Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Twenty One

"She's not actually dead, she's just dead to him." Delilah whispered back, turning her head to face him. Neither of them paid much thought to lack of distance between their bodies. Their noses were nearly touching. At the blank look on his face, she sighed a bit. A waft of peppermint and the smell of dust after rain hit him and he shifted a bit on his feet, absentmindedly leaning a bit more towards her. "Their love is dead, and in a way, it's killed him too." She was met with an eyebrow raised and she chuckled, "you're hopeless, Riddle."

"Folks, now that you have heard my story
Say, boy, hand me another shot of that booze;
If anyone should ask you
You just tell 'em I've got those St. James Infirmary blues"

As soon as Lolita finished, the room rang out with applause and whistles, effectively severing whatever bubble Tom and Delilah had created around themselves.

The urge to call out to him bubbled in her chest as she watched him walk away towards Pyrrhus, she wanted to ask him about the Ministry. But perhaps it was for the best she missed her opportunity.

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Delilah was about to turn down an isle in the library when someone grabbed hold of her elbow, whirling her around into some corner. "Hey," she blinked and barely registered the two people in front of her. "What?" She said dumbly, yanking her arm out of Xan's hold.

He shared a glance with Katerina before settling his steely eyes on the blonde. "Why are you still hanging around with that lot? With him?" His voice was filled with disdain and she raised a brow, but with one look at Katerina, she paled.

Shaking her head, Delilah crossed her arms and cleared her throat. "That was never confirmed."

"Never confirmed?" Katerina hissed slightly, trying to keep her voice down. She was looking at Delilah as if she had two heads. "Did you not see my back? Did you not see Xan's?"

"Look, anyone-"

"No, not anyone. Not just anyone is capable of fucking branding someone, Pontmercy. We heard them, clear as day, and you continue to deny the blatant truth." Xan poked her harshly in the shoulder and she collided with the bookshelf behind her. "Why defend them?"

"I'm not defending them!" A few students sent glares their way and Delilah clenched her jaw and rubbed at her eyes, a headache was starting to form in the back of her skull. "I'm just saying, you've no proof-"

"Proof? Are you joking? Would you like to see the words carved into my back, or have you forgotten?" Katerina stared at her incredulously. Delilah was a kind girl, but utterly blind to the facts surrounding her. Just then the library door opened and Xan peered around the corner, a sudden fire to his eyes.

"What has he ever done for you to earn your defense, hm?"

Delilah followed where he was looking and spotted Tom speaking to the librarian. Shutting her eyes tightly again, she shook her head and looked back at Xan, not having the faintest clue what to say. She didn't want to answer that question, because she knew the answer. Tom's done nothing to earn her sticking up for him.

"Go on and ask him," Katerina waved her hand but Delilah shook her head again. "I already did."

"And let me guess, he denied it? Well then, ask him about this," she leaned in towards Delilah, her breath sending nervous shivers down her spine. "Ask him who the Knights of Walpurgis are. I dare you. Ask any one of those boys you call your friends. See how they try to scramble for an excuse, then."

And with that, Xan grabbed Katerina's hand and they left Delilah standing there, completely aghast with the sudden shift in the air.

Delilah lost control of her shaking legs and slumped to the floor, burying her head in her knees, trying to steady her breath.