Delia
Chapter 1: The Beginning
A quite beautiful young woman sat alone on this luxury train. She had long elegantly curled dark brunette hair and donned a simple yet stunning white silk dress hinting at her lovely slender figure. She had fair skin, red lipstick bluntly contrasting however not in ways that lessened her beauty; she had thick luscious eyelashes framing her smoky hazel eyes. Her legs were crossed in a way that the slit of her dress revealed one of her knees.
She was sitting dreamily, I observed, seeing and looking at nothing. A book lay in her lap forgotten and on the crease I could see a large diamond ring. She sat very still her eyes glazed over as she was obviously deep in thought. Louis and Claudia were taking in the art before our eyes as well. She had so much life, so much spirit, yet the beauty sat there as if she were a corpse without a purpose.
I approached and Claudia as well, Louis staying in his seat watching from afar. The young woman didn't even respond to my or Claudia's presence. She was not looking, not seeing, not hearing or listening; she seemed not to care if the world finally came to an end than she would have been content. "Why are you staring like that?" Claudia asked the woman bluntly and the sound of her voice seemed to bring the young woman back from her mind.
She looked to Claudia and smiled sweetly. "Oh, hello, I'm sorry for my discourtesy. I didn't realize you were there." A blush lightly dusted her fair cheeks and she spoke dreamily. "To what you inquired before I wasn't staring at anything I was simply deep in thought. It may sound terribly silly, but I was just thinking how wonderful if would be to fly away from all my problems. Something like a bird, but soaring free instead of being unjustly caged." Her accent was most definitely American, but she was well educated, although she looked rather young to be traveling alone.
"I am Delia." She said. "Claudia," was all Claudia offered until she saw the ring. She seemed just as entranced by this young woman in white as I seemed to be. "Is that yours?" Claudia gestured to the ring sitting in the book upon her lap. Delia glanced down and scowled. "Yes," she replied regretfully and wrinkled her nose. "It's beautiful may I see it?" Claudia asked and the woman handed over to her without hesitation, of her own will. "It looks like an engagement ring." Claudia was thinking out loud after she fiddled with it for a moment.
Delia scowled, "It was." Claudia met her gaze. "Was?" I inquired I could not remain unnoticed any longer. I revealed my presence for the first time; although Delia wasn't startled like others would have been she was still completely at ease. "Sixteen is far too young to be throwing my entire life away." She said dreamily lost in thought yet again. "You are only sixteen?" Claudia asked surprised, the young woman was one of timeless beauty could achieve that in such a small frame of time. "Yes," Delia replied eloquently.
"Where are you from?" Claudia inquired sinking down into the seat across from the woman whiled I stood, simply watching. That was a very good question, she may have been American but she wasn't from South. Her accent betrayed the fact she must be of the northern states. Delia smiled at Claudia, "I am from Massachusetts, although, I need to be as far from that place as I can get, if I wish to escape properly." She said with a sly smile. "Do you like the ring?" She asked Claudia suddenly and leaned forward infinitesimally from her impeccably straight posture. "It's very beautiful," Claudia answered confusion filled her voice. The ring may have been beautiful but its beholder was utterly stunning.
"That is quite alright," I protested, "this ring must mean something to you." I said and she shook her head shimmer about her face making her gleam like that of an angel. "Nothing," she replied firmly her smoky hazel eyes meeting my blue ones levelly. "I rather not keep it, which is yet another memory of that man." The beautiful Delia said her voice even when voicing that which stirs upsetting memories stills sounds like silk feels.
"He was twice my age, although it would have never mattered if I simply loved him. Perhaps if I even knew him, however, the marriage was arranged and the first time my eyes laid upon him was the day before that of the wedding. I lived under my parents' authority for my entire life, that one thing I was not able to obey. I slipped away from that church unnoticed and shall never appear before their eyes again. For no one who genuinely loves their child would sell them like a slave to a man who was but an acquaintance." She was deep in thought yet again. She no longer held the stress in that of her tale, she was confident of that of her escape. She was free from her cage she was unjustly secured in for sixteen years, like she so adequately put it.
"You left him at the alter?" I found myself asking. "I chose to be free. He meant nothing to me and I was meant to be his, an ornament, not aloud to use my intelligence and only speak when spoken to. That was my lovely introductions with him. How I was to act when I was his wife. I do not regret what I did, I never will for I would have been miserable with that man." The train came to a stop. We were stopped in New Orleans. She smiled and rose from her seat gracefully. "Keep the ring dear Claudia." She said as she gently shut her book and she walked with poise from the train.
"I liked her," Claudia said. Some warmth coming into her eyes, I smiled down at her and placed a hand on her shoulder gently. "As do I," I said watching where Delia walked to exit the train. "She was quite intriguing." I said. Louis walked over to join us, "Let's come along." Louis said placing a hand on Claudia's back leading her forward. He too was looking at the path Delia left. She truly was a work of art in both her mind and her appearance. "Could we find her?" Claudia asked with an excitement in her voice and I saw Louis' sour expression, "Leave the girl alone." Louis said and I smirked. Delia was far too exquisite to just simply be left alone. Claudia looked up at me in hope and she relaxed when she saw my expression.
She so wished for companionship beyond Louis and myself. A female friend. A sister. Delia.