The Angel in Hell

B I R T H D A Y

Sea, Swallow Me by Cocteau Twins and Harold Budd<3 

~ 

'Shhh everybody, shhh' Elsbeth whispered in her duck egg blue, silk dressing gown, her effortlessly sleek honey hair tucked neatly behind her ears.

'I can hear him!' Venetia said in a sort of airy way like she often does, a little grin pricking the corners of her mouth.

They were all ducked under the white-clothed dining table, wearing party hats and desperately clutching party poppers in their hands. Delilah was crouched, in her white linen pyjama set of shorts and a vest top, hair messy as always. Holding a stupid looking 'Happy Birthday' banner in her hands, she couldn't stop the feeling of dread from crippling her. It pulsed through her veins, making her stomach churn so violently she thought she might be sick. It was Oliver's birthday and after what had happened between them last night, she felt sort of terrified of him. The only thing she could focus her mind on was the burning sensation on her lower back, where Felix's hand was placed firmly, keeping her steady as they all crouched down. His fingertips fizzed against a sliver of her bare skin that peaked out where her top had ridden up slightly on her back. He squeezed slightly, letting her know he felt it too. The electricity.

The door creaked open and a footstep creaked against the wooden floorboards of the breakfast room. 'Surprise!!!" everyone shouted, jumping up from under the table, letting their confetti cannons off and waving their banners. Of course Oliver ruined yet another moment between her and Felix. Delilah slowly stood up, a blank expression on her face as she waved her banner unenthusiastically. The clapping and hugging stopped quickly, everyone ravenous for their breakfast.

Delilah tucked into some perfectly toasted brown toast, doused in butter and jam with a side of summer berries, all accompanied by a warm, frothy cappuccino. Venetia ate the same, obviously. Oliver was given a chocolate pancake stack with ribbons of whipped cream on it, sprinkles everywhere and chocolate writing that read 'Happy Birthday, Darling Olly' in swirly cursive writing. Delilah shivered. It was as if he was James and Elsbeth's second son or something. Suddenly, as Oliver was blowing out his candles, a huge wave of nausea washed over Delilah. Her already churning stomach cramped in pain, her vision blurring and sweat forming on her upper lip.

'If you'll excuse me' She mumbled, clutching at her stomach and briskly walking, more like running, out the breakfast room to the downstairs toilet.

Swung open the door and fell to her knees, hands clasping onto the side of the meticulously clean toilet seat. She gagged once or twice before all of her delicious breakfast came back up, definitely not tasting the same this time. She threw for what felt like an eternity until all that came out was disgusting greeny-yellow liquid. She sat back, weakly leaning her weight up against the cold emerald tiles of the bathroom, letting them support her clammy body. Her chest moved up and down in a slow but deep rhythm, trying to catch her breath back and steady the nerves that were screaming inside her skin.

A rushed knock vibrated through the door to the bathroom. Before Delilah could say a word Felix opened the door, not panicked but a sort of worried tension in his jaw. 'Are you alright?' He asked, walking in and sitting up beside her.

'I don't know what's wrong with me' Delilah meekly replied, pushing her baby hairs away from her sweaty forehead.

'Do you think you ate something?' He asked again, placing a comforting hand on her thigh.

'Must've done. I don't know what else it could be.'

They sat in the cold for a little longer, Felix allowing Delilah to regain some strength, dampening a small hand towel with cold water from the bathroom sink and gently sliding it under her hair and placing it around the base of her neck.