The Bloodied Truth

Tragedy

Delilah woke up to her husband missing. She sat up and felt the sheets beside her.

Cold.

She got up and silently exited the room, glancing in at her daughter who was sleeping peacefully. Delilah hugged herself as she walked silently over the slick floors with her socks. She headed towards the kitchen in hopes of finding her husband.

Once she entered the room, turning away from the living room that was to her right, she spotted her husband leaning sleepily on counter with his back to her.

She approaced, seeing him blink slowly and heavily as he watching the coffee machine.

"What's going on?" She asked kindly and softly, not wanting to startle him. He glanced over slowly and shrugged as he looked back.

"Couldn't sleep."

"We could get dressed and explore this place. You saw how big it was! Imagine how many rooms we could find with creepy historic stuff?" She asked, beaming in excitement.

He shook his head blatantly and grumbled, "I'm just gonna lay down for a bit."

He poured a cup of coffee for both of them and shuffled back the way Delilah had entered. She sipped her drink and decided she'd just have to get dressed, grab Camry, and head off to explore by themselves.

Maybe they could even encounter the prince...

~~~

With Camry in her arms, Delilah set out without saying a word and began to peek around for anything interesting. She glanced down the hall behind her then turned around...

Just to slam into someone.

"Oh dear, my apologies madam! I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you alright?" A guest asked her. She smiled up at hm and nodded.

"It's quite alright. I'm Delilah Pemberson, and this is Camry," She greeted him. He smiled. He had dark hair, a blue polo shirt, and khaki pants. His hair was thick and wavy on the top of his head. His bright eyes held hers kindly as he stood confident and cheerful. He offered his hand and dazzled a perfect, white smile.

Delilah reached for his hand with her right while while holding Camry against her side with her left. Her hand met his while her eyes skimmed down his noticeably bulky and tan bicep. She tore her eyes away and met his again, resisting any urges.

"Ah! You're Lance Pemberson's wife! Lovely to finally meet you. Perhaps you've heard him mention a, uh, Joesph Wicker?" He asked, practically begging to have been mentioned.

"Um... I don't believe so," she said after thinking. She forced a laugh to lighten up the atmosphere as his big, hopeful smile faded. His eyes lost their luminous glow for only a second before snapping back towards hers and brightening again.

"Either way, he has spoken a lot about you. And, your family is new here?" He asked.

"Oh, yes! We arrived yesterday because we had been given a random invitation... No idea who sent it... But we came anyway since this was the place Lance's cousin happened to be staying."

"I see. Well, it was wonderful meeting you, ma'am. Have a good day!" he nodded, smiled, and was turning to leave when Camry babbled out incoherently.

He turned back and smiled adoringly at the young girl in Delilah's arms.

Camry reached out and giggled as Joesph allowed her to grip his fingers. He laughed as the baby chewed on her left fist while holding his pointer finger with her right hand.