A World Apart: The Chronicles of Delilah Faylinn

A Slither of Hope

    Delilah had been stuck in the mirror for months now and if the house staff had not been finding ways to keep up her strength she would have surely given up by now. That is not to say that she was not already feeling defeated and absolutely powerless over her fate. In all this time she could not come up with a solution or even an understanding as to what was going on. With everything that the Dark Empress told her she still had no clue as to what needed to be done. It had been weeks since she had seen Lovell although she knew he had not given up on her. The house staff gave her updates when they could but even those were becoming few and far in between. While in the mirror she had walked over and through what she felt like was an empty space of nothing. No matter where she walked in the mirror she still had a constant view of the closet she was locked in. Did that mean she wasn’t really moving or that an entire plane existed in that one mirror? 

    The Dark Empress continued her visits to Delilah to drain all of her energy and with each visit was becoming more and more agitated. Delilah felt she was playing her role of looking weak and limp to the best of her ability but honestly how long would she even be able to keep that up without the Dark Empress being none the wiser? She continued to listen and hang on to every word that the Elemental said just hoping that she would give herself away and piece of information that would help Delilah out of the mirror or at least in how to defeat her. Delilah had realized that the Dark Empress just loved talking about herself and her passed exploits; she had even revealed her plans to one day go back to her home world and lay waste to the families of all her former advisors and council that had her killed. Even in her comfort the Dark Empress had not yet given any clue in how to take her down. It was starting to become depressing for Delilah. Every day the house staff continued to encourage her when they brought her meals, and every day Delilah would pass them messages to send to Lovell on what she had learned hoping that they would help figure out something she had missed as well as asking them about Lovell and his whereabouts. They told her that if he was not doing his mandatory duties in the dungeons, that he was with the Dark Empress, and if he was not with her than he was locked away in the libraries trying to figure out a way to help her. They told her that Lovell would not return to her unless he was able to get her out of the mirror. 

    One day during a faithful visit from one of the house staff to bring Delilah her meals they handed her a book. Delilah took the book with an inquisitive look on her face. When Delilah turned the book over in her hand the title read “Faylinn Magic & Its History”. The maid told her that Lovell found the book in the library and he said she should start strengthening her magic and learning about herself. Delilah took the book as a sign of hope that she still had a chance. Furthermore, she had never even thought to use her magic while inside the mirror. She was only concentrating on trying to get out of it. She spent days reading page after page and began to realize that she had only been using the surface of her magic. She learned that Faylinns stemmed from actually fairies whose powers are more aligned with those of nature. Fairies had powers over all things natural all though there were different types of fairies. She read that there were fairies that controlled water, sun, earth, even those who had powers over less intelligent creatures. The greatest fairies had power over time & space. Delilah learned that fairies came in all different sizes which allowed them to cross breed with anything or anyone they chose, which inevitably created dark fairies and even magic that skipped generations of creatures and people. It was really quite overwhelming. The book also informed her that no Faylinn ever died with their magic. It was a Faylinns most sacred duty to “will” their magic onto another on their death bed so that Faylinn magic would never come to an end. She thought to herself if that was the reason why the Faylinns did not put up that much of a fight when she had asked them to “will” her their magic?” She shook the thought off. That was neither here nor there. That idea was of little consequence to all that she was learning about herself. 

    Once Delilah finished that book she gave it back to the house staff and Lovell sent her another. This book was a little bit different from the last. The book he had given her now showed her how to cast spells and how to control and expand her magic. How could he honestly expect her to practice magic where she was? On the other hand though, how could he not expect her to practice magic where she was? It’s not that farfetched an idea. As she thought more about it, it only made sense to do it. Delilah realized that it took a lot of energy that she did not quite yet have in order to do the bigger casts so she started small. Much to her surprise she was actually able to pull the less difficult ones off. Whenever the Dark Empress came she simply hid the book in her clothes. The more in depth and comfortable Delilah got with her powers she began to realize that she possessed not only Faylinn magic but the magic of every being that Faylinns had ever come in contact with. She had now realized that Lovell was giving her the knowledge she needed to possibly get herself out of the mirror, she just needed to figure out how. As Delilah’s power progressed and grew she cast a spell on her appearance. She made herself look more ghastly than she actually was to fool the Dark Empress into thinking that her time was almost up while trying to come up with a plan to get the Dark Empress back into the mirror. She had not yet figured out a way to completely do away with her. Getting her back into the mirror would at least buy her some more time to figure out what to do. With every passing day Delilah made herself stronger, after all she did possess the magic of every Faylinn in her family, which had been passed on from generation to generation. In that moment the most daunting realization came to Delilah. Did the Elemental know of all the power that she possessed? Is that why she was draining Delilah every time she comes to see her? Is she trying to weaken me to the point that I will “will” her my powers? I bet that is what it is! She cannot kill me on her own! I have to give her my powers willingly, just like anyone else! The Elemental could not just simply force her to do anything they were sharing the same body. Trying to force her to give up her powers like she did the Faylinn family would mean inflicting harm on herself! With this realization came a new sense of empowerment for Delilah. Now she knew why the Dark Empress was getting so frustrated with her. She knew she couldn’t give up now and she in that same instance figured out the only way to get the Elemental into the mirror. The Elemental could only assume all of her powers when she is in the mirror with her; that is also why she drains her energy she would need Delilah to be weak and distraught enough not to be able to fight back. Delilah was now determined to learn all she could about Faylinn magic. She knew now that she had to get stronger as she was sure that the Dark Empress was out there doing the same. 

    Delilah sent word through the house staff to Lovell that she had figured a way out of the mirror she just needed more time. She also sent warning for everyone to prepare themselves for the worst just in case she did not succeed. If her attempt to get out failed that would mean the Dark Empress won and would surely realize that she was receiving help from the inside and would take her revenge out on everyone in her vicinity. Lovell sent word back that everyone would be prepared to fight as soon as they received word when she planned on implementing her plan. All she would have to do is send a signal, and they would storm the halls to come to her aid. He also sent the message that he would continue to search for a way to destroy the Dark Empress once and for all. Lovell went back to his research as Delilah went back to hers. Delilah in her determination had gone from making flowers grow and bloom to generating fire balls of light that exploded from her hands like dragon fire. She knew now how to make herself levitate above the ground as she was sure with a little more practice she could possibly fly. No more did she sleep on the hard floor but she fashioned herself a makeshift bed out of flowers and a cloud for a pillow. None of which she made visible to the Elemental of course. As the Elemental came to visit her more often she changed her appearance like she normally did however on this night though the Elemental had just about reached the end of her rope. 

(Dark Empress) What are you holding on for? You look absolutely despicable! 

(Delilah) What exactly are you waiting for to kill me? Just do it! 

(Dark Empress) I am waiting on you to admit defeat, to surrender to me all you have left! 

(Delilah) I don’t have anything left you have drained all I have, what more do you want?! 

(Dark Empress) Stupid girl! Isn’t it obvious?! Your powers, it is the only thing keeping you alive! 

(Delilah) Why don’t you just make me “will” them to you, like you did my family?! 

(Dark Empress) The laws of magic still exist, in every realm. You must say you “will” them to me, now!”   

    The Dark Empress in her frustration stepped into the mirror while still absorbing Delilah’s energy or at least she thought she was. Delilah thought to herself that she did not get the chance to send word to Lovell but now was her chance and she would probably never get another one again. She kept low to the ground and pretended to cry out in agonizing pain as the Elemental looked on with absolute gratification. 

(Dark Empress) I told you little girl that you cannot defeat me! Look at you! You are so weak and feeble. 

    Just say the words just say it and this will all be over! Delilah looked up with a pitiful and sorrowful look on her face as if to show the Elemental that she had indeed given up, and just as expectantly the Elemental’s expression began to smile with delight as she just knew her moment had come at last. 

(Delilah) I will not “will” you my powers! 

(Dark Empress) Ahhhhhhh yes my child… wait what?! 

    Just as soon as Delilah said it the illusion of her appearance dissipated, while a look of utter confusion spread across the Elementals face. Delilah took her chance and simply stepped out of the mirror and left the Elemental trapped inside. Delilah turned around to see the Elemental screaming at the top of her lungs. 

(Dark Empress) How did you…? When did you….?! Noooooooooooooooo! This can’t be?! 

(Delilah) That went a lot smoother than I anticipated! 

    The Dark Empress tried to use the same force she did before to pull Delilah back into the mirror. 

(Delilah) That will not work this time, I am more powerful now. It took a lot of work but you were worth it! 

(Dark Empress) You cannot get rid of me this easily! I am still a part of you. I can reemerge anytime I am ready. You haven’t figured out how to get rid of me! 

(Delilah) No not yet, but I am sure I will soon! 

(Dark Empress) Noooooooooo, you can’t leave me here! 

    Everyone in the castle overheard the Dark Empress’s terrible screams and came running to find out what had happened. Lovell, the guards and the house staff came running at the front of the mob prepared to fight at will. They all stopped in the corridor to find Delilah walking out of the room of which she had been held captive for so long. Delilah looked to Lovell with a smile on her face and in the same second that she closed her eyes to blink her body went limp and she collapsed onto the ground. Lovell made a mad dash to catch her before she could actually hit the floor. Lovell, as he held her in his arms began to shake Delilah to see if she would come to, but it was like she had fallen into a deep sleep. Her body lay still in Lovell’s arms as he racked his mind trying to search for an understanding as to what just happened. All they could here from the room was a dreadful laugh… 

(Dark Empress) Poor Delilah, all that hard work and still nothing to show for it! 

(Lovell) What do you mean you wretched being? What have you done to her?! 

The Dark Empress proclaimed...

(Dark Empress) I must admit, she bested me in figuring a way out of the mirror but she fell short in how much control I still have over her or over “us” I should say! 

(Lovell) Wake her back up this instant she beat you fair and square! 

(Dark Empress) I will do no such thing, she may have power to defend herself against me when she is awake but let’s see how well she will do while she sleeps! 

    Lovell rushed to get Delilah’s body as far away from the Dark Empress as he could. 

(Lovell) You will not touch her! 

(Dark Empress) Bring her back to me now boy! You will not live long enough to regret it! 

(Lovell) Do your worst! 

    Everyone looked to Lovell for what they should do next. He told the guards to lock the mirror back into the closet and have no one ever set eyes on it again. He demanded that the room be kept locked and implemented a twenty-four hour guard watch to remain at the door. He had released the enslaved in the dungeons and issued a decree to spread word that everyone can return to their homes, and to live their lives as normal as possible and await word of further instruction. He commanded that the house staff help him to get Delilah’s body to the library where he studied in hopes of finding an answer. As the guards took first shift at the door and as everyone began to leave the hall they could hear the screams of the Dark Empress. 

(Dark Empress) I will never let her go, do you hear me boy! You will regret crossing me! You think these guards can keep me here! We are still one!

    Lovell managed to safely get Delilah’s body to the library. As he placed her body over one of the longer tables in the room, he noticed that her body began to levitate just above it. He took this as a sign that Delilah was still in there somewhere and as soon as she was able to that she would fight her way back out. In the meantime he would do everything in his power to stop the Elemental. Day and night Lovell searched in his books for an answer, and just like the Dark Empress promised she found ways to torment Lovell through Delilah. Whenever she was ready she taunted Lovell with Delilah’s lifeless body and spoke through the walls of the house. 

(Dark Empress) Bring me her body back now boy and get me out of this mirror! 

(Lovell) Never! I will find an answer! 

(Dark Empress) There is nothing for you to find, only the pain and misery I will bring you! 

    The Dark Empress managed to move things and throw them at him wherever he was in the room through Delilah’s body. As much as it pained him to see Delilah’s body in this state with his magic he fashioned chains to her feet, hands and neck and pinned her down to the table so that she could no longer move. 

(Dark Empress) Just because you pinned her down does not mean I cannot still attack you i***t! As long as her body is near you I can get to you boy! 

(Lovell) Like I said, you may do your worst. I will see to it that she kills you! 

(Dark Empress) Fine, so you want to play hardball huh? Let’s play! 

    The Dark Empress was determined to show Lovell exactly who was boss. As he turned around a gust of wind appeared into the room that quickly grew into a monstrous tornado that whipped and snapped about the room as if he was standing outside! The tornado grew to an enormous size and then began throwing thousands of books out of their shelves and shot straight towards Lovell from every direction. Bookcases crashed into each other and fell like dominoes. To protect himself, Lovell generated a sort of fireball shield in which he enclosed himself and Delilah. The books burned to ashes as soon as it hit the flames. The Dark Empress then tossed Delilah’s lifeless body at him knowing he would try to save her and more than likely lose his concentration from protecting himself, the only problem was that his timing was off. As Delilah’s body neared the flames, Lovell did try to catch her but almost burned her in the process. 

(Dark Empress) Be careful you fool, you almost burned me! 

(Lovell) You mean I almost burned Delilah! 

(Dark Empress) Never mind you! Let’s see you find an answer in this mess! 

    Once the Dark Empress left Delilah he looked around the room in disbelief. The room was left in shambles. How could he possibly find anything?! As he began to dig through the books in a meager attempt to put them back where they belonged, he noticed some of the air from the room was escaping into the floor of a wall at the furthest end of the library that he had never noticed before. He decided to test his theory of air escaping into the wall by incinerating everything that was left in the library. As the room burned all of the smoke it created did the same as before and escaped into the wall. It had to be a hidden entryway into something and he thought to himself that it must have been hidden behind the massive bookshelves in the library. Was this a secret passage way? Maybe it was another secret room? Whatever it was he was definitely going to find out. Lovell managed to get the wall to give way to an opening. 

    The opening was an archway that revealed a winding stairwell that led down to somewhere. Lovell followed the stairs and walked into the secret room only to find that it was much larger than the first. It was elaborately decorated with white stone and gold accented pillared bookshelves. There were even more books, there had to be thousands of them but these books appeared to be older. The pages of these books did not have  regular binding like the ones in the previous library. These books had leather coverings and were laced together by twine and string. The words in these books were not print, but what looked to be hand written. They did not even have titles, instead they had numbers and a brief description of what was inside. As Lovell skimmed through some of them he began to realize that these were not really books at all… they were chronicles! Each chronicle had detailed information about the time or age in which it was written. Each one had different authors as he could tell by the change in script. He also realized though that even though the chronicles were written by different people they were each signed with the Faylinn mark, which then led him to assume that these chronicles were written by a designated Faylinn in the family line of the house. The further back that Lovell went in time of the chronicles the language became more and more complicated to read. Words turned into symbols which then turned into characters that he did not recognize. When he finally reached what he believed to be the very first book he decided to open it and was astounded by what happened next. A spirit like figure floated out of the pages and took a seat in an awaiting chair in the middle of the room. It sat upright and began to stretch as if to have just awakened from a long slumber. Its’ eyes glowed a silvery white color, and its appearance was sheer like and Lovell was able to see right through it to the other side of the room. 

(Spirit) It has been quite a while since I last left those pages… it feels rather good to get some fresh air! 

    The figure took him by complete surprise. He could not decide whether he should speak to it or not or whether it was just a figment of his imagination. 

(Lovell) You can speak? Who or rather what are you? 

(Spirit) I am an apparition of my former self. Instead of writing my tale in my pages I chose to leave a part of myself within them, so to speak for future generations. At the ending of my days I simply willed myself to the chronical of which I kept of myself. It came to me that language may not be the same as it was in my day and who but me could tell my future generations of all that happened during my time! 

(Lovell) So you are in fact of Faylinn decent? 

(Spirit) Faylinn decent? My boy I am what is left of the very first generation of Faylinn, during the time of the fairies! 

(Lovell) So every book in this room is the chronological story of every Faylinn after you? 

(Spirit) Now you are starting to get it! 

    I am the one who requested that every generation of Faylinn choose someone to keep a chronicle of every age that has ever passed in this world. I have been here since the beginning of time. 

(Lovell) The beginning of time? So you were here before the Great War? 

(Spirit) Oh yes! I was here before it, during it and after it! 

(Lovell) There are so many questions I would like to ask you, but there are more pressing matters at hand! 

(Spirit) What the matter my boy? Are you in grave peril? 

(Lovell) Our world has been at war for months and at the helm is something that calls herself the Dark Empress. It has transformed the face of our world into darkness and chaos. 

(Spirit) What do you mean “she” or “it”? 

(Lovell) She is a dark spirit that came out from Delilah who is incapacitated in the other room by the way, in the form of something called an Elemental. 

(Spirit) Did you say Elemental? 

(Lovell) Yes an Elemental, anyway she tricked Delilah into a mirror, ruled chaos in her place and will not leave. 

(Spirit) Stop right there boy, I have heard enough it is time for me to go.

(Lovell) What do you mean time to go? I thought you could help me! Wait, you know something don’t you? What are you hiding?! 

    With a long sigh, the spirit turned around and slumped back into his sit. Just knowing that this being more than likely had a story to tell Lovell stood ready to listen and keeping an open mind to what it was that he was about to hear. 

(Spirit) It goes by many names, although in every age it is always an elemental. This dark spirit has a history with our Faylinn line. It always seems to choose a Faylinn. I do not know if it is because we have the strongest blood line or the longest history. In a few of our chronicles there is mention of a mystical being that makes its host stronger or more powerful. It is always clear however that whomever it chooses that person goes crazy, becomes overly obsessed with power and is more than capable of doing great but terrible things. In my time it chose my sister. My sister became so wicked bringing about destruction that she could never seem to explain or sometimes even remember doing. She used to tell me that there was something wrong with her, that she never felt like herself. She told me that whenever she was angry she seemed to go into a rather unconscious state. Our family became terrified of her and shunned her but me in my curiosity and concern for her well-being decided to stay with her. At times when I saw her, her appearance was so dark and dreadful it almost did not look like her at all. It was not until I saw her reflection in a very unique mirror that I began to believe her. She would talk to this ghastly reflection of herself in the mirror. It would lead her to do awful things, telling her that she should be a queen among men, that she should rule this world and that it would help her do it. You see my boy… it was my sister that was the cause of the "Great War". She and that thing brought this world to its knees! After what seemed to be an eternity to me I decided to take matters into my own hands and end the pain and suffering. She was no longer the sister I knew and loved. She was a monster. 

(Lovell) So what did you do? 

(Spirit) I waited to catch her at her most vulnerable moment, and slayed her in her sleep. 

(Lovell) Obviously that did not take care of the Elemental. 

(Spirit) My generation of Faylinn thought that if we placed a permanent curse on prominent families to never again bare female offspring it would help solve the problem. Obviously my boy it did not work, it continues to come back. Every time it chooses someone different. It has not been able to get as far as it did with my sister. Each host has either been killed or destroyed during its tumultuous process. We have not yet learned how to destroy it, and now as you say it is back again. You say it has taken the form of a female Faylinn this time, how is that possible? 

(Lovell) I do not know how she came to be, maybe the elemental had something to do with Delilah’s birth but she is not just a female Faylinn, Delilah is the very last of all Faylinn. History it seems is in fact repeating itself. 

(Spirit) What do you mean the last Faylinn? 

(Lovell) As I have been told Delilah forced the entire Faylinn line to will her their powers after they shunned her at birth, now I believe it was the elemental in her that led her to do it! 

(Spirit) History is indeed repeating itself, but now it has taken it a step further! My boy, you cannot allow this thing to wipe out the very last of us! You must save her boy, you have to think of something. I am willing to help in any way that I can all you have to do is ask. Conceal this room and I can protect it. I will only reveal myself to you! Share what you have learned here with no one, do you hear me boy no one! 

(Lovell) Can I bring Delilah here, and you can protect her for me while I figure this out. 

(Spirit) Of course, of course boy! She will be safe here a spirit cannot harm another spirit. We will all watch over her and as long as I stand watch over her no harm can come to her here.

(Lovell) Wait a second who is we? 

(Spirit) I am not the only one who willed myself to my chronicle, almost every book in here has a spirit attached to it. The ones that do not simply means that they died before they could commit themselves to their book. Good luck, my boy! 

    The spirit returned itself to the book from whence it came and returned itself back on the bookshelf. Lovell came to the realization that he would not be able to get much help from the secret library but the very least he could do was bring Delilah’s body into the room where it would be protected, he found some comfort in that. Just as Lovell said he would, he managed to hide Delilah’s body in the secret library where she was made to be extremely comfortable. Lovell fashioned a bed out of the excess curtains and pillows he found in the room. He then encased her in a shield of black ice to protect her from harm by the Elemental. 

    In his exhaustion he left the main library as it was and ordered the house staff to repair it and took himself to bed to get some much needed rest. Although he did think to himself why it was that the Dark Empress did not attack him on a regular basis, did she have to save her strength? Did every stunt she pulled weaken her powers? With all the questions spinning around in his head it did not take him long to fall asleep. Lovell dreamed of scenarios in which he miraculously defeated the Dark Empress and somehow saved Delilah. Some scenarios he dreamed that the Dark Empress managed to get herself out of the mirror and destroyed Delilah as well as destroyed the world in which they lived. While he slept he tossed and turned enduring nightmare after nightmare. It was his very last nightmare that awoke him out of sleep with a cold sweat and a horrified look on his face…. He dreamt that he much like the spirit in the secret library would have to undoubtedly destroy Delilah just to stop the current turn of events even though he knew that it would only be a temporary fix. He had to find a way to destroy that Elemental! It was not before long that visiting the secret library became a part of Lovell’s everyday ritual. He went there to seek council and answers from the various spirits that resided in the pages of each chronical in the room. With each passing day, he was nowhere closer to finding an answer on how to destroy the elemental he only seemed to get a better understanding of its methodology and quest for power. He understood that with every person it chose was willing to do her bidding, it saw no need to make itself a physical manifestation or trap its host into the mysterious mirror as it had done with Delilah. He wondered to himself that maybe its strategy and impulses now were because it was growing desperate and impatient. One day before he was able to enter the secret library the Dark Empresses voice came bellowing out of the walls once again. 

(Dark Empress) Pray tell what you have been up to? 

(Lovell) It’s none of your business but if you must know, I am still figuring out a way to destroy you! 

(Dark Empress) Where is Delilah? Why is it that she seems so far away? I cannot get through to her as I did before! 

(Lovell) Where Delilah is, is of no concern to you. She is safe from the likes of you! 

(Dark Empress) You think hiding her is going to make a bit of difference! I can still destroy you! 

(Lovell) Give it your best shot, or maybe you cannot! Your visits are becoming few and far in between. Are you trying to conserve your energy, are you possibly trying to wait us out?! 

(Dark Empress) You think you know me boy! I am doing no such thing, but you will realize that you will have to bring her back to me sooner than later! 

(Lovell) What do you mean by that? 

(Dark Empress) I am still feeding on her, you i***t! You may have her hidden but we are still connected as long as she is still alive! Seeing as how I am still here she is not dead and I will not wake her up until you bring her to me! 

    At least for the moment Lovell felt disheartened. The guards standing watch at the Dark Empresses door were becoming impatient with Lovell. They demanded that he do something soon because the Dark Empress was driving them all mad. The guards continued having to change shifts more and more frequently because she was starting to get in their heads, and constantly playing them against one another. The house staff continued to do as they were told and brought the mansion and grounds back to its original fittings. Lovell went back to his reading, council and research as well continued his visits into the secret library. Day by day he felt his courage and determination to help Delilah was fading. He was beginning to lose all hope of ever finding an answer to save Delilah. He began to fear for the worst  that soon he would have to do what he knew deep in his heart to be wrong. Lovell feared that he would inevitably have to destroy Delilah, which would in turn end the Faylinn line.