Unexpected Encounters | Tom Riddle

XXIX: The Brewing Storm

"No. I- I have to use the bathroom," Abraxas stammered, standing so abruptly he nearly knocked over his glass. He muttered a quick excuse before practically fleeing toward the back of the bar.

Tom slid into the seat Abraxas had vacated, his presence commanding and unrelenting as he cornered Lilia. His long fingers tapped against the table once, a deliberate gesture that made her look up at him. "Do you like Abraxas?" He asked, his voice deceptively casual, though there was an edge to his words that betrayed him.

"What? No, I don't," Lilia said, her voice rising in slight indignation. But then, seeing the faint annoyance in his expression, she smirked. "Are you jealous, Riddle?" His lips curled into a slow, dangerous smirk. "Why would I be jealous?" "You tell me," she countered, the playful glint in her eyes daring him to react. Tom leaned closer, his voice low and cutting. "I won't be jealous of someone who can't even do the most mundane task."

Before she could respond, he reached out, his fingers brushing against her upper lip. Lilia stilled, her breath hitching as he wiped away the last of the foam that Abraxas hadn't managed to. His touch was feather-light, deliberate, and unbearably intimate. He didn't break eye contact as his thumb lingered for just a moment too long, gliding across the middle of her upper lip before trailing down to her lower one.

Time seemed to stand still as he leaned closer, his dark eyes fixed on hers. Lilia couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, and she hated how much she wanted him to close the distance. He smelled like parchment and mint, a scent that had become both comforting and maddeningly distracting.

Tom's gaze dipped briefly to her lips before flicking back to her eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. "I'll never be jealous of Abraxas, Lilia," he murmured, his voice so low it sent a shiver down her spine.

But as he pulled back, she saw something change in his expression. Uncertainty. Hesitation. And for the briefest moment, she allowed herself to believe that Tom Riddle wasn't as unshakable as he wanted everyone to think despite his quiet confidence.

Lilia blinked, breaking out of her daze as Tom called over a waitress to order a butterbeer. He acted as though nothing had happened, his demeanor as cool and composed as ever. But she wasn't fooled. She could feel the weight of what had just transpired in the lingering warmth of his touch on her skin.

She grabbed her glass and took several hurried sips of butterbeer, desperate to calm the storm of emotions swirling within her. She hated how easily he got under her skin, how much she wanted more of the brief, fleeting moments when he let his guard down. She hated the way her heart betrayed her, beating faster whenever he was near.

"Cat got your tongue?" Tom asked, his smirk returning as he leaned back in his seat, exuding an air of nonchalance. "Not at all," she snapped, scowling at him. "Right. Whatever makes you feel better," he drawled, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, do you always have to be such an ass?" she retorted, narrowing her eyes at him. "Language," Tom reprimanded, arching a brow. "Or what?" "Do you want to find out?" His tone was strict, his words carrying a weight that made her swallow hard.

"Don't tell me what to do, Riddle," she finally said, her voice defiant despite the way her pulse raced. "As you wish, your highness," he replied, sarcasm laced through every syllable. "Don't call me that," she shot back, her glare sharp. "Or what?" He challenged, his gaze unwavering as he mirrored her earlier words.

Before either of them could escalate further, Abraxas returned to the table, his expression carefully neutral. "Cosy in here," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he took a sip of his butterbeer. "It's your friend," Lilia muttered, crossing her arms as she glared at Tom.

Abraxas shrugged, seemingly indifferent, though his gaze darted between the two of them, sensing the charged tension he had walked into. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words were drowned out by a deafening explosion.

The wall by the entrance shattered into pieces, sending wood and stone flying in every direction. Screams erupted around them as patrons scrambled for cover, the room plunging into chaos.

Lilia's wand was in her hand in an instant, her instincts kicking in as she dropped low and yanked Abraxas down with her. Her heart pounded as she scanned the room, her breath catching when she spotted the symbol emblazoned on the cloaks of the intruders. Grindelwald's mark.

The words were muffled, but months of working with the Order had sharpened her ears. "Our targets are the six from the manor," one of them barked, his voice sharp and authoritative. Celeste, Evangeline, Tom, Abraxas, Icarus, Tiernan. The realization hit her hard.

"Move!" She hissed, shoving Abraxas toward the back. "We have to get out!"

Tom was already on his feet, his wand drawn and his expression set in cold determination. The room was a whirlwind of chaos, but his mind was razor-sharp. He caught Lilia's eye, a silent exchange passing between them: they would fight if they had to.

This wasn't just an attack. It was a message.

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There's sm happening in this chapter!