Bless Me, Father

Now They Come Running Part 1

Delilah stood at the edge of the clearing, her fingers tightening around the skirt of her soaked dress.

Someone had been watching her.

Not just watching... lingering. A hush had dropped over the woods, the kind that didn't belong to birds or trees, but something else.

She could almost feel it on her skin.

In front of her, Amelia shifted anxiously.

Barbara's voice snapped from behind low and sharp. "We should get inside. Now."

Barbara looked where Delilah stared.

"We don't know who's out there lurking."

Delilah couldn't help but smirk again.

Someone's here...

Why did part of her, deep down, where her secrets rested... want it to be him?

The priest.

The man with the iron face.

The one who saw her and hadn't turned away.

She hoped, secretly, shamefully... it had been the priest... and not one of those grunting, sin-soaked town men she'd caught watching before.

Delilah looked again, nothing.

Delilah turned. "Yeah. Let's go."

The cabin door shut behind them with a soft thud.

Inside, the air was dense with the smell of pine smoke and dried herbs.

Amelia stood in the center, holding herself.

She couldn't help but look at the shelves that lined the walls, cluttered with apothecary jars and flickering candles.

Potions sat half-labeled in glass vials, some glowing faintly under the cottage lights.

Her eyes scanned... looking for something specific.

But Barbara didn't wait. She pointed a finger like a blade.

"You better pray nobody saw you come here."

"I don't think—" Amelia spoke up.

"You don't think at all," Barbara snapped. "That's the problem. Obviously, Delilah sensed someone out there, means someone saw you!"

The young woman put her head down not saying a word.

"Why are you here?" Delilah said, removing her dress with no shame.

Her beautiful body glistened under the candles.

Barbara looked at Delilah, indifferent, but Amelia gasped.

"I'm sorry... oh my god," Amelia flushed deeply.

"We need help with Cristina... I think she's cursed... she's different...we don't know what to do." Amelia looked around, avoiding Delilah's naked body.

Delilah turned to her closet, rifling through dresses.

"Why should I even help you? Your family must think I have something to do with it." Delilah said firmly.

Amelia hesitated.

She gulped and shut her eyes like she had swallowed something bitter.

"I told them I would speak to you, but they weren't sure. We know you were helping Cristina with her self-esteem. Giving her that thing you've been giving Ellie. If anything maybe your potion has side effects!"

Barbara rolled her eyes. "Can't keep their mouths closed, those little brats."

Delilah's jaw locked. "She already felt like she didn't matter. I didn't make her weak. She already was."

Amelia's expression softened with hurt, but she stayed quiet for a moment.

Side effects? Of course they'll blame the Virtue of Ecstasy for their extreme behaviors.

"Look! I know my family and I haven't been the best to you. But we need your help, please!" Amelia pleaded.

"Just take a look at her, I know you recently went to the Bakers," she got on her knees begging.

"Get up, Amelia. You look pathetic." Delilah looked at Barbara.

Barbara gave Delilah a funny look, whispering, "Such dramatics."

Amelia looked up, with her eyes full of tears. "If you can still help Ellie after the way she talks about you to the town, then you can help us!"

Delilah's expression didn't change, but her pulse skipped.

Oh yeah Ellie...Oops... I totally forgot about that one.

Delilah twisted her lips.

"You little mouse," Barbara muttered, shaking her head. "Always the quiet ones."

So, the girl had been watching. Observing.

Delilah exhaled slowly, ignoring Amelia still on the ground, and put on a crimson red dress, cinching it at her waist as it flowed down her legs.

Barbara assisted her with her dress, so motherly and tenderly.

Amelia awkwardly got up, looking between Barbara and Delilah.

Barbara stayed behind combing through Delilah's brown damp hair. Before putting the veil on her head.

"You tell your parents I'm coming out of my own will. Not because I owe anyone a damn thing."

Amelia nodded quickly.

Delilah looked at herself in the mirror.

"Besides...I am quite curious to see what Cristina's been up to." She gave a wry smile.

Barbara's hands slithered around Delilah's shoulders. "You sure about this?"

Delilah turned to face Barbara, her eyes glanced at her through the veil.

"Yes," she said confidently.

Barbara may not be my biological mother but she's more of a mother than whatever my mother was... who leaves their youngest daughter behind?

Delilah huffed softly at the thought.

"These people don't deserve you, I know I was adamant about Helen, but I felt bad for the little one." Barbara said, noticing Delilah's drift.

"This... town they see you and they remember that your family vanished right after the death of those boys and how you stayed behind. Thinking you're to blame, that you're the root to all their problems..." Barbara continued pensively.

Delilah smirked, "Don't worry about me Barbara, I'm not fazed by the town anymore."

Barbara's mouth flattened. She stepped closer. "I know you think you're bulletproof, but you're not kid! I just don't want these people to blame you for whatever is happening to Cristina."

"I'll be fine," Delilah said, giving Barbara a small smile.

Delilah walked off with Amelia, but Barbara gripped her hand.

The grip wasn't soft nor tight.

Barbara's scared to die alone, to live out here alone. I appreciate the sentiment; it hasn't been easy living together.

"I don't know why your family left you behind or what could have happened, I know you ask yourself every day," She stopped, thinking about what to say next.

"You're not a burden to me, taking you in wasn't punishment. It was a gift. I just thought—" She stopped again, biting her lip.

"I thought maybe if I raised you...maybe something would pass to me. Maybe I'd get a little piece of it."

Ah there it was...flicker of greed and envy.

Delilah could feel it, at the tip of her tongue. She almost forgot.

After years in Barbara's care, it was always strong.

She always craved my gift.

Over the years it faded little by little and she tried to be a good guardian.

But it was always there.

Delilah didn't speak; she didn't have to.

Should she have been angry? She wasn't. She was... sad.

Delilah grabbed Barbara's hands giving them a tight squeeze.

"I'll be back," She turned to Barbara once more. "Be ready if things go wrong,"

"Wait— don't do anything crazy!" Barbara said, before exhaling hard.

Delilah walked towards the door but Amelia halted.

"Wait..."

Delilah and Barbara both turned to Amelia.

Who now looked unsure if she should say anything.

"I want...some of the Virtue of Ecstasy," she said, hesitating a little.

Barbara scoffed, "this little mouse keeps surprising me,"

But Delilah laughed. 'Since when do you purchase Virtue of Ecstasy?"

Amelia looked around, trying to avoid eye contact.

But Delilah gripped Amelia's face.

Even if Amelia had sparks of envy, it wasn't her true sin.

Delilah looked at Amelia's eyes like research.

Trying to find something on her...

Even with Delilah so close, the envy flickered and faded.

"Amelia...did you try the Virtue of Ecstasy? You only ever buy my sleep tonic for your mother,"

Amelia trembled under Delilah's grasp. "Cristina gave me some before she disappeared,"

Barbara broke her silence.

"Ugh these young girls! The Virtue of Ecstasy is only for the consumption of one!" Barbara barked, slightly stepping forward.

Delilah put her hand up, stopping Barbara in her tracks.

But Delilah's eyes narrowed at Amelia.

Letting go of Amelia's face a bit roughly.

"Your sister shouldn't have been sharing her bottle with you...but I won't give you the Virtue of Ecstasy now," Delilah said.

Amelia slumped, " But..."

"You seem to forget why you're even here. Let's go see your sister first."

Amelia straightened her body at the mention of her sister.

She knew Delilah was right.

****

Delilah and Amelia headed towards the woods, as if something was dragging them with force.

Amelia walked fast, as if scared someone would chase her.

They walked together in silence for a while, already seeing the Barrow's house ahead.

She glanced at Amelia, but Amelia didn't look, she kept ahead.

Finally, Amelia realized Delilah has been staring at the side of her face.

"What?" She mumbled softly, avoiding Delilah's half covered gaze.

"This better not be a trap." Delilah said.

"It's not, I swear this is only about Cristina."

Is it? A few seconds ago she asked for the virtue of ecstasy.

"Good, I wouldn't want you to find out what I'm capable of."

Amelia snapped her neck facing Delilah.

Her eyes wide, she nodded before facing the road.

"There! let's go" She pointed at her house.

She took off running but Delilah didn't run.

Delilah paused, seeing two figures on the Barrow's porch.

Amelia stopped, turning around.

Delilah hissed at Amelia. "What's this!?"

Amelia rushed to Delilah "No! I don't know why they are here!"

There...by the porch. The priest. Jacob. With Sister Renee.

Delilah's eyes narrowed.

Amelia and Delilah got closer.

Delilah tried to sense something from afar, anything off about the man.

But this time...

Not guilt, not shame. Just... a flutter of want, faint and flickering. But enough to curl inside her ribs like warmth.

Delilah gave a small snarl.

Am I jealous? Who has your attention, Priest? Don't tell me it's Sister Renee.

Delilah's eyes burned slowly. She couldn't believe Father Jacob consumed her thoughts like this.

Amelia shouted, "Father Jacob! Sister Renee!"

The Barrows came out, startled to see everyone gathered in front of their house.

Roxanne cursed under her breath as she pointed out. "She brought her here anyway!"

Father Jacob turned, looking straight at Delilah.

Delilah caught the twitch in his face... the flicker of recognition, the faint jolt like his mind wandered somewhere it shouldn't have.

Is that flicker of want... for me?

Her senses swirl, she felt an inch of desire rising but fading.

Delilah's heart quickened.

Was he the one in the woods?

If so, could he have seen me in the river today?

She hoped again.

She hated that she did...

Such foolishness. Why would the priest be in the woods?

And yet... she caught it.

That flicker he tried to hide. She almost smiled.