Don't Blink

Chapter 19: My name is Delly

Jack and I sat on a branch watching Sandy's magic do it's works on creating dreams. As we watch the golden sand dance across the skies in many shapes and forms, I thought in debate. Jack has been helpful if not more towards me since Pitch kidnapped me five years ago. Everything he's done, not giving up on anybody, especially me. I don't know how I could repay him. Then I thought about his curiosity. He always wanted to know who I was before I became an angel. It's a sensitive topic, but I think I'm ready to tell.

"Jack," I started.

"Yeah, Delaney?" he replied.

I took a large deep breath, "Long ago my name was Delly Genevieve Evans- St. James, and I was nineteen when I was murder by my husband."

"You were married!" Jack almost exclaimed.

"My life was almost perfect." I breathed tucking a strand of hair off my face. "During my time, all girls wanted were a perfect life. There were things I still wanted, to be married, with a nice house and a husband to kiss me when he came home, a family of my own. Before my life changed, I was a country girl in a county of Ohio living with my family. We owned a farm growing crops and continued the harvest season with corn, wheat, and hay on a cycle to keep the soil fertilized. But everything changed after the World War 1, when my brother and father died in combat.

"It was a tragedy and my mother couldn't deal with the pain, so we moved to the big city living with my uncle and his family. I was probably thirteen at the time, and we lived at a good start with the fortune my father farm was sold and the inheritance. Although, I'm consider to be a plain Jane when the roaring twenties started up. Harold, my uncle thought I should focus on my studies and cut me out of school into homeschooling with a few of his friend's children. Little did I know my uncle was in deep water during prohibition? He joined a gang who were in search for a good profit of the arts and during the time it was Jazz, sex, and alcohol. His employer- the chief, was Tony St. James and his gang kept sharp to impress while secretly fighting a war with the cops and mafia. Alcohol is the top contender to any speakeasies and joints.

"Tony had many children who I had studies with his eldest son; Dean St. James, he was eighteen. Dean St. James was the most eligible bachelor in town. I barely knew him. But I was young. I was in love with the idea of love. He fancy me even through the age difference, taking me out for a stroll around central park or go to the cinema. It wasn't until I developed physically did the infatuation turned into obsession. When I turned sixteen, we started courting with our parents' consent. My mother thought marring a rich man when the tempo of the city changes sharply. The city was becoming bigger, the parties more large and grand, while morals disappeared as the liquors became cheaper, and to those who know where to get it. Dean always flattered me with gifts saying something simple should show extraordinary beauty. I even bobbed my hair for him, dressed in jewel beaded gowns, and wore makeup as he took me to countless parties as his date.

"It wasn't until I was seventeen did we made love and got married right away. But it wasn't until after the honeymoon did Dean showed his true colors, especially when his father was murdered by the mafia in a gun fight when visiting an old friend in Chicago, Al Capone. Dean being first born took over the family business of the bootlegging and running the joint called the Cat's Meow. He would come home later and later in the night or rising of the morning sun smelling like tobacco and alcohol. Yet he remained gentle with me, though I had doubt. I doubted his commitment on our vows, as lips stick of other woman marked his cheek and perfume on his suit, also how he treated me roughly in bed. All that changed when I became pregnant."

Jack stiffed when he heard I was once pregnant. I took a deep breath having my arms crossed over my knees.

"Eighteen, I was eighteen when I was pregnant and it somehow tamed Deans behavior. Dean stopped his affairs and late night drinking to come home to me. He told me how much he loved me, how he loved our child, how he would do anything for our family. However when on the second stages of the pregnancy our enemies were getting intense. It was our first anniversary, and Dean took me out for a theater and dinner when another gang stopped and shoot our driver causing a crash. The next thing I knew, I was in the hospital only to discover I had a miscarriage. The loss of our child took a toll on the St. James, which Dean tries to make everything up to me and his revenge. He found the gang that caused the drive by and killed every last member. Afterwards, when I recovered from the trauma we tried again….only I could no longer bear children.

"The news struck hard on the family and Dean denies it. Since that event, everything became dark. Dean was longer my Dean; he grew darker and more violent. He kept top on his joints, screwing around the police, and make sure no one gets in his way of power. The gang owned the city, owned the American liquored and money on everything. I tried to run away from him, from his ambition and power, but I had nowhere to go. The love he held was nothing, sex became rape every night, and how he touched me, spoke to me, and destroyed my reputation. I didn't want to become that type of flapper, who sings and obeys to lie down for the power man. My mother tried to help me get a divorce when she saw me cover in bruises, saying 'pride is nothing if you can't live to restore it.'"

"What happened afterwards?" Jack whispered.

"Harold convinced me not do the divorce. When Dean heard about me considering a divorce, he stopped everything what he was doing and came on his knees begging me to stay. I told him I couldn't accept his behavior, that I was tired of being treated like a trophy, and deserved some proper respect like friends. Dean committed to the deal and says he'll be an honest man."

"But he wasn't," Jack noted.

I shook my head. "I turned nineteen and hell broke loose. A detective name Kyle Fords was investigating on the shootings and disappearances of certain individuals. When Dean was out of the city for a business trip…..Detective Forbs visited me at the Cat's Meow to ask questions. When he accused Dean being in charged for these crimes….which he was correct, but I told him 'it's best to leave the subject unless you rather sleep with the fishes.'

"On the last night of my life 1926; I left a friend's house late. I wasn't far from home, until running into Dean and his gang on the streets having their usual night out. They were drunk, 'Ain't she a charmer?' Dean asked his men who agreed. But one suggested, 'let's see her full charms.' I slapped Dean snapping him to get his act together and to not return back to the mansion until sober with a good explanation. But before I could call a taxi; He and his friends thought differently… Forbs was in the area and tried to stop the…..Dean pointed a gun at Detective Forbs and something inside me snapped. I jumped in front of Dean begging him not to kill him while grabbing the gun. However he pulled the trigger and shot me in the chest.

"When Dean realized what just happened, he tried to stop the bleeding. His men told him to leave me in the streets before the cops came since Detective Forbs escaped. They left me in the street, thinking I was dead; believe me I wanted to be. Rafe found me. He was my guardian angel and witnessed the outcome through my entire life. How I died was an act of reason and sacrifice to save a true man that Rafe changed me existent. The night that I died was the day I was reborn from being Delly Evan- St. James to Delaney the angel. Although Rafe thought it would be better if I lived my second life not knowing my human past, so my memories were erase that all were vague. I couldn't remember anything yet the scars married my emotions and the trauma I felt in trusting a man. I could hardly trust anybody other than Rafe and the elders…but that change when I met you."

I sobbed crying softly into my knees while Jack sat there absorbing my story. All that strength it took to tell him the truth in why I didn't want to tell my tale felt different. The pain and weight on my shoulders were gone, and I felt like a new person. So taking a deep breath, I looked up to see Jack staring at the moon.

"I understand if you don't want to hang out with me….." I breathed wiping the tears away. "But I felt like you were ready to know the truth."

"And why would I not want to hang out with you?" Jack asked.

"Because I was a moll girl who got rape, beaten up, and used." I whispered.

"Delaney, you're not like that anymore." He said looking me in the eye. "You're much stronger and downright intimidating instead of who you used to be. I'm just surprised you told me is all."

We stared at each other eyes for a moment before looking back to the moon. "Guess we live in two different worlds in our human lives."

"You are two hundred years older than me." I pointed out.

"And you're a year older than me," he countered on the physical form. We chuckled then sigh, "Guess we know each other personally now."

"Yeah," I smiled resting my head on his shoulder.

"So…." Jack whistled, "Do I call you Delaney or Delly?"

"Delly died and I think it's best to call me Delaney." I answered. "Since we call you Jack instead of Jackson or Jackson Overland."

"Okay, you got a point there." He chuckled wrapping his arm around me.

I sighed closing my eyes ready for the next step of this new life. No longer my past, will haunt me. Nothing will hold me back and I hope things will get better.

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Hey guys thanks for reading. I know it's been forever and I have a major writers block and still have it. I would like to hear some suggestion.

Please and Thank you.