. However, the only reason why he had put this much thought into it now was a result of Niall and Harry pressuring him, trying to humanize him so they all could fit in and try to be human. But he needed someone to talk to that would understand his condition, specifically one of his mates he has known for a long time.

____

Wandering down the staircase, Louis turns the corner around the banister into the living room. The morning sunlight poured into the room through the windows through the curtains, casting down onto the dark hardwood floor. The sound of the television buzzing with the news caught his attention. He noticed Harry and Niall were sitting on the sofa, their eyes glued to the screen. They don’t acknowledge him, but what grabbed his attention were the words about a nightclub last night. 

“Four bodies, two young men and two young women were found outside a nightclub in London last night. They were all found to be hidden in the same vicinity, but what’s puzzling is that their throats appear to be torn open.” 

“I miss when news didn’t spread as fast,” Louis mutters thoughtlessly, not thinking twice before he uttered those words. 

Harry’s head snapped in his direction, giving him a scornful look and scoffing, “Are you kidding me?” He stands up, crossing his arms over his chest as he starts to grow more furious with Louis. Harry was disgusted by his selfishness. 

Niall scowls as he turns toward Louis. “Four people are dead and you only care about news spreading quickly?” He stared at him incredulously, unable to believe that was his first reaction, “You’re unbelievable.” 

“It sounded insensitive, I know,” Louis says with a tiny voice, starting to become exasperated once they both reacted. He avoided eye contact as his gaze fell to the floor in shame, though he could feel both of their heavy gazes blazing into him. 

“Well, the police will be searching,” Niall spoke, looking directly at Louis. He feared them showing up at their doorstep.

Louis shakes his head. “No, they won’t, we can’t get arrested. There are vampires everywhere in law enforcement. They’ve existed for thousands of years and they always have had a way of doing things when shit like this happens.” He explained it with full confidence, hoping it would make Harry and Niall feel better. But it didn’t, receiving the opposite reaction.

Niall scoffed and rolled his eyes. He wasn’t the least bit surprised at all. But it bothered him because he knew it wasn’t right they get away with everything. 

Harry also responds by rolling his eyes, becoming more irked with Louis, and the whole mess that he just created. He wished there was a way to hold them accountable. 

“Because God forbid the world found out about vampires,” Harry rebukes with sarcasm, shaking his head, but he didn’t think before he spoke because he realized the chaos it would cause. 

“And werewolves,” Louis adds because it affects Harry just as much. If the world found out about vampires they’d soon know about werewolves, and it was no laughing matter. 

Louis started to become irritated by Harry’s animosity and his brassy behavior towards him. Since he’s always had a hard time biting his tongue, he was afraid he’d say something that would piss Harry off more. 

“I’m going to head out for the day,” he announces, remembering he has to meet up with his friend. He also couldn’t stand being in Niall and Harry’s presence any longer, even if that meant foregoing his cup of tea. Louis started to turn back around before either of them could acknowledge him.

“Where to?” Niall brazenly interrogates Louis as he cranes his neck in Louis’ direction, his eyes watching his every move. He was more skeptical now and struggled to trust him.

“Meeting up with an old mate of mine,” he flatly responds as he starts for the door. He preferred to escape the house again for the day. The intense and awkward atmosphere definitely started to have an effect on him, and if he stayed in these walls any longer he’s confident he will go mad. 

____

“It’s good to see you, mate,” Leo blithely says as he pulls Louis into a quick hug. They sit down at the bar in the pub.

“It’s been too long,” Louis mentions, recalling the last time they’ve seen each other. He indicates the bartender to serve them the usual drinks they order when they come to this specific pub. 

“What have you been up to lately?” Leo asks, starting the conversation first, “Have you found a place?” The last time they talked Louis had been still searching which was six months ago. 

Louis nods, hesitant to answer the question at first. “Yeah. But I’m stuck with a werewolf and a ghost.” He spoke the words with distaste, a bitterness on his tongue. But it was a sacrifice he was willing to make in order to have a stable place to stay since he’s been trying to avoid the vampire world from being sucked into it again.

Leo gaped at him incredulously, “You don’t let that dog boss you around, right?”  

“No, of course not,” Louis shakes his head. He chuckles in response to the question. The bartender walks over and places the drinks down. Louis slides several quid over and the bartender takes it.

“The least I’d expect from an Old One is to let a dog walk all over you,” Leo quips, snickering. From the inception of their friendship, Leo had always had a lot of respect for Louis because of his status and age. Louis also wasn’t like the others because he was more down to earth, and that’s another part of what Leo admired about him.

“I need your help.” Louis instantly changes the topic of conversation, remembering exactly why he’s here in the first place. He takes a swig of the drink. 

“Of course, what is it?” Leo’s eyebrows frown across his forehead, never used to seeing Louis appear so desperate.

“I want to stop killing.” Louis’s tone of voice was so sincere it was laced with emotion. He watched as Leo’s facial expression changed drastically into shock.

Leo continues to gape at him, unable to believe the words that Louis had spoken. They were words he’d never considered to hear from him, but Leo had noticed that Louis had changed the past few decades. He became less brutal, which was a total contrast from when they first met.

“This doesn’t have to do with-”

“No, no, no,” Louis cuts him off before he could finish the question. He was lying, however, he was and he wasn’t at the same time. Niall and Harry did have an influence.

“Coming from you of all people. That’s rich,” Leo comments, taking a long swig of his beer. He still was in disbelief, convinced he didn’t hear him right. 

“I know,” Louis pauses for a few short seconds, his eyes attached to the pint in his hands as he was unable to look Leo in the eyes, “Last night was an eye-opener for me.” He was lying again, but he didn’t know who he could trust and who was listening around him. Louis had known Leo for many, many years, but he still kept his guard up and wasn’t a hundred percent honest with him because he’s had his fair share of being stabbed in the back from being too honest in the past. Louis experienced his eye-opener a long time ago, but Leo doesn’t know this.

“That was you?” Leo’s eyes grow wide in shock again. But he really wasn’t surprised, knowing Louis for so long. He didn’t expect anything less. 

Louis sheepishly nods as he takes another long sip, trying to hide behind it for a moment as the regret and guilt washed over him. He eventually sets the glass back down on the bar, still refusing eye contact with Leo. 

“That was negligent,” Leo adds as Louis finally lifts his eyes back up to meet his, “You’re never that reckless.” He heaves a sigh, but he understands the story would be covered up, like countless other times. Though Leo always worried about him because he was known to be reckless sometimes.

“I know it was.” Louis frowns and his eyes cast down to the bar again, disappointed in himself, “I may visit the coroner at the hospital. It’s my fault and I should be responsible for taking a part in trying to cover this up before the story escalates.” 

“Do what you feel is right,” Leo suggests, shrugging, “But it’s understandable, I’d be just as apprehensive.” 

“I’m not that worried,” Louis objects, with a dismissive wave. “I can be quite convincing.” A smug grin lifts itself across his face as he regards Leo proudly. As much as Louis hated to because it wasn’t who he wanted to be, often it was necessary.

An uneasy expression crossed Leo’s face. He understood exactly what Louis’ implying from having previous experience. 

____

Niall strolls across the living room towards Harry, whose laptop was placed on his lap. Harry insisted on finding more information about vampires. There were questions he had and hoped to find answers to. He didn’t know what he’d find since they’re good at covering their tracks. 

“Have you found anything?” Niall asked, bending down and peering over his shoulder at the screen. 

Harry shrugs, “Not much worthwhile. I was right, vampires do try to stay lowkey.” He wasn’t surprised, considering that Louis had mentioned the murders they commit are swiftly covered up and knowing their images can’t be captured on camera.  

Harry mindlessly types the words into the search bar, clueless about the possible results as he began the search. There could be many unknown possibilities on the web. The search query loads, and as he scrolls, there’s a link to a page about World War I. It was the only link that seemed reliable, so Harry clicked on it. He reads the first paragraph, reading how men were mysteriously resurrected from weapons that should have killed them. 

Harry stared at the screen as he finished the paragraph where it concluded that it was an anomaly and the investigation was dropped. He didn’t know what to think as he sat there motionless. It caused him to shudder, goosebumps rising all over his skin. He motioned for Niall to read the last sentence. Harry craned his neck to see Niall’s reaction and their eyes met, both of them having the same thoughts. 

____

Louis trekked down the hallway of the hospital towards the morgue. He slithered through the doors without being seen and continued to snake down the hallway hoping to continue to be unseen. He couldn’t risk being stopped by the personnel, being in a restricted, employee-only area. 

He comes to a stop at the door, resting his hand on the doorknob and twisting it. To his surprise, the door opened with ease. He steps into the room, his eyes spotting a thin, bearded old man sitting at a desk, diligently reviewing files. 

He was half-bald with greying hair, glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose halfway. He lifts his eyes upward from his desk, hearing the door open. He turns to see Louis enter, closing the door behind him.

“Can I help you?” he asks plainly and sharply since he had been disturbed in trying to work on the forms he was filling out. 

“Yes. I have a simple favor to ask of you.” Louis muses as he continued to approach the man, standing right before him while he remained seated behind his desk. 

The man doesn’t say anything, but sets his pen down, giving Louis his full attention as he waits patiently. Louis places his hands down on the desk, trying to level himself to the man who still remained seated.

“The four victims from the nightclub last night, I’m pretty sure you know how to change the cause of death.” Louis locked his eyes onto his brown ones, and he could tell he was intimidating him a bit. 

It took the man almost half a minute to realize the context of the demand and why he was being asked it. His breath is stolen from his chest, his eyes going wide as a realization struck him. His heart started to pound in his chest and sweat trickled down the side of his forehead.

“Y-you’re one of them,” he stutters, abruptly standing up. He avoided eye contact, sensing his eyes piercing into him. 

Fear began to settle in, and he could only step away from him as a response. His heart began to hammer against his chest, his blood running cold. But he was aware that there was only one answer to the demand.

 “Yes, yes, of course.” He eagerly agrees, a bit frantic due to Louis' request and him being in his presence. He turns around and steps in the direction of the file cabinet to his right. He hastily opens a drawer from the file cabinet, searching through it and grabbing out three file folders. 

The coroner turns back around to his desk, but he hesitates to pick up the pen, his eyes staying attached to the form in his hand. He always resented dishonesty and having vampires constantly come to him demanding that he lie about the findings to cover their tracks so the world doesn’t find out made him hate his job. 

“No,” the man boldly retorted, lifting his eyes up from the form and glowering at Louis, “I can’t keep lying anymore. You’re all murderers and the world deserves to know the truth.” The man couldn’t believe he actually found the courage to stand up to him, and he felt exhilarated. 

Before the man could take another breath, his body forcefully hit the wall, a hand grabbing the collar of his shirt, pressing against his throat which choked him. He flinches as a searing pain travels throughout his head. He hears a tiny sound as his glasses crash to the floor, the lenses breaking. 

“Listen,” Louis was just a few inches away from his face, eyes blazing into him with indignation. “You really think it’s that simple? If the world finds out there will be chaos. Everything will get exposed and you’ll be linked to all of the murders that were covered up.” 

He kept a firm grip on the collar of the man’s shirt as he began to squirm, his face turning pink from the loss of oxygen. As much as he wanted to speak, he couldn't as his voice turned into strained croaks.

“If you want to keep your job you’ll do as I say," Louis emphatically commanded as the man stopped squirming as it was only making his condition worse for him.

Terrified, the man manages to nod. His vision began to blur as the grip around his throat was tight, the loss of oxygen affecting him. Several seconds later he’s let go, and he starts coughing strenuously, gasping for air. Before he could regain his clear eyesight, Louis disappeared. 

Louis strolls back up the hallway. He grabs his iPhone out of the pocket of his jacket to text Leo to let him know it’s done. He doesn’t make eye contact with anyone as his feet carry him towards the doors. He didn’t want to look more suspicious than he already does, but it’s not like his image will be caught on the security cameras either.

His subconscious started to nag him, telling him that he was too harsh to the poor man, but he promptly pushed the thoughts out of his mind. 

The sound of particular voices from a television caught his attention. Louis’ head snapped upward to the television on the wall in the waiting room. The news was currently playing, reiterating the event at the nightclub last night. But this time, they were stating the police are searching for a possible perpetrator. 

He stifles a soft chuckle, turning back down to his phone in his hands. Their jobs weren’t going to be easy, since he had left zero traces of evidence, as usual. He was never that sloppy. 

The anchor rambled on to state the families are currently grieving, causing him to frown. He can empathize, understanding what it’s like to be in that position. But he doesn’t stop and stare, he can only keep moving forward. 

____

Niall stepped into the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge, but he promptly stopped in his tracks, remembering that he can't eat or drink. It was a usual ritual for him when he was alive, and it still annoys him. There were a lot of things he couldn't do: interact with humans, sleep, change his clothes, or even have a wank. Niall was usually bored most of the time, but he was grateful to have Louis and Harry now. 

Niall remembered the day he had met them. He was in disbelief that he wasn't alone anymore and that he could be seen - because humans can't see ghosts. Louis and Harry are the closest he has had to actual friends since before he died. He was so much happier now - until they started fighting all the time. Now the only time it was peaceful was when he was home alone or when one of them was home and the other was out. 

He turned back around, sitting in a chair at the kitchen table, taking a deep sigh. Niall could barely remember the events that led up to his death, as it was all fuzzy to him at first, even now. But he still remembered everything about his life before, especially his fiancee, Elizabeth, which hurt even more to recall those memories. 

They both had moved to London from Ireland together for a job opportunity she was given. He wanted to see her again, even though she couldn't see him. But right after he died she had quickly moved out and he never saw her again. However, the day of his funeral is what broke him. Niall had to watch his family members and friends mourn him as he stood there, completely invisible to all of them as he tried everything to get them to see him. He couldn’t even bear the sight of seeing his mum cry and not be able to do anything about it. He felt helpless and truly alone for the first time. What he knew was that he was stuck - trapped in limbo, but he didn’t know much else about the afterlife other than what some religions say about heaven and hell.

Even though they were never explicit about it, he knew Harry and Louis felt sorry for him. They want to help him figure out what’s keeping him here, but that itself can lead to a variety of answers. Niall was in such deep thought that he didn’t even hear the front door open and close as Louis was back. 

Stumbling upon Harry’s laptop whilst alone in the living room, Louis curiously takes it, setting it on his lap. A certain search query attracted him, as it remained on the screen since Harry had used it. His eyebrows frowned across his forehead, bewildered, questioning why Harry would be searching the internet about vampires. According to the rest of the human world, they were a myth, and he wanted to keep it that way. 

Hearing footsteps enter the room, Louis’ head snaps to see Niall enter. He hadn’t heard him enter the house, so it took him off-guard to see Louis sitting on the sofa. He freezes in his footsteps and notices that he was using Harry’s laptop. 

“Did you actually think you were going to find anything?” Louis almost mocks them, indicating towards the screen. His nostrils flared as he glowered at Niall who timidly stood in the entrance to the room.

Niall shakes his head. “No. It wasn’t my idea.” He takes several steps towards him, but his demeanor caused him to keep a measurable distance. Though he didn’t know why he was afraid, Louis couldn’t hurt him, “Harry, he wanted to know more.”

Setting the laptop back on the coffee table, Louis stands up, crossing his arms over his chest. “He could have just asked me. I mean, I won’t bite.” He finishes the sentence with a smirk, trying to stifle a snicker. But obviously, he didn’t mean it literally. He watches Niall’s similar reaction, glad to finally see him soften up around him. 

Louis boldly approaches him, a bit too close for comfort. The atmosphere between them is a tad awkward, and he was aware he is only going to make it more awkward. Cockily, he finishes their conversation with a smile, patting him on the shoulder before stepping past him and vanishing into the kitchen. 

Harry had returned from work shortly after the interaction. He noticed an odd countenance encompassing the atmosphere as he stepped through the doorway, mostly surrounding Niall.  He also realized that Louis was home. He could always tell when he was. 

Louis emerges from down the staircase, causing Harry’s feet to come to a complete halt in his tracks. Harry is aware that Louis had seen his laptop, it had looked touched as the website he left open was closed out. If Niall had, he would have told him. Though he has the upper hand because he has leverage, Louis still intimidated him. 

“Harry,” spoke Niall, indicating towards Louis who placidly stood just several feet away with his arms crossed, waiting with a stern gaze. Harry remained confused for half a minute, unable to understand, but then it hit him as he remembered his research earlier today. There’s no other reason why Louis would be standing there so patiently, waiting for him to start the conversation. 

Harry could feel both their eyes blazing on him. He didn’t know how to start the conversation, anxiety boiling inside him. His mind ran blank, unable to utter a word. Goosebumps rose on his skin, covering each and every inch. 

Louis wasn’t too keen on sharing information about himself, especially with a person he’s not too fond of. From years and years of dealing with all sorts of people, he learned some lessons the hard way. He steps toward the middle of the room near the sofa, his arms still crossed over his chest.

“Is it all true? About vampires?” The first question that left Harry's tongue. He felt as if he was being extremely upfront about it because Louis didn’t even indicate that he would answer his questions.

Louis’ eyebrows frowned across his forehead in confusion as he wasn’t sure for a moment what Harry meant. But before Harry could clarify, Louis cuts him off, “What--did you think I burnt to a crisp in the sunlight?” Louis tried to stifle a snicker as a cheeky grin formed across his face, coming off as mocking Harry, “Or glitter for that matter?” He showed obvious disdain for all the fictional stories that depict vampires because they were wrong and stereotypical. 

Harry didn’t acknowledge him because it wasn’t the question he was going to ask, so he remained silent. But he had a feeling Louis wouldn’t like some of the other questions he had in mind.

“I mean, the sunlight does bother me, but I won’t die from it,” Louis clarifies. He uncrosses his arms and lets them fall to his sides.

“How old are you?” Harry boldly asks his next question without hesitation. The question even surprises Niall who turned to Louis, waiting for his answer. 

Louis doesn’t answer right away, trying to figure out how to answer the question. But he chose not to give them an answer, deciding it’s best not at this point in time. He also feared their reaction and the assumptions as well as the following questions that would come as a result. 

“I don’t think you’re entitled to that answer yet,” he retorts as he immediately turned serious, crossing his arms over his chest again. 

Niall doesn’t understand the answer, curious why Louis chose to be so cryptic about a question that seems so menial. 

Louis knew he couldn’t tell them. He was honestly terrified of their reactions at the moment. The thought of his real age also made him too uneasy, he hated to even consider it. 

Niall opens his mouth to point out that he didn’t really provide much of a tangible answer, but Louis cuts him off before he could get a word out. 

“I’m not obligated to provide either of you an autobiography on my life.” Louis eagerly desires to escape the situation that started to feel uncomfortable. Talking about his personal life was a road he never went down because it was too hard for him.

Taken aback by Louis’ arrogance, Niall scoffs. But he couldn’t say he was surprised. If anything, he expected it. But he also realized that Louis was under no obligation to share anything with them if he didn’t want to. It was his prerogative, anyway. 

As Louis starts to leave the room, Harry suddenly conjures a certain question, one that could evidently prove his valid points. 

“How long have you gone without killing?” The question rolled off Harry’s tongue as Louis started for the staircase. It was a last-minute zing, but also an opportunity to prove his point. 

The question causes Louis to come to an immediate halt, his feet glued to the floor. Regardless of his past attempts and successions, he still hesitated to answer the question because he hated to talk about it. “I’ve tried to stop many times, but...it’s easier said than done,” Louis’ voice trembled a bit as he finished the last part, feeling the hurt and the pain from the guilt resurface, causing aching in his gut.

Though he generally attempts to keep the peace, Niall always had been afraid of getting involved, and he would usually try to stay quiet whenever Louis and Harry would bicker. But other times he knows when he needs to get involved to prevent the situation from escalating any further.

Grunting, Louis proceeds towards the staircase with heavy footsteps. The sound of Harry’s soft chuckle caused his blood to begin to boil, but he doesn’t succumb to providing him a reaction. 

“Don’t you think you’re being a bit too hard on him?” Niall pops the question as soon as Louis exits the room. He felt at least some sympathy towards the poor lad. 

Harry shrugs, but then he shakes his head. “He killed four people in one night, Niall. Actions speak louder than words,” Harry’s tone was cold and brusque as he expressed his resentment for Louis, “You know how I feel.” He stands up to start the kitchen to prepare himself dinner.

Standing behind the closed door to Louis’ bedroom, Niall hesitates to knock. Since the episode downstairs, he had thought about taking the initiative to attempt to talk to Louis without Harry around. He felt it was necessary, especially because he can sense how estranged Louis feels in this house. 

He lifts his arm up, his hand forming into a fist to knock. He softly knocks the first time, but they gradually become louder on the third. His arm drops at his side, his eyes dropping to the floor between his feet, sighing. 

“Who is it?” Louis asks the question before opening his door. He was notorious for having little trust before opening his door to anyone. Also another learning experience. 

“It’s Niall. Harry’s not with me, I promise.” Niall was convinced that Louis wouldn’t open the door if he didn’t make it known that he was alone. Just a few seconds later, the door is thrust open. Their gazes instantly met.

“What is it that you want?” Louis crosses his arms over his chest, his emotions were apathetic towards Niall’s presence. 

“I just wanted to talk,” Niall uttered, his voice expressing his reticent demeanor. There was always an element about him that caused Niall to be wary and tense. 

“I felt guilty about what happened downstairs. I promise a civil discussion.” He puts his arms up in a surrender act, understanding Louis’s skepticism. 

“Alright.” Louis turns around, beckoning for Niall to follow him with a wave of his hand. 

“Listen,” Niall begins, stepping through the doorway. 

Louis turns around, giving him his undivided attention. 

“I don’t know what’s got into Harry. Ever since you told us he shut you out.” Niall’s trying to process how to put his next sentence into the simplest words since he didn’t want to be too harsh. 

Louis shrugs, “Yeah, I realized that. I don’t blame him though, especially because I pretty much lied to him for four months.” Though he cut Niall off, he felt like he needed to say his piece before Niall could continue. 

“Can’t you live off of the donated pints sent to the hospitals?” Niall asks the question, hoping to make Louis feel better by offering him another option to his dilemma. 

Louis shakes his head, sitting down on the duvet near the edge of his bed. His gaze dropped to the floor, trying to avoid eye contact as he felt Niall’s heavy gaze locked onto him, watching his every move. “It’s not the same. Trust me, if I could, I’d be doing that already.” He shifts uncomfortably, an uneasy sentiment snaking through him, “I’m going to stop, just give me time,” he sighs, lifting his eyes back up to meet Niall’s, “I’ll take Harry’s offer about getting a job.” He was reaching the brink of desperation, though he hated to express that he was this desperate.

Niall crosses his arms over his chest, keeping a straight face. But he could sense Louis’ sincerity, causing him to soften his demeanor a little. “Okay, but I can’t keep covering your arse like this,” Niall pauses for a breath, “You need to get your shit together.”

“I will,” Louis nods formally, completely understanding Niall’s point of view. However, there’s a sudden uncertainty that slithers through him, but he doesn’t express it, afraid to attract any unnecessary scrutiny from Niall. 

Before Niall could leave, he decides to speak up and loosen any more current tensions between them.

“Niall.”

Right as he reaches the door, Niall spins back around to face him. He’s curious about what else Louis has to say. 

“I apologize for being an arsehole lately, but you don’t have to be afraid of me. I’m not as awful or intimidating as you perceive me to be,” he confesses as he meets Niall’s gaze with an apologetic, yet sincere demeanor, “Not all vampires are bad people and I wish Harry understood that.” He tears his gaze away again, sighing deeply. 

Nodding, Niall couldn’t help but find himself agreeing. He wasn’t a prejudiced person, and it would be hypocritical of him to disagree with Louis’s point about stereotyping. “I know, but I still don’t think he’s okay with all the killing,” he counters Louis’s point, the thought hit him last minute. Those words left a bitter taste in Niall’s mouth, now realizing that he felt the same as Harry. 

With a wave of his hand, he dismisses Niall, signaling that this conversation is over now. He lacks interest in continuing it. 

Without a word, Niall obeys and exits the room. Regardless, Louis still intimidated him, though he wanted to accept his plea. His feet don’t stop until he reaches the bottom of the staircase. Harry still remained in the kitchen, but he didn’t have any doubts that he had listened to a portion of their conversation. 

“Have a nice chat?” Harry snidely pops the question, knowing Niall too well as he was able to accurately assume where he'd gone.

Startled, Niall notices that Harry was standing in the entrance to the kitchen leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. Niall nods but doesn’t say anything. 

Without another word, Harry turns around and walks back into the kitchen. But Niall decides to follow him, a thought pertaining to the conversation with Louis hitting him.

“Why don’t you give him a chance? I think you’re too hard on him.” 

Harry scoffs in response to Niall’s words, but he’s aware he’s acting childish. As he stood there at the stove, he began to mull over the question, considering the fact maybe Niall was right. 

“Well, maybe he should stop killing people.” The words slip off his tongue before he could process them, however, it was his main counterargument. There were other reasons why, but he wasn’t going to bring them up because he wasn’t comfortable enough to discuss it with Niall yet.

“Have you killed anyone while you were transformed?” The bold question escapes Niall’s mouth, uncertain if Harry was a hypocrite. 

Harry shakes his head, his eyes remaining on the pan as he holds the handle firmly. “You know that I hide in an abandoned postal warehouse so it doesn’t attack anyone or anything.” Harry thought that Niall must’ve forgotten where he ran off to during the full moon.

Niall grunts, frowning and crossing his arms over his chest. It wasn’t the answer he was looking for, but he wasn’t going to ask any more questions. “Well, you can’t keep badgering Louis for trying, and he knows how you feel about him,” he realizes that his words fell deaf on Harry’s ears as he earns zero acknowledgment. Understanding that this conversation isn’t improving, he decides to exit the kitchen. 

He wanders into the living room, grabbing the television controller and turning it back on. The screen pops up to reveal the news, the channel where they had left it earlier. A police officer stands patiently before a news reporter, in the middle of answering her questions pertaining to the occurrence last night, his answers elusive. With a roll of his eyes, he shuts off the television. This was exactly what Louis had mentioned last night. He could feel a sick, uneasiness erupt in the pit of his stomach as the thought continued to stick in his mind. 

“Stop watching that shit,” Harry’s voice was heard from the kitchen. He peeks his head around the wall. “It’ll only upset you more.” 

Nodding, Niall agrees with him. He plops down on the sofa, remembering that there’s no point in stepping back into the kitchen since he can’t eat or drink anything. The harsh reality of being a ghost; that, and nobody else can see him except Louis and Harry since they’re both supernaturals.

Louis grabs his phone, an idea sprouting in his head. He begins to type a text message to Leo, asking him for a favor tomorrow. He thought he would be better off sending Leo to check on the coroner if he obeyed his demand, rather himself, fearing what the man would do if he saw him again. He wouldn’t put it past the guy since he refused him in the first place. 

Instead of staying in his room, he decides to trek back downstairs. But he always usually knew what to expect once he stepped into a room where Harry is. There was always a stark hostility that Harry instigated between them that encompassed the room, and it always bothered Louis. 

Niall sat on the sofa, his eyes on the television. Harry was still in the kitchen, but not for much longer. “You should see how poorly they’re playing,” Niall spoke to Louis, indicating the replay of the football game on the television from earlier in the day, “That score is atrocious.” 

Louis scrutinized the television screen, agreeing with him. He sits down on the sofa beside Niall, becoming absorbed into the game already. 

Grabbing the plate and a fork, Harry starts for the living room. Hearing Louis’s voice, his feet stopped dead in his tracks in the entryway, his eyes landing on Louis sitting in Harry’s usual spot next to Niall. But it’s not like Louis was aware, anyway. Scoffing and rolling his eyes, Harry spins around and sits at the square table instead. 

Niall and Louis’ eyes were still attached to the television screen by the time Harry exited the kitchen. He grabbed his jacket off the hook, remembering he had to run an errand. 

“I have to run out to the store. I noticed we’re out of milk and eggs.” He puts his jacket on, starting for the door. 

“Alright. See ya later,” Niall waved and retorted flatly, craning his neck to see Harry approach the front door. He turned his attention back to the game. 

Harry needed an excuse to leave the house, but he did need to make a run to the store anyway. Once Harry closed the door behind him, Niall grabbed the controller and shut off the television. The score was pretty much set since the game was nearly over. 

Before he could utter a word, Louis stands up, starting for the kitchen to grab a drink. He felt like he needed one just being in Harry’s presence. Harry didn’t even have to say anything and the tension in the room caused his blood pressure to keep rising.

It wasn’t until he stepped into the kitchen when he thought of asking Niall if he wanted one as well, but he recalled that ghosts can’t eat or drink. He really felt bad for Niall and wished there was a way he wouldn’t be stuck here anymore - to figure out his unfinished business.  

____

Harry drove down the streets of London. The sun was beginning to set, and the nightlife was just getting started. He still recalled the day he moved to the bustling city, right after he had run away from his family once he discovered his lycanthropy. He didn’t choose London on a whim, but rather the fact it was far enough from Holmes Chapel, his hometown. He feared the possibility of seeing a family member, and he couldn’t take the chance.

Harry didn’t realize he hadn’t been paying attention until he suddenly slammed on the brakes seeing the red light. His heart was pounding in his chest, a bead of sweat rolling down the side of his forehead. He takes several breaths, trying to relax. He tries to clear his mind of prolonged thoughts, knowing that it’s distracting him. 

He stepped into Tesco and grabbed a basket, recalling the list of items he needed. He couldn’t help but keep Louis on his mind the entire time. A part of him begged him that he was being too hard on the lad, but another part pushed the thoughts out of his mind. He didn’t always know that Louis was a vampire until Louis came clean and told him and Niall one night a few days after they both settled in. If it weren’t for Niall, since only supernaturals can see ghosts, he probably wouldn’t have told him so soon. 

Harry refused to believe him at first, but then once Louis showed him proof, it all started to make sense to him - what he had witnessed when he was younger and why he was attacked five months ago behind a pub where he used to work. He wished that Louis was honest with him then, but in Louis’s defense, he did it to protect him at the time. He still couldn’t get the image out of his head from when Louis sat in the blue armchair in the living room and flashed him his hauntingly demonic black eyes since Harry adamantly refused to believe him. From that night, he hoped to never see them again. 

Completely zoning out as he proceeded down the aisle, he breaks out of those thoughts. He was too distracted as it was. Not paying the slightest attention as his eyes wandered to the shelves, Harry accidentally collided shoulders with another person.

Taken by complete surprise, he abruptly apologizes. The tall, lanky man just stares into Harry’s green eyes, burning holes through him. His jaw clenched, not uttering a word as he continued to brush by Harry. 

Shuddering, he proceeds away from the odd man. There was something off about him that Harry could detect, but he couldn’t exactly place his finger on it; whatever it was made him almost shit his pants. 

Though it wasn’t in his plans, he hurried to finish his shopping list and get home. He wasn’t always scared this easily, but this time is an exception. Harry racked his brain as he continued to drive home, unable to figure out why the man startled him so much. 

____

He stepped through the door of his home, closing it behind him. Harry set the bags on the floor to take his jacket off. It was eerily quiet, almost too quiet. He takes the bags into the kitchen, setting them on the table. 

Feeling a cold brush whip past him as he’s turned down to the bags and taking the items out, Harry spins around in his tracks. His heart almost ceased to beat before his eyes landed on the sight of Louis standing in the entrance to the kitchen, leaning against the molding, a giant smirk plastered across his face. Harry scowls, having had enough of the scares tonight. 

“What’s got you so jumpy and panicked?” Louis questions him, not adjusted to seeing Harry so anxious and terrified.  

Harry doesn’t answer the question, instead keeps emptying the plastic bags. He couldn’t tell if Louis was generally curious or just asking the question to mock him. 

Understanding he’s being ignored, Louis sighs, slightly annoyed. He rolls his eyes, deciding to leave the room. “Alright, don’t answer the question. I can’t help you then.” He begins to turn around to leave, knowing he’s not welcome in Harry’s presence. 

“It was this bloke in Tesco,” Harry mutters, his voice low, “He freaked me out, that’s all.”

Freezing in his footsteps, Louis spins around. He gapes at Harry, inquisitive. His eyebrows frowned across his forehead. “How so?” He crosses his arms and leaned against the molding again, waiting for Harry to continue. He knew there was more to the story. Louis’ never used to see Harry be so vulnerable, especially around him when he’s often militant in his presence.  

“We accidentally collided and he gave me the creepiest stare, burning right through me,” Harry shuddered, taking the empty plastic bag and shoving it in the trash bin. 

“My guess is he was a vampire who recognized what you were,” he paused for a moment, “But vampires are arseholes, especially towards werewolves,” he added, trying to help Harry understand. 

Harry scoffs at the remark at first, but then he remembers what Louis had said before in a past conversation - the night that Louis had told him what he was. It wasn’t his first rodeo dealing with unruly vampires who hate werewolves, and it sent a shiver down his spine just remembering the first. 

Glancing upward at the clock on the wall, Harry notices it’s gotten late. He didn’t even realize how much time had passed between when he left for Tesco earlier and when he returned just a few minutes ago. 

“Well, goodnight,” Harry mutters, slipping past Louis to start upstairs. He doesn’t acknowledge the information Louis provided him since he’s heard enough. But he also understood Louis was only trying to be helpful and didn’t mean to offend him.  

“Night,” murmurs Louis, turning and watching Harry start up the staircase. That had to have been the most interaction they’ve had so far in a short amount of time, and needless to say, Louis was surprised. He follows behind Harry to start back upstairs. 

Louis begins to pass Harry’s bedroom on the way to his, however, for some reason, he comes to a complete stop. The door to Harry’s room was left open a sliver, and he couldn’t help himself from watching Harry undress, taking off his shirt. Harry’s tall and toned figure captivated him for some reason he couldn’t explain. 

Before Harry could turn around, Louis turns away and scurries off towards his room. He feared being caught by Harry, or even Niall -- as embarrassing as it would sound. 

____

Louis traipsed down the staircase. He had already wasted half the day staying home and doing as little as possible. Mostly because he was waiting for Harry to leave for work. At first, the house seemed silent, but as he got closer to the bottom step of the staircase, he could hear chatter from the television in the living room. 

He entered the living room to find the television turned on to the news again. He wasn’t surprised, especially with the latest headlines recently. He also figured Niall’s curious if there are any updates about the nightclub murders. If there were any, it was because either the coroner obeyed or didn’t obey Louis’ demand. 

“Fancy seeing you still home,” Niall observes as he cranes his neck from the sofa to see Louis plod into the living room, “I didn’t expect you to still be here.” Louis’ usually always out during the day, and it was unexpected to see him.  

Louis shrugs, disregarding Niall’s comment. He crashed on the sofa beside him. Grabbing the television remote, Niall turns it off. 

“Enough of this depressing shit,” Niall scoffs, shaking his head. 

Louis couldn’t help but be surprised that Niall didn’t seem interested in continuing to watch for any update on the nightclub murders. However, he didn’t question him. It was probably better off he wasn’t anyway. Though, he was curious himself; especially since the story now lies on the coroner.

Feeling as if he was wasting time, Louis stands back up, deciding to finally head out. He felt awkward staying home all day and didn’t see much of a point. “I’m heading out to get a few drinks. Do you want to come with?” he asks Niall without thinking, forgetting that ghosts can’t eat or drink. It was a force of habit. Though he still felt pity for Niall, figuring he must become lonely often since he’s always left home alone. But it was out of his hands, and Niall couldn’t interact with humans anyway. 

Niall responds with a questioning gaze, his eyebrows frowning across his forehead. He wasn’t sure if Louis was being insensitive or just forgetful. But another question struck him. “Didn’t you go out yesterday?” It struck him as odd since it’s not common for Louis to be drinking so often. 

Louis shrugs. “Yeah, but whatever’s gonna get my mind off of the hunger for blood.” Since vampires can’t get alcohol poisoning, he couldn’t care less. He would just get drunk and recover with a mild hangover several hours later. 

____

The bartender behind the bar top sets the pint down before Louis. Wrapping his hand around the cold glass, he promptly takes a swig, desiring the need for alcohol to suppress his hunger. Out of his peripheral vision, a woman sits down on the stool beside him. He sets the glass down and turns to see a young girl who he guessed in her early twenties. Her hair was dyed chestnut, as her raven hair made an appearance at her roots. Her skin was a soft almond. 

“The usual, please,” she spoke to the bartender with an American accent, throwing Louis off-guard at first. 

“Not from around here, I see,” he notes, stifling a snort. He takes another swig of his drink. 

She chuckles, then rolling her hazel eyes. “I’ve lived in London since I was fourteen. My dad, he’s a diplomat.” 

“Hm,” he hummed, surprised. He didn’t expect her response but pursues another question. “Where in America are you from?” 

“Connecticut. But I’ve lived in London with my mom, dad, and my younger sister. My name’s Vanessa before I forget to introduce myself.” She finishes the sentence with a small smile across her lips. 

“Louis,” he mutters as his eyes were focused on the now half-full glass in his hands.

The bartender approaches her with a pint, setting it down before her. She swiftly takes it. 

As Louis continues to sit there and talk to her, he could feel his relentless hunger for blood start to return. He started to zone out as he started to hear her heartbeat thrum in his ears, drowning out her voice as she continued to talk.

“Louis?” Vanessa waves her hand in front of his face, confusion was written across her face. 

He immediately snaps out of it, not realizing how long he’s been in a daze. 

“Are you alright? You’re shaking,” she asks, concerned, briefly glancing down at his hands. 

“Sorry,” he quickly apologizes, drawing backward and repositioning his posture. “See, I’ve recently quit smoking, and it’s been hard.” It was the most sensible lie he could think of that would work.

“Oh, wow. I can’t imagine how tough that is,” she tries to empathize with him, knowing that nicotine addiction is no joke. 

“So, have you continued your education at university?” Louis quickly changes the subject, trying to reduce the awkwardness around them from his stint.

Vanessa nods. “Yes. I’m currently studying civil engineering.” She lets out a long, exasperated sigh, taking a sip of her drink. It was exactly what she needed after a long and strenuous day. She couldn’t help but be captivated by his mystique, especially his benevolent charm. It was hard to resist. 

Finishing his drink, Louis called the bartender over for another one. He already knew it was going to be an interesting night. But he couldn’t predict the outcome of meeting Vanessa and where this conversation would take him. 

____

They both had gone clubbing later that night. He had zero intentions to sleep with her and just wanted a normal night out. However, the night still became messy due to his lack of ability to control his relentless addiction. Louis had escaped out the back door for a breather as he could feel it growing more powerful inside him the longer he was around not only her but the other people. Although as she was suspicious, Vanessa followed him as she'd received weird vibes ever since the pub. What ensued after was a consequence she never anticipated. 

His canines had lengthened and were buried deep in her neck, startling and terrifying her as she belts out a scream of terror while trying to use every bit of energy to fight back. But her attempts were fruitless as he was stronger than her, especially as her body became weaker and her heartbeat began to slow down. Nobody was coming to her rescue as the street was empty and it was extremely late in the night.

Louis lifts his head upward from her bloodied neck and the spatters on the brick wall behind her that her body leaned up against. He stares down at her motionless body where she was barely breathing as her pulse started to fade, coming to realize what he’s done. His eyes widened in horror. 

“No, no, no,” Louis murmured almost inaudibly, anxiety and apprehension taking control of him. He fucked up again and started to become furious with himself. But there was only one way he could make this right. He only had so little time until it was too late. Her legs had already given out as they were too weak to keep her standing and he could barely hold her up any longer, so he carefully laid her on the ground and kneels next to her body. Lifting his wrist up, he draws a line of blood with his canines. He holds it over her lips. He refused to let anyone else die as a result of his irresponsibility and lack of self-control. 

“I am so, so sorry,” he apologizes, aching with regret and gazing down at her with dismal eyes that were filled with tears. As much as he should have let her die instead, he couldn’t. Not another one. It wasn’t fair.

Louis understood the little time he had to do something about Vanessa and escape the narrow alley they were in before he could be discovered. He had to figure out how to handle this since he was on his own. But there was only one place she could be when things like this happened. She needed to be around other vampires when she woke up so they could help her.

He takes another glance at her lifeless, horror-stricken face. He swallows hard, grief and remorse plaguing his conscience and adding several blows to his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He grabs his phone to make a call, knowing it was the only way to help her adjust to the new life she would soon wake up to.

____

One Week Later

The early morning sun poked through the windows of the abandoned warehouse, casting onto the cold floor. Groaning, Harry rolls onto his back, his eyes peeled open to the bright sunlight which blinded him at first. He takes several breaths of the fresh morning air before sitting upward and scanning his surroundings. 

The room was all torn apart from previous times, scratches all over the grey walls and the floorboards ripped up. It looked like a small tornado had ripped through the room. But as usual, he has no recollection of anything.

Harry stands up to quickly leave. He had no option but to leave his clothes in the car that was parked outside, as he would lose them anyway during the transformation. He longed for a hot, relaxing shower as soon as he would arrive home. 

The frigid air nipped at his skin as he couldn't wait to put his clothes back on. He tried to hurry back to his car before being possibly spotted and arrested for being naked in public. As much as he was adjusted by now, he always dreaded the morning after. His body ached and he still felt nauseous. Harry always had to be extra careful to not be seen by anyone, and often it was a difficult task since he wasn’t exactly in a secluded area.

Stepping through the front door of the house, Harry observes the silence and was taken off-guard by it. He’s at least adjusted to the sound of the television or another sound caused by Niall or Louis. Though he doesn’t ponder it for too long, proceeding up the staircase to take his well-deserved shower. 

Harry steps out of the shower into the steamy air, grabbing a towel to dry himself off. He shakes his hair in the towel, then wraps it around his body before he steps out of the bathroom to get dressed. 

It was unusually quiet, almost too quiet for him where he was prompted to investigate. Harry wanders down the hallway, eventually reaching the door to Louis’ room. Seeing that it was open a crack, Harry pushes on the door to peer in, seeing the lad sleeping soundlessly. Afraid to wake him, Harry turns back around to leave. He starts downstairs to fetch himself breakfast. He ran his fingers through his damp, wavy hair as he came down the staircase, fixing it before reaching the last step. 

“Mornin’.” Niall, who sat at the table, eagerly greets Harry as he enters the kitchen. 

Harry acknowledges him with a small wave as he approaches the cupboard to grab a box of cereal and milk from the fridge.

“Do you trust Louis?” Harry pops the random question as he sits down at the table. He kept his voice low so as not to be heard. He starts to prepare a bowl of cereal as Niall thinks. 

“Yeah -- I mean, I want to,” Niall struggles to answer Harry’s question, trying to figure out how to properly word it, “I think deep down he has a real heart, but he struggles to show it because he’s so guarded.” Niall pauses, thinking, before continuing, “I want to believe that he’s trying to stop hurting people.” 

Harry considered Niall’s answer. He, too, wanted to trust Louis, since he had grown a liking to him before he found out what he was. After Harry had run away from his family, they both had met in London and eventually decided to get a place together since they both expressed the same need of wanting a normal life. 

Luckily for them, as it was London, the rent for the place was fairly cheaper due to the fact that nobody else had lived there in a long time because it’s claimed to be haunted and previous owners had reported paranormal activity. 

“I do think you’re being too hard on him,” Niall adds with confidence, meeting Harry’s stern gaze, a frown across his face, “He can’t help what he is, and you need to stop being so mean to him. Since the night he told us you’ve shut him out and you won’t even talk to him.” He pleaded with Harry, trying to restore peace in the household. He was getting fed up with the ongoing conflict between Harry and Louis. 

Harry sat there for several seconds, motionless and quiet. His hand remained grasping the spoon, but his gaze fell to the table, zoning out. Niall didn’t understand the actual reason why he felt the way he did about Louis, and he wouldn’t know because he never told him.

It was a traumatic experience he dealt with as a child, however, being so young and naive, he didn’t know that vampires actually existed at the time. But it affected him so much because it was his hometown, Holmes Chapel, and he just happened to witness it one night when he was hanging out with his friends. Multiple people had died under mysterious circumstances, one of his closest friends died in his arms, but now he understood what really happened. 

He also never understood how it was covered up until now when Louis explained to them that there are vampires everywhere. They watch out for their own kind to make sure they don’t get exposed. It still made him sick to think about it because it wasn’t right that they just get away with everything. Another issue that Harry had was that Louis had lied to him about why he was attacked the night they met. He would have died if Louis never showed up and chased them away, but he wished he was told the truth. He wouldn’t have been so furious once he figured it out if Louis was honest with him. 

Before Louis had told them, Harry had grown to like him and thought that there was something more there between them. Now Harry can’t even look at him without feeling resentment with everything he's gone through.

“Harry?” Niall’s voice breaks him out of his deep thought, who regarded him with concern, “Everything alright?” Niall’s never seen Harry seem so anxious and zoned out deep in his own thoughts before. 

“Yeah, yeah,” Harry nodded, looking down at his cereal which started to become soggy. He started to think about what Niall had said about being too hard on Louis, and he knew he was right. He couldn’t judge Louis for the actions of the others and was hoping he was different from the rest of them. 

As Harry continued to eat his breakfast, he thought of trying to warm up to Louis and try to understand him more and set aside their differences. He knew that he couldn’t be hostile towards him forever, especially since they both mutually agreed to live together in the first place. He had an idea and was going to propose it to him as soon as Louis came downstairs. 

Louis eventually entered the kitchen without acknowledging Harry or Niall, still wearing pajama pants and shirtless. He went over to the cupboard to grab a cup and prepare himself a cup of tea and a bowl of cereal. 

Harry and Niall just looked at each other as they both sat at the table, not saying a word as Louis minded his own business. Harry was trying to find the courage to ask him the question, but he was also curious about what Louis’s reaction would be.  

Louis finally sits down at the table, his tea in his hands, and sets the bowl down. He turns his attention to Niall and chooses to ignore Harry’s presence, but Harry was well aware of it.

The room was completely silent, with the exception of Harry’s spoon scraping the bowl as he was almost finished. Niall glanced at Harry and Louis, hoping either of them would say something to prevent it from becoming any more awkward than it already is. 

Niall loudly cleared his throat, flicking his eyes at both Harry and Louis again to say at least something. He didn’t want to always be the one to start a conversation. The heavy silence that encompassed the room started to make him feel uncomfortable. 

“So, I heard the weather’s-”

“Louis, would you like to go out to lunch or for drinks one day this week?” Harry abruptly cuts Niall off, taking him by surprise. Harry watched Louis as he was in the midst of taking a sip of his tea, waiting for him to respond. 

Because he started to chuckle at Harry’s question, Louis’s eyes went wide, breaking out into a coughing fit as he choked on his tea. Niall reaches over and pats his back, trying to help him breathe. 

“Wait, you’re not joking?” Louis responds with a strained voice, followed by another cough, his throat still burning him and his eyes watery as he struggled to speak. He gazed at Harry incredulously. 

Harry shook his head, completely serious. He watched as Louis continued to stare at him in disbelief. Louis never thought he would hear those words come out of Harry’s mouth. He felt a sort of relief that Harry finally decided to come around, but at the same time, he had suspicions because Louis didn’t expect it to be so quickly. 

“Why not?” Louis shrugged, gladly accepting Harry’s offer with a smile. But he wasn’t going to let his guard down, he didn’t fully trust Harry yet and considered the possibility that Harry could have other intentions. He also felt it was rather odd since Harry seemed to hate him so much.  

Niall, who couldn’t believe what he was hearing, gaped at them. He didn’t know what Harry was up to, but he hoped it was what he said to him earlier that reached through to him.

Once he finished his bowl of cereal and Louis set his empty cup down on the table, he was reminded of something he had to do. He abruptly stood up to leave the room to start back upstairs to his bedroom, grabbing his phone out of the pocket of his pajama pants. 

He had to call a friend who works as a police officer in London to follow up with him on the favor Louis had asked of him and how they’re planning to cover up the mess that he created with Vanessa. Louis surely didn’t trust the other vampires out there since he’s trying to stay under the radar and blend in, but he had no choice. 

“You really owe me big time, Louis,” was the first thing Stephen said, “are you trying to fuck everything up?” His anger could be read over the phone. It was the second time in a month that Louis had called him, and he started to become annoyed. 

“I take full responsibility for it,” Louis responds, feeling shame and guilt. “And I promise that you won’t hear from me again for a long time.” He was almost desperate, wanting to make things right since his track record isn’t so great right now. 

Louis could almost sense that Stephen was rolling his eyes over the phone hearing him grunt as well. But he was aware that Stephen was within his right to be this irked. 

“We’re doing what we can. I’ll keep you updated.” 

Without giving Louis a chance to acknowledge him, the line went dead as Stephen abruptly hung up. 

Louis drops his phone on his bed and decides to get dressed. He needed fresh air from being so overwhelmed and stressed. He was hoping he wouldn’t have to see Vanessa again, only because she was another painful reminder of the monster he is and that he turned her into also. 

Since the sun bothered him, he kept his hood over his head and his hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie as he walked through the busy streets of London. 

Louis didn’t know where he belonged - how he fit into the human world. Often rejecting the association with the vampire world, he didn’t know who he identified himself with. He also often felt lost and didn’t know who he could trust sometimes because they’re all out for one thing: power. He couldn’t even fully trust some of his closest friends, well aware of who they’re loyal to when it came to survival. 

A normal, human life for him was something he always wanted, but it’s always been short-lived and overall impossible. No matter how much he tried to cling to humanity, he always got pulled back. Louis had hopes that moving in with Harry would establish at least some normality, but it won’t be as easy as he initially perceived it to be. He underestimated his own afflictions. 

Louis remembered the night that he met Harry. He was taking a stroll through London on his way back to where he lived at the time. His headphones were plugged into his ears, listening to music. It was rather chilly and he hated the cold, so he tried to hurry back as fast as his feet would take him. 

It wasn’t until a loud yelp and several cries for help broke him out of his train of thought, causing him to tear his headphones out of his ears and freeze in his footsteps. 

____

Niall sat in the blue armchair in the living room, looking at the set of photographs he kept of him and Elizabeth in a small box. He could feel tears well in his eyes as he continued to go through them - a painful reminder of what they could have had and what he lost. 

He had so many questions that remain unanswered, but what bothered him the most is he couldn’t remember how he died. As much as it probably was a bad idea, he still wanted to know. 

Furiously Niall tosses the photos down on the coffee table, tears stinging his eyes that started to roll down his cheeks as he sniffles. Today was the day he had proposed to her a few years ago, so he was more emotional than he usually is. 

He buries his head in his hands for a few moments, then lifts his head up and folds his hands in front of his face as he continues to stare at the photographs in silence. 

He had forgotten that the television was still on because he had tuned it out while he was sorting through the box. But he immediately broke out of his train of thought, his head snapping upwards towards the television hearing several words that drew his attention. 

“A missing person report has been issued for 21-year-old Vanessa Bloom, the daughter of American Diplomat, Edward Bloom. Her family says the last time they saw her was last Monday morning, the 24th. If you have seen Vanessa Bloom or have any knowledge of her location please dial the number on the screen below.” 

Niall scrutinized the television screen, her photograph appearing next to the anchor as she continued to read the phone number aloud. He had a nagging hunch from his intuition that something didn’t feel right about this. It started to ache in the pit of his stomach, causing him to shudder in response. 

The thought crossed his mind, but he didn’t want to consider it. Niall was well aware people go missing all the time, but ever since he found out about vampires, he’s been cynical. This specific case gave him a bad idea. 

The sound of the front door opening caused his head to snap in the other direction. Harry stepped through the doorway, and relief flowed through Niall. 

“Hey,” Harry waves as he shuts the door behind him. He takes his jacket off and hangs it on the hook on the wall. He walks toward Niall, seeing what he’s up to as he notices a small box and photographs spread across the coffee table.

“They’re just some old photos of mine that I kept,” Niall says before Harry could ask any questions about them. 

Harry nods, acknowledging him. He sits down on the couch, his eyes scanning over them, eventually landing on the photos of him and his fiancee. 

“She’s beautiful, Niall.” Harry lifts his gaze up to meet Niall’s glassy, solemn eyes. 

“She was,” Niall mutters, his voice breaking from holding back tears. His eyes dropped to the photographs one more time as he agreed with Harry. 

Harry observes Niall’s demeanor, deciding if he wanted to ask his next question because of how upset Niall appears. “What was she like?” he asks him, “If you don’t mind me asking.” He thought it would help Niall feel better if they talked about it. He didn’t want him to suffer in silence.

Niall hesitated at first, reluctant to answer the question knowing he’d struggle to control his emotions. But the only reason why he’s so emotional is because of what today is. “Liz - she was amazing. The funniest and most talented girl I’ve ever met. I almost felt like I didn’t deserve her,” Niall softly chuckles, trying to lighten the mood. He meets Harry’s eyes again, observing how Harry listened to every word he spoke and sympathizing with him. “And today was the day I proposed to her four years ago.” Niall tore his gaze away again, dropping to the floor.

Harry’s face falls, realizing how much this day meant to Niall now and why he was reminiscing. “Oh god--I’m so sorry,” was all Harry could respond with since he was at a loss of words. Harry didn’t take his eyes off Niall, watching him carefully as he handled his emotions in case he broke down. “You deserved better than this,” he tried to sympathize with him the best he could, trying to understand Niall’s situation since he’s had no prior experience with ghosts. Though ghosts were still a peculiarity that Harry still didn’t fully understand.

The sound of the front door unlocking broke both of them out of the intense conversation they were having that started to affect Harry’s emotions as well. Both of their heads turned in the same direction, seeing Louis step through. Harry rolled his eyes and groaned, the little time he had with Niall now gone and impeded upon. The peaceful atmosphere was nice while it lasted. Regardless of what Harry said to him earlier, his presence was not wanted at the moment.

“So today I saw some blood, but I didn’t have the hunger for it. It’s like it was gone,” Louis rejoices as a grin forms across his face, realizing he was finally on the wagon towards his abstinence. He shut the door behind him and started toward Niall and Harry, completely unaware of the circumstance. 

“Now is not the time, Louis,” Harry curtly snaps, glaring at him with scorn. This is what he was afraid of.  

Louis’s happiness disappears once he understands the climate in the room, his eyes falling on Niall who appeared enveloped in his own misery and sadness. He carefully starts to approach Niall “I’m truly sorry, Niall. I didn’t know,” Louis apologizes, having been unaware at first. He truly felt awful about it, even though it wasn’t his fault because he didn’t have a chance to notice something was wrong before Harry spoke. Louis sits on the sofa beside Harry who didn’t acknowledge him any further. Louis gave Niall his full attention.

“Today was the day I proposed to her,” Niall’s voice was raspy as he started to give an explanation to Louis, “and I mistakenly made the decision to go through the photos of us together when it was just going to upset me anyway.”  He wiped the tears away on his cheeks with the back of his hand. 

The lights flickered and the TV shut off suddenly, startling all of them. Louis knew it was Niall doing this unintentionally. Ghosts and their emotions that start to spiral out of control can affect the environment around them.

“It’s normal to be upset,” Louis says, sympathetic, trying to help him feel better, “You died young and it was unfair. But you need to move on with your life. I mean, your fiance already has.” He attempted to make him feel better, but it only made Niall feel worse.  

“How can I when I’m a ghost?” Niall retorts, raising his voice in anguish, regarding Louis with contempt. His eyes stung as more tears fell down his rosy cheeks, though he kept trying to keep himself together. “My life ended the moment I got struck in the back of the head.” He wipes his tears away with the back of his hand and sits back in the chair and crosses his arms, scowling, but his lips still quivered. He observes Louis and Harry's reactions to his outburst.

Letting Niall’s heavy words drift in the air for a few moments, Louis sits there in silence and thinks, considering an option that could make him feel better and take his mind off his heartache. Niall needed to get out and meet more lonely spirits like him, who could help him come to terms with death. 

Louis hesitated for a few seconds before saying anything. He didn’t want to come off too brazen by making such a bold suggestion. “Niall, I think what you need is to meet other kindred spirits,” Louis suggested. Niall grew to be one of his closest friends, and he hated to see him miserable and heartbroken like this because he’s lost in a complicated limbo searching for answers only someone with his condition would know.

Niall responded by giving Louis a sour look. Meeting other ghosts would cause him to have to accept his death and he still couldn’t do it, even though it’s been three years. He kept trying to grasp onto his old life, though it only made him feel worse.

“They can help you with your problem,” Louis elaborated, attempting to convince him, “But I won’t force you, I’m only trying to help.” He hoped Niall would listen to his advice. 

Niall sat there for a few moments in silence, mulling over Louis’ proposal. He thought long and hard, considering that Louis was right. He can’t sit in this house forever moping and achieving nothing. It won’t solve his problems. 

“Fine,” Niall’s eyes met Harry’s, then Louis’s, “You’re right, Louis.” He noticed how Louis’s face lit up with a smile as Niall agreed to listen to him. 

Harry sat there, skeptical, but he wasn’t going to object. He realized that Louis was right.

____

The three of them found their way through the crowded floor - Louis leading them while Niall followed closely behind and then Harry. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea for you, Louis?” Harry brazenly asked him, aware of the last time Louis was surrounded by this many people it turned into a disaster. 

“I can control myself,” scoffs Louis, annoyed by Harry’s question he thought was insulting. He knew Harry still didn’t trust him.    

Harry rolled his eyes, not fully convinced. He wanted to believe him, but his current track record says otherwise. 

There was a young man with tanned skin and strawberry blonde hair leaning against the bar, a little taller than Niall and almost the same height and built as Harry. He wore a grey coat over a black t-shirt with jeans. No one seemed to be interacting with him, which gave away that he was a ghost. 

“Niall, this is Luke,” Louis gestured towards the young man who is now known as Luke as he introduced them. Louis turned to Harry to introduce him and clear confusion as to why Harry can see Luke. “Harry’s a werewolf,” he bitterly adds. 

Luke acknowledges Louis and Harry before turning his attention back to Niall. Having known Louis before, he wasn’t as hesitant to greet the other two.

Rather eagerly, Niall stretched his arm out to shake hands with Luke. It felt somewhat freeing to him to finally meet someone else where they share similar circumstances and they can understand each other. 

“Nice to meet you,” Luke says warmly, excitedly shaking Niall’s hand as he smiles. “1992. You?” he pursued, implying the year he died. 

“Oh...three years ago,” Niall responds to the question rather uncomfortably, his eyes dropping to the floor and sighing. However, it was a fact he had to come face to face with and accept it.

“Ireland, right?” Luke pursues, questioning where Niall’s from due to noticing his accent. 

“Yeah,” Niall responds, unenthused as it was another painful reminder. “I moved to London with my fiancee.”

Louis left them alone as they drifted off into conversation, realizing he wasn’t needed anymore. He went to the other end of the bar to grab a drink, Harry following him closely behind. 

Louis notices Harry leaning against the bar with his arms crossed, choosing not to communicate with the people around him. It struck him odd because he didn’t know why Harry would bother to tag along.

“You should try to meet someone,” Louis suggested to Harry as he approached him, leaning against the bar himself. “You can’t let your condition stop you from living your life.” 

Harry considered Louis’s thoughtful suggestion. But then he shook his head, disagreeing. He was still sorting out his new life, and meeting someone new was not an option for him right now. 

“I can’t. At least not right now.” He felt like he wasn’t obligated to give Louis a better explanation at the moment. 

Louis shrugged, choosing not to pressure him. He walks away, deciding to leave him alone. Standing on the floor with a pint in his hand, his eyes scanned the crowd of people. His eyes eventually latch onto a petite, olive-skinned woman in a knee-length, skin-tight black dress standing by a column, her eyes glued to her phone, texting, and not acknowledging her surroundings.

His feet carried him across the floor as he started approaching her, tossing around ideas in his head of what to say. Even though it’s always there, he started suppressing his hunger even more. He just wanted a normal night for once.

Before Louis could take another step, he’s frozen solid in his tracks. He tensed up and his hands started to shake, the sound of Vanessa’s desperate screams from his memory entering his mind, then seeing her face. 

It was so agonizing it caused him to shudder. He squeezed his eyes shut as he continued to stand there in silence, trembling, and feeling his heart break all over again as it was starting to haunt him. 

The sound of glass shattering as it crashed to the floor is what snapped him out of the daze, instantly realizing what he dropped. His eyes fell to the floor and his jaw fell agape. It had startled mostly everyone, causing many eyes to land on him as he stood there, shaken and traumatized. 

Before anyone could say anything, he escaped the situation as quickly as he could manage. Louis starts for the door. He needed fresh air and to clear his mind from all the stress, as well as the loud atmosphere that contributed to making it worse.

Little did he know that Harry had taken notice of his strange behavior right before the glass had fallen, evoking concern. Harry followed closely behind as Louis stepped outside into the cool air. 

“What happened back there?” Harry asked, catching the heavy door right before it shut on him. “Are you alright?” He regarded Louis with curiosity, as well as concern, having never seen him act this way before. 

“Hm?” Louis hummed as a cigarette balanced between his teeth, grabbing a lighter out of his pocket. He barely heard a word that Harry said. He lit the end of it before turning around to face Harry, blowing out the smoke as his arm fell to his side. 

“You seemed a bit spooked out back there,” Harry claims from his observation, “I was concerned, that’s all.” He met Louis’ gaze, noticing as the color drained from his face and he became apprehensive. 

Louis motioned Harry over, turning around and sitting down on the curb. He took another drag of his cigarette waiting for Harry, who sat down and situated himself comfortably beside him. 

“Going clean isn’t as easy as you think it is,” Louis confesses, resting his arms on his knees and allowing his head to hang down, facing the ground in despair. His hands anxiously tremble and he shudders as he hesitates the next sentence at first, “It’s like withdrawing from an addiction, but the symptoms are far much worse.” 

Harry could see how much it was affecting Louis, and it was no joke. He started to consider that he may have underestimated the problem and why Louis struggles so much with it - which caused him to evoke sympathy for the lad. 

“It never ends,” Louis continues, lifting his head, “no matter how much you try to smother the monster. First, it’s the unyielding hunger and the aching pain that surges through your veins, then you start seeing their faces who haunt you until you give in to it again.” His voice trembled as he spoke, the fear he had from when he was inside the pub returning. He could go on to the full nine yards, but he didn’t. He turned his head to face Harry, meeting his gaze with bleak eyes once he finished his sentence.

“That sounds...awful.” Harry understood what Louis implied without asking him to go into further detail. He met Louis’s solemn gaze, causing him to feel a twinge in his gut seeing Louis so desperate. Harry could tell that he was truly dedicated.

Louis turned his head back, looking straight ahead, nodding. He took another long drag, blowing out the fumes as he sat there, silent. He didn’t know what else to say without repeating and sounding like he was victimizing himself even more. In someone else’s eyes he may not be seen as the victim, but a monster facing the consequences of his actions. 

Feeling as if this conversation was going nowhere, Louis realizes that there’s no point in him staying here and lamenting his problems. He takes one last inhalation and starts to stand back up.

“I’m gonna head back to the house.” He tosses the burnt-out cigarette butt into the ashtray next to the door. Louis sees Harry stand up, confused as to why he’s leaving, but Harry wasn’t going to bother asking him. He understood the gist - that it had to do with the accident. 

“Alright. I’ll tell Niall if he asks,” Harry acknowledged him, just leaving it at that. 

Louis walked down the lit street, cars zooming past him that splashed puddles of rainwater onto the sidewalk. The night was rather serene, as luckily it had stopped raining earlier before the sunset when they were still in the pub. It was the perfect opportunity for him to clear his mind and form a coherent train of thought about what he’s been going through. 

Although he did a decent job hiding it in front of Harry and Niall, Louis was in an immeasurable amount of pain, both mentally and physically. All he wanted was to find peace with himself - to hold himself together and reject the lust and hunger. 

Louis picked up his pace, in a hurry to get home. He needed a break from the chaos that always seemed to follow him, and the less time he stayed on the streets at night the better. 

There was a sudden scream for help that belonged to a male voice, forcing Louis to abruptly stop solid in his tracks. Anxiously, he scans the area, distinguishing the direction from where the voice came from. He wanted to keep moving and mind his business, but his conscience wouldn’t let him. 

There was another cry from the same person, this time louder and sounding more desperate. This time he was compelled to investigate, a nauseous feeling forming in the pit of his stomach. This is exactly the chaos that always seemed to follow him. 

He hurried across the street to an alley beside a diner, inevitably finding the source. His jaw dropped as his eyes fell on the morbid sight, then recognized the familiar female figure standing over the trembling body lying on the ground gasping for oxygen. 

“Fucking hell,” groans Louis as he runs over. He could truly never catch a break. 

His eyes go wide as he recognizes Vanessa, then taking a second glance at the young man lying on the ground, his throat torn open and bloodied and struggling to breathe as he takes his final breaths. 

“What the fuck did you do?” Louis demands an answer as he stands just a few feet away from her, infuriated. He crouches down to the ground next to the young man whose sad, empty eyes meet his. 

“Well, look who decided to show up,” Vanessa chuckles, rolling her spiteful eyes. “I don’t think I owe you an explanation,” she sneers, totally devoid of any empathy or common sense. He was her ex-boyfriend, but she wasn’t going to tell Louis that. 

“Do you have any idea what you've done?” he raised his voice, giving her a scornful look with piercing electric blue eyes. He turned his gaze back down to the boy, trying to think quickly about how to help him before it was too late. He attempted to draw his phone out of his pocket to call an ambulance, his hands trembling.

Vanessa snickers as Louis chastises her, which only exasperates him more.“Y’know, you only have to give him a drop of your blood to save him,” she sneers, trying to shrewdly give him an implication of what he had done to her. She watches him as he ignores her snide remark and eagerly dials the numbers on his phone, calling the police. But by the time any help would arrive the man would be lifeless.

“This isn’t how we do this.” He stands up and intimidatingly steps towards her, a little too close for comfort. 

“Isn’t it?” she mocks him as her brows frown across her forehead, “Because Stephen says different, but it’s not like you would know anything about that because you left me!” She fiercely fires back, raising her voice as her eyes lock onto his. “You left me there, Louis, alone and terrified, just to wake up around strangers,” her voice cracked, tears beginning to sting her eyes as her emotions started to take over. 

Louis’s face softened, the massive guilt started to plague him again as she uttered those words. He was still ashamed to have brought her into this. “I didn’t have much of a choice,” he says, tearing his gaze away from hers to the ground as the massive shame prevented him from looking at her in the eyes, “When you woke up you had to be around other vampires to make the transition easier. They were there to help you.” He lifts his doleful eyes back up to meet hers. Louis doesn’t know how else to explain it, knowing the excuses are getting old and tired. “I’m sorry for bringing you into this world. I really am,” his voice cracked as he finished the sentence, the extreme guilt written all over his face.

“You’re unbelievable,” Vanessa rolls her eyes and scoffs, pushing past him to leave as sirens were heard in the far distance. She hated the excuses and rejected the apology because it meant nothing to her. But she turns around, another thought entering her mind, turning a full 180 of the conversation. She swallowed back a lump in her throat as she pursed her lips, facing him again. “If you could just teach me how to control it. The hunger -- it hurts and it never ends,” Vanessa struggled to control her emotions as she spoke, her voice rising as she continued, “All I want to do is kill, and I don’t know how to stop.” She looks down at the body of the young man, motioning towards him as she finally confesses, “He was my ex-boyfriend.” 

Scowling and sighing, Louis crosses his arms over his chest as he meets her gaze. Though he felt slighted because she had just chastised him before. He eventually glances down at her ex lying on the ground, which evoked some compassion from him, realizing it was his responsibility to help her. 

“I can only help you so much,” he defeatedly utters, taking a step toward her, “You need to learn how to control yourself. It’s the only way to stop killing.” But it was easier said than done, and he knew this.

Before Louis could say anything else, the sirens became excruciatingly louder as they neared their location. He understood he had to get her out of here before she got caught in the middle of it. She’s done enough damage as it is and he was going to have to explain to Stephen either way.

“You need to leave before they come. They’ll be here any minute. I’ll handle this.” Louis made sure to reassure Vanessa, then ushered her to go before she could say anything as he remained standing protectively by the body that lay on the ground below him. 

Vanessa takes one last glance at Louis before she darts out of the alley. He could see the regret on her face, aware of what she did was wrong. But he continued to worry about her, sensing as if it was his responsibility because she wouldn’t be like this if it weren’t for him.

____

Niall walked along the street with Luke. He told Harry he would meet him back at the house eventually. Niall hadn’t realized how relieving and freeing it was to meet another ghost like him. They’re able to relate to each other and Niall’s able to vent his problems to him since Louis and Harry won’t be able to relate to the issues he has with being a ghost.

“So you’re saying I have unfinished business?” Niall questions Luke, trying to understand his point. “That’s why I’m stuck here?” 

“That’s right.” Luke nods, briefly turning his head to face him. “I’ve been here for over two decades and I haven’t figured it out either. That’s the thing with the afterlife, there're so many questions and so few answers.” 

He pauses, thinking, “But I don’t mind. There’s so much fun you’re able to have now.” Luke softly chuckles as he nudges him, trying to get his point across nonchalantly. 

“But doesn’t it get lonely?” Niall counters, wondering what Luke is so giddy about. He hated to even think about what his life was like before he met Louis and Harry.

Luke shrugs, “I mean, it does. But you get used to it over time.” He continued walking as Niall slowed down, deep in thought about what Luke had just said. But once he noticed, he hurried up to Luke who didn’t get that far ahead of him. 

“Doesn’t it bother you?” Luke begins, straying off to a different subject. 

“About what?” Niall regards him curiously, his eyebrows frowning across his forehead. 

“Your housemates. I mean, especially vampires.” Luke was careful how to word his sentence, especially knowing that werewolves were in a different situation and they couldn’t help it.

“Well, Harry does his thing in an abandoned postal warehouse so he doesn’t hurt anybody,” Niall explains, “But Louis’ on the wagon. He’s stopped.” He had a feeling that he sounded too hopeful, and also naive. 

“It doesn’t matter,” Luke criticized his optimistic attitude, “People still died for no reason other than to satisfy their hunger. Vampires have caused so much carnage.” He left a bitterness in the air around them, expressing how he truly felt and not holding back.

Niall just glanced at Luke but didn’t respond. He understood his point of view, almost agreeing with him.  

“You have to understand that vampires are out for themselves,” Luke continued, finishing his train of thought, “They always protect their own.” 

Niall wondered how Luke was so knowledgeable about them, but being a ghost for so long, he figured he had to have seen so much that Niall doesn’t know about. He thought he’s probably better off not knowing anyway as it would make him nauseous and he would regret finding out. 

Realizing they walked so far they eventually reached the house, Niall stopped in front of the door. He could only begin to imagine what time it was, considering how distracted he was in their conversation as they just walked through the night without caring. 

“Tomorrow we’re going to have some fun,” Luke announces, “I’m gonna teach you something new.” A smirk curves upon Luke’s face, eager for tomorrow. He truly felt grateful to have met Niall, and can’t remember the last time he wasn’t just another lonely ghost unseen by humans. 

____

As Harry made his way back home, he started to hear police and ambulance sirens that were not too far from his location. His curiosity getting the best of him, he darts in the direction of where they’re heading. 

Stopping dead in his tracks as he reached the dark alley full of police and the emergency medical technicians from the ambulance, he stayed a good distance before the police would stop him from coming any closer. But they already started to seal off the area well before he arrived.

Harry’s breath hitches in his throat as he sees a bloodied body of a young man lying on the ground. The blood was mostly around his neck and head, which gave Harry the sickening hunch, knowing what happened to him. As he continued to gape at the bloodied, graphic crime scene, he felt intense nausea which caused him to gag. He had to force himself to look away before he lost his recent meal. This is what he hated about vampires - all the unnecessary carnage. 

Leaving the scene as he stood there long enough in shock, Harry just wanted to get back home as soon as possible. Luckily for him, the pub that Louis had chosen tonight wasn’t far and was only ten minutes away. Harry had to get his mind off the crime scene, knowing it would continue to sicken him if he didn’t. 

Harry steps through the door and closes it behind him. Turning around, he notices Louis sitting in the blue armchair, brooding -- appearing as if he’d been hit by a truck. Harry thought of trying to talk to him, but then he realized he shouldn’t, given Louis’s obvious physical and mental state. 

Consumed by the agonizing incident with Vannesa, Louis doesn’t acknowledge Harry as his eyes remained glued to the floor. He didn’t even realize Harry was home at first. The tremendous guilt had taken full control, drowning in it as he sat there silently in the armchair for what felt like hours even though little time had passed by. 

Tossing and turning and unable to achieve a full night’s sleep, Louis’s eyes peel open to his window, seeing that the sun has just started to rise, peaking over the horizon. Though to him, it was way too early to be awake, he knew he wasn’t going to be able to fall back asleep. 

Groggily, Louis turns on his back, expelling a breath he forgot that he was holding. His eyes fixate on the ceiling, deep in thought about everything that happened last night - as if he hadn’t been processing it enough already overnight. The guilt was never-ending, and it was to the point that it was nauseating.  

But he knew that he had to start his day. The only way to keep his mind distracted from the hunger and to achieve normalcy was through a daily routine he had to sort out. 

____

Sitting on the park bench alongside Luke, Niall continues to watch all the people and vehicles passing by on the bustling street. It wasn’t particularly chilly, so there were enough people around in the park roaming and lingering about minding their own business. 

“Choose anyone walking around and I want you to focus on them,” Luke instructs Niall, showing him the abilities he has as a ghost. He was teaching him how to read aurae. 

Niall scans the area around them, trying to make a random selection of someone walking by. His eyes landed on a young man hurrying across the street in their direction to the nearest tube station. He had a cross-body satchel and his clothes were messy and disheveled - like he’d fallen in a rain puddle. He was distressed as if his day couldn’t have become any worse. 

Sensing his negative energy, Niall could read his underlying problems the longer he focused on the young man. There were different sensory details, mostly gloomy colors that surrounded him, especially pulsing around his head.

“He’s been having a very bad day,” Niall says, continuing his observation, “I think he’s been laid off from his job and is afraid to tell his family.” Tearing his gaze away from the man, Niall turns to Luke, waiting for him to acknowledge if he did it right. 

A proud smile forms across Luke’s face. “Now you know how to read aura’s.” He thought they’d have a bit of fun before he turns their time together more seriously. The main goal was trying to figure out what Niall’s unfinished business could be, but it wasn’t going to be easy. 

As they walk aimlessly down the street, Luke figures out a question that could set Niall on the right path. His hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers and his eyes on the ground, Luke looked up at Niall to finally ask him since Niall felt more comfortable around him now.

“Do you mind me asking how you died?” 

Shifting uncomfortably as he became anxious, Niall hesitates to answer the question at first. He always hated to think about it, and he could only remember so much until it became fuzzy in his memory, “I was struck in the head from behind,” Niall’s voice was timid and lower than usual. He kept his eyes on the ground before him as he kept walking, trying to find a focal point to keep the peace within himself, sensing the apprehension as it was tough for him to utter those words at first. He didn’t know if ghosts could feel nauseous or sick, but he felt as if he could be. 

Luke gaped at him incredulously for a moment, his jaw hanging open and his eyes wide. He was speechless. “Wow,” he croaks, finally managing a reaction, “That’s rough.” Knowing that Niall was killed in his own home, narrows down the possibilities for who it could have been and how it relates to why he's still stuck here. 

As they both continued to stroll down the street, police sirens could be heard in the distance. Thinking nothing of it, they both eventually reached the area that was being barricaded, surrounded by an ambulance and police cars in front of the row of homes, and one, in particular, had a mass presence of police by the steps up to the front door.

Coming to an immediate halt, Niall can’t help but stop and stare from the distance as his eyes land on a familiar female figure rushing out of the house with a policeman behind her. Niall immediately recognized her from the news yesterday, causing his blood to run cold, remaining frozen in his footsteps. He had unintentionally disregarded Luke for the time being, who stood with him but watched him curiously wondering why Niall was so miffed.

The one police officer standing in the street approached her, reaching out to grab her arms as he was visibly frustrated by her. His words were barely heard by Niall and Luke, only picking up on some brash words as the man raised his voice as he chastised her. As soon as he instructs her to step away and points to where, she quickly hides behind the police vehicle, disappearing from Niall and Luke’s sight.  

The police officer turns to him and Luke’s direction, his eyes intensely landing on the two of them as a smirk formed across his face. It takes Niall off guard at first, realizing that he could see them both clear as day, which caused him to grow uncomfortable as his intimidating gaze focused on them, mouthing some words that Niall didn’t understand as he struggled to read his lips.

“Let’s get outta here,” begs Luke, beckoning Niall to follow him as he begins to turn around to escape the situation. He grabs Niall’s bicep, trying to wake him up and pull him back to follow. 

____

Sitting across from Louis in the cafe, Harry was telling him an amusing story from a previous time in his life -- before everything got complicated. They both sat there, laughing, waiting for their server to return with their entrees. 

“And that is why I’m afraid of sea urchins now when I go to the beach,” Harry finishes, half-smile curling upon his lips, trying to stifle another chuckle. He sits upright in his chair, resting his arms on the table and folding his hands. 

“You don’t seem to have the best of luck with sea creatures,” Louis teased him, inferring from what Harry had told him during their time together. 

Harry shook his head as he couldn’t stop himself from blushing because he was slightly embarrassed. He may have exaggerated some parts a little, but he still thought the story was ridiculous enough.  

Stepping outside for a smoke, Louis stands underneath the awning, out of the direct sunlight that blazed down. He held the cigarette between his fingers as he fished for the lighter in his pocket. As much as he knew how terrible of an addiction it is, it was a distraction from the bloodlust. Still being in the early stages, sitting in that cafe surrounded by heartbeats that were starting to thrum in his ears was almost enough to drive him mad. 

“Oh thank god.”

The familiar female voice startled him, causing him to accidentally drop his lighter on the ground. Spinning his head in the direction of the voice, Vanessa hurries toward him, distressed, as if she was running away from something. 

“What are you doing here?” Louis’s voice was brusque as he stood back up from snatching his lighter off the cement. All he needed right now was for Harry to find out and ruin any efforts at mending their relationship. 

“Louis, I really need your help!” 

“We can’t keep meeting like this," Louis holds his arm out to catch her as she approaches him with haste. He guides her backward out of the view of the window to avoid being seen. He scans their surroundings, then meets her frantic, hazel eyes, He felt like he was being a bit paranoid, afraid of potential onlookers. 

She gasps for air to catch her breath from running, “You need to help me stop killing,” Vanessa desperately pleads, lowering her quivering voice, "Stephen, he-he’s trying to use me to get you to come back.” 

“Is he now?” Louis’ eyebrows quirked up and he glowered, becoming agitated. He rolls his eyes. 

Vanessa quickly nods in response, but she then deadpans as she steps closer to him. They were only a few inches apart, almost too close for comfort for Louis, “You made me like this so you need to help me,” she seethes, unintentionally raising her voice as she grows frustrated with her condition. 

Before Louis could figure out any response, he couldn’t help but recognize out of his peripheral vision Harry standing six feet away by the door of the cafe. 

Inadvertently, Harry discovered what was taking Louis so long. Louis gulps as they uncomfortably make eye contact, and Vanessa turns around to see who he was staring at.

“You weren’t going to introduce me?” Harry uses sarcasm as his eyebrows frown across his forehead. He gestures at Vanessa, perplexed, and growing irked. He crosses his arms over his chest as he frowns and watches Louis stand there, petrified and abashed because he was caught. 

She steps toward Harry to introduce herself, “It’s Vanessa,” she haughtily grins with pride in herself. But it takes no time for her face to twist into disgust as she smelt and realized what Harry is. She immediately takes a step backward toward Louis. 

“Wait, A werewolf?” she scoffs, repulsed, putting her arms up in defense. She briefly glances at Louis, confused. 

Offended, Harry responds with a look of disappointment directed at Louis. There was a sense of betrayal Harry felt, his heart dropping knowing that Louis betrayed his trust, previously hopeful that things could finally change between them for the better. 

“I’ll see you back at the house,” Harry says with a small, grave voice as his lips form into a tight scowl. He steps backward and promptly spins around to leave before Louis could say anything. Harry could feel a sense of anger build up inside him at every step he took, rolling his hands into fists.

“Harry!” Louis interjects, beckoning him to come back so he could explain, but Harry ignored his call. He turns back to Vanessa apologetically, but she mouthed the word “Go,” rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. 

____

Niall and Luke sat on the sofa in the living room, chatting about Niall’s life before he died. Luke was determined to help him figure out his unfinished business, and as Niall continued to go into detail about his relationship with his fianceé, the closer they got.

The door swung open, startling Niall and Luke, their heads snapping in the same direction to see Harry, pissed off. Louis was not too far behind him, seemingly out of breath as he had followed Harry back.

Reading the room as it fell eerily silent, Luke felt he needed to leave. He wasn’t about to be caught in the middle of an argument. Niall apologizes to him as Luke excuses himself from the situation.

Fuming, Harry slams the door shut. His jaw clenched and his hands formed into fists. Without thinking, he storms Louis, shoving him backward, “What the fuck is wrong with you?” he thundered, boiling with anger and the heat rising in his face. His blood pressure rose fast, his patience running short.

Taken completely off-guard, Louis almost stumbles backward. Taken by surprise, he underestimated how strong Harry is. 

“What’s the point of us trying to create a normal life here when you keep attacking people and turning them into monsters?” Harry’s voice trembled as he raised it, feeling betrayed. He wanted to think differently from Louis, but now it’s all changed. 

Louis’s face falls, seeing Harry’s demeanor towards him change drastically. Harry had finally softened up to him, but Louis knows he now ruined it and any chance he had at improving their relationship. He knew they were tired of hearing him apologizing because apologies mean nothing if the situation doesn’t improve.

“It's not that easy,” he seethed, emphasizing his words. He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, “and I don’t ever get a break from it.” His sad eyes meet Harry’s, who remains cold and distant. Louis continued to rant, quickly raising his stern voice. His eyes remained locked onto Harry’s, “Every day of my life is a struggle. You have no idea what it’s like!” As he grew more aggravated, he didn’t think twice before saying those last words that had struck a nerve with Harry.

Harry gaped at him as he grew more enraged by the second. He was unable to believe the words that Louis spoke so thoughtlessly as if his own life was easy either. “Oh fuck you, Louis,” he angrily spat, crossing his arms, unable to control his temper any longer, “Of course I fucking know what it’s like.” Harry’s eyes were like daggers that pierced through Louis as he stood three feet away, who was completely flabbergasted. 

Louis wanted to retort, but he held himself back from saying anything he knew he’d regret later. 

Niall who was floored, stood there in silence as the conversation was between Harry and Louis and he wasn’t able to get a word in as they both argued. He was unable to believe the spiteful words that rolled off Harry’s tongue, having never heard him use such strong language before. 

“You’re just like the rest of them, and I should have known,” Harry finishes as he shakes his head in disappointment. 

Louis had no idea what Harry meant, but hearing those words was like a punch to his gut. He felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him, rendering him speechless for a few moments. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Louis takes a step toward Harry, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyebrows frown across his forehead in bewilderment. As far as he was aware, Louis was the only vampire that Harry personally knew, so why Harry would just assume is beyond him. 

Harry scoffs, turning away from him. He didn't answer the question, and instead, the room fell silent. 

Louis turns to Niall with the same confused look on his face. He thought Niall would know what Harry was talking about, but Niall just shrugged, also with a puzzled look. He hadn’t the faintest idea, either. 

“I think this discussion is finished. I’m heading out.” Without giving either of them a chance to say anything, Harry turns around, swinging the door open, and abruptly leaves. He needed fresh air and to clear his head. But if Harry could be honest with himself, he didn’t know how to feel. He was dealing with a mixture of emotions, from sadness to anger. It was times like this he wished he was able to talk to his mum and seek her advice. 

Louis starts to chase after Harry, but Niall’s voice stops him in his tracks. 

“Let him go. He’ll tell us when he wants to.” 

As much as he wanted to know now, he knew Niall was right. Neither of them was in the right frame of mind to continue this discussion either. They both needed to cool off. Louis swears in Latin, remembering what he had planned to do before Harry dragged him home to chastise him. 

Niall gapes at him, baffled, hearing the foreign word slip off his tongue so freely. 

“Since when have you known Latin?” 

Louis softly chuckles as he opens the door to leave. He turns back to face Niall to answer his question, “Back in my day, Latin was one of the most common languages.” With a smirk, Louis winks at him and leaves before any more follow-up questions could be asked, especially those that could suggest his age. 

____

“You will leave Vanessa alone!” Louis loudly demands as he barges through the doors of the abandoned funeral parlor, fuming. 

“Well look who finally decided to show his face.” Stephen appeared around the dark corner of the room with a smug grin. He wore a black suit, his dark, ebony hair combed back. He continues to take several more steps toward Louis, watching him carefully.

“You need to leave her alone.” Trying to control his temper, Louis stands there four feet apart from him. The altercation with Harry only caused him to have a short fuse already. His hands rolled into tight fists, his jaw clenching.

Stephen takes a few steps, pacing around the room, rolling his eyes before giving Louis a response. “You think you can just march in here and make these demands when you were the one who left her there in the first place?” Stephen stops right behind the desk at the front, locking his gaze on Louis. “Now you're fuming that your actions backfired on you.” 

With the mass of guilt punching him again, Louis stands there in silence as his eyes dropped to the floor, unable to gather a response right away. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew Stephen was right. But his guilty conscience prevented him from staying there.

“It would have been fine if you recruited her, but you completely abandoned her,” Stephen almost finishes his piece, tired of this conversation already as if he was scolding him, “Knowing you, I thought you would’ve known better.” He shrugs, visibly disappointed.

“She came to me begging for help, and told me what you’re doing,” Louis agitatedly retorts, “And I’m not coming back.” He sharply turns back around to leave before Stephen could respond.

“You just don’t get it, do you? You’ll eventually end this pointless charade of trying to be human,” Stephen adds his last zing, trying to get through to him as Louis began to storm out, “You can keep running but you can’t hide from it forever. You need to stop fighting it and embrace what you are, Tomlinson.”

Hearing the manipulative words, Louis tried not to let it affect him because it would only embolden Stephen and feed into the chaos he craved. He was not about to be sucked back into the world he’s been trying to escape. 

____

Sitting in the living room, Louis had invited Vanessa to the house so they could talk, but in a more private setting. Since vampires can’t enter a home without being invited in, he was reluctant, but there weren’t many other options. 

“Can’t I just live off of what’s donated to the hospitals?” she asks the next question on her mind with desperation.  She could see Louis growing more exasperated as the time passed between them. 

Annoyed, Louis shakes his head, “Don’t you think I’d be doing that if it were possible? It’s not the same,” he pauses for a breath, thinking carefully, “It has to be fresh from the kill, which is why the only option is to stop altogether and go clean.”  

Defeated, Vanessa sits back, deflating into the sofa. Her glassy eyes met Louis’ who sat diagonal to her in the armchair. She crosses her arms over her chest and presses her lips together into a firm scowl. 

“Look, you wanted my help so I’m trying to help you,” he added.

She draws in a sharp breath and reaches over to her handbag that sat on the coffee table, unzipping it and slipping her hand inside. Her eyes drop down to the table as she draws out the object that was a sharpened piece of wood.

“I think there’s only one way.” Her dismal eyes met Louis’ whose go wide as his eyes fixated on the stake in her hand. She stands up and he looks up at her in disbelief.

“What? No,” he eagerly shook his head, “I can’t.” 

Vanessa takes a step toward him, holding the stake out for him to take. Desperation was in her bleak eyes as if she was giving up.

“Please, Louis,” she begs him, her voice cracking from being so raspy, her throat burning from trying to hold the tears in her eyes back, “It’s the only way. I can’t live like this.” 

He stands up, being face to face with her. He lifts his hand and pushes hers down holding the stake in her hand, “You’ll get through this.” His hand worked its way around hers, trying to take the stake out of her hand, “I’ll be with you every step of the way.” 

She shakes her head, becoming aggravated as she leans closer to him. “You don’t get it? I never asked for this in the first place.” Her voice becomes slightly raised and still strained. 

Louis stands there, speechless. Seeing her in despair prevented him from uttering a response because inside he was conflicted and also exasperated. He finally takes the stake from her hand.

“This is your fault,” Vanessa spat, taking a step backward, “You made me like this.” She snatches her handbag off the table and turns around to leave, “But you’re a coward,” she scoffs, finishing. 

This set him off. He chased after her, his grip on the stake in his hand tightening -- but he held himself back. 

“I’m not a bloody coward,” Louis seethes, almost gritting through his teeth. If he wasn’t stressed out already, this started to infuriate him. 

The front door started to unlock, causing Louis and Vanessa to freeze in their footsteps as they waited, only for Harry to be revealed as he stepped inside. Louis continues to stand there, soundless as his jaw fell slightly agape, watching Harry. He didn’t expect him to be home so soon. 

“Close your mouth, you’ll catch flies,” Harry coolly jokes as he notices Louis staring at him. Harry hangs his jacket up on the hook and starts to walk past him into the kitchen.

Closing his mouth and clenching his jaw, Louis understood that his and Vanessa’s conversation can’t continue now that Harry’s home. He didn’t feel comfortable discussing it in Harry’s presence. 

“Let’s go,” Louis ushers Vanessa to leave before she could remark Harry showing up, “We’ll go somewhere else.” 

“Why don’t you both get along?" This was the first question Vanessa asked as they walked down the street. She briefly glanced upward at him, waiting for a response.

Louis shrugged, not knowing how to answer the question at first. He, himself, didn't know either. He’s only been able to make assumptions based on what Harry has said to him in the past, “It’s a long story.”

Disinterested, she doesn’t ask any more questions about his relationship with Harry. But she knew he was a werewolf, anyway.

Seeing they’re coming up to an entrance to a narrow pathway, Vanessa abruptly grabs his hand. Before he could object, she sharply turned the corner, pulling him along.

“Vanessa-”

She shushes him as she keeps walking, keeping a firm grip on his hand to prevent him from escaping. 

As she slows down, Louis starts to grow queasy, realizing where she’s taken him. They were far from the street, and out of view from anyone. He didn’t like to consider the possibility of her intentions. 

Having taken the stake from him while they were walking, she gulps as she stops in place and holds it up to hand it back to him. This time with persistence as she stared right into his eyes with desperation again, her eyes filling with tears that almost spilled onto her flushed cheeks. 

“Please,” were the only words to leave her mouth with a mousy, trembling voice as she fought back the tears, “You’re the only one that I trust to do this.”

Uncomfortably avoiding eye contact with her, Louis gradually takes the piece of wood from her hands. He usually hated killing other vampires and only did it if it was necessary. This was going to hurt him the most.

Swallowing hard, he holds it up, aiming towards her chest. His eyes flick up to meet hers. The minute that passed between them was intense and heavyhearted, every second that passed by seeming to worsen the sentiment. Wanting to stop wasting any more time, Louis forces himself to go through with it.

Weakly crying out, Vanessa doesn’t look down as the stake is driven through her chest. A single tear leaves the duct of her one eye and runs down her already flushed cheeks.

He catches her in his arms as she loses her balance, falling backward. Vanessa looks at him straight in his doleful eyes.

“Thank you,” were the final two words she breathlessly managed as she felt her imminent death. But she embraces it, a smile forming across her face as it comes.

Before Louis could say anything, her body dissipates into cinders. The frigid breeze swirls around him, carrying them away in the icy air. 

Vanessa being dead doesn’t clear his guilty conscience -- instead, it only exacerbates it. He takes a deep sigh, standing up. The only remedy that would provide relief and comfort right now was a drink, and that’s exactly where he was headed.