"You?! What did you do??" The blacksmith practically screamed. Bennet's smithing area was in shambles, weapons and armour strewn over the floor. However, these were not the same glimmering weapons that Delilah had marvelled at, rusted, bent, and burnt the young woman swiftly realised Randal hadn't been far off with the Blacksmith's craftmanship.
A sinking feeling sat with her, if Bennet's 'wish' had unravelled with the Hag's death. What of the others? Would Randal still be maimed? Would the flower shop still have a thriving business for the young, struggling family? Her feelings only became more conflicted with relief, as her eyes landed on the orchid stem she had given to Bennet, still crisp and unaffected by the carnage around it. She crouched and scooped it up with a frown, hearing Mavrik step past her.
Striding forward, closing the distance, as he seized the soot covered man by the shirt.
"Delilah, go an collect the horses."
The young woman opened her mouth to argue, but after a moment nodded, turning away. Something in Mavrik's tone made her want to shrink away, relieved she couldn't see his face. The air around him felt alive, prickling with a chill stronger than frost bite, and leaving no room to argue with his words.
Hurrying back towards the tavern, she slipped the packs onto the horses, hands trembling as she tussled the clasps. Delilah slumped against the side of Maple's neck, realising she hadn't drawn her hood back up. She tucked her face into the horse, ignoring the dust that tickled her nose. For a moment she let herself get lost in the soft breathing of the animals, and the stillness of the stables until Glenn started to chew on the edge of one of her horns, making the devil kin grimace.
"Hey knock it off, they're attached you know?"
She couldn't help but laugh as she shoved the larger horse. Pointed ears pricking as she heard approaching foot steps, she hurriedly drew her hood back up, only to breathe a sigh of relief as the familiar form of Mavrik came into view. His gauntlet now bloodied, slick with deep crimson, the air around him just as dark.
Delilah passed Glenn's reins to him, before she mounted Maple "Where to now?" Watching as he tucked the head of the hag into one of his saddle bags and a sack of coin.
"There's a main city a few towns over with an arcane library, it would be good for your studies."
Delilah raised an eyebrow at him, sensing that there was another reason for his decision, but she decided against pressing it. Instead flashing him a smile, pushing aside the niggling curiosity of what had happened between Mavrik and the blacksmith.
"Onwards then, noble steed!" She giggled as Maple chuffed proudly.
"Her legs are too stumpy" The simple observation earned a swat on the arm from Delilah, and likely a vengeful nip in his near future from Maple.
Tension slowly eased from her muscles with each moment more distance stretched between the rag tag group, and the town behind them. Delilah absently chewed on some dried rations, her body was already aching from their fight, leaving her unable to image what pain Mavrik could be in. Not that he showed it. Enjoying the wind blowing through her hair, scarf whipping around her like a live flame.
"Do you think the hag is really gone?" Delilah swallowed.
Mavrik tilted his head slightly "that one, yes. However, they often work in threes."
She raised an eyebrow "So there's more hags in the town?"
"Not exactly, but her absence will be noticed by her coven. They may want justice for her."
Delilah scrunched her nose up, recalling the stench of the woman's breath "are they all so... unappealing?" trying to lighten the mood. Receiving a huff from Mavrik, as the pair fell into a comfortable silence. Delilah knew her companion was a man of few words but she didn't mind, it allowed her mind to wander. Tentatively she recalled what her life had once been, the hag's words stirring up memories and emotions she had pushed down.
***
Delilah stared at the crumpled body at her feet, blood licking at her light brown leather boots. Molten gold eyes locked with the glazed eyes of someone all too familiar.
"N-Nadia?.."
The words tumbled from her lips with a rugged breath, tears threatened to spill over her long eye lashes. Realisation dawned on Delilah, she was alone. Although loneliness was not an unknown feeling, it certainly didn't make it easier. Worst of all, she knew it was her presence that had brought upon Nadia's premature downfall, townsfolk had been saying it ever since Nadia had found her abandoned in a ditch as an infant.
"I'm... sorry.."
It was so weak, so pathetic, hating the words and the lack of power they held, as soon as she spoke them. Tears winning against the lashes that caged them, as they welled up, distorting her vision and making the body tilt away from clarity. Furiously rubbing them away with the back of her hand, crying wouldn't solve this.
No, Nadia deserved justice and she would have it.
Her hands brushed through her unruly onyx black hair, feeling her hands scrape against the small horns that protruded from her head. The twin charcoal horns started from her hair line, curving back, resembling the look of a frightened cat with its ears flattened . Snatching her hands away as if they had burnt her. For a moment, the anger made Delilah's body shake. She hated them, she hated what she was. That rage swiftly fuelled her hands to snatch at the cowl of the battered tunic and tug it up firmly over the horrid things.
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Turning on heel and exiting the building, knowing she was walking into an uphill battle, one she was fated to lose. But Delilah had to try. Flinging open the doors to the local tavern, home to the kitchen that had often been her refuge whilst assisting Nadia. Visions skidding through her mind, circling like water around a drain of a young devil horned girl giggling as she proudly held up a tray of only slightly burnt bread. Dispelling such memories, she forced the presence of purpose and confidence into her steps. Stalking up to the owner who was stood behind the bar, ignoring the disgust on his face. Her eyes tentatively flicked over the bounties behind the man's head, did one of the emptied eyed mug shots do this to Nadia?
"What do you want? Fiend!" His words, they never seemed to get easier, Delilah had been called many things. It was a daily tussle with her psyche to know if it was deserved. Nadia had hesitantly explained what a tiefling was after the first time Delilah had heard it, at the tender age of 7.
"A tiefling is someone with devil blood. They were once human until they were marked with a curse". Delilah remembered the way the pieces fell into place that day, why people avoided her, or worse out right went after her. But this wasn't about tieflings and ugly prejudice, as she forced herself to push past it, trying to resist flinching at the man's disgust.
"Nadia, she was killed in her home. When did you last see her? Someone must know something!"
His eyes, they spoke long before he did, as they burned her up from the inside out.
"Well, imp. I seem to only recall yourself being around Nadia, in fact I'd be bold enough to say you were the cause. I'll never know why that bitch took you in."
Red, it was as if a blind fold was placed over Delilah's eyes. Hearing the blood rush through her ears, bubbling and boiling, any ounce of restraint snapped as her heart finally broke. Even she had to admit, the snarl that burst from her throat was not a noise the woman had heard come from any human, more like that of a wounded animal, as she lunged at the man. Knowing she'd had been baited, it was the disrespectful words spat on Nadia's memory, and in the heat of the moment it didn't matter.
By the time Delilah had blinked, the man was sprawled against the far wall, shelves and broken bottles littered on the ground around him as he groaned in pain. Delilah remained several meters away, despite the carnage, not one hand had been laid on him.
"Wh-what are you?!"
To be honest, Delilah often asked herself the same thing as she struggled to find her words, she stared between the coward of a man and her raised hand, before slowly letting it drop.
"I guess I'm what you've always wanted me to be. A monster." The devil-kin relented.
"But I didn't kill Nadia, I hope for your sake you find out who did" walking out without a second glance, rubbing her hand nervously with her thumb in small circles. Delilah's heart thumped erratically in her chest, as if trying to leap from her rib cage, what had she done? Her first instinct screamed at her to run, run into the comforting embrace of Nadia, lump rising in her throat.
Defeated and feeling hopelessly lost, she returned to the fallen woman, falling to her knees, eyes darting around desperately for a clue. They'd come after her, she had never been welcome here and now, Nadia wasn't here to protect her. Delilah didn't care what would happen to her if she stuck around, she couldn't leave Nadia's death to be swept away, written off as karma for the company she kept.
Heavy boots thudded to a stop in front of her, a shadow filling the door way, as the grieving woman looked up at the armoured figure who stood before her. Wide eyes traced over the weapons that glistened in the midday sun, cloak flickering lazily behind him on the warm summer breeze. Thoughts coursed through her, should she run? Attack? She'd never seen this man before?
"That's her! That's the Devil!"
The shrill voice of the tavern owner could be heard from behind the hulking figure, who raised a hand to silence him, causing terror to rise up through her, fighting to tear her eyes from the huge sword on his back.
"I'll handle it"
He dismissed the inn keeper, making him splutter protests that fell on uncaring ears, as his foot steps finally retreated. Delilah licked her trembling lips, trying to find her words, eyes darting around desperately for an escape. She didn't stand a chance against this man, but she couldn't die. Not before finding Nadia's killer.
"I-I.. I didn't."
He crouched down in front of her, Nadia's body laid between them, as he reached out a tender gloved hand to brush the slain woman's eyes closed. She could feel his eyes scanning over the violent, gaping stab wounds over Nadia's body, seeming to come to a silent conclusion after a long moment.
"You'd best lay her to rest" Was all he offered, granting the young woman the ability to breathe once again. Reeling for a few heart beats, as she eyed the crouched man, no less imposing now he was at eye level.
"Will you help me?" Words escaping her before she could even process it.
He nodded. Carefully lifting the fallen woman, and waiting for Delilah's direction.
"N-Nadia loved the clearing just past her home. I-I want to lay her there" She stuttered, busying herself with retrieving a few possessions and shovels.
Carefully the unnamed man laid Nadia on a patch of grass once they reached the place Delilah had in mind, setting to work digging.
Delilah had to pull her guilty gaze from Nadia, instead taking her frustrations out on the soil, soil that would now cradle the only mother figure she'd ever known. Tears leaked down her cheeks, as she continued to stab at the ground, blinded by emotions. Until a hand rested on her back, causing her to jump.
"That should be deep enough."
Her head swam in thick waves of grief, as each scoop of soil swallowed any chance that this was all a horrendous dream. Staring at the freshly turned soil, she toyed with the crimson scarf around her neck.
"Nadia.."
Delilah choked out, she wanted to selfishly plead answers on what she should do. To admit how afraid she was. But the young tiefling refused to make this about her feelings.
"I'll find out what happened to you. I promise. Rest easy a-and thank you for everything. I love you" her voice breathless with barely contained sobs, she looked up at the silent man after a few minutes.
"You can't stay here."
She knew he was right, although perhaps the answers she wanted were here.
"I hear you have magical talents. They'd be a valuable asset."
"Valuable asset to what?" Delilah frowned in confusion .
She could almost sense the slight smile in his voice "Hunting monsters."
*****
Delilah blinked out of her day dreams, hearing Mavrik's voice beside her, "We'll find out what happened to her"
She gazed up at the blackening sky, somehow he knew where her mind had run astray.
"I know"
Mavrik promised her, and she trusted his word.