The Chronicles of Delilah Faylinn: Volume 2

Homecoming

(Lovell) You are back! You look so different, I can't tell you how pleased I am to see you.

(Finnessia) So this is your heart string Delilah. He is handsome for a mortal. 

(Delilah) Please Finnessia, do not embarrass me!

(Finnessia) I do not think I have ever seen the feminine side of you before, I am used to more passion and rage!

(Delilah) Ok, that's enough. Lovell we need to speak with you urgently.

(Lovell) Who are all of these... beings I suppose I should call them? Are they with you, Delilah?

(Delilah) Please, is there somewhere that we can speak privately?

(Lovell) Right this way, we can go to my chambers.

(Delilah) Your bedroom?

(Lovell) Oh no, it is a private sitting room just off of my living chambers. It should be large enough to hold  all of your, uh... your guests.

    Lovell escorted the party to his private sitting room attempting to remain indifferent to Delilah with so many eyes watching. Finnessia commanded the lieutenants to wait outside of the door to ensure that no one would catch them off guard or interrupt the conversation. 

(Lovell) Something seems amiss, what brings you all here?

(Delilah) Our world as you know is in danger and we have come to help you prepare for her arrival.

(Lovell) Who is she?

(Finnessia) She is Queen Ariadne, mother to the celestial race.

(Lovell) Is that what you are?

(Finnessia) Yes, we govern the universe.

(Lovell) Where were "you" when our world was in danger? Twice now our planet has almost been destroyed and you were no where in sight. Some protectors you all are.

(Delilah) That is not entirely true... she has been in contact with me.

(Finnessia) Not that I have to explain myself to you but Delilah was more than capable of handling it on her own. We do not interfere unless absolutely necessary. We believe in most matters working out on their own. 

(Lovell) Laissez-faire? The hands off approach? Ha! Don't make me laugh.

(Finnessia) Please inform your "friend" of the dire situation at hand while I excuse myself. I'd rather be outside with my lieutenants then have to suffer with anymore of his insults.

(Lovell) What's going on Delilah, what are you doing with them? You've changed...

(Delilah) It is true I am different now... because I know who or what I really am now. It is the cause of my physical appearance as you see it.

(Lovell) Ok... explain.

(Delilah) We really do not have time for this, Ariadne is coming and you need protections in place for your planet.

(Lovell) My planet now? Is this not your home as well?

(Delilah) You won't let it go will you?

(Lovell) No, I deserve an explanation.

(Delilah) Ok fine. The short and sweet version is I am not a mortal, but half celestial like Finnessia. That is why I look the way I do now. She has trained me in combat and their customs. On the other side of the ladder is I am part celestial because of Queen Ariadne as Finnessia mentioned to you before. Your last so called "council" stole their dark power from her, which were given in part to the shade that took over my soul at birth. Hence immortal celestial me!

(Lovell) That was the short version? You're immortal now?! You're a celestial?! What?!

(Delilah) Yea, I know it's a lot to take in. I never felt like I fit in even growing up. Only with you did I ever feel normal. Now I know now what is what all along. 

(Lovell) So you can feel normal again, come home!

(Delilah) I am more than this world now, I have a responsibility to protect those who cannot defend themselves. I have the power to make real change, a purpose.

(Lovell) And you can't protect the people here?

(Delilah) There are more people that exist than just this planet, you do realize that now don't you? Finnessia is proof of that! You have found your purpose in protecting this planet and mine is the universe!

(Lovell) Ok, I get it... I do not wish to upset you. It is hard for me to let go and I don't want to. I cannot however deny what is right in front of me. I can feel the energy radiating from you like the sun. It suits you.

(Delilah) I'm sorry, really I am.

(Lovell) I am ready to listen now. Why is this Queen Ariadne coming here?

(Delilah) This is where I defeated both the shade and the monster. She is drawn here by those events as well as drawn to me apparently since we possess the same energy. She has decimated at least one planet already and her path dictates she will come here eventually. You must prepare, make weapons, tell your people the truth. Finnessia brought the plans with her to help you build sentinels like the one that exist on the celestial planet.

(Lovell) You won't be staying will you?

(Delilah) No we cannot, we have many more planets that need our aid.

(Lovell) Will I ever see you again?

(Delilah) Never say never...

(Lovell) Still have your sense of humor I see. Finnessia can come in now, I will mind my manners and give her my utmost attention. 

(Delilah) Thanks for being so understanding. Finnessia you can come in now!

(Finnessia) Thank you, I was getting bored out there trying to conversate with the lieutenants. We do not interact informally.

    Delilah let Finnessia in to explain just how Lovell should be prepare his battle plan and the measures he should undertake to protect his world. The lieutenants were directed to train his newly installed army in combat and were given weapons to defend themselves with. Once the plans were underway, Delilah and Finnessia said there goodbyes and went to the aid of the next nearby planet and did the same thing. 

    On each new planet Finnessia and Delilah had to debate their way into the minds of rulers, empires, dynasties and capitols alike to plead their case regarding Ariadne. It took a lot more effort since some had no idea that there were even other beings in the universe let alone planets inhabited by them. Some saw Finnessia and Delilah as a threat and attempted to imprison them in which they proved that their simple weapons were in no way capable of holding them and were forced to leave them in denial as they would not heed their warnings. They could only find solace in the fact that they tried to help and accept that those planets would possibly die of its own ignorance. Those that could be helped were and given the tools they needed to survive an attack just as Lovell was. The more planets they aided they were drawing themselves closer in Ariadne's path. This slowed the amount of damage she could cause and the amount of souls she could collect, making her all the more angry. Just when they thought they would actually come face to face with her she had changed course following the path of yet another sector. In her weakened state Ariadne was no match for her rivals at the present time and she needed more if she was ever going to take them head on. Queen Ariadne had been asleep a long time and she was not about to give her pursuers the upper hand if she could help it.

    Meanwhile back on the celestial planet in the dungeons the former Kinship were plotting their escape. They made promises to some of the weaker minded captors of prestige and title if they allowed them to escape and return to their thrones. The naive guards fell privy to their manipulations and released them only to find themselves blocked off and caught by one of their most highly ranked commanders. 

(Commander Ren) Where do you think you lot are going?

(Kinship) You do not regard us in that manner, we are still of royal blood!

(Commander Ren) I was just doing my rounds and something told me I better come this way.

(Kinship) Those fools, they set us up to be caught!

(Commander Ren) You did not honestly believe I would put lower level celestials for "your" guard did you?

(Kinship) Let us through! We were wrongly imprisoned, we need to be back on the throne!

(Commander Ren) I thought it was odd that you did not put up a fight when we charged you, was this your plan all along to escape when you thought no one was looking?

(Kinship) We have only ever thought in the best interest of this world, who else can rule but us?

(Commander Ren) Your entire line is rotten to the core. Do you think I do not remember the days of Queen Ariadne? Just look what your children have done! The throne needs new blood.

(Kinship) Who's blood? Finnessia's?! She has not been around long enough to rule, she is but a child in comparison to "us".

(Commander Ren) You have no idea who she "is" do you?

(Kinship) What do you mean?

(Commander Ren) Allow me to walk you back to your cells your royal highnesses. I am more than happy to tell you all about it. 

    As the Kinship new they were in no position to take on Commander Ren, as he was older than them and therefore more powerful especially in combat they turned around peacefully. Once they were again locked away Commander Ren proceeded to tell them a story. 

(Commander Ren) As you already now, I have been around since the days of your father, King Kempt and Queen Ariadne. Always a hand in what's right, and a force against what is wrong. King Kempt and Queen Ariadne started out as the most beloved gods the cosmos had ever seen. Over time, a long, long period of time their love began to fade as King Kempt found another that caught his eye. He fell in love again, only this time it was a f*******n love and Queen Ariadne found out about it. By the time she did it was too late, unbeknownst to her a child was born of that love and I was tasked by the king with hiding the child and her mother for fear of what Queen Ariadne would do out of her jealousy. You don't think Queen Ariadne went mad on her own did you or went seeking this "dark power" out of nowhere did you? Love can turn ugly if you let it consume you and that is exactly what happened to her. Once she had enough power she was so angry that she killed the king and she would have possibly killed you too had I not helped you in silencing her. Anyway, the little girl grew up in the palace and trained by me no less so that I could keep an eye on her. Her mother as her mother before her was a high priestess, and by now I can see you know where I am going with this?

(Kinship) The little girl is Finnessia... our sister?!

(Commander Ren) Bravo for connecting the dots! I was getting a little worried there at the end.

(Kinship) Finnessia is of royal blood?!

(Commander Ren) Oh yes and therefore by right an heir to the throne! A worthy successor if I might add. She has none of your maniacal inherited blood. She is not of Queen Ariadne's offspring.

(Kinship) She doesn't know this does she?

(Commander Ren) Poor thing knows nothing, but she will soon if I have anything to do with it. 

(Kinship) You cannot tell her, she mustn't know! 

(Commander Ren) Why not?

(Kinship) A female has never ruled, she will not be accepted! 

(Commander Ren) Quite the contrary, she has quite the following already. Your former subjects know it was she who brought Delilah here to fight for us. They know she contested to have the planet protected and even to protect the others. She is a natural born leader. You must excuse me now I have spent enough time here. I have sent someone to call for her return to succeed the throne. Your reign is over.

    As Commander Ren came over to their cell to secure the lock, one of the Kinship struck him over the head and stole the key from his belt. They let themselves out of the cell, left him to die on the floor and made a mad dash out of the dungeons to seek shelter to await Finnessia's return. For them all rules, politics, formalities and gestures were out the window it was all about revenge now, a female would never succeed them on the throne not if they had anything to do with it. It would seem that Commander Ren was right, Queen Ariadne's bloodline were innate sycophants capable of anything when threatened. Finnessia had no idea who she was and they intended to use that to their advantage to over power her and retake the throne. If they had to rule their subjects with them in fear of the throne than so be it. It was far better to be feared than to be adored as long as they were able to keep their power. Who else could they be without the throne, commoners?! Not in this lifetime. 

    The Kinship ensured to remain in the shadows as they sought out the individual who was tasked with sending for Finnessia's return. They lurked about corners, listened in on conversations until they were able to isolate just who it was. They had reached the communications room too late, the call had already been made to Finnessia and it was confirmed that she was coming. Now they had to change tactics and instead of interrupting the call and keeping her off-world long enough to reclaim the throne they would have to wait for her in hiding. They knew the castle even better than Finnessia. They opted to hide in hidden quarters sanctioned off after their mother's banishment. While they laid in wait they prepared for her arrival by concocting a f*******n poison that at the slightest could kill even the most monstrous of beasts. Once they brewed the poison they soaked a blade small enough to hide within their garments, for they knew once they were face to face with Finnessia they would only have one chance to get the job done. Only then could they retake they retake the throne as no one else would be strong enough to stop them. If only they had stopped playing by the rules before, none of this would have been able to happen.

    By now news of their escape had spread all over the castle and there were search parties everywhere. Commander Ren had been found, although he was not dead as the Kinship thought. He knew they would be waiting for Delilah and he told his soldiers to let everyone think he was dead so that the Kinship would feel safe enough to eventually reveal themselves. Until then the castle was to follow normal protocols for the escape of a prisoner. They were now on high alert, threat level red, and the castle was now on lockdown. No one in or out without clearance.