Chapter 4: Out of Place
And yet there are wars in this world that is caused by hatred and cruelty but, we still find hope and love within ourselves.
-Anonymous
Violet felt awkwardly out of place. She had her blue shawl wrapped around her and she felt and terrible draft coming in. She opened her eyes. She was no longer in her home. She didn't panic at first but, then she started to. Where am I??? She took deep breaths. She heard voices. She seemed to be in a room of some kind. Her heart started to run faster. She felt herself about to faint.
"Oh, Giuditta you are so funny. These are beautiful French doors you put in. Each with an architectural molding." Someone laughed. Then, they came in. She stood there very still. There weren't wearing modern clothes this must be a joke.
"Where am I? Who are you? What am I doing here?" Violet asked, heart still racing. She looked at the man and two women looked all about Twenty or older. She was terrified. They just stared. She didn't want to be here. Not now anyways. Her happiness had drained. She swallowed hard.
"Who are you may I ask?" The man said. Quite the lady, Violet was she answered in a respected tone.
"I am Violet Redwing. I live in Islington. I don't know exactly where I am at this moment." She said. She felt she was about to faint. But, she held on.
"Where did you say you came from?" He said.
Luciano couldn't believe this girl had come from Islington. She was quite elegant to be a Islington. But, as she stood there in her blue dress and shawl, he would of guessed she was anyway. Her eyes were so beautiful. They were the color of the ocean. She looked lost and confused.
"She seems to be another Stravagante after so many years. Ah, the spirit is yet revived." Arianna spoke looking at her. "It has been five years. But, why now? Everything is so calm?"
Violet looked at her. Sky had said "Stravagated" it was close to that term. But what was it? She wondered. She sat on the edge of the cot as they conversed. She hadn't had heard discussing in a verily long time. She longed for it. So, she sat. Waiting…Until two other people barged in.
"Sorry we are late but we were held back by…Oh…who is she?" Rodolfo asked looking puzzled soon followed by Silvia.
"She is another Stravaganti." Luciano said. The girl stood up. She dusted off her dress.
"I'm terrible sorry if I'm being a problem, but what is a Stravaganti?" she said. Violet showed a look of amusement. She must be dreaming…what a laugh…
"Stravagante? At this time in history? It is so settle." Rodolfo said looking more puzzled. "No one, is attacking us…and Duke Fabrizio is unusually calm." He said. Violet just kept blinking. She didn't know why she sat there, but she couldn't take it much longer. She got up and briskly walked toward the door. She opened the French doors and let the gust of wind drift in. She gasped as she saw the docks and beautiful city she had dreamed of. Definitely a dream.
But instead of golden pillars they were sliver with bright white roses creeping up them. She was on a boat. But as she looked around herself she saw all the boats were decorated with colors from every point of the color wheel. The people that she had no relation to walked behind her.
"Ok, I'm really sorry but this has got to be a dream. Can I just please get off this boat. I had enough irony for one day." Violet said she looked around herself. She waited till the people instructed her to go somewhere. That was what she was use to.
"Violet listen. This is real, you are here in a real place called Classe. The Painted City or other known as the City of Ships." Luciano said. He walked around to the front of the ship.
"What is this Stravaganti or stravagating about?" Violet asked. "How did I get here?" Giuditta pointed at her hand. She held the watercolor box. She held it more firmly. She looked across the city again.
"This can't be real. This is what I painted at my apartment. It is exactly like it in every aspect. I have never painted something living and breathing before, at least not before I see it." Violet said.
She was confused!
We explained to her what a Stravagante was and is. She questioned us like crazy. Luciano thought. He looked at her, reminding him of someone. But who? Arianna made some tea so she could calm down a bit. All newcomers had quite a shock. But, she didn't look like she was from Islington.