Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Twenty One

That was Tom's chair, but of course she didn't know that. He looked at her for a moment as he made his way to the mantle, leaning an arm on the carved stone as he stared at Delilah. Why was she here? What could be so important? His mind went back to the day in the forest, but no that couldn't be it. If it was, there was no way in hell she'd be this calm.

"I have a question." Her voice rang around the room, severing the silence around them. Her heart was beating at an annoyingly quick rate. She shouldn't be this nervous to ask a simple question. And perhaps she wasn't. Delilah was more nervous to hear the answer, she didn't think she wanted to.

Lighting a cigarette, it dangled between his teeth as he let out a puff of smoke, "go on." His curiosity was peaked, he couldn't ignore that, but honestly what was so important? Why couldn't she have waited till morning? He watched as her foot tapped and she twirled that bloody necklace between her fingers. He hated that necklace, every time Tom saw the blasted piece of jewelry, it felt as if it was taunting him.

All she had to do was say it, simple as that. Ask him who the Knights of Walpurgis are. But the longer she looked at him, with the fire light casting half of him in shadow, she just couldn't. Not yet.

"I might not... be around by the time summer gets here. So I was just wondering when you needed a final answer about France." She rubbed her eyes in annoyance at herself, but feigned it as being tired. God, why was she such an idiot?

He blinked at her before tapping the cigarette on an ashtray, watching the way the ashes crumbled into a pile. "Might not be around, meaning what? Have you already got a job offer?" His surprised tone irked her slightly but she shrugged it off with a wave of her hand.

"No no, nothing like that. Just, family business." Delilah said slowly, inwardly cringing at her own wording and lack of reasoning. She should've practiced a back up plan.

He raised a brow, "family business?" Tom's probably only heard her talk about her family a handful of times. Delilah nodded and leaned back in the chair, trying her best to come off as casual, even though she was mentally freaking out, "Yeah, because of the war." Chewing the inside of her thumb, she was sure she sounded ridiculous.

He sighed slightly through his nose before stubbing out his cigarette, "I don't know why you came to me, it's not my place we're staying at." For some reason, she felt a jab of disappointment at his lack of a reaction to her leaving. "How long will you be gone? The poor boys will be heartbroken." He didn't let himself snicker at the image of Elio having to watch his ex girlfriend leave him.

Again.

Delilah glared at him for his seemingly apathetic attitude towards the situation. But really, what was she expecting? Tears? That was laughable.

"No, well I uh... I won't be coming back. Ever. So, just wondering." She cleared her throat and scratched at the back of her neck, her eyes looking anywhere else but at him.

Tom grew rigid almost instantly, as if someone had put a body binding jinx on him. His eyes bore into the side of her face, seeing as she turned away from him. His mind felt like it was moving a mile a minute as he tried to process what she'd just said. Not ever coming back? The mere thought of not seeing Delilah's stupid face ever again set an uncomfortable nerve off in his chest.

"Where are you going, may I ask?"

She barely missed a beat as she looked back at his coffee brown eyes, "home."

"Home," Tom muttered to himself. If she was going home, why would that make her incapable of ever coming back? He wanted to ask, but she seemed to have blocked herself off. She wasn't giving him anything, he loathed it when she did that. He could feel his temper rising slightly and bit at his cheek, his jaw straining as he turned to the fire.

It was never good when his control slipped. Especially if Delilah was alone with him, Merlin knows what he'd do. Delilah could hold her ground, he knew that. But with no restraints, who knows what could happen? Last time he nearly threw her off a tower. But if he was being honest with himself, would he have let her fall?

And at some point in time, he would've.

Delilah watched him carefully, something changed. His aura seemed heavier than usual and the fire was casting shadows on his face, making him seem like a completely different person. She had to ask, if she couldn't do it now, then when?

"Can I ask something else?"

Rolling his shoulders slightly, he walked over to a cabinet in the far corner and brought out two glasses and a thing of fire whiskey. "Even if I say no, you'll still ask," he then waved the bottle at her in question. She glared at him but nodded.

She watched as he poured two glasses, the amber liquid flooding the cups, shining like tree sap. He walked over and sat on the couch adjacent to her, offering Delilah the glass. The alcohol wafted towards her and made her nose tingle.

After a moment, Tom staring at her as if she was some rare art piece an archeologist dug up, she cleared her throat and downed the glass. She needed some liquid courage for what she was about to say.

Welcoming the burn, she set the glass down and grabbed the bottle of fire whiskey, pouring herself a generous amount. Tom raised a brow but didn't comment on the matter.

She twitched her nose before willing herself to look at him. "What's the Knights of Walpurgis?"

An odd feeling shot it's way up his spine but he didn't let his expression waver. How the hell did she even know that name? She's asked about Xan and Katerina before, but never brought up the name of his little group. But as soon as he opened his mouth, she pointed at him with the hand holding her glass.

"And don't you dare lie to me or I swear to god I'll smash that fucking bottle over your head."

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I take ages to update and I apologize, lol. This one was relatively short but I'm excited for y'all to read the next one!! The SPICE it'll have

VOTE & COMMENT if you enjoyed, I love to hear feedback!!