The Darkness Within (Peaky Blinders) Thomas Shelby

25. Cursed

Wattpad is driving me nuts! I keep going back to upload another page and see that on a previously posted chapter for some reason the title has been removed and it's gone back to the default "Untitled Part" and the media image is gone! I'm not forgetting to title things, I swear! It's just doing it on it's own and I'm going crazy trying to fix it all the time.

And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones

'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs

Setting fire to our insides for fun

Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong

The lovers that went wrong

- Youth, by Daughter

Kiara arrived home, soaked the whole way through, her hands shaking and her breath rigid.

"No, no, no." She whispered to herself, pacing back and forth. "Go away, please go away." She begged the thing air, not wanting to let the soul eating darkness inside her rise to the surface again.

Silent tears fell down her cheek before she let out a scream of rage, gripping the table beside her and flipping it, the plates that rested on top shattering on the ground before her knees gave out from under her and shell fell with them.

There was no one else in the house. Polly had taken Ada to her place where she would probably stay. The betting shop house was now basically just Tommy and Kiara's. He would be home soon, she realised... maybe. If he left after Grace's little song.

With a deep breath, Kiara used every ounce of strength she had and stood before beginning to clean up the mess she had made. She put the table back in place and swept up the plates. There was only two, Tommy wouldn't notice. He didn't pay that much attention to the crockery. Then she went upstairs and put on her nightgown before grabbing a towel and beginning to dry her hair. The front door opened and a short time later she could hear Tommy walking up the stairs, the wood creaking before entering their bedroom. Kiara didn't turn to face him, continuing to look in the mirror as she stood padding out her wet hair.

"I missed you at the Garrison. I went to find you." Tommy stated before taking a few steps towards her and wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, placing a kiss on his shoulder. "You get caught in the rain?" He asked as he brushed back a short loose strand of wet hair and tucked it behind her ear. He too was wet, she could feel the water on his cheek when he rested his head beside hers.

"What did you need me for?" Kiara asked, ignoring his question.

"Curly came by, woke me up. The horse got worse. Had a bad seed in his hoof and it spread to the others. He said it would have reached his heart by tomorrow... I had to put it down."

"It is tomorrow." Kiara barely whispered, knowing it was now in the am. "There's an old gypsy curse." She began, turning around, our of Tommy's embrace and walking over to the bed where she threw the towel over the end to dry. "You should have just taken the horse or started the war... not both." Kiara stated, turning back to face her husband. "You damned that horse the moment you loaded it into the box after cutting up those Lee's."

"Curly said as much."

"Simple minded he may be, but he knows horses like no other... and the ways of the gypsies." Kiara stated calmly as Tommy stared at her. He sometimes forgot that she was one of them in a sense... hell, he forgot that he was kin to them sometimes.

"I know you spoke to grace about the races." He finally spoke. "I need a meeting with Kimber." Tommy said as if it were an explanation.

"You'd get one without her." Kiara shook her head.

"Yes. But Kimber thinks himself to be quite the ladies man. Can't help himself with new conquests. I need to grab his attention."

"His attention?" Kiara echoed with one eyebrow slightly raised.

"Yes." Tommy nodded.

"And Grace is supposed to do that... all she has to do it attend, be seen with you?"

"Kimber may want more." Tommy stated. "Which is why I'm not exactly willing to present you to him, my love."

"So, you'd just offer up someone else."

"You can't stand Grace, don't pretend otherwise."

"I don't trust her and I don't like the idea of her any where near the business no matter the capacity or job."

"Is that all it is?"

She stared up at him for a long moment before finally speaking. "It's late... You should get some sleep." Then she headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Spare room." Kiara shot back, continuing to walk.

"Wait, wait, wait." Tommy quickly powered after her, grabbing her arm. "You are not this angry over the races. What else is there?" He asked as Kiara starred straight ahead, refusing to turn and face him as still held her arm.

"So are you going to let her sing? Or is that just for your private meetings?" Now she turned her head as Tommy dropped her arm.

"You were there."

"I was outside."

"Why?"

"I left and then I stopped to have a cigarette... then you came in and I listened." She explained calmly.

"You stopped to have a cigarette... in the rain?"

"Quite refreshing." She said nonchalantly.

Tommy's hand rose and cupped her cheek as he looked into her eyes, scanning them for signs. But not for long before she slapped his hand away.

"Is this how it's going to be now? I new fight every day?" Tommy asked.

"I may start the fights, Thomas, but you cause them." She growled. "Besides... I thought you liked it when I was angry." She spat before beginning to turn again.

But once again he caught her, this time spinning her around and backing her up into the wall, trapping her with a hand on the wall either side of her and his body pressed right against hers.

"I need Grace to get to Kimber... I need a war with the Lee's to get to Kimber... I burnt that letter to protect my sister, but today I got a message to Freddie myself telling him to get out of town and take Ada with him, doing what you told me to do... give him a chance. Now, will you please give me a chance to see this business with Kimber through, smoothly."

"Are you gonna let them sing, Tommy?" Kiara asked once again before he sighed.

"Yes." She shoved him back. She wasn't strong enough to overpower him, but he let her shove him back, two steps away from her. "It's part of the deal, K." He said trying to reason.

She glared at him with angry eyes as he stared into them before slowly closing the distance that had been created by her shove, stopping right in front of her and placing his hand under her chin.

"How many times do I have to say it... I love you. You. No one else."

"Some days, Thomas Shelby... I don't think you love anything."

His jaw clenched, but his eyes remained trained on her before he leant down and kissed her, like a showing of his love, but she only shoved him back again, this time slapping him hard across the cheek, her eyes blazing that ferocious green as his head wiped to the side and then slowly turned back to face her. They stood, just starring.

Then they both closed the distance at the same time, meeting each other half way, lips colliding, but Tommy kept moving, pushing her back up against the wall. This time he lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist.

I'm surprised I'm already getting reads and votes for this! You guys are great :). What do you think so far?