It was Delia's parents' death anniversary. It was the day her whole body felt lifeless and her heart ached. She wanted to skip classes and sit somewhere alone and cry her heart out so that she could feel a little lighter.

But the most she did was skip first class and cry silently in the shower when Wendy left the room. Even though so many years have passed, this was the worst time of year for her. It felt like she was reliving the horror.

Silently she dragged herself to class holding it together by a thread.

The day passed by without any troubles thankfully but as the evening descended, Delia's mood got worse. Her blood pressure dropped and severe headache hit her. She was scared that like always she would not end the day in peace. She either had panic attacks or fainted due to stress. Every time she would close her eyes, the scene replayed in her head and she had no one to help her through this.

"Delia, hello?" Melaney said waving something in front of her.

Most of the time she has managed to tune out Melaney even though Melaney herself talked less but right now she was excited for some reason.

"yes?"

"Are you going to the party tonight?" She asked and Delia noticed the white invitation cards.

"What is this?"

"Delia, do you live in this world?" And chuckled lightly.

"it's the official party thrown by the University for the new students after they settle in. Organised by seniors and teachers."

"Not my scene I think." She answered unnerved at the idea of any celebration today.

"I expected that  much but I will be going alone, please be my date." She asked being as much a loner as Delia.

"Pretty please Delia." She said and Delia realised she can't refuse.

She had just two friends by some miracle and one of them was asking for something. She just can't refuse.

"Ok." She nodded with a small smile.

The classes ended earlier because of the party at the night and Delia rushed to Devian's place to check on him. She had been visiting him for the past three days now since the night she stayed but each time the door would stay closed. He was not letting her share the pain.

But halfway through the hill climbing, she started feeling unwell. So she turned back and walked back to the painting room ditching the shift at the job as well. Finding the room empty she sat down among the familiar scent of paint and varnish and other things.

She didn't want to paint or anything, she just down as the university bustled with the excited crowd as she was left all alone again. Not distract herself she picked up the brush and painted the canvas yellow, the red firey yellow but that didn't help and she realised she was growing short of breath.

And all she could see is the dead hollow eyes of her parents staring back. Her whole body started to tremble as she started hyperventilating. For some reason she was worse than last year, at least she stayed sane till night, till the time she could sit near their graves and talk to them.

So she did the extreme and called up Devian hoping he would pick up, hoping he would not bother that it was still the time where people could see him. For some reason, he didn't like to be in front of people.

Just after three rings, he answered and Delia struggled to speak.

"Delia?" He asked sounding worried.

"Help please." She said in a choking voice.

"Keep talking to me Delia, I am coming to you." He said.

But she just sobbed.

"Tell me what's wrong?" He asked in the best possible calm tone.

"M-My p-parents." She managed to say with great difficulty, her heart clutching tighter.

Devian waited for her to say something more, as panic hit his whole body. He was not thinking anything else. She called him for help and he was rushing towards her. Her voice sounded broken and miserable and that was crushing him from within.

"Listen to me Delia, focus on breathing." He said carefully putting on the seat belt in his car.

"D-Devian, I-I-," She couldn't complete her words as the sharp pain hit her chest.

And she sobbed harder, he vision getting blurry.

"Delia, keep talking to me, please." He pleaded himself on the verge of breaking down.

Only her sobs could be heard.

"Tell me, have you heard of a conditioner Delia?" He chose the most absurd thing that came to his mind.

"W-What?" She answered slightly surprised and distracted.

"Conditioner. To set your messy hair in place."

"Umm," She sniffled at his words trying to get enough oxygen to be able to breathe and answer him.

"Anyway, I like them that way." He said in a gentle tone.

Delia was silent now, she forgot about the choking about the reason for her grief and try to make sense of his words.

"Also, are all your clothes stained with colours and paints?" He asked and on mention, she looked at her clothes immediately.

She realised he was right, they were indeed stained with paints. Now she was confused as to what he was doing?

"Yes." She answered," I am s-sorry for being a m-mess." She mumbled.

And Devian calmed down a bit as she answered.

"Who said that you are a mess, you are a beautiful painting." He said and realised that in a desperate attempt to distract her, he blurted out something he shouldn't have.

But suddenly his worries and agitation at his words vanished as he heard her laugh softly.

"What's funny Delia?" He asked to keep her talking.

"You comparing me to artwork just to make me feel better."

She didn't believe him, she underestimated herself because her whole life she has been ignored or mistreated for some reason he can't understand. Even when just her presence was a reminder to his agony-filled life, he still can't completely hate her.

He wanted to say it's true and it was not just to make her feel better.

"Where are you?" He asked.

"In the sketch room." She answered breathing normally now but still, an ache persisted in her heart.

"I should deduct your wage for ditching work, Delia." He said with an amused tone.

"One holiday is allowed, it's my...my parent's d-death anniversary." She said in a tone shaking with emotions.

And the ache in her heart intensified and she felt severe nausea hit her. The phone fell from her hand and her hand became numb.

She could hear Devian's voice in a distance and she tried to answer or do something but everything around her changed now. She was in the car with her parents and her younger self. She was yelling and begging them to stop and get out. 

But they kept on smiling and talking as her father drove and suddenly the sky rumbled and thunder came crashing on the car. And all around her was fire.

"DELIA." His distant voice was now really close and her eyes shot open.

And just when it did, he pulled her in for a hug.

"I am here now." He said and the pressure building in her chest broke and she cried her heart out as Devian caressed her back.

She remembered how he always found her in the worse case and felt bad for calling him now.

"Thank you." He said and she broke the hug to look at him.

"Why?"

"For calling me this time." He said.

"Leave now Devian, while you can." She whispered mirroring his words slightly terrified that he actually would.

"I can't." He said looking her brilliant blue eyes.

He can't leave, he was entangled with her because of fate.

"I am sorry I made you leave the house." She said knowing well his dislike for walking out in crowded places and showing himself to people.

"It was worth it." He said and Delia's eyes widened.

She remembered the last time they met and he was so close to her.

"Come on I will take you home." He said.

"I can't. Wendy will be busy getting ready for the party and I don't want to be a spoilsport."

"You are not going?" He asked already knowing too well that someone like her will never willingly go to a party.

"I can't. It's my parents' death anniversary."

And Devian realised the reason behind her misery. Silence fell as he felt something he shouldn't. Empathy for her. The conflict of her heart and mind intensified as he looked at her, the girl so fragile that she will break just by a flick of the finger. She was merely surviving through the pain with a smile that yelled sadness.

Without saying a word she followed him to the car and sat down. Through the drive, she didn't ask why they were going to his house or complained about anything. She just closed her eyes and cried silently.

Devian felt helpless. Where was his joy on seeing her miserable? Why the hell did he forget why he started this? He turned to look at her and shock hit him. Before today every time he saw her, he could see the Queen. He could count the similarities between them but right now he could see Delia.

He could feel her sadness,  her trembling body, her paint smudged clothes, her mess of a hair, her scars, her bright blue eyes. For the first time since this started, he could see the difference instead of similarities.

"Delia," He whispered softly as they reached his home.

She got down without a word and walked towards the door like it was her own place.

But then she stopped on the porch and turned with eyes red and swollen due to all the cry.

"Why Devian? Why help someone like me?" She asked the question she had in her mind for a long time now.

Devian can't say his help had a motive. But then again no one helps without a reason.

"There is no time for Q/A Delia, hurry up." He said with a plan in mind.

Knowing Delia, she might have never attended school dances or parties.

As he entered the house and a little surprised Delia followed him inside. He called Paulo and gave him instruction in such a low tone that Delia can't hear.

"Go freshen up Delia and eat something. Paulo will be here in fifteen minutes to pick you up." He said at a girl looking too innocent with wide surprised eyes.

"Why?" She asked even though she started moving according to his words.

"To get you ready for the dance." He said and she stopped.

"I am sorry but I c-can't." She said with almost a pleading look.

"Delia, are you refusing a date with me after all I have done?" He played his card and smiled.

The smile on his face took her breath away. 

Date?

With Devian?

"Let your parents see you happy Delia." He said in a soft tone and came closer.

Gently lifting his hands he lifted a loose strand and softly tucked it behind her ears and saw her flush under his touch.

Her eyes rested on his handsome face with lips that sent butterflies in her stomach and jawline so sharp that even the best of the artist can't do justice to his looks.

A tear escaped her eyes as she nodded a yes.

"But I don't have a dress." She mumbled feeling slightly embarrassed.

"That what Paulo is coming for."

And Delia couldn't help but think, Devian was both a Knight and a fairy godmother.

~*~*~*

HA! Look at him playing all the roles for her!

But just so you know people, not everything can be that easy  ;)

Please share your thoughts on the progression of characters and stories. It really helps me out.