A World Apart: The Chronicles of Delilah Faylinn

An Unlikely Hero

    It did not take long for the news to spread that Claude Radagast was now in fact dead and the war was over. Word had finally reached Lovell’s captors as they took pity on him and they chose to bring him back to his father’s estate to claim what was rightfully his. Lovell was in fact Mr. Radagast’ s sole heir, and everything that was his was now Lovell’s. After all his affairs were handled, Lovell now was indeed privileged. He had now fancy cars, a big castle and servants at his every beckon call. Lovell had not however forgotten about Delilah no matter how hard his previous captors tried to make him. Lovell instead sent the captors to find out what had happened to Delilah now that his father was gone. 

    While Lovell waited for word on Delilah, he devoted himself to continue developing his magic. While he was held captive in his old home that he once shared with his mother his captors pretty much taught him everything they knew. They were kind to him even though he was Mr. Radagast’ s son. They realized that Lovell was nothing like his father, befriended him and tried to keep him as comfortable as possible. In return for their kindness Lovell employed them as part of his household staff and took care of them as well as he could. They became the only people he could truly trust with his affairs of the heart. Finally his people returned with news on Delilah. They told him that she had in fact destroyed his father and took up residence in the Faylinn compound and was also now the presiding ruler of both worlds. They told him she destroyed the barrier that separated them and allowed the residents to live as they wished. Lovell was overjoyed by the good news and told his servants that he would like to go and see her. They advised him not to because she was no longer the girl he had fallen in love with. 

(Lovell) What are you trying to say? You just told me about all the good she has done! Surely I must go to her at once. She probably thinks I am dead! 

    They told him that not too long after the barrier was destroyed that the people became terrified of her, and how people are constantly dying in her presence. They told him that according to the reports of the people of the city that she had transformed into a dark being and has turned everyone into slaves. The slaves are forced to work day and night to build her empire out of black stone, tar and fire on top of the bones and carcasses of the dead. They told him that they now call her the “Dark Empress” and that she never slept. Lovell could hardly believe what he was hearing. How could the woman he loved be the same person as this “Dark Empress”?! They could not be one and the same. There had to be some kind of mistake. He decided that he had to see it for himself. 

    Lovell’s former captors had decided to stay by his side even though he did not heed their many warnings. If he did indeed have to see for himself what had become of Delilah, they would not let him go alone. A lot had changed in the city since he was last there, the topography was almost unrecognizable! They would have to sneak him into the city so that he would not be captured and enslaved like those people who lived closest to the “Dark Empresses” estate. Despite all the attempts made in order to conceal Lovell from the her guards he could not honestly expect to make it inside the compound without being seen now could he? As soon as Lovell made in onto the grounds he was caught by the guards and sent immediately to the Dark Empress for placement. You see the Dark Empress chose the job for every slave that was brought to her. Some slaves were doomed to work on her grounds; some slaves were made to be scouts to find other slaves. Some slaves were to build her statues and to transform her compound into something more to her liking. Lovell was made to drop to his knees in her presence and had not yet been able to look at her. The Dark Empress glided into the room as if she had not a care in the world and sat on her thrown of bones right in front of Lovell. 

(Dark Empress) Oh how nice, you brought someone to come and see me! I don’t get many visitors now a days! Look at me when I talk to you boy?! 

(Lovell) So you are the “Dark Empress”? Lovell said as he raised his head. 

(Dark Empress) Son of Radagast! What are you doing here?! You should be dead! Your father had you killed! 

(Lovell) My father had me sent away, and you may look like her but you are obviously not Delilah! What have you done with her?! 

(Dark Empress) Delilah is no more! I am here now, and you will acknowledge me as Dark Empress henceforth! 

(Lovell) I will never obey you! Delilah is too powerful for you just to be rid of! Where is she?! 

    The guards until now had no idea that the Dark Empress they saw before them and Delilah were two different people and now stood to look at her with new eyes. For the longest time they could not understand how Delilah had simply changed appearance overnight, how now she was so evil and that they never questioned it. They saw her as being worse than Mr. Radagast! They found themselves in a bit of conflict because before they served Delilah and before her they served Mr. Radagast. Now that both of them are gone should they remain loyal to the Dark Empress or should they switch their allegiance to someone less terrifying? Should they now serve Lovell as he was Claude's heir? 

(Dark Empress) I told you, she is gone! Now you will serve me or I will be rid of you were you stand! 

    Giving the appearance of defeat, Lovell knelt in obedience. He decided it was better to play nice so that he could survive long enough to find out what happened to Delilah. 

(Lovell) Fine I will serve you, just tell me what you need of me. 

(Dark Empress) Now that is more like it! You will wait on me hand and foot and be at my every beckon call! 

    Someone get him a butler’s uniform and put him to work. Guards, you will also keep a very close eye on this one. Report to me his every move! 

    In Lovell’s heart of hearts he knew that Delilah could not be dead, not with the way that the Dark Empress reacted at the sight of him. Her reaction was a bit rattled. Surely his presence would mean nothing to her if Delilah were not still alive, and why did she not just kill him unless there were not some part of her that still maintained Delilah’s love for him. After all she did not say that Delilah was dead, only that she was gone! He would try to search for Delilah now that he was restricted to the compound. She had to be close by, and he had to be the one to find her. Lovell was put to work in the kitchens and dungeons feeding all those slaves that worked for the Dark Empress. He was instructed to give them only enough to survive on so that it would keep them compliant and forcing them to work that much harder to receive more rations. After all that Lovell had seen he had further confirmation that Delilah had no part in this, and probably had no idea that this was even occurring. 

    The guards took pity on Lovell and afforded him the best sleeping quarters they could possibly muster up. Lovell took notice of the mercy they bestowed upon him and began to ask questions, trying to find out more information on the ins and outs of the compound. They gave him as much information as they could and told him how much they feared the Dark Empress as well as just how much destruction she had brought about after his father’s war. They even began keeping a closer eye on her movements about the grounds while at the same time informing her that Lovell was doing as he was told. Some of the guards began to cover Lovell’s shifts, as they allowed him to search about the compound for Delilah. He assured them that she could not be dead and that he would find her. They thought if he did find her she could destroy the Dark Empress and return them to somewhat normal lives. 

    It was not before long that Lovell had the entire compound’s staff feeding him information about the Dark Empress’s whereabouts and he soon knew her schedule verbatim. There was one piece of information that one of the house staff members told him that definitely peaked his interest. They told him that the Dark Empress every once in a while sneaks off into a room at night when everyone is supposed to be asleep. When she does go to this room she seems somewhat tired and drained. They told him that she spends hours in this room at a time, but when she does come out however she seems rejuvenated like she had the best sleep in the world! They had simply assumed that she did at some point and time have to sleep she just did not want anyone to know that she may in fact have a weakness and they were not dumb enough to challenge her or ask questions. If she did in fact have a weakness and she did sleep he could possibly kill her; if he could kill her than maybe that would bring Delilah back from wherever the Dark Empress was keeping her. 

    Lovell commanded the staff to show him where this room was as well as the next time she would be in it. Until then Lovell made sure to keep up appearances and attend to his work in the kitchens and dungeons. He continued to obey every command that the Dark Empress threw at him no matter how disgusting or degrading it was. She rather enjoyed making him squirm it was one of her favorite forms of entertainment. On the night that the Dark Empress took to the mysterious room like clockwork, the staff sent for Lovell. 

(Guards) The Dark Empress has taken off to the room upstairs. 

(Lovell) I shall follow behind her and take her by surprise in her sleep. 

(Guards) We will come with you and watch your back. 

(Lovell) You do not have to do this I can go alone. I will not have any more death on my hands. 

(Guards) We once served your father and now we will serve you. Our joining with you is not a request. It is what is right. 

(Lovell) Fine we will go together. If Delilah is with her or we find her, you ensure to take her where it is safe and I will handle the Dark Empress on my own. 

(Guards) If that is what you wish. sire! 

    The guards went with Lovell to help protect him as he went to accomplish what they deemed the impossible. They did not expect him to be able to destroy the Dark Empress but they were definitely going to help him try. If he could at least wound her, they stood a chance at eventually killing her. All the while they crept to their possible doom, but Lovell did not care. Lovell had had enough of being the weak pawn that just did as he was told. If it had not been for him, Delilah would not be in this mess! She would have never met his father! If he had only a bit more courage his sister may still have been alive. Lovell was tired of being in situations beyond his control, as he could only just sit back and watch things take a turn for the worst. 

    As they approached the room they heard noises from what they thought sounded like a mouse. Lovell neared even closer still to the room door and the noises increased to sounding more like whimpering. Lovell could not help but to charge into the room because he thought for sure that it had to be coming from Delilah. He completely forgot that the Dark Empress could be in the room. As Lovell charged in along with the guards behind him, they were shocked to realize that the Dark Empress was nowhere in sight and that the room was empty. They thought for sure they had heard noises coming from this very room. Lovell stood around clueless for sure they all had to be going mad! As they turned to head for the door to leave the room Lovell noticed a dim light coming from a closet. His curiosity got the best of him and he began to reach for the handle of the closet door. One of the guards grabbed his arm back and advised him that dark magic could be in there that could kill them all. Lovell shook the guard off and proceeded to open the door. What he saw next almost left him breathless. Lovell saw a ghastly figure inside of a mirror that looked like it was starving to death. 

(Lovell) Delilah? Is that you?! 

(Delilah) Lovell? Am I dead already? Is this where we go when we die?

(Lovell) Delilah I am alive, and so are you. What has she done to you? What is this mirror? 

(Delilah) You are alive? But how is that possible?!

(Lovell) Father only sent me away with my captors he did not have me killed as I can obviously see he had led you to believe. 

(Delilah) Get me out of here before she comes back, she is draining me. I have almost nothing left! 

(Lovell) What do you mean draining you? Is that what she does when she comes to this room? What is she? 

(Delilah) She is a dark spirit from another world, she possess a hosts in order to survive. I am that host so she feeds off of me to make her stronger. She cannot yet survive on her own. 

(Lovell) Stop letting her do it then! 

(Delilah) Do you think if it was that easy to stop her, that I would be trapped in this mirror! She forced me in here. I cannot simply get out! 

(Lovell) You have to get stronger and outsmart her or something! 

(Delilah) She does not let me eat, or drink. I have only been able to hang on this long because I grow food enough for me to eat. With her constantly draining me I cannot grow but so much! 

(Lovell) Do you have any idea what is going on out there, and what she is doing?! 

(Delilah) I believe I have some idea, I can feel her when she does something bad and the excitement she gets from it. 

(Lovell) Why has she not completely drained you yet? What is she waiting on? Maybe she is not strong enough yet to do it! If that is true, maybe you can still beat her. Maybe we have a chance! 

(Delilah) Lovell, just please get me out of here!

(Lovell) How can we get you out? Should we break the mirror? 

(Delilah) No! She said if the mirror breaks that we will both die. The connection between us is now this mirror. 

(Lovell) Well I guess we know what we must do. We have to figure out a way to get you out of here! 

(Delilah) Lovell, I think I feel her coming back. You must go!

(Lovell) We will arrange for the house staff to bring you food. You must keep your strength up! I will come back for you when we figure this out. I will not abandon you again! 

    Lovell and his guards quickly left as now the real mission had begun and a million questions began to run through his head. How would they get Delilah out if the mirror? How will they destroy the Dark Empress? What other world was she talking about? Lovell had kept his promise to have food sent for Delilah. The house staff made sure to keep up with the Dark Empresses schedule and only sent food when they knew she would not be in the room. The sight of Delilah though gave them hope and they would do anything to help her destroy the Dark Empress. The way the Dark Empress changed the Faylinn house with all the dark colors and curtains were becoming way too depressing. Delilah kept playing the role like she was becoming weaker by the second in front of the Dark Empress. The Dark Empress began to question Delilah asking as to how she has been able to survive for as long as she has as her patience was growing severely thin. 

(Dark Empress) How have you been able to live for this long? Your strength is surely depleted by now! 

(Delilah) Maybe I am a lot stronger than you thought I was or maybe you are not as strong as you thought you were. 

(Dark Empress) Why prolong the inevitable? You cannot escape this mirror and you cannot stop me. 

(Delilah) I will hold on for as long as I can even if I do fade away, the sight of how frustrated you are becoming gives me satisfaction. 

(Dark Empress) Give it up Delilah, you are wasting valuable time! 

(Delilah) You cannot kill me yourself can you? If you could you would have done it already!

(Dark Empress) You know nothing! 

    Mixed feelings began to stir up between the guards because they all wanted the Dark Empress dead but some were willing to let Delilah die just so that it could be over and done with during their secret meetings. The guards told Lovell that they should just simply break the mirror and that would be the end to everyone’s suffering, but he was not willing to let Delilah die for his failures. If it had been anyone else he would have considered it, but he felt like he owed Delilah his life for not being there for her when she needed him most. 

(Guards) You heard the girl she said if we break the mirror it will end our suffering. The monster will be destroyed! 

(Lovell) I am not willing to sacrifice Delilah. There has to be another way! 

(Guards) Think of the people. Surely the lives of a thousand are worth more than one!

(Lovell) You forget that you have sworn your allegiance to me! Delilah will not be harmed. She spared all of your lives did she not?! 

(Guards) Yes she did… 

    He reminded the guards that they too owe Delilah their lives because she could have taken it in retribution for their crimes while working under the influence of his father. With that realization the resistance faded and they vowed to help her in any way they possibly could. One of the many maids of the Faylinn household sent word to Lovell that in the house a library existed that contained all the information that ever existed of the Faylinn family line. They informed him that he may be able to find the help he needs in there, especially since Delilah is Faylinn. 

(Maid) There is a secret library in the estate that we as staff are f*******n to enter. We believe it is where the Faylinn elders do their research and studies. 

(Lovell) Where is this library? 

(Maid) We only heard that it was in the east wing of the compound by a former housekeeper. She was fired after she stumbled upon it as to why we are now f*******n from entering the east wing. Only magic can open its doors. The Faylinn family made sure we would not be able to enter. 

    Lovell thought that this maybe his only way of finding a way to help Delilah if any ever existed. During the day Lovell and the guards kept up appearances for the Dark Empress and at night while she did her most evil work amongst her slaves, Lovell stole away to find the library in search of answers. The east wing was so large that at first Lovell had trouble finding his way. The staff was not much help in finding it because none of them knew exactly where it was. Lovell could only find it through trial and error. On one of his trips he felt the presence of strong magic behind one of the largest portraits in the corridor. Once he moved the portrait he found a large door had been hidden behind it. He had passed the portrait many times trying to find the library only to realize that it was hiding in plain sight. Lovell stood and looked at the door as it had no locks and no door handles. He wondered how he would get it to open as he touched the door frame. As he touched it the door began to slowly open and it creaked loudly as if the door had not been opened in decades. It only took him a moment to look inside and realize that he had found what he had been looking for only to be interrupted by a guard that had been looking for him to report that the Dark Empress was looking for him. The guard collected Lovell and brought him in to see the Dark Empress. 

(Dark Empress) So how are you enjoying your accommodations son of Radagast? 

(Lovell) My name is Lovell thank you very much. 

(Dark Empress) Answer my question boy! 

(Lovell) My accommodations are just fine thank you for your kindness. 

(Dark Empress) Do not patronize me! The guards have told me what you have been doing! 

(Lovell) They what? 

(Dark Empress) Oh you think I do not know how you whimper at night in your cell and how you beg for more rations? 

(Lovell) What do you care of what I do?! 

(Dark Empress) Oh I care very much! Your misery makes me happy. 

(Lovell) I am glad that I can make your day. May I return to my work now, that is if you are done with me? 

(Dark Empress) I have an offer for you almost like the one your father made before you. 

(Lovell) Which is what? 

(Dark Empress) Some of these tasks are becoming a bit overwhelming for me and I simply have too much to do changing the world and all. How would you like to become my king you know seeing as you were supposed to be married to Delilah? 

(Lovell) I would never do such a thing! How could you ever consider it?! 

(Dark Empress) I have developed a soft spot for you. How about we refer to it as the remnants of what Delilah felt for you. They seem to still be floating around in my heart. 

(Lovell) You have no heart and I would never marry you! 

(Dark Empress) Fine! This is what I get for trying to show you a little mercy! Guards take him back to his cell with no rations for a week! Maybe then you will reconsider. 

(Lovell) Do not count on it! 

    The guards could believe what they had just witnessed. The so-called queen had a weakness for Lovell. If it had been anyone else she would have slain them the instant they had said anything against her yet she still left him alive. They pretended to take him back to his cell but instead resolved to have their secret meetings between them and the rest of the house staff. 

(Lovell) Why did you tell her that I cry at night? 

(Guards) We had to tell her something she likes updates on her slaves but it seems she has taken an interest in you. 

(Lovell) Why would you say that? 

(Guards) She just asked for your hand in marriage and did not kill you when you said no! 

(Lovell) You must think as she does she does not want me she wants an assured alliance, to keep you all in check. 

(Guards) What do you mean by that? 

(Lovell) If we are together her control over our newly joined worlds will not be challenged. She means to only ensure her survival and dominion. She would probably have me killed the night of the wedding.

(Guards) If that is true then she can be killed! 

(Lovell) Exactly! Now I have found the library but I need more time if I am to find anything that can help me in there. 

(Guards) Go ahead, we will cover for you!