Chapter Text
“Wait, but don’t vampires, like, die if they come near sunlight?”
That has to be one of the dumbest things Zayn has ever heard.
The professor chuckled softly, adjusting his glasses as he leaned against the podium. “Good question! You’re not entirely wrong. A lot of classic media has portrayed sunlight as fatal for vampires. Take ‘Nosferatu’, for example…” He paused, clearly enjoying the moment as he gestured dramatically.
Zayn couldn’t help but roll his eyes slightly. It was always the same few references. “It’s one of the earliest films to show a vampire dying because of sunlight,” the professor continued. “But just because some of those films claim that vampires burst into flames at the first hint of daylight doesn’t mean it’s the absolute truth, does it?”
A student in the front row, Callum, raised his hand, his voice shaky but eager. “Um, actually… in some of the older films, they can survive sunlight, but they get weaker, like really weak, y’know?” Callum stammered, clearly nervous but trying his best.
A small smile formed on Zayn's face, grateful that at least this boy had a modicum of sense. He could feel a bit of respect growing for the class, maybe they weren’t all as clueless as he thought.
“Brilliant point, Callum. You see, vampires have been represented in all sorts of strange ways, right?” The professor’s enthusiasm grew as he paced. “But the reality of their existence remains shrouded in mystery. We’ll never really know, will we? Their kind has been gone for centuries now. All those old texts? They’re written in a language long since forgotten—one only they could decipher.”
Zayn’s thoughts drifted. That mysterious language was a jumble of intricate glyphs that might as well have been hieroglyphics for a human. He had a passing familiarity with it, but most days it felt like an echo. He’d long since decided to embrace his human facade, even if part of him still yearned for the complexity of his past.
Just then, a voice interrupted his musings. “Is there really any chance a human could decipher it?” Liam, the lad with the quiff, piped up, looking hopeful. Zayn had seen him around but hadn’t really spoken to him. There was an intensity in Liam’s gaze, and Zayn couldn’t help but be curious about what drove him to ask.
The professor leaned in, a curious glint in his eye. “Hmm, it’s not impossible, Liam,” he replied with a grin. “But let me tell you, you’d need to be oddly committed—like, Macbeth-level dedicated!” His joke landed well, laughter echoing through the room. Zayn noticed the determination in Liam’s expression, and it intrigued him.
Interesting, Zayn thought, but before he could ponder it any longer, the bell rang. Students surged out of their seats, scrambling to gather their things amidst the chatter.
“These cattle really don’t have a clue, do they?” a voice came from beside him while he shoved his notes into his bag.
“Oi, let’s not be too harsh! They’re trying,” another voice chimed in, a playful tone in his voice.
Not needing to look, Zayn could tell it was Louis and Niall, his best mates he'd known for decades…literally.
“Honestly, you’re far too generous, Niall,” Zayn shot back, smirking as he slung his bag over his shoulder. “Did you hear that one lad who thought all vampires slept in coffins?”
“And let’s not forget the one who thought they howled at the full moon like a bunch of prats!” Louis added, chuckling.
“Alright, alright, enough banter! You lot aren’t helping my case here,” Niall sighed dramatically, raising his hands in mock defeat. “Can we just go get some lunch? I’m absolutely knackered and starving”
“When aren’t you, mate?” Louis teased, unable to contain his laughter.
As they navigated through the bustling halls, Zayn glanced around, his attention drawn to Liam again, who was busy chatting animatedly with a tall bloke sporting curly hair. Harry, right. He’d heard Niall mention him more than once, and the two seemed exceptionally close.
“Oi, Harry!” Niall called out, excitement in his voice.
“Hey, Niall! Where you off to?” Harry replied brightly, beaming as he waved.
“Just heading to grab lunch with the lads. What about you?”
Zayn and Louis stood off to the side, watching Niall as he chatted away with the other. It wasn’t that Zayn and Louis were unfriendly, they just weren’t as adept at socialising as Niall, who had a knack for connecting with humans. Niall was a dhampir—a hybrid of human and vampire—which is why he can so easily interact with them. His mum was human, while his dad was a vampire, which didn’t exactly sit well with purists. Zayn thought it was absurd, to be honest. Humans falling for hellhounds? It was risky business, and far too many of them seemed unaware of the danger.
Lost in thought, Zayn suddenly felt a gaze on him. He looked up to find Liam—the boy from earlier—watching him with a curious expression. The moment their eyes locked, Zayn could hear a quickening of Liam’s heartbeat, a small thrill sparking within him as he noticed the crimson flush that crept up the boy’s neck. The scent of his blood wafted through the air, unexpectedly intoxicating. Zayn could chalk it up to his hunger, couldn't he?
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare,” Liam stammered, his cheeks still tinted.
“It’s all good, Liam, right?” Zayn replied, feigning casualness even though he definitely remembered Liam’s name.
“Uhh, yeah! How do you know?” Liam tilted his head, a hint of confusion dancing on his brow.
“Lucky guess,” Zayn quipped with a grin, enjoying the way Liam’s expression shifted. “Nah, I’m just messing with you. We’re in the same history class.”
“Oh, right! I’ve never noticed we shared a period,” Liam admitted, a bit sheepish.
“Yeah, I’m not exactly the chatty type, so I can see why,” Zayn said, half-joking.
Liam chuckled softly. “I’ve never caught your name, by the way.”
“Ah, it’s Zayn,” he said, feeling a strange flutter in his stomach when Liam smiled. It was probably just his hunger talking again, or so he told himself.
“Zayn, what a cool name! Does it have a meaning?”
“Yeah, actually. It means beauty in Arabic,” Zayn said, trying to mask the embarrassment creeping up on him.
“What a fitting name,” Liam whispered, clearly thinking he was out of earshot. But Zayn’s acute senses picked up every word, stirring something unfamiliar in him. He definitely needed to distract himself before these urges took hold.
“Zayn, you ready to go?” Niall called from where he stood with Harry. Thank goodness for that, Zayn thought, needing an exit strategy.
“Sure, um, I’ll see you around, Leeyum, yeah?” he replied, slipping into an unexpected cheekiness.
“Yeah, see ya!” Liam waved, his usual warm smile lingering as Zayn walked away. Without fully understanding why, Zayn found himself smiling back.
“Oi, what was that about?” Louis nudged him once they were out of view of the others.
“What was what about?” Niall chimed in, eyebrow raised.
“Zaynie here was being unusually cheery with that human back there! I reckon he might fancy him,” Louis teased, poking Zayn in the side.
“Don’t be daft,” Zayn shot back, shoving Louis away in mock annoyance as he tried to redirect his focus.
“There’s nothing wrong with that! If Zayn fancies a human, then let him fancy a human!” Niall chimed in, giving Zayn an encouraging pat on the back.
“Oh, shut it, Niall! We all know what you think,” Louis retorted, sticking his tongue out, prompting Niall to gasp and flip him off playfully. Zayn sighed, trying to block out their banter.
As if. Like he’d ever fall for a human.