.:Delilah:.

There was no one by the fountain as she carefully approached, mind racing. Had Lachlan forgotten? Did he get sick of waiting?

"Looking for someone?"

She spun around with a relieved smile as Lachlan walked up, hands in his pockets.

"Oh, just a handsome man I met by this fountain earlier" she teased.

"Handsome eh? Well I bet he's not as good looking as me" Lachlan played along, scoring a laugh from Delilah as he held out his arm for her to take. She looped her arm through his, hardly daring to breathe as he led them along the quiet street.

"So, where are we going?"

"To the docks, my friends wanted to meet you."

She blushed "you told them about me?"

"Of course, I hope that's alright?"

"It's fine."

Delilah nervously pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, feeling oddly normal. Arm in arm with a young man, walking through quiet streets talking and laughing, as they made their way to meet up with his friends. Mind wandering with what he would do if he knew what she really was. Not that it mattered, she and Mavrik would be leaving in a few days, this was harmless fun. Lachlan was nice and the emotions he gave her were new and fun, but even swept up in the excitement of it all Delilah knew it wasn't love.

The two soon reached the docks, as still and silent as the night Mavrik, Lunar and Delilah had walked them, like the air around them was holding it's breath.

"Lachlan!" A woman called, waving them over. Delilah counted at least 5 men and women around her age relaxing at the edge of a pier. The dark haired young man led her over.

"You must be Delilah! I'm Lilly, that's Ritz, Sienna, Alice and Jace."

Delilah nodded shyly "It's nice to meet you" shaking her head as Sienna offered a bottle out to her.

"So, haven't seen you around here before. Where are you from?" Ritz spoke, the young woman noticed his deep brown skin and long pointed ears realising he was an elf, as was Sienna who bore a strikingly similar resemblance.

"Oh, a small town in the West called Crowview."

"Never heard of it" Ritz shrugged, taking a swig of the drink. All eyes on Delilah.

"I bet you're really pretty under that hood, show us!" Alice exclaimed after a moment.

Delilah shook her head, taking a small step back and tensing slightly as Lachlan wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Come on Lil!" He pushed.

"No thank you" Delilah licked her lips, eyeing the men as Jace stood from where he was sitting.

"Stop being lame" she blinked, stung by Lachlan's words. He reached for her hood, swatting his hand away and ducking out from under his arm.

"Lil, you're embarrassing me."

She sensed one of the girls come up behind her. Yelping as she felt her hood sharply tugged down before she could dart away.

The group tensed.

"What the fuck?!" Sienna shrieked in laughter.

"What the hell are those?! What the fuck is she?!"

Delilah instinctively tried to cover her horns with her hands, cowering and trying to back away.

"Lachlan my man! You're into some weird things" Jace taunted as they surrounded her. The girls stayed back, whispering amongst themselves and snickering.

"I thought she was an elf! I swear" Lachlan ruffled his hand through his hair.

"Are they real?" Alice whispered with gleeful curiosity.

Delilah stared up at the dark haired man, tears clouding her vision as her gaze pleaded with him.

Lachlan stepped closer, reaching out and for a moment Delilah faltered trying to gauge if the movement was aggressive. Until his hands caught one of her horns, giving it a firm tug "Oh yeah, they're real".

She yelped, trying to rip herself away from him "stop, that hurts" she hissed.

Two firm hands on her shoulders stopped her from backing further away, Lachlan grabbed her jaw, fingers of his free hand forcing her lips apart "she even has fangs!" He crowed.

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"Aw look, she's crying" Alice squealed in amusement.

Lachlan pulled her face close to his, warm breath tickling her lips. "You're pretty fucked up. I'm kind of into it" he purred, the men around him chuckling.

Delilah's stomach twisted in disgust, body reacting before her mind as she kneed him hard in the groin. Trying to pull away from Ritz's firm grasp as Lachlan fell to his knees with a shout.

"You fucking bitch!"

Rearing her head back, she felt her horns connect with her captor's face, Ritz's grip loosening as she furiously shook him off.

More hands reached for her snagging, her hair as she struggled, throwing kicks and punches. Wincing when she felt a hard blow land on her cheek, making her head spin.

"Push her!" One of the girls screamed.

Delilah's mind catching up a moment too late, when she felt firm hands push into her chest violently as she flailed, boots teetering on the edge of the dock before her back was enveloped by the icy black water that cascaded over her.

Gasping in shock as water surged into her mouth and nose, head still clouded from the hit as she fought to figure out which way was up. Eyes stinging under the salty assault, lack of light from the dock hindering her sense of direction. Cold was tickling the edges of her mind, silence baring down on her like a thick blanket. Body feeling heavy, as the water's dreaded clutches dragged her further down. A few bubbles escaped her lips, eyes tracking them as they wobbled towards the surface.

The surface.

With what strength she had fading fast, Delilah clawed at the water, fighting to follow behind the trail of what could be her last breath. The black rushed in, threatening to win, as her lungs burned, begging for that gulp of air that she was clinging to the thought of.

Finally, her head broke the surface. Heaving in breaths between coughs and splutters, teeth chattering her clothing waterlogging her and making it hard to keep her head above water.

"Aww, she's still alive."

Heart sinking at the jeers a short distance away. Paddling towards one of the other docks hidden behind one of the moored boats, fighting against the heavy cold that gripped her as she kicked and dragged herself ungracefully out of the water. Flopping back on the dock for a few moments, drinking in the cold night air and listening to the slap of water against the wooden supports under her.

She heaved herself onto her feet, not wanting to stay near the group in case they came after her. Delilah's boots sloshed as she trailed her way through the silent streets, rubbing her numb hands along her arms. She swayed, losing her footing on an uneven cobble stone as fumbled for a wall to brace herself.

What the fuck is she?

Are those real?

She slid down against the wall, drawing her knees to her chest and burying her face in her knees. Entire body trembling, turbulent emotions churning as she felt angry hot tears burning down her cheeks.

Her eyes landed on a shattered piece of pottery laying a short distance away, eyeing the sharp edges as she tentatively picked it up. Licking at the salt on her lips nervously.

Imp.

You were the cause, I'll never know why that bitch took you in.

Foul Blood?!

You're pretty fucked up, I'm kind of into it.

Delilah shuddered, tightening her grip on the pottery with a wince as it sliced through the soft skin between her fingers and thumb. She ignored it, raising her trembling hands to her horns, she gripped one.

Biting her bottom lip to stifle a cry as she tried to hack at it with the shard.

Not hearing the foot steps approach over the top of the grating sound of crumbling pottery, and her sheer focus on not making a sound. Until a hand snatched away the shard, grabbing her shoulders. She cried out in panic fearing she would see Lachlan as her eyes shot open, stormy grey eyes filling her sight.

"Delilah?!"

Her lip quivered as she eyed the man crouched before her, suddenly feeling too ashamed to hold his gaze.

He caught her chin, forcing her to hold his gaze "Who did this to you?"

She watched as he placed his cloak around her shoulders, wrapping it tightly. "Th-they.. th-the docks" she sniffled, he sighed, realising he would get little out of the young woman in her current condition. Shaking his head and helping her to her feet, his hand tracing the length of one horn, and then the next lightly "Doesn't look like you did any damage" he concluded, seeming like he wanted to say more but unable to find the words.

Tentatively she leaned into him, feeling his arms settle around her in a comforting hug.

"You are perfect as you are, Delilah. You are strong, loyal, and infuriatingly kind. Don't let anyone diminish, or decide your worth. They will never be deserving of that power."

Delilah closed her eyes, listening to his voice reverberate through his chest, feeling a weak smile pull at her lips.

"I'll try" she whispered.

Mavrik pulled back, carefully adjusting the hood of his cloak over her head.

"Let's get you warmed up."

She nodded, trudging alongside him as he guided her back to the manor. Heart still heavy but not quite as burdened, Mavrik's words providing a crutch.

"How did you know to find me?"

Mavrik remained silent for a few moments.

"You left without your weapons and armour, it was getting late. I was concerned."

The familiar guilt gnawed at her "I didn't mean to worry you."

He shook his head "there is no need to apologise."

The two made the rest of the trip in silence, most of Delilah's concentration was focused on keeping one foot steady in front of the other. Finally they reached the familiar wooden door of their refuge, her companion ushering them inside.

"Go and get warmed up, I'll leave some clothes by the door" he rested a hand on top of her head, offering her a comforting smile, plagued with concern.

She nodded, vanishing into the washroom and starting the bath. Sinking into its heat, the muck and salt from the dock rising off her.. Hardly able to keep her eyes open as she scrubbed away at her skin, trying to cleanse away the memories that picked and pulled in her mind. When exhaustion finally called louder, she stepped out and pulled on a fresh shirt and pants she found by the door, leaving her sodden ones to hang on the side of the tub.

Carefully folding Mavrik's deep sunset orange cloak in her arms as she exited the bathroom, finding him waiting by her room. Holding the garment out for him to take, his gaze seemed to search hers for a moment. Offering him a tired smile in assurance, Delilah knew she would be okay. Memories of the night still stung like a white, hot cattle prod, but as Elise had told her, time heals everything.

"Get some rest."

"Thank you for what you said, and for finding me."

His smile was kind, gaze softening with a tender fondness that she had never seen before "well, we are the dream team" he huffed.

Delilah couldn't help it as a small bubble of laughter escaped her, shaking her head in amusement "Good night, Mavrik".

"Sleep well, Delilah."

Sleep rushed in surprisingly quickly, dispelling the painful memories but not before the tell tale click of the front door closing reached her ears. Burying her nose further under her covers, the young woman dismissed it as her imagination, relenting to her exhaustion.