Dread -n.h.

five

I had several other dates with Liam and he was a delight. He kept me great company and was amazing to me. Although, I couldn't help but feel the drag from my last relationship with Niall. He still burned inside my head and my heart, but Liam felt like a brief relief from the pain. 

It wasn't for several weeks that Liam invited me to a special event with him. 

"Would you like to attend a masquerade ball at the palace? Niall is hosting his friends, all of them will be there. I would really love it if you could attend." he asked as we sat on his couch of his apartment. 

Several reasons told me to say no. I would be risking my identity to Liam through Harry, Zayn, and most importantly Niall. What would happen if he recognized me? Would I be in danger? 

I thought about the reflection I was so proud of at the restaurant. 

I was not scared.

"Yeah! I would love to join you!" I responded. Liam smiled and turned back towards the television.

I was going to get my last few stitches out today, so I figured I could talk to Zayn about the ball. He was always looking out for my well-being. 

Liam walked me to the hospital and sat down in the waiting room while I walked back with Zayn.

"So are you still going by Taylor or can I call you by your real name?" Zayn asked, slightly disappointed. 

"How would you know is Tristan was even my real name? Plus, I'm a new woman, please call me by my new name." I responded. 

He led me into a sterilized room with a small table set up for stitch removal. 

"I am worried about you, Tris-" he sighed, "Taylor. Seriously, can I give you a check-up after we finish the stitches? I am worried about your physical state." 

I nodded in response but took a seat next to the table as he did the same. 

"Are you going to that masquerade ball Niall is hosting?" I asked out of the blue. Zayn paused his work. 

"How do you know about that?" he asked, scrunching his eyebrows. 

" Liam asked me to go." I said. Zayn leaned back. 

"That is a bad idea. You with Liam is a bad idea. Actually, everything that has happened in the last few weeks with you has been a bad idea. 

"What if Liam talked to Niall about his new girlfriend? What happens if Niall figures out where you disappeared to? What happens if Harry recognizes you? Have you thought about any of these possibilities?" he asked. I nodded although I was unbothered by his questioning. 

"I am not really worried about that. I figured you could talk to the guys before they saw me there, excluding Niall of course." 

"And what happens when he sees you? His family is ready to kill you since you almost costed them their line of succession. Niall is dedicated to his family and his new job."

"Last time I was here you told me Niall was falling in love with me, that he was still the same deep down." I said, confused. 

"And I believe that still. I mean, Niall is a great lad. He really, really cares about you."

"He left me in a hotel room all alone. He then went on a widely-broadcasted platform to degrade and ruin my name. How in the hell does that translate to caring to you?" I asked. Zayn might have been helping external wounds heal but he was reopening an internal one. 

"Niall couldn't have meant what he said. He told me about you and I was convinced you two would last forever. That also is why it concerns me you are dating one of Niall's greatest friends. Are you trying to get yourself in the worst position possible?" Zayn asked. I shrugged. 

"It feels good to be bad. I have been too good all my life, and now I'm different." 

"Speaking of that. Where did you...?" Zayn sweeped his hand over me as I sat on the table. 

"A witch! Isn't that crazy?" I asked, giggling slightly. 

"No! How did she do it? She most likely has never seen a mortal before! She should have no knowledge of you. This means our connection to the mortal world is becoming weak and could someday open and...who knows what could happen?"Zayn was flustered. 

"I don't care how she did it, but I need some information on my actual being. Niall said something about being immortal? And I need to know if there are like any allergies or..." Zayn gave me a look. "I don't know! Is there anything I do need to know now?"

"Well, you are immortal, but you will age. At a certain age, you won't really be functional in your physical body, and most demons at that age either retire their physical form and remain in Endland or move to the surface to continue their torment. I recommend the previous but that's your call. Other things you need to know... oh, it should be obvious you can't come into contact with any religious pieces, and any return to the mortal world will be monitored."

"By who?" I asked.

"You know who." Zayn said and then turned around. He grabbed a few medical supplies and wheeled back over to me. He completed the physical exam and came to the conclusion that I was in fact a demon. He was disappointed. 

"So can you talk to Harry and Louis about me coming to the ball?" I asked before we left the room. 

"I guess. I mean, what are you trying to get out of this?" 

"I don't know. Maybe it's my way of trying to get over Niall. Maybe I need to see that he is over me." 

"Why are you doing this to Liam? Do you really care about him or is he your way of getting back at Niall?" Zayn asked. He seem genuinely concerned. 

"I do care about Liam, he is so sweet and kind and cares a lot about me. Plus, he is cute. I wish I could find somebody not connected to Niall. Liam is a doll. Can I please pursue him?"

"As long as you aren't planning on using him to hurt Niall or vice versa. Seriously, I care about both of them."

I nodded and we left the room. 

"I will speak to the guys. Ill see you in a few days." Zayn whispered to me as we walked down the hallway. I smiled and thanked him. 

Liam grinned when we walked into the waiting room. 

"Hey! Thanks bud, it really means a lot that you take such good care of us here. You're the best." Liam shook Zayn's hand and Zayn smiled and threw a look at me. I smiled as well and it wasn't long before Liam and I walked out of the hospital.